Viscount to that Purgatory to be purged with him But this is not all For secondly after the decease of Charles the fourth King of France there succeeded in the yeare 1328. Phillip of Valois to whom in England Edward the third was Contemporary this Edward began his Reigne anno 1326. two yeares before and dyed in the fifty first yeare of his Reigne To him succeeded Richard the second here spoken off And in a Parliament held anno 1385. which was the ninth year of Richards Reigne was Roger Mortimer Earle of March proclaimed Heire apparant to the Crowne Shortly after which this Roger sailed into Ireland where he was Deputy at which time this pilgrimage was said to be for from the French King he brought letters to Richard and from Richard to the Earle of March then Deputy But deducting two yeares from the fifty and one yeares of Edward the third the remaine is fortie nine to which adde nine yeares of Richards Reigne at which time the Earle of March was Deputy it maketh up fifty and eight yeares so that by this computation this Pilgrimage must have beene 58. yeares before this yeare of Richard and as many before the Earle of March for so long is there between the yeare 1328. 1386. The time of his being Deputy and how these things will hang together I see not Neither can this be supposed to be such a mistake as that the figures might be mis printed 1328. for 1386. for in the Margent of that Legend the figures are 1328. but in the body of the Discourse it is thus at large I did set forward in the yeare after the birth of our Lord One thousand three hundred twenty and eight And the same Author in another booke set out since relating the same story hath it in the same words at large In the yeare one thousand three hundred twenty and eight not in figures But it is yet more inconsistent For Richard King of England is said to be Sonne in Law to the then French King unto whom Letters recommendatory are brought by the Viscount from his Father in Law True it is that Richard was affianced unto Isabell daughter of Charles the sixt of France but that was so farre from being in the yeare One thousand three hundred twentie and eight that is was in the year one thousand three hundred ninty six that is sixty and eight years after Neither could it be when the Earle of March was Deputie of Ireland which was about the yeare One thousand three hundred eightie and five nine or ten yeares before so that either Richard was not Son in Law to the French King or the Earle of March was not Deputy when the Viscount came into Ireland Neither is it lesse absurd which is added That the Earle of March the Deputy having received the King and Queene of Englands letters did honourably receive him For what Letters could the Queen write shee was but seven years old when he was as I said affianced to Richard and not full twelve when by the Lord Henry Piercy she was brought backe into France after Richards death Neither could she write to the Earle of March being Deputy of Ireland unlesse we should suppose her to have written three or foure yeares before she was borne And as foolishly is the Earle of March made to be Richards brothers Sonne Richard having no Brother he being the sole surviving Sonne of Edward the black Prince And Roger Mortimer being the great grandchild of Edward the Third descended from Philip daughter of Lionell third sonne of Edward the Third which Lionell was brother to that Edward the black Prince and Uncle to Richard So that considering this Masse of absurdities from first to last any one I suppose may well guesse how false this Legend is and this Imposture may give just cause to suspect this and all others of the like Fables But I much wonder that the translator O Sullevan whose faculty was singular that way did not helpe out the matter better than he hath done but either he saw it not or if he did he thought it dangerous to stirre in it and to raise up any doubts supposing it might as well passe after as hitherto it had without discovery thinking it may be that none would so farre question it Neither could O Sullevan be so simple as to conceive such a childish dreame could passe without some observation therefore to prevent it he laboureth to cast a mist before his Readers eyes If this History saith he be in any thing which we have shewed in many things if not in all hard to be beleeved what then Let him that desireth to be satisfied reade Dionysius Carthusianus who reporteth like Histories of others who returned from this Purgatory But what are like Histories to this what if they be as false as this But Dionysius saith he doth prosecute the matter at large answering all Arguments and doubts that can be made against it This indeed is to some purpose if so it prove but I rather suspect this to be O Sullevans cunning to direct the Reader and take him off from prying too neare into that of the Viscount yet least we may seeme to prejudicate him let us heare what Dionysius doth say to this purpose First saith he Dionysius confirmeth