“Litterae Reverendissimi Armachani ad Patrem Polancum: Quod Daniel ab ipso nominatus fiat Episcopus Darensis: contentio de Episcopatu Clogherensi inter duos, videtur ponendus tertius: Rapotensis et Darensis non iverunt ad concilium Provinciale propter bella: Archiepiscopus Armacanus haberet suam Ecclesiam si vellet consentire Reginae: posset mitti subsidium pro Armachano ad Praesidentem Collegii Lovaniensis: Archiepiscopus Armachanus male tractatur in carceribus”.
This minute of Cardinal Morone bears no date, but is registered with a series of papers of 1568 and 1569. The Father Polanco to whom the Primate’s letter was addressed, was the Procurator-General of the Society of Jesus, and was the same who was deputed to be bearer of the blessing of the Holy Father to the dying founder of that great order. To the preceding _minute_ are added the following remarks, which seem to have been presented to the Cardinal by Father Polanco:—
“Archiepiscopus Armachanus scribit expedire ut tertius nominetur Episcopus pro Clogherensi Dioecesi, non tamen favet Domino Milero. Causa posset committi in partibus D. Episcopo Accadensi et aliquibus aliis comprovincialibus Episcopis.
“Episcopatus Darensis in dicta Provincia Armachana vacat nunc per obitum Eugenii ultimi Episcopi. Duo Hiberni dictae Dioecesis pro eo obtinendo venerunt ad curiam: viz. Cornelius O’Chervallan cum quibusdam litteris Patris David Wolff et cum aliis Rectoris Lovanii. Item Magonius (Mac Mahon) Abbas commendatus litteris Episcoporum Rapotensis et Kilmorensis cum approbatione capituli Darensis”.
Dr. O’Gallagher, however, was the person chosen by the Holy See, and was proclaimed in consistory before the close of 1569. A few years later we find faculties communicated to him by Rome for his own diocese, and for the whole province of Armagh, “quamdiu venerabilis frater Richardus Archiepiscopus Armachanus impeditus a Dioecesi et Provincia Armachana abfuerit”—(13 April, 1575, _Ex. Secret. Brev._). About 1594 other special faculties were again communicated to him through Cardinal Allan—(ap. _King, Hist._, pag. 1213); and we soon after meet with him in the camp of O’Donnell, when that chieftain was gathering his forces to cut short the military career of General Norris: “There were there”, writes O’Sullivan, “some ecclesiastics, and especially Raymond O’Gallagher, Bishop of Derry, and Vice-Primate of Ireland, who absolved from the excommunication which they had incurred, those troops that passed from the Elizabethan ranks to the Catholic army”—(_Hist. Cath._, p. 181). It was in 1596 that Norris set out with about 10,000 men to invade North Connaught and Tyrconnell. That general was flushed with his victories in France and Belgium, nevertheless he was obliged to ignominiously retreat from the Ulster frontiers, being unable even to bring to battle the chosen army of 5,000 men which was led by the brave O’Donnel.