In the following pages some details have been given of the Catholic Missions in this country from the breach with the Apostolic See to our own times. The story of the English Catholics, or the ' Romance of the Recusants ' as it has been happily termed, during that long period of trial and proscription forms as interesting a narrative as any to be found in the pages of modern history.

The downfall of the great and ancient Church in these realms after the centuries of her flourishing existence is an event which Newman, in a passage of the noblest eloquence, has termed almost a miracle.1 Tremendous, however, as was the overthrow, the rise of the ancient faith--kept alive here and there in the ancient halls and lowly cottages of the land-- from generations of political oppression and social ostracism, is no less a wondrous proof of ' the vivifying principle ' of the 'old religion ' and God's protecting power. When the close of the eighteenth century ushered in such momentous changes in the state of European governments and society, the wrecked remnant of the ancient Church in England had yet within her the unquenched sparks of vitality which seemedto say in encouragement to her scattered and dejected children, ' Besurgam'--'I shall arise.'

With regard to the historical introduction to the present work, no attempt has been made to narrate the events which marked the commencement of the Reformation in the reigns of Henry VIII. and Edward VT. or the short-lived Catholic restoration under Queen Mary. As most writers assign the final and definite establishment of Protestantism in England to the reign of Elizabeth, it is from the first year of her accession that we propose following the rapidly declining fortunes of the ancient Church. Moreover, the subject is one which deals mainly with English Catholicism in the days of its depression, far removed from the historic splendours of the mediaeval religious polity.

The author is aware that many of the remarks in the ensuing notices of missions are of a scanty and fragmentary nature. Every effort has been made to exclude error, but in a work like the present, it is well nigh impossible to prevent misstatements from appearing, considering the obscurity of much of the subject and the difficulty of obtaining reliable information. Most publications of this nature are only perfected in the course of time, and the writer will be grateful for any corrections that may be brought to his notice. For the rest, reliance has been placed on Catholic magazines, newspapers, county histories, private memoirs and letters of the past hundred years. By means of these auxiliaries, the author trusts that he has put forward a book which will be found useful for casual reference and if this aspiration is realised he will feel that the labours of thirteen years have not been in vain. In conclusion, he begs to acknowledge his obligations to W. Simpson, Esq., Park Place, Mitcham, for the use so kindly afforded of a select and valuable library, to the Very Eev. Henry Canon Cafferata for several practical suggestions, and the Eev. J. Wilhelm, D.D., of Battle, for kindly supervising the proofs.