Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/495

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484
COLGAN.

the ancient topography of Ireland, and has annexed to them large and complete tables. The last of these volumes in order was the first printed and entitled "Acta Sanctorum Veteris et Majoris Scotiæ seu Hiberniæ, &c. &c." Lov. 1645.—Folio.—His intention (says Ware) was, first to publish one general Treatise, or Synopsis of the Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Ireland. Secondly, The Acts of St. Patrick, St. Columb, and St. Bridgit. And, thirdly, to write the Lives and Acts of the other Saints of Ireland, according to the order of the months and days, which would occupy many volumes. But the first part of this last work being earliest ready for the press, he presented it to the public eye, and called it the first volume, though the third of what he intended for his Ecclesiastical Antiquities. Into this volume he brought all the saints of Ireland who died during the first three months of the year, and it is suspected some Scots and English, such as he could lay the least claim to; yet is far short (continueth the same author) of making sufficient reprisals on Mr. Dempster who with so bare a face hath plundered the Irish calendar, and from thence got the nick-name of ὰγιοχλὲπτης, or the Saint-stealer. Peter Talbot, a man of "good parts and learning," gives our author the title and character of Incitorum Corrosor, or a raker together of uncertain and unknown lives. The second volume of this work was printed at Louvain in 1647. In this volume he hath given seven different lives of St. Patrick, five of St Columb, and six of St. Bridgit, to which he has annexed appendixes, notes, and indexes.

He died at Louvain in 1658, and his death frustrated his intention of giving to the public the lives of the Irish Saints for the other nine months of the year.

Several manuscript volumes of his writings are yet remaining at Louvain, the titles of which are to be found in Harris's Edition of Ware.