this by the like Relations He indeed among other Histories proving that Soules departed are purged in such flames giveth us one of Tondall an Irish Knight who lived about Henry of Saltry's dayes He Balaeus speaking of that Henry flourished then when Tondall the Carthusian in Ireland being revived returned to his owne from Purgatory reporting visions calling him a Carthusian whom in others we reade a Knight it may be as Owen the Knight putting himselfe into the Cistercian Order so he into the Carthusians Neither were they farre distant from each other both Owen and Tondall being in K. Stevens dayes this last being about the twelfth yeare of his Reigne both which administred abundant matter for Henry to write The Legend of Tondall is this in effect that his Soule was separated from his bodie three dayes like that which we before did reade of Tymarchus whose Soule was sent on the like errand two dayes and one night In this differing from that of Owen whose body also went along This Soule of Tondall is by an Angell conducted into Purgatory where it saw many strange things among the rest a beast of incredible greatnesse which may easily be believed whose mouth seemed capable of nine thousand armed men just nine thousand within whom were many thousands of men and women grievously tormented this was a thing not observed by Owen the Knight or that our Viscount for this Purgatory is beholding to these great Titles of Viscounts and Knights for the upholding of the credit of it but to goe on This Soule of Tondall is brought to a place where over a lake there was a bridge two miles long and but one palme broad full
SAINT PATRICKS Purgatory Containing The Description Originall Progresse and Demolition of that superstitious place By Henry Jones Bishop of Clogher 2 Thess. 2. 10 11. Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lye LONDON Printed for Richard Royston and are to be sold at his Shop in Ivy Lane at the Signe of the Angell 1647. The CONTENTS Chap. 1. 1. THe description of S. Patricks Purgatory in Ireland 2. The customes and manners of that Pilgrimage 3. The Author and beginning of it 4. And why it is called a Purgatory 1. Chap. 2. The Progresse and flourishing estate of Saint Patricks Purgatory in the esteeme it had at home and abroad Whereof some probable conjectures Some Pilgrimages thither set downe Together with an examination of the truth of them 54. Chap. 3. How this Purgatory did begin to decline and fall from its esteeme being first suspected and found fabulous and lastly quite demolished 116. SAINT PATRICKS PVRGATORY CAP. I. 1. The Discription of S. Patrick's Purgatory in Ireland 2. The customes and manners of that Pilgrimage 3. The author and beginning of it 4. And why it is called a Purgatory IN the North edge of the Province of Ulster in Ireland on the borders of Tirconnell Fermannagh Donegall there is invironed with a marvailous great waste of bogs and mountaines a certaine Lough as they tearme it or Lake of a great compasse called Lough-Derge a place famous and celebrated by the pennes of many at home and abroad as that which encloseth and compasseth within it that which is of greatest observation and use I say not onely in this Kingdome of Ireland but if reports be true in the whole world beside of which I 〈…〉 〈◊〉 discourse S. Patricks â—… It 〈…〉 this Purgaâ—… that tedious 〈◊〉 concerning the name of Lough-Derge As that neare that Lake in the shin-bone of one that had been murthered there was bred a Serpent which did grow to an incredible greatnesse for â—o must we beleeve if it did as they say it did swallow downe 2410. men at once That the Serpent being slaine and his bloud running into the Lake the complexion of the water was changed and continued Red for 48. houres That hence it was that from Lough-â—â—n or the White-logh by which it was before knowne it was after called as now it is Lough-Derge or the Red-Logh For confirming whereof that there may not want something besides the bare name among other Reliques there did remaine ready to be shewed a great Knotty bone said to be one of the least joints of that Serpents Tayle A fable I confesse not worthy to take place in a serious discourse did I not finde it sutable to those relations we are hereafter to meet withall in our treating of this Subject they being I doubt not as true and I assure my selfe no lesse strange and monstrous than this is Within this Lake there are many small Islands but two of especiall note above the rest The one is called the Island of S. Avoge or Abheoge wherein that Saint is said to be buried or the Island of S. Fintanus as others would have it In which Island there is seated a Convent of Cannons Regular of the order of Saint Augustine subject to the Abbot and Monastery of the Apostles Peter and Paul scituate in the Cittiâ— of Ardmagh yet he who within the Lake is chiefe of the Monks is honoured with the Title of Prior of the Purgatorie of these Monks by turnes two are continually resident in the Island of Purgatory