Roman Catholic JHaYtgrs 
 
 LIFE AND MARTYRDOM 
 
 *$f OF THE 
 
 MOST REV. DOCTOR OLIVER PLUNKET, 
 
 |>/ Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh , and Primate 
 of Ireland, 
 
 WHO WAS HANGED, DRAWN, AND QUARTERED. 
 
 4 Ae suffered Martyrdom tvith constancy, on the ls£ day of ( 
 ' i J u ly> 1^81, in the Reign of King Charles the Second . 
 
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 COMPILED FROM A LATIN MANUSCRIPT, BY THE 
 
 Might Mev. Mr. Challoner f 
 
 Roman Catholic Bishop. 
 
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 Thus, then, this Rev. Prelate hung betwixt heaven and earth, 
 an open sacrifice to God for innocence and religion : as soon as he j 
 expired, the Executioner ripped up his belly and breast, and ] 
 pulled out his heart and bowels, and threw them into the fire 
 ready kindled near the gallows for that purpose. 
 
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LIFE AND MARTYRDOM, 
 
 £* 
 
 This apostolic man was descended of an illustrious family 
 in the kingdom of Ireland ; he was educated in the Catholic 
 
 ehgion and finding himself called to the ecclesiastical state, 
 went abroad into Italy, and there spent almost twenty years 
 
 1 L 0m i’ P , a y ln St r' ying ’ and P art, y in ‘aching divinity, 
 wheie also he received the degree of Doctor in that faculty! 
 
 f n nd paving acquired a general esteem by his virtue and leam- 
 
 clnJn ♦ S i 6 f % f rmag . h falhr '& r vacant, he was chosen and 
 consecrated to it, about the year 1669, and sent over to Ireland 
 to govern the flock committed to his charge, which he did in 
 such manner, as to give great edification to the Catholics, and 
 to be much esteemed by the very Protestants: in proof of 
 which we shall here put down what some Protestant Historians 
 tion Uen ° f upon occasion of his trial and condemna- 
 
 l- A . nd ( . first ’ Dl ; Burnet, who was never suspected of telling a 
 lie m favour of a Papist, in his history of bis own times n. 
 
 ' I’ *®<I ua,nts us from the testimony of the Earl of Essex 
 that Plunket was a ivise and, sober man, who was for living 
 quietly and in due submission to the government, without en- 
 gaging in intrigues of state : and that he was condemned only 
 upon the testimony of some lewd Priests, whom he had cen- 
 suied, 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 
 P B , et, P 1 !' Lachard also agrees in his history of England 
 f d 7° •• P* 631 .’ whei ' e 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 
 Loui Lieutenants of that kingdom. That the accusation 
 against him looked very romantic, not to say malicious • ye t 
 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 poor man’s hardship, that he generously ap- 
 plied to the king for a pardon, and told his majesty th I w\%- 
 nesses must needs be perjured ; for these things sworn against 
 him could not possibly be true. Upon which the kin^ in n 
 passion said,II% did you not 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 par- 
 ticular in his account of this Catholic Prelate, p. 710. “In 
 the mean time, (says he,) came on the trial of Dr. Oliver Plun- 
 ket, a Popish Titular, Archbishop of Armagh, who called him- 
 self 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 con- 
 tributions 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 thay 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 them- 
 selves in business, they charged a plot upon that innocent, quiet 
 man ; so that lie 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 con- 
 tribute to this design. Plunket in his defence alleged the im- 
 probability of all that was sworn against him ; which was 
 apparent enough. He alleged 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. 
 
4 
 
 But now let us hear what a Catholic, and one who was inti- 
 mately 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. u I cannot as yet,” says he, 
 
 “ pretend to give you (as you desire) a description of the vir- 
 tues of the glorious Archbishop and Martyr, Dr. Oliver Plun- 
 ket ; I am promised the particulars of his life and actions, 
 both at Rome, where he studied an(| taught almost twenty 
 years ; and in Ireland, where he exercised his episcopal or 
 rather apostolical function, 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 1 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 hut bread ; that he 
 appeared to them always modestly cheerful, without any an- 
 guish or concern at his danger, or strait confinement ; that 
 by his sweet and pious demeanor, 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 rpan 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 
 
