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THE MOST ANCIENT LIVES OF SAINT PATRICK;
Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America,
and His Extant Writings.
Illustrated with the Most Ancient Engravings
of Our Great National Saint;
With a Preface and Chronological Table.
by
Rev. James O'Leary, D.D.
Fifth Edition.
[Frontispiece: Images of Saint Columba, Saint Patrick, and Saint
Brigida, Taken from the Spicilegium Sanctorum, and engraven at Paris,
A.D. 1629, by Messingham.]
New York:
P. J. Kenedy, No. 5 Barclay Street.
1880.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by
P. J. Kenedy,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
TO THE
RIGHT REV. T. W. CROKE, D.D.,
Bishop of Auckland, New Zealand,
HOPING THAT HE MAY YET BE SET DOWN AS
The St. Patrick of New Zealand,
FROM HIS FORMER PUPIL, COLABORER, AND COMPANION,
J. O'LEARY.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface
The Confession of St. Patrick
St. Patrick's Epistle to Coroticus
St. Fiech's Metrical Life of St. Patrick
Tripartite Life: Part I
Tripartite Life: Part II
Tripartite Life: Part III
The Proeme of Jocelyn
The Life and Acts of St. Patrick by Jocelin
CHAPTER
I
II How a Fountain burst forth, and how Sight
and Learning were given to the Blind.
III Of the Stone of Saint Patrick.
IV Of the Well dried up.
V How he produced Fire from Ice.
VI How the Sister of St. Patrick was healed.
VII How he restored to Life his Foster-Father.
VIII Of the Sheep released from the Wolf.
IX Of the Cow freed from an Evil Spirit,
and Five other Cows restored to Health.
X Of the Water turned into Honey, and of his Nurse
restored to Health.
XI How the Fort was Cleansed.
XII Of the Religious Conversation of Saint Patrick.
XIII How Saint Patrick was Carried into Ireland.
XIV Of Milcho's Dream, and of its Interpretation.
XV Of the Angel Victor appearing to Saint Patrick.
XVI How St. Patrick was Redeemed from Slavery.
XVII How he Relieved those who were Perishing of Hunger.
XVIII Of his Fast continued for Twenty Days.
XIX How he Overcame the Temptation of the Enemy.
XX How he was again made Captive, and released
by the Miracle of the Kettle.
XXI Of Saint Patrick's Vision.
XXII How he dwelt with the blessed Germanus, and how
he received the Habit from Saint Martin.
XXIII Of the Flesh-meat changed into Fishes.
XXIV How in his Journey to Rome he Found the Staff of Jesus.
XXV How he Journeyed unto Rome, and was made a Bishop;
and of Palladius, the Legate of Ireland.
XXVI How he Saw and Saluted the Lord.
XXVII Of the Miraculous Voyage of the Leper.
XXVIII How he beheld Devils.
XXIX Of the River sentenced to perpetual Sterility.
XXX How the Dry Land was turned into a Marsh.
XXXI Of his coming into Ulidia, and of the Prophecy
of the Magicians on his coming.
XXXII How a Fierce Dog was suddenly Tamed;
of the Conversion of Dichu; and how a Fountain
rose out of the Earth.
XXXIII Of the Evil-doer Swallowed up by the Earth.
XXXIV Of the Aged Man restored unto his Youth.
XXXV Of the Death of Rius.
XXXVI Of the Death of Milcho.
XXXVII Of the Holy Mochna.
XXXVIII Of the Hostages of Dichu which were Freed by an Angel.
XXXIX Of Saint Benignus, and of the Prophecy which was made of him.
XL The Fire that was Lighted by Patrick.
XLI Of the Holy Man named Hercus.
XLII How the Magician was Destroyed.
XLIII Of the Miraculous but Terrible Rescue of Saint Patrick.
XLIV How the Saint Escaped the Deadly Snares.
XLV Of the Poison mingled in the Wine.
XLVI Of the Fantastic Snow.
XLVII How the Darkness was Dispersed.
XLVIII How the Magician and his Garment were consumed, and
Benignus and the Garment of St. Patrick preserved unhurt.
XLIX Of Many who were Swallowed up by the Earth, and how
the rest were Converted unto God.
L Of the Sisters and the Nephews of St. Patrick.
LI How Saint Lumanus Sailed against the Wind and the Stream.
LII How Forkernus and his Parents were Converted and Baptized.
LIII Of the Prophecy of St. Patrick on Coyrbre,
and of the Unfruitfulness of a River.
LIV Of Conallus, and of the Prophecy of Patrick concerning him.
LV Of the Altar of Saint Patrick.
LVI Of the Images destroyed from Heaven, and
of the Fountain produced from the Earth.
LVII How the Darkness was Dispersed.
LVIII Of the Virgins who went unto Heaven.
LIX Of the Magician Struck by Lightning,
and of Twelve Thousand Men Converted unto Christ.
LX Of another Magician whom the Earth swallowed up.
LXI How another Magician is Sunken up to the Ears,
and again is Raised up.
LXII How a huge Stone was raised by the Saint.
LXIII How the Women were raised from Death.
LXIV Two Women who were pregnant are with their Infants
rescued from Death unto Life.
LXV How he builded a Church of Clay alone.
LXVI Of the two Rivers, Dubh and Drobhaois.
LXVII Of the Voice that issued from the Sepulchre.
LXVIII Of his Journey, and of his manifold Miracles.
LXIX The Prophecy of the Saint Concerning Dublinia;
and the Sick Man cured.
LXX A Fountain is produced out of the Earth.
LXXI The Dead are raised up; the King and the People are
converted; a Fountain is produced, and Tribute promised.
LXXII Of the Sentence pronounced on Murinus.
LXXIII Foylge is punished with a double Death, and the
deceiving Fiend is driven out of his body.
LXXIV Of the Saint's Prophecy concerning the Kings of Momonia.
LXXV How Dercardius and his Companions were destroyed.
LXXVI Of the Quarrel of the Two Brothers.
LXXVII Fourteen Thousand Men are miraculously refreshed
with the Meat of Five Animals.
LXXVIII Nineteen Men are raised by Saint Patrick from the Dead.
LXXIX The King's Daughter becomes a Nun.
LXXX The King Echu is raised from Death.
LXXXI A Man of Gigantic Stature is revived from Death.
LXXXII Of Another Man who was Buried and Raised Again.
LXXXIII Of the Boy who was torn in pieces by Swine
and restored unto Life.
LXXXIV The Prayers of the Saint confer Beauty on an Ugly Man.
LXXXV The Stature of the same Man is increased unto
a sufficient Height.
LXXXVI Of Saint Olcanus, the Teacher and Bishop,
raised out of the Earth.
LXXXVII How the Tooth of Saint Patrick shone in the River.
LXXXVIII The Saint Prophesieth of the Virgin Treha,
and a Veil is placed on her Head by an Angel.
LXXXIX Saint Patrick Prophesieth of the Sanctity
of Saint Columba.
XC The River is Divided in Twain, and Blessed.
XCI The Prophecy that Patrick made unto Connedus.
XCII Of Mannia and the other Islands Converted unto God.
XCIII Of the Saint's Prophecy concerning Six Priests,
and of a Skin which he bestowed to them.
XCIV Saint Patrick Continueth his Preaching Three Days.
XCV Of the Vision of the Blessed Brigida,
and its Explanation.
XCVI Of the Angels of God, of the Heavenly Light,
and of the Prophecy of Saint Patrick.
XCVII The Temptation of the Nun is Subdued.
XCVIII Of Saint Comhgallus, and the Monastery foreshowed
of Heaven.
XCIX The Saint Prophesieth of the Obstinate Fergus
and of his Children.
C The Malediction of the Saint is laid upon the Stones
of Usniach.
CI Of the Woman in Travail, and of her Offspring.
CII The Bishop Saint Mel catcheth Fishes on the Dry Land.
CIII The Footprints of Certain Virgins are impressed on a Stone.
CIV The Earth is raised in the midst of the Stream.
CV Of the Altar and the Four Chalices discovered under
the Earth.
CVI A Treasure is Twice discovered in the Earth by Swine.
CVII Saint Patrick prophesieth of the two Brothers.
CVIII The Penitence of Asycus the Bishop.
CIX The Tempest of the Sea is Composed.
CX The Miracle of the Waters is Repeated.
CXI Of the Cowl of Saint Patrick which remained untouched
by the Sea.
CXII Of the Veil that was sent from Heaven.
CXIII Of the Holy Leper, of the New Fountain,
of the Angelic Attendance, and the Prophecy
of Patrick thereon.
CXIV Of the Lake which was removed by Saint Patrick.
CXV Patrick understandeth the Conscience
of Saint Fiechus, and blesseth him.
CXVI The Chariot is, by the Decision of the Angel,
sent unto Fiechus.
CXVII The Several Offices of a certain Monastery are
appointed by an Angel.
CXVIII The Prophecy of Saint Patrick concerning the
Men of Callria.
CXIX Certain Cheeses are converted into Stones,
and many Wicked Men are drowned.
CXX Of the Pitfalls passed over without danger,
and the Prophecies of the Saint.
CXXI The Prophecy of the Saint on a Certain Village.
CXXII The Sentence prophetically declared.
CXXIII The Prophecy of the Saint on a Certain Bishop
and on the one who consecrated him.
CXXIV The Blind Man is restored to Sight; from him
who seeeth is Sight taken; and three are relieved
of Lameness.
CXXV Nine Evil-doers are consumed by Fire from Heaven,
and a Fountain is produced out of the Earth.
CXXVI Another Magician is in like manner Consumed.
CXXVII A Grove is cursed by the Saint.
CXXVIII The Sentence pronounced by the Saint on his Deceivers.
CXXIX A Mountain is swallowed up in the Earth,
and again it is raised.
CXXX Euchodius is cursed by the Saint, and his Son is blessed.
CXXXI Of Saint Sennachus the Bishop.
CXXXII The Miracle which is worked for Certain Hewers of Wood.
CXXXIII A Hone is divided by Saint Patrick, and the Oppressor
is drowned.
CXXXIV An Angel foretelleth to Patrick of Saint Moccheus.
CXXXV The Sentence pronounced by Patrick on Moccheus.
CXXXVI The Saint prophesieth of two Brothers,
and a Fountain is produced out of the Earth.
CXXXVII The Saint Prophesieth of a Certain Youth.
CXXXVIII Of Conallus and of his Shield.
CXXXIX A Heavenly Light shineth around Saint Patrick,
and Victor is converted unto the Faith.
CXL A Certain Cymbal of Saint Patrick is lost and
found again.
CXLI The Obedience of Saint Volchanus.
CXLII Of Saint Rodanus, the Herdsman of Patrick.
CXLIII Of Saint Kertennus, the Bishop of Clochor.
CXLIV Of a Boy who was blessed by Saint Patrick.
CXLV Of a Woman who was raised from Death.
CXLVI The Testimony of One who was revived from Death.
CXLVII The Cross that was not observed; and the Voice
which issued from the Sepulchre.
CXLVIII A Goat bleateth in the Stomach of a Thief.
CXLIX Of the Cloaks which fell from Heaven.
CL A wicked Tyrant is transformed into a Fox.
CLI The wicked Man Machaldus and his Companions
are converted unto the Faith.
CLII The Penitence of Machaldus.
CLIII A Meadow is overflowed by the Sea.
CLIV A Stone is changed into Milk, and Milk is changed
into Stones.
CLV A Wagon laden with Twigs is saved from the Fire.
CLVI The Saint is preserved untouched from the falling Rain.
CLVII The Fingers of Saint Patrick shine with Light.
CLVIII Fire is also seen to issue from his Mouth.
CLIX The holy Virgin Memhessa departeth unto God.
CLX Of the Work which was done in the Lord's Day.
CLXI A certain Man is healed, and a Horse revived,
in a place which is called Feart.
CLXII Of the Vessel which was given unto Saint Patrick,
and again taken from him.
CLXIII Ardmachia is given unto Saint Patrick; and a Fountain
is produced out of the Earth.
CLXIV The Saint beholdeth a Vision of Angels, and cureth
Sixteen Lepers.
CLXV Of the City of Ardmachia, and Twelve of its Citizens.
CLXVI At the Direction of the Angels Saint Patrick goeth
unto Rome.
CLXVII The Acts of Saint Patrick while returning from Rome.
CLXVIII The Acts of St. Patrick after he had Returned.
CLXIX Of the Threefold Plagues of Hibernia.
CLXX The Threefold Plague is driven out of Hibernia
by Saint Patrick.
CLXXI Without Earthly Food the Saint completeth a Fast
of Forty Days.
CLXXII He banisheth the Demons forth of the Island.
CLXXIII Troops of Angels appear unto the Saint.
CLXXIV The Saint titheth Hibernia and the Dwellers therein.
CLXXV The different States of Hibernia are in a Heavenly
Vision shown unto the Saint.
CLXXVI The Answer of Saint Patrick to Secundinus.
CLXXVII Secundinus composeth a Hymn in Honor of Saint Patrick.
CLXXVIII The Soul of a Certain Sinner is by Saint Patrick
freed from Demons.
CLXXIX How the Saint appeared unto Colmanus while singing
his Hymn.
CLXXX The Admirable Contemplations of the Saint.
CLXXXI Saint Patrick beholdeth the Souls of the Rich and
of the poor Man sent unto different Places.
CLXXXII Saint Vinvaloeus is miraculously stayed by Saint
Patrick from his purposed Journey.
CLXXXIII The Daily Prayers and Genuflexions of the Saint.
CLXXXIV How he passed the Night Season.
CLXXXV The Habit, the Bearing, and the Acts of Saint Patrick.
CLXXXVI Of the Sick whom he healed, and the Dead whom he
raised; and of his Disciples who recorded his Acts.
CLXXXVII The Angelic Voice showeth unto Saint Patrick of his
Death and of the Place of his Burial.
CLXXXVIII The Place of his Sepulture is foreshown by a Light
from Heaven.
CLXXXIX Saint Brigida bringeth unto Saint Patrick the Garment
which was to enshroud his Body.
CXC The Death of Saint Patrick.
CXCI The Number of the Years of his Life.
CXCII The Funeral Honors which Men and Angels paid unto
the Body of the Saint.
CXCIII The Light continueth for Twelve Days.
CXCIV The Miraculous Rising of the Sea between
the Contending People.
CXCV Two Wains appear, the which are sent by a Miracle.
CXCVI The Sepulture of Saint Patrick in the City of Dunum.
A Chronological Table to the Lives of St. Patrick
ILLUSTRATIONS
Images of Saint Columba, Saint Patrick, and Saint Brigida,
Taken from the Spicilegium Sanctorum, and engraven at Paris,
A.D. 1629, by Messingham. . . . . . . _Frontispiece_
The Saint Patrick of Ancient Ages
The Saint Patrick of Medieval Times
The Saint Patrick of Our Own Century
PREFACE.
The present volume has three objects in view: first, to present the
life of Saint Patrick without writing a history of the national church
which he founded or introducing irrelevant matter; secondly, to place
his life and character before the reader as they have been handed down
to us in the most ancient extant documents, without overcoating or
withholding anything in the originals; and, thirdly, to deliver to the
public at as low a price as possible the original documents grouped
together.
At first I had intended to present the Seven Lives of St. Patrick as
published by Colgan; but, to my knowledge, there is no copy of the
_Acta Triadis Thaumaturgae_ in this country, and the four lives which I
have omitted--that is, by Benignus, Patrick Junior, Eiselan the Wise,
and Probus--are of little consequence. The metrical life by St. Fiech
is undoubtedly the most ancient and the most removed from saintly
imaginings of miracles. The other two, that by Saint MacEvin and that
by Jocelin, appear to have been elaborate compendiums of stories
written in antecedent ages, and extant in their time, concerning Saint
Patrick. Of the life by Saint Fiech I have made a rude translation
corresponding with the original; of the Tripartite I have given
Professor Hennessy's version; and of the extraordinary biography by
Jocelin I reproduce, for the first time in this country, the rendering
from Colgan by Mr. Swift, as published by the Hibernia Press Company,
at Dublin, in 1809. Colgan's Latin version of the Life of Saint
Patrick by Jocelin is given by the Bollandists, and may be seen in many
libraries in this country; but the original Lives, as published at
Louvain, are at the Irish College in Rome and at Trinity College,
Dublin. A copy may be found elsewhere, but, if so, it is exceedingly
valuable, forasmuch as it is exceedingly rare. The Life of Saint
Patrick by Saint Fiech will convey an estimate of his character about
the time of his death; the Tripartite life by Saint MacEvin will
probably impart the notions of the eighth century; and the life by
Jocelin will communicate the exaggerations of mediaeval times in the
twelfth century. The public will thus have fairly placed before them
the thoughts of ages about Saint Patrick through seven centuries after
his death. I supply the reader with the Confession and Epistle
attributed to Saint Patrick, though I incline to the opinion that they
are the issue of an age subsequent to that of Ireland's Saint. The
Chronotaxis or Chronological Table at the end of the book I have made
out from the work by the Bollandists, which seems to have been prepared
with scholarly and judicious diligence.
Of the illustrations, it is to be stated that the one prefixed to the
life of St. Fiech has been an heirloom in the family of Counsellor
Shechan, of this city, and is taken from an old Irish prayer-book,
supposed to be between three and five hundred years old. The
frontispiece and the illustration fronting the Tripartite Life are
taken from the Spicelegium, were engraved by Messengham, with the
approbation of the French King and the Paris Archbishop, at Paris, in
1629, and were reproduced at Dublin in 1809. They are now re-engraved
for the first time in this country. The illustration prefixed to the
life by Jocelin is of ancient date, and supposed to have been suggested
by the representation of St. Patrick in the Kilkenny Cathedral.
I hold myself responsible in no way whatsoever for the statements of
St. Fiech, St. MacEvin, or Jocelin, but I present to the reader what
they asserted they had received from antiquity. Their narratives may
be pronounced fables, or legends, or inventions, or superstitions, or
histories. On their intrinsic merits I am silent, except inasmuch as
they breathe a firm belief in the omnipresence of God amongst men,
strangely at variance with the lifeless, frosty indifference of our own
day, and are, in addition, savored with a holy heat of charity and a
high moral tone. Without comment, then, from me, I present to you in
America, kind readers, Saint Patrick, the Apostle and Patron of Ireland
and the Irish race, as I received him from my ancestors. I neither
overstate, nor under-estimate, nor withheld anything. Judge for
yourselves.
REV. JAMES O'LEARY, D.D.
THE CONFESSION OF ST. PATRICK.
_THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOKS OF THE BISHOP ST. PATRICK._
I, Patrick, a sinner, the rudest and least of all the faithful, and
most contemptible to very many, had for my father Calpornius, a deacon,
the son of Potitus, a priest, who lived in Bannaven Taberniae, for he
had a small country-house close by, where I was taken captive when I
was nearly sixteen years of age. I knew not the true God, and I was
brought captive to Ireland with many thousand men, as we deserved; for
we had forsaken God, and had not kept His commandments, and were
disobedient to our priests, who admonished us for our salvation. And
the Lord brought down upon us the anger of His Spirit, and scattered us
among many nations, even to the ends of the earth, where now my
littleness may be seen amongst strangers. And there the Lord showed me
my unbelief, that at length I might remember my iniquities, and
strengthen my whole heart towards the Lord my God, who looked down upon
my humiliation, and had pity upon my youth and ignorance, and kept me
before I knew him, and before I had wisdom or could distinguish between
good and evil, and strengthened and comforted me as a father would his
son.
Therefore I cannot and ought not to be silent concerning the great
benefits and graces which the Lord has bestowed upon me in the land of
my captivity, since the only return we can make for such benefits is,
after God has reproved us, to extol and confess His wonders before
every nation under heaven.
For there is no other God, nor ever was, nor shall be hereafter, except
the Lord, the unbegotten Father, without beginning, by whom all things
have their being, who upholds all things, as we have said; and His Son,
Jesus Christ, whom, together with the Father, we testify to have always
existed before the origin of the world, spiritually with the Father,
ineffably begotten before every beginning; and by Him were the visible
things made--was made man, death being overthrown, in the heavens. And
he hath given Him all power over every name of things in heaven and
earth and hell, that every tongue should confess to Him that Jesus
Christ is Lord, and whose coming we expect ere long to judge the living
and dead; who will render to every one according to his works; who hath
poured forth abundantly on us both the gift of His Spirit and the
pledge of immortality; who makes the faithful and obedient to become
the sons of God and coheirs with Christ; whom we confess and adore one
God in the Trinity of the holy Name. For He Himself has said by the
prophet: "Call upon me in the day of thy trouble: I will deliver thee,
and thou shalt magnify me." And again he says: "It is honorable to
reveal and confess the works of God."
Although I am imperfect in many things, I wish my brothers and
acquaintances to know my dispositions, that they may be able to
understand the desire of my soul. I am not ignorant of the testimony
of my Lord, who declares in the psalm: "Thou wilt destroy all that
speak a lie." And again: "The mouth that belieth, killeth the soul."
And the same Lord: "Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall
render an account for it in the Day of Judgment." Therefore I ought,
with great fear and trembling, to dread this sentence in that day when
no one shall be able to withdraw or hide himself, but all must give an
account, even of the least sins, before the judgment-seat of the Lord
Christ.
Therefore, although I thought of writing long ago, I feared the censure
of men, because I had not learned as the others who studied the sacred
writings in the best way, and have never changed their language since
their childhood, but continually learned it more perfectly, while I
have to translate my words and speech into a foreign tongue; and it can
be easily proved from the style of my writings how I am instructed in
speech and learning, for the Wise Man says: "By the tongue wisdom is
discerned, and understanding and knowledge and learning by the word of
the wise." But what avails an excuse, however true, especially when
accompanied with presumption? For I, in my old age, strive after that
which I was hindered from learning in my youth. But who will believe
me? And if I say what I have said before, that as a mere youth, nay,
almost a boy in words, I was taken captive, before I knew what I ought
to seek and to avoid. Therefore I blush to-day and greatly dread to
expose my ignorance, because I am not able to express myself briefly,
with clear and well-arranged words, as the spirit desires and the mind
and intellect point out. But if it had been given to me as to others,
I would not have been silent for the recompense; and although it may
seem to some who think thus that I put myself forward with my ignorance
and too slow tongue, nevertheless it is written, "The tongues of
stammerers shall speak readily and plain"; how much more ought we to
undertake this who are the epistle of Christ for salvation unto the
ends of the earth, written in pure heart, if not with eloquence, yet
with power and endurance, "not written with ink, but with the Spirit of
the living God"; and again the Spirit testifies, "Husbandry, it was
ordained by the Most High."
Therefore I undertook this work at first, though a rustic and a
fugitive, and not knowing how to provide for the future; but this I
know for certain: that before I was humbled, I was like a stone lying
in deep mire, until He who is powerful came, and in his mercy raised me
up, and indeed again succored and placed me in His part; and therefore
I ought to cry out loudly, and thank the Lord in some degree for all
his benefits, here and after, which the mind of man cannot estimate.
Therefore be amazed, both great and small who fear God; rhetoricians
and ye of the Lord, hear and enquire who aroused me, a fool, from the
midst of those who seem to be wise, and skilled in the law, and
powerful in speech and in all things, and hath inspired me (if indeed I
be such) beyond others, though I am despised by this world, so that,
with fear and reverence and without murmuring, I should faithfully
serve this nation, to whom the charity of Christ hath transferred me,
and given me for my life, if I shall survive; and that at last with
humility and truth I should serve them.
In the measure, therefore, of the faith of the Trinity it behoves me to
distinguish without shrinking from danger, and to make known the gift
of God and everlasting consolation, and, without fear, confidently to
spread abroad the name of God everywhere, so that after my death I may
leave it to my Gallican brethren and to my sons, many thousands of whom
I have baptized in the Lord. And I was neither worthy nor deserving
that the Lord should so favor me, his servant, after such afflictions
and great difficulties, after captivity, after many years, as to grant
me such grace for this nation--a thing which, still in my youth, I had
neither hoped for nor thought of.
But after I had come to Ireland, I was daily tending sheep, and I
prayed frequently during the day, and the love of God, and His faith
and fear, increased in me more and more, and the spirit was stirred; so
that in a single day I have said as many as a hundred prayers, and in
the night nearly the same; so that I remained in the woods, and on the
mountain, even before the dawn, I was roused to prayer, in snow, and
ice, and rain, and I felt no injury from it, nor was there any
slothfulness in me, as I see now, because the spirit was then fervent
in me. And there one night I heard a voice, while I slept, saying to
me: "Thou dost fast well; fasting thou shalt soon go to thy country."
And again, after a very short time, I heard a response, saying to me:
"Behold, thy ship is ready." And the place was not near, but perhaps
about two hundred miles distant, and I had never been there, nor did I
know any one who lived there.
Soon after this, I fled, and left the man with whom I had been six
years, and I came in the strength of the Lord, who directed my way for
good; and I feared nothing until I arrived at that ship. And the day
on which I came the ship had moved out of her place; and I asked to go
and sail with them, but the master was displeased, and replied angrily:
"Do not seek to go with us." And when I heard this, I went from them
to go thither where I had lodged; and I began to pray as I went; but
before I had ended my prayer, I heard one of them calling out loudly
after me, "Come quickly, for these men are calling you"; and I returned
to them immediately, and they began saying to me; "Come, we receive
thee in good faith; make such friendship with us as you wish." And
then that day I disdained to supplicate them, on account of the fear of
God; but I hoped of them that they would come into the faith of Jesus
Christ, for they were Gentiles; and this I obtained from them; and
after three days, we reached land, and for twenty-eight days we
journeyed through a desert, and their provisions failed, and they
suffered greatly from hunger; and one day the master began to say to
me: "What sayest thou, O Christian? Your God is great and
all-powerful; why canst thou not, then, pray for us, since we are
perishing with hunger, and may never see the face of man again?" And I
said to them plainly: "Turn sincerely to the Lord my God, to whom
nothing is impossible, that He may send us food on your way until ye
are satisfied, for it abounds everywhere for Him." And with God's help
it was so done; for, lo! a flock of swine appeared in the way before
our eyes, and they killed many of them, and remained there two nights,
much refreshed and filled with their flesh; for many of them had been
left exhausted by the wayside. After this, they gave the greatest
thanks to God, and I was honored in their eyes.
They also found wild honey, and offered me some of it, and one of them
said: "This is offered in sacrifice, thanks be to God"; after this, I
tasted no more. But the same night, while I was sleeping, I was
strongly tempted by Satan (of which I shall be mindful as long as I
shall be in this body), and there fell, as it were, a great stone upon
me, and there was no strength in my limbs. And then it came into my
mind, I know not bow, to call upon Elias, and at the same moment I saw
the sun rising in the heavens; and while I cried out Elias with all my
might, behold! the splendor of the sun was shed upon me, and
immediately shook from me all heaviness. And I believe that Christ my
Lord cried out for me; and I hope that it will be so in the day of my
adversity, as the Lord testifies in the Gospel: "It is not you that
speak," etc.
