CONTENTS

C HA P . INTRODUCTION

I . PATRICK IN BRITAIN

’ — a c s ome e in r a n. ccoun of Roman u e P tri k h lif B it i A t r l , ’ th ids o f th a r n — a n — o f e ra t c s a e s. N a e B rba ia s. P ri k p r t i ll the N ne os a es his ame — a u e of a c and his i H t g , f C pt r P tri k — s s e . e sa or i t r Th y il f Ireland .

II . PATRICK ON MOUN T SLEMISH

His a m n n — Hi a e s and life s a herd on the ou tai . s pr y r as in his s ons and o ces — ccoun of the n f t g, vi i v i A t Ki g ‘ ’ Milcho the o a dIm a s o f e in e an — a c s , r y l , w y lif Ir l d . P tri k d n h ou o esca e an a e n s is rne t G aul . p w d ri g , j y PATRICK ON THE CONTINENT His long preparation for his work— His years in the I sle ' of Lerins the amar u at uxe e — u ns to r a n e . e , C g , A rr R t r B it i at some period — His vision and call to Ireland — Many delays — Th e Palladian Mission to Ireland — Patrick gets — hi n H i a ho . s marchi g orders. e s made Bis p

T R IV. PATRICK RETURNS o I ELAND

a d u m n — His fficu in an n — en St rt an eq ip e t. di lty l di g Adv t h — n — A e co e u t H eac s o . m res by e way . e r he Stra gf rd w l — om the K n Di u a c is en the a n au . fr i g ch . P tri k giv B r S l ’ H o s t l mi h nd e Mil ho s s - o a on e g e back o S e s a se s c elf imm l ti .

M T V. PATRICK CO ES o TARA Account o f the Druids — D escription of the glory o f — a m M nd hi s s a e his u n s. a. o ac ac a T r C r Art t t , b ildi g a c comes om the no he comes to ane for P tri k fr rth, Sl Eas e s the asc a fire — n Lao a e es t r, light P h l Ki g gh ir driv — m hi on etween the u s and sain . to eet m. C tests b Dr id t ’

a r c esca es he s n s The ee s or eas a e . P t i k p , i g D r Cry, Br tpl t He appears in the great hall at T ara .

M VI . PATRICK DESTROYS CRO CRUACH

ou m n ou — G oes to the He sets t on a issio ary i rney. Tailteann Fain— He goes to Cavan to destroy the idol a Cro m Cru ch . 7 CONTENTS

CHA P. PATRICK CROSSES THE SHANNON

— on e s two n He turns westward . C v rt pri cesses ; they die — He oes on to a uac an a e s ou g R th Cr h , tr v l thr gh on n — He o a o oscomm a d a o. es e and R M y l v Agh g w r, m o m f o akes a p e r it. R VIII . PATRICK ON THE EEK

a c s en s Len on uac an e —He con en s in P tri k p d t Cr h Aigl . t d a f o th n of n pr yer r e salvatio Irela d .

I PATRICK IN ' . THE WEST

He s s his new C u c es and e u ns to Ta a e e he vi it h r h , r t r r wh r e s a in to hi s h lp pr ce s right .

' G . PATRICK IN DONE AL

A no e on hi oo s and e s nd a -He oes to t s l k dr s a ch racter. g — l one a and en on to n m. H s S emi h D g l th A tri e revisit s . An account of the saint in Clogher with the story of

MacCartan the s on man . , tr g PATRICK IN NORTH LEINSTER

He oes to Naas and t ou the G ens of W c o en g hr gh l i kl w, th n o W x o — He me th c a n hi i t e f rd . ets e hief B rd a d s nephew who i o n s rdai ed .

' I OF K G I . PATRICK AT CASHEL THE IN S

He a e s ou Osso and eac es as e e e he tr v l thr gh ry r h C h l, wh r — a zes n n us He ea es uns e t e e . b pti Ki g Ae g . l v M t r wi h r gr t

' A M G III . PATRICK IN R A H

He oes no a s es to se e at o mo e but the g rthw rd, wi h ttl Dr r angel sends him on to Armagh — Armagh becomes the — f — Primatial S ee Story o Emain Macha. Patrick and a e con en but a s e for th e ommun is en D ir t d, it C ity giv . ’ c a e his s m of u nd e uc on a s s e e a a . P tri k d ily lif , y t r l d ti E C i u The pistle to orot c s .

'IV . PATRICK IN SAUL

o to hi — W to He g es s beloved Saul . ishes return to h but th n o i - rma e a e s t. ea com s to m A g g l f rbid D th e hi . o f h nd Stories is death a burial .

’ PATRICK S INFLUENCE

He s n for a new o — n s e an n o e on ta d s rder. Bri g Ir l d i t r lati Eu o e — G es o e to the n o with r p iv p w r writte w rd . e a es th e wa f or the s ea of monas c sm Pr p r y pr d ti i . Lea es the nfluence of his c a ac e o s da — His v i h r t r t thi y. t a e s S o n ace-nam s r v l h w by pl e .

A F NOTE ON THE LIV ES O ST. PATRICK [ 8 ] INTRODUCTION

AB OV E the Wells of Struell in the County Down there ’ is a rocky seat called St . Patrick s Chair . From there you look across a valley to the great mass of the Mourne in e e e e in e Mounta s , which ris to th ir high st p ak Sli ve

. e e en e. e e Donard It is a b auty which impos s sil c Th r , e ma realize the a e p rhaps , you y fl c ll that cam to Patrick

e A . D . 2 to com back to this land of his captivity. In 43 e as n e the e he cam a willi g captiv , Slav of a country n h whose natio al saint e was to be. Surely more than half the men of Ireland are called Patrick to -day because a man called Patrick came to e in e e a e the and Ir land that y ar with a m ss g for country, e e n e for all its p opl , ki gs and druids , po ts , warriors, children . ’ e an k n n All Ir l d is St . Patric s cou try . You begi to grasp his untiring resolution when you look at the map ’ of his journeys which is given in Archbishop Healy s e th H th G o Lif of e saint . e was e Travelling Man of d ; n e he e n e e e ev r might r st for lo g, v n whil his human, so n a e e e now and e so atur l lov of plac s gripp d him th n, he n e e in that would willi gly hav stay d Saul , or in Assaroe in in , Armagh, or Louth . Always the Hound of Heaven was behind him and he must travel with his e e h be n n e e e the . e e m ssag , must ob di t to Visio But h r in this County Down which knew the early days of his n and one e e e the missio the last days , sur ly com s n ar to saint of Ireland who was so human in spite of his e biograph rs . Almost wherever you go you will find him in place [ 9 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

e in th nam or legend . And if e mark of his hand or his is e e e e his foot or face not r ally th r , wh re the e the e e e cr dulous see it, gr at r truth is ther , that his character has left an impress on the country to this d ay. fi e e . one Men f ared him or lov d him at rst sight No , ff n H e e e . e e I take it, was v r indi re t to Patrick kindl d you to hostility or to a sudden surprising devotion . He e e e so so was hasty t mp r d , much that his company knew his angry speeches and tried to avert them or to n ba ter him about them . Duty and courage lashed him n l a d e . e across around Ir and On he w nt, daring king n e n and druid, facing forests and fordi g riv rs , goi g round n a the swamps , climbi g mount ins, always determined h e e t e nee . l ad r, pio r of Christ he e -hiS e e - e But, while f lt xil from that Roman rul d he e he e e n Britain had l ft, still came to lov Ir la d , soul and body . That one cannot doubt . Follow him t e about the country and see it with his eyes . By h e e e e Slan y, whos nam was lost until lat ly, for it was ’ e the e the e e e call d Fiddl r s Burn, you stand at plac wh r

h A . D 2 . e landed on that great mission of his in . 43 Now one sees only the wild swans on Strangford e e Lough, and an mbanked mouth of a tiny riv r which h e e the gives joy to t e ducks . But this was wh r strong current of the lough brought the boat when Patrick e- a e en came back to Ireland . Here is a bridl p th b twe e e e thick h dg s , it is the v ry road that Patrick and his e so the e company followed . Go a mil or to W lls of e and see the e e e he a Stru ll , you plac wh r passed night, wrestling in spirit to win the strength for his warfare . “ e a e e n Stru ll is a pl c of h ali g for mind and body, and above it is that hill - climbing path which leads you to the the e n ee so e vision of Mourn Mountai s , s n oft n by the Patrick and his companions . Much of country h e . e e ne t e may hav changed The for sts hav go , land is [ 1 0 ] INTRODUCTION

e the sea e r claimed from , but that view of Sli ve Donard and his supporting mountains is unchanged . n n the Go, too , to Saul , that wi dy hill amo g wind

n . 18 blow , grassy hills of Down It so haunted by old memories that one half expects the stones to take up the parable and tell of the man who came here in 43 2 and Dichu the e e e . won the lov of , good chi f Her at Saul the e e e e a e . barn was giv n, and r c iv d gr t fully, and St the e Patrick had his first church, which was b acon whose light should spring from hill to hill to the farthest e and e west . And here to Saul cam an old w ary man, n e e with a great work do e . This littl place was b tter for an old man than was the great church settlement of n n Armagh with its busi ess a d distraction . Near Saul see e e a his you may Raholp , and th r was T ssach, com e panion, a craftsman in metal work . Tassach cam to his old master with the Last S acrament and gave him nd ma see kindly companionship to the e . You y Raholp ’ on the e Tassach s to this day, an old church sit of e church . So, going from place to plac , you can follow

r and a saw e . St . Pat ick see wh t he and lov d Everywhere along the route of his journeys are holy wells or a Stone supposed to be impressed by his foot and so he e in - or hand , liv s on folk lore as only a man do of strong character will . on the e e in e Polshone Down W xford shor a littl bay, , there is a Story of him to the effect that he tried to land ' n en on th here after havi g be repulsed e Wicklow coast. e Polshone be the e That is unlik ly, but must plac , two e G e e e Dubthach mil s north of ahor , wh r Patrick and met ; two old men full of talk and plans which involved th Fiacc h n e young whom t e sai t wanted for a bishop . Dubthach e e i e and was Chi f Bard of Ir land , a k ng po t, Fiacc e e ee e e , his neph w, would hav succ d d him as Chi f n n Bard . But returning suddenly and joi i g them on this Wexford shore he fell in with their Schemes and gave [ 1 1 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

e e Fiacc hims lf and his lif generously . This was the who became of Sletty and wrote the metrical ”Bishop Life of St . Patrick . But without going farther than Dublin one can see

e . e e a r lic of St Patrick, one that he must have oft n handl d and the do O e loved , as old love a familiar bj ct that is e e the symbol of th ir work and honour in lif . This is ” b ell called The B ell of the Will which is in the t n n e Na ional Museum in Dubli , with its mag ific nt shrine e e mad for it lat r . It is supposed that this Bell of the Will was left by testament to the Church of Armagh h n t a . hence e ame. It is s id too that St Columba found ’ it on Patrick s breast when his coffin was Opened and that Columba made this poem

o e to ee s oo e o ous e My l v th , O m th , m l di B ll , ’ Which was on the Tailcenn s breast ; Which was permitted me by the guileless Christ

The raising and delivering of it.

I command for the safe keeping of my Bell who s a be no e us ous Eight h ll bl , ill tri , A es and a eacon a on e pri t d m g th m , ” That my Bell may not deteriorate .

? The maker of the hell was one of the saint S three C cht n Mac e . smiths who wrought in ironwork, by ame the This hell was the symbol of power . It called con c e gregation to worship . It was l ar to the old man and an had e handled often by wrinkled h ds . Bells a p culiar significance in these days among Christians and their n The ne the was e ee co verts . Shri of bell made b tw n The 1 090 and n o ; at the order of the High King . hell e e e in e e a was som tim s us d lat r days as a battl st ndard, sometimes in the ratification of solemn oaths . e e the is a e e e N ar the b ll in Museum noth r tr asur , the

the e e . copy of Gosp ls with its Shrin , given by St Patrick to his friend and champion MacCartan of Clogher . [ 1 2 ] INTRODUCTION

Within a later book cover is the little yew wood box h containing t e very old copy of the Gospels . The e and e e sight of these things , handl d tr asur d by

e e in A . D . 2 e the man who cam back to Ir land 43 , can mak him real to us in 1 93 2 if we will have it so. People may say He is almost a myth— who knows i ? e e anyth ng about him His birthplac , his grav , are e e e t e uncertain . Old writ rs hav wov n a issu of doubtful c s e sa the e mira le for his fam , and who can y what r al ? his own man was But a man lives on in words , and n h o hi in nothi g material is e s immortal as in s letters . n ea Con ession To k ow Patrick you must r d his f , C ro his e e o ticus. and flaming, righteously angry l tt r to In the Conf ession we get the real man beyond any

fin . a e d . doubt, as we St P ul in his own Epistl s You may be disappointed to find so few of the facts ’ e the Con ession ou find of his lif in f , but y a man s spirit, hurt with the wounds given to him by distrust and n man harsh criticism from his frie ds . You find a very e a his e humbl bout failur s , about his lack of scholarship , yet proud , with head held high, in his vocation and in

e . his conscious hon sty of purpose You find , too, what we might forget in the man of endless business and

the man e . determined fighting, of pray r e e the and e Th r was vision the call , giv n in his own : We ee ee e words bes ch th , holy youth, to com and ” a w lk once more amongst us . And e e e on another night, wheth r within or b sid me n e the ea I k ow not, God know th, in cl rest words , which I heard but could not understand until the end of the e : pray r, He spoke out thus He who laid down His ’

e e is e e ee. lif for th e, He it who sp ak th within th And so And n e e saw I awoke full of joy . o c mor I Him praying in me and He was as it were within my body ; e e the e and I h ard Him over me, that is ov r int rior man ; and there strongly He prayed with groanings . And [ 1 3 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN meanwhile I was astonished and marvelled and con sidered who it was who prayed within me ; but at the end of the prayer He spoke out to the eff ect that He was the Spirit ; and so I awoke and remembered the Apostle saying : The Spirit helpeth the infirmities of we ‘ our prayer . For know not what we should pray the for as we ought, but Spirit Himself asketh for us with unspeakable groanings which cannot be uttered in ’ words . This is the spirit of the man who spent forty days and nights on Croagh Patrick, striving for the salvation The e e of his chosen country . old l g nds of his bargain h th with t e Almighty is like a mist on e mountain . This man in whom the Spirit prayed was a greater than his chroniclers could estimate . In the light of the Conf es sion we must judge the stories of cursings and retributions which the old writers

e . a e e have hoard d up Prob bly th y hold som truth . e e e Her was a man who t rrified his enemi s , a man quick e e e ff of t mp r, a man mad irritable by many a airs , a man ’ ” ff e i n of gru , hasty xclamat o s By God s doom , or r z h m n G at ac a for his tha ks . Pleasantly human are the glimpses of his relations n kn e— h s e with his own friends a d i . For exampl i n phew S echnall Secundinus e e , or , found a r li f in criticizing ' Uncle Patrick to the rest of the family— a common

a e e . is e e h bit with n ph ws Patrick a good man , w r it

he e . not for one thing, is a most excell nt man How ? he longed to be asked What thing The busy-bodies made haste to tell the uncle that the nephew had criticized him . Criticism always hurt Patrick . It was One e the ee so e . oft n unfair imagin s m ting, and What Sechnall e sa ? is this , , that I h ar you y I lack Then the ne e e e . ph w, rath r hot and n rvous , tries to explain it e e a did e I m ant, O my fath r, th t you not pr ach charity, h ff ” that is t e giving of alms and o erings . [ I 4 ] INTRODUCTION

