titles him to notice is his Historical Review of the State of Ireland from the Invasion by Henry II. to the Union, 3 vols. 4to. London, 1805. The last two volumes are devoted to the history of the country from 1782 to the Union, and contain much useful matter. In 1813 he published in Dublin, in 3 vols., his History of Ireland from the Union to October 1810. For statements in this work, one John Hart brought an action against him at Lifford, 24th March 1813, and obtained £5,000 damages. Mr. Plowden thereupon retired to France, where he passed the remainder of his days. He died in Paris in 1829, at an advanced age. His brother Charles was a distinguished Jesuit, and the Earl of Dundonald was his son-in-law. 16 42 173* 173‡ 233
Plunket, Christopher, Earl of Fingall, a prominent actor in the War of 1641-'52. Carte says of his early life: "His father [Ist Earl of Fingall] had carried him over very young into England, when he was sent thither as an agent from the Irish; and after bestowing upon him all the breeding which the Court of England could afford, he got him a command in Flanders, where he soon distinguished himself, and was advanced to a better post, being a man of good parts and a pleasant turn of wit, accompanied by a politeness in his behaviour, and a natural civility which flowed towards all men; and these qualities rendering his conversation agreeable, made him universally acceptable to his acquaintance." He took his seat in the Parliament of 1639. Upon the breaking out of the war in 1641 he, with other Catholic lords, offered his services to the Government. These being rejected, he retired to the country, and ultimately threw himself into the struggle on the Catholic side. He was foremost in the gatherings at Tara and Duleek, commanded the cavalry at the siege of Drogheda, and was seven times indicted and outlawed in the course of his career. He was ultimately taken prisoner at the battle of Rathmines, in August 1649, died shortly afterwards in the Castle of Dublin. 54 216
Plunket, Oliver, Archbishop of Armagh, was born at Loughcrew, County of Meath, in 1629. He was descended from an old Anglo-Norman family, and was related to Dr. Plunket, Bishop of Ardagh, and Peter Talbot, Archbishop of Dublin. In 1645 he was sent to Rome under the care of Father Scarampo, Papal Legate, to complete his education, and next year entered the Irish College, where he remained eight years. In 1654 he was ordained for the Irish ministry, but the state
of the country rendered his return impossible, and he continued to preside in Rome, where he spent altogether some twenty-five years — from 1645 to 1669. In 1657 he was appointed Professor in the College of the Propaganda, where he lectured for about twelve years. Dr. Moran, his biographer, writes: "It is incredible with what zeal he burned for the salvation of souls. In the house itself, and in the city, he wholly devoted himself to devout exercises; frequently did he visit the sanctuaries steeped with the blood of so many martyrs, and he ardently sighed for the opportunity of sacrificing himself for the salvation of his countrymen. He moreover frequented the hospital of Santo Spirito, and employed himself even in the most abject ministrations, serving the poor infirm, to the edification and wonder of the very officials and assistants of that place." In 1668 he was appointed agent of the Irish clergy at Rome. About this time he composed his Irish poem, "O Tara of the Kings." On 9th July 1669 he was nominated Archbishop of Armagh. When leaving Rome he presented a small estate to the Irish College, besides many books and pictures. He was duly consecrated in November at Ghent, it being supposed that his consecration there would be less likely to bring him into trouble with the government in Ireland than if done in Rome. While in London, on his way, he was secretly lodged for ten days in the royal palace, by Father Howard, Grand Almoner. Speaking of his journey to Ireland, he says: "I suffered more from London to Holyhead than during the remainder of the journey from Rome to London — excessive cold, stormy winds, and a heavy fall of snow. . . Three times I was up to my knees in water in the carriage." During the ten years of his episcopate he was unceasing in his endeavours to re-establish and strengthen the fabric of his church, torn and shattered by the events of previous years. He presided at synods, held confirmations, established colleges and schools — travelling incessantly, not only in Ireland but the Hebrides. Writing 15th December 1673, he said he had confirmed 48,655 persons in the previous four years." I applied myself especially to root out the cursed vice of drunkenness, which is the parent and nurse of all scandals and contentions." He bore persecution and poverty with unflinching fortitude. At times Roman Catholicism was tolerated; at other times he had to preach and administer the sacraments in forests or on remote hill sides, and to hide himself in garrets and miserable cabins. His efforts to put down