to be there for the entertaining and directing of such Pilgrimes as doe come thither to be purged This is that which is called Iusula dâ—moniaca for so we sometimes finde it into which S. Patrick is said to pursue those evill Spirits which he had driven from the mountaine Chruan in Connaught yet did they possesse one part of this Island of which Nicholas Harpsfeldius out of Giraldus Cambrenfis thus He Giraldus reporteth that in Vlster there is a famous Island in a certaine Lake the one part whereof is pleasant and delightfull and much spoken of in respect of Angels and Saints there frequenting and appearing the other part thereof being no lesse terrible as haunted with Devils which are there often seene The truth whereof I leave to the Authors But there is nothing that doth make this place so famous as another Island not farre from this being something lesse than a mile as may be supposed from the shore which by reason of the Cave that is in it of which so much is spoken is knowne by the name of S. Patricks Purgatory It is altogether rockie from the one end of it to the other exactly levell it cannot be said and yet not very uneven no one part thereof being much higher than another The Figure of it is Oblong extending it selfe from South to North unto which the nearer it runneth the narrower it groweth It doth containe about halfe an Irish acre and eleven perches in all 41. perches and one halfe in circuit each perch being 25. fâ—â—t for thus was it exactly surveyed by that truely Honourable the Lord Dillon Le. Bâ—… of Kilkenny West in whose presence it was 〈◊〉 asured by Anthony Lipset whom for that purpose I brought with me into the Island and whom I accompanied into the Cave and the rest of the places that were measured saith he The Mappe whereof as it was then made have I here unto preâ—… acknowledging my self here in bound to that Noble Lord and his Lordships sonne Sir Iames Dillon Knight both curiously inquisitive in this whose observations have been imparted unto me Without the compasse of this Island and within the water toward the North-east of the land about two yards from the shore doe stand certaine Rocks or Stones distant from each other whereof two are of especiall use in this pilgrimage The one which is the least and next the shore is that whereon they say S. Patrick was wont to kneele one third part of the night as he did spend one other third part in the Cell which they call his Bed of which after and the other third part in the Cave or Purgatorie In this stone there is a clift or print reported to be made by S. Patricks kneeling or standing thereupon This it may be is that which Lumbard meaneth yet being mis-informed writing by heresay he placing it within the Cave whereas indeed there is no such thing there The other Stone is much greater further in the Lake and covered with water called Lackevanny this is esteemed to be of that singular vertue that the onely standing thereupon doth heale the sorenesse of the Pilgrimes feet occasioned by their going barefoote on sharpe Rocks and Stones The entrance into the Island for there is but one and that about the South-south-east point thereof is narrow rockie
of Ireland and from the Pryor and Convent of the said Purgatory with others of great credit As also by other cleere evidences that the said Nobleman hath duly and couragiously performed that his pilgrimage we have therefore thought sit favourably to give unto him Our Royall testimonie concerning the same And to the end there may be no question made of the premisses and that the Truth of them may more clearely appeare unto all men We have thought good to grant unto him these our Letters sealed with our Royall Seale Given at our Pallace at Westminster the 24. day of October Like Letters and of the same Date hath Nicholas of Ferrara a Lumbard See here to what an height from so obscure a beginning it is now risen not onely visited from all parts but also Tested in so high and eminent a manner and that as you have heard done with so great deliberation and advice as a matter of the greatest consequence Yet how farre the Teste runneth you see that it is but onely of The due performance of the pilgrimage And here it is to be observed that in the times of Edward the third of England the Esteeme of this Purgatory was at the height after it had been rising thereunto 186. years for so long it is betweene Henry of Saltry anno 1140. and Edward the third anno 1326. And within the compasse of this Kings Raigne wee shall finde much more noyse of it and pressing to it even from farre then eyther before or after as that of Ramon the Spanish Viscount Anno 1328. if wee beleeve the date in the beginning of his Raigne of whom wee shall hereafter have occasion more largely to discourse together with that following being 37. yeares after Yet in the said Kings raigne also That I meane which wee finde Recorded in the Registrie of Ardmagh sent unto me by the now most learned Primāte for the furthering of this worke being