Brief from Pope Pius V to Irish Catolics on the new oath of allegiance.

(From Challoner’s Memoirs, ii. 2331) He was descended of an illustrious family. 2 Finding himself called, he went to Italy, & spent almost 20 years, studying & teaching, where he received the degree of Doctor; & the See of Armagh falling vacant, he was consecrated to it about 1669,  Challoner says: He was a worthy & good man, who, ....... was in a very mean state of life, as having nothing to subsist on but the contributions of a few poor clergy of his own religion in the province of Ulster, who ....... could not spare much to him.... But .... some lewd Irish priests ... had been censured by Dr. Plunkett for their lewdness; so ....they charged a plot upon that innocent, quiet man.... The evidences swore that .... he engaged to raise 60,000 or 70,000 Irish, ... to join with the French ..., & that besides the French army there was a Spanish army to join with them...... he was brought in guilty and condemned. ... the Earl of Essex ... applied to the King for pardon and told his Majesty the witnesses must needs be perjured; for these things sworn against him could not possibly be true. Upon which the King in a passion said: ‘Why did you not attest this at the trial? It would have done him good then. I dare not pardon anyone.’  Father J. C1orker, writes of him: ‘The trial being ended, we had free intercourse by letters.7 And now it was that I clearly perceived the spirit of God in him and those lovely fruits of the Holy Ghost, charity, joy, peace, &c., transparent in his soul.  ...there appeared in his words, in his actions, in his countenance something so divinely elevated, ...as manifestly denoted the divine goodness had made him fit for a victim, and destined him for heaven. None saw or came near him but received new comfort, new fervour, new desires to please, serve, and suffer for Jesus Christ by his very presence. ……… His love had extinguished in him all fear of death.  Hence the joy of our holy martyr seemed still to increase with his danger, and was fully accomplished by an assurance of death……. . .  After he certainly knew God Almighty had chosen him to the crown ... of martyrdom, he continually studied how to divest himself of himself, and become more and more an entirely pleasing and perfect holocaust; to which end he gave up his soul, with all its faculties, to the conduct of God; so, for God’s sake, he resigned the care and disposal of his body to unworthy me.’8 On July 1st, he was brought to Tyburn;  He forgave all concurring directly or indirectly to take away his life, and asked forgiveness of all whom he had ever offended by thought, word, or deed, ending thus: Now that I have shown sufficiently (as I think), how innocent I am of any plot or conspiracy, I would I were able with the like truth to clear myself of high crimes committed against the Divine Majesty’s commandments, often transgressed by me, for which I am sorry with all my heart, and if I could or should live a thousand years,  I have a firm resolution and a strong purpose, by your grace, 0 my God, never to offend you.  And I beseech your Divine Majesty, by the merits of Christ, and by the intercession of His Blessed Mother, and all the holy Angels and Saints to forgive me my sins and to grant me eternal rest.’ After his speech, he recited devout aspirations, and continued recommending his soul into the hands of his Saviour till the cart was drawn away. He was hung, cut down and bowelled, his body was interred (all but the head and arms to the elbows), 4 years after his body was taken up and found entire. It was sent to Lambspring, Germany. It was brought back to a Benedictine Monastery in England.  The head was given to Cardinal Howard, In 1714, Hugh McMahon,11  later Archbishop of Armagh,  gave it to the Dominicans in Drogheda.