5 
 
 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 hook, according to that — unctio ejus doeet 
 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 nos ter, Ave Maria , Credo , Miserere , In manus 
 tuas Domine , fyc. and for the rest, he would breathe forth his 
 soul in such prayers aud ejaculations as God Almighty should 
 then inspire him withal. He continually endeavoured to im- 
 prove 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, See. But I neither can nor dare under- 
 take 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 Pro- 
 testants 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 eleva- 
 ted hands gave us his benediction. How he composed himself 
 after he was taken from hence, you yourself can give a more 
 
6 
 
 exact account than I, &c.” So far Father Corker, to whom 
 the Holy Prelate applied himself for the affairs of his con- 
 science 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 him ; when he heard the ver- 
 dict, he cried out, Deo Grotias , 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 any 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, 
 aiid 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 lit sit, there is one 
 comfort, that he cannot be deceived, because he is ommscious. 
 
7 
 
 and knows all secrets, even of hearts ; and cannot deceive, be- 
 cause 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. 
 
 [Mr. Sheriff demanded his prisoner, who was carried by 
 him on a sledge to be hanged, drawn and quartered. In his 
 passage to the place of execution, he made many ejaculatory 
 prayers, full of love of God and charity to his neighbours. 
 When he arrived at Tyburn, and was tied up, before the cart 
 was drawn from under him, he made, with wonderful cheer- 
 fulness, the following discourse.] 
 
 I have some few days past abided my trial at the King’s 
 Bench, and now very soon must hold up my hand at the King 
 of King’s Bench, and appear before a Judge who cannot be 
 deceived by false witnesses, or corrupt allegations, for he know- 
 eth the secrets of hearts. 66 Neither can he deceive any, or 
 give any unjust sentence, or be misled by respect of persons, 
 he being all goodness, and a most just Judge, will infallibly de- 
 cree an eternal reward for all good works, and condign punish- 
 ment 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 anything contrary to the truth, com- 
 mit 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 more- 
 over, 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 words of a dying man, as I hope for salvation at the hands 
 of the supreme Judge, that 1 will declare the truth, with all 
 candor and sincerity, and that my affairs may be the better 
 known to all the world. 
 
 It is to be observed, that I have been accused in Ireland of 
 treason premunire, and that there I was arraigned, and brought 
 to my trial. But the prosecutors, (men of flagitious and in- 
 famous lives) perceiving that I had records and witnesses, they 
 
8 
 
 voluntarily absented themselves, and came to this city, to pro- 
 cure 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 in- ; 
 formed 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 pre- 
 cedent these 500 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 winds, the seas, 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 there- 
 fore 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 those merciless perjurers, who did aim at my 
 life, by accusing me of these following crimes i — 
 
 First — That I have sent letters by one Neal O’Neal, who 
 was my page, to Monsieur Baldeschi, the Pope’s secretary, to 
 the Bishop of Aix, and to Princippe Colonna, that they might 
 solicit foreign powers to invade Ireland : and also to have 
 sent letters to Cardinal Bullion to the same effect. 
 
 Secondly — To have employed Captain Con O’Neal, to so- 
 licit the French King for succour. 
 
 Thirdly — To have levied and exacted monies from the Clergy 
 of Ireland, to bring in the French, and to maintain 70,000 
 men. 
 
 Fourthly— To have had in readiness 70,000 men, and lists 
 made of them ; and to haye given directions to one Friar 
 Duffy to make a list of 250 men, in the parish of Foghart, in 
 the county of Louth. 
 
 Fifthly — To have surrounded all the forts and harbours of 
 Ireland, and to have fixed upon Carlingford as a fit harbour 
 for the French landing. 
 
 Sixthly — To have had several councils and meetings, where 
 there was money allotted for introducing the French. 
 
 Finally — That there was a meeting in the county of Mo- 
 naghan, some ten or twelve 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 Neal O’Neal was never my ser- 
 vant or page, and that I never sent letter or letters by him to 
 Monsieur Baldeschi, or the Bishop of Aix, or to Princippe 
 Colonna. And I say that the English translation of that pre- 
 tended letter, produced by the Friar Mack-Moyar is a mere 
 invention of his, and never penned by me, nor 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 to any of the French King’s ministers ; neither did 
 any who w^as in that court either speak to me, or write to me, 
 directly or indirectly, of any plot or conspiracy against the 
 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 it is well known (for it is a precept pub- 
 licly printed) that clergymen, (living in countries where the 
 government is not of Roman Catholics) are commanded by 
 Rome, not to write to Rome concerning any civil or tem- 
 poral affairs ; and I do 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 Friars 
 Mac Moyar and Duffy swore most falsely to such letter or 
 letters, agent or agents. 
 
