(Ibid., p. 442)

AMONG the chiefs who took up arms in defence of the Catholic faith professed by their ancestors against the unjust persecutions of Queen Elizabeth about the year 1580, we must reckon these illustrious champions, Viscount Baltinglass[2] and John, Baron of Dunkellin. 

The English executioners, whose thirst for the innocent blood of Catholics was insatiable, put to death in several ways many noble Catholics through hatred of the faith, under one false pretext or another, and especially because they were suspected of sharing in the sentiments of the aforesaid nobles. 

Among the many noble knights who were put to death in Dublin in the year 1581, for their constancy in the Catholic faith rather than for the above reason invented by the heretics, were Nicholas Nugent, David Sutton, and his brother John Sutton[3], Thomas Eustace and his son John[4], William Wogan, lord of Rathcoffy; Robert Sherlock, John Clinch, lord of Scrine Thomas Netherfield,[5]and Robert Fitzgerald. 

All these most famous men, no regard being had to their high birth or the respectability of their families, were hanged and then quartered in Dublin on the 26th of May, 1581.

‘Nugent,’ says Camden, ‘a man of singular good life and reputation, was merely circumvented (as the Irish report) by the cunning of his adversaries. 

He, relying upon the conscience of his own innocency, when the Lord Deputy faithfully promised him his life if he would confess himself guilty, chose rather, being guiltless, to undergo an infamous death, than by betraying his own innocency to lead an infamous[6] 1ife.’

It is to these, no doubt, the Annals of Loch Cé refer[7], under the date 1581. 

‘Eighteen heirs of the nobles of the foreigners of Meath were put to death in Dublin by the Justiciary of Erin this year.’

See also Holing, Rothe, Copinger, Molanus, and Lynch

[1] He was Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.
[2] An Act of parliament was passed in 1585, 27 Eliz. Ci., attainting him and his four brothers. He died in Portugal.
[3] Of Castletown, Co. Kildare. Archdall, vi. 178
[4] Copinger says : Mr Thomas Eustace, with his son and heir, said the litanies going up the ladder.’ Spic. Ossor., iii.42
[5] Or Netterville
[6] Annals, p. 311
[7] ii.447

Please pray for final perseverance for all of us!
May the martyrs of old inspire us all.