hands of the English troops were knocked on the head, or hanged or shot as a matter of course. But by the various articles of surrender made with the different Irish forces the lives of all priests under the protection of those forces were secured to them provided they left the country by a certain date. The parliament undertook to provide for their transportation abroad, and many thus were shipped to Spain and other continental countries.
But many remained secretly in the island, and others soon slipped back from exile. Some of these, when caught, were transported to the West Indies. Others were confined on the island of Inishboffin, where many sickened and died from want of food and housing.
Yet, in spite of all the efforts of the government, a certain number remained at large, and secretly ministered to their co-religionists. It does not seem that once the war was over, any priests were put to death merely for being priests or for saying mass. It is well known that the English law punished all priests with death, and that some ten were executed under Charles I., who was, as we may remember, accused by the Puritans of showing too great favour to Popery, besides twelve more under the Parliament. This law was after a time allowed to fall into abeyance in England by the Republican Government. In Ireland there had never been any such law, and in spite of the threat to introduce this statute—the 27th of Elizabeth—no attempt seems to have been made to carry out this menace.[1]
- ↑ January, 1652—3. A proclamation that all priests who do not leave within twenty days, or who return after leaving, win be subject to the penalties of the 27th Eliz.
