The Franciscan convent of Armagh was founded in 1263 by Maelpatrick OScannell, Archbishop of Armagh. ON the 16th December, in the primatial city of Armagh, Roger Congaill and Cornelius Mac Varra were seized by a certain heretic named Donald, through hatred of the Catholic faith. They were stripped of their religious habits, cruelly scourged, and taken through the public streets of the city. In fine, worn out by the scourging they died victims of God. See also Wadding. A part of it is still standing. See Reeves’ Ancient Churches of Armagh, p32. He says it was destroyed in 1565. See Stuart’s History of Armagh, p.512

THESE three members of the Franciscan Order were famous preachers of the word of God, and much respected by all the leading men throughout Leinster, not merely for their illustrious descent, but for their extraordinary prudence, pious eloquence, great learning, rare modesty, and extreme humility.  They fell, I know not how, into the nets of the heretics.  Wherefore the supreme judge of Leinster, with his usual ferocity, vented his wrath on them.  By his order they were first beaten with sticks, and then scourged with whips till the blood came; and when even by this means they could not be diverted from the paths of justice, the wicked judge offered to them rich bishoprics if they would abjure papistry and obey the whims of Elizabeth. These brave men could not be induced to abandon the Catholic faith of their father. Wherefore they were hanged and quartered at Abbeyleix,1 in Leinster, and so obtained the crown of martyrdom, December the 15th, 1588. See also Copinger, Ward, and Hueber. 1 There was a Cistercian house here, founded by one of the O’Mores. The sole remains of it is a tomb in Lord De Vesci’s garden.

HE was the son of a citizen of Wexford.  When he had nearly completed his studies at Louvain, he was obliged, through ill health, to return home.  He was arrested at Bristol, examined, and asked to take the oath of Supremacy. He absolutely refused to stain his soul with such a perjury. In consequence he was sent to London.  First, he was flogged through the streets by the executioner in a very cruel manner. Then, after enduring the horrors of Newgate prison for four months, he was put to the torture of the scavenger’s daughter1, and under it gave up his soul to God, December 13th, 1590. See also Copinger. 1 An instrument of torture invented by Skeffington, Lieutenant of the Tower in the time of Henry VIII., from whom it has its name. It was a circle of iron, in which the whole body was, as it were, folded up, and the hands, feet, and head bound together. See Challoner’s Memoirs, i.57

HE was a citizen of Wexford.  Being an earnest Supporter of the Catholic faith, he was denounced by spies not only for having given shelter to Catholic bishops and priests who were pursued, but also for conveying them to France and Spain.  By order of Lord Grey, the Viceroy, he was taken to Dublin and imprisoned there, though he had already paid a very heavy fine.  This excellent man, worn out by the filth and hardships of the prison, died in the Lord, December 4, 1600. Note: Probably the same whom Rothe calls Haius, though the date of his death is set down by that Writer as 1581.  The facts related of both are the same.

