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To the Rev. Mother of the Sisters of St. Clare, Galway.
Permission to live with relatives and friends
through the miserys of the tymes' In case of necessity
they can eat meat. Signed: Fr. Edmund Delaney, Min.Prov.

TEXT

In 1690, the Minister Provincial, Fr. Eduard Delaney, gave the
following permission to the Poor Clares in Galway:
"To the Reverend Mother and Sisters of St. Clare, Galway"
whereas the Rev. Mothers and Sisters of St. Clares's Order of the
Convent of Galway have made known to me that through the miseries
of the times they are reduced to such extremity that they cannot
subsist together in cloister and thereupon desire my leavs to
disperse among relations and friends, these are therefore to permit
and licence the said religious Mothers and Sisters to dwell with
their said friends and relations where they may be better provided
for, hereby charginq them their consciences to live mere as near
their Rule and Constitutions as they conveniently can, and also
declaring that in case of necessity they may eat meat.
Given under my hand and seal, 25th August, 1690
Fr. Edmund Delaney
Minister Provincial.

Letter from Fr.Anthony O'Kelly, Min.Prov. to the beloved Sisters in Christ (same content as above letter,1698) "all nuns without exception are to be exiled to foreign lands."

The letter carries no date.
Fr. Anthony o Kelly was elected Provincial in Dublin on
25 July 1697 and went out of office at the Chapter in Louvain on 17 october 1700.
Nunneries were suppressed by a law which took force on 1 May 1698. The letter therefore
must date from early 1698.

TEXT

Fr. Antonius O Kelly Ord. Min. Strictioris Obs. S.T.Lr. nec non Almae Provinciae Hyberniae
Mnr Proalis et servus Dilectis in Christo Sororibus.
Quandoquidem in Generalibus Comitiis huius Regni, late lege sancita sit, Moniales citra
exceptionem omnes, ante proximas Calend. Maijas a regno isto, in exteras exulandas Regio-
nes, sub gravissimis poenis his, et confiscatione omnium bonorum sustentationibus harum
post praefatam diem, si vel intra sua tecta, eas, vel extra quoquomodo sustentaverint et
manutenuerint. Hinc vobis facultatem impertimur, quatenus la oblata transfretandi oppor-
tunitate ad regionem aliquam catholic vos conferatis, commendatae Superioribus Provinci a-
libus nostri Ordinis, et Abbatissis Monasteriorum, ad quae divertitis, et de loco residen-
tiae, ubi Deo et Ordini vestro famulari valeatis, charitative providere dignentur. Omnibus
interim Christifidelibus, ad quos hospites divertitits, tanquam pauperes exules charius
in Dno commendamus.
Dat. in loco nri refugii hac die
De Mandato Rev. Adm. Plis Sup
fr. Patricius Fahy S.T.L.
et Prov. Secretarius.

Fr. Anthony O Kelly, of the Order of Friars Minor of Stricter Observance, ST.L. and
Minister Provincial of the beloved Province of Ireland and servant. To the beloved Sisters
in Christ.
Since it has been passed by law in the General Parliament of this kingdom that all nuns
without exception are to be exiled to foreign lands from this kingdom, before the beginning
of next May, under these very grave penalties, and with the confiscation of all goods
if anyone should within their houses or outside in any way maintain and uphold them (the
nuns) by sustenance after the aforesaid, day. Hence we grant you the faculty of betaking
yourselves at the first opportunity/to some Catholic land, being commended to the Pro-
vincial Superiors of our order and the Abbesses of Monasteries to which you go, that they
may deign to charitably provide for you concerning a place of residence, where you may be
able to serve Cod and your order. Meanwhile, we commend you dearly in the Lord as poor
exiles to ali the faithful to whom you go as guests.
Given in our place of refuge on this day
By mandate of Very Rev. Provincial Superior/Fr. Anthony o kelly
fr. Patrick Fahy S.T.L.
and Secretary of the Province

Letter from Fr. Anthony O'Kelly, Minister Provincial,to Mother Mary Gabriel Skerrett, Abbess of the Poor Clares of Galway giving the faculty of "betaking yourselves to some catholic region."

TEXT

Fr. Antonius O Relly Ord. Min. Strictioris Observantiae S.T.L. necnon Almae Pro-
vinciae Hyberniae Minister Provincialis et servus, Revdae Dominae Mariae Cabrieli
Skerrett Pauperum Clarissarum Galviensium Abbatissae eiusque Monialibus professis
et Novitiis, Salutem.
Quandoquidem permittente supremo Numine huic praesenti Gubernio visum fuerit expedire
omnes Moniales e regno isto ante proximas Calendas Mayas in exilium religare sub gra-
vissimis paenis tum his tum harum
ubs tentationibus
agtE quibus omnium bonorum jactura et con-
fiscatio decreta et sancita est, si vel intra vel extra domus suas eas manutenuerint.
Hinc est quod vobis literas nostras obedientiales concedamus, facultatem impertientes,
quatenus Ia oblata transfretandi opportunitate, ad regionem aliquam catholicam vos
conferatis, commendatae Reverendis Admodum Patribus Ministris Provincialibus istarum
respective Provinciarum ad quas perveneritis, et Abbatissis Monasteriorum ad quae
diverteritis, ut vobis de loco residentiae, ubi Deo et Ordini vestro famulari valeatis
charitative providere dignentur.Omnibus interim christifidelibus, sive de populo
sive de Claro, ad quos diverteritis, tanquam pauperes et exules filias charius in
Domino commendamus. Dat. in loco nostri refugii hac die
fr. Antonius O Kel ly
Mr Proalis
De mandato
R. adm. Plis Sup.
Fr. Patricius Fahy S.T.L.
et Provinciae secretarius

Fr. Anthony O Kelly of the Order of Friars Minor of Stricter Observance, S.T.L. and
Minister Provincial of the beloved Province of Ireland and Servant, to the Rev. lady
Mary Gabriel Skerrett, abbess of the Poor Clares of Galway and to her professed
nuns and novices, greetings.
Since, by permission of the most high God, the present Government has judged it ex-
pedient to send into exile from this kingdom all nuns, before the next Calends of May,
under gravest penalties bothnon them and on those who support them, whereby the l0SS
and confiscation of all goods has been decreed and sanctioned, if they maintain them
either within or outside their houses. Hence we grant you our letters of obedience,
imparting the faculty of betaking yourselves to some catholic region, on the first
available opportunity of travellinq, commending you to the Very Reverend Father Min-
isters Provincial of these respective Provinces which you reach, and to the Abbesses
of the Monasteries which you turn to, so that they may charitably provide for a place
of residence for you, where you may be able to serve God and your Order. Meanwhile
we commend you to all the faithful, vhether lay folk or cleroy, to whom you turn,
as poor exiled daughters, lovingly in the Lord.
Given in our place of refuge this day
Fr. Anthony o xel ly
Minister Provincial
By mandate of
Very Rev. Paovincial Superior
Fr. Patrick Fahy, S.T.L.
and Secretary of the Province