e a the e Th n P trick, strong in d votion of his converts , e a e : smiling, a littl triumphant, could nsw r But, my ’ S on e little , it is for charity s sak that I do not preach e e e charity . For if I pr ached it I should not l av a yoke of horses for any of the saints present or future that are ”

m e n be me. to come after e. Ev rythi g would given to ’ Sechnall t e nx n e So , ra h r a ious for his u cl s good O and e pinion , must go away compos a laudatory poem ' e e e the in the rath r t dious mann r of day, which only anticipated the biographies of living people in our own The e n ee e Sechnall e e. tim po m havi g b n writt n, contriv d to meet his uncle casually near Forkhill on the slopes of

e e . e n i Sli v Gullion Patrick was r sti g, surely look ng at the e the e en Sechnall e e b auty of scen , wh app ar d , a little - nn self conscious in ma er . e e the e e e do Each bl ss d oth r, as Irish p opl would to this day. “ en Sechnall I wish you would list , said , to this e e e ai n man G o eulogy which I hav mad for a c rt of d. ” “ e e me the ai e W lcom to , said Patrick, is pr s of ’ ” S echnall in th God s homestead . So e manner of the a e e and e due bards g v out his po m, Uncl Patrick with t e u ne n and a th ff modes y r t r d tha ks pr ise for e e ort . Another passage which seems to unite the ages occurs

in the e . ma Rul of St Patrick, which may or y not be his own work . “ It is children up to boys of seven years who are only chastised for their first crime with scourge or belt a the n ee e or p lm of ha d , to wit, thr blows on th m with ”

e e. palm of hand , or b lt or scourg ” So the bold child in old Ireland had the same as h - treatment e gets to day . ’ Again there is the homely little incident of the saint s nose bleeding ; and his dealing with a sick woman when hl S e and e a e n advic to her to oth rs was to t k o ions . SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN It will be our happiness if we can follow Patrick to the e the w st, to mountain of his long fast, Croagh

e n e . Patrick, to Clar Island , or to Dow patrick H ad Little he thought that the Gospel would go to men beyond that ocean which to him was the limit of the e world . So we are witn sses that the Gospel has been e e pr ached to the places b yond which no one dwells . e n Ir la d was to him a land of dangers, ambushes , e he slavery, plots , yet one nev r doubts that loved

e its . the country . He spok speech He was friend of i an e d . k ngs poets , of childr n and young men All e e of them found in him som thing compelling, lovabl , f . e i inspiring He was a man ov r lowing with life . That s e is e - and why his m mory gre n to day, why there is such great pleasure in following his journeys and conjuring the scenes where he played a part It must seem an impertinence that one who has no claim to scholarship or to any new information should set e e is e out to writ a lif of a man who , as it wer , the e e e property of gr at scholars , learn d th ologians , and i readers of old Irish . But in writ ng this short account ’ ’ en of St . Patrick s travels , tak from the scholars books , e e e e e I hav thought of thos who , lik mys lf, hav no e scholarship ; peopl who want, however, to know some thing of a man who impressed himself so strongly on ’ e e a country s lif , and to follow him , p rhaps , on his

e . e e e n trav ls I hav thought of thos who live in Ir la d , in e a and of visitors who come summ r d ys to Ireland , with time to travel and a wish to know the stories that e e belong to the places they visit . When v r Patrick e e e occurs in a name, th r this Trav lling Man of God e ff has be n, on foot or by chariot, full of his a airs and his - da , the a e mission . To y we go to s m places by train, ’ e e by motor or by motor bus , wh re Patrick w nt on foot or by chariot with that company we read of — his e bishop and priest, his judge and champion, his b ll 1 6 l INTRODUCTION

e and a e a e n ring r, his cook t bl tt nda ts , his woodman and e ee ee artificers ee cowh rd, his thr smiths , thr , his thr an e e workers of embroidery. With y s ns of historical imagination we can evoke the busy company on their

a e e he St . Patrick came as a c ptiv to Ir land when D h his ee in A . . 2 e e e came first . But 43 r turn d of fr will e a d die e e n the n to liv n to th r , lovi g cou try and its e e n e e in e a n e e p opl , desiri g to s ttl c rt i plac s but driv n on and his e e n as an man he e on by m ssag , u til , old , stay d in a and a e en the e Arm gh, l t r still w t for clos of a busy e the e een e e he e lif to qui t of gr littl Saul , wh re di d , having so long served loved country of ado n pfio .

ST PATRICK THE TRAV ELLING MAN

CHAPTER I PATRICK IN BRITAIN

OU e son Cal urnius the Y TH end d for Patrick, of p , with e as - last day of his fre dom . Many times a slave herd boy on Mount Slemish he must have looked back to that e e da e he last happy car l ss y, wh n was the young master ’ H on hi s father s estate in Britain . e wished then that he had e e e counted ach moment a bl ssing, realiz d the own the e n joy of being his man, belov d son of his pare ts ; wished that he had taken more time to thank God for the e - e i d lights of a free born lif , w th its comforts of food an and fire and shelter d kind words . e But the day passed as such days do, unheed d in its security ; with no shadow of the coming event that was to make him a slave and an apostle in the land of his captivity . It was in all likelihood just such a day as any young citizen passed in Roman Britai n in the first was days of the fifth century. He born probably in

was . A D . 8 . 3 9 , and now a boy of fifteen There have been many disputes among scholars about

e . e the plac of his birth Scotland is frequently nam d, n with a umber of good reasons , and some others have e e suggest d Brittany, but historians of such r pute as MacNeill Dr . Bury and Professor Eoin suggest a place the on north of the lower Severn, probably in the

County of Glamorgan . So we may picture the young Patrick within easy [ I 9 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

e e r ach of the stuary of the Severn, loving the boats and sea- the ebb which went up down, the birds , and h t e . e flow of tide He, with his Sist rs and brothers, e would roam the Shore, looking for Sh lls and seaweed ; e and watching the wading birds at low tid , the curlew - i dunlins and sand pipers . Ch ldhood never b ecomes -da e dull history, it is always of to y, knit to the pr sent by a hundred blessed ties . e his Patrick, be sure, sail d boats with the other boys B onnaventa e of ; mad Slings and bows and arrows , and e Shot at marks , or played at soldi rs with them . Of all boys young Roman citizens would be likely to play at e e e soldiers, to make for th ms lves shi lds and swords and e e the fine Spears , and copy as b st th y could helmets of be the legionaries . What could more impressive to any boy than a Roman soldier in his full equipment ? Patrick e had k men must hav friends among the soldiers , indly e - e e who lik d this brave, frank fac d boy, and w re ready e to tell him about the wars in Gaul, or of gr at days in their mistress city Rome . e e so In later days , wh n he had wander d far in the

West, he could still recall with the old thrill of pride he e son Cal urnius that was a Roman citiz n, of p , a land e and e e e own r d curion, a d acon and man of not , with authority, temporal and spiritual . ’ There was the joy of his father s farm for Patrick in h those days of his freedom . A farm as the same joys n did h for childre of all time . Little he think as e looked at the sheep and pigs how soon he would be herding n he was them for a stra ger . But now the young master ’ ’ on his father s land, free to look for birds nests, to the e climb the trees, to roam fi lds unshadowed by a was e ruthless Destiny, that in disguise the m rcy of

God . He who looked at the harvests in these British was ea fields called to r p the fields of an alien race, and os to be their ap tle . PATRICK IN BRITAIN

The old writers ascribe to the boy Patrick miraculous him n powers , make a wonder amo g his kinsfolk, a child e e fire n en e who Could produce wat r, hon y, , at any co v i nt e e moment . Mor valu belongs surely to the miracle of the e growth of character, proceeding qui tly all this time,

the e . n e fitting boy for his gr at work Accordi g to hims lf, t e e in e ee e Pa rick was a car l ss boy thos days , h dl ss of H Christianity because it was his birthright . e grew up i n i e e as he n e a Christ an atmosph r , and thought, co fess s , Po . n a e titus e little about it His gra df th r was , a pri st, and e was e . e a n his fath r a d acon His uncl , ccordi g e a to an old tradition, was the gr at Saint M rtin of

Tours . ? But what of that to a boy His Uncle Martin was no one e e e doubt to Patrick of thos uns en , rather l gendary

e a e . e r lations who adorn most f mili s His moth r, Con e e e e e e ch ssa, may hav talk d of this broth r of h rs at m al ” “ ’ e : e e tim s Your uncl always said , or I ll t ll you a

e . n story about your uncl Oh , if you could o ly grow

e . ee e at up a man lik him Ind d , you do look lik him ”

be . times . You must try and worthy of him Such n e on n ee n e et sayi gs probably f ll u h di g ars , and y were the he en e recalled later with wish that had list ed b tter . There must have been table-talk worth hearing in n n in the house of a Roma decurio those days in Britain . A quick-witted boy like Patrick would listen more often e e e e e Cal urnius than not . Th r w r many days wh n p was e e e Conchessa e ov rshadow d by car , and grav r than was e has Cal urnius hi her custom . L gend it that p brought s one s beautiful wife from Gaul . In story She wa his h n e he t e e e . e e Slav , by whom , captor, was slav d Impr ss d e e and t e he her by her lov liness of fac na ur married , and theirs was a Christian home where love and honour n e an e e e h and ge tl ways d sp ech w r t e custom . eve the e e the the How r, v ry happin ss of home was more anxiety to Calpurnius in those insecure days of [ 2 1 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

e th the Empire . All he loved best depend d on e strength He e so of Rome to guard them . had s en much history in i as e his the mak ng, he would t ll boys on those days h h e when e ad time for talk . They did not com very

Cal urnius . ee often, for p was a busy man It might s m to be e e an honour to be a d curion in his town , a memb r of the Municipal Council ; but there were very few who e n sought the honour in those days . Ev ry la downer who did not belong to the S enatorial class was bound to be e e e a d curion if he poss ssed sixte n acres or upwards , and on these landowners fell the weight of taxation . They had to deliver to the Imperial revenue officers the amount of taxation levied on the community ; it fell on them both to collect the taxes and to assess them . And e e e l— tax the e what tax s ther wer The poll , fun ral tax, the a the e leg cy tax, the auction tax, tax on the sal of e the e e slav s , tribut s on corn, hay and cattl , and all the other extortions laid on a struggling people . This was n n the bad side of livi g under Roman rule . But the e was the e th re good protection of the Roman army, ev n if the British had to supply the armies on the Rhine with corn for their bread . 'es Cal urnius sa be , p would y, one could not too e e did thankful for the prot ction of Rome, living as th y Conch ssa e . e e in Britain , surround d by barbarians agre d the to that, and children pricked their ears , half in e e t rror, half in d light, to listen to the awful doings of e thos Gaels and Scots who might, one never knows , be down on them any day . e e Britain had been invaded time aft r time, and ev n Roman power had been ominously threatened. The northern frontier was menaced by the Picts of Caledonia ; the west was a prey to those seafaring robbers the Gaels and Scots from Ireland ; while the south was l rniu e e . Ca u s thr at ned by the Saxons p , the Christian ’ his is deacon, might tell children that such the world s [ 22 ]

SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVE

d I enemy took to heels and boats an nt off before ea e had l Stilicho r ched th m, and he ittle do but fortify and defend . These were the grievous doings of ’ is e Patrick s birth . It possibl that fought in the wars in Gaul . So the children of Calpurnius had space in troubled history for their 11 blessed thing it is for the young to have

and e e . e car l ss , happy days Thes , as a e e n e m mory, b lo g d to Patrick and his sisters e e its hood in that lov ly w st of England, with d, hills and ‘ e e n a it wat rways , its blu of far mountai s and se s , i s cloudy e and n e itss Ski s soft rains , its roari g w st winds , , bracken ea e e e and h th r, and tr asur s of each season t VOll ld be riches for anyone . a Patrick looked forward to a long time of f such e e he be happy days . Pr s ntly would grown Uhp and able to assume all the rights of a Roman citizeit 1 be n the a n ‘ e. something more tha boy Suc t, as his am . was He in British speech . would be registered in the as Patricius Ma onus Sucatus a fine- g , sounding, meaning name . e the e e But whil childr n play d at soldiers , or wandered 4 the the e e e e e about farm or by stuary, th r wer mor cares C l urni s Con h The for a p u and c essa. news from the

e e . One e Contin nt was bad n ws and anoth r brought it, and a e the army talk was all of the dis st rs in Italy. At an en the be e e y mom t legion might call d up , xciting ew e e e n s for soldi rs , but t rribl for the Britons who were living in peace and s ecurity b ecause of the Roman army . Conchessa must have had broken sleep thinking of the e what n xt day might bring . If things got worse in Italy Rome would need more and more soldiers— and then what fate for Britain ? The raids of the Scots [ 24 ] PATRICK IN BRI TAIN

e e t o e in e e e in the w r only o fr sh th ir m mori s , and grand ’ e tales e e her e fath r s l. All v ry w ll for childr n to play at e or e e e e n th se raids , f som of th m to com y lli g with n e and e e e the ta gl d hair ' sticks in th ir hands , to s iz others and th em off e all e e drag j as slav s ; v ry well as a gam , h e th a e but they guessed t e reality. Ev n e g m made her r ; and it was one to give the little ones nightmare Cal urni e e e the p éus was troubl d v ry oft n now. At e n inf the and a en m eti gs i town in his t lks with his fri ds , / ’ decr Irions ff e the he ea n other g , or o ic rs of army, h rd o ly bad n news/and fears for the future. Nothi g went well e th The a aft r e/death of the great Theodosius . B rbarians e e n th w r todo strong a d e power of Rome grew feebler . e e Th r wlas no need for newspapers . Bad news travels I / fast . E jieryone was full of talk about the great Alaric the G O H ee e e e the J Ih . e f had b n v ry subtl , und rmining Em irf e he was an e e p é , all the tim that Imp rial Gen ral , é Mar e e a tter of soldiers . Alaric and his Goths w r the n h i in e e e was t e e e . inco f ing tid , th r no stoppi g surg of th m Th é had ee e and e fi y laid Gr c low, now th y had entered It the was e gialy. Honorius Emperor tr mbling on his ’ ihrone .

th n e e an n Soon came e ews that th s Rom Brito s feared . n n A Britan ic legio was summoned to Italy. All the e e e e n off the e xcit m nt of soldi rs goi g to war for childr n, the a e a e men e but dismay for f th rs of f mili s , to lik Calpurnius who knew too much of war and of barbarous peoples . e e e e e e n Th r w r oth r stori s going arou d at this time . ’ e e men e Another great king, a l ad r of , was much in m n s e -man the en mouths , a sort of Bog y to childr of Roman en e e e citiz s , as , much lat r, Bon y was a terror to littl

Britons in the Napoleonic wars . He be f the - e e and would good stu f for story t ll rs , e a the scar mongers , this King Ni ll of Nine Hostages , [ 2 5 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

n e his m High Ki g of Ir land , winning na e from the

e a tended . hostag s of tributary kings , who always fi him This King Niall was someone who made pe ople talk of 1

H . n . e e 1a him in Britai was a great g neral , sailor too , e e s i ed e f aring n ither storms nor swords . He a li far s as ; his own people b elieved that he invaded) Gaul and conquered all b efore him to the foot of the'Alps . At long last he fell in a foreign land at th of an He he Irishman . left many sons to rule in for ’ the rone the reat O Neill y , was ancestor of g _ fam e and it was said of his post rity that, besi e e of illustrious famili s, n arly his e e a e en e and the d sc nd nts , min t for their l arning I for e e ee c atalo ue sanctity of th ir lives , hav b n enrolled in the l g ” of the saints . Strange and ironic Destiny that was weavi a web round this pagan king and the boy who should onvert his e peopl to Christianity .

