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Copy of letter-Fr. Provincial, John Baptist O'Donnell-
re money in trust for Ffrances Luttrell, £10,to be paid
to ye community of Galway.
Anne Fitzgerald "whom I have ordered to reside and live with the nuns of Galway". Signatures of several Friars overleaf. (Refer to docs.1710 & 1714)

TEXT

Whereas there was latly a Debt Recovred from ye Right hon.ble Allexander Earle of
Antrim due unto Patrick Darcy Esgre and whereas ye said Patrick was at ye time of
his Death indebted unto one Alderman Kennedy late of ye Citty of Dublin deceased
in a certain sume of mony in trust for one ffrances Luttrell a Profest Nunne of
ye Convent of Bethlem and whereas ye said Patrick ordered this said Debt due to ye
said ffrancis Luttrell should be payed out of ye said Earle of antrims debt, and
where-as there is a contention between ye Nunns of ye Communities of Bethlem and
Gallway tuching and concearning ye said debt due to ye said ffrancis Luttrell each
of ye said Communities pretending to that reight of the said debt belongs to them,
and whereas also there are but two of ye Nunns of Bethlem now in ye kingdom who
live disperst and doe not keep together, and ye rest of them in parts beyond ye seas
and that ye Nunns of callway keeps together in ye towne of Gallway and live there
Religiously in a Community according to theire order and deeminq it inconvenient
att present to decide ye said difference or ye Right of ye said debt and whereas
likewise there is yearly interest ariseing out of ye said debt and Arrears of inter-
est now due, I have therefor and doe heareby order by ye Approbation of ye Definitor
and ye other hear undernames Eclesiasticall persons and att ye consent and ye
instance of ye said Comunity of Nunns of Gallway and Anne fitz Gearald one of ye
said Nunns of Bethèlem that ten pounds be paid to ye said Comunity of Gallway of
ye said Arreares for theire present relife and towards ye mentenance of ye said Anne
fitz Garald whom I have ordered to recide and live with ye said Nunns of Gal lway
but tis heareby declared that ye payment of ye said ten poundes is not intended to
strengthen or corroborat ye said Nunns of Gallways right or debt or in ye least
preiudice or weaken ye right or claime of ye said Comunity of Bethelem, but that
hoth titles are to stand and be as at ye time and before ye payment hereof;
Given under my hand this 21 day of June Anno dni 1696
being present
fr John Bap. ta O Donell
Minister Provincialis
fr Bonra Bourke
Di ffr.
fr Ant: O Kelly Dgus de Killconnel
Er Ant: O Kelly Guardian of Mi lick
fr. Bona. ra de Burgo Guard. de kinal feken
fr. Antonius Gifford Preses Gallviensis
Copa vera
concordat cum originali quod attestor
JESUS MARIA
fr Anto: de Burgo
G. G.

Letter to Mother Elizabeth Skeret, Mother Abbess, giving the faculty of admitting to the habit’ two well-born virgins'. Signed: Fr. Anthony De Burgo.

TEXT
By the authority granted to me by our Very Reverend Father Provincial, by these letters I grant to the Venerable virgin Elizabeth Skeert, Superioress and Mother Abbess of the convent or residence of the Galway Poor Clares, the faculty of admitting to the habit of probation two well-born virgins inspired by God to embrace the Gospel life, but under condition that they be kept and maintained perpetually within the cloister, according to the prescription of their Rule. Given at our place of refuge on this day 30 July 1683.

fr. Anthony de Burgo

Authoritate mihi commissa ab Admodum Reverendo Patre Provinciali nostro, hisce facultatem facio Venerabili Virgini Elizabethae Skeert Conventus seu residentiae Clarissarum Galviensium Praefectissae et Matri Abbatissae quatenus duas nobiles Virgines a Deo inspiratas ad vitam Evangelicam amplectendam, ad habitum probationis admittere queat ac valeat, ea tamen conditione ut intra clausuram perpetuo teneantur ac conserventur, juxta Praescriptum suae Regulae. Datum in loco nostri refugii hac die 30 Julii 1683.

fr. Antonius de Burgo

An agreement about the "Royall Streame on the River of
Gallway"between both the Islands Altanagh.

TEXT

Whereas the Royal streame on the River of Gallway betweene both the Islands Altanagh
by several mens assignments came into our Ancestors and by vertue thereof they were law-
fully seized thereof in their demensies after and from them lawful ly descended unto our
common Ancestor - James Reagh Darcy, who being accordingly thereof seized - made a gift
thereof and legally conveyed the same to the religious nunns of the order of St. Clare
in Gallway and to their successors for ever, and the same being now detained from the
said nunns, wee ---- the underwritten being of the offspring and heirs of the said
James Darcy to manifest our desire that the said nunns should have the full benefitt
of our Ancestors said grant of the branch of the said River and that the same should
continue in them and their successors for ever according to the true intention of the
said James Darcy doe hereby declare that we shall be from tyme to tyme according to the
utmost of our power aydeing and assisting to the said nunns in recovering that branch
of the said River and all improvements and appurtneances thereunto belonging, and if need
be and thabit shall be so advised, wee do hereby declare that we will on all demands
give and grant full power and lawfull authority to anyone or more to sue for, and im-
pleade and recover the said branch of the said River and its appurtenances in our name
and in the name of any of us as shall be advised by the Councell of the said nunns, in
trust nevertheless for the said nunns, and then and at all other tymes after wee shall be
free and willing to give and pass all further assureances thereof to the said nunns and
their successors according to the true intent of the said first gift and grant of the
said James Darcy; in witness vhereof wee have herevith putt our hands and seals the
day of
1690.