Some time after, I was taken captive; and on the first night I remained
with them I heard a divine response, saying: "You shall be two months
with them"; and so it was. On the sixtieth night the Lord delivered me
out of their hands, and on the road He provided for us food, and fire,
and dry weather daily, until on the fourteenth day we all came. As I
have above mentioned, we journeyed twenty-eight days through a desert,
and on the night of our arrival we had no provisions left.
And again, after a few years, I was with my relations in Britain, who
received me as a son, and earnestly besought me that then, at least,
after I had gone through so many tribulations, I would go nowhere from
them. And there I saw, in the midst of the night, a man who appeared
to come from Ireland, whose name was Victorious, and he had innumerable
letters with him, one of which he gave to me; and I read the
commencement of the epistle containing "The Voice of the Irish"; and as
I read aloud the beginning of the letter, I thought I heard in my mind
the voice of those who were near the wood of Focluti, which is near the
western sea; and they cried out: "We entreat thee, holy youth, to come
and walk still amongst us." And my heart was greatly touched, so that
I could not read any more, and so I awoke. Thanks be to God that,
after very many years, the Lord hath granted them their desire!
And on another night, whether in me or near me God knows, I heard
eloquent words which I could not understand until the end of the
speech, when it was said: "He who gave His life for thee is He who
speaks in thee"; and so I awoke full of joy. And again, I saw one
praying within me, and I was, as it were, within my body, and I heard,
that is, above the inner man, and there he prayed earnestly with
groans. And I was amazed at this, and marvelled, and considered who
this could be who prayed in me. But at the end of the prayer it came
to pass that it was a bishop, and I awoke and remembered that the
apostle said: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity, for we
know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself
asketh for us with unspeakable groanings." And again: "The Lord is our
advocate, who also maketh intercession for us." [And when I was tried
by some of my elders, who came and spoke of my sins as an objection to
my laborious episcopate, I was on that day sometimes strongly driven to
fall away here and for ever. But the Lord spared a proselyte and a
stranger for His name's sake, and mercifully assisted me greatly in
that affliction, because I was not entirely deserving of reproach. I
pray God that they may not be found guilty of giving an occasion of
sin; they found me after thirty years, and brought against me words
that I had confessed before I was a deacon; from anxiety, with sorrow
of mind, I told my dearest friend what I had done in my youth, in one
day, nay, rather in one hour, because I was not then able to overcome.
I know not, God knows, if I was then fifteen years of age, and from my
childhood I did not believe in the living God, but remained in death
and unbelief until I was severely chastised, and, in truth, I have been
humbled by hunger and nakedness; and even now I did not come to Ireland
of my own will until I was nearly worn out. But this proved a blessing
to me, for I was thus corrected by the Lord, and he made me fit to be
to-day that which was once far from my thoughts, so that I should care
for the salvation of others, for at that time I had no thought even for
myself.
And in the night of the day in which I was reproved for the things
above mentioned, I saw in the night.] I saw in a vision of the night a
writing without honor before me. And then I heard an answer saying to
me, "We have heard with displeasure the face of the elect without a
name." He did not say, "Thou hast badly seen," but "We have badly
seen," as if he had there joined himself to me, as he said: "He that
touches you is as he who toucheth the apple of my eye." Therefore I
give thanks to Him who comforted me in all things that He did not
hinder me from the journey which I had proposed, and also as regards my
work which I had learned of Christ. But from this thing I felt no
little strength, and my faith was approved before God and man.
Therefore I dare to say that my conscience does not reproach me now or
for the future. I have the testimony of God now that I have not lied
in the words I have told you. [But I feel the more grieved that my
dearest friend, to whom I would have trusted even my life, should have
occasioned this. And I learned from certain brethren that, before this
defence, when I was not present, nor even in Britain, and with which I
had nothing to do, that he defended me in my absence. He had even said
to me with his own lips: "Thou art going to be given the rank of
bishop," though I was not worthy of it. How, then, did it happen to
him that afterwards, before all persons, good and bad, he should
detract me publicly, when he had before this freely and gladly praised
me? And the Lord, who is greater than all? I have said enough.
Still, I ought not to hide the gift of God which he gave me in the land
of my captivity, for I sought him earnestly then, and found him there,
and He preserved me from all iniquity, I believe, through the
indwelling of His Spirit, which worketh within me unto this day more
and more. But God knows, if it were man who spoke this to me, I would
perhaps be silent for the love of Christ.
Therefore I give unceasing thanks to my God, who preserved me faithful
in the day of my temptation, so that I can to-day offer him sacrifice
confidently--the living sacrifice of my soul to Christ my Lord, who
preserved me from all my troubles, so that I may say to Him: "Who am I,
O Lord! or what is my calling, that divine grace should have so wrought
with me, so that to-day I can so rejoice amongst the nations, and
magnify Thy name, wherever I am, not only in prosperity, but also in
adversity?" and I ought to receive equally whatever happens to me,
whether good or evil, giving God thanks in all things, who hath shown
me that I should, undoubtingly, without ceasing, believe in Him who
hath heard me though I am ignorant, and that I should undertake, in
those days, so holy and wonderful a work, and imitate those of whom our
Lord predicted of old that they should preach His Gospel to all nations
for a testimony before the end of the world; which has been
accomplished, as we have seen. Behold, we are witnesses that the
Gospel has been preached to the limits of human habitation.]
But it is too long to detail my labors particularly, or even partially.
I will briefly say how the good God often delivered me from slavery and
from twelve dangers by which my soul was threatened, besides many
snares, and what in words I cannot express, and with which I will not
trouble my readers. But God knows all things, even before they come to
pass [as he does me, a poor creature. Therefore the divine voice very
often admonished me to consider whence came this wisdom, which was not
in me, who neither knew God nor the number of my days. Whence did I
obtain afterwards the great and salutary gift to know or love God, and
to leave my country and my relations, although many gifts were offered
to me with sorrow and tears. And I offended many of my seniors then
against my will. But, guided by God, I yielded in no way to them--not
to me, but to God be the glory, who conquered in me, and resisted them
all; so that I came to the Irish people to preach the Gospel, and bear
with the injuries of the unbelieving, and listen to the reproach of
being a stranger, and endure many persecutions, even to chains, and to
give up my freedom for the benefit of others. And if I be worthy, I am
ready to give up my life unhesitatingly and most cheerfully for His
name, and thus, if the Lord permit, I desire to spend it even until my
death.]
For I am truly a debtor to God, who has given me so much grace that
many people should be born again to God through me, and that for them
everywhere should be ordained priests for this people, newly come to
the faith, which the Lord took from the ends of the earth, as He
promised formerly by His prophets: "Our fathers falsely prepared idols,
and there is no profit in them, to thee the Gentiles come and will
say." And again: "I have set thee to be the light of the Gentiles,
that thou mayest be for salvation unto the utmost parts of the earth."
And thus I wait the promise of Him who never fails, as He promises in
the Gospel: "They shall come from the east and the west [from the north
and from the south], and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and
Jacob." So we believe that the faithful shall come from all parts of
the world.
Therefore we ought to fish well and diligently; as the Lord taught and
said: "Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men." And
again: "Behold, saith the Lord, I send many fishers and many hunters,"
etc. Therefore we should, by all means, set our nets in such a manner
that a great multitude and a crowd may be caught therein for God, and
that everywhere there may be priests who shall baptize and exhort a
people who so need it and desire it; as the Lord teaches and admonishes
in the Gospel, saying: "Going, therefore, teach ye all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Ghost, even to the consummation of the world." And again: "Go ye into
the whole world, and preach the Gospel to every creature; he that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not
shall be condemned." The rest are examples. [And again: "This Gospel
of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony to
all nations, and then shall the consummation come." And again, the
Lord, speaking by the prophet, says: "And it shall come to pass in the
last days, saith the Lord, that I will pour out my spirit upon all
flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men
shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Moreover,
upon my servants and handmaids in those days I will pour forth my
spirit, and they shall prophesy." And Osee saith: "And I will say to
that which was not my people: Thou art my people: and to her who hath
not found mercy; and they shall say; Thou art my God. And in the place
where I said to them, You are not my people, it shall be said to them,
Ye are the sons of the living God."]
Wherefore behold how in Ireland they who never had the knowledge _of
God_, and hitherto only worshipped unclean idols, have lately become
the people of the Lord, and are called the sons of God. The sons of
the Scoti and the daughters of princes are seen to be monks and virgins
of Christ. [And there was one blessed Irish maiden, of adult age,
noble and very beautiful, whom I baptized, and after a few days she
came to us for a reason, and gave us to understand that she had
received a command from God, and was informed that she was to become a
virgin of Christ, and to draw near to God. Thanks be to God, six days
after this she most excellently and eagerly entered on this state of
life, which all the virgins of God now adopt, even against the will of
their parents, even enduring reproaches and persecution from them, and
notwithstanding they increase in number; and as for those who are born
again in this way, we know not their number, except the widows and
those who observe continency. But those who are in slavery are most
severely persecuted, yet they persevere in spite of terrors and
threats. But the Lord has given grace to many of my handmaids, for
they zealously imitate him as far as they are able.
Therefore, though I could have wished to leave them, and had been ready
and very desirous to go to Britannia, as if to my country and parents,
and not that alone, but to go even to Gallia, to visit my brethren, and
to see the face of my Lord's saints; and God knows that I desired it
greatly. But I am bound in the spirit, and he who witnesseth will
account me guilty if I do it, and I fear to lose the labor which I have
commenced--and not I, but the Lord Christ, who commanded me to come and
be with them for the rest of my life; if the Lord grants it, and keeps
me from every evil way, that I should not sin before him. But I hope
that which I am bound to do, but I trust not myself as long as I am in
this body of death, for he is strong who daily tries to turn me from
the faith, and from the sincere religious chastity to Christ my Lord,
to which I have dedicated myself to the end of my life, but the flesh,
which is in enmity, always draws me to death--that is, to unlawful
desires, that must be unlawfully gratified--and I know in part that I
have not led a perfect life like other believers. But I confess to my
Lord, and do not blush before him, because I tell the truth, that from
the time I knew him in my youth the love of God and his fear increased
within me, and until now, by the favor of the Lord, I have kept the
faith.
Let him who pleases insult and laugh at me; I will not be silent,
neither do I conceal the signs and wonders that the Lord hath shown to
me many years before they took place, as he who knew all things even
before the world began. Therefore I ought to give thanks to God
without ceasing, who often pardoned my uncalled-for folly and
negligence, who did not let his anger turn fiercely against me, who
allowed me to work with him, though I did not promptly follow what was
shown me and what the Spirit suggested; and the Lord had compassion on
me among thousands and thousands, because he saw my good-will; but then
I knew not what to do, because many were hindering my mission, and were
talking behind my back, and saying: "Why does he run into danger among
enemies who know not God?" This was not said with malice, but because
they did not approve of it, but, as I now testify, because of my
rusticity, you understand; and I did not at once recognize the grace
which was then in me, but now _I know I should have known before_.
Therefore I have simply related to my brethren and fellow-servants who
have believed me why I have preached and still preach to strengthen and
confirm your faith. Would that you also might aim at higher things and
succeed better. This shall be my glory, because a wise son is the
glory of his father. You know and God knows how I have lived among you
from my youth up, both faithful in truth and sincere in heart; also, I
have given the faith to the people among whom I dwell, and I will
continue to do so. God knows I have not overreached any of them, nor
do I think of it, because of God and his Church, lest I should excite
persecution for them and all of us, and lest the name of the Lord
should be blasphemed through me; for it is written, "Woe to the man
through whom the name of the Lord is blasphemed." For though I am
unskilled in names, I have endeavored to be careful even with my
Christian brethren, and the virgins of Christ, and devout women, who
freely gave me gifts, and cast of their ornaments upon the altar; but I
returned them, though they were offended with me because I did so. But
I, for the hope of immortality, guarded myself cautiously in all
things, so that they could not find me unfaithful, even in the smallest
matter, so that unbelievers could not defame or detract from my
ministry in the least.
But when it happened that I baptized so many thousand men, did I expect
even half a "screpall" from them? Tell me, and I will return it to
you. Or when the Lord ordained clergy through my humility and
ministry, did I confer the grace gratuitously? If I asked of any of
them even the value of my shoe, tell me, and I will repay you more. I
rather spent for you as far as I was able; and among you and everywhere
for you I endured many perils in distant places, where none had been
further or had ever come to baptize, or ordain the clergy, or confirm
the people. By the grace of the Lord I labored freely and diligently
in all things for your salvation. At this time also I used to give
rewards to kings, whose sons I hired, who travelled with me, and who
understood nothing but [to protect] me and my companions. And on one
day they wished to kill me; but the time had not come yet; but they put
me in irons, and carried off all we possessed. But on the fourteenth
day the Lord released me from their power, and what was ours was
restored to us through God and through the friends we had before
secured.
You know how much I expended on the judges in the districts which I
visited most frequently. For I think I paid them not less than the
hire of fifteen men, that you might have the benefit of my presence,
and that I might always enjoy you in the Lord. I do not regret it, nor
is it sufficient for me. I still spend, and will still spend, for your
souls.] Behold, I call God to witness on my soul that I do not lie,
neither that you may have occasion, nor that I hope for honor from any
of you; sufficient for me is the honor of truth. But I see that now in
the present world I am greatly exalted by the Lord; and I was not
worthy nor fit to be thus exalted, for I know that poverty and calamity
are more suitable for me than riches and luxury. But even Christ the
Lord was poor for us.
Truly, I, a poor and miserable creature, even if I wished for wealth,
have it not; neither do I judge myself, because I daily expect either
death, or treachery, or slavery, or an occasion of some kind or
another. [But I fear none of these things, relying on the heavenly
promise; for I have cast myself into the hands of the omnipotent God,
who rules everywhere; as the prophet says: "Cast thy care upon the
Lord, and He shall sustain thee."
Behold, now I commend my soul to my most faithful God, whose mission I
perform, notwithstanding my unworthiness; but because He does not
accept persons, and has chosen me for this office, to be one of the
least of His ministers. "What shall I render to Him for all the things
that He hath rendered to me?" But what shall I say or promise to my
Lord? For I see nothing unless He gives Himself to me; but He searches
the heart and reins, because I ardently desire and am ready that He
should give me to drink His cup, as He has permitted others to do who
have loved Him. Wherefore may my Lord never permit me to lose His
people whom He has gained in the ends of the earth. I pray God,
therefore, that He may give me perseverance, and that He may vouchsafe
to permit me to give Him faithful testimony for my God until my death.
And if I have done anything good for my God, whom I love, I beseech Him
to grant to me that with those proselytes and captives I may pour out
my blood for His name, even if my body should be denied burial, and be
miserably torn limb from limb by dogs or fierce beasts, or that the
birds of heaven should devour it. I believe most certainly that if
this should happen to me, I have gained both soul and body; for it is
certain that we shall rise one day in the brightness of the sun--that
is, the glory of Christ Jesus our Redeemer--as sons of God but as joint
heirs with Christ, and to become conformable to His image.
For that sun which we see rises daily for us; but it will not rule or
continue in its splendor for ever, and all who adore it shall suffer
very miserably. But we who believe in and adore the true sun, Christ,
who will never perish, neither he who shall do His will, but even as
Christ shall abide for ever, who reigns with God the Father Almighty,
and with the Holy Spirit, before the ages, and now, and for ever and
ever. Amen.
Behold, again and again, I shall briefly declare the words of my
confession. I testify in truth and in joy of heart, before God and His
holy angels, that I never had any occasion, except the Gospel and its
promises, for returning to that people from whom I had before with
difficulty escaped.]
But I beseech those who believe in and fear God, whoever may condescend
to look into or receive this writing, which Patrick, the ignorant
sinner, has written in Ireland, that no one may ever say, if I have
ever done or demonstrated anything, however little, that it was my
ignorance. But do you judge, and let it be believed firmly, that it
was the gift of God. And this is my confession before I die.
Thus far is what Patrick wrote with his own hand; he was translated to
heaven on the seventeenth of March.
ST. PATRICK'S EPISTLE TO COROTICUS.
_ST. PATRICK'S EPISTLE TO THE CHRISTIAN SUBJECTS OF THE TYRANT
COROTICUS._
I, Patrick, a sinner and unlearned, have been appointed a bishop in
Ireland, and I accept from God what I am. I dwell amongst barbarians
as a proselyte and a fugitive for the love of God. He will testify
that it is so. It is not my wish to pour forth so many harsh and
severe things; but I am forced by zeal for God and the truth of Christ,
who raised me up for my neighbors and sons, for whom I have forsaken my
country and parents, and would give up even life itself, if I were
worthy. I have vowed to my God to teach these people, though I should
be despised by them, to whom I have written with my own hand to be
given to the soldiers to be sent to Coroticus--I do not say to my
fellow-citizens, nor to the fellow-citizens of pious Romans, but to the
fellow-citizens of the devil, through their evil deeds and hostile
practices. They live in death, companions of the apostate Scots and
Picts, blood-thirsty men, ever ready to redden themselves with the
blood of innocent Christians, numbers of whom I have begotten to God
and confirmed in Christ.
On the day following that in which they were clothed in white and
received the chrism of neophytes, they were cruelly cut up and slain
with the sword by the above mentioned; and I sent a letter by a holy
priest, whom I have taught from his infancy, with some clerics, begging
that they would restore some of the plunder or the baptized captives;
but they laughed at them. Therefore I know not whether I should grieve
most for those who were slain, or for those whom the devil insnared
into the eternal pains of hell, where they will be chained like him.
For whoever commits sin is the slave of sin, and is called the son of
the devil.
Wherefore let every man know who fears God that they are estranged from
me, and from Christ my God, whose ambassador I am--these patricides,
fratricides, and ravening wolves, who devour the people of the Lord as
if they were bread; as it is said: "The wicked have dissipated thy
law," wherein in these latter times Ireland has been well and
prosperously planted and instructed. Thanks be to God, I usurp
nothing; I share with these whom He hath called and predestinated to
preach the Gospel in much persecution, even to the ends of the earth.
But the enemy hath acted invidiously towards me through the tyrant
Coroticus, who fears neither God nor His priests whom He hath chosen,
and committed to them the high, divine power: "Whomsoever they shall
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven."
I beseech you, therefore, who are the holy ones of God and humble of
heart, that you will not be flattered by them, and that you will
neither eat nor drink with them, nor receive their alms, until they do
penance with many tears, and liberate the servants of God and the
baptized hand-maids of Christ, for whom he was crucified and died. "He
that offereth sacrifice of the goods of the poor, is as one that
sacrificeth the son in the presence of the father." "Riches, he saith,
which the unjust accumulate shall be vomited forth from his belly, the
angel of death shall drag him away, he shall be punished with the fury
of dragons, the tongue of the adder shall slay him, inextinguishable
fire shall consume him." Hence, "Woe to those who fill themselves with
things which are not their own." And "what doth it profit a man if he
gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul?" It were too
long to discuss one by one, or to select from the law, testimonies
against such cupidity. Avarice is a mortal sin. "Thou shall not covet
thy neighbor's goods." "Thou shall not kill." The homicide cannot
dwell with Christ. "He who hateth his brother is a murderer," and "and
he who loveth not his brother abideth in death." How much more guilty
is he who hath defiled his hands with the blood of the sons of God,
whom He hath recently acquired in the ends of the earth by our humble
exhortations!
Did I come to Ireland according to God or according to the flesh? Who
compelled me? I was led by the Spirit, that I should see my relatives
no more. Have I not a pious mercy towards that nation which formerly
took me captive? According to the flesh, I am of noble birth, my
father being a Decurio. I do not regret or blush for having bartered
my nobility for the good of others. I am a servant in Christ unto a
foreign people for the ineffable glory of eternal life, which is in
Christ Jesus my Lord; though my own people do not acknowledge me: "A
prophet is without honor in his own country." Are we not from one
stock, and have we not one God for our Father? As He has said: "He
that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me
scattereth." Is it not agreed that one pulleth down and another
buildeth? I seek not my own.
Not to me be praise, but to God, who hath put into my heart this desire
that I should be one of the hunters and fishers whom, of old, God hath
announced should appear in the last days. I am reviled--what shall I
do, O Lord? I am greatly despised. Lo! thy sheep are torn around me,
and plundered by the above-mentioned robbers, aided by the soldiers of
Coroticus: the betrayers of Christians into the hands of the Picts and
Scots are far from the charity of God. Ravening wolves have scattered
the flock of the Lord, which, with the greatest diligence, was
increasing in Ireland; the sons of the Irish and the daughters of kings
who are monks and virgins of Christ are too many to enumerate.
Therefore the oppression of the great is not pleasing to thee now, and
never shall be.
Who of the saints would not dread to share in the feasts or amusements
of such persons? They fill their houses with the spoils of the
Christian dead, they live by rapine, they know not the poison, the
deadly food, which they present to their friends and children; as Eve
did not understand that she offered death to her husband, so are all
those who work evil: they labor to work out death and eternal
punishment.
It is the custom of the Christians of Rome and Gaul to send holy men to
the Franks and other nations, with many thousand solidi, to redeem
baptized captives. You who slay them, and sell them to foreign nations
ignorant of God, deliver the members of Christ, as it were, into a den
of wolves. What hope have you in God? Whoever agrees with you, or
commands you, God will judge him. I know not what I can say, or what I
can speak more of the departed sons of God slain cruelly by the sword.
It is written: "Weep with them that weep." And again: "If any member
suffers anything, all the members suffer with it." Therefore the
Church laments and bewails her sons and daughters, not slain by the
sword, but sent away to distant countries, where sin is more shameless
and abounds. There free-born Christian men are sold and enslaved
amongst the wicked, abandoned, and apostate Picts.
Therefore I cry out with grief and sorrow. O beautiful and
well-beloved brethren and children! whom I have brought forth in Christ
in such multitudes, what shall I do for you? I am not worthy before
God or man to come to your assistance. The wicked have prevailed over
us. We have become outcasts. It would seem that they do not think we
have one baptism and one Father, God. They think it an indignity that
we have been born in Ireland; as He said: "Have ye not one God? Why do
ye each forsake his neighbor?" Therefore I grieve for you--I grieve, O
my beloved ones! But, on the other hand, I congratulate myself I have
not labored for nothing--my journey has not been in vain. This
horrible and amazing crime has been permitted to take place. Thanks be
to God, ye who have believed and have been baptized have gone from
earth to paradise. Certainly, ye have begun to migrate where there is
no night or death or sorrow; but ye shall exult like young bulls loosed
from their bonds and tread down the wicked under your feet as dust.
Truly, you shall reign with the apostles and prophets and martyrs, and
obtain the eternal kingdom, as He hath testified, saying: "They shall
come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham and
Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven." Without are dogs, and
sorcerers, and murderers, and liars, and perjurers, and they shall have
their part in the everlasting lake of fire. Nor does the apostle say
without reason: "If the just are scarcely saved, where shall the
sinner, the impious, and the transgressor of the law appear?" Where
will Coroticus and his wicked rebels against Christ find themselves
when they shall see rewards distributed amongst the baptized women?
What will he think of his miserable kingdom, which shall pass away in a
moment, like clouds or smoke, which are dispersed by the wind? So
shall deceitful sinners perish before the face of the Lord, and the
just shall feast with great confidence with Christ, and judge the
nations, and rule over unjust kings, for ever and ever. Amen.
I testify before God and His angels that it shall be so, as He hath
intimated to my ignorance. These are not my words that I have set
forth in Latin, but those of God and the prophets and apostles, who
never lied: "He that believeth shall be saved, but he that believeth
not shall be condemned."
God hath said it. I entreat whosoever is a servant of God that he be a
willing bearer of this letter, that he be not drawn aside by any one,
but that he shall see it read before all the people in the presence of
Coroticus himself, that, if God inspire them, they may some time return
to God, and repent, though late; that they may liberate the baptized
captives, and repent for their homicides of the Lord's brethren; so
that they may deserve of God to live and to be whole here and
hereafter. The peace of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost. Amen.
[Illustration: The Saint Patrick of Ancient Ages.]
ST. FIECH'S METRICAL LIFE OF ST. PATRICK.
_Written in the Irish Language about 1,400 years ago_.
I
At Nemthur Saint Patrick was born,
As history handed it down;
And when but sixteen years of age,
A captive was led from that town.
II.
Siccoth was Saint Patrick's first name;
His father Calphurn without miss;
His grandfather Otide was styled;
He was nephew of Deacon Odisse.
III.
Six years did he live in dark bonds,
And the food of the Gentile ate not;
And Cathraige by men he was called,
Since to work for four homes was his lot.
IV.
To the servant of Milcho 'twas said
To pass o'er the seas and the plain;
Then stood angel Victor on rock,
And his footprints to this day remain.
V.
Departed Saint Patrick o'er Alps--
On his way all successful he hies;
And with German remained in the South
'Neath Letavia's wide-spreading skies.
VI.
In the isles of the Tyrrhenian sea
Saint Patrick some period awaits,
And as canon with German he reads,
As his history still to us states
VII.
To Hibernia Saint Patrick returned,
By visions from angels induced;
For visions to him appeared oft,
And his mind to subjection reduced.
VIII.
Soul-saving was Patrick's intent,
For 'twas to far Foclut's dark flood;
He had heard the entreaty and wail
Of children in Foclut's far woods.
IX.
For asked they the saint to make haste
And Letavia's wide lands desert,
That from error's dark ways Eire's men
He might in life's pathways direct.
X.
Foretold Eire's seers years of peace,
Which were to remain through all time;
But the grandeurs of Tara the proud
Were to vanish in dust, as earth's slime.
XI.
To Leary, the monarch, Druids told
Of the advent of Patrick the saint;
And their visions were true, as we know
From the facts which his histories paint.
XII.
Renowned was Saint Patrick through life,
And of error he was a dire foe;
Hence for ever his name shall be grand
Among the nations, as ages shall flow.
XIII.
The Apocalypse sang he, and hymns,
And three fifty full psalms, day by day;
He instructed and praised and baptized,
And all time he continued to pray.
XIV.
Nor could any cold e'er prevent
That he stayed in the water o'er nights;
And to gain the grand kingdom of heaven,
Through the day he used preach on the heights.
XV.
By the far-famous fount of the North,
Benibarka! thy waters sha'n't cease;
For a hundred full psalms he used sing
Each night the Lord's praise to increase.
XVI.
Then he slept on a cold bed of stone,
And with a wet cover was dressed;
A stone was his pillow each night--
Such, such was the saint's nightly rest.
XVII.
To the people the Gospel was preached,
With power and with miracles signed;
The blind and the lepers were cured,
And Death his dead subjects resigned.
XVIII.
Saint Patrick did preach to the Scots,
And in Letavia much he endured,
That whom he had won to the Lord
In Judgment's dread day be secured.
XIX.
Emir's and proud Erimon's sons
A demon contrived to ensnare;
And them did dread Satan engulf
In the dark, fearful depths of his lair,
XX.
Until our apostle arrived,
Who rescued and set them all free,
Through sixty long years of his life
To Christ's cross the brave Fenians flee.
XXI.
