VEN. OLIVER PLUNKET’S LAST WORDS

New Zealand Tablet, 5 August 1920, Page 19

VEN. OLIVER PLUNKET’S LAST WORDS

[ln view of his approaching canonisation, the noble speech, made just before his execution, by Blessed Oliver Plunket (Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland), will have special interest for all our readers /says the Ave Maria). A copy of the original print of the address having come into our possession, we reproduce it entire, verbatim et literatim. The blessed martyr suffered in the latter part of the reign of Charles 11., and was the last victim of the infamous “Popish Plot.” His trial is referred to in Cassell’s History of England as one of the most shameful proceedings that ever disgraced any country. Strange to say, historians are not in agreement as to the exact date of Blessed Oliver Plunket’s martyrdom, but the precious print reproduced by us (perhaps for the first time in full) leaves no room for doubt that it took place on July 1, 1681. His skull is preserved in the convent of the Dominican Nuns at Drogheda, Ireland, and many miracles are said to have been wrought by it.]

LAST WORDS OF BLESSED OLIVER PLUNKET. I have some few days past abided my Tryal 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 can not be deceived by False Witnesses or Corrupted Allegations; for He knoweth the secrets of Hearts. Neither can He deceive any, or give an Unjust Sentence, or be Mislead by respects 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 Transgression 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 anything 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; assuring you moreover, that I am of that certain persuasion that no Power, not only upon Earth but also in Hearkr n dis n se . Witll f 16 ’ or S ive me leave to make False Pi otestation; And I protest upon the word -R a a^ dyi ? g u ma a’ and as 1 hope for Salvation at the 5 a " d " tbe Stream Judge, that I will declare the Naked Truth with all Candor and Sincerity: and that my Affairs may , be the better known to all the world T i 11S , \° be that I have been Accused in T reland of Treason and Praemunire * and that there i was Arraigned and brought to my Tryal. But the Prosecutors (men of Flagitious and Infamous Lives), perceiving that I had Records and witnesses who would Evidently convince them, and clearly shew my Innothemset nd Wlckedness > tb6 7 voluntarily absented themseives; and came to this City, to procure that I Crimes h u- b f r^ lght bßher to my Tryal (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 CirLmstaS con xcing to a Fair Tryal. Here, after six Months’ Close BaHhT Thir1 01 f t^ reaboißs) ’ 1 was brought to the for whicJ T d ° f ¥*?’ ™. d Ar raigned for a crime r which I was before Arraigned in Ireland: A strange Resolution, ri 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 (or which Affidavit was made) I could not at the end of the five weeks get the Records and Witnesses brought & hither. I therefore begged for twelve days more, that I might be in a readiness for my Tryal, which the Lord Chief Justice deny ed; and so I was brought to my Tryal, and exposed, as it were, with my Hands Tyed, to those Merciless Perjurers, who did aim at my Life by accusing me of these following points: First, That I have sent Letters by one Nial O’Neale (who was my Page) to Monsieur Baldeschi, tne ope s Secretary, to the Bishop of Aix, and to Principe Colonna, that they might sollicit Forraign Powers to Invade Ireland; and also to have sent Letters to Cardinal Bullion to the same effect. Secondly, To have imployed Captain Con O’Neale to the French King for Succour. Thirdly, To have Levied and Exacted Moneys from the Clergy of Ireland to bring in the French, and to maintain seventy thousand men. Fourthly, To have had in readiness seventy thousand men, and lists made of them ; and to have given Directions to one Frier Duffy to make a List of two hundred and fifty men in the Parish of - Foghart, in the County of Lowth. . ’ Fifthly, To have Surrounded all the Forts and Harbours of Ireland, and to have fixed upon Carlingfoi d as a fit Harbour for the Frenches Landing. Sixthly. To have had several Councils and Meetings, where there was Money alloted for Introducing? the French. Finally, That a Meeting in the County of Monaghan, some 10 or 12 years past, where there were 300 gentlemen -of three several Counties, to wit, Monaghan, Cavan, and Armagh * whom I did exhort to take Arms to recover their Estates.