Profession of Sr. Catherine of St. Francis Browne.
Fr. Patrick Plunkett (Guardian, Athlone)

TEXT

I the undersigned, authorized for this by the Most Rev. Thomas bishop of the diocese of Meath, have examined Sister Catherine of St Francis, otherwise Browne, concerning all conditions required by the Council of Trent, whom I found fitted and suitable to make profession among the sisters of St Clare Bethlehem.
Given at Bethlehem 29 January 1631
Fr. Patrick Plunkett
Guardian of Athlone

Ego infrascriptus ad hoc legitimitatus a Reverendissimo Domino Thoma diocesis episcopo medensi examinavi sororem catherinam a Sto francisco, alias Browne de conibus conditionibus requisitis a concilio Tri., quam repperi aptam et idoneam ad emittendam professionem inter sorores Stae Clarae Bethleem. Datum Bethleem 29 Ja. 1631.
Fr. Patricius Plunkett
Guardianus Athloniensis

Catherine Francis

To Mother Gabriel Skerrett: Permission to receive to year of probation. Signed by Fr. John Baptist O'Donnell, Minister Provincial, and Fr.Anthony O'Kelly, Min.Prov.

TEXT

Idoe by vertue hereof authorize ye Rev. Mother Abbesse of ye Poore Clares of Galway
Mary Gabriel, alias Skerrett, to admitt to the yeare of probation as many as shee and
her discreets will approve of, and will finde qualified with the conditions required in
theire owne Rule and constitutions; and to this effect I authorize ye Rev. Fr. Antony
Kelly Gdn of Kilconell, to examine and receive those admitted by her as aforesaid.
Dated at our refuge this 25 day of June 1696
fr. Joes Bapta o Donell
Mnr. Proalis
Supradictam concessionem confirmo, et Rdm Patrem Antonium Gifford Guardm Galviensem
nomino et substituo meo loco ut tales in praefato Conventu recipiat. Datum Galviae hac
17 Aug. 97.
Fr. Antonius O Kelly
Mnr Pror̈alis

I confirm the abovesaid concession, and I nominate and substitute in my place Rev. FE.
Anthony Gi fford Guardian of Galway to receive such in the aforesaid Convent. Given in
Galway this 17 Aug. (16) 97.
Fr. Anthony O Relly
Minister Provincial

Permission for the sisters to leave the monastery when
danger or disease or enemy approach the city of Galway.
Signed by two Provincials: Fr. Thomas Mckiernan,
Fr. Francis Sullivan.

TEXT

Since the Reverend Mother Abbess of the Poor Clares of the Convent of Galway has humbly sought permission, so that she may arrange for the Sisters of the aforesaid Convent, when danger of disease or enemy approaches the City of Galway: wherefore, in order to quieten the consciences of the said Sisters, we grant her the faculty that, whenever a danger so threatens, and there is no easy access to us, to make arrangements for them in the safest way and manner possible, according to the consent and discretion of the Father Confessor, both there and elsewhere, with our blessing. Given in our Convent of Rosserrily this day 27 June 1650.

By tenor of these letters
I confirm the aforesaid permission
Given 6 September 1650
Fr. Francis O’Sullivan
Minister Provincial

Fr. Thomas Makieman
Mr. Proalis

Cum a nobis humiliter petierit Rda. Mater Abbatissae Clarissarum Conventus Galviensis licentiam, ut approximante pestis aut hostis periculo Civitati Galviensi posnit de praefati Conventus Sororibus disponere: Hinc est quod eidem ad serenandas dictarum Sororum conscientias facultatem facimus et quotiescumque ita immineret periculum, ut ad nos facilis non daretur accessus possit de dictis sororibus quo potuerit vita, et modo, iuxta consensum, et discretionem Patris Confessarii tam ibi, quam alibi cum nostra benedictione disponere. Datum in Conventu nostro de Rosriola hac die 27 Junii 1650.

Praefatam licentiam ego
tenore praesentium confirmo
Datum 6 Septembris 1650
fr. Franciscus Sullevanus
Min. Provincialis

fr. Thomas Makieman
Mr. Proalis

Copy of letter in St. Isidore's Archives, Rome, written presumably by Mother Cecily Dillon.

