Lawlor — A Charter of Donatus, Prior of Louth. 321 



The claim of Armagh to jurisdiction over the Priory was apparently put forth 

 at the very beginning of the episcopate of Thomas, or a few years earlier. 

 But he seems to have been able to maintain his position against the Primate. 

 It was in the time of his successor, Gilla Tighernaigh MacKilronan, that Arch- 

 bishop Eugenius MacG-illaweer so far succeeded in asserting his claim as to 

 hold a synod at St. Peter's Church, Drogheda. 1 Even after this Bishop Donat 

 was able to renew the contest, and to keep Archbishop Neterville at bay. 

 And, on the other hand, it was this same Donat who, as Archbishop, achieved 

 the final victory for Armagh. 2 In every case where a former Prior of 

 Louth was one of the disputing prelates, he was the more successful of the 

 two. 



My hypothesis, that Priors Thomas and Donat were successively promoted 

 to the Bishopric of Clogher, is of course not established. But it is, perhaps, 

 sufficiently plausible to be worthy of consideration. It may be proved or 

 disproved as further evidence comes to light. 



But in another respect the Charter throws welcome light on the early 

 history of the diocese. A register of Clogher, quoted by Mr. Goddard 

 H. Orpen, tells an interesting story about the building of Donaghmoyne 

 Castle. In Mr. Orpen's translation it runs thus : — 



" About the year 1200 Eichard Pipard, baron of Ardee, at the coming of 

 the English to Ireland began to build a castle on the lands of the Bishop at 

 Donaghmajdeaden, where now his castle is ; and when the Bishop heard this, 

 he came and denounced the new work. When the baron would not give up 

 his undertaking, the Bishop robed himself in his pontificals, entered the 

 ditch, and, lying on the ground, threw himself in the way of the diggers. 

 When they were unable to work — for none of them would lay hands on the 

 bishop — the baron himself came, and with his own hands dragged the bishop 

 out of the ditch. The bishop crying aloud cursed the baron, so that the baron 

 was in the first place struck with leprosy, and afterwards died, and on account 

 of this, as is believed, none of his posterity possess, or ever shall possess, the 

 said lands." 3 



This story in its details is unhistoncal. But for our purpose it is most 



1 Gilbert, op. cit. t p. 155. 



2 I cannot find any document after his death which proves that the contest was still 

 proceeding. A mandate of 1243, ordering an inquiry into the demand of Archbishop 

 Albert for restitution of the vill of Drogheda and the manor of Nobber (Gal. of Docs, 

 relating to Ireland, i, 2618), cited by Father Gogarty (I.e., p. 301), has surely nothing to 

 do" with it. 



3 Jour, of B.S.A.I., xxxviii,.263, from Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 4789, p. 109. 



R.I. A. PROC, VOL. XXXII, SECT. C. [51] 