 To the second, I say, that I never employed Capt. Con 
 O’Neal 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, nor spoke to him to the best 
 of my remembrance ten words ; and for his being inCharlemont, 
 or Dungannon, I never saw him in those towns, or knew of 
 his being in those places ; so that as to Con O’Neal, Friar 
 Mac Moyar’s depositions are false. 
 
 To the third, I say, that I never levied 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 Friars, 
 as Mac Clane and Duffy most untruly asserted. I assure you 
 I never received from any Clergyman in Ireland, but what was 
 due to me by ancient custom for my maintenance, and what 
 my predecessors these hundred years past were wont to re- 
 ceive ; nay, I received less than many of them, and if all the 
 Catholic clergy of Ireland get in one year, were put in one 
 purse, it would signify little or nothing to introduce the French, 
 or to raise an army of 70,000 men, which I had enlisted, as 
 Friar Mac Moyar most falsely deposed. Neither is it less un- 
 
10 
 
 true what Friar Duffy attested, viz. That I directed him to 
 make a list of 250 men in the parish of Foghart, in the Countv 
 of Louth. 
 
 To the fifth, I answer, that I never surrounded the fort, 
 and harbours of Ireland ; and that I never was at Cork, Kin 
 sale, Bantry, Youghal, Dungarvan, Limerick, Dungannon, o, 
 Wexford ; as for Carlingford I was never in it but once, an^ 
 stayed in it but half an hour ; neither did I consider the fort 
 or haven ; neither had I it in my thoughts or imaginations to 
 fix upon it, or upon any other fort or haven for landing cf 
 French or Spaniards ; and whilst I was at Carlingford, (by 
 mere chance passing that way,) Friar Duffy was not in my 
 company, as he most falsely swore. 
 
 To the sixth I say, that I was never at any meeting or coun- 
 cil, where there was mention made of allotting or collecting 
 money for a plot or conspiracy ; and it is well known, that th 
 Catholic Clergy of Ireland, who have lands or revenues, an 
 hardly are able to keep decent clothes on their backs, and life 
 and soul together, cannot raise any 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, Armagh, ana 
 Cavan, nor of one county, nor of one barony, and that I never 
 exhorted gentleman or gentlemen, either there, or any othei 
 part of Ireland, to take up arms for the recovering of the : 
 estates, and it is well known, that there are not even in th 
 province of Ulster, three hundred Irish Roman Catholics who 
 had estates, or lost estates by the late rebellion, and it is w:eii 
 known, all my thoughts and endeavours were for the quiet 
 my country, and especially of that province. 
 
 Now to be brief, as I hope for salvation, I never sent lettei 
 or letters, agent or agents, to Pope, King, Prince, or Prelate 
 concerning any plot or conspiracy against any king or country; 
 I never raised sum or sums of money, great or small, to main- 
 tain soldier or soldiers, all the days of my life ; I never knew 
 (or did it come into my imagination) that the French were to 
 land at Carlingford, and I believe there is none who saw Ire- 
 land ever in a map, but will think it a mere romance ; I never 
 knew of any plotters or conspirators in Ireland, but such as 
 were notorious and proclaimed, (commonly called tories,) whom 
 I did endeavour to suppress, and as I hope for salvation, I al- 
 ways have been, and am entirely innocent of the treason laid 
 to my charge, and to any other whatsoever. 
 