TEXT

Je(su)s M(a)r(i)a
/27th Dec./ 1642

Loving Cosen,

... (dis)tress of these distempered times is such as ministreth a sufficient subject for these I addresse unto Y[our] Reverence, to (s)hew you the state wherunto yr poore sisters of Bethleem are reduced, and w[ho] (in ye grief I had the chiefe charge in the beginning of these wars and continue still in the sadd obligation unto my Sweet God, whereof I am made uncapable to disch[ar]g my duty, any other way then (= than) to resyne my self unto the divine permission gave way to separate our comynitie into several places to seek for some refuge under the wings of God’s mercy (in our charact[er] as all doe for God sake adure this harbour), being upon the seasid out of our cruell enemies now in our guards of their time, which are dispersed into several places, where some few of us have betaken them selves to Ballimore of this countie where liue half a dozen of us, with a number of seaven to be heard with Sir Lucas Dillon, six at Sir Ulick Burkes, four in the countie of Westmeath with the kings countis with my cosen Terence Coughlan, which three I hope begett compassion in yr (Reveren)ce towards such a number of distressed poore creatures, who are by the dispersion, and dissolution, of the whole Kingdome of the like livelihood stood noe soe disappointed as under God, whose care upon wh[om] tune our last rec[ourse?] for price of a habit in our need, wherefore seeing it hath pleased God to make yr (Reveren)ce an instrument for doeing yr country and friends many favours, in there necessitie, I hope you will be mindful of yr poore sisters whose extermitie in our degree is not in the rest of our country, and yet I hope deare __ my parte, if I had not betaken my self to the ser(vice of God), to exaime in time of need presume upon yr f(avou?) they might be wanting, and much more now (= then?) expired without some release of favour for my deare sisters, with whom for (?) yr R(everen)ce is spirituall and corporall happines leaving this my sute un(der) (con)sideration I will remane

...company which we sent there
to inhabit, and this last,
Easter (?)

Yr R(everen)ce is poore assured
Sister ———

An agreement between the Sisters in Galway and those founding in Lough Riagh[Loughrea]. The sisters signatures are overleaf -9. (note Mother Bonaventure's)
Signed by Fr. George Dillon and Fr. Antonius De Burgo.
No date on document but during M. Bonaventure's term of
office (1647-1650) cf. Mother Teresa Tierney's Chronicle
page 17 "within six years after they sprang up..."

TEXT

The Rd fathers father George Dillon of Galway and father Antony Booke confessor of the Poore Clares of the convent of Galway having bin by the Rd father Provinciall by full Power and Authority designed, to compound and settle all matters betwixt the community of Galway and their Deere Srs now intended for a new erection in Lough Righ, have by mutual consent of both approved their agreements being as followeth.

First that the whole stock and state of the house being examined and declared as it stands at present and that the security and writings of the portions of each of the sisters intended to quittence is delivered unto the Rd father Antony Booke confessor of the sayd convent.

Item. that the Porcions of such as came from Bethlem should stand even as they came from thence and the Porcions of such as made their Profession in Galway should be as it was given without any devision either upon those whose stayes or those that is for the new erection.

Item: that they also made an equall Devision of vestments and all other valuable goods; and each community be responsible for the debt appearing, being incurred in common and for the servis of the community. this is acknowledged and confessed by

             fr. Geo. Dillon
             fr. Antonius de Burgo

OVERLEAF

Str Mary Bonaventure                        Str Margrett Franc:
unworthy Abb of Galway                       Str Clare Antony
Str Cate Francis                           Str Mary Andrew
Str Mary Gabriel
Str Catherine Bernard
Str Catherine Michaell
Str Hellen Lodowicke

Letter to Mother Elizabeth Skerett, Mother Abbess, giving the faculty to admit to the habit of probation ...two well-born girls-Lota or Lethissa De Burgo.
Signed: Fr. James Darcy, Minister Provincial

TEXT

Hisce facultatem facimus Venerabili sorori Elizabethae Skerett Matri Abbitissae Con-
ventus nostri Galviensis S. Clarae quatenus duas nobiles Puellas a Deo inspiratas,
nominatim vero Lotam seu Lethissam de Burgo ad habitum probationis sui Ordinis ac
strictam clausuram suae religiosae domus admittat, privatim tamen et sine ulla magna
solemnitatè Cquod Discretorium praefatae Matris Abbatissae ac di ligenti cura Admodum
Reverendi Patris Guardiani Quinn, qui huic pio operi assistere tenebitur serio et
senixe commendo. Datum in loco nostri refugii, hac die 26 Martii '84.
Fr. Jacobus Darcy
Minister Provincialis

By these letters we grant the faculty to the Venerable Sister Elizabeth Skerett. Mother
Abbess of our Galway Convent of St. Clare, to admit to the habit of probation of her
Order and strict cloister of her religious house, two well-born girls, namely Lota or
Lethissa de Burgo, privately however and without any great solemnity, which I seriously
and earnestly commend to the Discretorium of the aforesaid Mother Abbess and the dili-
gent care of the Very Reverend Father Guardian (of) Quin, who will be obliged to assist
at this pious work. Given in our place of refuge, this day 26 March (16) 84.
fr. James Darcy
Minister Provincial