... 49 The person charging this material is re- sponsible for its return to the library from which it was withdrawn on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books are reasons for disciplinary action and may result ,n d.sm.ssal from the University. To renew call Telephone Center, 333-8400 UNIVERSITY OF ULINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN L161— O-1096 THE CATHOLIC. THE CATHOLIC, AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE. BY W. H. IRELAND, AUTHOR OP THE ABBESS, 4 VOL. GONDEZ, OR THEM0NK,4 VOL. $c. 4-c. $C. To every sect the Protestant's a friend By heav'n instructed mercy to extend. Not so the Catholic ; for he alone ; Condemns unheard all tenets but his own, Hugs to his breast the hope of future grace. And hurls damnation on the human race. VOL I. LONDON; PRINTED FOR W. EARLE, ALBEMARL&STREET. 1807. Arliss Mara, to whom Mabel advanced after hav- ing eyed him for a time with the utmost scrutiny, when seizing him by the arm she exclaimed : " And must I then be doubly tortured O'Mara, is it not sufficient that I should thus await thy coming, but that when thou returnest, thou meetest me with a clouded brow, nor even from thy lips can THE CATHOLIC. 7 I draw one word of comfort — what ails thee Moor ? speak ! tell me I conjure thee?" As Donavan concluded; O'Mara rais- ing his regard which had till that moment remained rivetted on the ground, fixed his penetrating eyes on the features of Mabel with an expression which even thrilled her soul and after a few seconds giving vent to an agonized groan O'Mara exclaimed. " We are undone and the malice of hell " hath overwhelmed us — but my friends " may Jesu and Maria preserve them." " What means O'Mara r" resumed Ma- bel, astonished at the late apostrophe, " what purposes of thine, unknown to " me, have been frustrated, and who are " the friends for whom thou claimest the " intervention of the world's redeemer? " speak, I conjure thee." b 4 8 THE CATHOLIC. " We must away," replied Moor, after a short pause and starting from his seat, 44 yes, I at least must fly accursed Lon- " don's precincts, to 'scape the eye of jus- " tice. By the Holy Trinity, but I will yet 44 pour vengeance down and hurl destruc- 44 tion on the damned sons of heresy, yes, by 44 the blood of Christ they shall not suffer " unrevenged, while Moor O'Mara lives to 44 boast the blessed name of Catholic." As the last words escaped the lips of Moor, he struck his forehead with his left hand and grasping the handle of his sword in part unsheathed it, while gnashing his teeth a half stifled curse found vent, which seemed to tranquillize in some degree the malignant rage that boiled within his breast. " I too can curse the enemies of hea- ven," exclaimed Donavan, grasping O 5 Mara's arm with one hand while she di- THE CATHOLIC. 9 rected the index finger of the other to the crucifix upon the table, " Look on that " memento Moor ; confide to me the se- " cret of thy soul, and thou shalt find me " as apt in council, as resolute in action, " propose the oath and by the eternal " damnation that awaits an heretic, I will " not faulter, but under thy guidance do " all that may ensure me beatification in " the world to come." " I have taken the sacrament and sworn " to be for ever mute," replied O'Mara, " but soon will public clamour unfold to " thee the mystery. For thine unshaken " constancy to the papal cause, and rooted' " hatred to the reigning faith of this devo- " ted land my thanks are thine Mabel — 41 Oh ! such a scheme, one luckless mo- " ment hath overthrown ; as would have 44 canonized the actors names for ever." — • Moor for a time continued mute, while conflicting passions were delineated fc b 5 10 THE CATHOLIC. every gesture ; turning his regard at length upon the sleeping infant he proceeded thus, " Thinkst thou that babe will learn to " reverence our tenets* thinkst thou Ma- 44 bel that he will lisp deep curses with his 44 earliest speech upon the race of heretics. 44 If e'er I thought that he would faulter 44 in the true belief, e'en now would I 44 with pleasure bathe this weapon in his 44 blood, and give his carcase to the ravens u of the night/ 5 46 Fear not," resumed Mabel, 44 with his 44 mother's milk he shall imbibe the sa- 44 cred truth, or these my hands shall tear 44 forth his recreant heart and give him to 44 perdition/ 5 44 Hold," exclaimed O'Mara starting back, 44 whence proceeded that sound ?" 44 It was the Abbey bell," resumed Do- THE CATHOLIC. II navan, " that hath proclaimed the first " hour of morning." " Then must I prepare for flight," re- plied O'Mara — " yet whither fly, for if no " lurking place be found in London, where " can I hide my head ? by mother church " I will defy the worst nor meanly u turn my back upon the cause I have " espoused. If Jesu wills that I should " suffer, then shall it appear how daunt- " lessly a catholic can meet his doom, and " die maintaining to his latest breath, the " cause in which he suffers. My soul is " bent unto this purpose, therefore pre- " pare Mabel, that we may forthwith quit " this habitation to elude research, for "on this step depends the life of him " who claims yon sleeping infant as his " Own." " I will be prompt to act as thou requi- rest," replied Mabel. b 6 12 THE CATHOLIC. " Hast thon a weapon of defence," de- manded Moor. " None but mine own determination." Drawing forth a dagger from his girdle, O'Mara presented it to Donavan and thus continued. " Use it as necessity requires Mabel, 4t meanwhile toward Baynard's castle shall " I take my course, and there within the u private alley leading to the Thames, will " I await thy coming, rouse not the in- " mates of this mansion I command thee* " but on this table leave what is their " due ; here is sufficient gold,", said Moor, presenting several marks, " nay be " not astonished Donavan at sight of so " much wealth," continued Moor on ob- serving the surprize which was depicted on Mabel's countenance, " Men who can " dare the worst in blessed religion^ cause " need never lack the Sovereign Pontiff's THE CATHOLIC. 