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sober man, who was for living quietly and in due submission to the government, without engaging in intrigues of state; and that he was condemned only upon the testimony of some lewd priests, whom he had censured, and other evidence, brutal profligate men, who found how good a trade swearing was in England, and thereupon came over and gave evidence of a plot also in Ireland. With Dr. Burnet Mr. Eachard also agrees in his history of England, 3d vol. p. 631, where he tells us, that Mr. Plunket had an attestation of his good behaviour in Ireland, under the hands of the earl of Essex and the lord Berkley, when they were lords lieutenants of that kingdom. That the accusation against him looked very romantic, not to say malicious; yet the witnesses were so perfect and so positive in their oaths, that the jury found him guilty of high treason, and sentence passed upon him accordingly. That he has been assured by an unquestionable hand, that the earl of Essex himself was so sensible of this man's hardship, that he generously applied to the king for a 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 not you attest this at his trial? It would have done him good then. I dare not pardon any one. And so concluded with the same kind of answer he had given another person formerly; His blood be upon your head, and not upon mine.'

But the continuator of Baker's Chronicle is still more particular in his account of this catholic prelate, p. 710. In the mean time, says he, came on the trial of Dr. Oliver Plunket, a popish titular archbishop of Armagh, who called himself primate of all Ireland. He was a worthy and good man, who, notwithstanding the high title given him, 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 having but little themselves could not spare much to him. In these low circumstances he lived, though meanly, quietly and contentedly, meddling with nothing but the concerns of his function, and dissuading all about him from entering into any turbulent or factious intrigues. But while the popish plot was warm, some lewd Irish priests, and others of that nation, hearing that England was disposed to hearken to good swearers, thought themselves qualified for the employment. So they came over with an account of a plot in Ireland, and were well received by lord Shaftsbury. They were also examined by the parliament, and what they said was believed. They were very profligate wretches, and some of the priests among them had been censured by Plunket, for their lewdness; so partly out of revenge, and partly to keep themselves in business, they charged a plot upon that innocent quiet man; so that he was sent for over and brought to trial. The evidences swore, that upon his being made primate of Ireland, he engaged to raise sixty or seventy thousand Irish, to be ready to join with the French to destroy the protestant religion, and to get Dublin, Londonderry, and all the sea-ports into their hands and that besides the French army, there was a Spanish army to join with them, and that the Irish clergy were to contribute to this design. Plunket in his defence alledged the improbability of all that was sworn against him, which was apparent enough. He alledged that the Irish clergy were

so poor, that he himself, who was the head of a whole province, lived in a little thatched house, with only one servant, having never above sixty pounds a year income; so that neither he nor they could be thought very likely to carry on a design of this nature. But the fact being positively sworn against him, and the jury unacquainted with the witnesses characters, and the scene of action, he was brought in guilty, and condemned. It is said, that the earl of Essex was so sensible of the injustice done him, &c., as above.' So far this protestant historian.

But now let us hear what a catholic, and one who was intimately acquainted with him, in the last scene of his life, viz: the learned and truly religious father, J. Corker, writes of him, in a letter penned after his death. I cannot as yet,' says he, pretend to give you, (as you desire,) a description of the virtues of the glorious archbishop and martyr, Dr. Oliver Plunket; I am promised the particulars of his life and actions, both at Rome, where he studied and taught, almost twenty years; and in Ireland, where he exercised his episcopal, or rather apostolical functions, till he became a champion of faith: but these particulars are not, as yet, arrived at my hands. After his transportation hither, he was, as you know, close confined, and secluded from all conversation, save that of his keepers, until his arraignment: so that here also, I am much in the dark, and can only inform you of what I learned, as it were, by chance, from the mouths of the said keepers, viz: that he spent his time in almost continual prayer; that he fasted usually three or four days a week, with nothing but bread; that he appeared to them always modestly cheerful, without any anguish or concern at his danger, or straight confinement; that by his sweet and pious demeanour, he attracted an esteem and reverence from those few that came near him. When he was arraigned, it is true, I could write to him, and he to me; but our letters were read, transcribed, and examined by the officers, before they were delivered to either of us. For which cause, we had little other communication, than what was necessary in order to his trial. But the trial being ended, and he condemned, his man had leave to wait on him alone, in his chamber, by whose means, we had free intercourse by letters to each other. And now it was 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. And not only I, but many other catholics, who came to receive his benediction, and were eye-witnesses, (a favour not denied to us,) can testify, there appeared in his words, in his actions, in his countenance, something so divinely elevated, such a composed mixture of cheerfulness, constancy, love, sweetness, and candour, 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 Christ Jesus, by his very presence. Concerning the manner and state of his prayer, he seemed most devoted to catholic sentences taken out of scripture, the divine office, and missal, which he made me procure for him, three months before he died: upon these sentences, he let his soul dilate itself in love, following herein the sweet impulse and dictates of the Holy Ghost, and reading his prayers, writ rather in his heart, than in his book, according to that-unctio ejus docet vos de