Letters recommendatory from Milo Archbishop of Ardmagh in the yeare 1365. on the behalfe of certaine Pilgrims The words are these Milo by divine permission Archbishop of Ardmagh Primate of Ireland to the religious and prudent man the Pryor of Saint Patricks Purgatory in Loghderg within the Diocesse of Clogher And to all others the Cleargie and Laitie within the Province of Ardmagh everlasting health in the Lord. Iohn Bonham and Guidas Cissi comming to us have related that they have for devotions sake gone in pilgrimage and visited many holy places and that they are desirous for the health of their Soules to see the place called the purgatory of Saint Patricke our Patron which is in the Diocesse of Clogher aforesaid Wee doe therefore entreat and exhort in the Lord all and every by whom these strangers shall passe that you would entertayne and receive them courteously And that of the goods which God hath bestowed upon you you would afford them some charitable helpe not suffering asmuch as in you lyeth any molestation or disturbance to bee given them By which meanes we doubt not but that you shall be partakers of that their devout labours Dated in the Citie of Downe the fifteenth day of March in the yeare of our Lord one thousand three hundred sixty and five And of our Consecration the fift It were easie to exceed in testimonies of this kinde yet will I adde onely One more being 120. yeares after This in the yeare 1485. about the beginning of the Reigne of Henry the seventh King of England That it may be seene how long it held up in that great esteeme These are Letters Testimoniall of Octavianus Archbishop of Ardmagh given to certaine French Pilgrims Unto all the Children of our mother the Church to whom these our letters Testimoniall shall come Octavianus by the grace of God and of the See Apostolike Archbishop of Ardmagh Primate of all Ireland wisheth everlasting salvation in the Lord wishing you would without question credit what followeth Seeing it is an holy and meritorius thing to give your Testimonie unto the Truth chiefly seeing our Saviour Christ the Sonne of God came downe from heaven into this world to beare witnesse of the truth Hence it is that by these presents we make knowne unto you that Iohn Garhi and Francis Proly of the Citie of Lyons Priests and Iohn Burgesse their boy and servant the bearers hereof Men of good repute and piously affected did visit the Purgatory of the holy Confessor Saint Patricke the Apostle of Ireland within which the sinnes of offenders are even in this world purged And the mountaine in which the said holy Confessor did fast without Temporall meate forty dayes and fortie nights together with other holy places of devotion and things of greatest observation in Ireland And that afflicting their bodies in fasting and prayer according to the Ceremonies of that place they did for acertaine time remaine in that Purgatory as it cleerely appeareth to us And that by the power of CHRIST our redeemer they did contemplatively encounter all the fraudes and fantasticall temptations of the Devill devoutly so finishing their pilgrimage and desiring the merits and prayers of the said Saint to the most High whom by these presents we receive into the protection of us our Church of Ardmagh and of the said holy Confessor whose manners life and perfection we doe recommend unto you all of which wee are confident having two yeares conversed with them Which few among infinite others will sufficiently declare the wonderfull rising and as strange continuance of this purgatory that from the times of Henry of Saltry that I may not with others rise higher untill this of Octavianus Ann. 1485. that is for 345. years For after this did it begin to Decline againe For we finde it solemnely demolished within twelue yeares after in the yeare 1497. during the Reigne of the said King Henry the seuenth of which in its due place Yet if what hath beene said seeme strange unto any that eyther so obscure a thing should so befoole the world into so great an admiration of it or that so generall a delusion and of so long continuance should on so small or no grounds be mantayned let him consider the slavish feare into which by the Popish Doctrine of purgatory the world had bin brought with feare whereof many have all their lives long been held in bondage being told that all the sorrowes in this life labours want banishments prisons shame miseries calamities wounds nay death it selfe are nothing to the paines of purgatory All which with how great cost men seeke to redeeme is not unknowne Hence those Masses and prayers for the soules departed that they might bee eased if not delivered of those paines Hence those large Legacies both of Lands and Annuities bestowed for the continuance of that charitable worke But the hazards are great and much uncertaintie is there in this course And first for the Rich and the most bountifull in this kinde it may happen that the care