13 " aid ; farewel Donavan, at Baynard's we '" we shall meet again." " I shall attend thee Mara, and may Je- " su be thy guide," answered Mabel, as Moor descended the narrow staircase of the miserable mansion. On the instant that O'Mara disappeared, Mabel Donavan proceeded to follow his dictates by securing such trifling move- ables as she deemed requisite under exist- ing circumstances, after which, taking her infant son from the cradle and wrapping him in her loose mantle together with the ivory crucifix ; she was on the point of quitting the chamber, when suddenly the trampling of footsteps was heard upon the stairs and in a few seconds ft guard ab- ruptly entered the chamber, who present- ing his halbert exclaimed, " Advance one " step and death shall be the forfeit of thy fc' temerity/* 14 THE CATHOLIC- CHAP. H. All murders past do stand excus'd in this ; And this so sole, and so unmatchable, Shall give a holiness, a purity, To the yet unbegotten sins of time > And prove a deadly bloodshed but a jest, Exampled by this heinous spectacle, It is a damned and a bloody work, The graceless action of a heavy hand, If that it be the work of any hand. SHAKSFEARB, Among the noblemen who graced Ihe court of king James the first of England, was the worthy lord Montegle, son and heir to the lord Morley, whose conduct had ever proved him to be as virtuous a subject in private life, as he was a loyal peer of the realm of Great Britain, THE CATHOLIC. 15 Ten days previous to the approaching meeting of the present parliament, lord Montegle being on the point of going to supper, one of his attendants entered the chamber of his lord and delivered into his hands a letter the seal of which having broken, this nobleman read as follows. MY LORD, Out of the love I bear to some of your friends, I have a care of your preservation .- Therefore I would advise you, as you tender your life, to devise some excuse to shift off your attendance at this parliament. For God and man have concurred to pu- nish the wickedness of this time. And think not slightly of this advertisement, but retire yourself into your country, where you may expect the event in safety. For though there be no appearance of any stir, yet I say, they shall receive a terrible blow this parliament, and yet they shall not see who hurts them. This council is 16 THE CATHOLIC. not to be contemned, because it may do you good, and can do you no harm, for the danger is past so soon as you have burnt the letter. And I hope God will give you the grace to make good use of it : to whose holy protection I commend you." After considering for a time this anony- mous scroll, his lordship conceived that no truth could be attached to the contents of this paper, which he laid aside as the mere invention of some individual desirous of putting his courage to the test, and pro- ceeded to partake of the nightly repast. In vain however did his lordship essay to dissipate the mental cogitations that as- sailed him, perplexing thoughts unceas- ingly obtruded themselves, and in opposi- tion to his reason he could not refrain from a re-perusal of the mysterious communica- tion ; which being ended, he summoned the attendant who had delivered it, and THE CATHOLIC. 17 after questioning him as to the manner in which it had come into his possession, the domestic answered as follows. " Being on my return home, my lord, to { attend your supper according to my c usual custom, I was accosted at some c little distance from the portal of this * mansion by a man whose general ap- ' pearance indicated a desire that I should ' not become acquainted with his physi- J ognomy, his hat being slouched over his * visage, and an ample cloak envelloping ' his breast and shoulders. Having de- 4 manded whether or not I was your lord- ' ship's attendant and received my answer ' in the affirmative, the stranger forthwith ' thrust into my hand the billet which I 6 delivered to your lordship, repeating 6 with great energy these words." " As ' you love your master give this safely into ' his possession." " When, without await- ing any » reply , the unknown forthwith 18 THE CATHOLIC. " darted from me and turning the corner " of the street, instantly vanished from my " sight." Lord Montegle having listened atten- tively to this statement dismissed his ser- vant, and after considering anew the con- tents of the paper, began to think that some business of a dangerous nature might be on the eve of accomplishment, and be- ing also fully aware that no harm could accrue should his apprehensions prove un- founded, he determined on waiting on the earl of Salisbury his majesty's principal se- cretary of state, in order to make him ac- quainted with this extraordinary incident. Having formed this determination his lord- ship wrapped up in his cloak quitted his mansion at that late hour, and on his arri- val at Whitehall was immediately intro- duced to the earl of Salisbury to whom he communicated the manner in which the letter had been delivered into the hand of THE CATHOLIC. 