William Clifford (alias Mansell) (died 30 April 1670) was an English
Roman Catholic theologian.
Life
After education and ordination at
Douai, Clifford went on the English mission. As vice-president, he helped the
English College, Lisbon
The English College, Lisbon (Portuguese: ''Convento dos Inglesinhos'') was a Roman Catholic seminary that existed from the 17th century to the 20th century.
Early history
In 1624 a college for English students wishing to study for the Catholic pr ...
through difficult times, and became superior of
Tournay College (Paris), assigned by
Cardinal Richelieu
Armand Jean du Plessis, Duke of Richelieu (; 9 September 1585 – 4 December 1642), known as Cardinal Richelieu, was a French clergyman and statesman. He was also known as ''l'Éminence rouge'', or "the Red Eminence", a term derived from the ...
to the English clergy.
He evaded being made bishop in 1660, declined in 1670 the presidency of Douai, and closed his life in the
Hôpital des Incurables in Paris.
Works
Clifford's works are:
*"Christian Rules proposed to a vertuous Soule" (Paris, 1615), dedicated to Mrs Ursula Clifford;
*"The Spirituall Combat", translated by R.R. (Paris, 1656), dedicated to Abbot Montague;
*"Little Manual of Poore Man's Dayly Devotion" (2nd edition, Paris, 1670), often reprinted;
*"Observations upon Kings' Reigns since the Conquest" (MS.);
*"Collections concerning Chief Points of Controversy" (MS.)
Family
He was the son of Henry Clifford and wife Elizabeth Thimelby. After the death of his father, Clifford's mother joined the English
Augustinian nuns
Augustinian nuns are the most ancient and continuous segment of the Roman Catholic Augustinian religious order under the canons of contemporary historical method. The Augustinian nuns, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo (died AD 430), are sever ...
in
Leuven
Leuven (, ) or Louvain (, , ; german: link=no, Löwen ) is the capital and largest city of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located about east of Brussels. The municipality itself comprises the historic ...
. She died at aged 77 on 3 September 1642.
Clifford never asserted his right to the Barony of Cumberland.
References
;Attribution
* The entry cites:
**Little Manual, 5th ed., preface;
**
Charles Dodd, Church History, III, 297;
**
Joseph Gillow
Joseph Gillow (5 October 1850, Preston, Lancashire – 17 March 1921, Westholme, Hale, Cheshire) was an English Roman Catholic antiquary, historian and bio-bibliographer, "the Plutarch of the English Catholics".
Biography
Born in Frenchwood H ...
, Bibl. Dict. Eng. Catholics, I, 514, s.v.;
**____, Lisbon College, 9 and 189;
**
**Chronicle of St. Monica's, Louvain (Edinburgh, 1904), I, 127;
**
John Kirk, ''Biographies'' (London, 1908), s.v.
1670 deaths
17th-century English Roman Catholic priests
Year of birth unknown
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