th h On e next day t e terror fulfilled itself. It e n e e not hav throw an immediat shadow, for it s em his e e e Patrick and Lupita, sist r, w r away from at th e e parents e country villa . Had his ld rs been afraid h 1 e e t e e . th y would hav had family close to th m Perhaps , they had grown used to fear and refused to listen to it . Certainly one must suppose they were too far to save their children or to be captured themselves . e e e e n Sudd nly th y cam , thes Irish raiders, sailing up the

e ee . e e riv r in a great fl t of boats One can pictur the sc ne, e en e e e h the e u a m ss g r rushing br athl ssly wit n ws , sho ting r n T as he a : he Scots they are coming . 'uick ” e e e hide run for your lives . Th n th r would l th n The fol ow e co fusion of hopeless flight . men would th e On try to hide e women and childr n . e knows that and Patrick, all courage honour, tried to save his sister [ 26 ] PATRICK IN BRITAIN

- e and the women servants . But it could not protect th m n a He e from this raid which was o a v st scale. might tak a the man as he e the ene command , pl y , would , b fore my ; a u n be e n it w s of no se. Nothi g could don agai st this n Shouti g horde of warriors . e e e e - men n H r th y com , sunburnt, wild looking , runni g the n in e e e men to attack, stra ge dr ss , strang in sp ech, of e - e e e e iron muscle . Th ir war cries are t rribl ; th y hav - e shields and spears and battle axes for the attack . Tak n e can e e e e e ? e e unawar , how th se farm p opl r sist th m Th r are no Roman troops to come to the rescue now . A huge fleet of boats waits for the captives . Some seize the e e e e n the wom n and drag th m away, oth rs b at dow Someone caught Patrick and fettered him so that he e n a t fine struggl d in vai ; a gall nt boy his , a slave for n a chief this you g British gentleman . So they were Captured ; from all that countryside e e e be e e e th y w r brought, if it tru that thousands w r h n n e was t e e . take that day. Succ ss with Irishm It was a sad procession that was urged and beaten down to the Th a n e e a d e . e e boats . c ptors laugh d shout d Wh r was Th e e Rome now they asked . e Britons wer hustl d and th e e e lifted on to e Irish ships . Patrick and his sist r w r

e a e . one e ene s p rat d Did he, wond rs, know what had happ d ? to her Some say that she was brought to Dundalk e was e e n the Bay, whil Patrick tak n farth r orth to district e Dalaradia e e his e the call d , wh r boat cam into port which is now called Larne.

[ 27 ] CHAPTER II PATRICK ON MOUNT SLEMISH

THERE was a shout . Ireland was in sight . How many have found their destiny in that first glimpse of far-off h ' hills across t e western sea. That is Ireland e the Perhaps th y said it to boy Patrick, so quiet and h H hi e e as e was . e s brave, f tter d was a boy to attract

captors . He could not understand their speech but a

was the t . Sign was enough . This country of his cap ivity h Over the sea e saw it with its folded blue hills . The Mountains of Mourne must have shown themselves on the the horizon, mountains about Carlingford and

. e e Dundalk Her , for all he knew, his whol life would

be e e . sp nt in the drab mis ry of a slave But, after all, a His e had man can be greater than his captivity . fath r

taught him that in the Christian Gospel . His grand father and his father before him had b elieved that no ’ a m n s spirit b elongs to any king but God . During that e e e the e terribl voyag ov r sea, with all its mis ry of mind he ee n n e e so and body, had b n thi ki g of th s things which h e lately e had not heeded . Thos first Christians had e been taken prisoner as their Master had . They had be n A u c ‘mented , shouted down by the law ; but no

01 1 h the n 8 ad conquered them . Christ Ki g He was h greater surely than this Niall of t e Nine Hostages . Hi s soldiers could not be defeated . Patrick was holding hi so e e s . on to this faith, suddenly r aliz d , with all might H l t He not e e e must not e it go . must sh d a t ar or let H these people see that he was afraid . e had found

something that they had not yet found . They might [ 2 8 ]

SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

h . k . thoughts of is. Dogs are ind company at all times For him as for us there were the tokens of spring and — the the summer first call of the cuckoo , first harsh e e - k the the w lcom cry of the corn cra e in meadows , first e the e the gl am of a swallow, shri king of Swifts in sunset ne e hour of a Ju night, the drumming of snip in their aerial games which he must have watched often and often over the bogs . Outside the great forests ofthat time and the dangerous morasses and quagmires there were open plains and

valleys and hills under cultivation and pasturage . The e e we e n woods h ld dang rs that n ver k ow, wolves and the wild boars , but the gentler parts of island must have e and e - been as w know lov them to day . t e so the da Pa rick, alon much of y and night, rising e e e before dawn, must hav gath r d a wealth of nature e th had lore. He would know wh re e vixen her den ; h t e e . the path of wis badger, the nests of the birds A we see he e bird that cannot now kn w in its glory, the Th h h h e . e t e ee e , agle flig t of wild g s across the s k y must have been a joy to him and the skein of swans H h the n . e e e t e e on wi g kn w that qui t fisherman, h ron, is e e he l or crane as he in Ir land . P rhaps earnt a lesson ’ from the bird s patience as he stood there biding his h m . t e e e ti e For him , slav , the countrysid had all its Slemish e e . e treasur s in summer show d him its flow rs, the e e e littl gold n cinquefoil, white b dstraw, yellow e - n a - tr foil , wind blow fl gs of bog cotton, heather, all the he H e e t . e butt rfli s of summer slept, no doubt, in a ee the the ee the e Sh ling in woods, d r, squirr ls , the rabbits e e e he t for n ighbours ; rising b for dawn, tells us , o pray,

doing this in all weathers . But when summer passed and the cold and rain of

e . November found him, it was no asy life for a boy Few cared how he lodged and whether he were cold or

hungry. Kindness and comfort had been left behind in 3 0 PATRI CK ON MOUN’I

Britain . Now he must be a man and In winter he drove his herds back t n And for their safety and protectio . e he he e e and saf might, if chos , s ek warmth c ’ the d11 n. ’ ? What was this dlI n like The houses of the anCi en Irish were often built in quadrilateral shape of split planks with a thatch overhead or of wickerwork with a - e e e e e . cup shap d roof, plast r d with clay and whit wash d Ar ound the m m was a high rampart of earth with a thorn hedge or palisade on top to keep out wild animals e e e e a e en and robbers . Probably th r was a v g t bl gard within this enclosure and here too the familiar Irish a - e the e h ggard for corn stacks, with plac s for cattl and ee n e un sh p drive in for saf ty, and gro d for outdoor games . ’ Patrick might miss the Roman elegance of his father s e n i e e e town hous and cou try villa, w th th ir cultur d sp ech e the ea e and ways , th ir link with gr t Empir , but he would appreciate the different civilization which he found in e e he n e e Ireland . H r was amo g p opl who loved beautiful He e e clad coul n n . d thi gs , poor slav boy, so bar ly , . o ly a at n a look from af r rich clothi g, coll rs of wrought gold,

an e e t wi . m tl s of b au iful colour th gold Clasps , gold H e and . e e brooch s pins could look on, p rhaps , at n e e n ea h - and n n feasti g and r v lli g, h r arp playing, si gi g, and the stories and poems of the bards and shanachies — r e e . n e in the dim (sto y t ll rs) It was a brillia t lif , this , e da on S m after the chilly dark of a wint r y le ish . ’ a e Litera r His tor o I rela nd In Dr . Dougl s Hyd s y y f there is a poem which gives an idea of a rich household in this old Ireland

c o of her ouse is ke th co The ol ur h li e lour of lime . n are couc es and een us es Withi it h gr r h , n are s ks and ue an es Withi it il bl m tl ,

n are red o and c s a cu s. Withi it , g ld ry t l p [ 3 1 ] I T FI “ ” SAIN ATRIK THE TRAVELLING

its Of fian a - - y ch mbers the corner stones A e r al of s e and e o o ilv r y ll w g ld , In faultless S es its a c is s ea trip th t h pr d, n s of o n and o Of wi g br w f crimson red.

Two oo - os s of een see d r p t gr I , oo s not e o of eau D r d v id b ty, car e s e on has een eno ne Of v d ilv r, l g it b r w d In th n e li tel that is over the door .

’ e e s c a is on ou e an Cr d h ir y r l ft h d , The easan es of the easan is pl t t pl t it , All o e a aze of A ne o v r, bl lpi g ld A th t e foot of her beautiful couch .

A splendid couch in full array Stands directly above the chair ; It was made by Tuile in the East o o and c o on Of yell w g ld pre i us st es.

There is another b ed on your right hand o and s e ou e ec Of g ld ilv r with t d f t, cu a ns so o s With rt i with ft pill w ,

With graceful rods of golden bronze.

’ An hundred feet spans Crede s house o one an e to the o e Fr m gl th r, And twenty feet are fully measured i n o In the breadth of ts oble do r.

Its o co is co e e too p rti v r d , , n s of s o e o and ue With wi g bird , b th y ll w bl , Its lawn in front and its well

Of crystal and of Carmogel .

This poem gives us an idea of the richness and beauty ’ of a chieftain s m m in Ireland . A king was expected e e e e to x rcise hospitality, to hav po ts , bards , satirists, e e e bufloons pip rs, harpists , trump t rs , about his royal

e . e his tabl Cormac Mac Art said , A princ should light lamps on Samhain day (November I ) and welcome his wi guests th clapping of hands and comfortable seats , [ 3 2 ] PATRICK ON MOUNT SLEMISH and the cup- bearers should be active in distributing meat n fi h n s a n n e . s a d e e e wa and dri k Of gam th r bu da c , for nt n n e e e and e hu i g and fishi g w r favourit sports , v nison n l and salmo must have been p entiful on royal tables . e was we e e Ch ss , know, an accomplishm nt of all w ll m n n bred Irish e a d women . But Patrick probably had H n on e . e no chanc to play chess could o ly look , as a e e his e el n slav might, if trust d by mast r and w l k own to h t e e e the . ee e p opl of Court It s ms lik ly, though, that sometimes on winter evenings when the wind howled ’ about the dii n and there was snow on Slemish and the e e e a sat on the on the morass s w re froz n, P trick floor outer circle of the listeners and heard some shanachie relate the great heroic tales whose heroes were not so be e long dead . A boy of sixteen would quick to l arn ee and n el en the Sp ch of his captors , an i t lig t boy, brought h e an e ne e n. e up und r Rom rul , k w how to l ar At first n e n e he e e and would u d rsta d , th n would sp ak a littl , , at his e e n last, for lack of own tongu , he would ev n thi k in ne a e the w language. Prob bly Patrick l arnt Irish in the e n - b st a d most beautiful form from these story tellers . What boy would not be thrilled by tales of the great e ? t he h ro Cuchulain Chris ian as was, Patrick could respond to the heroic courage and endurance of this ” n a e pagan warrior . O ly, s id Patrick to hims lf, I ea e e e e know a gr t r h ro , if th y would but list n to my e e da e e Stori s about Him . Som y shall I v r dare to tell them that my Christ is even greater than their Cuchulain ? Tradition says that he questioned later with his own conscience whether or no it were right to take so much e e h n The int r st in the tales of t e Fia na . old story has it ’ son e in — -n-o e that Ossian, Finn s , who had liv d Tir na g e e e e e with the fa ry p ople for a hundr d y ars , mad his way e e back to earth, to find the Fianna all d ad and hims lf an e his alien in this Christian world , wh re Finn and com 0 [ 3 3 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

’ e Caoilte KiI -eel- pany were n arly forgotten . ( te) also in and the legend has survived to meet the saints . Ossian and e e he travel for a time with St . Patrick t ll him countl ss e e stories of th ir gr at days . ‘ n e e Old man Ossia is d scrib d as living, a very broken , on clerical charity in Elphin ill pleased with bare living e and n n his and aust rity, mour i g his companions and e e e t gr at father, whose fam , he thinks, xceeds all tha can G o Patrick claim for d or man . But this is to antici

e . We e n pat coming events r tur to Patrick, crouching on the outskirts of the hall . He might hear the tragic story of D eirdre and the three and th - h . e t e sons of Usnach, long drawn history of Tain, the Ca ttle Ra id o Coole e n f y , or some tal of Co n of the e e son the e n Hundr d Battl s, his Art Lon ly, his grandso fiThe e so in Cormac Mac Art. boy liv d much a world of the e his so en and n spirit b cause body was oft cold hu gry, h use he a e e e . e e th t had to all m ans to forg t it B sid s, had n found this new kingdom in which he was a freema . ' He could go from the warm and cheerful dii n to the windy world of mountain and bog and forest and be He e quite happy . was learning every day to live mor and more in the spirit -71 And this period on Slemish is of a e his th Vital import nc to future . Every day e man was n e e be growi g within the boy . Just as Moses pr par d to a leader of men by his long loneliness in the desert ; as the e the e e St . John Baptist remain d in Wild rn ss until e e e e his mission was r ady ; as , c nturi s lat r, young Joan of Arc was in the fields of Domremy before her call to his e . e arms , so in tim St Patrick wander d on the in the e mountain, questing for God , fighting perp tual struggle of good against evil , fighting in the spirit, apprehending each day the great forces that war against the armies of God . Patrick was to be a lover of mountains all his life and to give his name to that great Reek which overlooks [ 34 ] PATRICK ON MOUNT SLEMISH

. e en we see the Atlantic, Croagh Patrick Lat r, wh his e on a a a struggl s at Tara and Moy Sl ght, the plain of dor t n a the e a n e e io , gainst strong st p ga forc s , we realiz what his six years in the lonely and mountainous places had made him . Slemish and n e e e , his lo g p riod of h rmit solitud at Lé rins e a e e t , had mad him man, unconqu rabl , wi h a

“ he e n a e in a in might had l ar t in pr y r, t lk with God , constant wrestling against spiritual wickedness in high ” He e e places . hims lf t lls us

e e n dail I e e Now aft r I cam to Irela d , y h rd d flocks n the da and often duri g y I prayed . Love of God and e e e e e His f ar increas d mor and mor , and my faith gr w, - was e so n e and my spirit stirr d up , that in a si gl day I said as many as a hundred prayers and at night like e e in the and in the wis , though I abod woods moun e e e tain . B fore the dawn I us d to be arous d to prayer n and and n nor e e in s ow frost rai , was th r any tepidity in e e e the me, such as I now f el , b caus then Spirit was ” fervent within me.