Great darkness o'er Eire was spread,
And its people their idols adored,
Nor in the true Godhead believed,
Nor the Trinity, too, of the Lord.
XXII.
At Armagh the realm's throne has been placed,
To Emania a glory to be;
And far-famed is Dundalethglas church,
Nor let fame from Temoria flee.
XXIII.
To Armagh, in his infirm old age,
Saint Patrick desired much to go;
But God's angel at noon met the saint,
And induced him his wish to forego.
XXIV.
Southward to the angel he came
(For Victor had been his good guide),
And the bush in which Victor appeared
Burned bright, and a voice from it cried:
XXV.
"At Armagh let the government be,
And to Christ let all glory be brought;
Indeed, thou shalt come unto heaven;
Thou obtainedst, because thou hadst sought.
XXVI.
"A hymn which you sing while alive
Shall to Celts a proud armament be;
And at judgment the Irish surround
Their father, their patron, in thee."
XXVII.
After Patrick, good Tassach remained;
When Patrick to Tassach Christ gave,
Tassach said: "He from me shall receive";
And the prediction of Tassach was grave.
XXVIII.
For the night was installed a bright day,
And that day for one year did remain;
So that over all Eire the fair
Light's brilliance and brightness did reign.
XXIX.
Bethoron a battle beheld
Of great Nun against Chanaan's sons,
In which Gabaon saw the sun stand,
As the Scriptural narrative runs.
XXX.
For brave Josue stood the bright sun
To witness the wicked all slain;
Why not for Saint Patrick thrice more
To illumine Hibernia's plain?
XXXI.
For all Eire's good clergy were come
To bury Saint Patrick with pride;
And the sounds of the singing from heaven
Cast them sleeping all round, far and wide.
XXXII.
Saint Patrick's pure soul fled his frame
(His works immortality make);
And on the first night after death,
The angels of God watched his wake.
XXXIII.
And when Patrick departed from life,
To the other Saint Patrick came he;
And to Jesus, of Mary the Son,
The two passed, bright and pure, great and free.
XXXIV.
In Patrick pride's stain was not found;
And great were the works that adorn
This good son of Christ, Mary's Son!
With God's blessing Saint Patrick was born.
[Illustration: The Saint Patrick of Medieval Times.]
TRIPARTITE LIFE.
PART I.
The people who sat in darkness saw a great light, and they who were in
the land and in the shadow of death received light by which came their
illumination.
Patrick, then, was of the Britons of Alcluaid by origin. Calpurnn was
his father's name. He was a noble priest. Potid was his grandfather's
name, whose title was a deacon. Conceis was his mother's name. She
was of the Franks, and a sister to Martin. In Nemtur, moreover, the
man St. Patrick was born; and the flag (stone) on which St. Patrick was
born would give forth water when any one swore a false oath upon it, as
if it were lamenting the false testimony. If the oath was true,
however, the stone would continue in its natural condition.
When the man St. Patrick was born, he was taken to a blind, flat-faced
man to be baptized. Gornias was the priest's name; and he had no water
out of which he could perform the baptism until he made the sign of the
cross over the ground with the infant's hand, when a fountain of water
burst forth. Gornias washed his face, and his eyes were opened to him;
and he, who had learned no letter, read the baptism. God wrought three
miracles through Patrick in this place--viz., the fountain of water
through the ground, his eyesight to the blind man, and his reading the
_ordo_ of the baptism without knowing a letter up to that time. And
Patrick was subsequently baptized. A church was founded, moreover,
over this well in which Patrick was baptized; and the well is at the
altar, and it has the form of the cross, as the learned report.
Many prodigies and miracles were wrought through Patrick in his youth,
but we shall only relate a few out of many of them. One time Patrick
was in his nurse's house, in winter time, when a great flood and rain
filled his nurse's residence, so that the vessels and furniture of the
house were floating about, and the fire was extinguished. Patrick then
cried to his nurse, as usual with children when desiring food. Then
his nurse said to him: "That is not what troubles us; there is
something else we would rather do than to prepare food for thee; even
the fire is extinguished." When Patrick heard these words, truly, he
sought a certain spot in the house to which the water had not reached;
and he dipped his hand in the water, and five drops fell from Patrick's
fingers, and they were suddenly changed into five sparks, and the fire
glowed, and the water rose not. The names of God and of Patrick were
magnified thereby. Another time, as Patrick was playing amongst his
companions, in the time of winter and cold in particular, he collected
his armful of pieces of ice, which he brought home to his nurse. Then
his nurse said: "It would be better for you to bring us withered
brambles to warm ourselves with than what you have brought." Thereupon
he said to his nurse:
"Believe thou, because God is powerful thereto, that even the sheets of
ice will burn like faggots." And no sooner were the pieces of ice
placed on the fire, and he had breathed on them, than they burned like
faggots. The names of God and Patrick were magnified through this
miracle.
One time, when Patrick and his sister (_i.e._, Lupait) were herding
sheep, the lambs came suddenly to their dams, as is customary with
them, to drink milk. When Patrick and his sister saw this, they ran
quickly to prevent them. The girl fell, and her head struck against a
stone, so that death was nigh unto her. As soon as Patrick perceived
that his sister was lying down, and that death was nigh unto her, he
wept loudly; and he raised her up immediately, and made the sign of the
cross over the wound, and it healed without any illness.
(Nevertheless, the signs of the "white wound" would appear there.) And
they came home as if no evil had happened to them. Another time,
Patrick was with the sheep, when a wolf took away a sheep from him.
His nurse reproved him greatly therefor. The wolf brought the sheep
whole to the same place on the morrow; and the restoration in this way
was wonderful--viz., the wolf's dislike regarding the habitual food.
When Patrick's nurse, therefore, saw him magnified by God in prodigies
and miracles, she used to love him very much, and would not wish to go
anywhere without him. One time his nurse went to milk the cow. He
went with her to get a drink of new milk. The cow [became mad] in the
_booley_, and killed five other cows. The nurse was much grieved, and
asked him to resuscitate the cows. He resuscitated the cows, then, so
that they were quite well, and he cured the mad cow; and the names of
God and Patrick were magnified through this miracle.
There was a great assembly held by the Britons. He went to the
assembly with his nurse and his guardian. It happened that his
guardian died in the assembly. All were hushed into silence thereat;
and his relatives cried, and his friends wept, and they said, "Why,
thou _gilla_, didst thou let the man who was carrying thee die?" As
regards the _gilla_ moreover, he ran to his guardian, and placed his
hands about his neck, and said to him, "Arise, and let us go home." He
arose forthwith at Patrick's word, and they went home safe afterwards.
The boys of the place in which Patrick was nursed were wont to bring
honey to their mothers from the bees' nests. Then his nurse said to
Patrick: "Although every other boy brings honey to his nurse, you bring
none to me." Patrick afterwards carried off a bucket to the water, and
filled it, and blessed the water, so that it changed into honey; and it
healed every disease and ailment to which it was applied.
One time the King of Britain's steward went to command Patrick and his
nurse to go and clean the hearth of the royal house in Al-Cluaid.
Patrick and his nurse went. Then it was that the angel came, and said
to Patrick: "Pray, and it will not be necessary for you to perform that
work." Patrick prayed. The angel afterwards cleaned the hearth. Then
Patrick said: "Though all the firewood in Britain were burned in that
fireplace, there would be no ashes of it on the morrow." And this,
indeed, is fulfilled yet. Another time, the King of Britain's steward
went to demand tribute of curds and butter from Patrick's nurse; and
she had nothing that she would give for the rent. Then it was that
Patrick made curds and butter of the snow, and they were taken to the
king; and the moment they were exhibited to the king, afterwards they
changed into the nature of snow again. The king thereupon forgave the
rent to Patrick for ever.
The cause of Patrick's coming to Erinn was as follows: The seven sons
of Fechtmad--viz., the seven sons of the King of Britain--were on a
naval expedition, and they went to plunder in Armoric-Letha; and a
number of the Britons of Srath-Cluaidh were on a visit with their
kinsmen, the Britons of Armoric-Letha, and Calpurn, son of Potit,
Patrick's father, and his mother--_i.e._, Conches, daughter of Ocbas of
the Galls--_i.e._, of the Franks--were killed in the slaughter in
Armorica. Patrick and his two sisters--viz., Lupait and Tigris--were
taken prisoners, moreover, in that slaughter. The seven sons of
Fechtmad went afterwards on the sea, having with them Patrick and his
two sisters in captivity. The way they went was around Erinn,
northwards, until they landed in the north; and they sold Patrick to
Miliuc, son of Buan--_i.e._, to the King of Dal-Araidhe. They sold his
sisters in Conaille-Muirthemhne. And they did not know this. Four
persons, truly, that purchased him. One of them was Miliuc. It was
from this that he received the name that is Cothraige, for the reason
that he served four families. He had, indeed, four names. . .
[Here a leaf is missing from both the Bodleian and British Museum MSS.
of the Tripartite Life, the contents of which would fill eight pages of
similar size to the foregoing.]
When Patrick had completed his sixtieth year, and had learned
knowledge, his auxiliary angel, Victor (for he was of assistance to him
when he [Patrick] was in bondage with Miliuc, and regarding everything
besides which he might wish), went to him, and said to him: "You are
commanded from God to go to Erinn, to strengthen faith and belief, that
you may bring the people, by the net of the Gospel, to the harbor of
life; for all the men of Erinn call out your name, and they think it
seasonable and fit that you should come." Patrick afterwards bade
farewell to Germanus, and gave him a blessing; and a trusted senior
went with him from Germanus, to guard him and testify for him; his name
was Segetius, and he was by grade a priest, and he it was who usually
kept the _Ordo_ of the church besides Germanus.
Patrick went subsequently on the sea, his company being nine. Then he
went upon an island, where he saw a withered old woman on her hands at
the door of a house. "Whence is the hag?" asked Patrick; "great is her
infirmity." A young man answered, and said: "She is a descendant of
mine," said the young man; "if you could see the mother of this girl, O
cleric! she is more infirm still." "In what way did this happen?"
enquired Patrick. "Not difficult to tell," said the young man. "We
are here since the time of Christ. He came to visit us when He was on
earth amongst men; and we made a feast for him, and he blessed our
house and blessed ourselves; but this blessing reached not our
children; and we shall be here without age or decay for ever. And it
is long since thy coming was foretold to us," said the young man; "and
God 'left it with us' [_i.e._, prophesied to us] that thou wouldst come
to preach to the Gaeidhel; and He left a token with us, _i.e._, His
_bachall_ (crozier), to be given to thee." "I will not take it," said
Patrick, "until He Himself gives me His _bachall_." Patrick remained
three days and three nights with them; and he went afterwards into
Sliabh-Hermoin, near the island, where the Lord appeared unto him, and
commanded him to go and preach to the Gaeidliel; and He gave him the
Bachall-Isa, and said that it would be of assistance to him in every
danger and every difficulty in which he would be. And Patrick besought
three requests of him--viz., (1) to be at His right hand in the kingdom
of heaven; (2) that he (Patrick) might be the judge of the Gaeidhel on
the Day of Judgment; and (3) as much as the nine companions could carry
of gold and silver to give to the Gaeidhel for believing.
The Airchinnech that was in Rome at that time was Celestinus, the
forty-second man from Peter. He sent Palladius, a high deacon, with
twelve men, to instruct the Gaeidhel (for to the comarb of Peter
belongs the instruction of Europe), in the same way as Barnabas went
from Peter to instruct the Romans, etc. When Palladius arrived in the
territory of Leinster--_i.e._, at Inbher-Dea--Nathi, son of Garchu,
opposed him, and expelled him. And Palladius baptized a few there, and
founded three churches--viz., Cill-fine (in which he left his books,
and the casket with the relics of Paul and Peter, and the tablet in
which he used to write), and Tech-na-Roman, and Doinhnach-Airte, in
which Silvester and Solonius are. On turning back afterwards, sickness
seized him in the country of the Cruithne, and he died of it.
When Patrick heard this thing, and knew that it was for him God
designed the apostleship of Erinn, he went subsequently to Rome to
receive grade; and it was Celestinus, Abbot of Rome, who read _grada_
(orders, degrees) over him; Germanus and Amatho, King of the Romans,
being present with them.
When Patrick came from Rome, where he arrived was at Inbher-Dea, in
Leinster. Nathi, son of Garchu, came also against him. Patrick cursed
him. Sinell, moreover, the son of Finnchadh, was the first who
believed in Erinn through Patrick's teaching. Hence it was that
Patrick blessed him and his seed. On the same day Auxilius and
Eserninus, and others of Patrick's people, were ordained; and it was
then, also, that the name Patricius--_i.e._, a name of power with the
Romans--was given to him; _i.e._, a hostage-liberating man. It was he,
moreover, who loosened the hostageship and bondage of the Gaeidhel to
the devil. And when they were reading the _grada_ (orders, degrees),
the three choirs responded--viz., the choir of the men of heaven, and
the choir of the Romans, and the choir of the children from the woods
of Fochlud--all whom cried out, "Hibernienses omnes," etc. In illis
diebus autem gesta sunt in predictis ita. In that time there was a
fierce pagan king in Erinn--_i.e._, Laeghaire Mac Neill--and his seat
and royal hold was in Tara. In the fifth year of the reign of
Laeghaire Mac Neill Patrick came to Erinn. The eighth year of the
reign of Lughaidh he died. The eighth year of the reign of Theodosius,
the forty-fifth man from Augustus, Patrick came; eight years Celestine
was then prince, as Gelasius said.
This valiant king, then--_i.e._, Laeghaire Mac Neill--possessed druids
and enchanters, who used to foretell through their druidism and through
their paganism what was in the future for them. Lochru and Luchat Mael
were their chiefs; and these two were authors of that art of
pseudo-prophecy. They prophesied, then, that a mighty, unprecedented
prophet would come across the sea, with an unknown code of
instructions, with a few companions, whom multitudes would obey, and
who would obtain dignity and reverence from the men of Erinn; and that
he would expel kings and princes from their governments, and would
destroy all the idolatrous images; and that the faith which would
arrive would live for ever in Erin. Two years, or three, before the
arrival of Patrick, what they used to prophesy was [as follows];
"A _Tailcend_ (_i.e._, Patrick) shall come across the stormy sea.
His garment head-pierced, his staff head-bent,
His _mias_ (_i.e._, altar) in the east of his house;
His people all shall answer, Amen, amen."
Baile-Cuinn (the Ecstasy of Conn, a rhapsody so called) dixit: "A
_Tailcend_ shall come who will found cemeteries, make cells new, and
pointed music-houses, with conical caps [bencopar], and have princes
bearing croziers." "When these signs shall come," said they, "our
adoration and our _gentility_ (paganism) will vanish, and faith and
belief will be magnified." As it was foretold then and represented, so
it happened and was fulfilled.
When Patrick completed his voyage, and his ship entered the harbor at
Inbher-Dea, in the territory of Leinster, he brought his ships to the
shore. Then it was that he decided to go to instruct Miliuc. He
thought fit as he labored at first for his body, that he should labor
for his soul. He then put stick to shore, and proceeded on a
prosperous voyage, past the coast of Erinn, eastwards, until he stopped
in Inbher-Domnand. He found no fish there, and cursed it. He went to
Inis-Patrick: and he sent to Inbher-Nainge, where nothing was found for
him. He cursed this also, and both are unfruitful. Then it was that
Benen came into his company. Soon after, Patrick slept awhile, and all
the odoriferous flowers that the youth could find, he would put them
into the cleric's bosom. Patrick's people said to Benen: "Stop doing
that, lest thou shouldst awake Patrick." Patrick said: "He will be the
heir of my kingdom." He went to Inbher-Boindi, where he found fish.
He blessed it, and the _Inbher_ is fruitful. He found druids in that
place who denied the virginity of Mary. Patrick blessed the ground,
and it swallowed the druids. Patrick went afterwards from
Inis-Patrick, past Conaille, and past the coast of Ulster, until he
stopped at Inbher-Brena. He went afterwards to Inbher-Slani, where the
clerics hid their ships; and they went ashore to put off their fatigue,
and to rest; so that there it was the swine-herd of Dichu, son of
Trichim, found them, where Sabhall-Patrick is to-day. When he saw the
divines and the clerics, he thought they were robbers or thieves, and
he went to tell his lord; whereupon Dichu came, and set his dog at the
clerics. Then it was that Patrick uttered the prophetic verse, "Ne
tradas bestis, etc., et canis obmutuit." When Dichu saw Patrick, he
became gentle, and he believed, and Patrick baptized him; so that he
was the first in Ulster who received faith and baptism from Patrick.
Then it was that Dichu presented the Sabhall to Patrick. Patrick said:
"The blessing of God on Dichu,
Who gave to me the Sabhall;
May he be hereafter
Heavenly, joyous, glorious.
"The blessing of God on _Dichu_--
Dichu with full folds (flocks);
No one of his sept or kindred
Shall die, except after a long life."
Patrick went to preach to Miliuc, as we have said, and took gold with
him to prevail on him to believe; for he knew that he (Miliuc) was
covetous regarding gold. But when Miliuc heard that Patrick had
arrived, he wished not to believe for him, and to abandon the pagan
religion. He thought it unbecoming to believe for his servant, and to
submit to him. The counsel that a demon taught him was this: He went
into his royal house with his gold and silver; and he set the house on
fire, and was burned with all his treasures, and his soul went to hell.
Then it was that Patrick proceeded past the northern side of Sliabh-Mis
(there is a cross in that place), and he saw the fire afar off. He
remained silent for the space of two or three hours, thinking what it
could be, and he said, "That is the fire of Miliuc's house," said
Patrick, "after his burning himself in the middle of his house, that he
might not believe in God in the end of his life. As regards the man
who persuaded him thereto," added he, "there shall not be a king or
righdamhna of his family, and his seed and race shall be 'in service'
for ever, and his soul shall not return from hell to the judgment, nor
after judgment." After he had said these words, he turned _deisel_
(right-hand-wise) and went back again into the territory of Uladh,
until he arrived at Magh-inis, to Dichu, son of Trichim, and he
remained there a long time disseminating faith, so that he brought all
the Ulidians, with the net of the Gospel, to the harbor of life.
Patrick went subsequently from Sabhall southwards, that he might preach
to Ros, son of Trichim. He it was that resided in Derlus, to the south
of Dun-leth-glaise (Downpatrick). There is a small city (cathair,
_i.e._, civitas, but also meaning a bishop's _see_) there this
day--_i.e._, Brettain, ubi est Episcopus Loarn qui ausus est increpare
Patricium tenentem manum pueri ludentis justa Ecclesiam suam. As
Patrick was then on his way, he saw a tender youth herding pigs.
Mochae his name. Patrick preached to him, and baptized him, and cut
his hair, and gave him a copy of the gospels and a reliquary. And he
gave him also, another time, a _bachall_ which had been given them from
God--viz., its head into Patrick's bosom, and its end in Mochae's
bosom; and this is the Detech-Mochae of Noendruim; and Mochae promised
Patrick a shorn pig every year. And this, indeed, is still given.
When the solemnity of Easter approached, Patrick considered that there
was no place more suitable to celebrate the high solemnity of the
year--_i.e._, the Easter--than in Magh-Bregh, the place where the head
of the idolatry and druidism of Erinn was--viz., in Temhair. They
afterwards bade farewell to Dichu, son of Trichim, and put their
vessels on the sea; and they proceeded until they anchored in
Inbher-Colptha. They left their vessels in the Inbher, and went by
land until they reached Ferta-fer-féc, and Patrick's tent was fixed in
this place, and he cut the Easter fire. It happened, however, that
this was the time in which the great festival of the Gentiles--_i.e._,
the _Fes of Tara_--was usually celebrated. The kings and princes and
chieftains were wont to come to Laeghaire Mac Neill to Tara, to
celebrate this festival. The druids and the magicians were also wont
to come to prophesy to them. The fire of every hearth in Erinn was
usually extinguished on that night, and it was commanded by the king
that no fire should be lighted in Erinn before the fire of Tara, and
neither gold nor silver would be accepted from any one who would light
it, but he should suffer death for it. Patrick knew not this thing;
and if he knew it, it would not prevent him.
As the people of Tara were thus, they saw the consecrated Easter fire
at a distance which Patrick had lighted. It illuminated all
Magh-Bregh. Then the king said: "That is a violation of my prohibition
and law; and do you ascertain who did it." "We see the fire," said the
druids, "and we know the night in which it is made. If it is not
extinguished before morning," added they, "it will never be
extinguished. The man who lighted it will surpass the kings and
princes, unless he is prevented." When the king heard this thing, he
was much infuriated. Then the king said: "That is not how it shall be;
but we will go," said he, "until we slay the man who lighted the fire."
His chariot and horses were yoked for the king, and they went, in the
end of the night, to Ferta-fer-féc. "You must take care," said the
druids, "that you go not to the place where the fire was made, lest you
worship the man who lighted it; but stay outside, and let him be called
out to you, that he may know you to be a king, and himself a subject;
and we will argue in your presence." "It is good counsel," said the
king; "it shall be done as you say." They proceeded afterwards until
they unyoked their horses and chariots in front of the _Ferta_.
Patrick was "whispered" out to them; and it was commanded by them that
no one should rise up before him, lest he should believe in him.
Patrick rose and went out; and when he saw the chariots and horses
unyoked, he sang the prophetic stanza:
"Hi in curribus et hi in eorus (equis),
Nos autem, in nomine Domini Dei nostri ma."
They were then before him, and the rims of their shields against their
chins; and none of them rose up before him, except one man alone, in
whom was a figure from God--_i.e._, Ere, son of Dega. He is the Bishop
Ere who is [commemorated] in Slaine of Magh-Bregh to-day. Patrick
blessed him, and he believed in God, and confessed the Catholic faith,
and was baptized; and Patrick said to him: "Your seat (_cathair_, chair
or city) on earth shall be noble"; and Patrick's (_comarb_) successor
is bound to bend the knee before his _comarb_ in consideration of his
submission.
Each then questioned the other--viz., Patrick and Laeghaire. Lochru
went fiercely, enviously, with contention and questions, against
Patrick; and then he began to denounce the Trinity and the Catholic
faith. Patrick looked severely at him, and cried out to God with a
loud voice, and he said: "Domine qui omnia potes et in tua potestate
consistit quidquid est, quique nos misisti huc ad nomen tuum gentibus
praedicandum hic impius qui blasphemat nomen tuum, elevatur nunc foras,
et cito moriatur. Et his dictis elevatus est magus in aëra et iterum
desuper cito dejectus sparso ad lapidem cerebro comminutus et mortus
fuerat coram eis." The pagans became afraid at this. But the king was
much infuriated against Patrick, and he determined to kill him. He
told his people to slay the cleric. When Patrick observed this
thing--the rising up against him of the pagans--he cried out with a
loud voice, and said: "Et exurget Deus et dissipentur inimici ejus, et
fugiant qui oderunt eum a facie ejus, sicut defecit fumus deficit sic
deficiant sicut fluit caera a facie ignis; sic pereint peccatorus facie
Domini." Immediately darkness went over the sun, and great shaking and
trembling of the earth occurred. They thought it was heaven that fell
upon the earth; and the horses started off, frightened, and the wind
blew the chariots across the plains, and all rose against each other in
the assembly; and they were all attacking each other, so that fifty men
of them fell in this commotion through Patrick's malediction. The
Gentiles fled in all directions, so that only three remained--viz.,
Laeghaire, and his queen, and a man of his people; et timuerunt valde,
veniensque regina ad Patricium (_i.e._, Angass, daughter of Tassagh,
son of Liathan), dixit: "Ei homo juste et potens ne perdas regem. The
king will go to thee, and will submit to thee, and will kneel, and will
believe in God." Laeghaire went then, and knelt before Patrick, and
gave him a "_false peace_." Not long after this, the king beckoned
Patrick aside, and what he meditated was to kill him; but this happened
not, because God had manifested this intention to Patrick. Laeghaire
said to Patrick, "Come after me, O cleric! to Tara, that I may believe
in thee before the men of Erinn"; and he then placed men in ambush
before Patrick in every pass from Ferta-fer-féc to Tara, that they
might kill him. But God did not permit it. Patrick went, accompanied
by eight young clerics (maccleirech), and Benen as a _gilla_, along
with them; and Patrick blessed them before going, and a _dicheltair_
(garment of invisibility) went over them, so that not one of them was
seen. The Gentiles who were in the ambuscades, however, saw eight wild
deer going past them along the mountain, and a young fawn after them,
and a pouch on his shoulder--viz., Patrick, and his eight [clerics],
and Benen after them, and his (Patrick's) _polaire_ (satchel, or
epistolary) on his back.
Laeghaire went afterwards, about twilight, to Tara, in sorrow and
shame, with the few persons who escaped in his company. On the day
succeeding Easter Sunday the men of Erinn went to Tara to drink the
feast; for the _Fes_ of Tara was a principal day with them. When they
were banqueting, and thinking of the conflict they waged the day
before, they saw Patrick, who arrived in the middle of Tara, januis
clausis ut Christus in cennaculum; because Patrick meditated: "I will
go," said he, "so that my readiness may be manifested before the men of
Erinn. I shall not make a candle under a bushel of myself. I will
see," said he, "who will believe me, and who will not believe me." No
one rose up before him inside but _Dubhtach_ Mac Ua Lugair alone, the
king's royal poet, and a tender youth of his people (viz., his name was
Fiacc; it is he who is [commemorated] in Slebhte to-day). This
Dubhtach, truly, was the first man who believed that day in Tara.
Patrick blessed him and his seed. Patrick was then called to the
king's bed, that he might eat food, and to prove him in prophecy
(_i.e._, in Venturis rebus). Patrick did not refuse this, because he
knew what would come of it. The druid Luchat Mael went to drink with
him, for he wished to revenge on Patrick what he had done to his (the
druid's) companion the day before. The druid Luchat Mael put a drop of
poison into the goblet which was beside Patrick, that he might see what
Patrick would do in regard to it. Patrick observed this act, and he
blessed the goblet, and the ale adhered to it, and he turned the goblet
upside-down afterwards, and the poison which the druid put into it fell
out of it. Patrick blessed the goblet again, and the ale changed into
its natural state. The names of God and Patrick were magnified
thereby. The hosts then went and took up their station outside Tara.
"Let us work miracles," said Luchat Mael, "before the multitude in this
great plain." Patrick asked; "What are they?" The druid said: "Let us
bring snow upon the plain, so that the plain may be white before us."
Patrick said to him: "I do not wish to go against the will of God."
