98
No.
III.
CATHOLIC REGISTERS OF ABERGAVENNY , MON . , 1740-1838 . EDITED AND ANNOTATED BY JOSEPH HERBERT CANNING, O.B.E.
WITH HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION BY THE REV. E. HILARY WILLSON, O.S.B.
I. The Franciscan Mission. The earliest historical evidence concerning the Catholics of Abergavennyin post -Reformation days and the facilities provided for their religious needs is contained in " An Abstract of Several Examinations taken upon Oath in the Counties of Monmouth and Hereford , London, 1680. In March, 1678, a Committee of the House of Commons was appointed to consider " the Danger the Nation is in by the Growth of Popery , and for providing Remedies to prevent the same, " with power to send for persons , papers , and records . Many were called up from the counties of Monmouth and Hereford, the chief among them being John Arnold , esq. , of Llanvihangel Court, Monmouthshire* ; John Scudamore , esq., of Kentchurch Court, Herefordshire; William James, of the Lodge, near Caerleon ; and Mr. Greenhaugh , the then Vicar of Abergavenny and of the adjoining parish of Llantilio Pertholey. From the evidence given by these sworn witnesses we know that the Venerable Philip Evans, S. J. , who was put to death for his faith at Cardiff on July 22nd, 1679, and the Venerable David Lewis, S.J. , who suffered the same penalty at Usk, August 27th, in the same year, frequently said Mass in Abergavenny, and that one of them , if not both, as is probable, administered the Sacraments to the Catholics of the town and neigh-
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bourhood .
William James deposes that he knows Phillip Evans , commonly called Captain Evans a popish Priest entertained by Thomas Gunter And Charles Morgan , gentleman , at his House in Abergavenny." by his examination upon oath, " saith, that David Lewis a Popish reputed Priest doth often frequent the House of one Mr. Thomas Gunter John Arnold carries matters further. He declares of Abergavenny ." that he hath seen a publick Chappel near the House of Mr. Tho. Gunter a Popist [sic ] convict in Abergavenny , adorned with the marks of the Jesuites on the outside and is informed that Mass is said there by Captain Evans , a reputed Jesuite , and by the aforesaid David Lewis, that very great numbers resort to the said Chappel , and very often at Church time and he hath credibly heard that a hundred hath gone out of the said
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letter on this sub* The late Rev. John Davies (a Baptist minister ) , in a Advertiser (dated ject to the Abergavenny Chronicle and Monmouthshire 66 Pandy, 17 Jan. 1908) , says that John Arnold was the great-grandson of Sir Nicholas Arnold .. . . to whom the grant of Llanthony Abbey was made by Henry VIII . John Arnold was a most uncompromising persecutor of Roman Catholics , and became in his day notorious as the chief instrument who put in force the penal laws against the Papists. He was M.P. for this county from 1681 to 1698. " These two sufferers are among those whose Cause for Beatification is now being dealt with at Rome by the Sacred Congregation of Rites . Abstract of Examinations .