19 Jiis attendant, and then proceeded to the perusal of the anonymous billet, the con- tents of which greatly astonished the earl, who having commended in the highest terms the caution of my lord Montegle, determined on laying the paper before the privy council the ensuing day. According to the desire of the earl, the lord Montegle attended on the council, when every circumstance having been considered, it was agreed that the letter should be presented to king James on his return from a hunting party at Roys ton ; where he was then engaged, and from whence he was expected to return within three days in order to attend the meeting of the parliament. At the appointed time his majesty ar- rived in safety at Whitehall, and on the succeeding evening being engaged in the gallery of his palace, the earl of Salis- 20 THE CATHOLIC. bury there presented him the lord Mont- egle's letter, when after describing the manner of its delivery to that nobleman's attendant, he humbly requested the opi- nion of the king as to the meaning of the contents of the paper. His majesty having perused the letter, paused awhile, and then reading it over a second time, thus addressed himself to the earl. " My lord this caution should not be " contemned for it is herein stated that, we " shall receive a terrible blow this par lia- " ment and yet not see who hurts us, and " moreover, that, the danger will be past, " so soon as this letter is burnt : from this " my lord it is apparent that the danger " is momentary, and what can be more sud- " den than theblowing up of gunpowder }" King James then pausing for a time in deepest thought, continued thus, " It is THE CATHOLIC. 21 " our wish good lord of Salisbury that pre- " vious to our attendance at the house of " parliament, each avenue and cellar be " narrowly inspected, as well for the safe- " ty of our liege subjects as ourself." The earl bowed assent, when by the ad- vice of the privy council it was deemed expedient, that he should repair to act his majesty's pleasure on the evening previ- ous to the assemblage of the parliament. The catholic conspirators having ar- ranged every thing for the ensuing day by conveying thirty six ban-els of gunpowder into the cellars beneath the house of par- liament, gloried in the idea of that horrible explosion which was at one fell moment to have annihilated the beloved and peace- ful monarch James and all the senators of the realm of England. — Among these dia- bolical traitors ranked foremost Moor O' Mara, who with his bosom friend the 22 THE CATHOLIC. dauntless Guido Fawkes, disputed the en- viable task of firing the annihilating train, which communicated with the barrels of dire combustion. The resolute Guido Fawkes by ten at night had taken his station at the cellar door, when instantly appeared the fearless Moor O' Mara to whose charge was com- mitted the task of arranging the subtle train of gunpowder. Having saluted each other in the name of the holy trinity as was their custom, O'Mara received from the hand of his friend the key of the por- tal, when instantly repairing to the cellar, he therein commenced his terrible occupa- tion, whilst Guido Fawkes without the door, paid heedful note to every passenger. Ere the eleventh hour all London was at peace, no footstep was heard to inter- rupt the purposes of these detested trai- tors, who almost looked upon this horrid THE CATHOLIC. 23 work as executed. While thus employed, the earl of Salisbury with lord Montegle and certain chosen noblemen, prepared to visit the house of parliament as had been agreed, whither they proceeded ere yet the abbey bell had sounded forth the dreary hour of midnight. The incendiary Fawkes conceiving all secure, had strayM some paces from the cellar door, leaving O'Mara at his horrid employ, while the earl of Salisbury and those accompanying him, approached the spot with caution, and before the artful Guido Fawkes had notice of their arrival, all hope of communicating the impending danger to -his friend O'Mara, was at an end. No sooner was the person of Fawkes perceived, than the earl gave orders for his immediate apprehension, in order to ques- tion his intent in being stationed there at 24 THE CATHOLIC. such a dreary hour, when there was found upon him a lanthern cased ; with matches, flint and steel, fit implements for the pur- poses of an incendiary. Fully convinced that the conspiracy was develloped and that a full discovery was at hand, and also fired with the hope of rescuing, if possible, his friend O'Mara, in order that he might give notice to the other sworn conspirators ; the determined traitor Guido Fawkes, in terms of exulta- tion confessed the purposed deed in an elevated tone of voice, in order if possible that his harangue might catch the ear of Moor O'Mara, and in this endeavour he succeeded, for his companion roused by the sound, stole quickly from the cellar and would have evaded every eye save that of Guido Fawkes, (which was scrutiniz- ingly bent upon the door of the subter- ranean chamber, during the delivery of his speech ;) had not the rancorous heart of THE CATHOLIC. 25 G'Mara prompted him to attempt a deed of desperation ; for in the hope of wreak- ing some revenge, he at the peril of his own life was hastening back to fire the train when the sound of his footsteps aroused the attention of one of the earPs attendants, who having given the alarm, that nobleman issued orders that this se- cond traitor should be pursued, when Moor O'Mara frustrated in this his last at- tempt, sought for safety in immediate flight, and by that means, although pur- sued, he gained in safety the chamber of his sullen partner, the watchful Mabel Donavan. After the confession of Guido Fawkes, the earl of Salisbury gave orders that the cellar should undergo the strictest search, when a few bundles of faggots being cleared away the barrels of combustion were discovered, and by this means was prevented that horrid plot, which if exe- vol. i. c 26 THE CATHOLIC. cuted, would, have once more fettered Englishmen with the chain of bigotry, by giving up this land to all the horrors of re- lentless popery and sanguinary supersti- tion. THE CATHOLIC. CHAP. III. My life I never hold but as a pawn To wage against my foes ; nor fear to lose it, Thy safety