omnibus, St. John ii. 27. For this reason, I suppose it was, that when with great humility he sent me his last speech to correct, he also writ me word, he would not at the place of execution make use of any other set form or method of prayer, than the Pater noster, Ave Maria, Credo, Miserere, In manus tuas Domine, &c., and for the rest, he would breathe forth his soul in such prayers and ejaculations as God Almighty should then inspire him withal. He continually endeavoured to improve and advance himself in the purity of divine love, and by consequence also in contrition for his sins past, of his deficiency in both which, this humble soul complained to me as the only thing that troubled him. This love had extinguished in him all fear of death, perfecta charitas, foras mittit timorem. A lover feareth not, but rejoiceth at the approach of the beloved. Hence the joy of our holy martyr seemed still to increase with his danger, and was fully accomplished by an assurance of death. The very night before he died, being now, as it were, at heart's ease, he went to bed at eleven o'clock, and slept quietly and soundly till four in the morning; at which time. his man, who lay in the room with him, awaked him; so little concern had he upon his spirit, or rather so much had the loveliness of the end beautified the horror of the passage to it. After he certainly knew God Almighty had chosen him to the crown and dignity of martyrdom, he continually studied how to divest himself of himself, and become more and more an entire pleasing and perfect holocaust: to which end, as 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, &c. But I neither can nor dare undertake to describe unto you, the signal virtues of this blessed martyr. There appeared in him something beyond expression, something more than human: the most savage and hard-hearted people were mollified and attendered at his sight; many protestants, in my hearing, wished their souls in the same state with his: all believed him innocent, and he made catholics, even the most timorous, in love with death. When he was carried out of the press-yard to execution, he turned him about to our chamber windows, and with a pleasant aspect and elevated hands, gave us his benediction. How he composed himself, after he was taken from hence, you yourself can give a more exact account than I, &c.' So far father Corker, to whom the holy prelate applied himself for the affairs of his conscience whilst he was preparing for his exit, and who was consequently the best acquainted with his interior.

Archbishop Plunket was arraigned at the King's Bench-bar, May the 3d, 1681, but not brought to his trial till the 8th of June. He had been then a year and a half in prison: he was found guilty by the jury, upon the testimony of those perjured wretches that appeared against hin; when he heard the verdict, he cried out Deo Gratias, God be thanked. The lord chief justice before he pronounced sentence, wished him to renounce his false religion, as he called it, against which he most bitterly inveighed, as ten times worse than paganism: but the prisoner knew better what his religion was than the judge; and gave his lordship to understand that he was not disposed to alter it upon any considerations. He added, If I were a man that had no care of my

conscience, I might have saved my life; for I was offered it by divers people here, if I would but confess my own guilt and accuse others: but, my lord, I had rather die ten thousand deaths than wrongfully accuse any body. And the time will come when your lordship will see what these witnesses are, that have come in against me. I do assure your lordship, if I were a man that had not good principles, I might easily have saved my own life; but I had rather die ten thousand deaths, than wrongfully to take away one farthing of an man's goods, one day of his liberty, or one minute of his life.' After he had said this, sentence was pronounced against him in the usual form, on the 15th of June. After condemnation he writ the following letter to father Corker.