So keenly did the boy listen to the voice that Spoke to his spirit that sometimes he thought he heard an

e a e. And ee e as one e audibl mess g it s m d if of the ang ls , one e e e e e a e call d Victor, b cam sp ci lly his fri nd and e counsellor . According to som this Victor was the e e an e e e Ang l of Ir l d , one of thos Ang lic Principaliti s or e the e en Pow rs of whom New T stam t speaks . n old e e e e But, accordi g to an story, th r w r others in the world of men who loved the British slave boy and ’ e e t e a sought him out, wh th r with h ir kingly f ther s

we . Milcho we e h approval or not, may guess , r ad in t e Tri a rtite Li e o S a int P a tric/c son and p f f , had a two ’ e e e e n a e daught rs , who w r irr sistibly draw to their f th r s

e. His n e e British slav ki dliness , his gracious , g ntl ’ manners, his dignified patience drew the king s children [ 3 5 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

d be to him . They love to with him, but they must do h the seeking . They knew that e was hungry even if he e so i e nev r complained , many t mes th y brought him e food from th ir own rich table . And because to receive e e graciously is often quit as g nerous as to give graciously, ’ ’ the king s Slave took the gifts of the king s children and sat e m e e he e with th m on the war grass , mayb , whil k pt

. e e do an eye on his flocks Th n th y, as children , asked e one e him a hundr d and questions , about his old hom , hear his his parents , his life . How did he lot so Cheer ? ’ fully What was it that made him different in some ’ dII n e e way from the people in the , v n from the Druids ? and the poets e e Th n Patrick, his ey s fixed on them, with that look e e e e e which later won conv rts in v ry plac , told th m of his faith ; the faith that was his from infancy but um had realized until he lost all of happiness and home . He e e Sl mi h ' told them of what he l arn d up there on e s . Oh he saw the e e the more than golden agle overh ad , or kites or the falcons . He heard more than the bleating the e of the deer or bark of a fox n ar its mountain earth . e h The children believed his every word . Th y ad listened to the bards and to the shanachies ; they had n seen strange things do e by the Druids . But this sun burnt herd -boy with his wonderful eyes seemed more m e . powerful, more co p lling than any of them These be and stories of his must true they would believe him ,

e e . And and follow him and his God , if ne d be, till d ath the old story relates that the boy b ecame in later days the Bishop of Granard and his sisters were nuns at Clon broney in Longford . Milcho But , so the legend goes , had a dream one night ’ saw e n the dIi n that he Patrick com i to , surrounded by fir Milcho flames so that his face was a flame of e . fought the flames off but his three children were devoured by m ki and the . Awa ng, the king sent for his herd , like [ 3 6 ]

SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

managed to fast, hoping to conquer his body yet more . So one night the wonder b efell ; he heard a voice in : e e his sleep . It said Thou fast st w ll , thou art soon to a n e -a e the go to thy fatherl nd . And agai aft r time cam ”

: . voice Lo , thy ship is ready

Now comes a part of the story that is very wonderful , The yet no history expresses surprise over it . ship was the e e not on the coast near by, not in port wh r Patrick T e zoo e . he e e e had land d , but mil s away mor lik ly th ory e n a n of two advanc d is that he fou d a ship s ili g, as he Inverdea the thought, for Britain at , at the mouth of

V artr e the e . y River, clos to pres nt town of Wicklow e e a e This se ms a mor prob ble plac than Killala, which e has b en named . ’ Saint Patrick s Conf ession tells us

And again after a little time I heard the divine ’ e me : e ' voic saying to Lo , thy ship is r ady And it z was not near at hand but distant about oo miles . And I had never been there ; nor had I any knowledge n of any person there. And thereupo after a little I e e and e the man b took mys lf to flight, l ft with whom I een e and e in the e had b for six y ars , I cam str ngth of G od e e and , who prosp r d my way for good ; I had no cause to fear anything until I came to that ” ship .

This journey of zoo miles made by a penniless e n e slav through an unknown, da g rous country full n e wi n e e of warri g trib s , th da g rs of wolv s and wild boars , e ee e as n e of thick for sts and d p morass s , is wo d rful in its led way as the migration of birds . Patrick was by faith th r n n One e e e e as e birds a e by i sti ct . lik s to b li v that he a found kindness and hospitality as he went . It must h ve e been so or he would have died by the way . Som good [ 3 8 ] PATRICK ON MOUNT SLEMISH

woman gave him food each day; there was a seat by a h H fire en a bed i n t e . e e for him oft , or straw h ard kind n He voices and he met pitiful gla ces . found Irish hospitality and blessed it as he went that long and desperate journey in faith . Let the story be his own now

And on the very day I arrived the ship left its e e e e e plac , and I ask d that I might hav l av to sail with e e e the n he e e th m ; but it displ as d Captai , and r pli d harshly with anger : On no account s eek thou to ’

e . e ea e e com with us Wh n I h rd this , I l ft th m to go to the hut where I was lodging : and on the way I began to pray ; and before I had finished my prayer I heard one of them calling loudly after me : Come ’ e e men are n ee and I quickly, th s calli g th , forthwith And e e n sa m returned to them . th y b ga to y to e e we e ee in a a e en Com , tak th good f ith, m k fri dship ’ And a da th us as thou pleasest . on th t y I refused to suck their breasts through fear of God ; but still I hoped that some of them would come to the a e e e ea e on f ith of Christ, for th y w r h th n, and that

4— account I stayed with them and forthwith we set ” sail .

e e e e ee n a a Th r w r , it s ms , ma y dogs on bo rd , prob bly e e - few e thos b autiful Irish wolf hounds, of which a liv a

— e e e in e a da . en e a e r strict d lif Ir l nd to y Th , th y must h v been the most useful breed of dog for defence and for ’ e e e Milcho s sport . Patrick was w ll us d to th m in n and his n e a e een e e ki gdom , ki d h art must h v b distr ss d for their subsequent suff erings when they and their masters wandered in hunger through unknown land . e e e e e e ea n Wh th r th s dogs w r , as Archbishop H ly thi ks , the n a n a e e e e e hou ds of a r idi g p rty, or wh th r th y w r

e e we do . part of the cargo of a trading v ss l, not know [ 3 9 ] SAINT PATRI CK THE TRAVELLING MAN

e is e Ind ed , the whole story of the voyage absolut ly vague ’

a . as to pl ces Patrick s habit of mind, fostered by his e e Slemish long m ditations , dr ams and communings on , seems to have produced indifference to the material side Con essio e . n of any adv nture His f is a spiritual apology, The it is not a biography . facts we long to know he e e does not tell us . He is dw lling on the immat rial side e is the of his mission . Ther doubt about port from - hi h . e w ch e sailed Dr . Healy has a w ll supported case e Inverdea for Killala, but Dr . Bury l ans towards , near ’ Wicklow . All that we know is the saint s story, written much later

e e And aft r three days we mad land , and for - e and twenty eight days we journeyed through a d sert, And one da the food failed them . y shipmaster said me : e ? to What say st thou, Christian Thy God is great and almighty ; why then can you not pray ? r n for us For we a e i danger ofstarvation . It will be ’ n n hard for us if we ever see a human bei g agai . Then I said plainly to them : Turn earnestly and with all e the G od your h arts to Lord my , to whom nothing e is impossible, that He may s nd you food for your ’ e filled he journ y until you be , for everywhere hath ’ ’ n so abu dance . And by God s help it came to pass . e a e e on e Lo , a herd of swin pp ar d the road b fore our eyes ; and they killed many of them : and spent two : e e e e nights there and w re well r fresh d , and th ir dogs e e n e also w re sat d, for ma y of th m had fainted from n n - h hu ger a d were left half dead by t e way . And e ea e e e e G od and th r ft r th y gav gr atest thanks to , I became honoured in their eyes ; and from that day

they had food in abundance. They also found wild e an ff e e me e : hon y d o r d a part . But one of th m said ‘ ’ an - ff e n — G od It is idol o ri g thanks be to , I took ” n no e of it thereafter . [ 40 ] PATRICK ON MOUNT SLEMISH

the ai e e e ma Now s nt r lat s a dr am , which to us y seem a nightmare likely to follow upon food taken after long ti had he starva on, but to him it a significance which never could forget

e ni en was ee Now on that sam ght wh I sl ping, e e n e e Satan t mpt d me stro gly, which I shall rem mb r An m as longas I am in this body. d there fell on e as d e e an e . it wer a hug rock, I had no pow r in my limbs But whence it came into my spirit I know not that I s su should invoke Helias . And thereupon I aw the n in the e en and e e rise h av , whilst I k pt invoking H lias , a the e the sun Heli s , with all my might, lo , spl ndour of l fell upon me and shook off from me a l the weight . e e e e and And I b li v I was aid d by Christ my Lord , that His Spirit was even then calling out on my ” behalf.

Then followed a period which he describes as a second captivity

I heard a Divine voice saying to me : For two ’ months yet thou shalt be with them ' And so it came the e e e e to pass , on Sixti th night th r aft r the Lord

e e e me e a . e d liv r d out of th ir h nds Mor over, on our journey He provided us with food and fire and shelter e e the da e v ry day, until on tenth y we all reach d our ” destination .

e e e in e At som p riod , vagu point of tim , he reached his old home in Britain and was welcomed as one from H i e the dead . e tells that his k nsfolk welcom d him like ” son e a his e he a , which sugg sts th t own par nts, as had h so en e e e e e . e t e oft f ar d , w r d ad P rhaps aunt, of whom

n e e her e . traditio sp aks , play d old part of moth r It is e n a e e e the c rtai th t th y all d light d in him, lost boy who n e - e a man e e e e had grow into a s lf r li nt young , arn st, g ntl , i d d . strong . They not want him ever to leave them [ 4 1 ]

CHAPTER III PATRICK ON THE CONTINENT

FOR e e n som y ars of his manhood Patrick was studyi g, e n a in in n e e on the m ditati g, pr y g mo astic settl m nts Hi n en . s a a the e Co tin t vocation, th t c ll of voic s from e did n Th e e ee . e Ir land, not com at o c with his fr dom ea he a e and e e monastic id l , which always dmir d fost r d , was quickened in these years of retreat and unconscious

preparation . n the e e Followi g story, as Archbishop H aly t lls it, Patrick somehow made his way to Gaul and reached e e e n e e en Tours wh r that gr at Saint Marti , his uncl , if l g d be e e n tru , had stablished a mo astic colony, about two h Th e t e . e as . mil s from town Bishop of Tours , St i was e e e e in e e Mart n , pr f rr d to liv a wattl d c ll, while the n e so e e in e mo ks , lik many rock pig ons , liv d hol s in ’ th ff a in e Cli s f ce this curious isolated valley . Whether saw a e we n e ee Patrick him liv can ot t ll , but it s ms that Th n here he put himself to school . e traditio of his e e e e e e and one pr s nc th r is still v ry vivid at Tours , of the rock-hewn cells is pointed out to the visitor as that n h e e are as et in a i which e dwelt . Th se c lls y a rem rkable e e e a the a e the ee e stat of pr s rv tion, in very f c of st p scarp

e e kn the e. e e e and dr m nt ov rloo i g Loir Th y w r airy y, and e be e as , although dimly light d, might still us d h sleeping chambers or small oratories . Outside t e e e e a e a ten ee c lls is a l v l pl tform of rock, not mor th n f t

e ee e the a ene . wid , but forty f t ov r ro d b ath This rocky platform looks south over the river and far away - e n e n . into a richly wood d, undulati g and very fertil cou try [ 43 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

The e the far of monks might be scanty, and their beds be hard— a rug covering the naked rock— but when they emerged from their cells to the rocky plat e at e form befor their door, they could l ast feast their eyes on a glorious scene of beauty . There is a quaint story told of this period ; that Patrick suff ered so much from the scanty fare that he somehow obtained a piece of pork and hid it so that he might cook it and eat it later in solitude . But a strange e e e e and e b ing app ared to him , yes b hind b fore in its e e the e e h ad . Patrick, scar d by b ast, ask d it What ? ? art thou Who sent thee here ” I am a servant of God, said this monster, and see with my eyes in front I the ordinary actions of men, but with those behind I saw a certain monk hiding pork under a barrel that he might not be caught . e e the Mor miracl s follow this one, and pork is changed e into fishes for the brethren . But the lik lihood is that mis Patrick was often hungry here as he had been on Sle h. The Tripartite Life records that it was at this monastery e n that St . Patrick was tonsured , rec ivi g the tonsure e so the e e from St . Martin hims lf, that uncl gav his special blessing to one who was his nephew and now he e his spiritual son . And though t young r man was to

be e et . the saint of Ir land , y St Martin had also great honour in that country, his feast of Martinmas being a time of special rejoicing .

But Patrick had other monastic homes , and he made there friends whom he longed to see again when his w e a . e mission took him to Ir l nd He wrot of his ish, to suppressed for the sake of his Irish, to go back Britain e e a so and v n unto G ul to Visit the brethren, that I might see the face of the saints of my God— God knows ” I greatly desire it . The monastic preparation for his public life Was a long one . It lasted for many years . One period was [ 44 ]

SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

Of practical work St . Patrick must have seen much and that helped him in his own mission . Every art craft e e in the the t e is useful to a missionary . H r island bre hr n n t built a church . With their ha ds they rooted out he l h e . e t e e e wi d brake Th y cut tre s and quarri d the ston s , e - e and plant d fruit tre s corn and Vines , until the place was t e ne frui ful and b eautiful . Perhaps agricultur was a w e i had e art to Patrick, whos train ng b en in the care of

e e ee n . b asts , cattl , and sh p and swi e the e u e Under guidanc of his g ardian ang l Victor, the e en e e old books t ll, Patrick w t for a tim to anoth r com t the e muni y in Camargu , an island formed by two sea branches of the Rhone, an island not in the , but l tw the sea ying be een Alps and the , called in old days

the Island of Arles . Possibly this colony of monks - Lé rins and formed a daughter house to , Patrick went to help in the establishment of the new community.

It may have b een here that he first met St . Ger so hi s manus of Auxerre, who had much influence on G rm nus e his e e . e a e futur b came guid and best fri nd , a man e e whom Patrick could lov and honour soldi r, e the statesman , bishop and saint all combin d in nobly ” born and highly accomplished Bishop of Auxerre . It is impossible to give the exact time of that dream ’ which decided Patrick s lifework and kindled the fire unquenchable of which his fire on the Hill of Slane was

ni e . but a symbol . From this ght follow d his sainthood The dream united in one coherent message all those experiences and hopes and trials which had b een his n The since his captivity in Irela d . Moving Finger e a e he was now writing his ord rs, and , tr in d as was by ee e e long years of ch rful obedi nce, he, lik St . Paul, was ” h n obedient to t e visio . The dream came at some time when he was among be his kinsfolk in Britain, back again it may in that i we e e pleasant v llage which hav pictured as n ar the Severn . [ 46 ] PATRICK ON THE CONTINENT

He thought that he saw in his dream his friendly n guardian a gel Victor . “ saw a i the man n I , in V sion of night, a comi g as if e n e na e was V ictoricus wi e from Ir la d , whos m , th v ry And he a e one e m a . e m ny letters g v of th m to , and I read the b eginning of the letter purporting to be the ’ e the and W hilS t I e the Voic of Irish, was r ading out beginning of the letter I thought that at that moment I heard the voices of those who dwelt b eside the wood of ocluth h the e e n sea and he F , w ich is by w st r ; thus t y one t : We e ee ee cried , as if with mou h b s ch th , holy ’ e e youth, to com and walk once mor amongst us . And was e e in e and o e no I gr atly touch d h art, c uld r ad more, ” and so I awoke. a a e e e the e n e e If this c ll c m b for y ars of mo astic lif , th n Patrick must have felt the need of a long training and remained in quiet faith and unhurried preparation until his way should be made plainer Towards Ireland of my own accord I made no move until I was almost worn ” out . It seems that those haunting fears about his lack of learning made him uncertain that he could really be in h e e t e e . call d to this work, spit of dr am But the call of thos e voices from Ireland was urgent ’ the Milcho s in his heart . Did thought of three children ? influence him The ties W ith Ireland must have been strong . The e e a e e d cision onc t k n, Patrick becam a man of H n a e e e . e had i actio , but c r fully pr par d action st ll a e ea e e e n and he p riod of l rning b for him, a tim of traini g, H must be sure of his marching orders . e was a servant n H the ee e. e e e e of Church, not a fr la c d t rmin d to sail e e e - e an with support and r sourc s and f llow work rs , accredited messenger and in touch with those few e He Christian communities alr ady planted in Ireland . ff n e must be o icially recog iz d before he started . [ 47 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

en off e So Patrick w t to Auxerr to wait and to study. e e e he was ne ea H r quit soon ordai d d con, but fourteen years passed between his ordination and his setting forth his ffi . e e e the on mission There w r di culti s in way, e e the e e distrust and unc rtainti s , all d lays which for ev r the n n will hamper pla s of zealous Christia s . To this period belonged the harsh criticism that hurt him so the e a a n e e e much, and b tr y l of a co fid nce by his d ar st

. e e e e e e e friend But troubl s w r t mp r d , we may be c rtain,

. e e e e by joys It is hard som tim s for this pr sent p riod , so ff e e its e e di r nt in the form of id as , to r alize the warmth of humanity and friendship that was found in these -da monastic houses . The Spirit of to y is neither cloistral e e e nor asc tic, and it can hardly cr dit happin ss and humour e e men so e e e the to th s , sev re to th ir bodi s , so scornful of ’ ’ e world s goods . But such books as Miss H len Waddell s M ediceva l L a tin Ly rics and Wa ndering S c/zola rs must convince us that these monks and clerics loved their en e e e fri ds , th ir schoolboys , th ir gard ns with the warmth e e e e of pure h arts , and with a fr shn ss of int rest which

we e e a e . in our noisi r, distract d g may lack Do not these lines sent by Walafrid Strabo to the Abbot of e e e ? St . Gal sp ak of happin ss

S o might you sit in the small garden close In the green darkness of the apple trees us e e the eac - ee cas s its oken s a e J t wh r p h tr t br h d , And they would gather you the shining fruit the so o n u on all ou o s With ft d w p it ; y r b y , ' ou e au n o s ou a sc oo r littl l ghi g b y , y r h ppy h l ,

And bring huge apples clasped in their two hands.

