"The island of Hibernia", it says, "was called Ierne (Iuverna) in the time of Pliny, and at a later period received from the barbarians the name Ireland (i.e. Western Land). The inhabitants of the coasts which look towards England, are somewhat modernized in the usages of life; the remainder of the island retains its primitive simplicity, and uses wooden or straw houses. The great majority of the population roams through the open country following their flocks; they travel barefoot, and are fond of plunder. The chief produce of the island is corn; its horses are of a superior merit, being swifter than those of England, and at the same time having a softer and more agreeable pace. They were formerly known as _Asturcons_, having come from the Asturias in Spain. Amongst the chief saints of Ireland are numbered Sts. Malachy, Cathaldus, and Patrick, by whom the inhabitants were first led to the fold of Christ. It gave birth to William Ocham, who was famed for his skill in Dialectics, and flourished under Pope John XXII.; as also to Richard Fitz Ralph, Archbishop of Armagh and Cardinal, who about 1353 was conspicuous for his learning and writings". This statement in regard of Dr. Fitz Ralph decides the controversy which was raised by Ware, as to the fact of this archbishop having been decorated with the Roman purple. Raffaelle da Volterra expressly attested it: but Ware deemed the silence of Ciacconius and other historians conclusive against his claim. However, the Roman Consistory itself now confirms the statement of Volterra, and hence we may further deduce another important conclusion, that, viz., in general the silence of Ciacconius and other such historians is of little weight in regard of our Irish prelates, especially when their elevation to the purple has positive testimony in its favour, such, for instance, as is more than once met with in the writings of Lopez and others. Dr. Roderick O'Malone continued to govern the see of Ardagh till the year 1540, under which year his death is recorded in the _Annals of the Four Masters_. His successor was Dr. Patrick Mac Beathy Mac Mahon, of the Order of St. Francis, whose appointment is registered in the Consistorial Acts on 14th November, 1541, the see being described as vacant _per obitum Roderici_. During the first years of Dr. Mac Mahon's episcopate, the temporalities of the see were possessed by Richard O'Ferral, who, being temporal dynast of the district, wished also to enjoy the episcopate, and had his usurpation readily confirmed by the crown. The writ for his consecration bears date the 22nd of April, 1542, when already the canonically appointed bishop had for six months dispensed the bread of life to the faithful of Ardagh. It was only in 1553, on the demise of the schismatical nominee, that the Catholic bishop was allowed his full rights and privileges, and received possession of the temporalities of the see.