being the motive. SHAKESPEARE. I've heard myself proclaim'd, No port is free, no place That guard and most unusual vigilance Does not attend my taking. However prompt Moor O'Mara had been in his escape from the scene of ac- tion, one of the guards, who was dis- patched by the earl of Salisbury, had nevertheless traced his course at a consi- c2 28 THE CATHOLIC. derable distance, and although not altoge- ther convinced whether he had discovered the mansion of the renegade traitor, he was nevertheless assured that the course of Moor O'Mara had led him to the street through which he then passed, in addition to which circumstance the soldier per- ceived a glimmering light in the chamber above, and from this appearance the guard was led to rush up the staircase and entered the apartment a few minutes after the disappearance of the sanguinary con- spirator Moor O'Mara. " What is thy purpose }" demanded Mabel Donavan, in a firm tone of voice, and with fearless demeanour. " I am in pursuit of a traitor," replied the soldier, still pointing his halbert to the breast of the interrogator. " Bravely spoken, fellow," answered THE CATHOLIC. 29 Mabel with a sneer, " and thinkest thou " then a poor defenceless woman is acces- " sary to treason, look at me ; know my " sex, and learn henceforth to be more " mannerly." As the dauntless female spoke she ad- vanced two paces with a dignified air, which so astonished the saiard that he suf- o fered Mabel to turn aside the w T eapon, who thus continued. " If indeed thy purpose is to find a trai- " tor I will attend thee in the search," As Donavan spoke she raised the lamp from the table, and then exclaimed, signifi- cantly, " for no one is more calculated " than myself to aid the cause she has " espoused." The soldier, quite petrified, regarded Mabel with wonder, not knowing whether most to admire her personal courage, or c 3 30 THE CATHOLIC. the resolute language she had adopted on the present occasion, from which however being fully convinced in his own mind that he must have been mistaken in re- spect to the mansion he had entered, the following enquiry was made by the soldier. " Knowest thou if any catholic dwells <; within these walls ?" " I know there are such as catholics " call heretics," replied Mabel, in a sullen tone of voice, alluding to the other inha- bitants of the mansion, which contained many different families. " Why wast thou up at this late hour," continued the guard. " The cries of a child demand the atten- " dance of its mother," was the answer of Mabel, who at the same time pointed to her babe. THE CATHOLIC. 31 " Thou knowest not then of any catho- " lie or suspected person ?"' resumed the soldier. " The guiltless are free from all suspi- " cion," replied Mabel, " therefore I know " not of any, one suspected." " Woman, farewell," answered the sol- dier, turning towards the stairs. " Good morning," exclaimed the haugh- ty Donavan, following his steps, as she eternally gloried in the effect her conduct had produced. Mabel having thus evaded the imminent danger which threatened the father of her babe, determined on acting with infinite caution, in consequence of which, having carefully unclosed the lattice which com- manded a view of the street, she observed with a cautious look the direction taken c 4 32 THE CATHOLIC. by the soldier who had so recently quitted her, when conceiving him sufficiently re- moved from the mansion, she once more raised the bundle which had been thrown aside on the alarm of footsteps having caught her ear, and after depositing upon the table what was due to the owner of the habitation according to the commands of Moor O'Mara, Donavan extinguished the lamp, and turning the key descended with a light step down the staircase, and in a few seconds found herself in the street, when taking a course diametrically oppo- site to that which the soldier had pur- sued, she proceeded with the utmost speed to joinher fugitive companion near Baynard's castle. On quitting his residence Moor O'Mara had proceeded, for a few minutes, with the utmost expedition towards the place ap- pointed, when the idea suddenly struck him, that he had not warned Mabel to THE CATHOLIC. 33 avoid as much as possible the neighbour- hood of the house of parliament, when she should sally forth to join him ; forci- bly impressed with this remembrance and knowing full well that a strong body of guards awaited the summons of the earl of Salisbury, who would without distinc- tion arrest any passenger that should then appear upon the spot, O'Mara w T as on the point of retracing his steps, in order to caution Donavan, when at that precise juncture his eye caught the back figure of the soldier, who still pursued and had lost sight of him during his short continuance with Mabel ; at this juncture self-preser- vation was alone to be attended to, and trusting therefore to the art of his partner, with which he was fully acquainted, he muttered forth a blessing in the name of the Virgin Mary, and instantly proceeded unobserved towards the secret passage ad- joining Baynard's castle. c 5 34 THE CATHOLIC. As Moor O'Mara entered the appointed avenue he suddenly made a halt, on per- ceiving in the distance the figure of a man approaching towards him : a moment's consideration however convinced him that his life was at stake, and that in case of surprise he had only to rely on his per- sonal valour, in order to effect an escape, drawing his dagger therefore with the left hand, and grasping his sword with the right he advanced with firm step to meet the intruder, being in a great measure en- velloped in the folds of his ample cloak. Having gained the person of the stranger O'Mara made a halt, exclaiming at the same time in a firm tone. " Who passes there V y 11 I know thee," replied the person ad- dressed, " and Jesu be with thee faithful " Moor O'Mara.". THE CATHOLIC. 