'Dear Sir,

I am obliged to you for the favour and charity of the 20th, and for all your former benevolences: and whereas I cannot in this country remunerate you, with God's grace, I hope to be grateful in that kingdom, which is properly our country. And truly God gave me (though unworthy of it) that grace to have fortem animum mortis terrore carentem "a courage fearless of death." I have many sins to answer for before the Supreme Judge of the high bench, where no false witnesses ⚫ can have audience. But as for the bench yesterday, I am not guilty of any crime there objected to me; I would I could be so clear at the bench of the All-powerful. Ut ut sit, there is one comfort, that he cannot be deceived, because he is omniscious, and knows all secrets, even of hearts; and cannot deceive, because all goodness; so that I may be sure of a fair trial, and will get time sufficient to call witnesses; nay, the judge will bring them in a moment, if there will be need of any. You and your comrade's prayers will be powerful advocates at that bench.' Here none are admitted for

Your affectionate friend,

OLIVER PLUNKET.

On the first day of July, 1681, he was drawn from Newgate to Tyburn on which occasion, the serenity of his countenance, the courage, cheerfulness, and piety with which he went to meet death, gave great edification to the spectators. At the place of execution he spoke as follows:

I have some few days past abided my trial at the King's Bench, and now, very soon, I must hold up my hand at the King of King's Bench, and appear before a Judge, who cannot be deceived by false witnesses, nor corrupted allegations, for he knoweth the secrets of hearts; Neither can he deceive any, or give an unjust sentence, or be misled by respect of persons. He being all goodness and a most just Judge, will infallibly decree an eternal reward for all good works, and condign punishment for the smallest transgressions against his commandments: which being a most certain and undoubted truth, it would be a wicked act, and contrary to my perpetual welfare, that I should now, by declaring any thing contrary to truth, commit a detestable sin, for which, within a very short time, I must receive sentence of everlasting damnation; after which, there is no reprieve or hope of pardon. I will therefore confess the truth, without any equivocation, and make use of the words according to their accustomed signification; as

suring you moreover, that I am of that certain persuasion, that no power, not only upon earth, but also in heaven, can dispense with me, or give me leave to make a false protestation; and I protest upon the word of a dying man, and as I hope for salvation at the hands of the supreme judge, that I will declare the naked truth with all candour and sincerity, and that my affairs may be better known to all the world.

'Tis to be observed, that I have been accused in Ireland of treason and præmunire; and that there I was arraigned and brought to my trial; but the prosecutors, (men of flagitious and infamous lives,) perceiving that I had records and witnesses, who would evidently convince them, and clearly show my innocency and their wickedness, they voluntarily absented themselves, and came to this city to procure that I should be brought hither to my trial, (where the crimes objected were not committed,) where the jury did not know me, or the qualities of my accusers, and were not informed of several other circumstances conducing to a fair trial. Here, after six months' close imprisonment, or thereabouts, I was brought to the bar the 3d of May, and arraigned for a crime, for which I was before arraigned in Ireland; a strange resolution, a rare fact, of which you will hardly find a precedent these five hundred years past but whereas my witnesses and records were in Ireland, the lord chief justice gave me five weeks time to get them brought hither; but by reason of the uncertainty of the seas, of wind, and weather, and of the difficulty of getting copies of records, and bringing many witnesses from several counties in Ireland, and for many other impediments, (of which affidavit was made,) I could not at the end of five weeks get the records and witnesses brought hither: I therefore begged for twelve days more, that I might be in readiness for my trial, which the lord chief justice denied; and so I was brought to my trial, and exposed, as it were with my hands tied, to these merciless perjurors, &c.

Then having numbered up the heads of the accusation against him, and refuted them by the most solemn protestations of his innocency, and by showing not only the improbability, but even the impossibility of his being guilty of what was laid to his charge, he goes on:

You see, therefore, what condition I am in, and you have heard what protestations I have made of innocency, and I hope you will believe the words of a dying man. And that you may be the more induced to give me credit, I assure you, that a great peer sent me notice, that he would save my life, if I would accuse others; but I answered, that I never knew of any conspiracies in Ireland, but such as were publicly known out-laws, and that to save my life, I would not falsely accuse any, nor prejudice my own soul. Quid prodest homini, &c. To take away any man's life or goods wrongfully, ill becometh any christian, especially a man of my calling, being a clergyman of the catholic church, and also an unworthy prelate, which I do openly confess; neither will I deny to have exercised in Ireland the functions of a catholic prelate, as long as there was any connivance or toleration; and by preaching, and teaching, and statutes, to have endeavoured to bring the clergy, (of which I had a care,) to a due comportment, according to their calling; and though thereby I did but my duty, yet some, who would not amend, VOL. II.

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