' r with no e e Pat ick, pr fix of saint to him th n, loved G ermanus ea e e e e , his gr t chi f, and the y ars he Sp nt und r this influence were happy years . h in He But there was ever t e call of Ireland his heart . ” h sa e . t e could y, I am r ady, Lord , send me But choice

’ M ea iaeva l L a tin L rics e en Wa e . y , by H l dd ll, p . 5 4 48 PATRICK ON THE CONTINENT

wi e e he W e of a man lay th Pop Cel stine, and ished to s nd

n e n . e t e Palladi s, who was w ll k own to Patrick C les in was thinking more about support for the few Christians e the n the in Ir land than of co version of country. It may e a be that the Irish Christians had ask d for him ; nyhow, P ll dius n A D a a e e . . I was s t to Ir land in 43 . The story of this missionary journey of Palladius to - a on He e Ireland is very short e. cam and returned n a We e n he withi a ye r . l ar too that went from Ireland

to North Britain and died there. e e n e H M mori s of his comi g still ling r in Wicklow . e ’ e e Dea a e land d at Inv r , much used port in thos days . ” ma T r he . i one It y , says Dr Bury, that g y (Tech na n e the the e Roma , Hous of Romans) on high wood d hi e e a the e one ll b yond the riv r at Avoc , was sit of of his e e church s . And you find a m mory in Donard in this ” same county of Wicklow . At Donard we feel with some assurance that we are at one of the earliest homes of the Christian faith in C llfin e . e e Ir land , his third and most important church, e e he e e e has ee ent wh r k pt his sacr d r lics , b n id ified by 1 e e n e Fath r Sh arman with Killee Cormac, that wond rful e e e e e littl shrin of old m mory, which li s n ar Colbinstown, n and about three and a half miles from Du lavin . So the Palladian mission ended without much success and the way was clear for Patrick . After the death of Palladius he was consecrated Bishop by a certain Ama tor x e the n e n ee e . An old story t lls that at Co s cratio thr ne in the e e — a e choirs joi d R spons s choir of ang ls , a ’ e the en ocluth s choir ofchorist rs , and a choir of childr in F e Wood . So with authority from Christendom b hind h t him e se forth .

1 Th n f u c Was en e as And ose two e existe ce o this ch r h d i d by Br h . th ex er ence exca a o s and a c aeo o s s . aca s e and . L o p i d v t r r h l gi t , Dr M li t r Dr l yd

ae e oun no e ence for . S ee e o on een o mac. o a Pr g r, f d vid it R p rt Kill C r R y l Irish Academy .

49 l CHAPTER IV PATRICK RETURNS TO IRELAND

’ Now Patrick s second journey to Ireland was very ff i e e h s . e di rent from first Then, all had be n t rror, con fusion and haste; Now there was the orderly departure of a bishop on a journey that demanded much pre aration H as e . e w p and for thought no youth now, but a man of authority and great power . Through all the

‘ his tory and legends we get that sense of a dominant the e e one personality, of influ nc of a man ruled by great

e . was e id a That he lovable we disc rn , with those e a e u individual traits that ndear ; a man h sty and imp t ous , quick to bless and to curse too in a punitive sense if n evil thwarted good . O e cannot read of him without h h . t e e . thinking of t at other gr at missionary, St Paul For ’ one the was spiritual twin brother to other, and Patrick s own e ff n phew wrote a poem to that e ect . On this journey he needed a company of fellow e e e e for work rs , and much eccl siastical quipm nt, he expected to found religious communities like those he n n he e had know on the Conti ent . And must hav money e e for the xpens s of this great undertaking . He was a practical man and knew that he would have to pay the his way of first churches . His o retinue seems to have been a large one . Acc rding to the B ook of Armaglz he travelled with a multitude e e e e of bishops , pri sts , d acons , r ad rs and others ’ e e e his one e sev ral w r own blood relations , was his sist r s ” son . And Dr . Douglas Hyde tells us that with him hi s e his in Ireland went always piscopal coadjutor, [ 5 0 ] PATRICK RETURNS TO IRELAND

-sm er e e— l psalm g , his assistant pri st, his judg origina ly e e he e a Br hon by prof ssion , whom found most us ful in adjudicating on disputed questions— a personal Champion to protect him from sudden attack and to carry him through floods and other obstacles ; an ’ e e e - e e att ndant on hims lf, a b ll ringer, a cook, a br w r, a a e e e chapl in at the tabl , two wait rs , and oth rs who provided food and accommodation for himself and his H n e . e e hous hold had in his compa y three smiths, thr e fi rs ee e arti ce e e e . , and thr ladi s who mbroid r d His smiths artificers l bookcovers e e and made a tars, , bells , and h lp d e e the e one e to r ct his wooden churches ; ladi s , of th m ” - his e e e e . own sist r, made v stm nts and altar lin ns

’ As e a e it seems r g rds a champion to def nd him, that his a . e e n t sk was honorary, for St Patrick in v ry co tention appears to have stood up for himself and cowed the opposing force by his moral courage . If it were urged against him by cavillers in his later

e he e e e e . y ars that sought to nrich hims lf, he d ni s it He repudiated this charge of money-making with the

n e e n e . e e at passio at , right ous a g r St Paul expr ss d similar injusti ce. When the Lord ordained clergy everywhere by my e and a e m diocrity, I g v them my ministrations gratis , did I ask from any of them so much as the price of my sandal — tell it against me and I Shall restore you more. e e e e the Som times, too , I us d to give pr s nts to e e e e e e Kingl ts b sid s the hire I us d to giv th ir sons , who accompanied me. You know also of your own knowledge how much en e e e I sp t on thos who guid d us through all th ir districts , e e e e a which I us d to Visit mor fr qu ntly, for I think th t I distributed to them not less than the price of fifteen e and e men. Still I sp nd will sp nd more.

h e . Nay, C rist the Lord was poor for our sak But [ 5 1 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

e e I, poor and wretch d , ev n should I wish for wealth I ” have it not . fi the e ne . was So, though retinu sounds , St Patrick still the poor servant of Christ, spending for others . At last all were aboard and the sails set for that western sea which separated Britain from Ireland . Those voices ’ e were calling more and more cl arly to Patrick s ears . And again to his eyes the blue hills of Ireland lay on the horizon . The e Dea boat was making for Inv r , a harbour near th the present town of Wicklow. So to e eyes of that band of noble adventurers the hills of Wicklow and e and n dim W xford Dubli Showed on the horizon, then e and e e e clear r cl ar r, Bray H ad and that Red Spear we a D ouce mountain which call Sug r Loaf, j , and all the e Glendalou h folded hills that str tch to g . the e one the But landing was not a pl asant , for chief e e e e i tain of that plac cam out with his p opl , and w th a shower of stones repelled the Christians so that they had to put to sea again and sailed northward to the Bay of e e e e et fish e Malahid , wh r th y hoped to g , but got non e and had to fare on br ad and water . So they went e farther to a littl island , now Inis Patrick, not far from th Skerries on the mainland . But e quest for food was

e e e e . the still in vain, and th r w r many hungry folk So saint himself sailed to a place on the coast (now Gor manstown) and at last found hospitality and relief for ‘ he his spiritual family. And gained more than food at the Sescnen . The e home of , his host story r lates that, on the ee weary as he was , Patrick lay down grass to sl p,

. en his companions about him Then young Ben , or Beni nus son Sescnen e ee g , of , gath red a bunch of sw t ’ and e smelling flowers put th m in the saint s bosom . e e -of- a e e e e him The mor matt r f ct ld rs disapprov d , t lling not a e . a e e to w ke th ir Bishop But P trick wok up, h aring e the the r proofand seeing crestfallen boy with the flowers . [ 5 2 ]

SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

’ against the sky— still onward where Mourne s Moun ee n the sea e tains sw p dow to , until the boat r ached the e the Inver Slan, mouth of Strangford Riv r . At head ’ e e of this oc an riv r, out of the tide s rush, at a spot now

ne e e e e r e e . ar Audley Castl , th y anchored , thos w a y trav ll rs e They wait d for a while, probably for high water, and

' then glided with the tide to a sheltered nook at the mouth ’

the e . e e of the Slan River, now Fiddl r s Burn H re th y hid the boat beneath overhanging branches and went ashore a e e to rest after the weariness of the se . And pr s ntly they came near a place which must always be named with e e Patrick, Saul, wh r stood a barn, a kindly sheltering place in windy weather . It seems that at once the saint loved and desired this spot for his own . - Now the first native to see them was a Swine herd . s e the e off e 'uick to py dang r, h rd went to his mast r D ichu e a of h . e , the chi ft in . t is district Di hu came quickly his one e e - with dog, maybe of thos gr at wolf hounds T n so . he e e which Patrick k ew well chi f, se ing these h set e . men as raiders , the dog at t m But e as St . Patrick stood up to the dang r he always did One e the do e e . can pictur g sudd nly quailing b fore ’ the n e e e e e e stra g r s f arless y s , rath r b fore them than before the Latin verse of a psalm hurled at his head ” fidentes tradas e bestiis n con . Ne , Domin , a imas tibi The men met e Dichu followed on his dog . two fac

n etwee e . to face . A lo g look passed b n th m The pagan ’ n chieftain was the bishop s bondma . No need for

e e the . miraculous stori s , raked tog ther by old chroniclers

Patrick had the strength of spirit that moves mountains . The two must have talked together for a time because Dichu old e e the , a just man in his own faith, b li ved e e the new Gosp l and was baptiz d , first man thus to e Dichu e receive baptism in Ulster . Th n long d to give his teacher some off ering and he begged St . Patrick to [ 5 4 ] PATRICK RETURNS TO IRELAND

e . acc pt the barn This was a gift most welcome . Patrick made a blessing for him

’ God s blessing on Dichu Who a th arn g ve me e B . May he have hereafter ea en o e u e and ea A h v ly h m , bright, p r gr t, ’ God s blessing on Dieh u On Dichu and his children ; N0 child of his or grandchild

Whose life will not be long .

e e the So Saul becam the first church in Ulst r, first e e th church in Ireland where St . Patrick c l brated e u e e E charist . The plac is about two mil s from Down m h . e n e e e t e patrick And n ar Saul is a oth r plac of mory, e e e the e e the W lls of Struell, wh r wat rs w re blessed by h saint . Tradi tion says t at he slept in the caves whence the e flow waters, his mantl around him wet with spray, his e e h ad upon a ston . i th But St . Patrick d d not linger with e kindly Diehu n hi beyond the winter mo ths . He had come to visit s e Milcho be old mast r, ; to convert him , if that might , anyway to restore to him the price of the slave herd -boy who ran away. A momentous journey this must have been to the s . e e he aint Thes familiar plac s known in his youth, e one Slemish recogniz d them one by . was in sight, rising up in lonely state from its plain . How full of e e m mori s was this mountain ; scene of joys and agony, of long communing with G od. e e e his I think that Patrick walk d alon , ah ad of com i e see pan ons , so ager was he to the old m m , the palace e e e he of his master . Sur ly he was alon wh n stood on that spot on Slemish where he looked over the Valley ’ of the Braid River towards the king s m m and saw it in e flam s . ? Milcho was Was this some magic For a Druid , the [ 5 5 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

e n e e . story says , mast r of stra g crafts and counterf its the n e e e No , palace was bur ing, and fi rc ly a wooden hous could burn . n For two or three hours St . Patrick stood gazi g at H a e n the sight . is comp nions had join d him a d stood n by him waiting some explanatio . “ ” “ ’ the the Milcho s Yonder said saint, is fire of house ; he has burnt himself lest he should b eli eve in ” God at the end of his life . It must have been later that they heard the history of h fi Milcho had the t e re. got rumours of coming of his - h He u one time slave and a terror ad seized him . wo ld ’ He e not hear of this slave s God . would shut hims lf up in his mmwith all his gold and silver and burn himself nd rather than change his heart a his life.

e e the . ne and Ov rwh lmed by sight, St Patrick tur d e Dichu en and went back to the kind car of , his fri d e e e e a e e in discipl . For a sp ll of p ac he st yed th r Saul , e n and e n e e n the pr achi g t aching, foundi g church s , njoyi g friendship of the chieftain and grateful for this breathing n space b efore his next great adve ture . One story of this peaceful period is beautiful in the e e n e telling, b caus it bri gs into the history that littl girl , e Milcho B ronach n e daught r of , by ame, who had onc ’ sh r bef riended her father s slave . How far e had e e e e e e the m mb r d thos stori s of Christ Hero, told her e e- e in er do onc by a swin h rd out the fields in summ , we h . e s e e e not know P rhaps , like Mary, had pond red th m r her e b e e in he heart . And now h art would strang ly ’ stirred by her father s death in the fire his own hands e the e e e e had mad , and n ws of a gr at preach r, a pri st of the Christian faith who was moving all hearts and n converting the me of Ulster . She a e now i son Mochae was marri d woman w th a , , — who herded swine no dishonourable task in those days . Patrick met the lad in just such a place as he had [ 5 6 ] PATRI CK RETURNS TO IRELAND frequented when he was a herd and his heart went out o h . t e i e t him Finding boy w lling, he had him instruct d

e i n e e ne . by his cl rics , and cours of tim ordai d him Much in e the later lif this boy, who was grandson to stubborn Milcho e e n old Druid , King , b cam a bishop ruli g n e o ndrum Mah N e ee. island mo ast ry of , or Island

[ 5 7 ] CHAPTER V PATRICK COMES TO TARA

F O . BE RE we follow St Patrick on his great adventure , let tu the storming of paganism in its high places, us pic re the and see life on Tara at this period, what was the Old e Order that the New Ord r had come, at first to absorb , 1 e so later to challenge . For the Old Order has oft n e e much good in it, that its ruthl ss d struction by the

New seems a brutal iconoclasm . But Patrick was con structive and conciliatory as far as conscience allowed . Yet to the fighting Christian faith there was no parley h the e e . t e ing with n my Now, as we look back upon see the strife, we that king and saint were in hands of Destiny as tools used in the setting of a new act in the drama of history . ’ e The Druids, years befor Patrick s coming, had e the e wordl prophesi d chang , that their acute y wisdom foresaw by the signs of the times

a e- o co e o e the sea B r p ll will m v r wild , His an e o e- ea e his s aff c ook- an e m tl h l h d d, t r h dl d, His altar in the east of his house And all his family shall answer

A en A en. m , m ? What powers and position had the Druids in Ireland Patrick was destined to challenge their power again and ’ again ; as in Pharaoh s court Moses challenged the priests .

