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We had been to Hawkhurst before. About a decade ago when we stopped for breakfast on the way to Sissinghurst.

Despite we both thinking we had also been to Cranbrook, I have no memory, nor any photographs.

But the mill, said Jools sai.d I had no idea.

Whilst Hawkhurst was a busy but not pretty place, Cranbrook was just beautiful. The main road dipped down through rows of white clapboard houses and where it turned right 90 degrees, there on the highest point was the church.

It was midday, and I was hungry, and what I felt I needed was a cream tea. Just as well then that there was tea rooms opposite the car park.

A cream tea consisted of a pot of tea, another of hot water, milk and sugar, two scones each, cream and lashings of strawberry jam.

It was a meal.

Once we had eaten, I walk up the street and into the churchyard, where the sandy coloured church rose from the green churchyard.

Old Father Time stood above the tower clock, reminding us he would come for us soon enough.

But not today.

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This church grew from a small Saxo-Norman structure in the fourteenth century, using profits from the English cloth-making industry which was based in the town. It is a large church with several unique features, the most important of which is a font for full adult immersion. This was built under a small stone staircase that leads to a room over the south porch. In reality it was like an upright coffin, constructed in 1710 by the then parson, John Johnson, but it seems only to have been used on one occasion. There are very few of these features to be found in England. A table at the back of the church is made from the upturned sounding board of the eighteenth-century pulpit. The very fine carved Royal Arms of George II were given in 1756. In the north aisle is a collection of sixteenth-century stained glass depicting coats of arms of the Guilford family, and some nice windows by Kempe.

www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Cranbrook

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CRANBROOKE

LIES the next parish eastward from Goudhurst, a small part of it is in the north borough of the hundred of Great Barnefield, and another small part in the borough of Iborden, in the hundred of Barkley, and all the residue in the hundred of Cranbrooke. It is an the western division of the country.

THIS PARISH is situated in the centre of the Weald, of which it is a principal one as to its wealth, size, and consequence, being about eight miles long, and fix in breadth; it is exceeding healthy, and considering the deepness of the soil, and the frequency of the woods, far from being unpleasant; the oaks interpersed over it, like the adjoining country, are numerous and of a large size, the hedge-rows broad, and the inclosures small. The north and east parts especially are covered with woods, which consist mostly of oak. There are several rises of small hill and dale throughout it; the soil is in general, excepting in that part of it northward of the church, about Anglye, where it is a light sand, and the lands of course poor, a kindly fort of clay, which is rendered more fertile by its native rich marle, of which there is much throughout it; besides arable, there is much rich pasture and fatting land, and some hundred acres of good hop-ground. The principal high roads from London, Maidstone and Tunbridge, by Brenchley, Yalding, and Stylebridge, meet here near the town, and lead from hence by different branches to Tenterden and Romney Marsh; to Hawkhurst and Suffex, and to Smarden, Charing, and the eastern parts of Kent. They are wholly made with sand, and though in wet weather they are exceedingly firm and good, yet in dry seasons, from the looseness of the sand, they become very deep and heavy, and by the heat and dust arising from them, are so very offensive and painful, as to become almost intolerable; the bye roads are very bad in winter, and so very deep and miry, as to be but barely passable till they are hardened by the drouth of summer. It is well watered by several small Streamlets, the principal ones of which joint the branch of the Medway just below Hedcorne.

There are three chalybeate springs in the parish, at Sifinghurt, Glassenbury, and Anglye. The waters of them are much like those at Tunbridge, and when weighed prove heavier, but they have not near so much spirit. The town of Cranbrook is situated on the western side of the parish, on the road leading from Maidstone by Stylebridge towards Hawkhurst and Suffex. at the 52d mile-stone, and consists of one large wide street, of about a mile in length, having the church nearly in the centre of it. There is but a very small part of it paved, from the market-place eastward, which was begun in 1654, being done through mere necessity; the depends and mire of the soil before, being not only a great hindrance to the standing of the market people, but to the passing of all travellers in general. The market is still held on a Saturday, for corn and hops, and is a very plentiful one for meat and other provisions. It was obtained by archbishop Peckham, anno 18 Edward I. And there are two fairs held yearly, on May 30, and Sept. 29, for horned cattle, horses linen drapery, toys, &c. but the latter is the largest, at which there is a great deal of business done in the top trade.

