Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/146

 142 FITZSIMONS. undertook to support the opposite cause. Weekly meet. ings were appointed for the purpose, and the first subject of their controversy was Antichrist. These meetings were only repeated twice or thrice, when, we are informed, that Fitzsimons declined the contest, which Usher, as the same author states, was willing to have continued. On regaining his liberty, the conditions annexed to which were, that he should behave quietly, and give no disturbance to the king or kingdom, he left Ireland and went into the Netherlands, where he employed himself in discharging the duties of his function, and in writing several tracts on religion. The principal production of his leisure hours was, “A Catholic Confutation of Mr. John Rider's Claim of Antiquities, and a calming Comfort against his Caveat; with a Reply to Mr. Rider's Post scripts, and a Discovery of Puritan Partiality in his behalf.” To this is annexed, “An Answer to certain complaintive Letters of afflicted Catholics for Religion.” These were a l l printed together i n one volume a t Rohan, i n 1608, i n which year he was summoned t o Rome. On his arrival there, h e was appointed o n a mission t o Ireland, i n conse quence o f which, h e published his profession o f the four vows. He returned thence t o the Low Countries, and passed over t o Ireland, where h e resumed his former habits o f teaching with equal enthusiasm and success. Deluded, with too many o f his countrymen, b y the hope o f throwing off a foreign yoke, h e entered with great zeal into the designs entertained b y the promoters o f the great Rebellion i n 1641. He thought the time fast ap proaching when the catholics o f Ireland should b e n o longer subject t o a protestant government; and under this persuasion, h e exerted his oratory i n the most persuasive manner, and prevailed on many o f his countrymen t o join the insurgents. The cause, however, though i t appeared for a time t o prosper, soon gave way t o the victorious arms o f the loyalists, who, terrified b y the dreadful mas sacres which had been committed, felt that their sole chance o f safety, rested o n a valour which was raised