O’Daly’s Relatio, p.364 When returning to his Ireland from Lisbon he landed in England. He was accused of having said in Spain that it was lawful to kill the King. He was convicted, hanged, his heart and entrails cut out. But later he was declared to have been falsely accused and condemned; it was proved that he'd only asserted when debating a heretic, who denied free will, that nothing would be criminal, even the killing of a king, if liberty didn't exist.  2 or 3 things happened at his death. 1stly, when the rope was cut and he was let down  and heart and entrails cut out, he was still alive; and whilst the executioner was shewing his heart to the crowd exclaiming:  ‘This is the heart of a traitor,’ he turned his eyes to the executioner, and spat at him; secondly, when the executioner was throwing his entrails in the fire, a young man, thrust the liver of the martyr in the fire with a stick, and cursed the man and his religion. His sacrilegious hand immediately trembled, and he was struck down with such pains that he threw himself down on the nearest mound of earth. Some women, perceived a very sweet odour, the nearer they came, the more fragrant it was. A German spice dealer perceived the same smell, he never met with any so sweet in his workshop.  In fine, Falkland, one of his judges, declared that he suffered in consequence, and his leg was broken in a wonderful way. We have accounts from the time.  ‘Arthur Gohagan was drawn on a hurdle from the King’s Bench to the City of London and so to Tiburne, from whence he was lifted off into a cart, where undismayed and with a fearless countenance he spake these words : - “In manus tuas commendo spiritum meum qula redemisti me, O Deus veritatis meæ,”  which he often repeated.  Then he earnestly commended his soul to God, saying “O thou glorious Virgin Mother of our Lord and Saviour, pray to thy Son Jesus Christ to receive my soul. I would fain have received the Holy Sacrament, according to the injunction of our Order, but I could get not priest to give it me.” Then being stript to his shirt, holding up his hands to heaven, repeating : “In manus tuas, et.,” when he hanged a little time ; then the rope was cut with a bill, the hangman holding him fast in his arms that he should not fall to the ground, at which time the cord being slack, he made a great noise in his throat.  They laid him on the earth, drew him along (being alive) near the fire, threw there his bowels and heart, laid him afterwards upon his face, cut off his head by the neck, divided his body by the waist, and then cut it asunder in four parts, which were not dispersed on the gates, but some of his friends obtained the disposing of them, and sent them over sea to be interred.2 2 days after his execution the Spanish Ambassador,3 wrote :  ‘They hanged an Irish Dominican Friar here two days ago. He can enter into the number of the Martyrs. ..... they will see in Rome, .... that this Friar suffered for religion. His persecutors maliciously invented a pretext, and all I could do with the King and his ministers was of no avail.’ The General Chapter of the Order in 1644, speaks of him :  ‘The Venerable F.B. Arthur Geoghegan, ......, when returning to his province was seized by the English heretics and cast into prison in London. He ... was brought to trial on a charge of high treason, ..., and was condemned to death. At the place of execution he made open profession that he was a Catholic and a Dominican. He was hanged, and while half-alive he was cut down, his limbs cut asunder, and his entrails burnt. And so he ended his life gloriously in the year 1633.3 1 Mostyn MSS., in Irish Ecci. Record for Nov 1894 2 He asked on the Scaffold that ‘his body be not dismembered & that the Spanish Ambassador send it to be buried in some abbey or place belonging to an abbey of St. Dominick’ Ibid 3 Hib. Dom., p.559

(From Hartyr’s Triumphalia, p.253) GELASIUS O’CULLENAN1 was one of six brothers, 5 of whom devoted themselves to life in the clergy. He went to Louvain and Rome to study. Afterwards, he returned to Ireland. Soon after he entered the Cistercian Order. His great virtue pointed him out to the Holy See and his own brethren as fit to be appointed Abbot in Boyle.  At this time one of the gentry had taken possession of the monastery and lands, supported by the edict of Elizabeth.  The Abbot admonished the usurper of the guilt he was incurring and the curse he would bring down on his whole family in consequence. Touched by his exhortations, the nobleman gave up the monastery lands; and sometime after, he too renounced the world and embraced the religions institute. In 1580, being in Dublin, Gelasius was arrested by order of the Government, and with Hugh Mulkeeran, abbot of the monastery of the Holy Trinity,1 imprisoned in the public gaol. John O’Garwin’2 then Protestant Dean of Christ Church, was among those who assisted at his first interrogatory. Many inducements were held out to him to abandon the Catholic faith a choice of the bishoprics of Connaught then vacant was given to him, if he would renounce the Catholic creed and the authority of the Supreme Pontiff.  His answer to the heretics was:  The benefices you offer me are very valuable in truth; but how long will you allow me to enjoy them?’  ‘As long as you live,’ they answered.  ‘And what length of life will you give me,’ he asked.  ‘We can not determine the end of your life or prolong it, nor do we know the day of your death.’  ‘Well then,’ he replied, ‘is it not much wiser for me to obey Him and to keep his law who can, if he pleases, prolong my life, and give me a life of eternal happiness in the world to come, than to obey you who cannot lengthen my life by one instant, and are striving by your deceitful and perishable gifts to lead me away from the laws of heaven?‘1 The English, angered by this answer, ordered his fingers, arms, and legs to be crushed with blows of a hammer. And when they could not break down his courage, they ordered him and Hugh Mulkeeran to be hanged. The Abbot asked the executioners that Hugh should suffer death first, as he showed some fear and wept. He was hanged first. The Abbot was then put to death, and suffered courageously. While he was on his way to scaffold, five hundred heretics were converted to the Catholic faith by the sight of his constancy. He had been sentenced to be hanged and quartered; but at the request of his friends, his body was not cut in pieces. However it was set on the top of the Castle, a sad spectacle to the Catholics.  The English used it as a mark to fire at. Many who were present at the execution took away his clothes as relics. They suffered, November 21st, 1584. Henriquez,1 historiographer of the Order styles O’Cullenan, the ornament of the Cistercian Order, the light of our century, the glory of all Ireland. Rothe says Eugene Cronius, a secular priest, who was in the company of O’Cullenan, a native of the same province, was martyred with him. See also Rothe, Copinger, O’Sullevan, Annus CistercienSiS, Molanus, Henriquez, Hartry, Porter, and Bruodin. November 27th 1 2 The learned Historiographer of the Order, in his Menologium Cisterciense, p. 389 1 ‘Just such a colloquy is said to have taken place between Sir Thomas More and his wile.  See his Life, by Roper, p.89 1 In one of the islands of Lough Ce, near Boyle. It was founded by Clarus M’Mailin, Archdeacon of Elphin, in 1213 for Premonstratensians.  See Mon. Hib., 0.615 2 John Garvey, who became Protestant Archbishop of Armagh in 1584 1 He is called O’Boyle by Bruodin and others. The mistake arose, no doubt, from his having been Abbot of the monastery near Boyle.