1 h a of n i A n n oon O . 8. Tara was aba do ed s after t e de th Ki g Diarmaid n . 5 5 h u n f Rua h ho w his c e T s was due to t e so emn c s o . d an w hi l r i g St , ith l rgy

an e s and san sa ms a n in ocess on oun the l . His eason r g b ll g p l , w lki g pr i r d hil r f u n was ar from a j st o e. 5 8 PATRICK COMES TO TARA

To this day the relics of Druid worship and e e — e cahirs pow r remain in Ir land dolm ns and , pillar The i e e e stones and circles . sk ll that rais d th s stones e e a e so e se ms ind ed n cromancy, it is not strang that sorcery was attributed to these learned and powerful e e men. As w ll as being pri sts of a religion which was sun— the e men a form of worship , Druids were se rs , of science and councillors of State. They were of high h n n t e e e e . e birth, related to ki gs , if not ki gs th ms lv s Th ir e e e e influ nce was boundless , it was bas d larg ly on f ar . Their lesser gods were in wells and hills and in the e ff e stones that they set upright . That th y o er d human e e n ee e n e n e sacrific s in Ir la d s ms quit u c rtai , it is bas d e a upon such small evidence. Th y could underst nd the messengers of the new faith in that they too believed in e and in e te a Supreme B ing a futur sta , though this was n a doctrine of the transmigratio of souls . th the Druids were e support of power of Tara . They e e n e n w r all about the High Ki g, at his tabl , at his cou cils . And they were bitterly opposed to this faith which was n e h comi g to them from the east . Th y saw in it t e fall of their power . e e e e e Youth had be n att ntive to th m , for oft n th y e e The e n Columcille w r tutors . gr at Irish sai t had a Druid for teacher ; and King Laoghaire (Leary) sent his daughters to be brought up by two Druids in Con e e the e e e e an naught . The Druids w r acc pt d t ach rs d

e the e and a e . e couns llors, also divin rs sooths y rs Th y used peeled yew rods in their divinations and believed h n t e e e . in faery power of rowan bra ch s , yew and haz l Any important step by some king or warrior would require the advice of the Druids and their forecasting h t e tu . e n e of fu re Their help in battl was i vok d , for e e e e a the e e e they w r suppos d to mak m gic with l m nts , raise fogs and storms and produce madness by throwing ’ in e e e e . straw, accursed by incantations , th ir en mi s fac s [ 5 9 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

Missionaries of to -day find something of the same e - opposing forc in the witch doctors of Africa . Always e e e e e et such pow r is cons rvativ , r trograd , y with much a n of the good th t lies i an Old Order b ehind it . The e e e a e e Druids b long d , c rtainly, to an g that was spl ndid , e h roic and chivalrous in Ireland . is e There a strang old story that Cormac Mac Art, the e the e the High King, was kill d by pow r of Druids , b ecause he would not worship the idol they brought to h him . It seems that e had heard the Christian Gospel and had meditated upon it in the quiet places of the h h n woods where e and is quee spent their last years . 6 e in A . D . 2 6 e e e Cormac Mac Art di d , b for ver Patrick e e n the cam to Ir la d , but story of his faith in a God greater than idols was proved by his defiance of the e n e e the e Druids . They, in th ir a g r, turn d Mal dictive stone against him and he died of a fish bone in hi s he e e he e throat . But had ord r d that should be buri d n the Rosnaree e t faci g East, at , away from his h a hen a B inn forbears t Brugh na O e . Another strange conversion to Christianity was the n MacNessa ee Ki g Connor , who is said to have b n e e th pr s nt in spirit at e Crucifixion . At sight of that cruelty he fell into a fury and agony trying to rescue so he e a e n and Christ, that rush d mong the tr es , hewi g slashing till an old wound burst in his head and he died he from t strength of his pity. e e the n Tara, still a nam lik a torch in roma tic history

— da e e e e . of Ireland , is to y a lon ly, m agr littl hill It seems lost in that sea of grazing land which forms the rich e county of Royal Meath . But M ath is not a very beauti ful district ; it b elongs to the great central plain of e n and a see a e ea e Ir la d , from T ra you will le gu upon l gu of e pasture stretching to the dim blue of distant plain . H re nd e e e a e e . One th r ris s a hill you must not , the wood d hill of Slane where that fire was kindled which put out [ 60 ]

SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

The magnificence of Tara was due chiefly to the King

Cormac Mac Art, a romantic figure in legend and history . It was this Cormac who built the first water- mill in e his r Ireland , which was at Tara ; this to pleas mist ess ’ e Ciarnait e the ee dis and slav , , who was b aring qu n s a da ple sure every y by grinding the heavy stones . As the birth of her child drew near she found her labours so weary that she begged her royal lover to send to her native Scotland (she was a Pictish princess) for the plan - of a water mill such as was used there . Science and love - thus brought a water mill to Tara . For the appearance of Cormac Mac Art as he was seen Tara I the e r in , give d scription from an old w iter, quoted e e by Dr . Hyde . It brings back those sc n s , evoked in the k e imagination of world that Patric kn w . For this ’ ea e gr t King s spl ndour was upheld by Laoghaire (Leary) , ’ n n the High Ki g, at St . Patrick s second comi g to Ireland . ” ea a the e the e B utiful, s ys old writ r, was app arance of Cormac in that assembly ; flowing and slightly curling r d n was his golden hair . A e buckler with stars a d animals n e of gold a d fast nings of silver upon him . A crimson in n a e e his cloak desce ding folds around him, f st n d at neck with precious stones . A torque of gold around his Awhite i e neck . sh rt with a full collar, and int rtwined with - red e . gold thr ad upon him A girdle of gold , inlaid with

e e . e e pr cious ston s , was around him Two wond rful sho s

e e . e of gold , with gold n loops upon his f et Two sp ars e his a e with golden sock ts in h nds , with many riv ts of he red e. e e es bronz And was hims lf, b sid , symmetrical ”

e e e . and b autiful of form , without bl mish or r proach It is a fact that Ireland was pre-eminent for itswealth can of gold in Western Europe at this time . This be appreciated by those who see the collection of gold n h n ornaments i t e Museum in Dubli . Now let us picture this Cormac as he moved in state about Tara . I 62 l PATRICK COMES TO TARA

e e was e e e en e e Th r , v ry third or s v th y ar (history se ms e e é is e e unc rtain on this point) , a gr at F or Ass mbly h ld the men e at Tara, and all of Ir land who could come Th a gathered there. e Feast beg n three days before

e e I e ee a e . Samhain (Nov mb r ) , and last d thr days l t r i e a e the a It was a t m for making l ws , for t sting annals nd e e e n and e g nealogi s of Ir la d, for recording thes things in

a National Record . Mac the e e e Cormac Art, High King, pr sid d ov r these t n Assemblies . With him he had e courtiers who rarely

e . e e e e n e e l ft him Th s w r a pri c of nobl blood, a Druid , n e — a physicia , a Br hon (or law maker), a bard , a historian, a musician and three stewards . e ea e e e e the This stat , K ting t lls us , was pr s rv d by king the e t till tim of Brian Boru, with a Chris ian priest supplanting the Druid . There is a delightful passage in a treatise ascribed to this same great Cormac— Tne Ins truction of a P rince ’ n a sort of catechism of a pri ce s duties . the e Cairbré Says young princ , a the O gr ndson of Con, O Cormac, what are duties of a prince at a banqueting house ’ rince on Samhain s Day (November I st) should e e e light his lamps , and w lcom his gu sts with clapping of e e the - e e hands , procur comfortabl seats , cup b ar rs should be respectable and active in the distribution of meat and Let e e be e a drink . th r mod r tion of music, short stories , e n enan e e e the e e a w lcoming cou t c , a w lcom for l arn d , e n n e and the l e e are the e pl asa t co v rsations , ike, th s duti s of ” h nd the n e en th t e e a e e e. princ , arra g m t of banqu ting hous e his e e and e Now to hous lordly gu sts , princ s Chi ftains , a ea the e Miodh Cormac Mac Art built gr t hall, T ach chuarta Mee- - - e (Toch coo ar ta) , which could accommodat

“ e be e a e a thousand p rsons , and us d as ss mbly room,

e ee e . had ee banqu ting hall , and sl ping chamb r It fourt n

e e e e . doors, s ven to the west, s v n to the ast [ 63 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

The length of the hall was s even hundred and sixty

feet and its breadth was nearly ninety . In the middle e ee th of the hall , running all the way down b tw n e e e e b nches , there was a row of fir s , and just abov each e the fire was a spit d scending from the roof, at which

joints were roasted . The King sat at the southern end e of the hall , and the servants and r tainers occupied h ” 1 t e northern . ’

. e n Dr Hyde quot s Keati g s description of it . This was taken by Keating (that lonely outlaw historian in the h r l Glen of A e low) from o d authorities . r The nobles, bo h territorial lords and captains of o e e bands of warri rs , w re each man of th m always h l - attended by his own proper s ie d bearer . Again their e e a e banquet halls w r rrang d in the following manner, to h e e n e e wit, t y w re long arrow buildings with tabl s arrang d along both the opposite walls ofthe hall ; then along these e e was a e e sid walls ther pl ced a beam, in which w re fix d numerous hooks (one over the seat destined for each of the e e ee e e nobl s) , and b tw n very two of them th re was n but the breadth of o e shield . Upon these hooks the shanachy hung up the shields of the nobles previously e e to th ir sitting down to the banquet, at which th y all, sat both lords and captains , each beneath his own shield . e e the the e How v r, most honoured side of hous was the e the occupied by t rritorial lords , whilst captains of 2 e e e the e warriors were seat d opposit to th m at oth r . The upper end of the hall was the place of the ollavs e the end e e (bards), whil lower was assign d to the att nd e ants and the officers in waiting . It was also pr scribed that no man should be placed opposite another at the e e a a sam tabl , but that all, both territorial lords and c pt ins, sit e the e should with th ir backs towards wall , ben ath

e e . a e e e e th ir own shi lds Ag in, th y nev r admitt d f males

1 ' e. Litera ry His tory q f l rela na . Hyd 2 ’ o a the F anna o mac s a . Pr b bly i , C r Militi PATRI CK COMES TO TARA into their banquet hall ; these had a hall of their own in hi w ch they were separatelyserved . It was likewise the prescribed usage to clear out the banquet hall previous to the serving assembled nobles therein . And no one was e a the e allowed to r m in in building but thre , namely a Shanach ools a ire e y and a g (marshal or h rald) , and a e h ffi e trumpet r, the duty ofw ich latter o c r was to summon all the guests to the banquet hall by the sound of hi s - had e e . trumpet horn . He to sound his horn thre tim s At the first blast the shield- bearers of the territorial e i e e Chi fta ns assembled round the door of the hall , wh r the e the ' shields e marshal rec ived from them of th ir lords, he e the e n the Shanach which th n, according to dir ctio s of y, e r e e hung up ach in its assigned place . The t ump ter th n e e e - e sounded his trump t a s cond time, and the shi ld bear rs of the Chieftains of the military bands assembled round the e e the e e the door of banqu t hall , wher marshal rec iv d ’ e e th ir lords shields from th m also , and hung them up e the r at the oth r side of the hall, according to orde s of h t e Shanach e the . y, and over the tabl s of warriors The e e e trumpeter sound d his trump t the third tim , and thereupon both the nobles and the warrior chiefs entered the e e sat banqu t hall , and then ach man down beneath his e own shield, and thus were all contests for pr cedency ” avoided amongst them . e e e one the e With th se sc n s in mind, can picture stag setting of this great act in the drama of Irish history . On e e e this Stag saint and king will stand fac to fac , and the e e Old magnificent Order struggl with the New Ord r, righteous and austere . we e et Now r turn to Patrick, who had just founded y

e one . anoth r church , this at Bright His kingly convert

e the e . this tim was Ross, brother of Di hu , his friend

was e e . Ross mor reluctant, but gav his allegiance at last So far things had not been difficult ; but Patrick was e - e planning, with that cl ar sight d defiance of fear, which E [ 6 5 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

e is courage, to storm the h adquarters of paganism . He h had no illusions about t e matter . Probably the fight

e e . so would m an d ath for him If , he was ready. As the the to days and exact facts of contest, recent has k historians may argue . But the story ta en hold of the ages and its essential truth must have been handed its down to posterity, and in traditional form it shall now be given . Patrick discussed the plan of campaign with the n frie dly chief Dichu. Warning had already been sent to Dichu by the High King to beware of the tonsured ’ Dichu s priest and yield him no obedience. But reply was to advise Patrick to go straight to Tara and stake h o everything on t e c ntest there . So the saint and his company embarked at Strangf ord

Lough , probably in a curragh, the type of boat much used at the time . It was light and could be drawn easily over the fords of rivers . They had a prosperous voyage the down to the mouth of Boyne, and left the boat with ’ Patricks nephew Lomman at some spot near where - Drogheda stands to day . the l a During ast days of Holy Week in this ye r 43 3 , w e his set Off the saint, ith ten or twelv of clerics , for Tara by land and arrived at the Hill of Slane (then Ferta ’ f er Feicc— the graves of Fiacc s men) on the evening of

Easter Eve . Up there on the Hill of Slane what did this band of ? Christians see if the evening was a clear one Below e the — the f th m lay plain of Meath, Magh Breg Beauti ul

Plain . To the north on a very clear evening they might see the —e the the Mourne Mountains , to south ast blue folds and peaks of the beloved and gentle hills of off Wicklow ; very far , perhaps , the long undulation of e e Slieve Bloom . And th r , about ten miles to the south, t e m was Tara of the Kings, the citadel which h y ust win or die. [ 66 ] PATRICK COMES TO TARA

Ireland is a land which looks so peaceful that its many battles seem to break the quiet with a shattering f e e e e a . veh menc , and aft r them the peac lows b ck A spring evening in that land of woods and pasture and ul and river wo d be ringing with bird song, gay with ten e off e e coming life . And mil s th r was revelry on

Tara . e But it was growing dusk, pal light in the west and h a veil of twilight creeping over t e woods . It was time to light and to bless the Paschal Fire . This new fire be e e e the was to struck from a flint and bl ss d , and th n e e e Paschal candl would be lighted from it, mbl m of the n Light of the World which shone out o Easter morning . The fire must burn through the night to be ready at dawn on Easter Day . “ e e i It happ n d , then, that that was the t me at which was e e e e e c lebrat d the high tid of the h ath n, to wit, the

e a . e F ast of T ra On that night, then , the fire of ev ry e el e e e h arth in Ir and was qu nch d , and it was proclaim d by the King that no fire should be kindled in Ireland e e the fire e e b for of Tara, and that n ith r gold nor silver should be taken (as compensation) from him who should h n e e . ki dle it, but that should go to d ath for his crime the r e n e e saw As folk of Ta a wer bidi g ther , th y (at some distance from them) the Paschal consecrated fire which Patrick kindled . It lighted up the whole of e the : MagBreg . Th n said King That is a breach of a ban and law of mine : go and ’ find out who hath done so . ’ We see sa the fire , y wizards , the and we know that unless it is quenched on the night on which it was e wi be a He mad , it ll not quenched till doomsd y . , e e the moreov r, who kindl d it will vanquish kings and ’ e n e he e lords of Ir la d unl ss is forbidd n . en the n e h a Wh Ki g h ard that e w s mightily disturbed . the : Then said King This shall not be. But we will [ 67 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

’ k ’ go , saith he, and slay the man who indled the fire . Then his chariots and his horses were yoked for the e end King, and they w nt at the of the night to the ’ graves of Fiacc s men . ’ e sa the Thou should st take heed , y wizards , not the e the was e to go to plac where fire mad , that thou mayst not do reverence to the man who kindled it ; but stay outside and let him be called out to thee that he the he is may judge that thou art King, and that the ’

e e e n . subj ct, and we will argu in your pr se ce ‘ ’ ‘ he It is good advice, saith (the King) , it shall be ’ sa done as ye y. They came thereafter and unyoked their horses and their chariots before the graves . Patrick is called out to them and they made a rule that no one should e 5 0 rise up to meet him , lest he should b lieve in him . Patrick arose and went forth and saw the chariots and the horses u nyoked . Then he chanted the prophetic e e e e v rs , Som trust in chariots and som in horses ; but ’ we in the name of the Lord our mighty God . They were biding before him with the rims of their e e e shi lds against their chins , and none of th m ros up b efore him save one man only in whom was a nature

e son . from God , nam ly Erc, of Deg He is the Bishop ” - 1 Erc who is to day in Slane of Mag Breg .