The Convent of Limerick was dedicated to the Holy Cross; it was one of the largest of the whole country, its inmates numbering forty-six religious. Cornelius O’Neill, then Bishop of Limerick, had been a religious of the Order, and was much attached to the brethren. He belonged to the princely family of O’Neill of Tyrone. The Bishop let it be known to the people that he would preach on the feast of St. John in the cathedral. A large congregation assembled. He set before them the grounds of the Catholic faith and of the Pope’s authority; he declared that the commands of the King were heretical and that he, his counsellors, and all who adhered to him were anathematized and he concluded by asking from God strength for himself and for all under his care to defend the Catholic faith, even at the peril of their lives. The King’s officials were afraid to offer him any violence in the church but on the evening of that day, some of them went to his house; and being admitted, they told him that he should obey the King’s order or suffer instant death. Throwing himself on his knees and raising his eyes to Heaven, he exclaimed: ‘Lord, to-day I offered to Thee the unbloody sacrifice of the Body of my Lord Jesus Christ. Now accept the sacrifice of my life, to Thy greater honour and glory.’ And then fixing his eyes on a picture of the Most Holy Trinity, he ejaculated ‘Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus, Miserere nobis.’ A moment after the executioner with one blow of the sword severed his head from his body. The officials then went through the house, and seized on the religious who happened to be there, and slew them. Their anger was all the greater when they found that nothing was left for them to plunder. The Minister and his brother, who had come to visit the Bishop, were seized the next day. They were brought to the public square and ordered to swear obedience to the King. As they refused, they were beheaded on the spot. The other religious in the convent were also asked to take the oath; and as all refused, some were hanged, other slain, others tied to the tails of horses and dragged along until they were dead. And so all triumphed gloriously on the 25th, of June, 1539. ‘The other convents of the Order,’ says Moran, Cork, Kilkenny, Ross, Dundalk, Galway, and Cashel, showed the same fortitude. All were plundered of whatever they possessed, And there was not one of them but was adorned with the palm of martyrdom. So universal indeed was the ruin that fell upon this religious Order, that all vestige of it has disappeared from the subsequent history of our Church.1 1 Archbishops of Dublin, p.26. It is very probable that Lopez had his information about the sufferings of his brethren through F. Richard Goldie, a native of Limerick, who died at Madrid in 1652. See Noticias, p.521. O’Sullevan derived his knowledge from the same source.

(p. 1512) The Trinitarian convent1 of Dublin was one of the principal houses of the Order in Ireland. It was founded In 1188 by allured Le Palmer. It Stood on the site now Occupied by the Augustinian church, Thomas Street, and was dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The building was large and ornamental, its revenues were considerable and the Community numbered about fifty. On the first news reaching them of the King’s wicked design to subvert the Catholic faith and introduce a new creed, the former Provincial, Father Theobald, wrote to his successor suggesting that a meeting of the leading men of the Order should be convened in Dublin, to take the necessary measures in face of the danger that was imminent. The Provincial presided. Besides the superiors of houses, several other members remarkable for their learning and virtue were present; among them we find the names of FF. Thaddeus O’Brien, of Kilkenny, John Hogan, and William Hurley. When the Chapter had assembled, each gave his opinion, upholding the Catholic faith and the pope’s authority, and declaring the impious decrees of the King to be heretical and the King to be a heresiarch; and putting their trust in the Most Holy Trinity, all took the resolution to lay down their lives in defence of the truth. The conference was just ended when the news came of what had taken place at Adare. F. Theobald exclaimed ‘The Most Holy Trinity has blessed our Order with a happy beginning and thus given us a pledge that the like grace will accompany us to the end.’ All signed a profession of the Catholic faith, which might be distributed among the faithful. On February 24th the royal agents arrived in Dublin to enforcetheir master’s decrees. The next morning the exhortation of the Fathers was found posted in all the public squares and streets. The Provincial and F. Theobald went about preaching to the people. The latter being thought the leader of the resistance, was immediately shot. The Provincial was seized by a hired band and dragged through the streets. He repeated aloud that he would not abandon the faith so long as he had life. The judges ordered the executioners to do their work. A stroke of the hatchet put an end to his life. His ribs were broken, and his heart taken out. His body was thrown on a dunghill. But when night came, the Catholics got possession of his scattered members, and buried them. The other religious, some of whom had gone out into the streets to preach, while others remained in the convent, were all taken and put to death in divers ways. Some were hanged, others beheaded, some stoned; others in fine were dragged through the streets until they expired; and their bodies were cast on the dunghills. These, too, the faithful took away during the night and buried. The triumph of these glorious martyrs took place on the 25th and 26th of February 1539.

