The title-deeds and other old papers belonging to the See of Cloyne, being either lost or intentionally destroyed by the Fitzgeralds, while the See was in the possession of that family, there is no early record now in the Registry, except that called Pipe Colman, which is a list of the estates and manors belonging to the Bishoprick in 1304, and this was missing when Smith wrote his history, and is said to have been recovered by accident some years after. Sir J. Ware expressly says it was not found when he wrote. It was composed
by order of Bishop Swaffham. The earliest paper, except the Pipe Roll, which is now (1804) in the possession of the Registrar, is a sort of voluntary deposition by James FitzJohn Gerald, of Ballyfin, dated 1635, purporting to give evidence of the ancient state of the town. This evidence goes to prove " that Bishop Daniel, about the year 1260, gave the burial-grounds and passed the manor, with many immunities, to the Citizens and Burgesses of Cloyne, they paying certain sums, as had been agreed upon by Bishop David his predecessor, who was translated to Cashel in 1237.
