assecuturam speramus si fidei Catholicae commoda principibus Christianis et inprimis Imperatori qui summa nunc apud haereticos auctoritate valet, commendare voluerit. Elucescat tandem aliquando Bme Pater, et ope haud dubie vestra elucescet felix ille dies cum teterrimum hoc bellum desinet quo ubique terrarum tauta Xtiani sanguinis copia fusa est, et pax bonis omnibus tantopere desiderata, aurea illa saecula quae discordiarum diturnitate ex hominum fere memoria exciderunt tandem reducet: tunc potissimum temporis cum scilicet de pacis conditionibus agetur nonnullas ejusdem pacis compositioni operâ et auxilio Sts Vrae insertum iri clausulas speramus, quibus Religioni Catholicae et Regi nostro, principi tum religiosissimo cum meritissimo succurretur et favebitur. Haec sunt omnium hujusce Regni Catholicorum vota quae eorum nomine ego solus in hac Insula superstes ArchiEpus Sd Vrae defero et enixe commendo,

TESTIMONIAL LETTERS OF THE DEAN AND CHAPTER OF ST. PETER'S AT CASLET IN FLANDERS, IN FAVOUR OF DR. HUGH MACMAHON, 23RD APRIL, 1706.

(FROM THE ARCHIVES OF PROPAGANDA.)

[Dr. Hugh MacMahon was appointed Bishop of Clogher, by Brief dated 15th March, 1707, and was translated to the Primatial See of Armagh in 1713. He died August 2nd, 1737.]

Praepositus, Decanus, et Capitulum insignis Collegiatae, Sedique Apostolicae immediate subjectae, Ecclesiae Sancti Petri oppidi Casletensis, Dioecesis Yprensis in Flandria, omnibus has visuris salutem in Domino.

11.

2 c

Fidem facimus et testamur Reverendum admodum D. Hugonem Matthei, alias MacMahon, Presbyterum, Sac. Theologiae Doctorem, ac Canonicum hujus Ecclesiae, apud eamdem decem annis continuis resedisse, vitae honestate, doctrina, eruditione, piètate, necnon assiduitate in frequentandis chori caeterisque Ecclesiae officiis, omnibus exemplo fuisse singulari: ita ut a nobis ubique dignus sit singulariter commendari. In quorum fidem ac robur praesentes sigillo nostro Capitulari ac Secretarii signatura communiri fecimus. Datas in Capitulo die 23° Aprilis, 1706.

De mandato Perillustrium et Reverendissimorum DD. Praepositi, Decani, et Capituli praefati,

Locus Sigilli.

J. BERNAND, Secretarius.

CXXXIX.

LETTER FROM DUBLIN, 27TH AUGUST, 1707.

(FROM THE VATICAN ARCHIVES.)

Copia Epistolae Dublini datae die 16° Augusti, 1707, stilo veteri, novo autem die 27° Augusti.

Sedit Parlamentum nostrum ab initio Julii, leges condit, quibus nedum praecavetur Papismi incrementum, verum etiam omne assumitur medium ad illum hinc prorsus extirpandum. Ipsi presbyteri hactenus tollerati, exulare aut abjurationis juramentum praestare cogentur. Novem, decem, aut plures sacerdotes hucusque tollerabantur, nunc autem unus duntaxat, et si quis alius praeter hunc unicum fuerit repertus, prima vice multabitur egregiè, secunda vice reus erit laesae Majestatis. Unus eorum nuper captus est, et in nova porta (vulgo Newgate) incarceratus.

Praeterea, ut delatores et accusatores eorum animosius agant, decretum est, ut quisquis ullum Archiepiscopum, Episcopum, Vicarium Generalem aut Decanum detexerit, quinquaginta libras sterlingas (h.e. florenos 500) recipiet, si autem Regularem ullum, aut presbyterum non registratum detexerit, accipiet libras viginti (seu flor. 200); et has summas solvere certo debebunt Papistae illius loci, ubi fuerit supradictorum aliquis repertus.

Praeterea nedum Proles, ut ultimo Parlamento statutum erat, verum et uxores, Protestantium religionem amplectentes, liberam plenamque habebunt bonorum parentum aut maritorum administrationem.

Denique omnia, et singula damna, per Corsarios Gallos Protestantibus illata, aut infèrenda, Papistae resarcire debebunt.

Ad haec stabilienda decreta conduxit plurimum oratio Proregis habita die 7 Julii in domo Nobilium. Inter alia ait: S. Majestas, tota pro bono hujus regni promovendo solicita, et interessata, vos pro legibus condendis, quibus regni augeatur felicitas, et adversus inimicos extraneos et domesticos natio secure praeservetur, huc convocavit, etc.

Hodie Londinum versus hinc discessit Mylord Cunningsby, formata decreta secum defert, ut per regium S. Majestatis consilium ibidem confirmentur.

CXL.

LETTER OF THE PORTUGUESE ENVOY TO THE INTERNUNCIO IN BRUSSELS, FROM LONDON, 29TH OCTOBER, 1707.

