A STRANGE COINCIDENCE.
[To THE EDITOR Or TH1 " SPECTATOlt."3
observed in the papers a short time ago that a new saint had been added to the Roman Catholic Church, and on carefully comparing the dates it seemed to be a very long interval between the death and canonization. Archbishop Oliver Plunkett was condemned to death in the year 1681. I examined several Irish histories to find an esplanation of the cause for which such an illustrious man was put to death. In many respects he was a man- of immense influence and authority. Relived for twenty-five years in Rome, and received the highest training. He was sent to Ireland, and was ordained Archbishop of Armagh in the year 1689. In 1881/ he was arrested and kept in prison for some months. Every history agrees upon the three charges which were brought against him. These charges are of special interest to Irish people in this year of 1918. First, he was accused of carrying on a treasonable correspondence with France and Rome and the Irish on the Continent. Second, with organizing and training men for an insurrection in Louth, Monaghan, Cavan, and Armagh. Third, for making arrangements for the landing of French troops in Carlingford Bay. If these three principal roints had been carried out successfully, and if Archbishop Oliver Plunkett had had seventy thousand men to join twenty thousand French troops, there would doubtless have been a very serious outbreak of civil war in Ireland. The plot was discovered just in time, the Arch- bishop was arrested and tried in London, and condemned to death.
It strikes one as a curious coincidence that the highest honour which his Church can bestow has been given now, so many years after the event—just now, when history is repeating an old chapter. And who knows there may not be many names familiar to us added to the list of holy martyred saints some time in the far distant future: Oliver Plunkett's death broke up the insur- rection in Ireland in 1681. We earnestly hope that the threatened disturbance in 1918 may also be averted. A most interesting statement in Archbishop Plunkett's own report is as follows. He writes that throughout fifty miles of his diocese in the year 1670 there was "an abundance of food," " great peace is enjoyed therein," "Thanks to God the Catholics enjoy great toleration." Why then, one asks, was an insurrection promoted either then or
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