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314 CASSIAN OF STANLEY This paper, however, has a rnuch hurnbler role than to try to unravel the tangled skein of fact and fiction that has surrounded the rnernory of Father Archangel: that would clairn a separate study. The rnain purpose of the present essay is to offer a piece of inforrnation that has, as far as I arn aware, passed unnoticed. Nevertheless, at the risk of sorne unevennes in the present study sornething will be said first of the friar's farnily background. The Barlows of Slebech Williarn Barlow, later to be known as Archangel of Pernbroke, was the second son of John Barlow of Slebech in Pernbrokeshire and his wife, Elizabeth Fisher of Marton. The Barlows were people of sorne standing in Pernbrokeshire, and Williarn was born about 1568, probably at Slebech, the family seat. If Welsh by birth, he was certainly English by descent, for the Barlows had not been settled long in Wales 4 • His branch of the farnily had been well established and well connected in Essex and held property there and in Hert– fordshire. However, one of its members implicated in the rebellion of Perkin Warbeck in making his escape to the Continent had sought shelter at the house of William's great grandfather. The unfortunate host was committed to the Tower and his whole estate was confiscated and given by Henry VII to Earl de Vere, Count of Oxford. « After wch Troubles », William's brother records in an interesting account of the family, « my Grandfather Roger Barlow Esq. & his brothers were constrained (being thereby destitute of means) to seek their Fortunes » 5 • These impoverished children made their way in the world quite successfully. Three of the four sons entered the Church and the only daughter, Elizabeth, after being maid of honour to Queen Margaret of Scotland, married first Lord Elphinstone and on his death became tivita missionaria dei Minori Cappuccini nel Brasile (1538?-1889), Roma 1959, 45. Totally mis– taken regarding Father Archangel's identity is the reference in J. 0RCIBAL, Les origines du Jansénisme. II: lean Duvergier, Abbé de Saint-Cyran et son temps (1581-1638), Louvain-Paris 1947, p.14 n.4. • L. DWNN, Heraldic Visitations of Wales and part of the Marches between 1586 and 1613 I, Llandovery 1846, 117-118. Here is provided a pedigree of the first Barlows in Wales. Father Archangel's brother, George Barlow, in a marginal note in a manuscript to be described later, states: « It pleased Almightie God to raise the Famely of Barlow to an Estate not much inferior to that they formerly enioyed but removed unto a remate Country by the ·space of 100 yeares, yet nevertheless reputed strangers... » (Cf. Cardiff ms. 4.97 appendix, f.9r). ' The account of the Barlow family by George Barlow is found in a bound manuscript in Cardiff Public Library and is known as Cardiff ms. 4.97. This manuscript, which bears on its spine the title Collectanea Barlowi[ana], is, chiefly, a commonplace-book compiled by the Capuchin's brother. In a separately paginated section or appendix there is An Inventarie of Vniting the Ancient Fameleies of Barlowe and Barley written by G.B. late of Slebech Esq. This will be cited, hereafter, as Cardiff 111s. 4.97 app.