The druid said: "I will bring the snow upon the plain, though you like
it not." He then began the druidic poetry and the demoniacal arts
until the snow fell so that it would reach the girdles of men; and all
saw and wondered greatly. Patrick said: "We see this; send it away, if
you can." The druid answered: "I cannot do that thing until this time
to-morrow." "By my _debhro_," said Patrick, "in evil is thy power, and
not in good." Patrick blessed the plain before him, towards the four
points, and the snow immediately disappeared, without rain, without
sun, without wind, at Patrick's word. Darkness afterwards went over
the face of the earth, through the incantations of the druid. The
multitudes cried out thereat. Patrick said: "Expelli tenebras." The
druid answered: "I am not able to-day." Patrick prayed the Lord, and
blessed the plain, and the darkness was expelled, and the sun shone
out, and all gave thanks. They were for a long time contending thus
before the king--_i.e._, as Nero said to Simon and Peter--et ait rex ad
illos, "Libros vestros in aqua mittite, et ilium cujus libri illesi
evaserint adorabimus." Respondit Patricius: "Faciam ego"; et dixit
magus: "Nolo ego ad judicium ire aquae cum ipso; aquam etiam Deum
habet"; because he heard that it was through water Patrick used to
baptize. Et respondit rex: "Mittite igitur in igne"; et ait Patricius:
"Promptus sum;" at magus nolens dixit; "Hic homo versa vice in alternos
annos nunc aquam nunc ignem deum veneratur." "It is not this that
shall be done," said Patrick; "for since you say that it is the fire I
adore, go you, if you wish, into a house apart, and well closed, and a
student of my people along with you, and let my _casula_ be about you,
and your druidic tunic about my student (_mac cleirech_); and fire will
be applied to the house, that God may decide between you there." This
counsel was agreed to by the men of Erinn, including Laeghaire. The
house was then made, one-half of dry faggots, and the other half of
fresh materials. The druid was put into the fresh part, and Patrick's
_casula_ about him. Benen, however, was put into the dry part, with
the druid's tunic about him. The house was afterwards closed and
fastened on the outside, before the multitude, and fire was applied to
it. A great prodigy occurred there through Patrick's prayers. The
fresh part of the house was burned, as well as the druid under the
casula, and not a bit of the _casula_ was destroyed. The dry portion,
in which was Benen, however, was not burned, and God preserved Benen
under the druid's tunic, and the tunic was burned, so that it was
reduced to ashes. The king was greatly enraged against Patrick for the
killing of his druid. He arose, and would like to slay Patrick; but
God did not permit it, through the intercession of Patrick. The anger
of God fell afterwards on the impious multitude, so that great numbers
of them died--viz., twelve thousand in one day. Patrick said to
Laeghaire: "If you do not believe now, you shall die quickly; for the
anger of God will come upon your head." When the king heard these
words, he was seized with great fear. The king went into a house
afterwards to take counsel with his people. "It is better for me,"
said he, "to believe in God than [to suffer] what is threatened to
me--my death." It was after this that Laeghaire knelt to Patrick, and
believed in God, and many thousands believed in that day.
Then it was that Patrick said to Laeghaire: "Since you have believed in
God, and have submitted to me, length of life in thy sovereignty will
be given thee. As a reward for thy disobedience some time ago,
however, there will be no king nor roydamhna from thee for ever, except
Lughaidh," the son of Laeghaire; for his mother implored Patrick that
he would not curse the infant that was in her womb, when Patrick said:
"I will not, until he comes against me." Lughaidh then assumed the
sovereignty; and he went to Achadh-farcha. There he said: "Is not that
the church of the cleric who said that there would be neither king nor
roydamhna from Laeghaire?" After this, darts of lightning descended
from the heavens on his head, which killed him, and hence is [the name]
Achadh-farcha. These miracles live to this day. These are the
miracles the divines of Erinn knew, and through which they put a thread
of narration. Columcille, son of Fedhlidhmidh, Ultan, the grand-son of
Conchobhar, Adamnan, the grandson of Tinne, Eleran the Wise, Ciaran of
Belach-duin, Cruimther Collait from Druim-Railgech, knew Patrick's
miracles in the first place, and composed them.
A man of truth, indeed, was this man, with purity of mind like the
Patriarchs; a true pilgrim like Abraham; gentle and forgiving of heart
like Moses; a praise-singing psalmist like David; a shrine of wisdom
like Solomon; a chosen vessel for proclaiming truth like Paul the
Apostle; a man full of grace and knowledge of the Holy Ghost like John;
the root of a holy herb-garden towards the children of faith; a vine
branch with fruitfulness; a sparkling fire, with power to heat and warm
the sons of life, in founding and dispensing charity. A lion in
strength and might; a dove in gentleness and humility. A serpent in
wisdom and cunning in regard to good; gentle, humble, mild, towards
sons of life; dark, ungentle, towards sons of death. A slave in work
and labor for Christ; a king in dignity and power, for binding and
releasing, for enslaving and freeing, for killing and reviving.
Appropinquante autem hora obitus sui, sacrificium ab Episcopo Tassach
sumpsit quod viaticum vitae aeternae ex consilio Victoris acceperat, et
deinceps post mortuos suscitatos, post multum populum ad Deum
conversum, et post Episcopos et presbyteros in ecclesiis ordinatos, et
toto ordine Ecclesiastico conversa tota Scotia ad fidem Christi, anno
aetatis suae cxii. obdormivit in vitam aeternam.
PART II.
Euntes ergo docete omnes gentes baptizantes eos in nomine Patris, et
Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, docentes eos observare omnia quaecumque
mandavi vobis, etc.
When Patrick came with his fleet to Erinn, to preach to the Gaeidhel, and
went to Tara, he left Lomman in Inbher-Boinne, to take care of his ships,
during the forty nights of the Lent. Patrick commanded him to row his
vessel against the [current of the] Boyne, until he would arrive at the
place were to-day Ath-Truim [Trim] is--at that time the _dún_ of
Fedhlimidh, where he (Lomman) found the son of Laeghaire
MacNeill--_i.e._, at Ath-Truim. And in the morning, Fortchern,
Fedhlimidh's son, went and found Lomman, and his gospels before him. He
wondered at the precepts he heard. He believed, and was baptized by
Lomman. And Fortchern was listening to the instruction, until his mother
went to seek him. She welcomed the clerics, for she was of the Britons,
viz.: Scoth, daughter of the king of Britain. Fedhlimidh himself came to
converse with Lomman; and he believed, and presented Ath-Truim to God and
Patrick, and to Lomman, and to Fortchern. Patrick himself went and
founded Ath-Truim [Trim], twenty-five years before the foundation of
Ard-Macha. Of the Britons, moreover, was the origin of Lomman, and his
mother was the sister of Patrick.
Lomman's brethren were, moreover, Bishop Munis in Forgnidhe in
Cuircne--_i.e._, in the north of Meath, to the south of the Ethne (Inny);
Broccaidh in Imlech-Achaidh, in Ciarraighe of Connacht; Broccan in
Brechmagh, in Ui-Dorthain; Mughenoc in Cill-Dumagloin, in the south of
Bregia. They were the relatives, moreover, who were dear to Patrick by
consanguinity, and faith, and baptism, and instruction; and they
presented to Patrick whatever they possessed, land and churches, for
ever. But, after some time, when Lomman's death drew nigh, Lomman and
his foster-son, _i.e._, Fortchern, went to converse with his brother,
_i.e._, Broccaid, and he committed his church to Patrick and Fortchern;
and Fortchern opposed it, that he might not inherit his father's
possessions, who gave the place to God and Patrick. But Lomman said,
"You shall not receive my benediction unless you assume the abbacy of my
church." Fortchern took upon him the abbacy after the death of Lomman,
for three days, when he went to Trim; and afterwards gave his church to
Cathlai, a pilgrim. These are the offerings of Fedhlimidh, son of
Laeghaire, to St. Patrick, and to Lomman, and to Fortchern, viz.,
Ath-Truim, in the territory of Laeghaire of Bregia, and Imghae, in the
territory of Laeghaire of Meath. The way in which all these offerings
were presented to Patrick, and to Lomman, and to Fortchernd, per (_sic_)
omnibus regibus majoribus et minoribus usque indiem judicii. Prima feria
venit Patricius ad Taltenam, where the regal assembly was, to Cairpre,
the son of Niall. It was he who desired the murder of Patrick, and who
drove Patrick's people into the river Sele, wherefore Patrick called him
the enemy of God, and said to him, "Thy seed shall serve thy brother's
seed," and there shall not be salmon in that river, through Patrick's
malediction. Patrick went afterwards to Conall, the son of Niall, whose
residence was where Donagh-Patrick is this day, who received him with
great joy; and Patrick baptized him, and confirmed his royal seat for
ever. And Patrick said to him: "Thy brother's seed shall serve thy seed
for ever; and strive to exercise charity towards my successors after me,
and the sons of thy sons, that they may be perpetual subjects to my sons
of faith." Then it was that Conall measured a church for God and
Patrick, sixty feet in extent; and Patrick said: "Whichsoever of your
race diminishes this church shall not have a long reign, and he shall not
be prosperous." They went early on Sunday morning to Rath-Airthir,
Cinaed and Dubhdaleithe, the two sons of Cerbhall, son of Maelodhra, son
of Aedh-Slaine, when they saw a young man lying down--_i.e._, the son of
Bresal. One of them plunged a sword into him, and then throttled him.
The murderer then went past Tailten, up, on his straight road, and the
other went to Domnach-Patrick. It was then that Patrick blessed that
part of the plain of Tailte, so that dead bodies are never borne off from
it.
[A few lines of the MS. at this place are damaged.]
The Pasch being therefore finished, on the next day Patrick came to
_vadum duarum forcarum_ (Ath-da-laarg, near Kells; county Meath), and
founded a church there, and left the three brothers there with their
sister, viz., Cathaceus, and Cathurus, and Catnean; and Catnea, the
sister, who used to milk the deer. He went afterwards to Druim
Corcortri, and founded a church there, and he left in it Diarmaid, son of
Restitutus.
When Patrick was going eastwards to Tara, to Laeghaire (for they had
formed a friendship), from Domhnach-Patrick, he blessed Conall, son of
Niall. When he was going away, he threw his flagstone (_lec_) behind him
eastwards into the hill, _i.e._, where . . . . . .
[A folio of the original MS. is missing here.]
And Maine knelt to Patrick and performed penance, and Patrick said, "Rex
non erit qui te non habebit; and thy injunctions shall be the longest
that will live in Erinn. The person whom I have blessed also shall be a
king, _i.e._, Tuathal [Maelgarbh]." And he [Tuathal] assumed the
sovereignty afterwards, and banished Diarmaid MacCerbhaill, so that he
was on _Loch-Ri_, and on _Derg-Derc_, and on _Luimnech_.
One day as Diarmaid went in his boat past the shore of Cluainmic-Nois,
Ciaran heard the noise and motion of the craft, and called him ashore,
and Ciaran said, "Come to me, for thou art a king's son, and mark out the
Redes [a church] and the Eclais-bec [a little church], and grant the
place to me." He said, "I am not a king." To whom Ciaran said, "You
will be a king to-morrow." In that day, the king, Tuathal, came with
great bands to banish Diarmaid, when Maelmor (of the Conaille),
Diarmaid's foster-brother, killed him; and Maelmor was immediately slain.
Hence the old saying, "the feat of Maelmor." Diarmaid afterwards assumed
the sovereignty of Erinn, through Ciaran's blessing when Diarmaid was
marking the site of Eclais-bec, and bowed down thrice. He went to Tara,
and gave Ciaran an offering for every _tairlim_, along with Druimraithe.
Ocurrit nobis hic virtus etsi per ancificatione [_recte_ anticipationein].
Another time Patrick heard, through the malice of the vulgar, that Bishop
Mel had sinned with his sister, for they were wont to be in the same
house, praying to the Lord. When Bishop Mel saw Patrick coming towards
him to Ard-Achadh [Ardagh] to reprove him, Bishop Mel went out to a hill
to fish in the pools and furrows. When it was told to Patrick that he
had caught a salmon in this way, Patrick uttered the famous saying:
"Seorsim viri et seorsim foeminae ne occasionem dare intirmis inveniantur
et ne nomen Domini per nos blasphemetur, quid absit a nobis," for God
does not assist any unjust, false man; _i.e._, non temptabis Dominum Deum
tuum. Bishop Mel's sister then went with fire in her _casula_, Patrick
then knew there was no sin between them, dicens, "Seorsum feminis ne
occasione dare infirmis inveniamur et ne non Domini per nos blasfemaretur
quod absit a nobis, et sic reliquit eos," _i.e._, Bri-Leith between them:
she in Druim-Cheu to the west of Bri-Leith; he (Bishop Mel) to the east
of it, in Ard-Achadh.
Patrick went afterwards into northern Tethbha, _i.e._, to the territory
of Cairbre, where Granard was presented to him by the sons of Cairbre,
and he left there Bishop Guessacht, son of Milchu, his foster-brother,
and the two sisters Emir, who first put up at Cluain-Bronaigh; and this
is the reason why the sides of the churches are joined to each other; and
it is the airchinnech (superior) of Granard that always ordains the head
nun in Cluain-Bronaigh. The moment that Patrick blessed the veil on the
aforesaid virgins, their four feet sank into the rock, and the traces
exist in it always. Patrick went afterwards across the water to
Magh-Slechta, where the arch-idol of Erinn was, _i.e._, Cenn Cruach, made
of gold and silver, surrounded by twelve other idols formed of bronze.
When Patrick saw the idols from the waters called Guthard (_i.e._, he
raised his voice--_guth_, voice; _ard_, high), and when he approached it,
he lifted his hand to lay the Bachall-Isa on it; but he could not, as the
idol inclined over to its right side (for towards the south its face was
turned), and the mark of the _bachall_ lives yet in its left side,
although the _bachall_ did not leave Patrick's hand. And the ground
swallowed the other twelve idols as far as their heads; and they are in
that condition in commemoration of the prodigy. And he cursed the demon
(idol), and banished him to hell; and he called all the people, with king
Laeghaire, who worshipped the idols; and all saw him (the demon), and
feared death unless Patrick would banish him to hell. His _graif_
(fibula) fell from Patrick's garment whilst maintaining the conflict and
valor against the idol. He cut away all the heath in the place until he
found his _graif_, and no heath grows in that place, nor in the plain
besides. And he founded a church in that place, _i.e._,
Domhnach-Maighe-Slecht, and left there Mabran Barbarus, Patrick's
relative and prophet, and Patrick's well is there, ubi baptizavit multos.
Patrick went afterwards into the territory of Connacht, over Snamhda-en,
across the Shannon, where he found a ford, viz.: the land (bed of the
river) rose up under Patrick in the ford, and the learned will yet find
that _esker_. And Patrick landed (_i.e._, on the Connacht side of the
Shannon) immediately, and then it was that Buadmael, Patrick's
charioteer, died, and was buried there. Cill-Buaidhmael is the name (of
the church), and it is appropriate to Patrick. When Laeghaire Mac
Neill's druids (_i.e._, Mael and Caplait, two brothers, who had fostered
Laeghaire's two daughters, Ethne the Fair, and Feidelm the Red) heard all
that Patrick had done, they brought thick darkness over all Magh-Nai,
through the power of the demon, for the space of three days and three
nights. Patrick thereupon prayed to God, and bent his knees, and blessed
the plain, so that there was darkness for the druids, and light for all
others. And he gave thanks to God, and all the darkness was banished
from Magh-Ai. And they went past the Shannon to Duma-graidh, where he
ordained Ailbhe, a noble priest, who is [commemorated] in Senchua in
Ui-Ailella; and Patrick instructed him regarding a stone altar [which
was] in the mountain of Ui-Ailella, underground, and four glass Chalices
at its four corners: et dixit cavendum ne frangerantur orae fossurae.
Inter nepotes etiam Ailello fuit, et baptizavit Maineum sanctum quem
ordinavit Episcopus Bronus filius Iccni qui est i Caisel-Irra, servus Dei
socius Patricii. Patrick went to Magh-glas, where he founded Cill-mor of
Magh-glas; and he left two of his people there, viz., Conleng and
Ercleng. Deinde venit in fines Corcu-Achland, to the south of
Ui-Ailella, and to the north of Badhghna. There were two brothers there,
viz., Id and Hono, who were druids. Hono asked Patrick, "What will you
give me for this land?" Patrick answered "Eternity." Hono said, "You
possess gold: give it to me for it." Patrick replied, "I have given
much, but God will give more." He afterwards found a mass of gold in the
place where the pigs had been rooting, and Patrick gave the mass of gold
to him (_i.e._, to Hono) for his land. Tir-in-brotha is its name now.
Dixit Patricius, "Nec rex eris nec de semine tuo regnabit in aeternum."
Illius vero lacrimis misertus est Patricius, dicens, "Non erit rex quem
tua progenies non jurabit," etc., quod impletur. Cenel Maic Erce is the
strongest and most powerful [sept] in Connacht, but they do not govern
like high-kings. Ona, son of Aengus, son of Ere Derg (Ere the Red), son
of Brian, de quo Ui-Honach, presented his house to Patrick; and
Imlech-Onon was its name at that time: Ailfinn, moreover, [is its name]
this day; from the _ail_ (rock) taken out of the well which was made by
Patrick in the fair green, and which is on the brink of the well, the
place has been named. Et dixit illi Patricius: "Thy seed shall be
blessed, and the palm of laics and clerics shall be of thee for ever, and
the inheritance of this place shall belong to them." Et posuit ibi
Assicum et Bite filium fratris Assicus (Assici?) et Cipiam matrem Bitei.
Episcopus Assicus sanctus episcopus, faber aereus Patricii: and he made
altars, and four-cornered book-cases, and four-cornered dishes, in honor
of Patrick; and a four-cornered dish of them was in Ard-Macha, and
another in Ailfinn, and another in Domnach-mor of Magli-Seola, on the
altar of the holy bishop Felanus in Ui-Briuin-Seola, far westwards from
Ailfinn. Assicus, however, fled northwards to Sliabh-Liag, in
Tir-Boghaine, where he was on an island for seven years. And his monks
sought him, and found him, after much trouble, in the mountain glens; and
they brought him away with them; and Assicus died with them in the
desert, and they buried him in Rath-Cunga, in Seirthe. And the king of
that county gave to him, and to his monks after his death, the pasture of
one hundred cows with their calves, and twenty oxen, as a perpetual
offering; for he said that he would not again go to Magh-Ai, on account
of the falsehood which had been said there of him. His remains are in
Rath-Cunga, and to Patrick belongs the church, upon which the people of
Colum-Cilleand of Ard-Sratha have encroached. Patrick went from Elphin
to Dumacha (the mounds) of Ui-Ailella, and built a church there, _i.e._,
Senchell-Dumaighe, and he left Machet in it, and Cetchen, and Rodan, a
noble priest, and Mathona, Benen's sister, who received the veil from
Patrick and from Rodan, and who was a servitor to them.
When Patrick was at Dumha-graidh, ordaining the great multitude, he
smiled. "What is that?" asked Benen. "Bron, and the monk Olcan," said
Patrick, "who came towards me along Traig-Eothaili, and my foster-son,
Mac-Erca, with them; a wave of the sea made a great dash, and tried to
carry off the youth." This was a prophecy. He (Patrick) went through
the territory of Ui-Oilella, and founded the church eastwards in
Tamhnagh, and it was built by God and men: et ipsa fecit amicitiam ad
reliquias Assici Rodani; et successores eorum epulabantur invicem. Post
hoc autem possuerunt episcopum Cairellum juxta sanctam Ecclesiam in
Tamhnagh, quem ordinaverunt Episcopum Patricii, viz., Bronus et Biteus.
Patrick went afterwards to the fountain, _i.e._, Clibech, on the slopes
of Cruachan, at sunrise. The clerics sat down at the fountain.
Laeghaire Mac Neill's two daughters, viz., Eithne the Fair, and Feidelm
the Red, went early to the fountain to wash their hands, as they were
wont to do, when they found the synod of clerics at the well, with white
garments, and their books, before them. They wondered at the appearance
of the clerics, and imagined they were _fir-sidhe_, or phantoms. They
questioned Patrick. "Whence are you, and whither have you come? Is it
from the _sidhe_? Are you gods?" Patrick said to them, "It would be
better for you to believe in God than to ask regarding our race." The
elder daughter said, "Who is your God, and in what place is he, in heaven
or in earth? is it under the earth, or on the earth, or in seas, or in
streams, or in hills, or in valleys? Has He sons and daughters? has He
gold and silver? Is there a profusion of every good in his kingdom?
Tell us plainly how we shall see Him, and how is He to be loved, and how
is He to be found. Is He young or old? or is He ever-living? Is He
beautiful, or have many fostered His son, or is His daughter handsome,
and dear to men of the world?" St. Patrick, full of the Holy Spirit,
responded, "Our God is the God of all, the God of heaven and earth, the
God of the seas and rivers, the God of the sun and moon, and all the
other planets; the God of the high hills and low valleys; God over
heaven, in heaven, and under heaven; and He has a mansion, _i.e._,
heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them. He
inspireth all things. He quickeneth all things. He enkindleth all
things. He giveth light to the sun, and to the moon. He created
fountains in the dry land, and placed dry islands in the sea, and stars
to minister to the greater lights. He hath a Son, coeternal and coequal
with Himself; and the Son is not younger than the Father, nor is the
Father older than the Son. And the Holy Ghost breatheth in them. And
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are not divided. I desire,
moreover, to unite you to the Son of the heavenly king, for ye are
daughters of an earthly king." And the daughters said, as if with one
mouth and one heart, "How shall we come to believe in that king? Teach
us duly, that we may see the Lord face to face--teach us, and we will do
as you will say to us." Et dixit Patrici: "Do you believe that through
baptism the sin of your mother and of your father shall be put away from
you?" They answered, "We believe." "Do you believe in repentance after
sin?" "Yes." And they were baptized. And Patrick blessed a white veil
upon their heads; and they desired to see Christ face to face. And
Patrick said to them: "You cannot see Christ except that you first taste
death, and unless you receive the body of Christ and His blood." And the
daughters replied, saying: "Give us the Communion, that we may be able to
see the Prophesied One." And they after this received the Communion, and
fell asleep in death, and Patrick placed them under covering, and in one
bed [grave]; and their friends made a great lamentation over them. The
druids then entered into conflict with Patrick, on account of the
daughters having believed, and having gone to heaven, _i.e._, Mael and
Caplait. Caplait came crying against Patrick, for it was he [Caplait]
who fostered the second daughter. Patrick preached to him, and he
believed, and he cut off his hair. After this the other druid came,
_i.e._, Mael, and said to Patrick: "My brother has believed for thee,"
said he; "it shall not serve nor strengthen him," said he; "I will again
lead him into paganism." And he was thus insulting Patrick; but Patrick
preached to him, and the druid believed in God and Patrick. And Patrick
shaved him; and hence "Mael is like Caplait" is a proverb; for it was
together that they believed. And the day of weeping was finished, and
the maidens were interred there; and Sen-Donahnagh of Magh-Ai was
presented to Patrick for ever. And others say the relics of the maidens
were brought to Ard-Macha, where they await the resurrection.
Patrick went afterwards to Tir-Caireda, and he founded a church at
Ard-lice, _i.e._, Sen-Domhnach, and he left Deacon Caeman in it. And
Patrick erected Ard-Senlis, ubi posuit Lalloc sanctam et tenuit locum in
Campo Nento; and they went with Bishop Cethech to his country. Of the
race of Ailill was his mother; of Cenel-Sai [nigh] of Cinacht, from
Domhnach-Sairigi at Damhliac-Cianain; and it was Bishop Cethech's custom
to celebrate the great pasch in Domhnach-Sairigi; and in Ath-da-lorg, in
Kells, he celebrated the little pasch, with Comgilla; for Cethech's
people used to say that Comgilla was Cethech's servitor. Patrick went
afterwards to the territory of Ui-Maine, and he left there an arch-priest
(or deacon) of his people, _i.e._, Deacon Juis, and he erected Fidharta;
and Patrick left his books of orders and baptism with him; and he
baptized the Ui-Maine; and Deacon Juis, in his old age, baptized Ciaran
mac-int-sair, from Patrick's book, quia cxl anni fuit quando Ciaran
baptizavit, ut aiunt peritissimi. Patrick's Franks, moreover, left him,
viz., fifteen brothers and one sister, viz., Bernicius and Hibernicius,
and Hernicus, etc., and Nitria, the sister. And many places were given
to them. One of these is Imgoe of Baislic, between Hy-Maine and
Magh-Nai. Patrick described to them the likeness of the place with his
finger, from Cill-Garad, quia venerunt ad Patricium ut obteret illis de
locis quos invenerent. Patrick also founded Cill-Garad, where Cethech
[was left], and Ferta-gethich together. Then it was that Patrick made
the well which is called Uaran-garad, and he loved this water very much,
ut ipse dixit:
"Uaran-gar--[Uaran-gar]--
O well! which I have loved, which loved me;
Alas! my cry, O dear God!
That my drink is not from the pure well."
Patrick went afterwards to Magh-Selcae, _i.e._, to Dumha-Selca, where
there were young men, the six sons of Brian, viz., Bolcderc, Derthacht,
Echen, Cremthann, Caelcharna, Echuid; and Patrick wrote three names there
in three stones, viz., Jesus, Soter, Salvator. Patrick blessed the
Ui-Briuin from Dumha-Selca, and Patrick's seat is there between the
stones in quibus scripsit literas, et nona (_sic_) episcoporum cum illo
illic fuerunt, viz., Bronus of Caisel-Irra, Sachelus of Baislic-mor in
Ciarraighe, Brocaid of Imlech-ech (brother to Lomman of Ath-truim),
Bronachus, presbyter, Rodan, Cassan, Benen, comarb of Patrick, and Benen,
brother of Cethech, Felartus, bishop, and his sister, a nun there, and
another sister, quae sit insola in mari Conmaicne, _i.e._,
Croch-Cuile-Conmaicne. And he founded a church on Loch-Selca, _i.e._,
Domhnach-mor of Magh-Selca, in quo baptizavit Ui-Briuin et benedixit.
Patrick went to Gregraidhe of Loch-Techet, and founded a church there in
Drumma, and dug a well thereat, and no stream went into or came out of
it, but it was always full, and its name is Bithlan (_i.e._, ever full).
He afterwards founded Cill-Atrachta in Gregraidhe, and [left] Talan's
daughter in it, who received a veil from Patrick's hand. And he left a
_teisc_ and chalice with Atracht, the daughter of Talan, son of Cathbadh,
of the Gregraidhe of Loch-Teched, sister of Caemhan of Airdne-Caemhain.
Patrick blessed a veil on her head. Drummana was the name of the place
in which they were; Machaire is its name to-day. A _casula_ was sent
down from heaven on Patrick's breast. "You shall have this _casula_, O
nun!" said Patrick. "No," said she, "not to me was it given, but to
thyself."
He then went to the sons of Erc; they carried off Patrick's horses, and
Patrick cursed them, saying: "Your seed shall serve the seed of your
brother for ever." Patrick went into Magh-Airtich, and blessed a
place,;_i.e._, Ailech-Airtigh, in Telach-na-cloch. And he went
afterwards into Drummut of Ciarraighe-Airtigh, where he found two
brothers fighting regarding the father's land after his death, _viz_,
Bibar and Lochru, Tamanchend's two sons. Patrick stretched out his arms,
and their hands became fixed to the swords, so that they were not able to
lift or lower them, "Sit ye," said Patrick; and he blessed them, and made
peace between them. And they gave the land to Patrick, for their
father's soul. And Patrick founded a church there, where Conu the
artifex is, the brother of Bishop Sechnall. Patrick went subsequently to
Ciarraighe-Airne, where he met Ernaisc and his son Loarn under a tree,
and Patrick wrote an alphabet for him, and stayed a week with them, with
his twelve men. And Patrick founded a church there, et tenuit ilium
abbatem (_sic_), et fuit quidem spiritu sancto plenus.