35 Donavan then proceeded to relate the action of the infant, in having struck the Crucifix with the weapon, without how- ever explaining the ominous appearance of the blood which had flowed from the image; being well assured that a faithful recapitulation of the whole occurrence, would have doom'd the child to immedi- ate Death. The relation however as partially made by Mabel, produced a strong impression on the mind of Q'Mara, his eyes assumed an air of gloomy thoughtfulness, and his vis- age underwent a variety of changes as he advanced to the reclining infant, and re- garded its form in speechless contempla- 186 THE CATHOLIC. tion,— " Happiness is an air-drawn phantasy and 44 those who conceive themselves most .** benefited by its smiles, are soon proved 44 but the dupes of their own mental i4 reveries. From henceforth I will blot " out from the calendar of my days all " thoughts of pleasure, the world is nought u to me, and I am insignificance itself 44 when placed on the grand scale of exis- " tence, — bitterness is my lot and if my " feeble powers can impart a share of that K 3 198 THE CATHOLIC. <• 5 ' gall to any of the human species, it shall " be my study to make them partakers of " my misery, for to a mind so trebly " cursed as Mabel Donavan's, vengeance " can alone impart a ray of sickly pleasure, " and warm the soul with exultation. " Hold \" exclaimed Mabel after a mo- ment's pause, while her gaze was bent steadfastly on the form of her child, " I " have another instrument within my " power which may be trained by my " councils to vindicate my wrongs and " those of Moor O'Mara, lo ! here in this " my boy, will I infuse the precepts of ^ hatred to all mankind, even he shall " prove the scourge of those who have " pursued us, and hurl perhaps the ven- " geanceof a catholic even on kings them- " selves. — I feel an inspiration that assures " me he is born to wonderous deeds, may " they be such as will appease the ran- " cour of my breast and give me the con- THE CATHOLIC. 199 " solation I pant for at the hour of dis- " solution." Having concluded this ejaculation, Donavan sunk into a state of gloomy con- templation, while a variety of plans (the dictates of the most diabolical vengeance) rose in quick succession on her fancy and fed her gloom with the fond assurance of sanguinary retribution. After the lapse of the given time from the departure of Moor O'Mara for the Irish coast, Mabel Donavan, after having assumed the name of Mabel Scroope, ac- cording to the order of Moor O'Mara, his appellation having acquired a publicity on account of his known connection with the gunpowder plot, and the rewards for his apprehension, which must have endangered the life of herself, and perhaps given the clue to the place of his flight, then pre- pared for the perusal of the manuscript K 4 200 THE CATHOUC. placed in her hands by the conspirator, and in order that no interruption might occur to wean her attention from the de- sired communication she awaited till the hour of night, when having witnessed the slumbers of her child, she trimmed the lamp, and drawing from her bosom the papers, broke the seal and found the con- tents to run as follows : — ANCESTRY OF THE CATHOLIC MOOH o'MARA THE soil of Ireland first nurtured the race from which I sprung, and from the remotest period when the apostolic faith found sanctuar}' in that dear land, were my progenitors staunch adherents of its cause. To trace the lineal descent of the O'Mara's would be impracticable, — some found the path of honour in the blood THE CATHOLIC. 201 stained field of war, and many sought their soul's salvation in the tranquil shades of monastic seclusion ; no one was branded with the name of traitor to his chleftan, nor was there one who proved apostate to his faith ; in maintaining the indepen- dence of our native land against the incur- sions of foreign invaders were the O'Mara^s ever foremost, nor would they have bar- tered Erin's freedom for the empire of the world. — Such constituted the character- istic features of the souls from whence I sprung, and may such ever prove the in- centives of Moor O'Mara's actions. On the arrival of that baleful epoch which has sealed so many for damnation, by planting the standard of heresy in this realm of England, under that sensual and despotic tyrant Henry the eighth, Dennis O'Marft my grandsire, then lived the firm opponent of the hellish doctrine, being at that epoch commander of a tioop K 5 202 THE CATHOLIC, in the defence of his native land, in vain were his most strenuous endeavours set on foot to preserve his country's indepen- dence; in vain did he league against the growing influence of English Henry, he tived to see that monarch proclaimed the king of Ireland, and left the army in disgust, while burning with hatred against the English race, he soon after left the coast of Erin and with his son arrived in safety on the land of those who had dis- honoured the soil of his progenitors. The first care of Dennis O'Mara was to ally himself with those who were ini- mical to the doctrines of the arch fiend, Luther, and boldly denied the king's supremacy ; in the plots of the Lord Darcie, the Lord Hussey, and other gen- tlemen of note, my grandsire took an active part, and with infinite difficulty did he escape the fate of those honourable men, who together with William Thrift, the THE CATHOLIC. 