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These are some images of Multyfarnham Abbey in Co. Westmeath. Notice the reference to the burning of the Abbey in 1601 and at the end you can see that referenced in the stained glass window. In general terms Multyfarnham was burned down and ransacked repeatedly throughout the Reformation and Penal Laws, because it was a Catholic institution in a Protestant state, but the Irish friars and the local community always built it back up again. As such it is arguably unique in Ireland, with the possible exception of Ballintubber Abbey in Co. Mayo, as a continuously occupied Catholic Church since the 13th century, albeit sometimes the friars were nearby only, in Knightswood sometimes for example.
Westmeath in the Nine Years War
Hopefully readers are reasonably acquainted with the Nine Years War, which was the last desperate effort of particularly the Ulster Irish to stem off the Tudor conquest of Ireland. Under the leadership of Hugh O'Neill in Tyrone, and the great hero Red Hugh O'Donnell in Donegal/Tyrconnel, they were in fact quite successful against the English until a Spanish army landed in Kinsale in the extreme South of Ireland in 1601. Leaving their impregnable Ulster fastness to assist that army against the English there, and in which they were unsuccessful, was really the step that destroyed the momentum of that rebellion.
In general terms, the deployment of the English army in Ireland in Co. Westmeath during the height of the 9 years war, roughly 1597-1602, consisted of Sir Francis Shane being deployed with about 100 infantry in the West of the County, with his fortress at Ballymore near Athlone and keeping an eye on Roscommon and East Galway, and the Baron of Delvin with 150 infantry and whatever cavalry he could levy among his wider family, at his fortress at Delvin and keeping an eye on Longford and South Cavan. (Sometimes you find other captains as well of course, like Theophilius Dillon who described himself as a friend of the Baron of Delvin, and in practice followed his direction, until the Baron was imprisoned in Dublin Castle at any rate.)
To say these two captains did not get along would be the understatement of the century. Shane, a Gaelic Irishman, was a very committed Protestant, an early supporter of Trinity College for example, and it seems because of this hated the Baron of Delvin, who was a very sincere and committed Catholic. For example he is writing here to Cecil on the 8th of April 1600:
To say 'curbed and yoked' is a bit ridiculous, what he actually means is that he had great influence on the local gentry all across Westmeath and going into the Pale as well. It seems, for example, that he converted the traveller and local squire Henry Piers to Catholicism, Piers saying in reference to him:"...Lord of Delvin thinketh Westmeath too little for himself, to the no small grief of many good subjects hitherto depending upon Her Majesty but now curbed and yoked by him:"
(1600, 8 Apr, Sir Francis Shane to Sir Robert Cecil, SP 63 207 2 f 238.)
"...at that time lived a lord Baron of great honour and complete virtue who for zeal in religion, learning in divinity philosophic, music, and other sciences, true valour, civil conversation, plain dealing, hospitality, and constancy towards his friends, was a pattern for all noble minds, to imitate, and as his life was exemplary good, so was his death an edification to all such good Christians as have had notice of the manner thereof."
(Brian Mac Cuarta, Camden 5th Series vol 54, Henry Piers's Continental Travels 1595-1598 (Cambridge, 2018), p.73.)
Multyfarnham as an embarrassment for the English
But specifically Shane hated Delvin's support for Multyfarnham Abbey, where the Franciscans were openly practicing their religion just on the outskirts of the Pale, as he states in the same letter:
Not long afterwards Shane met personally the Queen in England and it seems it was under this influence that the Queen wrote back in June 1600 in strong terms to the Irish government demanding that they compel Thomas Jones, the Anglican Bishop of Meath, to crush Multyfarnham:Duty to God inciteth me to disclose unto Her Highness[?] another thing which in my knowledge hath always not only hatched these Rebellions, from time to time, but also withdrawn the hearts of the subjects from obedience. I mean the friars of Moltifernan in Westmeath, the nursery of all mischievous practises, the subversion wherof hath been often moved to the sate here, but the fear of offending the Lord of Delvin hath been always the let, having a mean[?] interest in some then ought: which doth draw upon us the wrath of God whereby their endeavours take so small effect in that they prefer the fear of man before the service of God:"
(1600, 8 Apr, Sir Francis Shane to Sir Robert Cecil, SP 63 207 2 f 238.)