This did not publish when intended. Apologies! (From Lopez’ Noticias Hisforicas, p. 150) The convent of Adare was the first house of the Order in this country.1 The church is now the catholic parochial Church. Some parts of the convent are still standing. It was founded in 1230 by Thomas FitzGerald, third son of the second Baron of Offaly,2 at the suggestion of the Earl of March, a Scotch nobleman, who was a patron of the Order. The Minister3 of this convent in 1539 was Brother Robert. It was at this time that the impious decrees of the King were published, and officials sent to put them into execution. Having read the decrees and mastered their contents, Robert Summoned the Community, which then consisted of forty-two members, told them what the new doctrines were, and declared that the King was a heretic, and, moreover, that he sought to make them share in this crime. Such was the impression which he made on these hearers that all declared they were ready to lay down their lives in defence of the Catholic faith and of the Pope’s supremacy; and knowing that the convent would be plundered immediately, they set to work at once to distribute among the poor all the provisions and clothing they had. They hid away the sacred vessels and ornaments of the altar in various places, so that when the agents of the Government arrived, they could not find even a wooden crucifix on which to vent their impious rage. Three times summoned before the magistrate, Father Robert was immovable in rejecting the honours offered to him by the Court, and in declaring his devoted attachment to the Catholic faith. None, he said, had ever sought to propagate their religious tenets by the sword except the pagan Emperors in the early ages and Mahomet in later times. As for himself and the community, they were determined that no violence should move them from the principles of truth. They recognised no Head of the Catholic Church save the Vicar of Christ; and as for the King of England, they regarded him not even as a member of that holy Church, but as the Head of the synagogue of Satan. When the venerable Father had uttered these words, a heretical officer drew his sword, and with one blow severed the holy man’s head from his body. The other agents of the Court were at once let loose against the unoffending Community. As the public prison was full of other victims, the religious were confined in private houses. There many died of the injuries and maltreatment which they received. Some too were murdered secretly, whilst others were publicly hanged in the market-place. It was on the 12th and 13th of February, 1539, that these happy Fathers obtained their eternal crown. 1 La casa capital de la isla,’ says Lopez, p.19. The church is now the catholic parochial Church. Some parts of the convent are still standing. See Lord Dunravens Memorials of Adare, p. 36. Adare is 9 miles S.W. of Limerick. 2 3Lopez, p. 18 and the Earls of Kildare, by the Marquis of Kildare, p.19 3 This is the name of the Superior of a convent of this Order

On 1st February, he was called out by the guards, gathered round the hurdle on which he was to be drawn to the place of execution. When the Bishop saw his triumphal chariot, he sighed: 'My Lord Jesus Christ for my sake went on foot up the hill bearing His Cross on which he was to die for me & must I, like one unwilling to die for Him, be carried to obtain a glorious prize, which I ought to run to seize hold of gladly and fearlessly. Would that I might carry my sweet cross on my shoulders, & on foot do this last duty for my soul going to meet my Lord I' Here is the testimony of ‘Barnaby Ryche, a servant to the King’s Most Excellent Majesty,’ a Protestant, who far from sympathising with the sufferings of the Bishop, or sharing in the feelings of horror which the Catholics manifested rather exults in the death of any enemy. On the 28th January the Bishop & the priest were each condemned for treason, & adjudged to be executed the Saturday following, which day being come, a priest or two of the Pope’s brood, with holy water & other holy stuffs, were sent to sanctify the gallows whereon they were to die.  About 2 o’clock p.m. the traitors were delivered to the sheriffs of Dublin, who placed them in a small car, which was followed by a great multitude.  As the car progressed the multitude knelt down but the Bishop sitting still, like a block, would not vouch safe them a word, or turn his head aside. The multitude, however, following the car, made such a dole after him as the heavens themselves resounded the echoes of their outcries.  Being come to the gallows whither they were followed by troops of the citizens, men and women of all classes, most of the best being present, the latter kept up such a shrieking, such a howling, and such a hallooing as if St. Patrick himself had been going to the gallows, could not have made greater signs of grief. But when they saw him turned from off the gallows, they raised the hubbub with such a main cry, as if the rebels had come to rifle the city. Being ready to mount the ladder, when he was pressed by some of the bystanders to speak, he repeated frequently, Sine me quaeso. The executioner had no sooner taken off the Bishop’s head but the townspeople began to flock about him, some taking up the head with pitying aspect, accompanied with sobs and sighs; some kissed it with as religious an appetite as they ever kissed the Pax; some cut away all the hair from the head, which they preserved as a relic; some others were practisers to steal the head away, but the executioner gave notice to the sheriffs. Now , when he began to quarter the body, the women thronged about him, & happy was she that could get but her handkerchief dipped in the blood of the traitor; & the body being once dissevered in four quarters, they neither left finger nor toe, but they cut them off and carried them away; & some others that could get no holy monuments that appertained to his person, with their knives they shaved off chips from the hallowed gallows; neither would they omit the halter wherewith he was hanged but it was rescued for holy uses. The same night after the execution, a great crowd flocked about the gallows, & there spent the fore part of the night performing many popish ceremonies. And after midnight, being then Candlemas day in the morning, having their priests present in readiness, they had Mass after Mass, till daylight being come, they departed to their own houses. ‘The same night,’ writes the Archbishop of Cashel, ‘the Lord was pleased to honour the Bishop’s body with a miracle wrought on a paralytic, who, as best he could, crawled to it with reverence and faith, and as soon as he touched it was cured.’13