So far the story from the Tripartite Life . The scene is enacted at night in the play of light and k the fire- e and dar . Patrick comes out of lit t nt stands his silhouetted against the glow . King Laoghaire and the Druids are in shadow, the light playing on their e e the and faces . B yond th m horses chariots and serving men . Then Patrick, standing boldly before them , gave e his e e his messag from own High King, the m ssag of ” Peace on earth, goodwill to men . He proclaimed his the so faith boldly, that doctrine of Trinity, much

1 - An an c en o a o of . Erc exis s es e the R e o ne to da i t r t ry St t b id iv r B y y. [ 68 ]

SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

e who were waiting in ambush for th m saw no man pass , e but only ight deer running swiftly in single file, and

e n e . a fawn b hi d th m , carrying something on his shoulder And and e he t so Patrick made chant d this song as wen , ’ t l e old The e hat it is ca l d in the books a Lorica, De r s ” - Cry, but to day it is called The Breastplate of Saint ” e e Patrick, and it is sung very y ar on his day, 1 seventeenth of March :

THE DEER’ S CR'

(Commonly ca lled Tbe B rea s tp la te of S a int P a trick

I I bind' to myself to-day The s on o e of an n oca on of the n tr g p w r i v ti Tri ity, The a of the n in n t f ith Tri ity U i y, T h n he Creator of t e eleme ts.

I bind to myself to-day The power of the Incarnation of Christ with that of His a s B pti m, The o e of the uc fi on t a of His u a p w r Cr i xi with h t B ri l , The o e of the Resu ec on w the Ascension p w r rr ti ith , n The power of the C oming to the sentence of Judgme t .

3 I bind to myself to-day The o e of the o e of e a p w r l v S r phim, In the o e ence of An els b di g , In the se ce of A c an e s ( rvi r h g l ) , In the o e of Resu ec on un o e a h p rr ti t r w rd, In the prayers of the noble Fathe In the e c ons of the o e s pr di ti Pr ph t , In the eac n of A os es pr hi g p tl , In the a of on esso s f ith C f r , In the u of o ns p rity h ly Virgi ,

In the acts of Righteous men.

“ 1 a se to-da i ns ea o f n to m se to-da is the ans I ri y, t d I bi d y lf y, tr lation of the Irish Atomruig given in The I rish L ié er Hy mnorum “ ” n n on B ut h usua on n is now c ea and (B ernard a d Atki s ) . t e l versi I bi d l r to mo of familiar st us. 70 PATRI CK COMES TARA

4

I bind to myself to-day The power of Heaven. The of the Sun light , The eness of no whit S w, The o ce of e f r Fir , The flas n of L n n hi g ight i g, The e oc t of n v l i y Wi d , The e of the Sea d pth , The S a of the a t bility E rth,

The hardness of Rocks.

5

I bind to myself to-day The o e of G od to u e me p w r g id , The of G od to u o me might ph ld , The e e of G od to a c o e me y w t h v r , The ear of G od to ea me h r , The o of G od to e me s eec w rd giv p h, The an of G od to o ec me h d pr t t , The wa of G od to e en me y pr v t , The sh e of G od to s e e me i ld h lt r , The os of G od to e en me h t d f d , A a ns the sna es of e ons g i t r d m , A a ns the e a ons of V ces g i t t mpt ti i , A a ns the us s of na u e g i t l t t r , A a ns e e man who e a es in ur to me g i t v ry m dit t j y , e e far or nea Wh th r r,

With few or with manV .

a e set a oun me all ese o e s I h v r d th p w r , A a ns e e os e sa a e o e g i t v ry h til v g p w r, ec e a a ns o and sou Dir t d g i t my b dy my l , A a ns the ncan a ions of a se o e s g i t i t t f l pr ph t , A a ns the ack a s of eat en s g i t bl l w h h i m, A a ns the a se a s of e es g i t f l l w h r y, A a ns the ece s of o a g i t d it id l try, A a ns the s e of o en and s s and u s g i t p ll w m mith dr id , A a ns all kno e e c n s the so of man g i t wl dg whi h bli d ul . [ 7 1 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING

Christ protect me to-day A a ns o son a a ns u n n g i t p i , g i t b r i g, A a ns own n a a ns oun s g i t dr i g, g i t w d ,

That I may receive abundant reward .

is t me s e o e me Chr t wi h , Chri t b f r , s e n me s n me Chri t b hi d , Chri t withi , s enea me s a o e me Chri t b th , Chri t b v , ris at s at e Ch t my right, Chri t my l ft, s in the o Chri t f rt, is in the c ar o s a Chr t h i t e t,

Christ in the poop .

s in the ea of e e man who nks of me Chri t h rt v ry thi , s in the ou of e e man who s eaks to me Chri t m th v ry p , s in e e e e a sees me Chri t v ry y th t , a a m Christ in every ear th t he rs e .

I bind to myself to-day The s on o e of an n oca on of the ini tr g p w r i v ti Tr ty, The a of the n t in n f ith Tri i y U ity,

The creator of the elements.

a a ion is of the Lo S lv t rd , a a on is of the Lo S lv ti rd, a a on is of s S lv ti Chri t, Lo Ma sa a on be e e us. y Thy lv ti , O rd, v r with

The High King and his queen went back that Easter a son the morning to Tara . L oghaire, of great Niall of did the Nine Hostages , not like defeat . He was puzzled

n e e. e by this stra g and opposing forc Mor over, Patrick n th had Shaken his spirit . One can ot doubt that it was e force of Patrick’ s character in every case which proved [ 72 ] PATRICK COMES TO TARA

- n e a a be all conqueri g . Miracl s will lw ys matters for ” h e and o . t e e e disput , about it ab ut But gr at st miracle IS the impress that the character of a man can make on history . Whether or no the saint wreaked miraculous vengeance the be e e n the on Druids will qu stion d by ma y, but fact is that by virtue of the miracle called grace he conquered Tara . Tradition has in most cases so much behind it that ‘‘ ’ ’ often It is the more that is proven by criticism rather ” h h let a e t e . than t e less . So us h v story e a an e On this East r Day, a p g f ast day for him , Laoghaire had called together sub -kings and chiefs and n Th e e e . e Druids , and th y h ld a high ba qu t king was , ’ - e and e e e the perhaps , crest fall n b wild r d by night s

e . cont ntion But a High King, acting as host, would n n n co ceal his u easi ess . sat e e e n e There they , th s Chi ftai s , shi lds over their e and e heads , backs to the wall , po ts Druids up n ar the e e e king, wh n suddenly, com from God knows wh re, Patrick is standing in the hall before them with five of

e . one ee e his cl rics No had s n a door op n, or heard them e come in . They were th re and you could but gape at e th m in wonder . the e the e Laoghaire had told ass mbly, by couns l of his one e e e Druids , that no was to ris up for th s Christian m n e . one e en en e pri sts No mov d for a mom t, th two e ee e e the n n in rose to th ir f t, h edl ss of ki g, looki g only n homage into the eyes of this stra ger . One was 1 Dubthach the ie the e e , ch f of po ts of Ir land , the other

t e e e e iacc e. a s ud nt, his n ph w, a po t too , F by nam e e the e Disguising his ang r, Laoghair High King bad a be e e e e Lucat- e e P trick s at d n ar him and n ar Ma l , his oth r e e - e chi f Druid . But Lu at Ma l sought occasion to poison e e e and the gu st ; this the saint foil d by a miracl , the

1 D - Pronounced uo buck . [ 73 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

the r- poison ran out of cup . Next, Luca Mael challenged Patrick to a contest in wonder-working on the plain see The e outside, so that all might tournam nt lasted n r lo g . They both brought snow on the earth and da k th ness and fire . But it seems that e Druid could not the e undo his wonders until next day, whil Patrick could Lucat- e disperse the snow and the darkness . Finally Ma l i e s fell Vict m to his own devices and perish d in flame . So at last Laoghaire made a formal submission to this e i ts old new Power . But his h art remained set in e e he e e paganism, and th re is no r cord that gav mor than a grudging protection to the Christians . But this per mission to preach the Gospel and a promise of safety for himself opened a high road from Tara for Patrick.

[ 74 ] CHAPTER VI PATRICK DESTROYS CROM CRUACH

ST e e t e . PATRICK, arm d now with royal prot c ion, w nt n ne e e forth on his missio ary jour ys , whil Laoghair ,

e e a e in e e. grim and mortifi d , r m in d d fianc Niall , my ” ’ e he en he e the ui e fath r, said , wh h ard Dr ds proph cy e the n ne not r garding comi g of the faith, enjoi d me to e e e a n and be b li ve, but that I should liv paga should ” e h n buri d in t e topmost part of Tara like warlike me . so a e e e And it was ; Laogh ir , lik his foreb ars , was e the e n e buri d in ridg of his own royal rath, sta ding, sp ar e men e n and sword in eith r hand , facing the of L i ster, And e e he not e whom he hated . b caus would forgiv the Leinster men he would not accept this Gospel of forgiveness .

“ Here in Royal Meath the saint was at the heart of the h n s a . e e e e t e e country M ath xt nd d from Sha non to the , and e e ane from Sli v Bloom to Dundalk, or to the F River h l d beyond t e town of Louth . Five great roads e to e e e e Tara from all parts of Ireland . Th s roads w r of use the n e great to sai t, who trav lled , as we know, with e e e e new a big retinue. When v r he nt red a district or sub- en the kingdom , St . Patrick w t straight to king or hi n n n o- c eftain a d sought his conversio a d c operation . e e e If these w re won, he founded a church and quipp d e e n it with pri st and n cessary belo gings . a en t the From Tara it seems that St . P trick w t has ily to e ne e Lomman Ford of Trim to me t his ph w , who had brought the boat so far and had himself converted ortchem n e and F , a you g man of importanc , later Fort [ 7s ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

’ t e e chem s father and mo her . Th r had been a very happy ' meeting when the mother found that Lomman was n h . s e from Britai So was , and that was a bond . And edilmid her son - of n e e F , husband , a Ki g Laoghair , no l ss ,

e the e n e that i Patrick could sp ak sam to gu . So , arriving n e and the at Trim, f ou d a welcom pleasant atmosphere e e the t of home and fri ndship aft r hostili ies of Tara . e he e in e the But nev r might r st p ace, for always en e e wi urg cy of his m ssag was upon him , as it was th H . a e e he St Paul the postle . f lt must go to that great Tailteann Fair whos e only outward relic is a rath at Telltown in Meath ; but of its games and contests there ee e in - has b n a r vival Ireland to day . e e e Coir e Patrick had a bad r c ption at this plac from pr , son e a Coir r e. e of Niall , and a broth r of L oghair This p tri ed to kill the saint and scourged the servants who would not betray him . And still worse Patrick fared at e e Uisne h c . another plac of anci nt repute, the Hill of e e n e e This was a c ntr ofpaga worship , a place of tr m ndous n e e importa c in antique history . H re a grandson of a e e e Niall opposed P trick and kill d som of his follow rs . n e son the did But with Co all , anoth r of Niall , saint

e . was e e bett r Conall a willing conv rt and a g nuine, for e n he would prov faith with a gift, la d for a church close ' h e. t e to his own hous Patrick measured out ground , W hi s e en ith crozi r, we are told , and a church tw ty yards end end e so e from to aros , that it was call d the Great in the e D ona h atrick Church of Patrick, plac that is g p - to day . Another interesting foundation was at a place which n th is now Gra ard . In e religious community there n e on n fou d d was e who had k own St . Patrick as his ’ ’ ‘ G osact on ilcho s father s slave . was e of M children who n h - had b efrie ded t e captive herd boy. And now thi s G osact was n and in e a Christia a monast ry, where long after this time his tomb was to be seen . [ 76 ]

SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

In their ranks stood Four times three stone idols To e e u e the os s bitt rly b g il h t ,

The figure of Cromm was made of gold .

Since the rule Heremon the no e man of ace Of , bl gr , There was worshipping of stones ” 1 Until the coming of good Patrick of Macha.

e the ff Patrick, his crozi r, Sta of Jesus, in his hand , n h came stridi g towards t e stone circle. e he et e off he saw Wh n was y som way , the people e e e e e prostrating thems lv s b for old Crom ; among th m,

e e e . e a the Story t lls , King Laoghair hims lf Th n the s int, e e he being very angry, gav a gr at shout, and went faster e the e e and approach d idol to strik it with his crozi r, but ff e e e b efore the sta touch d it the ston f ll over on its side . Then Patrick cursed the demon that inhabited the idol s so and it came out for all to ee. And Patrick must fight in the e it and cont st his brooch or fibula, fastening his

e off e. cloak, f ll and was lost in the herbag So when the e d mon was laid , the saint did not rest till the grass was pulled up and he found his brooch . A human touch this in the story . Many were converted there and believed and were a e e b ptiz d ; and the saint found d a church, which Arch Ou htera h bishop Healy thought was at g g , about two miles off . The identification of the places given by the Arch He en e da bishop is most interesting . sp t a long summ r y in trying to reconstruct the scene ; and to any traveller in Ireland his conclusions are of real value. “ In our opinion Edentinny is the undoubted Plain

n e e . of Adoratio , b tween F nagh and Ballinamore It

1 The ac of oo ac ifi m n un o n in s e of s oem f t bl d s r ces re a s pr ve p t th p , i ”i i for the line they kill their piteous wailing off spring may b e a later em e s men of the a ne a b lli h t pl i r f cts. [ 78 ] PATRICK DESTROYS CROM CRUACH is a limestone ridge about four hundred yards long and the e e e eighty to ninety yards wide . On ast rn sid the ridge is bounded by a steep escarpment rising from the the e e low ground . From bas of this rocky wall ther e the n the n issues full born , lik fountai s of Jorda , a strong, e n e e cl ar and rapid spri g, pow rful nough to turn a mill, h a th n as e e t e e e e . comi g out, it w r , from v ry h rt of hill e e is fitl e Lon stones e This ridg its lf y call d g , which app ars to be an attempt at giving an English equivalent for the nn the flat the Irish name Cairgi s. On summit of ridge there are still remaining traces of two circular stone e e the e e nclosur s such as Druids us d , and clos at hand are the wonderful stones or slabs which have given their On is e— 4an name to the place. e now prostrat immense slab about eighteen feet long by four broad ; the other n n the e is still standing, but incli i g to. w st, and is partially

e the . e e n n buri d in soil Anoth r, clos by, is also sta di g, hi e the e . e ee e but inclin s to ast B tw n th m is a t rd slab , Th e n in the a e . e n arly su k soil, and of sm ll dim nsions e e e e whol plac is sugg stiv of Druidical worship , and we have no doubt it was the true scene of the striking

1nc1dents narrated in the Life of St . Patrick .