To the first I answer that Nial O’Neale was never my Servant or Page, and that I never sent Letter or Letters by him to Monsieur Baldeschi, or the Bishop of Aix, or to Principe Colonna. And I say that the English translation of that pretended Letter produced by the Frier Macmoyer is a mere invention of his, and never Penned by me, or its Original, either in English, Latin, Italian, or any other Language. I affirm, moreover, that I never wrote Letter or Letters to Cardinal Bullion or any of the French Kings Ministers; neither did any who was in that Court either speak to me or write to me, directly or indirectly, of any Plot or Conspiracy against my King or Country. Farther, I Vow that I never sent Agent or Agents to Rome, or to any other Court, about any Civil or Temporal Affairs: And tis well known (for it is a precept publickly Printed) that clergy-men (living in Countries where the Government is not Roman Catholicks), are commanded by Rome not to write to Rome concerning any Civil or Temporal Affairs. And Ido aver that I never received Letter or Letters from the Pope, or from any other of his Ministers, making the least mention of any such matters; so that the Friers Macmoyer and Duffy Swore most falsly as to such Letter or Letters, Agent or Agents. ~ To the second, I say that I never imployed Capt. Con. O’Neale to the French King, or to any of his Ministers ; and that I never wrote to him, or received Letters from him ; and that I never saw him but once, n°i ever spoke to him, to the best of my remembrance, ten words. And as for his being in Charlemount or Dungannon, I never saw him in those Towns or knew of his being in those places; so that as to Con O’Neale Fryer Macmoyer’s Depositions are most false. To the third, I say that I never Levyed any Money for a Plot or Conspiracy, for bringing in Spaniards or French; neither did I ever receive any upon that account, from Priests or Fryers, as Priest Mac-

Clave : and Fryer Duffy most untruly asserted. I assure you- that I never received from any Clergy-man in- Ireland but what was due to me by ancient custom for my maintenance-. and what my Predecessors these Hundred year past were wont to receive; nay, I received less . than many of them. And if all what the Catholick Clergy in Ireland get in the year were put in one Purse, it would signify little or nothing to introduce the French, or to raise an Army of seventy thousand Men which I had inlisted, and ready, as Fryer Macmoyer most falsely deposed ; Neither is it less untrue,what Fryer Duffy attested, viz., That I directed him to make a List of 250 - men in the Parish of Fogat, in the County of Louth. To the fifth I answer that I never surrounded all the Forts or Harbours of Ireland ; and that I was never at Cork, Kinsale, Pantry, Youghal, Dungarvan, or Knockfergus; and these 36 years past I was not at Limerick, Duncannon, or Wexford. As to Carlingford, I was never in it but once; and staid not in it above half an hour : Neither did I consider the Fort or Haven; Neither had I it in my thoughts or imagination to fix upon it, or upon any Fort or Haven, for landing of French or Spaniards; and whilst I was at Carlingford (by nicer chance passing that way) Fryer Duffy was not in my Company, as he most falsely Swore. To the sixth, I say, that I was never at any Meeting or Counsel where there was mention made of allotting or collecting of Moneys for a Plot or Conspiracy ; and ’tis well known that the Catholick Clergy of Ireland, who have neither Lands nor Revenues, and hardly are able to keep decent Cl oaths upon their Packs, and Life and Soul together, can raise no considerable sum; nay, cannot spare as much as would maintain half a Regiment. To the seventh, I answer that I was never at any meeting of 300 Gentlemen in the County of Monaghan, or of any Gentlemen of the three Counties of Monaghan, Armagh, and Cavan ; nor of one County, nor of one Barony; and that I never exhorted Gentleman or Gentlemen, either there or in any other part of Ireland, to take Arms for the recovering their Estates And ’tis well known that there are not even in all the Province of Ulster 300 Irish Roman Catholicks who had Estates, or lost Estates by the late Rebellion And as ’tis well known, all my thoughts and endeavours were for the quiet of my Country, and especially of that Province. J

Now to be brief, As I hope for Salvation, I never sent Letter or Letters, Agent or Agents, to Pope King, Prince or Prelate, concerning any Plot or Conspiracy against my King or Country; I never raised sum or sums of Money, great or small, to maintain Souldier or Souldiers all the days of my life I never knew or heard (neither did it come to my thoughts or imagination) that the French were to Land at Carling- . ° rd ; and } believe there is none who saw Ireland even in a map but will think it a meer Romance. I never SII T of any Plotters or Conspirators in Ireland but suah as were notorious and Proclaimed (commonly called Tones), whom I did endeavor to suppress. And, as I hope for -Salvation, I .always have been, and am entire y Innocent of.the Treasons laid to my Charge and of any other whatsoever. °

