While waiting for a ship to Ireland, he was entertained by a priest. [1] He was called to exorcise a woman, and he was going through the prayers, perchance,’ said the serpent, you threaten me, relying on the aid of that Irish Bishop.’ 

He was astonished, and he told the Primate what what the devil had said to him, and he besought him to pray for the poor woman when offering the sacrifice of the Mass. 

During the whole time of the Mass the woman cried out that she was persecuted by the Irish Bishop. Her pains came to an end, and she obtained relief. 

He went to Spain. When his strength was restored, he returned to Ireland; and he was again seized[2] and brought before the Viceroy and Council in Dublin.

The nominal charge against him was his connection with Shane O’Neill,[3] his real crime was his adhering to and maintaining the Papal authority.[4]

He proved his innocence, and explained his capture and the manner of escape. 

The jurors returned a verdict of not guilty;’ but they were all cast into prison and fined.

After an imprisonment which lasted about six months, he again Contrived to escape. 

In a letter which he wrote from the Tower of London to the Privy Council, he gives the reasons why he made his escape from the Dublin prison: 

‘My going away, I think no man would wonder that should know how I was dealt therein withal: first, in a hole where without candle there was no light in the world, and with candle (when I had it), it was so filled with the smoke thereof (chiefly in summer), that had there not been a little hole in the next door to draw in breath with my mouth set upon it, I had been soon undone.’[5]

[1] Demonic possession
[2] April 3Q5, 1567
[3] See Richey’s Lectures on Irish Histo,y, 2 series, p. 273
[4] Memorial for Ireland,’ Spic. Ossor., I. 43. His examination is given Ibid., p.44
[5] See Ibid., p. 49

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