And Patrick went to Tobar-Mucno, and advanced to Senchill et fuit
Secundinus solus sub ulmo frondosa separatim, et est signum crucis in eo
loco usque in hunc diem. And he afterwards went into the country of
Conmaicne, into Cuil-Tolaigh, and he founded four-cornered churches in
that place. One of these is Ard-Uscon, etc. He went to Magh-Cera, and
stopped at Cuil-Corra, and founded a church in that place, et baptizavit
multos.
Afterwards Patrick proceeded to Magh-Foimsen, where he met two brothers,
viz., Luchtae and Derclam. Derclam sent his servant to kill Patrick, but
Luchtse prevented him, to whom Patrick said: "There shall be priests and
bishops of thy seed, and the race of thy brother shall be cursed, and
shall be few." And he left in that place Cruimther-Conan, and went
afterwards to Tobar-Stringle in the desert, and he was two Sundays
[living] on that well.
Patrick went to the men of Umhall, to Achadh-Fobhair where Bishop Senach
was ordained. The name Patrick conferred on him was "Agnus Dei." And he
it was who asked the three requests of Patrick--viz., that he should not
oppose him as regards orders, that the place should not be called after
him, and that what was wanting to complete his age should be added to the
age of Mac Aenghusa. It was for him (Mac Aenghusa) that Patrick wrote an
alphabet the day that Bishop Senach was ordained. Patrick desired truly
to erect a _see_ at Achadh-Fobhair, when he said: "I would remain here,
on a small plot of land, after circumambulating churches and fastnesses;
for I am infirm, I would not go." The angel said to Patrick:
"Everything you select shall be yours--
Every land, whether plain or rough,
Both hills and churches,
Both glens and woods,
After circumambulating churches and fastnesses
Though infirm, that you shall select."
Then Patrick left two trout alive in the well, and they will be there for
ever, as he said:
"The two inseparable trout,
Which would advance against perpetual streams,
Without obligation, without transgression--
Angels will be along with them in it."
Patrick went to Cruachan-Aighle on the Saturday of Whitsuntide. The
angel went to converse with him, and said to him: "God will not give thee
what thou demandest; for He thinks the demands weighty and immense and
great." "Is that His decision?" said Patrick. "It is," answered the
angel. "This is my decision, then," said Patrick: "I shall not leave
this Cruachan until I die or all the demands shall be given." Patrick
was afterwards with illness of mind in Cruachan, without drink or food,
from Shrove Saturday to Easter Saturday, just like Moses, son of Amra;
for they were alike in many things. God accosted them both out of the
fire; six score years was the age of each; the place of sepulture of both
is uncertain. At the end of those forty nights and forty days the
mountain around him was filled with black birds, so that he could see
neither heaven nor earth. He sang cursing psalms at them, but they went
not away from him. He then became angry with them; he rang his bell at
them, so that the men of Erinn heard its sound. And he flung it at them,
so that a gap was broken out of it, and that [bell] is Bernan-Brighte.
Patrick afterwards cried until his face and the front of his _casula_
(cowl) were wet. No demon came after this to Erinn for the space of
seven years, and seven months, and seven days, and seven nights.
The angel subsequently went to protect Patrick, and he cleaned his
_casula_, and brought white birds about the Cruachan; and they used to
chant sweet melodies for him. "I will bring so many souls from pain,"
said the angel, "and as many as would cover as far as your eye could
reach on the sea." "That is no great boon for me," said Patrick; "not
far can my eye reach over the sea." "You shall have between sea and
land, then," added the angel. "Is there anything more granted to me
besides that?" asked Patrick. "There is," said the angel; "you can bring
seven every Saturday from the pains of hell for ever." "If anything be
granted to me," observed Patrick, ["let me have] my twelve men." "You
shall have it," said the angel; "and depart from Cruachan." "I shall not
depart," said Patrick, "because I have been tormented, until I am
recompensed. Is there anything else, then, to be granted to me?" asked
Patrick. "Yes," said the angel; "you shall have seven every Thursday,
and twelve every Saturday, from pains; and depart from Cruachan." "I
will not depart," answered Patrick, "because I have been tormented, until
I am recompensed. Is there anything else granted to me?" asked Patrick.
"There is," answered the angel; "the great sea to come over Erinn seven
years before the Judgment; and depart from the Cruachan."
"I will not depart," said Patrick, "since I have been tormented, until I
am gratified." "Is there anything more you demand?" asked the angel.
"There is," answered Patrick; "that Saxons may not occupy Eriu, by
consent or force, whilst I shall be in heaven." "It shall be granted
thee," said the angel; "and depart from Cruachan." "I will not depart,"
said Patrick, "since I have been tormented, until I am gratified. Is
there anything more granted to me?" asked Patrick. "There is," said the
angel; "every one who repeats thy hymn from one day to the other shall
not suffer pains." "The hymn is long and difficult," said Patrick.
"Every one who repeats from _Crist illum_" (recte _Crist lim_, "Christ
with me") "to the end, and every one who repeats the name, and every one
who observes penitence in Eriu, their souls shall not go to hell; and
depart from Cruachan" [said the angel].
"I will not depart," said Patrick, "for I have been tormented, until I am
gratified. Is there anything more?" asked Patrick. "Yes," said the
angel; "you shall have one man for every hair in your _casula_ from pains
on the Day of Judgment." "Which of the other saints who labor for God,"
said Patrick, "that would not bring that number to heaven? I shall not
accept that," said Patrick.
"What will you accept, then?" asked the angel. "Here it is," said
Patrick: "that I should bring from hell on the Day of Judgment seven
persons for every hair in this _casula_." "It shall be granted to you,"
said the angel; "and depart from this Cruachan." "I will not depart,"
said Patrick, "for I have been tormented, until I am gratified." "Is
there anything else you demand?" asked the angel. "There is," said
Patrick: "the day that the twelve royal seats shall be on the Mount, and
when the four rivers of fire shall be about the Mount, and when the three
peoples shall be there--viz., the people of heaven, the people of earth,
and the people of hell--that I myself may be judge over the men of Eriu
on that day." "This thing cannot be obtained from the Lord," said the
angel. "Unless this is obtained from Him, I will not consent to leave
this Cruachan from this day for ever; and even after my death there shall
be a caretaker from me there," answered Patrick.
The angel went to heaven. Patrick went to his offering. The angel came
in the evening. "How now?" asked Patrick. "Thus," answered the angel:
"all the creatures, visible and invisible, including the twelve apostles,
entreated, and they have obtained. The Lord said that there came not,
and would not come, after the apostles, a man more illustrious, were it
not for the hardness of the request which is granted thee. Strike thy
bell," said the angel; "thou art commanded from heaven to fall on thy
knees, that it may be a blessing to the people of all Eriu, both living
and dead." "A blessing on the bountiful king that gave," said Patrick;
"the Cruachan shall be left."
Patrick proceeded afterwards until he was in Achadhfobhair, where he
celebrated the ordo at Easter. There are, moreover, "keepers" of
Patrick's people in Eriu living still. There is a man from him in
Cruachan-Aigle. The sound of his bell is heard, but it [the bell] is not
found. And there is a man from him in Gulban-Guirt; and the third man
from him is to the east of Cluain-Iraird, together with his wife. Both
entertained Patrick in the reign of Laeghaire Mac Neill, and they are,
and will be for ever, the same age. There is a man from him in
Dromanna-Bregh; there is another man from him in Sliabh-Slainge--_i.e._,
Domangart, son of Eochaidh. It is he that will raise Patrick's relics a
little before the Judgment. His cell is Rath-Murbhuilg, at the side of
Sliabh-Slainge; and there is always a shin (of beef), with its
accessories, and a pitcher of ale, before him every Easter, which is
given to Mass people on Easter Monday always. Patrick's charioteer died,
moreover, and was buried between Cruachan and the sea. Patrick went
afterwards into the country of the Corco-Themne, and baptized many
thousand persons there, and he founded four churches there, viz., in the
three Tuagha.
Patrick went then to Tobar-Finnmaighe--_i.e._, a well. It was told to
Patrick that the pagans honored this well as a god. The well was
four-cornered, and there was a four-cornered stone over its mouth, and
the foolish people believed that a certain dead prophet made it,
bibliothecam sibi in aqua sub petra ut dealbaret ossa sua semper, quia
timuit ignem, et zelavit Pat. de Deo vivo, dicens non vere dicitis quia
rex aquarum fons erat hoc necnon cum eis habuit rex aquarum, et dixit
Patricius petram elivari et non potuerunt elevavit autem eam petram;
Cainnech, que, baptizavit Patricius, et dixit erit semen tuum benedictum
in secula. Cill-Tog, in the territory of Corco-Themne--it was this
church that Bishop Cainnech, Patrick's monk, founded. One time, as
Patrick was travelling in the plains of Mac-Ercae--_i.e._, in Dichuil and
Erchuil--he saw a large sepulchre there, viz., 120 feet in length. The
brothers desiring that the dead man might be resuscitated, Patrick
thereupon "awoke" the dead man who was in the sepulchre, and questioned
him quando, et quomodo, et quo genere, et quo nomine esset. Respondit
sibi, dicens, "Ego sum Cass, filius of Glassi, qui fui subulcus Lugair
Iruatae, and Mac Conn's _fiann_ killed me in the reign of Cairpre Niafer,
in the hundredth year. I am here until to-day." Patrick baptized him,
and he went again into his sepulchre.
Quis comprehendere valet modi (_sic_) diligentise orationis ejus omnes,
namque psalmos, et ymnos et Apocalipsi, ac omnia cantica spiritualia
scripturarum cotidie (quotidie) decantabat seu in uno loco seu in itinere
gradiens. From vespers on Sunday night until tierce on Monday Patrick
would not come from the place where he might be.
One Sunday Patrick was in a cold, damp place, when great rain fell on the
earth, but it rained not in the spot where Patrick was, sicut in concha
et vellere Gideoni accederat. It was a custom with Patrick to place the
cross of Christ over himself one hundred times each day and night; and he
would go aside from his path, even though the cross were one thousand
paces away, provided that he saw it or knew it to be in his vicinity;
whether he was in a chariot or on a horse, he would proceed to each
cross. One day Patrick omitted to visit a cross which was on his way,
but he knew not that it was there. His charioteer said to him in the
evening: "You left a cross which was on your way to-day without
visiting." Patrick left his guest-house and his dinner, and went back to
the cross. When Patrick was praying at the cross, "This is a sepulchre,"
said Patrick; "who was buried here?" A voice answered out of the
sepulchre: "I am a poor pagan," it said, "and I was buried here; whilst
living, I was injuring my soul until I died; and I was buried here
afterwards." "What was the reason," asked Patrick, "that the sign of
Christianity--_i.e._, the cross--was placed over thy grave?" "This,"
answered the voice: "a certain woman that was in foreign lands, and her
son was buried here in this country in her absence; and she came from
foreign lands, and placed this cross over my grave. She thought it was
over the grave of her son it was placed; for she was not able through
grief to recognize her son's grave." "This is the reason that I missed
the cross," said Patrick--"_i.e._, its being over the grave of a pagan."
The cross was afterwards raised by Patrick over the Christian's grave.
One time Patrick's charioteer wanted his horses; he could not find them,
owing to the darkness of the night. Patrick lifted up his hand; his five
fingers illuminated all the place as if they were five torches, and the
horses were immediately found.
Patrick went across the Muaidh to Hy-Amhalghaidh; the twelve sons of
Amhalgaidh, son of Fiachra, son of Eochaidh, came to meet him, viz.,
Aengus, Fergus, Fedhlimidh, Enna Crom, Enna Cullom, Connac, Cairbre,
Echui Dianimh, Oena, Eoghan Coir, Dubchonall, Ailill of the rough face.
The sons of Amhalghaidh were disputing about the sovereignty: twenty-four
tribes (_i.e._, old tribes) that were in the country; and they objected
that they would not admit any man asking over them with an additional
[nick] name. Aengus then imposed additional names upon his brothers.
This Aengus was the proudest of Amhalghaidh's sons. Laeghaire, son of
Niall, son of Eochaidh, King of Tara, and his brother Eoghan, son of
Niall, decided the dispute. The sons of Amhalghaidh went to Tara in
twelve chariots, sicut in libris Patricii inventus, quod exirent in
judicium tamen vii fratres de eis. They were welcomed by the king at
Tara. Aengus was foster-son to Laeghaire. He got a special welcome
there. Aengus prayed the door-keepers that they would not admit Conall,
the son of his brother--_i.e._, the son of Enna Crom--into the fort; for
Aengus feared his wisdom in arguing his right. Aengus obtained this
request from the door-keepers. As Conall was outside the _lis_, he heard
the sound of Patrick's bell from Tobar-Patrick at the fort. Conall went
to him and saluted him. "O cleric!" said he, "do you know this
expression which I have in commemoration--_i.e._, 'Hibernenses omnes
clamant ad te pueri,' etc.--which two girls uttered in their mother's
womb in our country?" "I am he whom that refers to," said Patrick; "and
I heard it when I was in the islands of the Tyrrhene Sea, et nescivi
utrum in meam vel extra locuta sunt verba, et ibo tecum in regionem tuam
baptizare, docere, evangelizare." Interrogat autem Patricius qua causa
venit Conall, and Conall related the reason to Patrick, and he said that
he was not allowed to enter Tara; to whom Patrick said: "Go in now, as
the doors are open; and go to my faithful friend, Eoghan Mac Neill, who
will assist you, if you lay hold, secretly, of the finger next his little
finger, which is always a sign between us." And so it was done.
"Welcome," said Eoghan. "What is Patrick's wish?" Conall said: "That
you assist me." Conall afterwards observed: "If it is according to youth
precedence in a king's house or land is to be given, I am the youngest;
if according to mother's age, Enna Cromm is the oldest." To which
Laeghaire replied: "Honor to the senior, truly," said he, "and converse
with the learned; but if jewels and treasures are given to any one,
however, I will not deprive him of them." They came away, and Patrick
with them, and Patrick gave his chariot to Conall, so that it was the
thirteenth charlot. They went their way afterwards, and there was not
good-will with Aengus for his brother's son and for Patrick. He told his
two brothers--viz., Fergus and Fedhlimidh--to kill Patrick and Conall, as
he had agreed on parting Laeghaire, after Laeghaire had instigated him
thereto. They went northwards towards their country. The place which
Aengus had fixed upon for the fratricide was in Corann. Fergus simulated
sleep. His brothers refused what they had promised. "We will not kill
the innocent," said they, "and will not commit murder upon our brother."
Aengus went towards him (Patrick) to kill him, accompanied by two bands
and two druids---viz., Reon and Rechred, of the race of Faelan the
warrior. It is not more than a mile from the place whence Patrick saw
the enemies, from the cross to the west of Cross-Patrick, to
Cill-Forclann. Reon said that the ground would swallow Patrick on the
place where he would see him. This was related to Patrick. "It is I who
shall see him first," said Patrick. When Patrick saw him, the ground
swallowed him up. "I will believe," said he, "if I am rescued." The
ground flung him up until he was above the winds, and he fell down half
alive. He believed, and was baptized. Rechred was also lifted up and
let down until his head was broken against the rock, and fire from heaven
burned him. The druid's rock is there. There is a church there.
Cross-Patrick is its name, to the east of Coill-Fochlaidh.
Telach-na-Druadh is the name of the place where the pagans were, to the
west of Cross-Patrick. Glas-Conaigh is between them. Aengus said: "I
will believe if my sister is resuscitated"--_i.e._, Feidelm, daughter of
Amhalgaidh, who died long before.
One time a blind man went to meet Patrick; he went in haste with the
desire of being healed. One of Patrick's people laughed at him. "My
_debroth_," said Patrick, "it would be fit that you were the blind
person." The blind man was healed, and the hale was made blind, quod
utrimque factum est. Mignae is the name of the person who was blinded;
and he is the second man of Patrick's people who remained in
Disert-Patrick, which is near the well at Cross-Patrick, and Donnmall was
the other. Ruan, son of Cucnamha, Amhalgaidh's charioteer, that was
healed there. Roi-Ruain is the name of the place where the blind was
healed, and it belonged to Patrick afterwards. He met two _bacachs_ in
Ochtar-Caerthin. They complained to him of their infirmity, for they
found it difficult to proceed through mountain or plain. What more shall
I say? They were healed. He went to Domhnach-Mor, where Bishop Mucna
is. He went afterwards to Cross-Patrick, where Aedh Fota, son of
Eochaidh, son of Oengus, came to him; and he healed him from lameness at
the fountain to the west of Cross-Patrick; and he (Aedh) presented to him
a plot of land there, where he founded a residence, and he left two of
his family there--viz., Teloc and Nemnall. Enna saw the druids (magi)
wishing to kill Patrick, and he said to his son Conall, "Go and protect
Patrick, that the magi may not kill him." Patrick perceived them, and
ethereal fire burned them, to the number of nine.
He then founded Cill-Alaidh, and he left an illustrious man of his family
there--_i.e._, Bishop Muiredhach. Patrick baptized women--viz., Crebriu
and Lesru, the two daughters of Glerann, son of Cummen. It was they that
called upon Patrick from their mother's womb when he was in the islands
of the Tyrrhene Sea. They are patronesses of Cill-Forglainn, in
Hy-Amhalghaidh or Tirawley, to the west of Muaidh.
He went to Forrach-mac-Amalghaidh. Seven sons of Amalgaidh believed,
including Enna and the king. It was then he baptized the pregnant woman
and her offspring, and resuscitated another. Patrick and Conall went to
the grave where the dead pregnant woman was, by the lower road to
Cill-Alaidh. Aengus, however, went by the upper road. They reached the
grave, and Patrick resuscitated the woman, and her son in her womb; and
both were baptized in the well Aen-adharcae (from the little hillock of
land that is near it the well was named). Being resuscitated, she
preached to the multitudes of the pains of hell and the rewards of
heaven, and with tears prayed her brother that he would believe for God
and Patrick, which was done, and he was baptized. And in that day twelve
thousand were baptized in the well of Aen-adharcae, ut dicitur: "On one
day were baptized six great thousands, with the seven sons of Amhalgaidh.
This was the number." Twelve thousand, truly, that believed for Patrick
in Ui-Amhalghadha, and of those of Caille-Fochladh. And Patrick left
Magister Manchen with them. He went southwards to the ford of
Loch-Daela. The place was the property of Aengus. Patrick intended to
found a residence for himself there. Aengus came quickly when he saw him
(Patrick), for it was not from his heart that he believed when he was
baptized and confessed the faith. "My _debroth_," said Patrick, "'twere
right that thy houses should not be exalted, nor thy descendants after
thee. Thy successors shall be seldom just, and there shall be fratricide
through it."
He went to the east, to Lec-finn, where Patrick made the cross in the
stone over Cill-mor-uachtair-Muaidh, to the west. But Lia-na-manach is
its name at this day--_i.e._ Cruimther Monach's, or Olcan's church; but
there was no church there at that time. And he baptized Eochaidh, son of
Nathi, son of Fiachra, and resuscitated his wife Echtra, at Ath-Echtra,
the little stream at the very door of Cill-mor. And Echtra's grave is on
the margin of the ford. It is a sign of knowledge with them in their
history to remember this grave. He (Patrick) sent Bishop Olcan to build
where the church is to-day. Thus he came with an axe on his back, and
Patrick told him that he should put up at the place where the axe would
fall off his back; quod factum est where Cill-mor-uachtair-Muaidh is. He
went afterwards to the north, to Lec-Balbeni, where he found and blessed
the sons of Amhalgaidh; and he went out of the country from [the western]
Bertlacha to the eastern Bertlacha, and passed it eastwards to the
estuary of the Muaidh, towards the mouth of the sea. A young woman was
drowned there before him; and he blessed the place, and said that no
person should be drowned there for evermore. Patrick prophesied that the
eastern Bertlacha should be with him, as it is in their history; and in
the day of war the king of that region will be victorious, if true to
Patrick. It was there, at the stream, the Gregraighe flung stones at
Patrick and his people. "My _debroth_," said Patrick, "you shall be
beaten in every conflict in which you may be; and you shall be subject to
insult and contumely in every assembly in which you may be." "Arise, O
Conall!" said Patrick, "that you may assume the _bachall_." Conall said,
"If it please thee, I shall do so." "That shall not be," said Patrick;
"but I will support thy valor, and will give comarbs to thy race, and
thou shall be the Conall Sciath-bachall. The palm of laics and clerics
shall be from thee; and every one of thy descendants in whose shield the
sign of my _bachall_ shall be will not be subdued."
All this Patrick did to him. He went eastwards into the territory of
Hy-Fiachrach, by the sea. A water opposed his passage--_i.e._, there was
an unusually large rock in it--and he cursed it. On the water there is a
place, Buaile-Patrick is its name--_i.e._, a little mound--with a cross
there, where Patrick rested a short time. Then the holy bishop, Bron of
Caisel-Irra, and the holy Mac Rime of Cill-Corcaraidhe; and there he
wrote an alphabet for him; and I have heard from another that in the said
place he gave a tooth from his jaw to Bishop Bron, for he was dear to
Patrick. Immediately on coming from the west, across the Muaidh, into
Gregraighe, he met three virulent druids at Rath-Righbhaird, who were
able to do nothing to him; and he said that there never would be wanting
of this people a man of such magical knowledge.
Mac Erca, the son of Draighen, who is in Cill-roe-mor, in the territory
of Hy-Amhalgadha. Patrick baptized the seven sons of Draighen, and he
selected of them Mac Erca, and gave him to Bishop Bron to be fostered;
for it would not be easy to take him far away, in consequence of the love
of his father for him.
Patrick marked out the site of Caisel-Irra, and the flag on which
Patrick's tooth fell is in the middle of the _lis_. Bishop Bron founded
the place, and Patrick prophesied that the place would be deserted by
Gentiles, _quod factum est_.
Then Patrick desired the fishermen to set their nets for him in the
river--_i.e._, in Sligech. They said to him, "A salmon is not taken in
this period of the winter; but as you desire it, however," said the
fishermen, "we will do so." They placed their nets, and caught large
salmon; and they gave them to Patrick; and he blessed the river, so that
Sligech is the most fruitful river of Erinn, for fish is caught in it
every quarter (of the year).
Bishop Rodan, the herd--Patrick left him in Muirisk, in
Cill-espuig-Rodain. His calves would only do what he counselled;
wherefore the harpers and musicians had a proverb. The Callraighe of
Cul-Cernadhan were in a secret place before Patrick, and they brought
their spears close to their shields to assault Patrick and his people.
"My _debroth_," said Patrick, "what you did is not good. Every battle
and every conflict which you wage, and your children after you, will be
gained over you." They forthwith knelt to Patrick, except five. Patrick
said: "In any battle that may be won against you, though all Connacht be
after you, no greater number than five shall fall of you." And so is it
observed.
One time he was after going by Bernas-Ui-Oilella to go to Magh-Luirg,
when he fell into water--_i.e._, a river that goes into (_recte_, from)
Loch-Techet. Ath-carpait is the name of the ford, near to Ess-mic-Eirc.
Patrick cursed the eastern half of the water. "And the half from the
ford westwards, why do you spare it?" asked his people. "A son of life
will come who will set up there hereafter," said Patrick, "who will like
fruitful water at his place"--_i.e._, Colum-Cille, son of Fedhlimidh, at
Ess-mic-Eirc. From the ford up to the lake the best fishing in Erinn is
found there by all. From the ford down not much is taken there.
Patrick went afterwards into the territory of Magh-Luirg, when his horses
were carried off by Cenel-Mic-Erca. And Patrick cursed the people of
that country; but Bishop Maine of the Hy-Ailella, who prayed Patrick
regarding forgiveness for his kinsmen, and Patrick modified the
malediction. And Bishop Maine washed Patrick's feet with his hair and
tears, and drove the horses into a meadow, and cleaned their hoofs in
honor of Patrick. And Patrick said, "There shall be weeping, and
wailing, and mourning with the inhabitants of that country; and there
will not be neighborship there _in saecula saeculorum"; ut impletur_.
And Patrick also said that a great part of that country should afterwards
belong to him; which was fulfilled in the case of Nodain of Loch-Uama.
Bishop Maine is also of Patrick's people, and Geintene in Echainech in
Hy-Ailella.
Patrick went after that into the territory of Callraidhe to Druim-dara,
where Druim-lias is to-day. It was then he baptized Mac Caerthinn; and
that place was presented to Patrick for ever. Patrick afterwards
established himself on the offering in Druim-dara, Druim-lias
to-day--_i.e._, from Patrick's seats and from the sheds it was named.
Patrick left his _dalta_ Benen there in abbotship during the space of
twenty years. He journeyed into the glens eastward, where
Cenel-Muinremur is to-day. His two nostrils bled on the way. Patrick's
flag (Lee-Patrick) is there, and Patrick's hazel (Coll-Patrick), a little
distance to the west of the church. He put up there. Srath-Patrick it
is named this day; Domhnach-Patrick was its former name. Patrick
remained there one Sunday; _et hoec est una ecclesia illius regionis_.
Patrick went afterwards past Druim-cliabh, from Caisel-Irra, by the
Rosses eastwards, along Magh-Eni, and founded Domhnach-mor of Magh-Eni.
Then it was that he cursed the Dubh River for the refusal which the
fishermen gave him. He blessed Drobhais, however, on account of the
kindness which the little boys who were fishing there did to him.
Thrice Patrick went across the Shannon into the land of Connacht. Fifty
bells, and fifty altar chalices, and fifty altar cloths he left in the
land of Connacht, each of them in his church. Seven years was he
preaching to the men of Connacht; and he left them a blessing, and bade
them farewell.
Patrick went to Es-Ruaidh. He desired to establish himself there, where
Disert-Patrick is, and Lec-Patrick. Cairbre opposed him, and sent two of
his people, whose names were Carbacc and Cuangus, to seize his hands.
"Not good is what you do," said Patrick; "if I were permitted to found a
place here, the second to Rome of Letha, with its Tiber running through
it, would be my establishment with its Es-Ruaidh through it; and your
descendants would be comarbs in it." Cairbre declined then, as Patrick
had foretold. Thereupon Cairbre incited a dog to attack Patrick.