From Bruodin’s Propugnaculum, p. 673 THIS pious and zealous priest was a native of Wexford.  At the risk of his life he used to comfort the flock confided to his care, and encourage them to persevere in the profession of the faith of their fathers,  at a time when the heretics were persecuting the Catholics cruelly.  Wherefore he was seized by them, and hanged and quartered in Dublin November 12th, 1610.

MAURICE EUSTACE (From Holing’s Compendium.1) MAURICE EUSTACE, born of an illustrious family, a student of theology & Master of Arts, became a novice of the Society of Jesus at Bruges in Flanders.  When his father2, a powerful man, learned this, he wrote to the Superiors of the Order, asking them to send his son to him, as he was his heir & the only son of his first marriage. They sent him home, hoping, perhaps, he might be permitted to return later. His father was delighted to see him, & offered him money, a rich & handsome wife too, in order to turn him from his purpose. But Maurice begged earnestly to be allowed to devote himself to God’s service in the Society of Jesus; & reminded his father that he had other children of a second marriage, one of whom he might make his heir. But he wouldn't consent.  Maurice remained for some days at home, waiting for an opportunity of returning to Flanders. He went to Bruges and was received in a kindly way by the Fathers. But these learning the father’s wish, sent him away, much against his will.  On his return to Ireland, he was appointed a captain of horse. He brought back to the Catholic faith some of those who served under him; others he confirmed in it by his advice and exhortations, especially by his example in frequenting the sacraments every eight or fifteen days. After some months, he fell in with a Catholic Bishop, and received Orders from him, without his father’s knowledge. A servant, who had been appointed to attend on him, told what had taken place. The father, indignant at his son’s conduct, sent soldiers to seize him, as he could do being a judge, and ordered him to be imprisoned in Dublin. He, (the father) died soon after. The younger brother, eager to get his father’s property into his hands, denounced Maurice as a Jesuit and a priest, & enemy to the Queen, and a friend of those who were at war with her. Maurice denied that he was a Jesuit or a priest, but openly confessed that he was a Catholic; he showed that he had no opportunity of communicating with anyone but the jailer. He often disputed with the heretical Bishops and ministers, & always confounded them, for he surpassed them far in learning. The Chancellor3 offered to set him free & to give him his daughter in marriage with an ample dowry, if he would change his faith. He refused to do so, and was sent back to prison. On the appointed day he was brought to trial before a jury of twelve heretics, as is the custom in Ireland and in England, and found guilty of high treason. He was drawn at a horse’s tail to the place of execution.  The Chancellor again repeated his offer, & again Maurice rejected it. 'For Jesus Christ’s sake,’ he exclaimed, 1 have come here, ready to suffer ignominy and pain, and to shed my blood. Great is my joy. I will not abandon Christ for a heretical wife, for an uncertain life, and for my liberty; and as He died for me on the cross, I desire and hope to die for Him on the scaffold.’  Finally this brave soldier of Christ, asking God’s help and the prayers of the Catholics, was hanged and quartered, and so earned the martyr’s crown in the month of November, 15814. See also Rothe, Copinger, Molanus, and Bruodin. 1 See. Spic. Ossor., i. 95 2 Copinger says he was Sir John Eustace, of Castlemartin, Co. kildare, Ibid., ii.42. 3 Adam Loftus, then Protestant Archbishop of Dublin. 4 Bruodin gives 1588 as the date of his death.