into Saint Patricks Purgatory Neyther will I divulge all that there I saw onely those things which I might lawfully relate When Charles the French King was dead to whose care I was recommended by my dying Father I did repayre to Iohn King of Aragon in Spaine whose subject I was by the law of Nations my possessions lying within his Dominions He did alwayes esteeme of me asmuch as a King could a subject and mine observance of him was as great Hee first made me Master of his Horse and after gave me the Command of three Gallyâ—s for the service of Pope Clement And after his death I served under his successor Pope Benedict the thirteenth at which time the newes was brought to me of my Kings death with which sad relation much perplexed I did earnestly desire to know in what estate the Kings Soule was or if in Purgatory it were what paines it there suffered whereupon I called to minde what I heard reported of Saint Patrickes purgatory and resolved to visit it that I might aswell know some certaintie of the King as for obtayning pardon of God for my sinnes And first fearing I might fayle of my dutie if without leave from the Pope I had undertaken that pilgrimage to him I made knowne my resolutions desiring his favour that I might be gone But he so mamely apposed himselfe to mine intentions that scarcely did I know how to gayne-say But at the last by much impoâ—…itie I gayned so farre with Pope Benedict the thirteenth that I was with his blessing confirmed in it and so departed from Avignion where hee then was in the yeare after the birth of our Lord one thousand three hundred twenty and eight in the Month of September about the Even of that day which is sacred to the blessed Virgin First I went to the French Court in Paris whence I departed with the Kings Letters of Recommendations to his Sonne in law the King of England of whom I courteously was received and with his Letters sent away into Ireland When I was come to Dublin the Metropolis of the Kingdome I did addresse my selfe to the Earle of March brothers sonne to Richard being then Deputy of Ireland he having received the King and Queenes Letters did receive me honourably But understanding my resolution he laboured by all meanes to disswade me laying before me the great dangers of that Purgatory in which many had miscarryed but prevailing with me nothing he sent me to Drogâ—eda to the Archbishop of Ardmagh to whom in matters of Religion all the Irish without contradiction are subject who having perused the King and Queenes Letters with those from the Earle of March hee entertayned me lovingly and freely and endeavoured to divert mee shewing how difficult the enterprise was and that many went thither who never returned But seeing my resolution he did absolve me dismissing mee with Letters to O Neyle the King from whom with gifts I departed to a Village called Tarmuin that is to say Protection or a Sanctuary The Lord of this place with his brother shewed me great courtesies and in Ferryes waâ—ted me and my followers into the Island where the Purgatory was together with many others who from severall Nations flocked thither to visit this Purgatory I was conducted into the Church of the Monastery and being by the Pryor in the presence of many questioned I shewed the reason of my resolution that I purposed to commit my selfe into the Purgatory then he Thou hast undertaken a difficult and dangerous thing which some few have attempted yet could not compasse I doe confesse indeed that to descend into purgatory is easie but-the chiefe worke is to returne thence For the torment of that place is beyond all credit in which men otherwise of good constancie have so fayled that they have lost themselves bodies and Soules To all which I answer that seeing I came thither purposely and to that end it was expedient I should proceede To which he If such be your resolution then doth it be hove that thou observe the rites of this place in manner as they were by Saint Patricke appointed and by my predecessors observed Shortly after the Priests adjoyning with all the Religious of the Convent being called together that Masse was Celebrated with Musicke and solemnity which is used to be sayd for the dead which being finished and all Ceremonies observed the Priests being placed in order I was in Procession brought to the Doore of the Cave where the Letanie being sung I was sprinckled with holy Water and the Doore being opened the Pryor thus said publikely Behold the place into which thou doest desire to enter but if yet thou wiâ—t be by me advised change yet thy resolution yet if thou wilt needs goe forward attend while I briefly tell what shall happen to thee First Gods messengers shall meete thee and by them shalt thou be taught what to doe After shalt thou see devils who by all meanes will seeke to deceive thee sometimes by flattering speeches againe by threatnings other whiles with tormenting thee but thou shalt be freed from all their cruelty by pronouncing these words CHRIST the Sonne of the living God have mercie upon me a Sinner These things