203 Abbot of Fountains, and Anthony, Prior of Gervaux, with many more of equal sanc- tity were most inhumanly put to death. Dennis O'Mara being with others straight proclaimed, he left the northern parts disguised and came to London only to behold the Lady Bulmer burned in Smithfield, and the Lord Darcie beheaded on Tower Hill, while the staunch Lord Hussey met at Lincoln with the self same fate. In the councils of Henry Marquis of Exeter, the Lord Montacute, and Sir Henry Neville, did my ancestor the next engage, but with the same ill fate, for all those nobles met their doom on the san- guinary scaffold, at Tower-hill, while Dennis O'Mara alone survived to mourn the fate of those he loved, and «eek new scenes for action. k 6 204 THE CATHOLIC. Oh ! with what bitter anguish did my forefather view the bloody execution of the noble Countess of Salisbury, her inof- fensive life, her age, and the royal blood that flowed within her veins, could net plead for her with the insatiate Henry, he signed the warrant for her death, without a thrill of soft compassion, while she un- fortunate dame untainted by any guilty act, and burning with the pride, inherent in her soul, denied the power that doomed her to her fate, and scorn 'd to bend the neck to an ignoble executioner, thus armed with heroism, she struggled for a while, and claimed the pity of the gaping crowd who saw with doleful moans, the noble lady levelled to the earth, and mangled by the butcher's axe, where she resigned her soul, into the keeping of the beatified Mary, the immaculate mother of the God of catholics. Next to my grandsire's purpose appeared THE CATHOLIC, 205 Sir Felix Grey, who leagued with Dennis Mara, fired the .mansion of Sir John Wil- liams, who filled the trusty office of keeper of the king's jewels the whole of which were burned or stolen away by the surrounding rabble, while those who wrought the deed escaped alike unknown and unsuspected* Unceasing in his machinations no plot was formed but Dennis proved an inde- fatigable friend, till the event arrived of Henry's death, which left the throne of England to his youthful son, the stripling Edward who nurtured in the lap of apos- tacy strove to re-establish the infernal doc- trines which had been sanctioned by his fa- ther; to answer the purposes of his insa- tiate lust and inordinate ambition. As the determined spirit of Henry,., seemed to animate the soul of Edward, new plots were set on foot and secret en- 206 THE CATHOLIC. deavours made, to hold a correspondence with the Princess Mary, who was well known to be an advocate for the true faith and a friend to the persecuted catho- lics, in this undertaking Dennis O'Mara was the person fixed upon to bear dis- patches to the princess, and for this pur- pose he had had frequent interviews with Edmund Bonner, bishop of London; the faithful servant of the most high, and the great luminary of all true catholics. Upon this occasion my great progenitor anxious to seal the felicity of his offspring, placed his son Patrick O'Mara, then fif- teen years of age under the guidance of Bishop Bonner, who together with Stephen Gardner, bishop of Winchester, instilled into his mind the leading principles of rigid Catholicism; after which he was pla- ced under the care of father Sebastiano a Spanish monk, of the order of saint Domi- nick and a secret emissary of the holy in- THE CATHOLIC. 207 quisition, who remained in England for the divine purpose of ovethrovving heresy by forwarding all secret machinations and plots against the sovereign, Edward, and the rights and liberties of England. Such were the characteristic features of the holy man who was deputed to watch over the son of Dennis O'Mara and fit the mind of my father to persevere in those tenets which can alone conduce to the soul's eternal salvation. Affairs were thus situated when Dennis O'Mara repaired to the princess Mary with the packets committed to his charge ; he found the royal lady occupied in devout meditation, her soul bent on petitioning the Almighty to turn the heart of her brother Edward from his perverse belief, or else to take his soul at once into his holy keeping, that she might restore the banished faith in all its force and hurl de- 208 THE CATHOLIC^ struction on the heads of those who had combined to overthrow it. On perusing the letters of bishop Bon- ner, and my lord of Winchester, a secret satisfaction was depicted on her visage, and her assent was given to their several propositions, while assurances of her most gracious protection were heaped upon my grandsire Dennis O'Alara who ere his de- parture, was allowed to kiss her princely hand. Flushed with the success of his expe- dition Dennis returned to London, when to his inexpressible grief he found my lord of Winchester in close confinement in the tower, for preaching before king Edward in favour of the holy faith, while numerous persons were placed as spies in order to betray if possible the resolute Edmund Bonner and seal him for perdition ; these efforts, however, were for a time unsuc- THE CATHOLIC. 200 cessfu), and the good bishop of London with indefatigable zeal prepared to con- duct alone those schemes in which my lord of Winchester was to have taken such an active part, while Dennis O'Mara was to have conducted as before, the secret communications which were to be for- warded to the princess Mary, when sud- denly the hand of heaven fell heavily upon him, for among the first who became vic- tims of the dreadful pestilence that ra- vaged London, was Dennis O'Mara, who had however sufficient time to exhort his son to persevere in the belief which had been inculcated in his mind, and establish by fire and sword the true religion, after which with execrations in his mouth against king Edward and the race of heretics, my grandsire Dennis O'Mara, yielded up his breath, leaving my father, then thirteen years of age, to grieve for the loss he had sustained and profit by the righteous councils of his religious sire. 210 THE CATHOLIC. At this part of the manuscript Mabel paused for a time, actuated by sentiments of respect for the grandsire of the