HE was Vicar General of Dublin, Kildare, and Ferns, ‘a good and pious man, who has great influence in the ecclesiastical concerns of this kingdom.’1 His capture is spoken of in a letter of Chichester to the Earl of Salisbury, of 26th Feb, 1606 :  ‘They have taken one Lawler, a priest, whose name is well known to the Lord Lieutenant. They got him by the endeavour of Sir Oliver Lambert, who set his lieutenant, who was then one of their provost marshals, to watch him, & he was quietly taken, with some papers, and divers popish trinkets. He is a notable seducer of the people and called himself Vicar General of Dublin and Kildare, & so reputed throughout Leinster.’2 On Mar 7th, the Lord Deputy3 wrote to the Privy Council from Dublin : On the 26th of last month, by intelligence from Oliver Lambert, there was apprehended by him in this city, one Robert Lalor, a priest, and a dangerous instrument for these many years, who by his own confession acknowledges that he has for the last twelve years occupied the place of Vicar General in the three principal dioceses of the Pale, to wit, Dublin, Kildare, and Ferns; first, by a commission from two Popish bishops and Bishop Cranagh,4 authorized by Bulls from Rome, &  since by a like confirmation to him by Mathias de la Vega,5 a Spaniard, who came to Kinsale with Don John,6 & who after the composition made at Kinsale, sent a commission by Don Pedro under his hand and seal to the said Lalor, which he now confesseth he received. They now in examination of him.’7 He was indicted under 2 Eliz. c.i., for advancing and upholding foreign jurisdiction. If we believe Cox, he humbled himself to the Court, and voluntary and upon oath made a recognition, - 1. That he wasn't lawful Vicar General in the dioceses of Dublin, Kildare, and Ferns. 2. He doth acknowledge King James to be his supreme governor in all causes, as well ecclesiastical as civil.  3. That all bishops ordained by the King’s authority within any of his dominions are lawful bishops.  4. He professeth himself willing to obey the King as in all his lawful commandments, either concerning his function of priesthood or any other duty belonging to a good subject.’ He was indulged with more liberty, & would undoubtedly have been enlarged if he had not privately protested that his confession did not extend to the King’s authority in Spiritual causes but in temporal only.  And this being told the Lord Deputy, it was resolved to try him upon the statute of præmunire.1 Upon this indictment he was found guilty, & Justice Sarsfield pronounced the sentence of the law against him. On April 23rd, the Deputy and Council wrote to the Lords of the Council, that ‘they had advertised them in their last of the apprehension of one Lalor, a priest. They could not then write anything more particularly of him, but having twice since examined him, they find by his own confession that he hath incurred the old statute of præmunire, & of the first offence of the statute of the second of the late Queen in this kingdom.’ 1 Cox says that he did not hear that the sentence was ever executed on him2. 1 Ibid., p. 448 2 Hib. Angl.., ii, ll 1 See preface to C.S.PI. (1606-8), p. lxxv. 1 Hib. Angi., ii.II 1 Letter of F. Holywood, S.J., in Dist. irishmen, p. 171 2 C.S.P.I. (1603-1606) p. 406 3 Sir Arthur Chichester 4 Dermot Creagh, appointed Bishop of Cork and Cloyne in 1560. The date of his death is uncertain. See Brady’s Epis. Succ., ii.90 5 Matthew de Oviedo, Archbishop of Dublin from 1600 to 1609. See Moran’s Archbishops, p. 193 6 The commander of the Spanish forces which came to assist the Irish in 1601 7 C.S.Rl. (1606— 1608), p.416

HE was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis.  After enduring great hardships in prison, he died in chains for the faith in the year 1628.1 Anno 1628, upon the 2nd of November, being Sunday at night, the titular Bishop of Down and Connor died in the Castle of Dublin.  He was accused by one Patrick O’Mulvany, a Popish priest, of a conspiracy to bring in foreign powers.  The Tuesday following, at four o’clock in the morning, he was brought forth and buried in St. Warborough’s churchyard.’  Hunting of the Romish Fox, p.195 On the 7 of September of the following year,  the Archbishop elect of Armagh, the Archbishop of Dublin, and the Bishop elect of Kilmore,  in a letter to Pope Urban VIII,.,  pray him to appoint Bonaventure Magennis, O.S.F., to the See, and they add :  ‘We pity the desolate condition of the church of Down and Connor more than that of any other,  for it has been deprived of two most illustrious champions of the faith one after the other.’2       1 Anno 1628, upon the 2nd of November, being Sunday at night, the titular Bishop of Down and Connor died in the Castle of Dublin.  He was accused by one Patrick O’Mulvany, a Popish priest, of a conspiracy to bring in foreign powers.  The Tuesday following, at four o’clock in the morning, he was brought forth and buried in St. Warborough’s churchyard.’ Hunting of the Romish Fox, p.195 2 Brady’s Epis. Succession, .270. Theo there was Cornelius O’Devany. See p. 238, antea