have we heard to have happened to those who have returned from purgatorie After this I kissed them all and bade them farewell So going into the Cave after whom followed an English Knight we were forbidden to discourse on which they report death to be imposed So the doore being locked the Pryor with the people returned Now when I was shut in and had taken notice of the greatnesse of the Cave which I conceive to be about foure Elnes I found the inner part thereof to turne and extend it selfe a little to the left hand as I went in Where I had troden I found the ground under mee so weake and shaking that it seemed as though it could not beare a man therefore fearing to fall into some unknowne depth I did step backe and having setled my selfe in the Catholike Faith and being firme in my resolution I did cast my selfe on my knees to pray supposing there had beene no more to be done But about one houre after I did begin to tremble everie joynt of me to sweat and to be heartsicke to vomit also as if I had beene in some long voyage at Sea In which troubles I was overtaken with sleepe but againe rowsed up with the noyse of a great Thunder which was not heard by me alone but of as many as were in the Island with which they were the more astonished in that it was a cleare and faire day The feare of which suddaine thunder was not over when a new and greater terror seized on me for scarcely was I awake when that I did slide downwards about six Elnes with which suddaine fall notwithstanding that I were fully awakened and affrighted yet did I not recover my selfe untill I had sayd those words the Pryor taught me Christ thou
among the Schoolemen saith Maldonat the Iesuite 2. But in case this Sacrament reach not unto all then there remaineth a Purgatory after death appointed also by Christ saith these Fathers But where doe we finde it so appointed by Christ and if it were how commeth it to passe That in the Commentaries of the Greek Fathers we finde little or no mention of it for ought I know neither yet have all the Latines conceived the truth of it the beleeving of it not being so necessary for the Primitive Church as now it is saith Fisher Bishop of Rochester the esteeme of Indulgences wholly depending on Purgatory for there were no use of Indulgences if there were no use of Purgatory He proceedeth Considering therefore how that Purgatory was for a while unknowne and that some by degrees received it partly by Revelations and partly by Scripture and that it was so lately known and received by the whole Church c. But by his leave not by the whole Church for neither the Greeke nor all the Latines beleeve it as was before confessed and what ground in that kind it hath gotten was but of late dayes it neither being necessary nor known to the Primitive Fathers and yet with what confidence doe these learned Archbishops affirme that Christ himselfe appointed it 3. But they proceed We in Purgatory are either altogether freed or much eased by the Prayers of men living yet how that should be we know not For to this very day was it never determined by the Church how our Prayers could profit the dead as Cassander confesseth But as Purgatory brought in these Prayers so doe these Prayers uphold Purgatory The great profit whereof makeing it so necessary for these last times which the simplicity of these former ages could not dive into But now these three points are fully confirmed for true by these Archbishops And now is our Pilgrim returned into the dark Hall whereinto he first entred a journey if we consider it no lesse wonderfull than the rest in twenty and foure houres all on foot traversing more ground than can be wellâ— imagined going over many large fields the bounds o most whereof could not by the eye of man be discerned and passing to The extreamest part of the world It is said indeed that those malignant spirits did further him in his speed and needs must he then goe but if it be so in his going forward what shall be said for his comming backe for then none of them could so much as looke on him but fled at the sight of him So that his owne footmanship must performe it where also notwithstanding his swift going forward and the generall Torments he suffered and saw putting him besides himselfe yet is he so skilfull in the way that through all these darke and unknowne passages he came backe foot by foot the same way that he went Neither is his eye-sight any thing dazled or impaired by the transoendent light in Paradise surpassing the glory of the Sunne But entring into that spacious and dark hall of which before he could by the Twilight discerne those men whom hee had formerly met there distinguishing their number Twelve and their Actions signing him with the signe of the Crosse. Here also he met and knew his Companion the English Knight that went in with him who it seemeth went no further than that Hall being so tired out with labour and Torments that he could not returne without the Uiscounts helpe where what Torments he endured more