man she had selected as her protector for life, and feeling reverence for his character as a true disciple of the faith she followed. '• Yes," exclaimed Mabel, internally y " my resolute Moor O'Mara is worthy the " family from whence he sprung : Oh ! if " the spirit of his grandsire views from on " high the traits of heroism, which have " characterized his proceedings in the " cause of Catholicism, then must he re- " joice in the persevering conduct of hi» " representative, who deems his existence " but a secondary consideration, when " summoned into action by the cause of " heaven. " — Donavan again paused for a time, when fixing her eyes once more upon the ma- THE CATHOLIC, 211 nuscript of Moor O'Mara, she continued the recital, which proceeded thus. THE LIFE OF PATRICK O'MARA. PATRICK O'MARA on the demise of his parent, although yet of puerile years, yielded not to those effeminate emotions, which could have been productive of no good effect, and disdained to shed the tear of pusillanimity in which resolution he was further strengthened by his guar- dian and tutor, Sebastiano, the monk, who Sedulously inculcated in the mind of his eleve those stern virtues, which should ever mark the conduct of a catholic, who is resolved to enforce his doctrine by the commission of any act, and who rather 512 THE CATHOLIC. than fail in conquering the obstinacy of heretics, should bury his own hands in the blood of his fellow-creatures. Hav- ing these principles instilled into his mind, and the disposition of my parent Patrick O'Mara being calculated to nur- ture such tenets, he made a rapid progress in all thosejdoctrines which were calcu- lated to forward our cause, and undermine the false fabric which was then rearing its infernal head to the total annihilation of all true religion, and the consequent per- dition of the English race. Scarcely had twelve months transpired from the demise of Dennis O'Mara, when Edmund Bonner was seized and sent from Lambeth to the Marshalsea, where he was kept in close confinement for a Sermon preached by him at the cross at Pauls* which gave offence to the arch Heretic King Edward, — this step threw a damp on the hopes of the faithful, amongst whom THE CATHOLIC. 213 father Sebastiano and Patrick O'Mara were not the least conspicuous in testifying their sorrow* while the princess Mary being thus bereft of both her counsellors (the bi- shops of Winchester and London) became a prey to the most gloomy meditations, and as if the sacrilegious machinations of the court were intended to bid defiance to the cause of Heaven, the righteous Bonner for disobedience to the King's mandate in a religious point, was shortly after deprived of his bishoprick and sentenced to undergo the most painful incarceration, these rigo- rous measures and the vigilant proceed- ings of the court, quelled for a time all the plans which had been previously construc- ted for the overthrow of Edward and the placing princess Mary on that throne, which she was so calculated to occupy to the extirpation of all sceptics in the true belief. Thus for a time the catholic cause seemed to droop, the saints of mother church were trampled under foot, the sanctuaries £14 THE CATHOLIC. of religion were violated and the scourge of omnipotence appeared directed against the faithful servants of his redeeming son, as a punition for some dire offence com- mitted against his sacred will. — But these ill omens were but of short duration, the heretic king Edward suddenly sickened at Greenwich, (thanks to the poison of our friends) when at the age of sixteen he ter- minated his earthly career, to share the fu- ture torments which are reserved for all who waver from the faith of heaven. No sooner were these welcome tidings spread abroad, than exultation swelled the soul of every catholic, while sorrow struck the heart of each unbeliever, 'twas now our turn to wield the sceptre of con- trol, to show the dungeon, to clank the fetter, to exercise the instruments of tor- ture, and rear on high the flaming brand of exterminating fire. Oh welcome hour! the cross appeared, surrounded THE CATHOLIC. 215 with two fold rays of glory ; in vain had pusillanimous Edward, by an act of ille- gality, endeavoured to continue his perni- cious doctrines, by nominating in his will the lady Jane Grey (an heretic like him- self) to succeed him in the government of the realm ; her claims were despised, and she with her husband, father, and her whole usurping race ended on the block, their career of heresy and rebellion. Scarcely had the gracious Mary as- cended the throne when all the disgraced prelates and imprisoned nobles were re- stored to their dignities, estates, and ho- nours, and Edmund Bonner among the rest issued forth a fulminating brand in whose grasp was vested the scourge of heretics, this was indeed the scene for ac- tion, the monk, Sebastiano, well aware of how great utility Patrick O'Mara might prove in times of such eventful import, instantly repaired with my father, 210 THE CATHOLIC. then only nineteen years of age, to the palace of Edmund Bonner, who in re- membrance for the services rendered by Dennis O'Mara, and the promises which he had made to him, instantly took my father under his especial care, who toge- ther with the holy monk, Sebastiano, formed the secret council of the bishop of London, notwithstanding Patrick O* Mara's youth, he being so strenuously recommended by the father of Saint Dominick, for his determined resolution in upholding the papal dignity, and his stern manners, when any theme of pity occurred, which might have touched with sensibility the most determined heart. — - Such was the man for Bonner's purposes, and such I glory to add, was mine own father. While hundreds who had triumphed in their apostacy were daily experiencing the lash of my father's just and religious ven- THE CATHOLIC. 