The actual succession of bishops, however, was far different. On the death of David of Chirbury, Dr. Thomas Radcliffe was chosen his successor in 1429, as the historians of the Augustinian order expressly attest. Thus, for example, Herrera writes:
"Thomas Sacrae Theologia professor a Martino V. in Registro Pontificio an. xii. Pontificatus et Christi 1429. prid. Kal. Feb. in Hibernia sub Archiepo. Armacano Epus. Dromorensis instituitur. Hic est ille quem registra ordinis die 19 Martii an. 1426. magistrum Thomam Radclef provinciae Angliae appellant eique Prior Generalis concedit ut in conventu Oxoniensi perpetuo stare possit ut eum fratribus destitutum juvet".
Elsius makes a similar statement (_Encomiast._ page 662), and also tells us that there is a "Thomas Radclyf, Redcliff, sive Radcliffus, Anglus, S.T.D., in Anglia natus nobilissimâ familiâ ex qua comites Sussessiae ante an. 1369, prodierunt", who is commended in the records of the order as illustrious by his virtues and writings. "Intuitu virtutum", he adds, "Episcopalem Lincolniensem aut Leicestrensem accepit dignitates", which words acquaint us with the English see to which Dr. Radcliffe was promoted some few years after his appointment to Dromore.
As the dates of Herrera are taken from the consistorial records and other official documents, we may rest assured that 1429 was the year of Dr. Radcliffe's appointment. We cannot fix with the same certainty the year in which he renounced this see. It is probable, however, that about 1434 he was translated to the diocese of Lincoln in England, and we next meet with a Dominican Father who was also named _Thomas_, already in possession of the see of Dromore in 1437. The following is the letter of Eugene IV., from the papers of Luke Wadding, Rome, which makes known to us for the first time this worthy successor of St. Colman:--
"Eugenius, etc., ven. fr. Thomae, Episcopo Dromorensi salutem, etc.
"Personam tuam nobis et apostolicae sedi devotam, tuis exigentibus meritis paterna benevolentia prosequentes illa tibi libenter concedimus quae tuis commoditatibus fore conspicimus opportuna. Cum itaque sicut exhibita nobis pro parte tua petitio continebat propter bellorum discrimina quae partes illas diutius afflixerunt prout affligunt etiam de praesenti, Ecclesia et Episcopalis mensa Dromorensis cui praeesse dignosceris adeo sit in suis facultatibus diminuta quod ex illius fructibus redditibus et proventibus vestrae decentiam Pontificalis dignitatis sustentare et alia Tibi incumbentia onera commode nequeas supportare: Nos ne in dedecus Episcopalis dignitatis mendicare cogaris volentes Te qui etiam in Theologia Magister existis ob virtutum tuarum merita quibus Te illarum largitor altissimus insignivit favoribus prosequi gratiosis, tuis in hac parte supplicationibus inclinati, tecum ut quodcumque Beneficium Ecclesiasticum cum cura vel sine cura ... dummodo dignitas hujusmodi in cathedrali major post Pontificalem, aut in Collegiata Ecclesia hujusmodi, principalis non existat, si tibi alias canonice conferatur, seu assumaris vel eligaris ad illud una cum dicta Ecclesia Dromorensi quamdiu illi praefueris, in Commendam recipere et retinere libere et licite valeas, quod ordinis Fratrum Praedicatorum professor existis, ac constitutionibus apostolicis, necnon bonae memoriae Octonis et Octoboni olim in Regno Angliae Sedis Apostolicae Legatorum, statutis quoque et consuetudinibus Eccelesiae in qua hujusmodi beneficium forsan fuerit, juramento, confirmatione Apostolica vel quacumque firmitate alia roboratis, caeterisque contrariis quibuscumque nequaquam obstantibus, auctoritate Apostolica, tenore praesentium de speciali dono gratiose dispensamus, ita quod hujusmodi durante commenda, fructus, redditus et proventus beneficii hujusmodi percipere et habere, illosque in tuos et hujusmodi Beneficii usus et utilitatem convertere et alias de illis disponere et ordinare libere et licite valeas, etc., etc.