Henry Fitzsimon
Encyclopedia
Henry Fitzsimon (b. 1566 (or 1569), in Dublin, Ireland; d. 29 November 1643 (or 1645), probably at Kilkenny
) was an Irish Jesuit controversialist.
), 1583-1587. Going to the University of Paris
, he became a zealous protagonist of Protestantism, "with the firm intention to have died for it, if need had been". But having engaged in controversy with "an owld English Jesuit, Father Thomas Darbishire, to my happiness I was overcome. "
Having embraced Catholicism, he visited Rome
and Flanders
, where in 1592, he "elected to militate under the Jesuits' standard, because they do most impugn the impiety of heretics". In 1595 there was a call for Jesuits in Ireland, which had been deprived of them for ten years. With Father Archer he refounded the mission there. Keeping chiefly to Dublin and Drogheda
, he reconciled Protestants, and persistently challenged the chief Anglican divines.
He laughed at his capture in 1600. "Now", he said, "my adversaries cannot say that they do not know where to find me", and he would shout challenges from his prison window at every passing parson. His major opponents in controversy were James Ussher
, Meredith Hanmer
, and John Rider
.
Banished in 1604, he visited Spain, Rome, and Flanders, 1611-1620. At the outbreak of the Thirty Years War in 1620, he served as chaplain to the Irish soldiers in the imperial army, and published a diary of his experiences. He probably returned to Flanders in 1621 and in 1630 went back to Ireland where he continued to work until the outbreak of the Civil War (1640).
He was under sentence of death, from which he escaped in the winter of 1641 to the Wicklow Mountains
, and died, probably, in Kilkenny.
His "Words of Comfort to Persecuted Catholics", "Letters from a Cell in Dublin Castle", and "Diary of the Bohemian War of 1620", together with a sketch of his life, were published by Father Edmund Hogan
, S.J. (Dublin, 1881).
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
) was an Irish Jesuit controversialist.
Life
He was educated a Protestant at Oxford (Hart Hall, and perhaps Christ ChurchChrist Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
), 1583-1587. Going to the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
, he became a zealous protagonist of Protestantism, "with the firm intention to have died for it, if need had been". But having engaged in controversy with "an owld English Jesuit, Father Thomas Darbishire, to my happiness I was overcome. "
Having embraced Catholicism, he visited Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, where in 1592, he "elected to militate under the Jesuits' standard, because they do most impugn the impiety of heretics". In 1595 there was a call for Jesuits in Ireland, which had been deprived of them for ten years. With Father Archer he refounded the mission there. Keeping chiefly to Dublin and Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
, he reconciled Protestants, and persistently challenged the chief Anglican divines.
He laughed at his capture in 1600. "Now", he said, "my adversaries cannot say that they do not know where to find me", and he would shout challenges from his prison window at every passing parson. His major opponents in controversy were James Ussher
James Ussher
James Ussher was Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland between 1625–56...
, Meredith Hanmer
Meredith Hanmer
Meredith Hanmer was a Welsh clergyman, known as a controversialist, historian, and translator. He was considered embittered, by the Lord-Deputy William Russell, 1st Baron Russell of Thornhaugh; but he appears now as a shrewd observer of the Protestant and nonconformist life of Ireland as founded...
, and John Rider
John Rider (bishop)
John Ryder was a Latin lexicographer who published the first English-Latin Dictionary, in which the English language took precedent. A favourite of Elizabeth I, he was Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, and the Anglican Bishop of Killaloe....
.
Banished in 1604, he visited Spain, Rome, and Flanders, 1611-1620. At the outbreak of the Thirty Years War in 1620, he served as chaplain to the Irish soldiers in the imperial army, and published a diary of his experiences. He probably returned to Flanders in 1621 and in 1630 went back to Ireland where he continued to work until the outbreak of the Civil War (1640).
He was under sentence of death, from which he escaped in the winter of 1641 to the Wicklow Mountains
Wicklow Mountains
The Wicklow Mountains form the largest continuous upland area in Ireland. They occupy the whole centre of County Wicklow and stretch outside its borders into Counties Carlow, Wexford and Dublin. Where the mountains extend into County Dublin, they are known locally as the Dublin Mountains...
, and died, probably, in Kilkenny.
Works
- A controversial work in manuscript, at Oscott College, Birmingham, entitled "A revelation of contradictions in reformed articles of religion", dated 1633
- two manuscript treatises, now lost, against Rider
- "A Catholic Confutation" (Rouen, 1608);
- "Britannomachia Ministrorum" (1614);
- "Pugna Pragensis" (1620)
- "Buquoii Quadrimestreiter, Auctore Constantio Peregrino" (Brünn, 1621, several editions, also Italian and English versions);
- "Catalogus Præcipuorum Sanctorum Hiberniæ" (1611, several editions), drawing attention to Irish hagiography.
His "Words of Comfort to Persecuted Catholics", "Letters from a Cell in Dublin Castle", and "Diary of the Bohemian War of 1620", together with a sketch of his life, were published by Father Edmund Hogan
Edmund Hogan
Edmund Hogan S.J. was a Jesuit scholar.Edmund Ignatius Hogan was born in Cork on 25 January 1831. He joined Society of Jesus and was educated at Jesuit college, Rome...
, S.J. (Dublin, 1881).