_The King's Daughter becomes a Nun._
And Patrick came unto the country of Neyll, wherein reigned a king
named Echu, and he had one beloved daughter named Cynnia, whom he
intended at a fitting time to give in fitting marriage. And the damsel
unfolded to the saint her father's purpose, and he exhorted her to
deserve the reward of virginity even an hundred-fold; therefore,
rejecting worldly nuptials, she determined to offer herself an
undefiled offering unto her celestial Spouse, and to cherish Him in her
heart. And the king, beholding her thus steadily to preserve her
virgin purity, called unto him the saint, and thus he spake: "I had
determined that my daughter should continue unto me a long-descending
progeny for the confirmation of my kingdom and the solace of mine age;
but the succession is cut off, and mine hope is defeated by thee; if,
therefore, thou wilt promise unto me the heavenly kingdom, yet not
compel me unwillingly to receive baptism, my daughter shall become the
servant of thy God, even as thou hast exhorted her; otherwise will I
not be stopped of my desire, nor shall thy preaching prevail." And the
saint, confiding in, and committing all unto, the Lord, faithfully
promised what the king required. Then the damsel, being veiled and
consecrated, and serving the Lord in virginity and in the exercise of
all other virtues, brought by her example many unto His devotion; and
during her life and after her death she was renowned by divers
miracles. And the saint commended her unto the care of the holy virgin
Cethuberis, who first of all the women of Ireland had received from him
the veil, and to whom, being placed over the Monastery of Druimduchan,
with a great multitude of virgins serving Christ, the saint himself
addressed an exhortatory epistle. And in this monastery did Cynnia
abide, until at length with many holy virgins she rested there in the
Lord.