than the other we heare not And if he were tormented he had the same remedy propounded to him that was to the Viscount the pronouncing of the blessed Name of IESUS by which he might be delivered of which it is supposed he did make use otherwise he could not be freed and if he did how came he to be so extraordinarily oppressed or rather whence was it that he did not utterly perish in not going forward that being the onely thing those spirits are said to labour to stop men in their journey by faire or foule meanes thereby to destroy them bodie and soule as in the former passages hath been at large described But why dally we thus with this Counterfeit whom it is now time to unmask and we shall fully discover the fraud by observing the circumstances of the time and persons when and with whom which here for the better colouring of the matter are very punctually described His owne relation is in substance this y When Charles the French King was dead this Viscount went to Iohn King of Aragon his Soveraigne by whom he was imployed with Command of three Gallyes for the assisting of Pope Clement and after the death of Clement he served his Successor Benedict the thirteenth during which time his king dying he with Benedicts benediction left Avignion going on in his pilgrimage to S. Patrickes Purgatory when Anno 1328. in what moneth September what day of that month on the feast of the blessed Virgin about what time of the day About the evening Can anything be more punctuall but behold further circumstances yet From Paris he goeth with the French Kings letters to his Sonne in Law Richard King of England by Richard he is sent into Ireland with other letters to the then Deputy the Earle of March Richards brothers Sonne and from him he goeth to the Lord Primate and then into this Purgatory What can be more precise We have the yeare month day almost the very houre The Places and Persons we know who could thinke the man meant before so many witnesses to play his Legerdemaine tricks like Iuglers who trusse up their sleeves before they begin their feates and all this but to avoid suspition now see him in his colours Know therefore first that in the year one thousand three hundred twenty and eight the time of this supposed pilgrimage Benedict the thirteenth was not Pope neither of a long time after But Iohn the 21. accounted also the 22. whom succeeded Benedict the tenth or the twelfth as he is also esteemed after him Clement the sixt Innocent the sixt Urban the fift Gregory the eleventh and Vrban the sixt with whom stood in Competition as Anti-pope Clement the seventh in the yeare 1389. whom followed in that Schisme this Benedict the 11. or the 13. in the yeare 1394. which two last are they who are here mentioned of which the last that is to say Benedict the thirteenth was before called Petrus de Luna and an Aragonoes a motive for the King of Aragon to be an assistant unto him whose subjects for the most part obeyed Benedict saith Plaitina so that as this pilgrimage was to be in the yeare 1328. and in Benedict the thirteenth his time Successor to Clement it is apparant that by that computation it should have been before Clement sixty and one yeares and before Benedict sixty six yeares An error so grosse that it had need to have gone with our
nothing in this Purgatory certaine and as for those subterraneall passages we are as farre to seek for them here as in the former demolished Purgatory the matter is to our hands confessed That in our dayes and in the farthest of mans memory the bottom of the Cave was levelled and made even with the other part of the earth Yet saith Roth when the place was first made it was deeper But how doth that appeare It is the Tradition of some of the Elders and how commeth it to be altered It was raised by directions of the Bishops it may be of the Diocese And with the consent of the Apostolicall Sea To which adde out of the Margent The pavement or floore of the Purgatory was made up by authoritie from the Pope Where the cunning of these men is to be observed who to conceale the former destruction of the former Cave done by authority from the Pope and by the Bishop of the Diocese doe make the Popes act to be a Command onely for the levelling of the ground and taking away the passage into the lower Purgatory which why he should doe I cannot easily imagine if the matter were of that consequence as we have been borne in hand it was unlesse he feared that the great merit of that Pilgrimage might hinder the Mart of his Indulgences But how miserable these shifts be who seeth not there is nothing here to give any certainty of the place or the pretenteded merits of it and yet must this be still a secret to the people they must be told that this is the very place appointed by S. Patricke from whose time even untill now it had continued That the frequenting of it is beyond all degrees meritorious for which no labour watching fasting or paine is to bee refused as wee have shewed to bee used in the latter Pilgrimages