Order, natives of Ireland, in some Catholic kingdom, he went to great trouble and used the assistance of others in seeking for such a refuge in Belgium. He actually obtained the place, though our friars did not enter Louvain during his provincialship, but under Father Ross Mac Geoghegan, otherwise of the Holy Cross, who was made provincial in 1624, in the general chapter of Milan. In 1626, Father Richard of Saint Dominic, otherwise Bermingham, of Athenry convent, and procurator for Ireland in these parts, acquired a church near Cæsar's Fort at a yearly rent for six years, from a gentleman called James de Mattinet, a military knight of Saint John of Jerusalem.

The first superior, under the title of rector, was Father Oliver Burke (of whom mention was made in the account of Galway convent), who did not remain long, as he was called home for other duties. Our fathers lived there for two years; they were then compelled to rent another house. However, on a difficulty arising between the bishop and our fathers about the use of a privileged altar in their chapel, viz., that our fathers should not use this privilege until they would be established in the town of Louvain, in the form of a community, our provincial, Father Ross of the Holy Cross, otherwise Mac Geoghegan, presented a petition to the Infanta Elizabeth Clare Eugenia, the then ruler of Belgium. To this supplication of the provincial, the following answer was given :

"In the supplication made to the most Serene Infanta, on the part of Father Ross of the Holy Cross, Provincial of the Fathers of the Order of Saint Dominic in Ireland, he has stated that for the past two years he has had a house at an annual rent in the University of Louvain, formerly occupied by the English Fathers of the Society

suæ provinciæ, qui habiles facti irent ad prædicandum nostram sanctam fidem in sua patria. Et cum obtinuerit hoc anno a Sanctissimo Patre litteras pro altari privilegiato in ipsorum capella, circa quod Ordinarius difficultatem movet, ne indulto uterentur donec permissionem obtinuerint a Sua Celsitudine residendi in forma communitatis in dicta Universitate, Pater Rochus humillime supplicavit Suam Serenissimam Celsitudinem pro hac licentia habenda. Qua re mature considerata, et habito consilio Archiepiscopi Mechliniensis, Universi tatis et Oppidi Lovaniensis, permisit, consensit et convenit, et speciali gratia per hanc scripturam:-Fratri Rocho a Sancta Cruce supplicanti ejusque successoribus, sub onere tenendi residentiam cum fratribus suæ provinciæ in dicto Oppido Lovaniensi, in forma communi: tatis, ea tamen conditione quod nullam peterent eleemosynam. Mandamus autem omnibus ad quos spectaverit se regulare secundum hoc. Factum Bruxellis, 18 Decembris, 1626. Madame Son Altesse."

Et inferius: "Par l'ordonnance de Son Altesse." Istam gratiosam concessionem serenissimæ domina archiducista gratiosissime confirmarunt Reges Catholici ab illo tempore usque ad presens, ut constat manifeste ex regiis litteris, datis 30 Decembris, 1639, Bruxellis, et anterioribus litteris, datis 4 Januarii, 1620, et aliis datis Matriti, 29 Novembris, 1664; et sic continuo usque in præsens. Documenta extant in archivio hujus collegii, præsensque Rex Catholicus, Philippus V., ratificavit omnia. Amortizationem dedit Philippus IV., 13 Decem bris, 1660, et facultatem petendi eleemosynas, 30 Julii.

En epistolam almæ universitatis Lovaniensis ad serenissimam Isabellam, Belgii principem, pro hoc collegio Sanctæ Crucis Fratrum Hibernorum Sacræ Ordinis Prædicatorum.

"Libellus supplex quem Serenissimæ Vestræ Celsitudini porrexit Rev. Pater Provincialis Ordinis Fratrum Prædicatorum in Hibernia, per litteras Celsitudinis Vestræ nobis communicatus est cum adjecta postilla, ut

of Jesus, in order that the brethren of his province might pursue their studies there, and, duly qualified might go to preach our holy faith in their country. And when he had obtained letters the same year from the Holy Father for a privileged altar in their chapel, which the Bishop objects to their using, until they have obtained permission from Her Highness to reside in the form of a community in the said University, Father Ross most humbly petitioned Her Serene Highness for this privilege. After giving the affair mature consideration, and on the advice of the Archbishop of Malines, and of the University and the Town of Louvain, she permits, grants and decrees the privilege by special favour through this document, to Father Ross of the Holy Cross, the petitioner, and to his successors, on condition of residing with the brethren of his province in the said Town of Louvain, in the form of a community, on condition nevertheless that they do not quest for alms. We command all to whom it may concern to respect this agreement. Given at Brussels, December 18th, 1626. Madame her Highness."