¶Here was the centre of the cloathing trade, one of the pillars of the kingdom, which formerly flourished in these parts, and greatly enriched not only this county, but the nation in general. The occupation of it was formerly of considerables consequences and estimation, and was exercised by persons who possessed most of the landed property in the Weald, insomuch that almost all the antient families of these parts, now of large estates, and genteel rank in life, and some of them ennobled by titles, are sprung from, and owe their fortunes to ancestors who have used this great staple manufacture, now almost unknown here. Among others, the Bathursts, Ongleys, Courthopes. Maplesdens, Gibbons's, Westons, Plumers, Austens, Dunkes, and Stringers. They were usually called, from their dress, the grey coats of Kent, and were a body to numerous and united, that at county elections, whoever had their votes and interest was almost certain of being elected. It was first introduced here by king Edward III who, in his 10th year, invited some of the Flemings into England, by promises of large rewards, and grants of several immunities, to teach the English the cloth manufacture; but this trade, after flourishing here for so many centuries, is now almost disused in these parts, there being only two houses of it remaining in this parish; but there is yet some little of the woolstapling business carried on. The inhabitants throughout the parish, who are in general wealthy and substantial, are computed to be about 3000, of which a great part are differenters from the church of England, for whose use there are four meeting-houses in the town, one for Presbyterians, the second for Methodistical Baptists, the third for Cavinistical Baptists, and the fourth for Independants. The Presbyterians formerly were the most numerous fect throughout this county; but they are greatly diminished of late years, and the Methodistical Baptists are the prevailing sect, and greatly increasing every year, through every part of it. Besides these there is a meeting-house for the Quakers, with a burying ground, but I beleive there is not one of this fact in the parish, though they yet hold an annual meeting here.

SISSINGHURST is a manor of great note here. It was antiently called Saxenburst, and is very early times was in the possessions of a family of the same name, as appears by the Testa de Nevil, kept in the exchequer, being an account of all those who, holding their lands by knight's service, paid their relief, in the 20th year of Edward III. towards the marriage of the king's sister; in which John de Saxenhurst is there taxed, towards that did, for his lands at Cranebrook, which certainly were those of Sissinghurst, with the two small appendant manors of COPTON and STONE, which always have had the same owners. By a female heir of Saxenhurst, this manor, with its appendages above-mentioned, passed into the name of Berham. Richard, son of Henry de Berham, resided here in the reign of Edward III. and in his descendants it continued down till the latter end of Henry VII. When one of them alienated part of Sissinghurst, with Copton and Stone, to Thomas Baker, esq. who was before settled in this parish. This family had been settled in Cranbrooke so early as the reign of Edward III. as appears by the records of the court of king's bench, in the 44th year of which reign Thomas Bakere, of this parish, was possessed of lands in it, and was then fued by the prior of Christ-church in a plea of treaspass, for cutting down trees, which grew on his own soil here, in a place called Omendenneshok, within the prior's lodge of Cranbrooke, which was a drosdenne, the prior prescribing for all oak and beech in the drovedens within his lordship, together with the pannage; and the jury found for the plaintiff, &c. (fn. 5) Sir John Baker, grandson of Thomas first before-mentioned, was bred to the law, and became eminent in that profession, as well as in his promotion to different high posts of trust and honour in the service of the crown and state; being in several parts of his life recorder of London, attorney general, chancellor of the exchequer, and privy counsellor in king Henry VIII. and the three following reigns, and ambassador to the court of Denmark in 1526. He died in London in 1558, and was brought hither in great state, and buried in the vault in Cranbrooke church, in which his several descendants lie deposited likewise. They bore for their arms, Azure, on a fess, or, three cinquesoils pierced, gules, between three swans heads, erased, or gorged with coronets, gules. (fn. 6) He had procured his lands to be disgavelled by the acts both of 31 king Henry VIII. and 2 and 3 Edward VI. and before the latter year, at least, had purchased the remainder of this manor and estate, and becoming thus possessed of the entire fee of it, he built a most magnificent seat on it, the ruins of which still remind us of its former splendor, and he inclosed a large park round it. He left two sons, Richard; and John, who was father of Sir Richard Baker, the English Chronicler, and from this family likewise was descended the learned John Selden, born in 1584, whose mother was the only daughter and heir of Thomas Baker, of Rushington. (fn. 7) Sir Richard Baker, the eldest son, resided at Sissinghurst, where he entertained queen Elizabeth, in her progrels into this county, in July 1573. His eldest grandson Sir Henry Baker, of Sissinghurst, was created a baronet in 1611, Sir John Baker, of Sissinghurst, knight and baronet, his grandson, the last of his name here, died in 1661, leaving only four daughters, who became his coheirs, Anne, married to Edmund Beaghan, esq. Elizabeth, to Robert, Spencer, esq. Mary, to John Dowel, esq. of Over, in Gloucestershire, and Katherine, to Roger Kirkby, esq. whose respective husbands became in their rights jointly entitled to this estate.

