WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION, AND AN APPENDIX CONTAINING ANCIENT DOMINICAN FOUNDATIONS IN IRELAND BY REV. AMBROSE COLEMAN, O.P., M.R.I.A. Dundalk: PRINTED BY WILLIAM TEMPEST. PREFACE. THE generous and unexpected response from all parts of Ireland and other places to the circulars inviting subscriptions for a new edition of O'Heyne's rare work has enabled the Editor to extend the scope of his original intention and to give, as an Appendix, a history of what has been ascertained from accessible records, of the ancient Dominican foundations in Ireland. The purpose of bringing out this edition was, as stated already, to preserve O'Heyne's work for posterity, as, at that time, after a fruitless search in some of the Continental and home libraries, only two copies were known to exist, both imperfect. Since this reprint commenced, however, a perfect copy has been found in the British Museum, whereby the deficiencies of the other copies have been made good. The re-issue of this work, which presents such a graphic account of the fortunes of the members of a religious Order, persecuted and driven into exile, time after time, by a powerful Protestant government, is peculiarly appropriate at the present day, in view of the persecution directed against the religious Orders in France and the threatened outbreaks against them in other Continental countries. The vitality of the religious Orders under the most adverse circumstances, which is abundantly shown in the present work, furnishes a hopeful and instructive commentary on the events of our times, the issue of which is full of painful doubt to many Christian observers. The Editor has the gratifying duty of thanking John Ribton Garstin, Esq., M.R.I.A., and W. Grattan Flood, Esq., M.R.S.A., for their kindness in reading through all the Latin and English proofs, and supplying many valuable hints and suggestions; also Very Rev. B. Mac Carthy, D.D., M.R.I.A., for reading the proofs of the Appendix and making some useful additions. He has also to thank Rev. Reginald Walsh, O.P., S.T.M., not only for reading the proofs but also for allowing him the use of all his valuable papers on the Irish Dominican Martyrs. September, 1902. |