Cuangus struck the dog with a rod. Patrick said that Cairbre's race
should not exceed a small band, and that the palm of laics or clerics
would not be from him, _quod impletur_. But as to Cuangus, since he
agreed to seize Patrick's hands for Cairbre, Patrick said that his race
should not be more numerous than a company, and that illustrious men
would be of them, _quod impletum est_. Cairbre promised to Cuangus, for
seizing Patrick's hands, as much as he could see to the north of
Sliabh-Cise. When he turned to take a view about him, a dark cloud
closed around Cuangus, so that he only saw to the sea westwards, and to
the _ash_ eastwards. "This river, which God gave you, Cairbre," said
Patrick, "your share of it shall not be fruitful as regards fish"
(_i.e._, the northern half of the river in length was Cairbre's
share--_i.e._, the half next to Cenel-Conaill--for Crich-Conaill belonged
to Cairbre at that time as far as Rath-Cunga); "but Conall's share (the
southern half) will be fruitful"; _sic impletum est_, until Murghins, son
of Maelduin, son of Scannal, an illustrious king of Cairbre's race,
presented the unfruitful part to Colum-Cille; and it is now fruitful with
Colum-Cille.
He (Patrick) went afterwards between Es-Ruaidh and the sea into
Crich-Conaill, where Rath-Chunga is at this day. He fixed a stake there,
and said that it would be an abode and establishment for seven bishops;
and there Bite is now, the brother's son of Aisicus from Elphin.
It was then also that he foretold of Domhnall, son of Aedh, son of
Ainmire--viz., he fixed a pole in Ard-fothaidh, and on the morrow it was
bent; and Patrick said that the place would be the seat of a king, which
was fulfilled in Domhnall. On Sith-Aedha Patrick blessed Conall Mac
Neill, when Patrick's hands would fall on the head of Fergus. Conall
wondered at this thing, when Patrick said:
"A youth (_i.e._, Colum-Cille) shall be born of his tribe,
Who will be a sage, a prophet, and poet,
A glorious, bright, clear light,
Who will not utter falsehood."
After Patrick had blessed the Cenel-Conaill, and had left a blessing on
their forts and rivers and churches, he went into the country of Eoghan,
the son of Niall, across Bernas of Tir-Aedha into Magh-Itha, and to
Domhnachmor of Magh-Itha, where he left Dudubae, son of Corcan, of his
people. And Patrick said to his people: "Take care that you meet not
with the lion, Eoghan, son of Niall." Muiredhach, the son of Eoghan, who
was in the front of the youths, met on the way Sechnall, who was in the
rear of the host of clerics. Sechnall said to Muiredhach: "You would
have a reward from me, if you would persuade your father to believe."
"What reward?" asked he. "The sovereignty of thy tribe shall for ever
belong to thy heirs," said Sechnall. "I will," answered Muiredhach. In
Fidhmor it was that Eoghan met with Patrick, where the flag (_lec_) is.
"If you would believe in your country," said Patrick, "the hostages of
the Gaedhil would come to you."
"I am not good-looking," said Eoghan; "my brother precedes me on account
of my ugliness." "What form do you desire?" asked Patrick. "The form of
the young man who is under (_i.e._., _who is bearing_) your
satchel--_i.e._, Rioc of Inis-bo-finde," said Eoghan. Patrick covered
them over with the same garment, the hands of each being clasped round
the other. They slept thus, and afterwards awoke in the same form, with
the difference of the tonsure. "I don't like my height," said Eoghan.
"What size do you desire to be?" asked Patrick. Eoghan reached up his
hand with his sword. "I should like this height," said he; and he
immediately grew to that height. Patrick afterwards blessed Eoghan, with
his sons. "Which of your sons is dearest to you?" asked Patrick.
"Muiredhach," said he. "Sovereignty from him for ever," said Patrick.
"And next to him?" asked Patrick. "Fergus," answered he. "Dignity from
him," said Patrick. "And after him?" asked Patrick. "Eocha Bindech,"
said Eoghan. "Warriors from him," said Patrick. "And after him?" asked
Patrick. "They are all alike to me," answered Eoghan. "They shall have
united love," said Patrick.
Patrick went to Ailech of the kings, when he blessed the fort and left
his flag there; and he prophesied that kingship and pre-eminence should
be over Erinn from Ailech. "When you lift your foot out of your bed to
approach it, and your successor after you," said Patrick, "the men of
Erinn shall tremble before you."
He blessed the whole island (Inis-Eoghain) from Belach-ratha; and he gave
a blessing of valor to Eoghan. Then it was that Patrick said:
"My blessing on the _tuatha_ (territories)
I give from Belach-ratha,
On you, you descendants of Eoghan,
Until the day of judgment.
"Whilst plains are under crops,
The palm of battle shall be on their men.
The armies of Fail (Ireland) shall not be over your plains;
You shall attack every _telach_ (tribe).
"The race of Eoghan, son of Niall,
Bless, O fair Brigid!
Provided they do good,
Government shall be from them for ever.
"The blessing of us both
Upon Eoghan Mac Neill,
On all who may be born from him,
Provided they are obedient."
Eochaidh, son of Fiachra, son of Eoghan, was baptized with Eoghan, and
Patrick's covenant was made between them; and whosoever transgresses it
shall not have children born to him, and his body will not rot in the
clay.
Where Patrick went after this was into Daigurt in Magh-Dula. He built
seven Domhnachs (churches) about Fochaine (_i.e._, flumen), namely,
Domhnach-Dola, Domhnach-Seinlis, Domhnach-Dara, Domhnach-Senchua,
Domhnach-Minchluane, Domhnach-Catte, Both-Domhnaigh.
Patrick proceeded into Tir-Eoghain of the Islands--namely, into the
territory governed by Fergus--and he took to build a _disert_ at a
certain place; Achadh-Driman was the proper name of the land in which he
built it. But Coelbhadh, son of Eoghan, drove him from thence, and
Patrick said that in consequence thereof his race should never have a
goodly house there. Quod probatum est super by Comman, son of Algasach,
of the race of Coelbhadh, who was at Eas-nac-Eire, who made a house
there, but, before he had the roof on it, it was broken down by a young
cleric of the family of Domhnach-mor-Maighe Tochair.
"Thou shalt receive welcome from me," said Aedh, son of Fergus. There is
neither bank nor wall between him and the aforesaid, and it was there
that he erected Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair, ribi xl, dubas mansit et Mac
Cairthin reliquit.
Patrick proceeded from Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair into Bredach, and
there he met the three Deachans, the sons of Patrick's sister, in the
country of Ailell, son of Eoghan, and he ordained Oengus, the son of
Ailell, in that place, and he remained there on Sunday; Domhnach-Bile is
its name.
When Patrick was at Ailech-Airtich in Sonnacht, in Cinel-Enda, Enda came
to him. "Da mihi hunc locum," said Patrick. "Quasi non babussemus
clericos," said Enda. On the morrow venit Enda et suus filius secum,
Echu Caech. Patrick had turned off to pray, and his people to baptize,
to confer orders, and to propagate the faith. The two Maccairthinns were
there at the time, namely, qui est at Clochar et qui est at
Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair. "Confer ye the degree of bishop upon my
son," said Enda. "Let Patrick be consulted," said Patrick's champion,
Maccairthinn of Clochar. "It is our duty," said the other; "I will
confer the order." When Patrick, he said, "Ye have conferred orders in
my absence on the son of the Wolf; there shall be strife in the church of
the one for ever; there shall be poverty in the church of the other."
Quod impletur: strife at Clochar; Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair, poverty is
there. "The son upon whom the degree was conferred, two persons, after
committing murder, shall profane his relics. One hundred and twenty
years until a son shall be born in the southern parts [who shall
reconsecrate his church], and it shall be restored to me again." Quod
totum impletum est. The first place where his relics were was a high and
beautiful spot, but they were carried thence after a short time to a
lower place; and the first place where they were is deserted, and robbers
and murderers are accustomed to dwell there, through Patrick's curse.
And his church was ceded to Ciaran Mac-an-tsair, but was restored to
Patrick again. This Echu, son of Enda, is at this day called Bishop
Echan.
As Patrick was in Tir-Enda-Airtich at Tulach-liag, in Leitir, he stuck
[wattles for] a church there, which afterwards became a bush. After this
he went to the Lei, on the east of the Bann, ubi non capiebant homines
pieces nisi in nocte usque ad illud tempus. Deinde imperavit eis
Patricius ut in die caperent, et sic erit in finem seculi.
Patrick went afterwards into Dal-Araidhe and Dal-Riada. Then he
proceeded to Ror to Carn-Setna, southwards, where he heard the screams of
an infant from out of the ground. The carn was demolished, the sepulchre
was laid bare, and a smell of wine arose around them out of the
sepulchre. They saw the living child with the dead mother. A woman that
died of ague; she was brought across the sea to Eriu, and the child was
born after death; and seven days, it is said, it lived in the tumulus.
"That is bad (_olc_)," said the king. "That shall be his name (_Olcan_)"
said the druid. Patrick baptized him; and he is Bishop Olcan, of the
community of Airther-Maighe, in the district of Dal-Riada. And Mac
Nisse; of Condere, read his psalms with Patrick. . . .
Patrick received welcome in the district from Erc's twelve sons. And
Fergus Mor Mac Erca said to Patrick: "If I am preferred before my
brothers in the division of our land, I will offer some to you." And
Patrick gave to Bishop Olcan this part--_i.e._, Airther-Maighe. Patrick
said to Fergus: "Though thy esteem with thy brothers is not great to-day,
it is thou that shall be king. The kings of this land and of Fortren
shall be from thee for ever"; and this is what was fulfilled in Aedan Mac
Gabhrain, who possessed Alba by force. Patrick left many cells and
establishments in the territory of Dal-Riada.
He founded Fothraidh, and left two of his people in it--viz., Presbyter
Cathbadh, and the monk Dimman; and he founded Rath-Mudhain, and left
Presbyter Erclach in it; he left Bishop Nem in Telach-Ceniul-Aenghusa;
Dachen-nindan in Domhnach-Cainri, in Cothraighe; Enan in Druim-Indich;
and Bishop Fiachra in Cuil-Echirainn. And Patrick blessed Dun-Sobhairce;
and Patrick's well is there, and he left a blessing upon it.
He went afterwards to Dal-Araidhe. He found Caelbadh's twelve sons
before him. He proposed to found a place where Cill-glas is. He was
repelled from it; and it belongs to him yet; and he left two of his
people there--viz., Glaisiuc and Presbyter Libur. And he determined that
he would found a place where Lathrach-Patraic is. It is there Daniel,
Patrick's angel and dwarf, is. It is there Patrick's well is--_Slan_ is
its name--which Patrick discovered there. Saran, the son of Caelbad,
seized his hand to expel him; and Patrick took heaven and land from him.
Connia, the son of Caelbadh, however, received Patrick with humility, and
gave him Domhnach-Combair; and Patrick blessed him, and declared that
kings and chieftains should be of his race for ever. And he founded many
churches in Dal-Araidhe--viz., Domhnach-mor of Magh-Damhairne, and
Rath-Sithe (and he left two of his people there), and Telach-Conadain,
and Gluaire in Latharna (and Mac Laisre is in it). He founded
Glenn-indechta, and Imlech-[c]luana, in Semhne (where Caemhan was left),
and Rath-Escuip-Indich, in the territory of Ui-Erca-chein.
After some time the aforesaid Saran bore off some men in captivity from
the district of Dal-Riada. Bishop Olcan met him, and the poor people
were grievously complaining to him. Olcan interceded, but it was of no
avail, unless he would assure heaven to Saran. "I cannot do so, indeed,"
said he, "for Patrick has deprived thee of it." "I will kill thy people
about thee but thee alone," said he, "and I will slay all these captives;
and wherever I shall find a priest (tailcend), I shall bring him under
the edge of the sword."
Whereupon Bishop Olcan promised him heaven. He came afterwards from the
north to offer submission to Patrick. It was reported to Patrick that
Bishop Olcan had promised baptism and heaven to the person to whom he had
denied them. They met to the north of Cluain-Fiachna, on the way, going
different directions. "The chariot over him," said Patrick. "It is not
allowable," said the charioteer, "that it should go over a bishop." He
told him (Bishop Olcan) that his establishment on earth would not be
high, and that it would be thrice destroyed; as was afterwards fulfilled,
for it was ruined by Scandal, King of Dal-Araidhe, and by Cucuaran, and
by fire also. "Laech-dich, son of Bresal, and his land, shall belong to
the young boy bearing the satchel," said Patrick, "one of thy own
people--_i.e._, Mac Nisse of Condere--and to one not born yet--_i.e._,
Senan of Inis-Altich. Thy merit in heaven will be illustrious."
Saran's guilt it was that was here laid upon Bishop Olcan. Saran's
brother, Nadsluagh, was submissive to Patrick; and he was in captivity
on Patrick's arrival. "You shall have from me," said he, "the site of
your _regles_." "Where will you give it me?" asked Patrick. "On the
brink of the Bann, in the west," said Nadsluagh, "where the boys are
burning the _ratha_ (ferns)." "It shall be mine, truly," said Patrick;
"a descendant of mine and thine shall be there"--_i.e._, Bishop Coirpre,
son of Deggell, son of Nadsluagh; it is he that is in Cul-rathain,
on the eastern brink of the Bann. Bishop Brugach, who is in
Ratha-Maighe-Aenaigh, in Crich-Conaill, it was that conferred orders on
Bishop Coirpre. Patrick, also, it was that conferred orders on Bishop
Brugach; so that he (Bishop Coirpre) is a descendant of Patrick in this
wise. Patrick gave no malediction to any of the twelve sons of Caelbad,
except to the king alone--_i.e._, Saran. It was he that had acted
disobediently to him. It was on this occasion that Patrick brought with
him Bishop Guasacht, son of Milchu, from the territory of Dal-Araidhe; it
was he whom Patrick left in Granard, and the two Emirs also, Milchu's two
daughters; it is they that are in Cluam-Bronaigh, ut diximus.
The way Patrick went was into the territory of Dal-Araidhe, across
Fertais-Tuama, to Ui-Tuirtre. He was forty nights in Finnobair, and
determined to build a city there for its suitability--Loch-Nechach being
on one side of it, and Sliabh-Calland on the other. Cairthen Mor, king
of the country, went to him, and ordered him off. He (Patrick) deprived
him and his children of the sovereignty. Patrick afterwards gave the
sovereignty to Cairthend Beg, who was in exile from his brother; and
Patrick baptized him, and blessed his wife and the being that was in her
womb. "My _debroth_," said Patrick, "the being that is in thy womb shall
be full of the grace of God; and it is I that twill bless a veil upon her
head." The woman was Mogan, daughter of Fergus Mor Mac Nissi, King of
Dal-Riada; and Trea, daughter of Cairthend, was the daughter who was in
her womb; and it was Patrick who blessed a veil on her head, as he
prophesied. The angels, moreover, that brought the veil from heaven, and
placed it on her head, down over her eyes; and Patrick began to raise it
up. "Why is it not good to leave it as it was placed?" asked Trea. "It
is good indeed," answered Patrick. She never saw anything during her
life except what she saw through that veil.
Patrick had seven Domhnachs in Ui-Tuirtre--viz., Domhnach-Fainre,
Domhnach-Riascad, Domhnach-Fothirbe, Domhnach-Righduinn, Domhnach-Brain,
Domhnach-Maelain, Domhnach-Libuir.
Where Patrick went afterwards was to Feara-Gabrae, and they were not
obedient to him. Patrick said that they would go afterwards with tribute
to his church in winter-time, and that extern tribes would get their
country; _quod impletum est_. Patrick went afterwards to Fera-Imchlair,
and he baptized and blessed them; and he left with them Cruimther Colum,
and Patrick's book of orations, and his bell therewith; they are
miraculous things unto this day.
When Patrick concluded his triumphant career in the present life, as the
Apostle Paul said, "I have fought the good fight; I have finished my
course; I have kept the faith; as to the rest, there is laid up for me a
crown of justice, which the Lord the just judge will render to me in that
day," he received communion and sacrifice from Bishop Tassach. His
remains and relics are here regarded with honor and veneration by the
earthly church. Though great his honor and veneration on the earth,
greater still will they be in the Day of Judgment, when the fruit of his
preaching will be committed to him as to each other high apostle, with
the apostles and disciples of Jesus, in the union of the nine choirs of
angels, in the union of the Divinity and the Humanity of the Son of God,
in the unity which is nobler than all unity--in the unity of the Holy
Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I beseech mercy through the
intercession of Patrick. We ask that we may all ourselves obtain this
union _in soecula soeculorum_. Amen.
[It should be observed that, at the commencement of each of the three
parts of the Tripartite Life, there are several pages of Latin, which
were intended by the author as a sort of introduction or preface to what
follows in each part. They are made up principally of Scriptural
quotations strung loosely together. These quotations have general
reference to the establishment of Christ's kingdom upon earth, and are
obviously intended to bear upon the happy introduction of Christianity
into Ireland through the labors of our glorious apostle. At the end of
each of the parts, in like manner, are some paragraphs, by way of
peroration, devoted chiefly to the praises of the great saint, who
dedicated the greater part of an unusually long life to the service of
God, by the regeneration of our pagan ancestors. The language of both
prefaces and perorations, whether corrupted by the copyists in
transcription, or originally so written, is a most barbarous Latin. For
the reasons indicated it has been deemed better to omit the pages alluded
to, merely giving a few words of the commencement of each. In the Irish
original, also, as was usual in early Irish manuscripts, there are a
considerable number of Latin quotations or sentences, which in some cases
have been translated, and in others given as they stood, without any
attempt to correct the style.]
PART III.
Mirabilis Deus in sanctis suis. Spiritus Sanctus, à quo omne donum, et
gratiarum charismata utrique, et novi et veteris Testamenti Ecclesias,
data, haec protulit per os Regii Psalmistae Davidis filii, etc.
Patrick left Presbyter Conaedh in Domnach-Airther-Maighe, in the
territory of Hy-Briuin of the north. He rested there on Sunday, and then
went after Patrick from that place as far eastwards as the wood. "What
brought you?" asked Patrick. "I cannot bear your absence, holy man,"
said he. "No wonder," observed Patrick; "the place around thee is not
the place of a son of life, but a place for pig-eaters; the soil of the
place shall never be reddened" (which we have proved when Connacan, son
of Colman, son of Niall Frossach, went into the district with an army,
nine men moved off from a tree which Artifex, a pilgrim, selected. He
was beheaded; eight were liberated, however, in his land).
Patrick went afterwards to Telach-Maine, and received a welcome from
Maine, son of Conlaedh, who humbled himself to him; and Patrick blessed
him, and blessed his wife, so that she was fruitful, and brought forth
two daughters. Patrick baptized them, and blessed veils on their heads,
and left a senior with them to instruct them.
Patrick did not visit Ard-Macha on that occasion, but went into the
territory of Hy-Cremthand, where he founded churches and residences. One
time, as Patrick was coming from Clochar, from the north, his strong
man--_i.e._, Bishop Mac Carthend--carried him across a difficult place;
and after lifting up Patrick, he said: "Uch, uch." "My _debroth_," said
Patrick, "you were not accustomed to say that word." "I am old and
infirm," said Bishop Mac Carthend, "and you have left all my early
companions in churches, whilst I am still on the road." "I will leave
thee in a church," said Patrick, "that shall not be too near us for
familiarity, that shall not be too distant for intercourse between us."
And Patrick afterwards left Bishop Mac Carthend in Clochar, and the
Domhnach-Airgid with him, which was sent to Patrick from heaven when he
was on the sea coming to Erinn.
Patrick went after that to Lemhuin. Finnabhair is the name of the hill
on which Patrick preached. Three days and three nights was he at the
preaching, and each day did not seem to them longer than one hour. Then
it was that Brigid slept at the preaching, and Patrick did not allow her
to be awakened. Patrick asked her afterwards what she had seen. She
said: "I saw fair synods and white oxen and fair cornfields; behind them
spotted oxen, and black oxen after these. I afterwards saw sheep and
pigs, and dogs and wolves, fighting amongst themselves. I saw
subsequently two stones, one little and the other big. A drop was shed
on each of them. The little stone increased at the 'drop,' and silvery
sparks burst from it. The large stone withered, moreover." "They were
the two sons of Eochaidh, son of Crimthann," said Patrick. Cairpre
Damhairgit believed, and Patrick blessed him, and blessed his seed.
Bresal, moreover, refused, and Patrick cursed him. Patrick also
explained the whole vision of Brigid in an admirable manner.
He resuscitated Eochaidh, son of Crimthann, from death. Eochaidh
possessed a daughter--_i.e._, Cinnu--whom her father wished to marry to a
man of noble family--_i.e._, to the son of Cormac, son of Cairpre Mac
Neill; she, walking along, met Patrick with his companions on the way.
Patrick preached to her that she unite herself to the spiritual prophet;
and she believed, and Patrick instructed her, and baptized her,
afterwards. When her father was subsequently seeking for her, to give
her to her man, she and Patrick went to converse with him. Patrick
requested that he would permit her to wed the Eternal Spouse; Eochaidh
agreed to this, if heaven would be given to him therefor, and he himself
not be compelled to be baptized. Patrick then promised these two
conditions, though he thought it hard. The king afterwards consented
that his daughter--_i.e._, Cinnu--should be united to Christ, and Patrick
made her a female disciple to him, and commanded a certain virgin to
instruct her _i.e._, Cechtumbar of Druim-Dubhain, in which place both
virgins rest.
After many years, moreover, the aforesaid Eochaidh reached the end of his
life; and when his friends would remain by him, he said: "Let me not be
buried," said he, "until Patrick comes." And when Eochaidh finished
these words, his spirit departed. Patrick, moreover, was at this time in
Ulster, at Sabhall-Patrick; and the death of Eochaidh was manifested to
him, and he decided on going to Clochar-mac-Daimhin, where he found
Eochaidh, who had been inanimate twenty-four hours. When Patrick went
into the house where the body was, he sent out the persons who were about
the body. He bent his knees to the Lord, and shed tears; and he prayed,
and said in a clear voice: "Rise, O King Eochaidh! in the name of
Almighty God"; and immediately, at the voice of the servant of God, he
arose. When he had composed himself, he spoke, and the grief and
lamentations of the people were changed to joy. And forthwith Patrick
instructed the king in the rule of faith, and baptized him. He also
commanded him, before the people, that he would describe the pains of the
impious and the joy of the saints, and that he would speak to the people,
that they might believe all that is said of the pains of hell and the
joys of the blest to be true. And he spoke of these things, as he was
commanded. And Patrick offered him a choice--_i.e._ fifteen years in
the chief kingship of his country, if he would live piously and
truthfully, or to go to heaven, if he preferred it. But the king said:
"Though the sovereignty of the entire globe were given to me, and though
I might live for many years, I would count it all as nothing in
comparison with the good shown to me. Hence it is that I pray more and
more that I may be freed from the miseries of the present life, and sent
to the eternal joys exhibited to me." To whom Patrick said, "Go in
peace, and journey to the Lord." Echu (or Eochaidh) gave thanks to God
in the presence of his people, and he commended his soul to the Lord and
Patrick, and his spirit departed to heaven.
Where Patrick went afterwards was to the territory of Ui-Meith-Tire, to
Tech-Thalain; and he left Bishop Cilline there, and other holy men of his
people, and the relics of saints which he brought with him across the sea
from the east. Then it was that three robbers of Ui-Meith-Tire carried
off the second goat that was wont to be bringing water, and they came to
swear falsely to Patrick respecting him, but the goat cried from the
bodies of the three who had acted treacherously. "My _debroth_," said
Patrick, "the goat himself announces you as thieves. From this day forth
goats shall stick to your children and kindred"; which has been fulfilled.
Eoghan, son of Brian, son of Muiredach, son of Imchadh, son of
Colla-fo-Crich, was King of Ui-Meith when the people believed, and he
(Patrick) blessed them. Eoghan besought Patrick to resuscitate his
grandfather, _i.e._, Muiredach. Patrick afterwards resuscitated him, and
buried him again in the Erende, on the borders of Mughorna and Ui-Meith;
but the place belongs to Mughorna. Then Patrick went into the district
of Mughorna, to Domhnach-Maighen especially. When Victor, who was in
that place, heard that Patrick had come to it, Victor went, to avoid
Patrick, from the residence to a thorny brake at the side of the town.
God performed a prodigy for Patrick. He lighted up the brake in the dark
night, so that everything therein was visible. Victor went afterwards to
Patrick, and gave him his submission; and Patrick gave him the church,
and imposed the degree of bishop on Victor, and left him in
Domhnach-Maighen. And Patrick blessed Mudhorna, and said that the most
illustrious of laics and clerics should be of them. And he bade farewell
to them, and left a blessing with them. Afterwards Patrick went to
Fera-Ros, to Enach-Conglais, where he remained a Sunday. There it was
that the Ui-Lilaigh gave the poison to Patrick in the lumps of curds.
Patrick blessed the pieces, and made stones of them.
When Patrick went on Monday across the ford southwards, the Ui-Lilaigh
went with fifty horsemen upon the ford after him to slay him. Patrick
turned towards them upon the bank to the south of the ford, and he raised
his left hand, and said: "You shall neither come out of the ford here nor
go the other way; but you shall be in that water for ever." The water
immediately went over them. Ath-O'Lilaigh is the name of the ford for
ever, and the stone lumps are at Enach-Conglaise, in commemoration of the
miracle, to this present day.
He afterwards went to Rath-Cuile, where he blessed the
Fera-Cuile--_i.e._, the Ui-Seghain. He went to Bile-Tortan after that,
and constructed a church for Presbyter Justin near Bile-Tortan, which is
near the community of Ard-Breccan. When Patrick was journeying to the
territory of Leinster from Domhnach-Tortan, he remained a night at
Drum-Urchaille. Patrick went afterwards to Naas. The site of his tent
is in the green of the fort, to the east of the road, and his well is to
the north of the fort (_dún_), where he baptized Dunlaing's two sons,
Ailill and Illann, and where he baptized Ailill's two daughters, Moghain
and Feidelm. And their father dedicated them to God and Patrick, from
their consecrated virginity, and he (Patrick) blessed the veil on their
heads.
Messengers went from Patrick to call the steward of the fort of
Naas--_i.e._, Fallen. He avoided Patrick; and he pretended to be asleep,
through enmity and ridicule of Patrick. And Patrick was told that the
steward was asleep. "My _debroth_," said Patrick, "I should not be
surprised if it were his last sleep." His people went to awake him, and
they found him dead, through the disobedience he showed to Patrick. And
hence is the proverb amongst the Irish: "Fallen's sleep in the fort of
Naas."
Dricriu was the King of Ui-Garchon at Patrick's coming, and the daughter
of Laeghaire Mac Neill was his wife. And he refused Patrick regarding
his feast at Rath-Inbhir, on Laeghaire's account. But Cilline gave him
welcome, and killed his own cow for him, and gave to Patrick the quantity
of flour that he brought for his support from the king's house, whereupon
he (Patrick) prophesied that Cilline's son should be king of Ui-Garchon.
He went afterwards to Magh-Life, and founded cells and houses there; and
he left Usail in Cill-Usaille, and Iserninus and Mac Tail in
Cella-Cuilinn, and other saints. On his going into Western Life, the
sons of Laighis prepared water-pits in the way before him, and a covering
over them. "For God's sake," said the little boys, "drive on your
horses." "Drive on, then, for God's sake, your horses," said Patrick.
