Be pleased to allow me to bring under your notice a slight mistake
noticeable in the January issue of your _Record_, and in doing so
I may be permitted to express my great satisfaction, and that of
all those who spoke to me on the subject, with the interesting and
varied matter in your _Record_. Your high character, not to speak
of stronger reasons, will secure for your statements a ready
acceptance with Catholics, and this, coupled with the very faultless
character of your extensively read periodical, renders me anxious
to have it the medium of correction to its own mistakes, however
slight. The learned writer on the Irish sees of the sixteenth
century, speaking of the vicissitudes of Clonmacnois, and of its
subjection to the metropolitical see of Tuam, says, in p. 158 of
the _Record_: "This change probably took place during the episcopate
of Bishop Symon of the Order of St. Dominick, who, though omitted
in the lists of Ware and De Burgo, was appointed to the see on
the death of Dr. Henry in 1349". Now, Symon was never Bishop of
Clonmacnois. Indeed, as remarked by the learned writer in the
_Record_, Theiner gives, in page 291, the bull of his appointment.
But the appointment was null, as the see was not vacant by the death
of Dr. Henry. Hence, by looking to the next page of Theiner, you
will see how good Pope Clement VI. acknowledges and rectifies the
mistake by appointing Symon to the see of Kildare, then vacant.
The report of Dr. Henry's death was unfounded; therefore, as
the bull of Pope Clement declares, Symon was not, and in the
circumstances could not have been, Bishop of Clonmacnois. "Cum
autem sicut postea vera relatio ad nos perduxit", etc., the Pope
says, addressing Symon, "tu nullius Ecclesiae remansisti".
I remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,