"Likewise, in the diocese of Meath, which is the heart of the English Pale, there is suffered to stand untouched a house of friars, called Multifarnham, the only place of assembly and conventicle of all the traitorous Jesuits of the realm, and where was the first conspiracy and plotting of this great rebellion.
This of all the rest is most lamentable and worthy of reprehension in the Bishop, for that the friars, and all other popish adversaries to Her Majesty's government, have their recourse and passage to and fro thither, in as open and public manner as if their idolatrous profession were justified by the authority of the clergy."
(Calendar of the State Papers relating to Ireland, 1600 (London, 1903), p.274.)
The Attack on Multyfarnham
So it seems for about two reasons, Shane moved to destroy Multyfarnham Abbey on the 1st of October 1601. Firstly because these people really did hate the Catholic faith, it was genuinely a really big aim of the colonial power in Ireland over these centuries, to destroy the Catholic faith in Ireland. But secondly I believe it was done to deliberately goad the Baron of Delvin. If they can provoke him into open rebellion because of this matter, then they can destroy him as well as the Abbey, which would remove such a well known Catholic champion in Ireland and of course could lead to the confiscation of his estates, some of which might not accidentally end up in the hands of Shane!
This then is the first reference we have to the attack on the Abbey: on the 20th of October 1601 the Anglican Bishop of Meath, Thomas Jones, reports back to London that he had instructed Shane to do just that and that it had now been carried out, as the Calendar of State Papers record:
"By my procurement, the Lord Deputy's warrant was sent to Sir Francis Shane to apprehend the freers [friars] of Multifernam [Multyfarnam] and burn their friary...
P.S. - I write this to fulfil my duty. Pray keep it secret."
(Calendar of the State Papers relating to Ireland, 1601-1603 (London, 1912), p.136-7, the calendar entry of SP 63 209 2 f 87.)
The interesting thing is that a later reference in the State papers confirms that when Shane, or his soldiers, were bringing his captured friars to Dublin, they were attacked by a troop of 'Delvin's people' who attempted to rescue the friars. So the trap was sprung to destroy Delvin and in way he walked into it. This is from a petition of Theophilius Dillon who complained that Francis Shane had written in a letter to England that he, Dillon, was a member of Delvin's troops when that attack occurred, Dillon here quotes Shane's letter:
Also in a list of treason charges drawn up against the Baron of Delvin, we find:“I must impart to you as to my dear friend that I am generally behated here not only of the meaner sort but also of the State, which is for my service at Multyfernam [Multifarnam], where I had some of my men slain, on my return by my Lord of Delvin's people and Sir Theobald Dillon, both my great enemies, who with their false sheowes they both slew and wounded my men.”"
(Calendar of the State Papers relating to Ireland, 1601-1603 (London, 1912), p.493.)
Fr John Lynch in his book in the 1660s describes this:"Delvin's ensign and 30 men set upon the Queen's forces who were bringing to Dublin the treacherous friars taken at Multifarnam. They slew and hurt some of the Queen's forces, and tried to rescue the friars, and presently thereupon went into rebellion."
(Calendar of the State Papers relating to Ireland, 1601-1603 (London, 1912), p.465.)
"Walter Nugent, whom Christopher [Baron of Delvin] appointed to the Lieutenancy of his permanent band [of soldiers], snatched the Franciscans of the Monastery of Multyfarnham out of the clutches of the soldiers who hauled rather than led them to Dublin that they might be plagued with those torments which were usually inflicted on ecclesiastics at the time when persecution raged; on which occasion several of his band were severely wounded amongst whom Walter Nugent lord of Dromcree who was so lamed by a wound in the thigh that he could only walk with his legs bowed out and could not take a single step without a contortion of his whole body. He ultimately restored the convent to the monks. Christopher as he spent the greater portion of his life in prison so he ended his days in captivity."
(John Lynch, Supplementum Alithinologiae (St. Malo, 1667), p.185, translated at, Brian Nugent, Shakespeare was Irish! (Co. Meath, 2006-2020), p.241-2.)
What follows below is a fascinating, lively and detailed account by Fr Donagh Mooney OFM of this attack and the resulting battle, and some further notices of the Baron of Delvin including the letter he received from the Pope urging him to join with O'Neill at that time.
by Brian Nugent
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