402
THE ENGLISH BENEDICTINE NUNS
Coffin of dear Mother Placid Brindle, April the 27th or 28 th the same year. Sister Mary Gertrude was rather under the common size and of a very religious appearance, and the last professed at Champ d'Alouette in Paris. Aged 29. Professed 10. Requiescat in pace. LXXXI. 1807. Anno Domini 1807 April 25 th Departed this life our dear religious Sister, Mother Mary Placid Brindle of the most blessed Trinity. She was a truly pious and respectable Mother, very much endowed with the Spirit of our holy Rule. She had filled several offices, and the last was Mistress of Novices in which she gave real satisfaction to her Superiors. This dear Mother had bad health, and had been in a suffering state most part of her religious life, but was very remarkable for her constant attendance at Choir duties &c and within a week of her Death was found in the Morning on the Ground trying to dress herself, and in the utmost fear that she should not arrive in time at the Choir for Mattins. She was much devoted to our blessed Lady. She retained all her senses until she had received the last Sacraments of the Church in a most devout manner, and although she suffered much when asked how she found herself gave this answer-Not amiss . Mother Mary Placid Brindle was the first Religious buried at Cannington, and interred in the Cave under the Chapel. She departed in great peace and apparent comfort-was about 68 years of age and 40 of Profession. Requiescat in Pace. LXXXII. 1807. Anno Domini 1807 August 31st Departed this life our dear religious Mother, Rev d Mother Teresa Johnson of the holy Ghost. This dear Mother was elected at the death of dear Mother Mary Clare Bond, and in the year after the commencement of the french Revolution. She therefore had, it must be allowed, the largest share of sufferings and afflictions ot any who had Governed before her, and it was evident that Almighty God had prepared such a soul as hers, to uphold the>Community under the pressure of those particular severe trials which he thought best in his Wisdom, and Goodness to send at that time. Being yet but young when she was charged with the Office of Superior, she found herself bereft of all the advantages which former Prioress's had had with regard to the state of regularity, and support of the authority of Superiors, for very soon after her Election the Convent was seized, broken open, and stripped of all, converted into a Prison, and filled with Prisoners of both sexes. The worthy Confessor of the Community Rev d Mr Nayler forced away even before he was recovered from a fit of sickness, (* with Blisters on his legs). Thus things became worse, and worse, until at length the Community were transferred from Paris to the Castle of Vincennes the account of which transactions are written elsewhere. *This is in the original, but something has been writt.en over it, but il1egible.