A moiety of this estate, as well as two-thirds of it, by the deaths of Robert Spencer, and Elizabeth his wife, s. p. and by the conveyance of Catherine, widow of Roger Kirkby, afterwards coming into the possession of Edmund Hungate Beaghan, esq. (son of Edmund above-mentioned) who resided at Sissinghurst, and bore for his arms, Argent, a chevron, gules, within a bordure, sable, bezantee, were by him passed away by sale in 1730, an act having passed to enable him so to do, to the trustees of Sir Horace Mann, bart. who is the present possessor of them.

The fourth part of John Dowel, esq. came on his death in 1698, to his son John Baker Dowel, esq. of Over, who bore for his arms, Argent, a lion rampant, within a bordure engrailed, sable. (fn. 8) He died possessed of it in 1738, as he likewise did of the remaining third of the fourth part, which had descended to him by the deaths of Robert Spencer, and Elizabeth his wife, s. p. in both which he was succeeded by his son John Baker Bridges Dowel, esq. of the same place. At this death in 1744, he devised his interest in this estate to the Rev. Staunton Degge, who conveyed them to Galfridus Mann, esq. whose son Sir Horace Mann, bart. being thus entitled to all the several interests as abovementioned in this estate, is become the possessor of the entire fee of these manors, the mansion of Sissinghurst, and the lands and estates belonging to them.

¶The mansion of Sissinghurst stands towards the northeast boundaries of this parish, in a situation far from pleasant, lying low in a wet clayey soil, without prospect, and enveloped with large tracts of surrounding woodland. The house having been long uninhabited was let out during the late war for the confinement of the French prisoners, whence it gained the name of Sissingburst castle, after which it became again uninhabited, and has since been pulling down piecemeal from time to time, for the sake of the materials, so that what is left of it is now no more than ruins. The park has been disparked many years since. There was a chapel founded at Sissinghurst by John de Saxenhurst, which was re-edified by Sir John Baker, bart. in the reign of king Charles I. and by a deed delivered in 1627 to John Bancrost, bishop of Oxford, was devoted to the service of God, and dedicated, as it was before, to St. John the Evangelist; upon which it was consecrated by the bishop, with the usual ceremonies and benedictions.

CRANBROOKE is within the ECCLESTASTICAL. JURISDICTION of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Charing.

The church is dedicated to St. Dunstan, confessor, and is very large and handsome. It consists of three isles and three chancels. The pillars on each side of the middle isle are beautifully slender and well proportioned. The west end has a gallery over it, ornamented with printing. The pews are uniform, and made of wainscot, and the pavement black and white marble. The high chancel is well ceiled, and decorated with paintings. The east window is full of fine stained glass, many of the rigures of it being entire, and richly ornamented as to their drapery, &c. There are several shields of arms remaining in it, among which are those of Wilsford, Guldeford, quartered with Halden, within the order of the garter, and archbishop Bourchier, being those of the see of Canterbury, impaling first and fourth, Bouchier, second and third, gules, a fess between twelve billets, or. Archbishop Tenison, in 1710, was a benefactor in repairing of the high chancel. (fn. 12) Against the east wall of the south chancel is a very high and broad pyramid of white marble, on which there is a full account of the family of Roberts, inscribed by a most pompous scheme of pedigree, with the numerous coats of arms properly emblazoned. At the west end is a square tower steeple, in which are eight bells and a set of chimes. On the west side of the tower were formerly carved in the stone-work, though now decayed by time, the arms of Berham, Bectenham and Wilsford, in antient times owners of lands, as has been already mentioned, in this parish. In the south isle over the vault, in which the remains of the Bakers and their descendants lie, is a superb pyramid of white, marble, on which are the names and the dates of their deaths, and at the top of it their arms. It was erected by John Baker Dowel, esq. of Over, son of John and Mary, in 1736.