 And though I be not guilty of the crimes of which I am 
 
11 
 
 accused, yet I believe none ever came to this place who is in 
 such a condition as I am, for if I should acknowledge (which 
 J\ in conscience I cannot do, because I should belie myself,) the 
 chief crimes laid to my charge, no wise men that knows Ireland 
 would believe me. If I should confess that I was able to raise 
 70,000 men in the districts of which I had care, to wit, in 
 Ulster, nay even in all Ireland, and to have levied and exacted 
 money from the R. C. Clergy for their maintenance, and to 
 have prepared Carlingford for the landing of the French, all 
 would laugh at me, it being well known that all the revenues 
 of Ireland, both Spiritual and Temporal, possessed by his 
 ^ Catholic Majesty’s subjects, are scarcely able to raise and 
 >■ maintain an army of 70,000 men. And if I 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 upon truth, though I assert it with my last 
 ' v ^breath. I dare venture to affirm, that if these points of 70,000 
 men, &c. had been sworn to before any Protestant Jury in 
 Ireland, and had been acknowledged by me at the Bar, they 
 would not believe me, no more than if it had been deposed, 
 and confessed by me, that I had flown in the air from Dublin 
 to Holyhead. 
 
 You see therefore, to what a condition I am in, and you 
 have heard what protestations I hawe made of my innocence, 
 and I hope you will believe the words of a dying man. And 
 ,hat you may be the more induced to give me credit, I assure 
 vou that a great Peer sent me notice, “ that he would save my 
 if I would accuse others but I answered, “ that I never 
 
 ;new any conspirators in Ireland, but such (as I said before) as 
 were publicly known outlaws ; and that to save my life, I would 
 not falsely accuse any, nor prejudice my own soul. St. Matt, 
 xvi. 26. f What availeth a man if he gaineth the whole world 
 and lose his own soulV 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 openly profess.” 
 
 Neither will I deny to have exercised in Ireland, the func- 
 tions of a Catholic Prelate, as long as there was any connivance 
 or toleration ; and by teaching and preaching, and statutes, to 
 have endeavoured to bring the Clergy (of which I had care) to 
 a due comportment, according to their calling : and though 
 thereby I did my duty, yet some who would not amend, had a 
 prejudice to me, and especially my accusers ; to whom I did 
 endeavour to do good : I mean the Clergymen, (as for the four 
 ay men, who appeared against me, viz. Florence Mac Moyar, 
 
the two Neals, and Hanson, I was never acquainted with the;y 
 but you see how I am requited, and imw by false oaths 
 brought me to this untimely death. Which wicked act be^*, : 
 defect of persons, ought not to reflect upon the order t’[ 
 Francis, or upon the Roman Catholic Clergy ; it being \^\\ 
 known, that there was a Judas among the twelve Ap^ s >i e * 
 and a wicked man, called Nicholas, among the seven De^o;, s ’ 
 and even as one of the said Deacons, to wit, holy Stephen. a pi 
 pray for those who stoned him to death ; so do I wish for tlp;se 
 who with perjuries spill my innocentblood: saying, as St. 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 any hand in bringing me 
 from Ireland to be tried here ; where it was morally impossible 
 for me to have a fair trial. I do firmly forgive all who did con- 
 cur, directly or indirectly, to take away my life, and I ask for- 
 giveness of 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 prosperity in this world, 
 and in the next everlasting felicity. 
 
 And now that I have shewed sufficiently (as I think) how in- 
 nocent I am of any plot or conspiracy, I would I were able with 
 the like truth to clear myself of high crimes committed against 
 the Divine Majesty's commandments, (often transgressed by me) 
 for which I am sorry with all my heart; and if L should o: could 
 live a thousand years, I have a firm resolution, and a strong pur- 
 pose, by your grace, (O my God,) never to offend you, and I 
 beseech your Divine Majesty, by the merits of Christ, and the 
 intercession of his blessed Mother, and all the Holy Angels and 
 Saints, to forgive me my sins, and to grant my soul eternal rest. 
 Be merciful unto me, O Lord, 8cc. Spare my soul, &c. Into thy 
 hand I recommend my spirit, &c. 
 
 Postscript — To the final satisfaction of all persons, that have 
 the charity to believe the words of a dying man, I again declare 
 before God, as I hope for salvation, that what is contained in this 
 paper, is the plain and naked truth, without any equivocation, 
 mental reservation, or secret evasion whatsoever ; taking the 
 words in the usual sense and meaning Protestants do, when they 
 discourse with all candor and sincerity. To all which I have 
 here subscribed my name, 
 
 Oliver Plunket. 
 
 FINIS.