CARON. 389 convent of Athlone when he was only sixteen years of age; and afterwards studied philosophy in a monastery of his own order at Drogheda, under the tuition of Dr. Alex- ander Flemming. Several years after, when many of the convents were seized by the iron hand of government, he quitted Ireland, and retired to Saltsburgh in Germany; where, uniting intense application to great, learning, he devoted the whole of his time to the study of divinity, in a Franciscan monastery; and finished his studies at Lou- vain, in Flanders, under the instruction and direction of Malachy Fallow and Bonaventure Delahoide, two eminent Irish professors in divinity. In a short time after this period he possessed the, chair himself, and acquired the reputation of an able and learned theologist. Some years after he was sent to his native country in quality of com- missary-general of the Recollets, all over Irelaad; where he found every thing in a state of great confusion. Be- ing at Kilkenny when the differences and disputes ran high between the loyal catholics and the party of Owen O'Neill, he sided with the former; and, in an attempt to remove from that city one Brenan and some other sedi- tious friars, he was in great danger of losing his life; and to a certainty had lost it in the tumult raised by these friars, had not the Earl of Castlehaven providentially arrived, with some friends, in the very instant of time to save him. When the forces, sent by parliament to reduce Ireland, had landed, and were proceeding to their work of murder, flame, and desolation, Caron left his country, and con- tinued abroad until the Restoration; at which period he returned to England, where he resided till within a few months of his death. Prior to which, feeling the hand of that despotic monarch upon him, he returned once more unto the land of his birth; and died in Dublin, some time in May 1666; and was buried in St. James's church-yard in that city He was esteemed a man of exemplary piety and extra ordinary learning, and of upright and loyal principles,