In 1725, part of this church fell down, but was quickly afterwards rebuilt. It was occasioned by some persons digging in the vault belonging to the Baker family, by which two stones, on which one of the main pillars stood, gave way, and the pillar cracked, soon after thirty or forty feet of the middle isle fell in, by which the pews were all crushed, and the cost to repair it was estimated at near 2000l. There is a room; with a staircase to it, adjoining the church, in which there is a large dipping-place, for the use of such Baptists who are desirous of being admitted into the established church; but in seventy years past it has been but twice made use of for this purpose. It was provided by Mr. Johnson, vicar of this church. In this church was a chantry, founded by the will of J. Roberts, esq. of Glassenbury, in 1460, for a priest to say mass here for ever. And he ordered that twenty pounds be laid out to remove the rood-lost, and setting it on the high chancel. And being so considerable a benefactor to this church, his figure was painted in the windows of the north isle, kneeling, in armour, with his helmet lying by him, before a desk, with a book on it, and an inscription, to pray for him and his wife, and his son Walter, and his three wives. Walter Roberts abovementioned, by his will 13 Henry VIII. directed Thomas his son to find a priest to celebrate divine service at St. Giles's altar in this church, for the souls of his father, mother, his wives, and his own; for which service he should have been marcs yearly, payable by his heirs for ever, out of his lands in this parish and Goudhurst. And he gave further to this church towards the making of the middle isle, one half of all the timber of that work.

The church of Cranbrooke was part of the antient possessions of the see of Canterbury, to which it was appropriated in the 6th year of Edward III. with the king's licence; and the same was afterwards confirmed by pope Clement VI. at which time there appears to have been a vicarage endowed here. The archbishop continued owner of the appropriation of this rectory, and of the advowson of the vicarage till the reign of Henry VIII. when archbishop Cranmer, by his deed, anno 31 Henry VIII. granted the rectory, among other premises, in exchange, to that king, reserving the advowson of the vicarage to himself and his successors. Soon after which the king settled it by his dotation charter, in his 33d year, on his new-erected dean and chapter of Canterbury, part of whose possessions it now remains. (fn. 13) In 1644 Sir John Roberts was lessee, at the rent of 33l. 6s. 8d. per annum. The present lessee is Mrs. Lawson.

¶When the vicarage of Cranbrooke was endowed, I have not found; but in 1364 and 1371, the portion of the vicar was augmented, and in the latter year the prior and convent of Christ-church, Canterbury, confirmed the confirmation of archbishop William, of the donation of his predecessor archbishop Simon, of 6000 of towod granted to the vicar of Cranbrooke, of the tenths, of silve cedue belonging to the church of Cranbrooke.

It is valued in the king's books at 19l. 19s. 4½d. and the yearly tenths at 1l. 19s. 11¾d. In 1578 here were 1905 communicants. On a survey taken in 1648, after the abolition of deans and chapters, it appeared that there was a parsonage-house, an orchard, little garden, two great barns, and other buildings; and that the late dean and chapter, in 1636, demised to John Roberts, esq. these premises, and all manner of tithes of corn and grass, for twenty-one years, at 33l. 6s. 8d. per annum, but that they were worth, over and above that rent, 228l. 13s. 4d. per annum. The lessees to repair the chancel and the market-cross of the town.

There is no part of this parish which claims an exemption of tithes; but there is a small and irregular modus upon all the lands in it, in lieu of vicarial tithes. There are no tithes paid Specifically for hops, though there are upwards of six hundred acres planted in this parish, as being included in the above mentioned modus.

The glebe land consists of the scite of the vicarage, the garden, and about three quarters of an acre of meadow. There are some old houses belonging to the vicarage, which, when the taxes and repairs are deducted, produce very little clear income.

Anno 1314, a commission was issued for settling a dispute between the rectors of Biddenden and Cranbrooke, concerning the bounds of their respective parishes.

www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol7/pp90-113

Holy Cross Abbey Sligo (Ruins) (24) by Irish Dominican Photographers

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SLIGO ABBEY

There is no evidence to show that O 'Connor of Sligo was the founder, or even the restorer, of the abbey. It is probable, however, that both he and Pierce O'Timony, to whom elaborate monuments were erected in the church, were munificent benefactors.