And though I be not guilty of the Crimes of which I m accused, yet I believe none came ever to this Place who is m such a condition as I am ; for if I should even I should d bel WhlCh Tn oo^ 01106 1 Cannot do ’ because I should bely my self), the chief Crimes laid to my me H TA S knows Ireland would believe j r " j b uld confess that I was able to raise seventy Wit ” "Thru m the districts of whi ch I had care—to Wed I*?’ even m aD Irelar, d—and to have fo,?U - nd ? xacted mon6ys from the Roman Clergy ford for the m f ”T e ’ have prepared Carl 4 atl ?VT ■ Prenc t, s , Landm ff, all would but laugh Ireland both”# •-f 1 , ™ that “I the Revenues of MIS’ " al and T 6m P oral - Possessed by His Majesty s Subjects are scarce able to raise and main-

tain an Army ,of 70,000 men.. If I will deny all those Crimes , (as I did, and do), - yet ; it may be that some who are not acquainted , with ; the . Affairs of Ireland, will not believe that my denial is grounded 5 upon Truth; tho’ I assert it with my last breath. I dare venture farther and affirm, That if these points of 70,000 men, etc., had been Sworn before any Protestant Jury in Ireland, and had been even acknowledge by me at the Ear, they would not believe me, no more than it had been deposed and confessed by me. That I had flown in the air from Dublin to Holy-head. - You see, therefore, what a 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. Put I answered. That I never knew of any Conspirators in Ireland but such (as I said before) as were publickly known outlaws; and that to save my Life I would not falsely accuse any, nor prejudice my own Soul. Quid prodest homini, etc. To take away any man’s Life or Goods wrongfully, ill becometh any Christian, especially a man of my Calling, being a Clergy-man of the Catholick 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 endeavored to bring' the. Cleigy (of which I had a care) to a due comportment, according to their Calling and tho’ thereby I did but mv duty, yet some who would not amend had a prejudice for me, and especially my Accusers, to whom I did endeavour to do good; I mean the Clergymen (as for the four Lay-men who appeared against meviz. Florence Mac Moyer, the 2 Neales, and Hanlon was never acquainted with them) ; but you, see how I am requited, and how by false Oaths they brought me to tins untimely death which wicked act being a defect of Persons, ought not to reflect upon the Order of S Francis, or upon the Roman Catholick Clergy. It being well known that there was a Judas among the 12 Apostles, and a wicked man called Nicholas amongst the seven Diacons. And even as one of the said Diacons—-to wit, holy Stephen— pray for those who stoned him to death ; so do I, for those who with juries spill my innocent Bloud; saying as S. Stephen did, O Lord, lay not this sin to them. I do heartily forgive them, and also the judges who (by denying me sufficient time to bring my Records and Witnesses from Ireland) did expose my Life to evident danger. I do also forgive all those who had a hand m bringing me from Ireland to be tryed here where it was morally impossible for me to have a fair Tryal. . do finally forgive all who did concur directly or indirectly to take away my Life; and I ask forgiveness ot all those whom I ever offended by Thought Word or Deed. .... . ’ ’ I beseech the All-powerful that His Divine Majesty grant our King, Queen, and the Duke of York, and all the Royal family, Health, long life, and all feS 61 ' 1 * 7 1U thlS W ° rld ’ and in the next everlasting Now that I have showed sufficiently (as I think tould T n ° Cent f, am . of any Plot or Conspiracy, I S I were able, with the like Truth, to clear myself of high crimes committed against the Divine Mai which commandments (often transgressed by me) for or could a Lr: r U ,th "i" my heart ’ and if 1 should, oi could live a thousand years, I have a firm resolunever a to VT g pUrpOS f’ bv >' our Grace (O my God) Ist? to offend you ; and 1 beseech your Divine Mai of nis V B,;,seT r Mi°n f W and f the “o Saint%orvfmemv a slns all a ” d Eternal Best.® Misere." me Den, ete° my - S ° ul etc. In manus Tuas. ete ’ C& ammae -

POSTCRIPT. ■ the Charitv f TI ?? tisfa 'tion of all Persons that have me Chanty to believe the Words of a -TW™ t

again declare before God, as I hope for Salvation, what is? contained in- this. Paper / is the plain ' and naked truth; without any Equivocation, Mental Reservation, or Secret Evasion whatsoever; taking the tvords in their usual sense and meaning, as Protestants do when they discourse with all Candour and sincerity. To all of which I have here subscribed my hand. Oliver Plunket.