217 geance under the sanctoin of his patron, Edmund Bonner, the indefatigable monk Sebastiano, skilled in the tortures inflicted in the holy inquisition, (of which he was a worthy member) instructed Patrick O' Mara in the necessary modes of proceedure on such occasions, which he adopted with unvarying zeal, and by which means he proved himself worthy his benefactor, and justly entitled to the praises lavished on him by his holy instructor Sebastiano, the monk of Saint Dominick. During these proceedings in the cause of our religion, arrived Count Egmont, ambassador from the emperor, in order to conclude the marriage between his son king Philip of Spain and queen Mary of England, when the treaty being concluded upon, notwithstanding the opposition of the rebel, Sir Thomas Wyat, and his fol- lowers, many of whom, together with VOL. I. L 21 S THE CATHOLIC. their leader suffered the just punition of the law, Prince Philip arrived at South- ampton, and the marriage was shortly af- ter solemnized at London, between that Prince and Mary of England to the ex- cessive joy of all who wished well to the cause of Catholicism. Now blazed the welcome fires in Smith- field acceptable offerings to offended hea- ven, and a just retribution for the injuries heaped upon the followers of the faith, at one of these spectacles a scene occurred worthy the character of Patrick O'Mara, a female heretic even at the stake sup- ported her damnable tenets, in vain did the monk Sebastiano tender her the cruci- fix and exhort her to abjure her sinful per- suasion, she was hardened against convic- tion, and the gates of salvation were closed upon her ; the flames arose, and as her pregnant body was consuming, the agony THE CATHOLIC. 219 of pain gave birth* to the offspring she had borne, when one of the executioners, an half-fledged catholic yielding to sinful commiseration, caught the infant from the devouring flames, 'twas then the mother craved some mercy on its head, and beg- ged in pity salvation for the child. " Such pity will I show," returned the indignant Sebastiano, u as is the due of " heresy ; " villain/' continued the reve- rend father addressing himself to the pity- ing slave who held the infant, " cast that " little heretic into the flames or dread " my fury." The villain unmindful of the order, * The pregnancy of an unfortunate female burned in the Isle of Man, and delivered during her torments, is detailed in Fox's Book of Martyrs, as well as the san- guinary measure above related, of casting the baby into the flames that it might share the fate of its suffering parent. L 2 220 THE CATHOLIC. fixed his eyes upon the child, and then upon Sebastiano, who feeling indignant at the churl's tardiness, bade him as he ten- dered dear his souPs salvation to cast the babe into the fire, but instead of obedi- ence, the miscreant placed the little one upon the ground and turned aside in horror. At that instant Patrick CVMara rushing forward, struck to earth the disobedient executioner, and seizing the infant cast it in the flames at the feet of its expiring mother, exclaiming " Go damned heretic, " and as thou wast borne by thy mother " in this world, so now shalt thou bear " her company in the regions of hell, fit " sanctuary for such defilers of the faith " of God." Mabel Donavan paused and dropped the manuscript, a sickening thrill per- vaded every faculty, for though she was THE CATHOLIC. 221 alive to the tenets of the most rancorous Catholicism, she nevertheless felt at that moment, that she was a mother. One thought rapidly succeeded another in her mind, and something like doubt seemed to taint her fancy. " Curse on all here- tics, she mentally exclaimed, even I a woman would at this moment annihilate the monarch and the rulers of this land, but could I have so sacrificed a babe ? was the young one amenable to the sins of its parent, was it not innocent, and could it not have been reared in the path of sal- vation?" — A qualm of conscience struck the heart of Donavan — As:ain she was lost in conjecture — Yet a father of the faith, a monk of Saint Dominic sanctioned the deed, and Moor O'Mara's father was the perpetrator. " I must banish thought, even surmise or doubt is criminal, if it was evil Sebastiano was to blame, and must abide the act, Patrick 0\Mara too was innocent, for he obeyed the mandate 222 THE CATHOLIC. of the functionary of heaven — Yet hold ; hold ; resumed Mabel, what was the im- pulse of the executioner that would not act the part of Patrick O'Mara ? He too was a catholic, a hireling, a churl, and yet for him the babe was harmless — I am be- wildered, doubt succeeds to doubt, and even Religion's self requires the spur to distance my conjectures. — Perhaps this internal struggle proclaims me a truant to my duty, yet can I war against the senti- ments that flow spontaneous from my soul. — No not even O'Mara's presence could subdue my thoughts, they might in- deed be dumb, but they would no less per- vade my mind and lead me through the mazes of inexplicable doubt. — " I will pursue the narrative," con- tinued Donavan, re-opening the manu- script, almost unconscious of the action, " Yes, I will obliterate if possible these " unhallowed strictures which debase my THE CATHOLIC. 223 " soul, and contaminate the pure faith " which I profess." Mabel Donavan again fixed her eyes upon the paper, but in vain, she could not lull to reft her mental cogitations, and after reading awhile, unconscious of the subject, she closed the manuscript, and immersed in a train of thinking, sought repose upon her pallet, just as the beams of early morning broke in ruddy streaks upon the eastern horizon. END OF VOL. I, ArRss <% Huntsman, Printers, 32, Gutter-lane, Cheapside.