1418. Tigernan, son of Ualgarc Ua Ruairc, namely, king of Breifni, died this year: to wit, a man who defended his territory against the neighbours and was best of hospitality and prowess and charity that was in his time. And he was buried in the monastery of Sligech.

1484. Brian Mac Donough, monarch of Tirerrill, co. Sligo, was buried here Annals of Dud. Mac Firbis.

1568. Jan. 25. " The Queen [Elizabeth] to O'Conor Sligo.

. . . Lastly, we let you to understande that upon his humble and reasonable request, we are well contented that the howse of the Fryerie of Sligo, whearin, he sayth, the sepulture of his auncestors hayth bene, shal be so preserved, as the Friars there, being converted to secular prestes, the same Howse may remayne and contynue, as well for the sepulchre of his posteritie, as for the mayntenance of prayer and service of God."

1585. Inquisition, taken in 27th Eliz., finds that this friary contained a church, steeple and cemetery ; two other stone buildings of no value ; a quarter of land of every kind, with the tithes thereof when under tillage, called the Fynut [? Fryer] quarter, annual value besides reprises, 133. 4d. ; a fishing weir, annual value, besides reprises, 35. 4d., made parcel of the same possessions, which together with the said friary was in the occupation of certain priests who had formerly been friars of the monastery.

In 1591, among the proofs of matters of fact contained in the declaration of title of earl of Kildare to Sligo, is mentioned " the building of the castle and monastery of Sligo by the Earl's ancestors, proved by hearsay of witnesses and by another who saith the same is fair written in the Book of Antifihonalles, of the abbey of Sligo."

The fathers were evidently left in quiet possession of the abbey for the greater part of Elizabeth's reign, for, in 1593, we find Father O'Duane writing a letter from the Convent of Sligo. In 1595, however, George Bingham, brother of the president of Connaught, took up his quarters in the abbey, when he was besieging O'Donnell's warders who were in the castle, and ordered an engine to be constructed for demolishing it. This they constructed of the rood-screen, and of the bed-chambers of the friars and of other implements they found in, the monastery.

It is probable that shortly after this, the fathers, who had dwindled down in numbers till hardly any remained, were driven out of the abbey, which was granted to William Taaffe. In 1608, the only Dominican left in Sligo was Father O'Duane, who died that year, but, before he closed his eyes in death, Father Daniel O'Crean arrived from Spain to take his place and form a new community. In 1622, there were ten fathers in Sligo under Father O'Crean as prior, who was again prior in 1629, over a community of eight priests, three or four young clerics and a few novices

In 1627, a provincial chapter had been held in Sligo.

In the war of 1641, some of the fathers were the first victims of the Puritans. Lord Chichester, who certainly had little partiality for the insurgents, writing to the King from Belfast, in 1641, in a document now in the Record Office, states that the Irish had then captured Dungannon, Charlemont, Tanderagee, and Newry, with all their military stores, but so far he could not learn that " they had slain more than one man." Sufficient evidence of the manner in which the civil war was waged by those who then commanded the King's forces in Ireland is afforded by a very rare and little known personal narrative left by one of the officers, which, although written in the third person, is shown by internal evidence to have been the work of the hero whose deeds are recorded. From this remarkable tract the following passages are quoted: "A true relation of the manner of our Colonel Sir Frederick Hamilton's returne from Londonderry, with the services performed by the Horse and Foote Companies which he commanded, garrisoned at Manor Hamilton in Leitrim."

. . . " July 1st, with horse and foote our Colonel marcht about midnight to the Castle walls, and after much delays and joyned by his own party took possession of the castle.

. . . Our Colonel then marcht towards the towne of Sligo. With horse and foot we fell on a great many good houses full of people near the bridge, and burned and destroyed them all. At the south-west end of the town we crossed the river, which brought us close to the Friary, burned the superstitious trumperies of the Masse and many things given for safety to the Fryars.

. . . The Fryars themselves were also burnt, and two of them running out were killed in their habits."

. . . "Wearisome our marche and hot our service in burning that night of the towne of Sligo, where it is confest by themselves we destroyed more than 300 persons by fire, sword, and drowning to God's everlasting honour and glory and our comforts."