And underneath: By the command of her Highness. This gracious concession of the most serene archduchess was most graciously confirmed by the Catholic Kings from that time until the present, as is manifest from the royal letters, dated December 30th, 1639, at Brussels, and from former letters, dated January 4th, 1620, and from others dated from Madrid, November 29th, 1664; and so continuously up to the present. The documents are in the archives of this college; and the present Catholic King, Philip V., ratified them all. Philip IV. gave amortisation, December 13, 1660, and permission to beg alms on July 30.

The following is the letter of the university of Louvain to Isabella, the governor of Belgium, in favour of the college of Holy Cross, of the Irish friars of the Holy Order of Preachers :—

"The humble petition which the Rev. Father Provincial, of the Order of Friars Preachers in Ireland, presented to Your Serene Highness, has been communicated to us, with the remark added to it that we were to

desuper judicium nostrum rescriberemus, cui mandato non possumus non prompte obsequi. Itaque attestamur, verum esse quod in eodem supplice libello continetur, Religiosos aliquot Hibernos prædicti Ordinis Sancti Dominici ex conductu inhabitare Domum Militarem S. Joannis Miletensis, quæ in hoc Oppido Lovaniensi sita est in monte ex opposito Castri Suæ Regiæ Catholica. Majestatis, eandemque inhabitasse per duos circiter annos pro certa annua pensione, ac in eadem pie et religiose vivere. Bullam habent Apostolicam a Sanctissimo Papa moderno concessam, ut in eadem domo uti possint altari privilegiato, ad cujus Bullæ seriem seu tenorem nos referimus. Hoc insuper attestamur eosdem Religiosos a studiis et pietate esse valde commendabiles, ut suo tempore possint eruditionis et virtutum armis hostibus Ecclesiæ resistere, ac cum eisdem viriliter dimicare, ut aliquando in suam patriam redierint. Quibus tanto libentius hoc nostro testimonio opitulamur, quod arma suæ propugnationis in vera ac Catholica nostræ Academiæ Lovaniensis schola et doctrina instruant. Deinde etiam eo libentius, ut sic etiam videamur vices aliquos repen. dere nationi Hibernicæ, a qua olim Belgium nostrum primos præcones Sancti Evangelii ac Fidei Catholicæ accepit. Sic igitur speramus per præsentes Serenissimæ Vestræ Celsitudinis desiderio facere satis, offerentes de cetero in aliis omnibus humiliter nostra obsequia, ac Deum Optimum Maximum communibus votis orantes ut Serenissmam Vestram Celsitudinem nobis ac toti patriæ diu servet incolumem, ac contra hostes et rebelles victricem. Datum Lovanii, die octavo Novembris, 1626. Rector et Universitas Generalis Lovaniensis."

Residendi stabilitate constituta in oppido Lovaniensi pro Dominicanis Hibernis (ipsa alma universitate concorditer petente ac nostros omni charitatis affectu continuato prosequente), defuit adhuc locus pro stabili ac religioso domicilio ædificando, ubi cœnobitico modo cohabitarent et studia commode exercere possent nostri fratres adventantes ex Hibernia. Deus autem, qui largus est in angustiis et adjutor fortis in tribulationibus, inspiravit piis et admodum reverendis viris, Gregorio Joyce et ejus fratri, Domino Henrico Joyce, patrocinium

write back our judgment upon it, which command we cannot but promptly obey. We therefore attest that what is contained in the same petition is true, viz., that some Irish Religious of the aforesaid Order of Saint Dominic live under rent in the military house of S. John of Malta, which is situated in this Town of Louvain on the hill opposite to the Castle of his Royal and Catholic Majesty, and that they have inhabited the same for about two years at a certain annual rent, and lived piously and religiously in the same. They have an apostolic Bull from the present: Pope, granting that in the same house they may use a privileged altar, to the terms of which Bull we refer. Moreover, we attest that the same Religious are most commendable as regards study and piety, so that in time they will be able to resist the enemies of the Church with the arms of erudition and virtue, and fight manfully against them when they shall have returned to their country. We give this our testimony all the more willingly, as they are preparing the arms for their fight in the true and Catholic doctrine of our Academy of Louvain. Again even more willingly still, that thus also we may appear to make some return to the Irish nation, from which in olden times Belgium, our country, received the first heralds of the Holy Gospel and the Catholic Faith. We thus therefore hope by the present letter to satisfy the wishes of Your Serene Highness, and moreover we humbly present our respects in all other things, praying unanimously that Almighty God will long preserve Your Serene Highness to us and to all our country, and make you victorious over enemies and rebels. Given at Louvain, November 8, 1626. The Rector and University of Louvain."

Although the right of permanent residence was thus obtained for the Irish Dominicans in the town of Louvain (the university itself cordially joining in our petition and continuing to treat us with every mark of kindness), there was still wanting a site on which to build a permanent religious dwelling, where our friars coming from Ireland might live together in community and pursue their studies conveniently. God, however, who is bountiful in difficulties and a powerful helper in tribulations, inspired