But no injury was done to them; and he cursed Laighis (_i.e._, Laighis,
son of Find) where Moin-Choluim is to-day; and Patrick said that there
would be neither a king nor a bishop from them, and that a foreign lord
should be over them for ever.
Brig, the daughter of Fergnad, son of Cobtach, of the Ui-Ercain, went to
report to Patrick the enmity that was in store for him. Patrick blessed
her, and her father, and her brothers, and the Ui-Ercain altogether, and
he said that they would never be without distinguished laics and clerics
of them.
Then Patrick alighted on the hillock which was then called
Bile-Mac-Cruaich; to-day, however, it is called Forrach-Patrick; and he
said that there would never be a foreign king or steward over them; and
when the King of Leinster would be distributing the feast in his royal
house, he would have one shin (of beef), and the King of Ui-Ercan the
other; they should have Patrick's respect, Patrick's _forrach_ (seat),
the dignity of laics and clerics, wealth, and immortality. Eight princes
they had up to the reign of Conchobhar, son of Donnchadh, in Tara.
Laighis, moreover, was the tribe-name of the youths who committed the
misdeed; and neither king nor bishop shall be from them, but strange
lords shall govern them, and they shall never have rest from persecution
and complaints.
Patrick went from Tara until he met Dubhtach Mac Ui-Lugair at
Domhnach-mór of Magh-Criathar, in Ui-Cinnse-laigh, who believed for
Patrick. Patrick requested from him a handsome youth who would not be of
low family--a man of one wife, for whom but one son was born. "Hem,"
said Dubhtach, "that is Fiacc, son of Ere, I am afraid--the man of those
qualities, who went from me to the territory of Connacht with poems for
the kings." At these words he (Fiacc) came. "What are you considering?"
asked Fiacc. "Dubhtach for the crozier," said Patrick. "That will be a
blemish to many, indeed," said Fiacc; "why should not I be taken in place
of him?" "You will be received, indeed," said Patrick. He was tonsured,
baptized, an alphabet was written for him, and he read his psalms in one
day, as has been related to me. He was ordained in the grade of bishop,
and the bishopric of Leinster was given to him by Patrick; and his only
son, Fiachra, was also ordained. This Fiacc was, therefore, the first
bishop ordained in Leinster. Patrick gave Fiacc a case--viz., a bell, a
reliquary, a crozier, and a book-satchel; and he left seven of his people
with him--viz., Mochatoc of Inis-Fail, Augustin of Inis-Bec, Tecan, and
Diarmait, and Nainnid, Paul, and Fedilmidh.
He (Fiacc) afterwards resided in Domnach-Feic, and he was there until
threescore of his people died with him. Then the angel went to him, and
said to him: "It is on the west of the river (Barrow) thy (place of)
resurrection is, in Cul-maighe"; and he said that where they would meet a
boar, there they should build their refectory; but where they would meet
a hind, there they should place the church. Fiacc said to the angel that
he would not go until Patrick would come to mark out the boundary of his
place, and to consecrate it, and that he might get the place from him.
Patrick went then to Fiacc, and marked out his place with him, and fixed
his site. And Crimthan presented that place to Patrick, for it was
Patrick that baptized him; and it is in Sleibhte he is buried. It was
there, afterwards, Fiacc was ordained.
They (the Ui-Ercan) were at that time persecuted by the King of Leinster,
Crimthann, son of Enna Ceinnselach, so that they went into exile. Of
them are the _manachs_ in Hy-Crimthann, and the _manachs_ in Ulster, and
Cenel-Enna in Munster. Of them is Fiacc, of whom we have spoken before.
Fiacc, Aengus, Ailill Mar, Conall, and Etirscel were five brothers.
Their father was the son of Ere.
Through the action of Patrick, the king granted him (Fiacc) land, the
fifth part of his father's possessions, and thereon it was that he built
Sleibhte.
The Aengus in question afterwards killed the king, Crimthann, son of Enna
Ceinnselach, to avenge his exile. In thirties and forties are the
churches which he gave to Patrick in the east of Leinster, and in
Ui-Cennselaigh, including Domnach-mor of Magh-Criathar and Inis-Fail,
where Mochonoc and Mochatoc are, and Erdit and Augustin in the smaller
island (but their shrines are in Sleibhte, since the place was occupied
by Gentiles); Domnach-mór of Magh-Reta. Patrick was a Sunday here
(_i.e._, in Domnach-mór of Magh-Reta), and they were on that Sunday
building Rath-Baccain, the royal fort of the district. Patrick sent to
prevent this, but no notice was taken thereof. Patrick said, "Its
building shall be troublesome, unless 'offering' is done there every
day." He also said that the fort would not be inhabited until the wind
(_gaeth_) would come from the lower part of hell. This was Gaithini, son
of Cinaed, who rebuilt the fort in the time of Fedhlimidh, and of
Conchobhar in Tara.
After that Patrick had founded churches and establishments in Leinster,
moreover, he left a blessing upon Ui-Cennselaigh, and upon the
Leinstermen all; and he afterwards ordained Fiacc Find in Sleibhte, as
bishop of the province.
He then went along Bealach-Gabhran, into the district of Ossory, and
founded churches and establishments there; and he said that distinguished
laics and clerics should be of them, and that no province should have
command over them, whilst they remained obedient to Patrick. Patrick
took leave of them afterwards, and he left the relics of holy men with
them, and some of his people, in the place where Martar-tech is this day
in Magh-Roighne. At Druim-Conchind, in Mairge, the cross-beam of
Patrick's chariot broke when he was going to Munster. He made another of
the wood of the _druim_. It broke immediately. He made one again, and
it broke also. Patrick said that there should never be any implement
made of the timber of that wood, which has been fulfilled, for even a pin
is not made of it. Patrick's Disert is there, but it is waste.
Patrick went afterwards to the territory of Munster, to Cashel of the
Kings. When Aengus, son of Nadfraech, got up in the morning, all their
idols were prostrate; and Patrick and his people came to the side of the
fort, and he (Aengus) bade them welcome, and took them into the fort to
the place where Lee-Patrick is to-day. And Patrick after that baptized
the sons of Nedfraech, and the men of Munster besides, and left a
blessing and prosperity upon them. And he blessed the fort--_i.e._,
Cashel--and said that only one race should be there for ever. And he was
seven years in Munster. The learned calculate that he made an offering
on every seventh ridge that he traversed in Munster.
When Patrick was baptizing Aengus, the point of the crozier went through
Aengus's foot. Patrick asked, "Why was it that you did not tell me?"
"Because," said he, "I thought it was the rule of the faith." "You shall
have its reward," said Patrick; "your successors from this day forth
shall not die of wounds." No one is King of Cashel until Patrick's
comarb ordains him and imposes the grade on him. Patrick said:
"The sons of Nadfraech, of sounding fame,
Of them shall be kings and chieftains;
Aengus, from the lands of Feimhen,
And Ailill, his brother."
And twenty-eight kings, of the race of Ailill and Aengus, reigned in
Cashel, ordained with the crozier, until the time of Cenngegan.
Patrick went after this to Muscraidhe-Breogain, and founded churches and
establishments there.
One day he was washing his hands at a ford there, when a tooth fell out
of his mouth into the ford. Patrick went upon the hillock to the north
of the ford; and persons went from him to look for the tooth, and
forthwith the tooth glistened in the ford like a sun; and Ath-fiaclai is
the name of the ford, and Cill-fiacia is the name of the church where
Patrick left the tooth and four of his people--viz., Cuircthe and Loscan,
Cailech and Bedan. He bade them (_i.e._, the Muscraidhe) farewell, and
left them a blessing.
He went afterwards to Aradha-Cliach until he was in Iochtar-Cuillenn in
Ui-Cuanach; and Ailill, son of Cathbadh, son of Lughaidh, of the
Eoghanacht of Airther-Cliach, met him. His wife went on the hillock
where they (the clerics) were, and said: "The pigs have eaten our son
Ailill through savageness," said she. And Ailill said: "I will believe
if you resuscitate my son for me." Patrick commanded the boy's bones to
be collected, and he directed a Céle-Dé of his people--_i.e._, Malach
Britt--to resuscitate him. "I will not offend the Lord," said he. (He
was seized with doubt.) Patrick said: "That is pitiful, O Malach! thy
house on earth shall not be high; thy house shall be the house of one
man." His house is in the northeastern angle of the southern Deise; its
name is Cill-Malaich. Five persons can never be supported there.
Patrick afterwards commanded Bishops Ibar and Ailbhe to resuscitate the
boy; and he prayed the Lord with them. The boy was afterwards
resuscitated through Patrick's prayers. The boy subsequently preached to
the hosts and multitudes in Patrick's presence. Ailill and his wife
thereupon believed; and all the Ui-Cuanach believed, and were baptized in
that place. And the seat of the four--_i.e._, of Patrick, Ailbhe, Bishop
Ibar, and the young boy--is in the place where the boy was resuscitated.
His father said: "God cures by the hand of the physician." Four persons
stole Patrick's horses southwards. Patrick forgave it. One of them was
a leech, whose name was Caencomhrac; another was a carpenter; another was
a bondman; but the fourth was a groom, whose name was Aedh. Patrick
called the latter, and blessed his hands, and told him that his name
should be Lamaedh from that day; and from him are the Lamhraighe.
It was then that disease seized Ailill's wife, who was _enciente_, so
that death was nigh unto her. Patrick asked what was the matter. The
woman answered: "An herb I saw in the air, and I saw not the like of it
on the earth; and I shall die, or the being in my womb shall die, or we
shall both die, unless I taste that herb." Patrick asked her of what
kind was the herb. "Like rushes," said the woman. Patrick thereupon
blessed rushes, so that they were apparently the same. The woman then
ate them, and was forthwith whole; and after some time she gave birth to
a son, and blessed Patrick; and it is reported that Patrick said that all
women who should eat of this herb would be healed.
He desired to remain by the side of Clar, at the fort of Coirpre and
Brocan, but he was not permitted; and Patrick said that there never would
be a king or bishop of the race of Colman, who opposed him. He also said
that the place would belong to himself afterwards, and left a man of his
people there, after a long period--_i.e._, Caemhan of Cill-Rath.
Ibar then selected a place of residence in Grian, in Aradha-Cliach. Dola
opposed him. Patrick said that there would not be a house of his
(Dola's) there, or, if there should be, it would be only for (the lives
of) two or three. This was fulfilled. They (Dola's descendants) removed
to Airther-Cliach, and Dal-Modola is their name until this day.
Nena went to him (Patrick), who refused to receive him, and said that he
would not be prosperous. No successors of his occupied the place there
since, but they are enslaved by Muscraighe-Mittine. "Menraighe" they are
called.
As Patrick was leaving this place, the women of Grian came to bewail his
departure from them. Patrick blessed them, and said that the children
they would bear to extern tribes would be illustrious.
Patrick was in Aradha-Cliach, at Tedil (the name of a hill). When he was
bidding farewell, two of his people remained behind. They were sent for,
and found asleep under a bush there. This was told to Patrick. "Here
their resurrection will be," said he; which is true. Muin and Lomchu
[who are] in Cill-Tidil [were left there] by Patrick.
He went after this to Hy-Fidhgente, where Lonan, son of Mac Eire,
provided a banquet for him. Mullach-Cae, over against Carn-Feradhaigh on
the south; and a man of Patrick's people was preparing the banquet along
with the king--_i.e._, Deacon Mantan. A band of artists came up to
Patrick to solicit food, and would have no excuse. "Go to Lonan and to
Deacon Mantan, that they may relieve me," said Patrick. Who answered,
"No, until our banquet is blessed." Then Patrick said:
"The youth who comes from the north,
To him is vouchsafed the triumph;
To Cothraige he comes,
With his little wether on his back."
At that very time came another youth, attended by his mother, carrying on
her back a cooked wether to the king's supper. Patrick begged of him to
give him the wether to save his honor. The son at once gave it
cheerfully, though the mother was unwilling to do so, through fear of the
king. Patrick gave the food to the players; and immediately the earth
swallowed them. Derc, son of Scirire, of the southern Desi, was their
chief; and Patrick said there would not be a king, or heir apparent, or
bishop of his family of Lonan for ever; and he assured Mantan, the
deacon, that his church would not be exalted on earth, but should be the
abode of the dregs of the people, and that swine and sheep would trample
on his own remains; but to Nessan, who had saved his honor, he promised
that he should be honored among the nations. And he baptized him,
ordained him deacon, and founded for him a church--_i.e._, Mungarit. His
mother excused herself, and he said she should not be buried in her son's
church. This came to pass, for her grave is to the west of Mungarit, and
the bell of the great church is not heard in that place; they are almost
together, only separated by a wall.
The men of North Munster, to the north of Luimnech, went in fleets of
boats to meet Patrick southwards as far as Domhnach-mor of
Magh-Aine--_i.e._, to Dun-Nocfene, then and now so called; and he
baptized them in Tir-glass, to the southeast of it. He afterwards went
to Finnine, to the northwest of Domhnach-mor, a hill from which he could
see the country to the north of Luimnech, when he gave a blessing to the
men of North Munster, who had gone with a profusion of gifts to meet
Patrick.
Cairthend, son of Blat, the senior of the Clann-Toirdhelb-haigh, believed
in the Lord, and Patrick baptized him at Sangul (_i.e._, a different
angel that went to converse with him that day, and not Victor). No
children were born to Cairthenn, except deformities, up to that time. It
was then that Eochu Ballderg was born to Cairthenn. Patrick that
procured this; and he formed a clot of gore, which was on his (Eochu's)
body, as a sign of that miracle. Patrick himself did not go into the
country, but he saw from him about Luimnech to the west and to the north;
and he blessed the district and its islands, and prophesied of the saints
who would appear in them, of their names, and the time in which they
would come. "The green island in the west," said Patrick, "in the mouth
of the sea; the lamp of the people of God shall come into it, who will be
the head of counsel to this district--_i.e._, Senan of Inis-Cathaigh--six
score years from this." (Senan, son of Gerrgenn, son of Dubhthach.) He
did not go across Luachair, indeed, into West Munster. He prophesied of
Brenainn, son of Ua-Altae, who was to be born 120 years after, which was
fulfilled.
Patrick then went into the southern Desi, and set about building a church
in Ard Patrick; and Lec-Patrick (Patrick's flag) is there, and the limits
of his church. Derball, son of Aedh, opposed him. Derball said to
Patrick: "If you would remove that mountain there, so that I could see
Loch-Lunga across it to the south, in Fera-Maighe-Feine, I would
believe." Cenn-Abhrat is the name of the mountain, and Belach-Legtha
(melted pass) is the name of the pass which was melted there. When the
mountain began to dissolve, Derball said that whatever he (Patrick) did
would be of no use. Patrick said to Derball: "There shall be no king nor
bishop of your family, and it will be allowable to the men of Munster to
plunder you all every seventh year for ever as bare as a leek."
As Patrick was in the district of the Desi, awaiting the king of the
country--_i.e._, Fergair, son of Rossa--Patrick said to him, after his
arrival: "How slowly you come!" "The country is rough" [said he]. "True
indeed," said Patrick. "There shall be no king from you for ever. What
delayed you to-day?" asked Patrick. "The rain delayed us," said the
king. "Your meetings shall be showery for ever," said Patrick.
Patrick's well is there, and also the church of Mac Clairidh, one of
Patrick's people. And assemblies are not held by the Desi except at
night, because Patrick left that sentence upon them, for it was towards
night they went to him. Patrick then cursed the streams of that place,
because his books were drowned in them, and the fishermen gave his people
a refusal. Patrick said that they would not be fruitful, and that there
would never be any mills upon them, except the mills of strangers,
notwithstanding their great profusion up to that time. He blessed the
Suir, moreover, and the country around; and it is fruitful in fish,
except the places where those streams (_glaise_) flow into it.
Patrick went into Muscraighe-thire, and to preach and plant the faith
there. He met three brothers of that nation, men of power--Furic and
Muinnech and Mechar, the sons of Forat, son of Conla. Muinnech believed
at once, and Patrick baptized and blessed him, and said that illustrious
heroes and clerics should descend from him for ever; and that the chief
kingship of his country should be [filled up] from him for ever, as the
poet said:
"Muinnech the Great believes
In Patrick, before all;
That there might be over his country
Chieftains of his race for ever.
"Mechair believed,
For he was a true, just man.
Patrick gave him a lasting blessing--
The companionship of a king.
"Fuirec, the furious man,
Opposed, though he was hoary and old;
His ultimate fate, after this world,
Is not to be deplored.
"When Cothraige imposed
A tribute (_cain_) upon noble Eri,
On the host of this island
He conferred a lasting blessing.
"Choice was this blessing
Which he conferred seven-fold
On each one who would observe
His plain rule, his law.
"Whoever would disobey
The noble, just rule,
Should not see him, he said,
In the region of the saints.
"Patrick's _cain_ in great Munster
Was imposed on each family,
Until Dungalach violated it,
[Who was] of the race of Failbhe Flann.
"Dungalach, son of Faelghus,
Grandson of just Nadfraech,
Was the first who transgressed
Patrick's _cain_ from the beginning.
"It is related in histories,
All ages know it,
That his successorship is not found
In Cashel of the Kings.
"There is not of his progeny
(Though he won battles)
A noble bishop or herenagh,
A prince or a sage.
"Saergus the Young, also--
* * * * *
Violated the _cain_ he had adopted,
For the vehement Dungalach.
"It is seen that illustrious men
Are not of his wondrous family;
If there are now, they will not
Be found till judgment comes."
Now, after that Patrick had founded cells and churches in Munster, and
had ordained persons for every grade, and healed all sick persons, and
resuscitated the dead, he bade them farewell, and left his blessing with
them. He then went to Brosnacha, and the men of Munster followed after
him, as if with one accord; and their households (hillocks? _telcha_)
followed them, to go after Patrick. Patrick thereupon blessed the
households (hillocks?), and they remained in their places.
Where the men of Munster overtook Patrick, men, youths, and women, was at
Brosnacha, when they raised great shouts of joy at seeing him; hence it
is called Brosnacha. It was here Patrick resuscitated Fot, son of Derad,
a Munsterman, who had been twenty-seven years dead. It was here, too, he
blessed the banquet of the youth at Craibhecha, with Bishop Trian, a
pilgrim of the Romans, by which the men of Munster were satisfied, and
the saints of Eri besides. He again bade farewell to the men of Munster,
and gave them his blessing, saying:
"A blessing on the men of Munaani
Men, sons, women.
A blessing on the land
That gives them food.
A blessing on all treasures
Produced upon the plains.
A blessing upon Munster.
A blessing on their woods
And on their sloping plains.
A blessing on their glens.
A blessing on their hills.
As the sands of the seas under ships--
So numerous be their homesteads,
In slopes, in plains,
In mountains, in peaks,
A blessing."
Patrick afterwards went to the territory of Hy-Failge, and Foilge Berrad
boasted that, if he met Patrick, he would kill him, in revenge of the
idol Cenn Cruach; for it was this that was a god to Foilge. This boast
of Foilge was kept back from Patrick by his people. One day Odran, his
charioteer, said to Patrick: "Since I have been a long time driving for
you, O Patrick! let me take the chief seat for this day. Be you the
charioteer, O father!" Patrick did so. After this Foilge came, who
dealt a thrust through Odran, in the guise of Patrick. "My curse," said
Patrick. "Upon the tree of Bridam," said Odran. "Be it so," replied
Patrick. Foilge died at once, and went to hell. As to Foilge Ross,
indeed, it is his children who are in the district at this day; and
Patrick blessed him, and from him is the sovereignty of the district
filled for ever.
On one occasion, as Patrick was going the way of Midluachair, in order to
come to Uladh, he met carpenters cutting down trunks of yew. Patrick saw
their blood ooze from their palms in the operation. "Whence are ye?"
said Patrick. "We are slaves belonging to Trian, son of Fiac, son of
Amalgad--_i.e._, brother to Trichem--who are in subjection and
affliction, so much so that we are not allowed to sharpen our axes
(irons), in order that our work may be the heavier and more difficult, so
that blood flows from our hands." Patrick blessed the irons, so that
they could easily cut with them; and he went to the king, to Trian's
fort. Patrick fasts on him. He disobeyed. He returns on the morrow
from the fort. He spat on the rock which was there on his way, so that
it broke into three pieces; one third part was cast to a distance of one
thousand paces. Patrick said: "Two-thirds of the fast on the rock,
another third on the fort and king, and on the district. There will not
be a king nor _roydamhna_ of the children of Trian. He shall die
prematurely himself, and shall go down to a bitter hell." The wife of
the king came, following Patrick. She performed penance, and knelt.
Patrick blessed her womb and the beings in it--_i.e._, Setna, son of
Trian, and Iarlaid, son of Trian. Sechnall that baptized Setna, Patrick
that baptized Iarlaid, and Patrick said that he would be his successor
afterwards. Trian himself proceeded to bind and maltreat the slaves who
reported him. His horses bore him off in the chariot, and his driver, so
that they went into the lake. Loch-Trena is its name. This was his last
fall. He will not arise out of the lake till the vespers of judgment;
and it will not be to happiness even then. There was a certain wicked
man in the country of Uladh--_i.e._, Magh-Inis--at that time, an impious
man, and a son of death--_i.e._, Mac Cuill--who was plundering and
killing the people. On one occasion Patrick and his companions passed by
him a certain day, and he desired to kill Patrick. This is what he (Mac
Cuill) said to his followers: "Behold the _tailcenn_ and false prophet,
who is deceiving every one; let us arise and make an attack on him, to
see if perhaps his God will assist him." This is what they planned
afterwards: to bring one of their people on a bier, as if dead, to be
resuscitated by Patrick, and to deceive Patrick; and they threw a cover
over his body and over his face. "Cure," said they to Patrick, "our
companion for us, and beseech your God to awake him from death." "My
_debroth_," said Patrick, "I would not wonder if he were dead." Garban
was the name of the man; and it is of him Patrick said: "The covering of
Garban shall be the covering of a dead body; but I shall tell you more:
it is Garban who will be under it." His friends removed the covering
from his face, so that they found it so. They afterwards became mute,
and then said: "Truly this is a man of God." They all believed at once.
Mac Cuill believed also; and he went on sea in a cot of one hide, by the
command of Patrick. Garban was awakened from death through the prayers
of Patrick. Mac Cuill, however, went that very day on sea, and his right
hand towards Magh-Inis, until he reached Manann; and he found two
venerable persons before him on the island. It was they who preached the
word of God in Manann, and it is through their teaching that the people
of that island were baptized and believed; their names are Coninnri and
Romael. When those men saw Mac Cuill in his cot, they took him off the
sea; they received him kindly; and he learned the divine knowledge with
them, and spent his whole time with them, until he got the episcopacy of
the place after them. This is Mac Cuill, of Mann, famous bishop and
abbot. May his holy favor assist us!
One time Patrick slept on a Sunday, on a hill over the sea, at Drombo,
when he heard the noise of Gentiles digging a rath on the Sabbath. He
called them, and told them to cease. They heeded him not, but began to
mock him. And Patrick said: "My _debroth_, your labor shall not profit
you." This was fulfilled; for on the following night a great tempest
arose and destroyed their work, according to the word of Patrick.
Patrick said to Eochaidh, son of Muiredach that there should never be a
king from him, nor enough of his race to constitute an assembly or army
in Ulster, but that his tribe would be scattered and dispersed, that his
own life would be short, and that he would meet a tragic fate. This was
the cause Patrick had against Eochaidh, as the learned say: Two virgins,
who had offered their virginity to the Lord, he bound and sent on the
waves to be drowned, as they refused to adore idols and to marry. When
Patrick heard this, he besought the king regarding them, but in vain.
"Your brother Cairell has got thy luck, since he granted me a good
request," said Patrick, "and you have lost it through your disobedience.
He (Cairell) shall be a king, and there shall be kings and chiefs of his
race over your children and over all Ulster"; so that of him sprang the
race of kings, and of his son Deman, son of Cairell, son of Muiredhach,
according to the words of Patrick. Eochaidh's wife cast herself at the
feet of Patrick. He baptized her, and blessed the child in her
womb--_i.e._, the excellent and illustrious son, Domangart, the son of
Eochaidh. He it was whom Patrick left in his body, and he will be there
for ever. He turned back to the Fera-Ross, and commenced a church in
Druim-Mor, in the territory of Ross, over Cluain-Cain. It was here the
angel went to him and said: "It is not here you have been destined to
stay." "Where shall I go?" said Patrick. "Pass on to Macha northwards,"
said the angel. "The _cluain_ below is fairer," replied Patrick. "Be
its name Cluain-Cain" (_fair cluain_), answered the angel. "A pilgrim of
the Britons shall come and occupy there, and it shall be yours
afterwards." "_Deo gratias ago_," said Patrick. Where Patrick went then
was to Ard-Phadraig, on the east of Lughmadh, and he proposed to build an
establishment there. The Dal-Runter went after him to keep him, as one
presented him to another. He blessed them afterwards, and prophesied
that distinguished chiefs and clerics should be of them, and that they
should have possessions outside their territory, because they went forth
out of their own country after him. Patrick used to come every day from
the east, from Ard-Phadraig, and Mochta used to come from the west, from
Lughmadh, that they might converse together every day at Leac-Moctae.
One day the angel placed an epistle between them. Patrick read the
epistle, and what was in it was: "Mochta, the devoted, the believing, let
him be in the place he has taken." Patrick goes, by the order of his
king, to smooth Macha, and he assigned the twelve lepers left in
Ard-Phadraig to Mochta, and their food used to be given to them each
night by Mochta. Patrick went afterwards to the _macha_, by order of the
angel, to a place where Rath-Daire is this day. There was a certain
prosperous and venerable person there. Daire was his name--_i.e._,
Daire, son of Finchad, son of Eogan, son of Niallan. Patrick asked for a
site for his _regles_ from him. Daire answered: "What place do you
desire?" "In this great hillock below," says Patrick, where Ardmacha is
to-day. "I will not give it," said Daire, "but I will give you a site
for your _regles_ in the strong rath below," where the _ferta_ are
to-day. Patrick founded a church there, and remained a long time. One
day two steeds of Daire's were brought to him, to his _regles_, for the
_relig_ was grassy. Patrick became very angry. The horses died at once.