The community, of course, was broken up during the course of the war, but was formed again after the Restoration. Its temporal welfare was well looked after by Father Phelim O'Conor. In 1668, Father O'Conor put out to interest, for the benefit of the Sligo community, £300 which Terence O'Connell had left behind him, when he died in London. From this time till the general exile of 1698, there were generally nine fathers in community. After this exile, some of the fathers returned in spite of the penal edicts, and, in 1703, there were, according to the Provincial's account, five fathers in Sligo, one of whom, Father Patrick O'Conor, was lying in prison.

On March 6, 1702, at Sligo, " Patrick O'Conor stood indicted the Lent Assizes before, for not departing out of this kingdom, the first day of May, 1698, he being a Dominican fryer. Ordered that he be confined in goale without bail until he be transported pursuant to the late act. The Grand Jury for the said county, at the said Assizes, did present that the Judges of Assize would lay this matter before the Government, in order to have the said Patrick O'Conor transported, which was ordered by the Court."

Five were generally the number of the community during the eighteenth century, In the Lords' Committee Returns of 1731, it is stated that in Sligo there is " one Friary, the friars dispersed about the country, not above three or four known."

A neat little chapel was erected at the back of the houses in Pound Street, in the latter half of the eighteenth century. In 1803, Father Brennan, who had been many years in Sligo, made a public appeal for funds for the " Fryary Chapel of Sligo," which was " tottering into decay."

The present church, which has been greatly enlarged and improved within recent years, was dedicated to divine service by Dr. Daniel O'Conor, O.S.A., formerly vicar-apostolic of Madras, on the feast of the Epiphany, 1848. The present convent was finished and occupied by the fathers in 1865.

Ballymote, in the county Sligo. The church, which is still used as a place of burial by all the surrounding parishes, is only fifty feet in length by twenty in breath and there are now no traces of the abbey.

From the registry of Sligo abbey, we learn that Father Bernard Mac Donough, son of Dermot of Ballynedan, called the prior, a lector of theology in Sligo abbey, founded the monastery of Clunimilian (Cloonymeaghan), near Sligo, which afterwards became a vicariate of Sligo abbey.

1584. The chapel, or cell, of the Mendicant Friars of the Order of St. Dominic, called Clonymeaghan, etc., with one quarter of land of every kind, called Ronyroge, with the tithes, etc., was found to be worth thirteen shillings and fourpence, per annum, and had been concealed and unknown for a long time, owing to the wars and the incivility of those parts.

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The site was granted at first, on March 12, 1588, to Richard Kindlemersh, then to the Taafifes, from whom, with the rest of the property, is passed to the earl of Shelbourne, except about two acres under and around the ruins, which belonged to the Dodwells and was transmitted by them to their relative, Mr. Creighton, the present owner.

FATHER THADY O'DUANE

BEING a member of the Dominican Order in Ireland from the time of the suppression of the monasteries till the reign of James I. Father O'Duane was the principal link connecting the old with the new order of things. He was Provincial in 1563, long before his native abbey of Sligo had been suppressed, in which year he received Sister Honor Burke in the Third Order. From a letter he wrote to the General of the Order, in 1593, we find that he had been appointed vicar of the province, by the late Provincial, Father Mac Tugan [Egan ?], before the latter's death. The General confirmed the appointment the same year ; again in the following year and again in 1597. Father O'Duane ruled the province as vicar till 1600, when Father O'Crean, also of Sligo, was appointed Provincial. On the latter going to Spain three years later, he left Fr. O'Duane to fill his place. In 1604, Father O'Duane was Provincial himself and held the office till his death in 1608, in which year he was appointed again, with the proviso that, in case of his death, Father Patrick Thady was to be Provincial

The Acts of the general chapter of 1656 gives several edifying anecdotes regarding him. It appears that on one occasion, when captured by the Protestant garrison of Burrishoole Castle, he converted them all and they dispersed themselves through the country in order not to be won to heresy again. When, worn but with the weight of years and a laborious life, he was about to die, he consoled the Catholics who were attending him and were lamenting that there was no priest to succour him, with the assurance that he should not depart this life till a priest of the Order would come to him to assist him in his agony and remain among them to carry on the work of administering the sacraments. This happened as he had foretold, for, on the very day of his death, Father Daniel O'Crean (not the late Provincial) arrived from Lisbon after having finished his studies, and prepared him for his end. He was buried hi the church of Sligo abbey.