(FROM THE VATICAN ARCHIVES.)

Londres, 29 Octob., 1707.

A MONSEIGNEUR L'INTERNONCE DE BRUSELLES,

L'affaire des pauvres Catholiques d'Irlande, qui en peu de mots consiste dans l'explanation d'un acte qui avoit déjà passé dans les autres séances du Parlement de ce Royaume là, y ajoutant à present ce que vous verrez dans ce papier, a eu le succès que je me suis immaginé parceque Mylord Beillu, qui s'était fait Protestant depuis deux ans pour avoir un heritage ne pouvoit pas y parvenir sans faire exclure les proches parents Catholiques, et à cette fin il a apporté dans le Parlement ces clauses, et autres encore qui tendent à la ruine entière du Catholicisme d'Irlande, ou dans la suite des temps il sera entierement éteint, si l'on procède de cette maniere.

Tout ce que j'ay pu faire a été que le jour que cette affaire a été

proposée devant la Reine pour avoir son approbation, son conseil l'a renvoyé au Chancelier au grand Justicier, et au Procureur General, mais le dit Mylord et Mylord Quinusby, qui etoit venu de l'Irlande pour solliciter cette affair ont si bien fait, que ces trois Ministres ont donné ces suffrages afin que la Reyne approuvat le dit Bille sans aucune moderation, ou changement, de sorte que les mêmes Irlandois par des interêts particuliers se ruinent les uns les autres, et la Religion perit entierement. Car en Irlande on execute les loix à la rigueur contre les Catholiques, au lieu qu'en Angleterre il n'y a une seule qui ait eu son execution.

Voilà tout ce que je vous puis dire, vous priant de croire que cette affaire m'a fait bien de la peine, etc.

Londres, 29 Octobre.

D. LUIGI DE Cugna.

CXLI.

LETTER OF DR. EDMUND BYRNE TO THE POPE, IN DECEMBER, 1707.

(FROM THE ARCHIVES OF PROPAGANDA).

[Dr. Edmund Byrne was appointed Archbishop of Dublin by Brief dated 15th of March, 1707. He died on the 10th February, 1723. He appointed Rev. Thomas Moran his agent in Rome. The Official Letter to the Holy See here published was enclosed to the Archbishop's correspondent in Louvain, whose name is not given, and was accompanied with the following note:-"This is the second of the kinde I remitted, the first haveing miscarryed, and truely it is dangerous in the last degree to s gue such instruments, the lawe here is soe severe. I had the honour of a letter from you some months agoe wherein you were pleased to tell me of the Faculty es and another bill, but heard nothing of either since. The suppliment to the Paliyom knowe is absolutely necessary, and therefore I begg you will procure it and acquaint your friend in Lovayne of it. My service to Mr. Fagan and tell him his brother is very well here and I hope shall soon be provided for. Your very humble servant, EDMOND BYRN."]

BEATISSIME PATER,

Sanctitatis Suae favores et mandata die 31° Martii labentis anni 1707 ea qua decuit animi submissione et promptitudine recepi per transmissam ad me Bullam qua tenuitatem meam in Dublinensis

Ecclesiae Pastorem et Antistitem nominare et eligere dignata est Sanctitas Sua. Haec tua mandata, hi favores desideratum sortita sunt effectum et in praefatae Dublinensis Ecclesiae Archiepiscopum consecratus fui die Dominico 31° Augusti currentis anni 1707, styl. vet. in hac civitate Dublinensi, ab Ill. et Reverendissimo D. Patritio Donelly Episcopo Dromorensi, assistentibus Ill. et Revmo D. Thadaeo Francisco O'Roirke Alladensi Episcopo, et Reverendo admodum Domino Fargasio O'Ferrall Archidiacono Ecclesiae Ardaghadensis, cum inter caeteras nostras calamitates nec duo quidem Catholici Episcopi commode in hoc regno haberi poterant.

[Then follows the usual Episcopal Juramentum and Profession of Faith. At the end is added :-)

Humillime supplico pro Brevi Apostolico loco Pallii Archiepiscopalis, cum istud vix ant ne vix quidem huc transmitti possit per latorem saltem Ecclesiasticum; per leges quippe hic nuper editas districte sub poena perduellionis inhibetur ulli Ecclesiastico huc reverti; in calamitatibus etenim et miseriis fere intollerabilibus ac continuis persecutionibus fideles hujus afflictissimae nationis ingemiscunt.

Beatitudinis Tune,

humillimus filius et famulus,

EDMUNDUS, Dublinensis.

CXLII.

LETTER OF THE PORTUGUESE ENVOY IN LONDON TO THE CARDINAL SECRETARY OF STATE, 19TH DECEMBER, 1707.

(FROM THE VATICAN ARCHIVES.)

A Sua Eminenza il Sig. Cardinale Paolucci.

Londra, 19 Decemb. 1707.

Ho ricevuta l'umanissima di V. E. de' 29 Ottob. e le rendo infinite grazie per l'onore che mi fà di credere ch'io non avrò mai negletta ogni congiontura di vivamente impiegarmi, come devo, in