(From Bruodin’s propugnaculum,, p. 445) HE was a priest, a native of Leinster, noble by birth but still more noble by reason of his reverence for the things of heaven.  He was seized by the heretics, and bore with wonderful patience the various kinds of torture inflicted on him. At length he was sent to England, and imprisoned in the gaol at Worcester.  There he died of hunger and other hardships, and triumphed gloriously for Christ, January 20th, 1582

from Broudin's Propugnaculum, p. 505 HE was a native of Ulster, and a priest, and gained a victory at Derry of St Columkille, [1] as he would not obey the iniquitous laws of Elizabeth and James.  He overcame very cruel tortures, and preferred the ignominious death of the scaffold and the cutting of his body into four parts, to abandoning the way of truth.  He died, venerable by reason of his age and virtues, January 6th, 1618, and, as we may well hope, enjoys a crown of glory with the Saints. See also Copinger and O’Sullevan. 1 Derry was called Doire Calgatch until it was given to St.Columkille by his relative Aedh, son of Ainmire.  The Saint built a monastery and a church here, which was known as Dubh Regles, on the site now occupied by the Long Tower Catholic church and the adjoining cemetery.  There is a holy well close by bearing the Saint’s name.  See the Ordnance Survey Memoir of Templemore

(From Holing’s Compendium1 and Bruodin’s Propugnaculum, p. 437) BROTHER TADHG O’DALY, a native of Kinvarra, and a monk of the Order of St. Francis, was seized by the heretics in the monastery of Askeaton, because he wore the habit of his Order and made open profession of the Catholic faith.  He was led, as if he were a robber or a traitor, to Limerick, sixteen miles off. There he was stripped of his habit and cast into prison by order of Drury, the President of the province.2 After nine weeks, during which time he gave proofs of his attachment to the faith and of his constancy, he was brought to trial, many crimes being laid to his charge.  But persevering in the confession of the Catholic faith, he was condemned to death by the verdict of twelve men, heretics and schismatics, because he would not admit that the Queen was Head of the Church.  To all the promises and threats held out to him by the heretics, he replied with a smile, that no one on account of bodily torments or even death itself should separate himself from the friendship of God. ‘I care not,’ he used to say, ‘how you treat this mortal body of mine; the Almighty God has given you no power to injure my soul.’  Again he was thrown into prison.  There he was often visited by pious Catholics and by a certain holy priest,who obtained access to him in the dress of a layman; from him he obtained absolution of all his sins and received the Blessed Eucharist. The heretics took him out of the prison, and binding his hands behind his back, had him tied to a horse’s tail and dragged through the streets.  But he showing not sorrow but delight, repeated aloud with great devotion the hymn Te Deum laudamus.’  On the way to the place of execution, he besought his friends who accompanied him, to obtain from the heretics that he should be allowed to wear his religious habit at the time of his death.  These laughed at the request; but they granted it after a way, and ordered that the habit should be hung up too on the beam by the side of his body.  After he had hung for a short time, he was taken down half-alive.  Many of those who were standing by expressly stated that the martyr’s head when cut off uttered these words distinctly : ‘Lord, show me thy ways.’  The fact is attested by F. John good, S.J., who was then in Limerick in his Theatre of Protestant and Catholic Religion.  And so this brave soldier of Christ earned the palm of martyrdom on January 1st, 1579. O’Sullevan says another Franciscan, whose name, however, he does not mention, was put to death with him.31 See also Gonzaga, Holing, Rothe, O’Sullevan, Molanus,Ward, Wadding, O’Daly, and Hueber. 1 In Spic. Ossor., i.92 2 Drury, of whom mention has been made already at p.102 3 Decas Patr., fol.. 165 b.