FATHER PHELIM O'CONOR

O'HEYNE is incorrect in assigning Father O'Conor's death to 1686. His name is not to be found in the Provincial's lists of the fathers of Roscommon and Sligo from 1682 to 1686. The true version of his death is given by Father Mac Donagh, who, in an account of the financial state of the Sligo community, the original manuscript of which is still preserved by the fathers there, written in Bilbao, in 1703, thus refers to him :

" It is most sure when y e R. fa. M Felix O'Conor was Prior of Sligoe, y e Con* had fiftheen Silver Chalices and three pixes ; the said fa : died a prisoner in Sligoe in y e heate of Shaftsberry's Plott y e year 1679. There was such a cruel and vigorous persecution in those dayes, y* none of y e fathers of our Convent cud assist him nor come neere him, nor gett any satisfactory account of our goods and effects at y e time. I was imediately elected Prior after his death, "etc.

A letter from Father O’Connor, written at Brussels in 1653, giving an interesting account of his adventures during the Cromwellian war. From this letter it appears he was prior of the Black Abbey, Kilkenny, at that time, and excited such opposition from the Supreme Council for obeying the nuncio's interdict, that on three several occasions he was brought before them and threatened with exile. On the surrender of the town to Cromwell, he was excepted from quarter, but, managing to escape, he made his way to the convent of Burrishoole in the county Mayo, where he was immediately elected prior. Attacks were made on this convent by the Parliamentarians, but were repulsed on two occasions by Father O'Conor and some soldiers he had with him. However, on the third attack being made, the convent was at length forced, several of the religious were wounded and some captured, while others made good their escape to the mountains. Father O'Conor, taking a little boy with him, seized a boat, a mere dug-out canoe, and managed to get to Clare Island, sixteen miles off. There he found a large number of ecclesiastics and some of the Catholic soldiers, who had taken refuge on that island. In a short time, however, the island was surrounded by seven Parliamentarian vessels and he and the other ecclesiastics were; taken on board and sent into exile.

FATHER AMBROSE O'CONOR.

HE was Provincial from 1700 to 1704, and afterwards continued in office till 1709. It was by his command that O'Heyne wrote his Epilogus Ckronologicus. His visitation in Ireland was made in 1702 and the following year, at which period he found about ninety fathers engaged in missionary work there, though it was penal for any of them to be found in the country at the time. The names of the fathers are recorded in the Liber Provincice, which is still preserved by the Galway community. On his return to the Continent, lie wrote an account in Latin, in 1704, of the deplorable state of Ireland to Clement XI., and committed it to the press the same year. It is entitled [trans.] "An Account of the Present State of Ireland, under the Yoke of the Protestants, in 1704, in which especially three things are shown ; 1st, That the Treaty of Limerick has been violated; and, 2nd That the True Religion is being extirpated; 3rd, That Respect for the Holy See has been brought to naught."

In 1708, he undertook a quasi-political mission for the exiled Stuart prince, to England and Ireland. An account of this mission, written for the prince, appears in Hook's Scottish Negotiations (edit. of 1760), p. 119 et seq. From this account we learn that he had important interviews with Lord Limerick, in Ireland, with twenty-three lords in London, the Lord Marshal of Scotland and Lord Drummond. He writes : When I went over to Ireland, the King, my master, ordered me to inform myself exactly of the state of affairs in that Kingdom. I have acquitted myself of that commission to the utmost of my power, as your Majesty will see by what follows.

" Having received orders to sail from Brest, notwithstanding the bad success of the Scottish expedition, I arrived in Ireland on the 5th of May of the present year 1708. Having learnt the instant I landed that all the Lords etc. had been seized, I gave intelligence of that to Lord Clanrickarde. The same day I advanced into, the country as far as I could, to have some conversation with the persons to whom I was directed by my letters to address myself."

On June 16th of the following year, he was recommended by the Stuart Prince for the diocese of Ardagh, but the recommendation was ignored by the Holy See, like some others coming from the same source, though James repeated his request in January, 1710. Father O'Conor died in London, on February 20, 1711.

St Dunstan, Cranbrook, Kent by Jelltex

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