Pitty it is so great zeale should be so misguided for the gaining a few nay not a few pence into private purses Considering therefore the grossenes of this Superstition and the blindnesse by which so many poore soules were seduced it suited well with the wisedome of our state to looke more narrowly into the matter and to take away the occasion of so great an errour I speake nothing how dangerous in point of state it might be to permit such frequent meetings in such a place But in the former respects to take away the ground of so many errours at once as it argued the care of the Government both of the estates and soules of the people so in the pulling downe of all there was no new thing done nothing but what was before by themselves in the same case practised as was before shewed I will therefore here insert an Historicall Relation of the manner and proceedings therein by an Abstract thereof taken out of the Councell booke of this Kingdome that after-Ages may not be surprized with another Purgatory starting up they know not how as formerly and thereby men be deluded with reports of I know not what Antiquity The words out of the Records are these The State observing the popish Superstitions used at S. Patricks Purgatory to grow an insufferable height did by their Letters of the 21. of May 1632. directed to the Lo. Balfoure St. William Stuart and others require them to seize it and to make fast the doores and entrance into it hoping that that might take away the continuance of the abuse there To these Letters Sir William Stuart returneth Lucij 8. 1632. Answere to this effect To the Right Honorable ADAM Lord Viscount of ELY Lord Chancellor and RICHARD Earle of CORKE Lords Iustices of this Kingdome and to the Lords and others of his Majesties Honourble Privic COUNCELL Right Honorable I Have received a Coppy of a Letter sent by my Lord Balfoure directed to his Lordship my selfe others for seizing unto his Majesties use S. Patricks Purgatory and his Lordship appointed me to meete him neare the Lough the fifth day of this month whither I accordingly came and staid in the comfortlesse place almost two dayes and one night none comming And then I got intelligence that the Abbot Priests and Fryars which were in the Island had gotten knowledge of your Lordships directions whereupon in the night time they stole out of the Island in a boat which at the least would carry 40. persons Whereupon I sent to search for the said Boate which was found and brought unto me And perceiving that none of the rest mentioned in your Lordships Letters were likely to come and being confident that you would take it in good part that I should rather upon such occasion varie from your directions than leave your intentions unperformed I caused to land some men upon a little Island where Fryars doe inhabit neare unto the other Island which is called S. Patrickes Purgatory where I found foure hundred seventy one persons doing such fooleries as is not to be imagined could be done among Christians a taste whereof your Lordship may perceive by this inclosed description All the fore said number of persons I have caused to be put safe to shore which was done without any kinde of violence For seeing the Priests and Fryars had left the Islland and carryed with them all manner of Provision and goods that therein was the people were willing and desirous to be put on shore The which being done I did cause the Boate which was the safeguarde of the Island to be drawne on shore and delivered the same unto the friends and servants of one Master Magrath unto whom the Boate Island and Countrie doth belong and told them that it was your Lordships directions that the same should not bee medled withall nor the Island any more frequented untill his Majesties pleasure were further knowne And that your Lordships would signifie the same more at large All things being thus fairely done I hope your Lordships will not dislike that I adventured my selfe alone to doe that which was trusted unto me and others And I am well assured if I had slipt that occasion your intentions should not have beene executed So humbly desiring to be excused for what is done amisse I take leave and will ever remaine Your Lordships ready and humble servant William Stuart September 13. 1632. An Order is made by the Lords Iustices and Councell for the demolishing of the place in these words By the Lords Iustices and Councell Adam Loftus Canc. R. Corke FOr as much as the frequent and publike resort of people in great numbers to that place or Island called S. Patrickes Purgatory there performing superstitious ceremonies pilgrimages and offerings is so extreamely abusive and superstitious as is not fit to be endured We therefore taking the same into our due Consideration and foreseeing that albeit there may be a seeming cessation there for a time from those abuses and superstitions in regard they observe the State to resent the same Yet many times the seduced people will secretly finde opportunitie to