The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick

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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-fec, 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-fec. "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 aera 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-fec 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 _dun_ 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.

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