His servant told this to Daire, saying: "That Christian," said he,
"killed your steeds, because they ate the grass that was in his
_regles_." Daire was angry at this, and ordered his servants to plunder
the cleric, and expel him from his place--_i.e._, the _ferta_. A colic
seized on Daire immediately, so that death was near him. His wife
recalled the plunder of Patrick, and told Daire that the cause of his
death was the attack on Patrick. She sent messengers to beg prayer-water
for Daire from Patrick. Patrick said: "Only for what the woman has done,
there would never be any resurrection from death for Daire." Patrick
blessed the water, and gave it to the servants, with orders to have it
sprinkled over the horses and over Daire. They did so, and immediately
they all returned from death. A brazen caldron was brought to Patrick as
an offering from Daire. "_Deo gratias_," said Patrick. Daire asked his
servants what Patrick said. They answered, "_Gratzicum_." "This is
little reward for a good offering and a good caldron," said Daire. He
ordered his cauldron to be brought to him. "_Deo gratias_," said
Patrick. Daire asked what Patrick said when they were bringing the
caldron from him. The servants answered: "It was the same thing he said
when we were bringing it away from him--_Gratzicum_." "This is a good
word with them, this _Gratzicum_," said Daire; "_Gratzicum_ when giving
it to him, and _Gratzicum_ when taking it away from him." Daire and his
wife then went with his submission to Patrick, and gave Patrick the
caldron willingly back again, and the hill which he before asked; and
Patrick accepted and blessed them, and founded a church in that place
called Ard-Macha. Patrick and his divines, and Daire, with the nobles of
Airther besides, came to the hill to mark out its boundaries, and to
bless it, and consecrate it. They found a doe, with its fawn, in the
place where the Sabhall is to-day, and his people went to kill it.
_Prohibuit Patricius, et dixit, "Serviat sibi postea_," and sent it out
of the hill northward, to the place where Telac-na-licce is to-day, _ibi
magna mirabilia fecit_.
Daire's daughter loved the person Benen; sweet to her was the sound of
his voice in chanting. Disease seized her, so that she died of it.
Benen carried _cretra_ to her from Patrick, and she suddenly afterwards
arose alive, and loved him spiritually. She is Ercnait, the daughter of
Daire, who is in Tamlaght-bo.
One time there came nine daughters of the King of the Longbards and the
daughter of the King of Britain on a pilgrimage to Patrick; they stopped
at the east side of Ard-Macha, where Coll-na-ningean is to-day. There
came messengers from them to Patrick to know if they should proceed to
him. Patrick said to the messengers that three of the maidens would go
to heaven, and in that place (_i.e._, Coll-na-ningean) their sepulchre
is. "And let the other maidens go to Druim-fenneda, and let one of them
proceed as far as that hill in the east." And so it was done.
Cruimthir went afterwards, and occupied Cengobd; and Benen used to carry
fragments of food to her every night from Patrick. And Patrick planted
an apple-tree in Achadh-na-elti, which he took from the fort, in the
north of the place--_i.e._, Cengoba; and hence the place is called
Abhall-Patrick, in Cengoba. It was the milk of this doe, moreover, that
used to be given to the lap-dog that was near the maiden--_i.e._,
Cruimthir.
Another time, when Patrick was at rest in the end of night, at
Tiprad-Cernai, in Tir-Tipraid, the angel went to him and awoke him.
Patrick said to him: "Is there anything in which I have offended God, or
is His anger upon me?" "No," said the angel; "and you are informed from
God," added the angel, "if it is it you desire, that there shall be no
share for any else in Eriu, but for you alone. And the extent of the
termon of your see from God is to Droma-Bregh, and to Sliabh-Mis, and to
Bri-Airghi." Patrick replied: "My _debroth_, truly," said Patrick, "sons
of life will come after me, and I wish they may have honor from God in
the country after me." The angel responded: "That is manifest. And God
gave all Eriu to you," said the angel, "and every noble that will be in
Eriu shall belong to you." "_Deo gratias_," said Patrick.
Patrick was enraged against his sister--_i.e._, Lupait--for committing
the sin of adultery, so that she was pregnant in consequence. When
Patrick came into the church from the eastern side, Lupait went to meet
him, until she prostrated herself before the chariot, in the place where
the cross is in Both-Archall. "The chariot over her," said Patrick. The
chariot passed over her thrice, for she used still to come in front of
it; so that where she went to heaven was at the Ferta; and she was buried
by Patrick, and her _ecnaire_ (requiem) was sung. Colman, grandson of
Ailill, of the Ui-Bresail, that fixed his attention on Lupait at Imduail.
Aedan, son of Colman, saint of Inis-Lothair, was the son of Lupait and
Colman. Lupait implored of Patrick that he would not take away heaven
from Colman with his progeny. Patrick did not take it away; but he said
they would be sickly. Of the children of this Colman, moreover, are the
Ui-Faelain and Ui-Dubhdara.
One time Patrick's people were cutting corn in Trian-Conchobhair. They
were seized with great thirst, whereupon a vessel of whey was taken to
them from Patrick, who persuaded them to observe abstinence from tierce
to vesper time. It happened that one of them died; and he was the first
man that was buried by Patrick--_i.e._, Colman Itadach, at the cross by
the door of Patrick's house. What Patrick said when it was told to him
was: "My _debroth_, there will be abundance of food and ale and
prosperity in this city after us."
Once the angels went, and took from off the road the stone which was
before the chariot, and its name is Lec-na-naingel. It was from that
place--_i.e._, from Druim-Chaile--that Patrick with his two hands blessed
the _macha_. The way in which Patrick measured the rath--_i.e._, the
angel before him, and Patrick behind, with his people, and with the holy
men of Eriu, and the Bachall Isa in Patrick's hand. And he said that
great would be the crime of any one who would transgress in it, as the
reward would be great of such as fulfilled the will of God in it.
The way in which Patrick measured the _ferta_ was thus, viz., one hundred
and forty feet in the _lis_, and twenty feet in the great house, and
seventeen feet in the kitchen, and seven feet in the chamber; and it was
thus he always constructed the establishment.
The angel went to Patrick in Ard-Macha. "This day," said he, "the relics
of the apostles are distributed in Rome throughout the four parts of the
globe; and it would be becoming in you that you should go there." And
the angel bore Patrick in the air. At the southern cross, in
Aenach-Macha, it was that four chariots were brought to Patrick; at the
northern cross, moreover, it was that God manifested to him the form he
will have in the Day of Judgment. And he went in one day to
Comur-tri-nuisce. He left Sechnall in the episcopacy with the men of
Eriu until the ship would come which would bear him from the shore of
Letha.
Patrick went subsequently, and arrived at Rome; and sleep came over the
inhabitants of Rome, so that Patrick brought away a sufficiency of the
relics. These relics were afterwards taken to Ard-Macha with the consent
of God and with the consent of the men of Eriu.
What was brought were the relics of three hundred and sixty-five martyrs,
and the relics of Peter and Paul, and Lawrence, and Stephen, and of many
more; and a cloth in which was the blood of Christ and the hair of the
Virgin Mary. Patrick left this collection in Armagh, according to the
will of God, of the angel, and of the men of Eriu.
His relics--the relics of Letha--were stolen from Patrick. Messengers
went from him to the Abbot of Rome. They brought an epistle from him,
directing that they should watch the relics with lamps and torches by
night for ever, and with Mass and psalmody by day, and prayers by night,
and that they should elevate them every year (for multitudes desired to
see them).
Two brothers of the Ulstermen, Dubhan and Dubhaedh, stole Patrick's two
garrons from the land (_tir_) to the east of the Nemhed
(Tir-suidhe-Patrick is its name). They carried them off into the moor to
the south. Dubhan said; "I will not take what belongs to the
_tailcenn_." "I will take what comes to me," said Dubhaedh. Dubhan went
and did penance. "Your comrade's journey is not a good one," said
Patrick. He got a fall, so that his head was broken, and he died.
Dubhan became a disciple, and was ordained; and Patrick said: "Here thy
resurrection shall be." Another time, in carrying a bag of wheat from
Setna, son of Dallan, to Patrick, the manna which dropped from heaven, in
a desert place, over Druim-mic-Ublae, Patrick's horse [fell] under it. A
grain of the wheat dropped out of the bag, and the horse could not rise
until there came from Patrick. "This is the reason," said Patrick
through prophecy, "a grain of wheat that fell out of the sack, in the
spot where the cross is on the way southwards to the Nemhed." "Nenihed
then will be the name of the place where the horse stopped," said
Patrick; and so it is.
Another time Sechnall went to Armagh, and Patrick was not there. He saw
before him two of Patrick's horses unyoked, and he said: "It were fitter
to send those horses to the bishop--_i.e._, to Fiacc." When Patrick
returned, this thing was told to him. The chariot was attached to the
horses; and he sent them on without a man with them until they were in
the disert with Mochta. They went right-hand-wise on the morrow to
Domhnach-Sechnaill. They then went eastwardly to Cill-Auxili. They went
afterwards to Cill-monach; then, after that, to Fiacc to Sleibhte. The
reason for giving the chariot to Fiacc was because he used to go every
Whit-Saturday as far as the hill of Druim-Coblai, where he had a cave.
Five cakes with him, as report says. On Easter-Saturday he used to come
to Sleibhte, and used to bring with him a bit of his five cakes. The
cause of giving the chariot to Fiacc was that a chafer had gnawed his
leg, so that death was nigh unto him.
Sechnall said to Patrick: "When shall I make a hymn of praise for thee?"
"You are not required," observed Patrick. "I have not said to thee,
'Shall it be done?'" said Sechnall, "for it will be done, truly." "My
_debroth_," said Patrick, "it is time it were finished now"; for Patrick
knew that it would not be long until Sechnall's time [arrived], for he
was the first bishop who went under the clay of Eriu.
When he was composing the hymn, they were holding an assembly near him.
It was commanded to them from him that they should go away from the
place. They began to mock him. He told them that the ground would
swallow them; and it swallowed twelve chariots of them at once. Sechnall
said to Patrick's people at Ferta-Marta: "A good man is Patrick, but for
one thing." When he heard these words with his people, he asked Sechnall
for the previous message, and Sechnall said; "O my lord! the reason I
have said it is because little do you preach of charity." "Young man,"
said Patrick, "it is for charity that I preach not charity; for if I did
preach it, I would not leave a stud of two chariot horses to any of the
saints, present or future, in this island; for all belong to me and them."
Sechnall went with his hymn to Patrick, and Patrick went along
Belach-Midhluachra into the territory of Conaille. He returned along the
mountain westwards. He met Sechnall. They saluted one another. "I
should like that you would hear a [hymn of] praise which I have made for
a certain man of God," said Sechnall. "The praise of the people of God
is welcome," answered Patrick. Sechnall thereupon began "Beata Christi
custodit," fearing that Patrick would prohibit him at once if he heard
his name. When he sang "Maximus namque," Patrick arose. The place where
he sang so far is called Elda. "Wait," said Sechnall, "until we reach a
secret place which is near us; it is there the remainder will be
recited." Patrick enquired on the way how "Maximus in regno coelorum"
could be said of a man. Sechnall replied: "It [_maximus_] is put for the
positive [_magnus_]," or because he excelled the men of his race of the
Britons or Scoti. They came then to a place called Dal-Muine, where he,
Patrick, prayed and sat; and Sechnall afterwards sang the remainder of
the hymn; and Patrick heard his name, and thereupon thanked him. Three
pieces of cheese, and butter, were brought up to him from a religious
couple--viz., Berach and Brig. "Here is for the young men," said the
woman. "Good," said Patrick. A druid came there, whose name was
Gall-drui ("foreign druid"), who said: "I will believe in you if you
convert the pieces of cheese into stones"; which God performed through
Patrick. "Again convert them into cheese"; and he did. "Convert them
into stones again"; and he did. "Convert them again." Patrick said:
"No, but they will be as they are, in commemoration, until the servant of
God, who is Dicuill of the Ernaidhe, shall come here." The druid
(_magus_) believed.
Patrick flung his little bell under a dense bush there. A birch grew
through its handle. This it was that Dicuill found, the _betechan_,
Patrick's bell--a little iron bell--which is in the Ernaidhe of Dicuill.
And two of the stones made of the cheese are there; the third one was,
moreover, carried by Dicuill to Lughmagh when he was abbot there. It is
to-day in Gort-Conaidh.
Sechnall asked something for the hymn. "As many as there are hairs in
your _casula_," said Patrick, "if they are pupils of yours, and violate
not rules, shall be saved. The clay of your abode has also been
sanctified by God," said Patrick. "That will be received," said
Sechnall. "Whosoever of the men of Eriu," said Patrick, "shall recite
the three last chapters, or the three last lines, or the three last
words, just before death, with pure mind, his soul will be saved." "_Deo
gratias ago_," said Sechnall. Colman Ela recited it in his refectory
thrice. Patrick stood in the middle of the house, when a certain
plebeian asked, "Have we no other prayer that we could recite except
this?" And Patrick went out afterwards. Cainnech, on the sea, in the
south, saw the black cloud of devils passing over him. "Come here on
your way," said Cainnech. The demons subsequently came, stating, "We
went to meet the soul of a certain rich rustic observing the festival of
Patrick; but his sons and people ate, and he sang two or three chapters
of the hymn of Patrick; and, by your dignity, we thought it more a satire
than praise of Patrick as they sang it; but by it we have been
vanquished."
The miracles of Patrick are these--viz.: The hound in the territory of
Gailenga, at Telach-Maine; the buck speaking out of the bodies of the
thieves in the territory of Ui-Meith; the travelling of the garron
without any guide to Druimmic-Ublae, when he lay down beside the grain of
wheat; the chariot, without a charioteer, [going] from Armagh to
Sleibhte; the appearance of the King of Britain in the form of a fox in
his country, an ever-living miracle; a part of Aenach-Tailten, from which
nothing dead is taken; the King of Cashel not to be killed by wounding,
provided that he be of the race of Aenghus, son of Nad-fraech; these bare
residences not to lie demolished--viz., Rath-Airthir, and Sen-domhnach of
Magh-Ai ("_Eccor Sen-domhnaigh_" is an old saying); Dun-Sobhairce charmed
to the herenaghs--viz., an altar-sop with the Forbraige; and the
_dominica_ of Naas, and Magh-itir-da-glas in Macha; the navigation from
Bertlach to Bertlach of Calry-Cuile-Cernadha; the streams which the
_gilla_ blessed at Drob-hais; the take [of fish] at Eastern Bann; the
take at Sligo every quarter [of the year]; the Samer, which goes from the
loughs of Erne to the sea--its eastern half, against Cenel-Conaill, is
fruitful; its western part, towards Cenel-Cairbre, is unfruitful, through
Patrick's word; Finn-glas, at the martyr-house of Druim-Cain, and
Druim-Cruachni; the taking of his kingship from Laeghaire, from Cairbre,
from Fiacha, from Maine; the grant of his kingship to Eoghan, to Conall,
to Crimthann, to Conall Erball; the smiths making the bells--_i.e._, Mac
Cecht, and Cuana, and Mac Tail; the artificers making the dishes and
reliquaries and the altar chalices--viz., Tassach, and Essa, and Bitiu;
the nuns making the altar-cloths--viz., Cochnass, and Tigris, and Lupait,
and Darerca.
After these great miracles, however, the day of Patrick's death and of
his going to heaven approached. What he began to do was to go to Armagh,
that it might be there his resurrection would be. The angel Victor came
to him. What he said to Patrick was: "It is not there thy resurrection
has been decreed; go back to the place from whence you came (_i.e._, to
the Sabhall), for it is there God has decreed that you shall die--not in
Macha. God has granted thee," said the angel, "that thy dignity and
rule, thy devotion and teaching, shall be in Ard-Macha, as if thou
thyself wert alive there."
The angel left advice with Patrick as to how he would be buried, saying:
"Let two young, active oxen be brought," said he, "of the herds of
Conall, from Finnabndir--_i.e._, from Clochar; and let your body be
placed in a wagon after them; and what way soever these young oxen go by
themselves, and the place where they will stop, let it be there your
interment shall be; and let there be a man's cubit in your grave, that
your remains be not taken out of it." It was so done after his death.
The oxen carried him to the place where to-day is Dun-da-leth-glas; and
he was buried there with all honor and respect. And for a space of
twelve nights--_i.e._, whilst the divines were waking him with hymns and
psalms and canticles--there was no night in Magh-inis, but angelic light
there; and some say there was light in Magh-inis for the space of a year
after Patrick's death, quia nulli adanti viri meritum declarandum
accidisse dubium est, et ita non visa nox in tota ilia regione in tempore
luctus Patricii, qualiter Ezechiae langenti in horologio Achaz
demonstrato sanitatis indicio, sol per xv lineas reversus est, et sic sol
contra Gabon, et luna contra vallem Achilon stetit.
In the first night the angels of the Lord of the elements were watching
Patrick's body with spiritual chants. The fragrant odors of the divine
grace which issued from the holy body, and the music of the angels, gave
tranquillity and joy to the chief clerics of the men of Erin who were
watching the body on the nights following; so that the blessing of Jacob
to his son was kept regarding him--_i.e._, "Ecce odor filii mei sicut
odor agri pleni, quem benedixit dicens," etc.
There was, moreover, a great attempt at conflict and battle between the
provinces of Erin--viz., the Ulidians and the Ui-Neill and
Airghialla--contending for Patrick's body. The Airghialla and Ui-Neill
were trying to take it to Ard-Macha; the Ulidians were for keeping it
with themselves. Then the Ui-Neill went to a certain water [river]
there, when the river rose against them through the power of God. When
the flood left the river, the hosts proceeded to quarrel--viz., the
Ui-Neill and the Ulidians. It appeared then to each party of them that
they were bringing the body to their own country, so that God separated
them in this wise through the grace of Patrick.
The miracles so far shall be unto to-day. They are the miracles which
the divines of Eriu heard, and which they put into order of narration.
Colum-Cille, the son of Fedhlimidh, firstly, narrated and compiled the
miracles of Patrick; Ultan, the descendant of Conchobhar; Adamnan, the
grandson of Atinne; Eleran the wise; Ciaran of Belach-Duin; Bishop
Ermedach of Clogher; Colman Uamach; and Cruimther Collaith of
Druim-Roilgech.
A just man, indeed, was this man; with purity of nature like the
patriarchs; a true pilgrim like Abraham; gentle and forgiving of heart
like Moses; a praiseworthy psalmist like David; an emulator of wisdom
like Solomon; a chosen vessel for proclaiming truth like the Apostle
Paul. A man full of grace and of the knowledge of the Holy Ghost like
the beloved John. A fair flower-garden to children of grace; a fruitful
vine-branch. A sparkling fire, with force of warmth and heat to the sons
of life, for instituting and illustrating charity. A lion in strength
and power; a dove in gentleness and humility. A serpent in wisdom and
cunning to do good. Gentle, humble, merciful towards sons of life; dark,
ungentle towards sons of death. A servant of labor and service of
Christ. A king in dignity and power for binding and loosening, for
liberating and convicting, for killing and giving life.
After these great miracles, therefore--_i.e._, after resuscitating the
dead; after healing lepers, and the blind, and the deaf, and the lame,
and all diseases; after ordaining bishops, and priests, and deacons, and
people of all orders in the Church; after teaching the men of Eriu, and
after baptizing them; after founding churches and monasteries; after
destroying idols and images and druidical arts--the hour of death of St.
Patrick approached. He received the Body of Christ from the bishop, from
Tassach, according to the advice of the angel Victor. He resigned his
spirit afterwards to heaven, in the one hundred and twentieth year of his
age. His body is here still in the earth, with honor and reverence.
Though great his honor here, greater honor which will be to him in the
Day of Judgment, when judgment will be given on the fruits of his
teaching, like every great apostle, in the union of the apostles and
disciples of Jesus; in the union of the nine orders of angels, which
cannot be surpassed; in the union of the divinity and humanity of the Son
of God; in the union which is higher than all unions--in the union of the
Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. I beseech mercy through the
intercession of Patrick. May we all arrive at that union; may we enjoy
it for ever and ever. Amen.
These miracles, then, which we have related, the Lord performed for
Patrick. Though one should attempt to recount them, he could not.
Nevertheless, they are but a few of many related in commemoration; for
there is no one who could remember them all. And there is no writer who
could write all the prodigies and miracles he wrought in the countries he
reached.
After the foundation, then, of numerous churches; after the consecration
of monasteries; after baptizing the men of Eriu; after great abstinence
and great labor; after destroying idols and images; after degrading
numerous kings who would not obey him, and raising up those who obeyed
him; and after he had three hundred and fifty or three hundred and
seventy bishops; and after ordaining three thousand priests and persons
of all other orders in the Church; after fasting and prayer; after
showing mercy and mildness; after gentleness and sweetness towards sons
of life; after the love of God and his neighbor, he received the body of
Christ from the bishop, from Tassach; and he afterwards resigned his
spirit to heaven. His body, lowever, is here on earth still, with honor
and reverence. And though great his honor here, his honor will be
greater in the Day of Judgment, when he will shine like a sun in heaven,
and when judgment will be given regarding the fruit of his teaching, like
Peter or Paul. He will be afterwards in the union of the patriarchs and
prophets; in the union of the saints and virgins of the world; in the
union of the apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ; in the union of the
Church, both of heaven and earth; in the union of the nine orders of
heaven, which cannot be surpassed; in the union of the divinity and
humanity of the Son of God; in the union which excels every union--in the
union of the Trinity, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, for
ever and ever. Amen. I beseech the mercy of God, through the
intercession of Patrick. May we all reach that union; may we deserve it;
may we inhabit it for ever and ever.
These are the four-and-twenty who were in orders with Patrick--viz.,
Sechnall, his bishop; Mochta, his priest; Bishop Ere, his brehon; Bishop
MacCairthen, his strong man; Benen, his psalmist; Caemhan of Cill-Ruada,
his youth; Sinell, from Cill-Daresis, his bell-ringer; Athgein of
Both-Domhnach, his cook; Cruimther Mescan, from Domhnach-Mescan at
Fochan, his brewer; Cruimther Bescna, from Domhnach-Dala, his
mass-priest; Cruimther Catan and Cruimther Ocan, his two waiters; Odhran,
from Disert-Odhran in Hy-Failghe, his charioteer; Cruimther Manach, his
wood-man; Rodan, his shepherd; his three smiths, MacCecht, Laeban from
Domhnach-Laebhan (who made the Findfaithnech), and Fortchern in
Rath-Adiné. Essa and Bite and Tassach were his three artists. His three
embroiderers were Lupait, and Ere, daughter of Daire, and Cruimthiris in
Cenn-Gobha. And this is the number that were in the company of Joseph;
and it is the number that is allowed at the table of the King of Cashel,
down from the time of Fedhlimidh, son of Crimthann--_i.e._, the king of
the two provinces of Munster, etc.
The Annals of the Lord Jesus Christ, the year this Life of St. Patrick
was written, 1477; and to-morrow will be Lammas Night. And in
Baile-in-Miónín, in the house of O'Troightigh, this was written by
Domhnall Albanach O'Troightigh; et Deo gratias Jesu.
THE PROEME OF JOCELIN.
It has been, from ancient times, the object and the design of most
writers to perpetuate, with a pen worthy of their virtues, the lives of
holy men, that the fervor of sanctity so deserving our veneration might
not be buried in oblivion, but rather that it might shine before all as
in a glass, to the end that posterity might imitate its brightness--as
was commanded from above, that in the breast-plate of the chief priest
the names of the twelve patriarchs, the sons of Israel, should be
engraven on twelve precious stones, so that by the sight thereof the
faithful might be moved to imitate the acts of the holy fathers; for it
is most fitting that of those in whose titles we glory, in whose
praises we delight, by whose patronage we are protected, we should
endeavor to conform to the manners, and be confirmed by the examples;
but since the dearth of literature has so much increased, and the
slothfulness to learning so much abounded, very many, fools and
ignorant persons, have ofttimes, lest they should perish from the
memory of the faithful, written the lives of the saints, certainly with
a pious intent, but in a most unhandsome style. Wherefore, in reading
the lives and acts of the saints composed in a rude manner or barbarous
dialect, disgust is often excited, and not seldom tardiness of belief.
And hence it is that the life of the most glorious priest Patrick, the
patron and apostle of Ireland, so illustrious in signs and miracles,
being frequently written by illiterate persons, through the confusion
and obscurity of the style, is by most people neither liked nor
understood, but is held in weariness and contempt. Charity therefore
urging us, we will endeavor, by reducing them to order, to collect what
are confused, when collected to compose them into a volume, and, when
composed, to season them, if not with all the excellence of our
language, at least with some of its elegance. To this our endeavor the
instruction of the threefold instrument which is described to belong to
the candlestick of the tabernacle giveth aid; for we find therein the
tongs, the extinguisher, and the oil-cruse, which we must properly use,
if, in describing the lives of the saints, who shone in their
conversation and example like the candlestick before the Lord, we
should labor to clear away the superfluous, extinguish the false, and
illuminate the obscure, which, though by the devotion we have toward
St. Patrick we are bound to do, yet are we thereto enjoined by the
commands of the most reverend Thomas, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate
of all Ireland, and of Malachy, the Bishop of Down; and to these are
added the request of John de Courcy, the most illustrious Prince of
Ulidia, who is known to be the most especial admirer and honorer of St.
Patrick, and whom we think it most becoming to obey. But if any snake
in the way, or serpent in the path, watching our steps, shall rashly
accuse us herein of presumption, and shall attack our hand with viper
tooth, yet do we, with the blessed Paul, collect the vine-twigs for the
fire, and cast the viper into the flame. Wherefore, in describing the
saints that sleep, which were the branches of the true vine, so that
the minds of the faithful may be inflamed toward the love and belief of
Christ, we little regard the tongue of the scorner and of the
slanderer; for if we are to be judged of such, with the apostle setting
them at small account, we commit all to the divine judgment.
[Illustration: The Saint Patrick of Our Own Century.]
THE LIFE AND ACTS OF ST. PATRICK.
BY JOCELIN.
CHAPTER I.
There was once a man named Calphurnius, the son of Potitus, a
presbyter, by nation a Briton, living in the village Taburnia (that is,
the field of the tents, for that the Roman army had there pitched their
tents), near the town of Empthor, and his habitation was nigh unto the
Irish Sea. This man married a French damsel named Conchessa, niece of
the blessed Martin, Archbishop of Tours; and the damsel was elegant in
her form and in her manners, for, having been brought from France with
her elder sister into the northern parts of Britain, and there sold at
the command of her father, Calphurnius, being pleased with her manners,
charmed with her attentions, and attracted with her beauty, very much
loved her, and, from the state of a serving-maid in his household,
raised her to be his companion in wedlock. And her sister, having been
delivered unto another man, lived in the aforementioned town of Empthor.
And Calphurnius and his wife were both just before God, walking without
offence in the justifications of the Lord; and they were eminent in
their birth, and in their faith, and in their hope, and in their
religion. And though in their outward habit and abiding they seemed to
serve under the yoke of Babylon, yet did they in their acts and in
their conversation show themselves to be citizens of Jerusalem.
Therefore, out of the earth of their flesh, being freed from the tares
of sin and from the noxious weeds of vice by the ploughshare of
evangelic and apostolic learning, and being fruitful in the growth of
all virtues, did they, as the best and richest fruit, bring forth a
son, whom, when he had at the holy font put off the old man, they
caused to be named Patricius, as being the future father and patron of
many nations; of whom, even at his baptism, the God which is three in
one was pleased, by the sign of a threefold miracle, to declare how
pure a vessel of election should he prove, and how devoted a worshipper
of the Holy Trinity. But after a little while, this happy birth being
completed, they vowed themselves by mutual consent unto chastity, and
with an holy end rested in the Lord. But Calphurnius first served God
a long time in the deaconship, and at length closed his days in the
priesthood.