He,1 had the extensive lordship of Brittas,2 in Limerick, & other estates in the area. His position & wealth induced Sir George Thornton to give his daughter Grace in marriage .  After some children were born, he set on visiting foreign countries, Spain especially.3 He had already witnessed what others had suffered at home, & he too had endured annoyances and hardships for religion, & heard from trustworthy persons of the splendour of the divine worship & the perfect liberty Catholics enjoyed in Spain, & how the people of Spain had befriended his own, not only account of their relationship by descent from a common stock,4 but still more, because they professed and practised the same orthodox faith. Whilst John was preparing as secretly as he could for his journey, one of his servants discovered his purpose, and wished to stop him. His father-in-law, having heard, employed all his own authority and that of his colleague, Sir Charles Wilmot. Hindered from leaving, he resumed with more zeal and freedom the pious manner of life which he had entered on long before among his neighbours & relatives. He heard Mass openly, and assisted at sermons with his neighbours. He passed his time in this way until the Viceroy Mountjoy came to Munster.  At this very time Elizabeth died1, & the Catholics2 were endeavouring to restore the public exercise of religion, which hitherto they had carried on secretly. Informers told the Viceroy of Sir John’s zeal and courage.  The charge was that he had made himself the ringleader of the city in the zeal for religion which the citizens had shown after the death of Elizabeth, when it was not quite certain what the intentions of King James were as to the religion he would adopt, whether he would follow the pious example of his mother3 or the new doctrine.  As there was some doubt about the choice the King would make, they thought they were at liberty to display their zeal and love for the Catholic faith, & to practise publicly. But everything was turned into a crime. The Viceroy caused Sir John to be imprisoned, & carried off to Dublin Castle. A contagious plague began to rage in Dublin. The public officers fled & almost all the prisoners were set free including Sir John.  When he returned home, he sought the acquaintance of Edmund Halaghan of the Order of Preachers, and became very close to him. He was enrolled in the Confraternity of the Roasary.1   The report of his piety spread throughout the whole neighbourhood & reached the ears of the President of Munster.2 Lord Theobald Burke & Sir Edmund Walsh,3 sheriff of that part of Limerick, in their letters, accused Sir John of being a notorious harbourer and patron of popish priests and religious throughout the whole country.  They added that he had erected an altar in his house as if it were a public oratory, to which crowds of people used to come to mutter their prayers.  1 Bruodin says he was also a member of the Third Order of St.Francis 2 President of Munster 1604-1607. Lynch says he persecuted the Catholics as cruelly as Antiochus did the Jews, and died, like him, devoured by vermin.  Camb. Evers., iii.101. See also letter of Dr. O’Kearney in the appendix to Moran’s Archbishops, p.432. 3 He is said by Rothe to have been a cruel persecutor of Catholics. Analecta, p.43, O’Sullevan Hist. Cath., p333.  The latter says he repented on his death-bed and died reconciled to the Catholic Church. Ibid. 1 March 24, 1603 2 See Introd., p.12 C.S.R1. (1603-1606), pp. 32 and 48, and Cambr. Ever., iii. 523 3 Mary, Queen of Scots, of whom Benedict XIV. Says: If the true reason of her martyrdom is inquired into, perhaps nothing would be found wanting of what is required for true martyrdom.’ Dc Can. SS., Iib.iii.ch.13 1 The families of Brittas and Castleconnell were descended from E