In Father Theiner's collection there is another document of the year 1517, which illustrates this point. It is entitled "Processus Consistorialis", that is, a consistorial inquiry for the appointment of a successor to Dr. O'Farrell. This consistorial record presents to us a series of very important monuments. It opens with a letter of King Henry VIII., addressed to the great Pope Leo X., and dated Greenwich, 26th July, 1517. We give the whole original text of this letter, as it forms such a contrast with the subsequent iniquitous career of that unfortunate monarch:
"Sanctissimo Clementissimoque Dño. nostro Papae.
"Beatissime Pater, post humillimam commendationem et devotissima pedum beatorum oscula. Expositum nobis fuit Cathedralem Ecclesiam Ardakadensem perexigui census ac proventus in dominio nostro Hiberniae per obitum Reverendissimi in Christo patris, Dñi. Wilhelmi ejus novissimi Episcopi, impraesentia vacare suoque pastore esse destitutam, et cogitantibus tum nobis ei providere propositus fuit venerabilis vir Magister Rogerius O'Moleyn, Cathedralis Ecclesiae Cluamensis canonicus, vir modestus, circumspectione, probitate et doctrina non mediocriter probatus, quem et nos idoneum existimavimus cui dictae Ecclesiae Ardakadensis cura committatur eique praeficiatur. Quocirca Vestrae Sanctitati eum commendamus ut eundem Magistrum Rogerium praedictae Ecclesiae praeficere ac Episcopum et Pastorem constituere dignetur, quod et honori atque utilitati ejusdem Ecclesiae futurum putamus et nobis erit admodum gratum: et felicissime valeat Vestra Beatitudo. Quam Deus Altissimus longaevam conservat", etc.
In the next place the Cardinal to whose care had been entrusted the inquiry as to the merits of Dr. O'Malone, presents a petition to the Holy Father, in which he states that the Vice-Chancellor of the Roman Church, to whom the task should belong, being impeded by sickness, it had become his duty to propose the candidate for the vacant see: a diligent investigation being made, Roderick O'Malone, canon of Clonmacnoise, recommended by the English king, was found to be a person well suited for that important post, and as he was actually present in the city of Rome, his Eminence prays the Holy Father to sanction without delay his appointment to the See of Ardagh.
The evidence of three Irish witnesses in regard of the vacant see is also produced. From their depositions we cull the following particulars:
1. That the Diocese of Ardagh formed part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Armagh, and was vacant for about a year, by the death of William, its last Bishop.
2. That the town of Ardagh was situated in a hilly country, surrounded by woods and forests. In this town there were no more than four houses, all built of wood, and its inhabitants were very few, in consequence of the continual quarrels between the late bishop and his neighbours; for Dr. O'Farrell had wished to insist upon his rights as chief dynast of Annaly; but some of his clansmen refused to recognize his claims, and having assembled their forces, assailed and reduced to absolute ruin the mere remnant of the former city of Ardagh.
3. The cathedral shared in the ruin of the metropolitical city. Its walls alone were now standing. There was only one altar, and it was canopied by the azure vault of Heaven. Moreover, there was only one priest in the district, and the Holy Sacrifice was rarely offered up. There was neither sacristy, nor belfry, nor bell; in fact, there were scarcely vestments and altar ornaments sufficient for one Mass, and these were ordinarily kept in a common box in the body of the church.
4. The Deanery is valued at ten ducats, equal to £2 10s. The archdeacon's revenue was eight ducats. There were also twelve Canons and a few minor Prebendaries of little or no income. The extent of the diocese is said to be about twenty miles, and, it is added that there were some few rural benefices in the patronage of the bishop.