[ 79 ] CHAPTER VII PATRICK CROSSES THE SHANNON

’ T e e S . PATRICK S d sir now was to cross the Shannon and to reach those western lands where the Christian faith a a 'et would find it hard to m ke he dway . there is a strange little evidence of Christian worship having been h used before t e saint came . e Ailbe e Wh n Patrick ordained one, , as chief pri st at e Doogary, he told him of a stone altar in a cav (thought e Shan by Dr . Healy to be clos to the church of coe) where he would find four glass chalices at the angles h of t e altar . e he a e B ware, said , of bre king the edg s of the ” did the ? ee excavation . How saint know this It s ms a riddle whose answer we cannot guess . Of all the journeys that Patrick made it is impossible e t e to tell in a small book . An id a of h m can be gained very effectually by studying the map on which they are ’ marked in Dr . Healy s comprehensive book . At this time Patrick met great opposition from the e e e Druids , but his own force of charact r ov rcame th m we e e and find him rec iving a royal dw lling from Hono , n a ki gly Druid , and building a church at Elphin, where he e e Assicus as e cons crat d bishop , though, we gath r, a e do n phew, Bite, was to the hard work, with assistance A i in church decoration from his mother . But ss cus was H e e a e . e e an xc llent craftsm n, a copp rsmith mad altars - and square patens and book covers . is Ass sad icus. Now, a little story told of this Some scandal was raised about him , a lie no doubt . But he [ 80 ] PATRICK CROSSES THE SHANNON

fled from it up to Donegal to the mountain district about And e e h on Glen Columcille . s ven y ars e spent a little ’ Rathlin O Beirne e e e the island , , wh r now liv s only - h lighthouse keeper . But still e continued his copper an n n work as a true craftsm would . The his mo ks went to seek him and they found him in the Glens and urged n he was and n wi him to retur . But old u lling for the n he e e e jour ey, and di d at a plac now call d Racoon,

between Ballyshannon and Ballintra . so e Now Patrick would go to Cruachan, he w nt by the e a e the high ridge above littl l k s and marshes . He encamped for the night and at sunris e went to the Well Clebach on the e e n e a of , ast r sid of Cru chan Hill, with a ene e e his clergy. What h pp d th r is told in beautiful form in the Tripartite Life

The clerics sat down by the well . Two daughters Loe aire son en ea the a of g , of Niall , w t rly to well to w sh e as was the e e e th ir hands , custom of th irs , nam ly Ethn th T e e e Fair and Fedelm the Ruddy . h maid ns found e e the the assembl of in en b sid well y clerics white garm ts , And e e e with their books b efore them . th y wond r d at the e e e e men the shape of cl rics , and thought that th y w r h e e of t e elves or apparitions . Th y ask d tidings of Patrick e are e e e e e— are e Wh nce y , and wh nc have y com y ? of the elves or of the gods And Patrick said to them ‘ It were better for you to believe in God than to ’ e a the e e nquire about our race. S id girl who was ld r ? Who is your god ? and where is he Is he in e e e e e ? he heav n or in arth , or und r arth or on arth Is e e in n e ? in s as or in str ams , or mou tains or in gl ns Hath e ? Is e e e he sons and daught rs th re gold and silv r, is th re ? abundance of every good thing in his kingdom Tell he is e e us about him , how se n, how he is lov d , how he is found ? If he is in youth or if he is in age ? if he is e ? e e ever living, if he is b autiful if many hav fost red his [ 8 1 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

? son if his daughters are dear and beautiful to the men the ? of world To this torrent of questions St . Patrick

gave a long answer . Now these girls had b een sent to the home and e two e f fost rage of Druids , by th ir ather, the great e Laoghaire of Tara . This fosterag was a custom of the h o r day and conferred honour on t e F stere . e the the Aft r an instruction in faith , saint asked the n eager girls if they believed a d wished to be baptized . They assured him of their belief and he straightway

baptized them and blessed the . white veil on their

heads . An d they asked to see Christ face to face . And Patrick said to them : ' e cannot see Christ unless ye ’ e e e first taste of death, and unless ye r c iv Christ s Body ’ And : us and His Blood . the girls answered Give the ’ a en sacrifice that we may be able to see the Spouse . Th they received the sacrifice and fell asleep in death ; and Patrick put them under one mantle in one bed ; and ” their friends bewailed them greatly . one e hi s Then came Druid and w pt for charge, l i n e Cap a t was his name . But the sai t mad all clear to him he e e e in the and , too , b liev d and was tonsur d Christian h . e t e e fashion Th n Mael, oth r Druid , came up in anger he and with threats , saying would win back his brother ; e a but argum nt prev iled at last with him and he, too , received the tonsure which was as the branding mark e made by this H rd of God .

This Hill of Cruachan was renowned in pagan history, for it was the dwelling of 'ueen Maeve and scene of her e e n loves and her battles . It r main d for lo g the chief n royal reside ce of the Gaelic kings of Connaught . e the i - N ar the royal rath was royal bury ng place, e the p rhaps most celebrated pagan cemetery in Ireland , e e wher lay kings , queens , warriors , and fierc , fair 9 ,

w . e was e omen The faery cav of Cruachan th re, and [ 82 ] PATRICK CROSSES THE SHANNON

’ r e Dathi s memorial pillar of ed granite . Again I quot e the e n e Dr . H aly for mod r r lics of this history The enchanted cave can still be seen ; the royal ’ cemetery can still be traced ; and Dathi s pillar still ’ h stands erect above the hero s grave. But t e royal palace is merely a green mound overlooking all the Wide ” n a a - spreadi g pl in of M gh Ai . All through the old stories of these journeys there are e human touches which Show St . Patrick as a v ry natural n man e e a human bei g, just such a , impulsiv , a littl h sty, find e e e t the as you may l ading an xp di ion into wilds . e e be All was upon his should rs , ev rything had to solved a n the e a by his br i , all tir some details of camp igning, h and i - in with t e pettiness irritat on of self seek g followers . n h The Frenchmen i is party were restive at this time . n They wanted to settle down . They wanted livi gs

n . e a d a quiet life But still th ir Bishop must approve. We can see e n he th m grumbli g at his elbow until , on the n e e standing Hill of Ora , point d with his fing r to e five the Baslic a sit about miles to north, , which the

Franks might choose if they liked . And they did like . e e e But for Patrick hims lf th r was no rest, no quiet H settling into monastic life. e must always follow the e e e quest of souls , urg d from place to place . Th r is no e h man an e e e r st for suc a , y mor than th r was for his

a . e great kinsm n in the Gospel, St . Paul In journ yings n ' h e e . et t e e oft n, in hu g r, in fastings human sid of is n An e e . d Patrick, lovabl it , clu g to certain plac s he had a love for Oran (or Uaran and made a poem for the place : Uaran G ar '

a an c a e o e c o e me. U r , whi h I h v l v d, whi h l v d S ad is m cr 0 c ea G od y _ y, l r , ou m nkout of a an G ar With t y dri U r , o a an C ld U r , i on h h Cold s every e w o as gone from it (with sadness) .

CO. Roscommon O an or Ua an means a co es s n of a e , r r ld, fr h pri g w t r. [ 83 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

’ e not Kin s co an Wer it my g mm d ,

ou not en o ou the eat e is col . I w ld w d fr m it, th gh w h r d ce en n o the an Thri I w t i t l d, Three fifties was the number (with me) But with thee

Was conso a on a an. my l ti , O U r

he e From Oran went to se k the Kings of Connaught, e six e i and convert d Chi ftains, mark ng the victory for his ee e e e n faith with thr ston s , inscrib d with thre ames of

— Christ Jesus , Soter, Salvator . This was at a place near

Camfree i s . , which near Tulsk

There are still many wells of St . Patrick in the West e hi of Ireland with old holy m mories of s coming . So that a sense of his presence can be felt to this day in h nearly all parts of t e country . Presently we find the saint near Boyle ; very angry b ecause his horses were stolen by the godless s ons of

Erc . After that he is travelling Roscommon by French and a e e e park Loughglinn , lways pr aching , s ttling disput s , n u e web foundi g ch rches , spinning a gr at of Christianity e through the country. It s ems that he usually spent a e n e e we k or fort ight in each new settl ment, pr aching,

and . baptizing, building a church The instruction of

his e e t e . young pri sts sounds v ry has y, as we r ad of it e the In a fortnight how could th y learn to repeat psalter, ? read the missal and follow its ritual But these young men were probably well trained in the schools of the e e n Bards or Br hons and used to l arni g much by heart . e e the Oft n they trav lled with Bishop for a time, or if he left them it was with one of his own company who and would give instruction guidance . The wildness of a district could never daunt either on spirit or body when the saint was the march . He e and trav lled through the marshy flats of Mayo , we find a trace of him at Toberpatrick, two miles from Bally F e haunis. rom ther he went by Kiltullagh, Dunmore, [ 84 ]

CHAPTER VIII PATRICK ON THE REEK

N ow Croa /z a trick t/i en Crua ckan Ai le ( g p , g )

ST h . PATRICK as e left Aghagower could see the great n e co e of Cruachan Aigl over the low hills to the west . And he wished very greatly for solitude and talk with

God . That peak lured him to climb it as the mountains all lure men of spirit in times . As Moses had seen God as ee e on Sinai, Christ had b n in the hilly wild rness for so e forty days , Patrick y arned for the mountain places ee of earth and spirit . His mission n ded it ; he could not give out endless supplies of grace and knowledge without e e e r plenishm nt for himself. It was tim for him to go apart into the wilderness for a little while and set his soul in order and see with God this work he had in hand . It was the Saturday before Shrove Tuesday when he th E e e e ve. made asc nt, and he was to remain until East r His Totmael e and chariot driver, by name, di d was e e buri d at Murrisk just befor Patrick made his long fast . Murrisk is marked to - day by the ruins of a famous

Augustinian monastery . It is a place lulled to sleep by e e the e the song of a little str am n ar by, and only br thren now are the jackdaws . One who has made the pilgrimage of the Reek told me lately of such a scene as Patrick may have watched n h unfold b eneath him as he stood o t e summit . e the sea Und r pilgrims lay a of mist, hiding the earth [ 86 ]

PATRICK ON THE REEK

e e e from them , shutting th m in, as it s em d, into a still

e ee n . e solitude b tw n mou tain and sky Then, as th y e sun e the ene stood th re, the banish d mists , and b ath them the its lay glory of Clew Bay with innumerable islets , n h th and beyo d t e bay e Atlantic . n saw Sunlight, moo light, starlight, the saint on land a e the and water . Great storms must h ve b aten mountain e e e e e the t e e whil he was th r , and aft r th m s ill p ac of a rare n da spri g y.

Curious stories of this time are told by Tirechan. He tells us : And Patrick went to the heights of the e and a e mountain ov r Cruachan Aigle, st y d there forty e e days and forty nights . And h avy birds wer towards him and he the a e ea e e , could not see f c of h v n or arth ” or the sea . The Tripartite Life has a long account of the argu d e e e n an . m nt b tw e Patrick Victor, his angel According to this story n e he The mou tain was fill d with black birds , so that H a e knew not heaven nor earth . e s ng maledictiv psalms

e e not e e . en at them . Th y l ft him b caus of this Th his n e s o anger grew agai st them . He strik s his bell at them the men e and he it that of Ireland heard its voic , flung _ e so a e hell at th m, th t its gap brok out of it, and that ( ) ’ C n en is Brigit s apli g. Th Patrick weeps till his face and t his chasuble in front of him were we . Then the e e e and e e the e ang l w nt to consol Patrick, cl ans d chasubl , e n the and brought whit birds arou d Rick, and they used to sing sweet melodies for him . ’ e ki the e Aft r this ndly act of ang l s , there follows a and e curious dialogue. It is a long truly Irish cas of h ” bargaining in which t e angel acts as middleman . Patrick is intent on winning as many souls for Heaven he h n e as can wrest from t e bargai . He grows p tulant e he e his e e e he and d fiant as mak s d mands , and ach tim e bid he e en he mak s his , thr at s that will not leave the [ 87 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

The e Reek until it is granted . ang l seems most anxi ous his that he Should go, but votary asks yet further and e furth r blessings . e e Thou shalt bring, saith the ang l, yon numb r of souls out of pain (as many as the birds that had surrounded the Reek) and all that can fill the space which thine eye reaches over the sea . ” is That not a boon to me, saith Patrick ; not far ” doth mine eye reach over the sea. e Then thou shalt hav both sea and land, saith the angel .

But the saint remained troubled and petulant . He felt himself beset by those evil spirits which he fought all his days .

e e e me e F ar hath s iz d , he cri d , e e Ten hundr d h ads contending against me, e ee Dark men with hid ousness of t th,

With the colour of death, e e Thirt en sur thousands , T en hundreds in every thousand are they .

Then he asked the angel : Is there aught else that ? He granteth to me besides that S even persons on every Saturday till Doom are to ’ ” be taken out of Hell s pains .

But Patrick stands out for twelve . ” e now Thou shalt have th m, says the angel , and h get thee gone from t e Rick . The The e saint wanted more . bargaining continu d as it might at an Irish fair . So many souls to be saved ’ if they could repeat Sechnall s hymn of St . Patrick . ” — No only the last four stanzas , urged the saint .

Victor agreed . ? What more asked the lonely watcher . A man for every hair on thy chasuble Why 'any saint will get that number ' Seven persons [ 88 ] PATRI CK ON THE REEK for every hair on my chasuble to be taken out of pains ? on the Day of Doom the e so Thou shalt get that too , said ang l , now n get thee go e. ” e Not yet, said Patrick, except God Himself driv a me aw y.

What else do you want ? said the angel . ” t the da e the This , said Patrick, hat on y wh n e e e be n the tw lv thron s shall on Mount Sio , that is on e be e e the men Day of Doom , I mys lf shall judg ov r ” n da of Eri on that y. e be had the But this sur ly cannot from God, said l ge . Unless it be got I will not leave this mountain for e e a and e e a v r, s id Patrick, I will l av a gu rdian on it ” after me .

The e e e e . ang l w nt to Heav n, Patrick w nt to Mass Th n n is ? e a gel came back at No es . How that said

Patrick.

' the e creatures visible Thus , saith ang l , all , and e n the e a e e the invisibl , includi g tw lve postl s b sought

and e e e . : e e Lord , th y hav obtain d The Lord said Th r e e e e e the e hath not com , and th r will not com , aft r apostl s

e e e e not . a man mor admirabl , w r it for thy hardness

What thou hast prayed for thou shalt have. Strike thy ”

e e . b ll, said the ang l e n on the e A bl ssi g bountiful King who hath giv n, and e saith Patrick, the Rick shall now be d parted from . h e al l From t e Reek it is said that St . Patrick banish d n r snakes and poiso ous eptiles into the sea . Further boons claimed had been that everyone doing n his penance eve in last hour will not be doomed to hell . h n That t e barbaria s shall never get dominion over us . That the sea will cover Ireland seven years before the ” Day of Judgment . SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

The Tripartite Life adds a curious legend about the e the n : e e e e keep rs of mou tains Th r are, mor ov r, ’ keepers belonging to Patrick s household alive in e Ireland still . Ther is a man from him in Cruachan — Aigle they hear the voice of his b ell and he is . not found — and there is a man from him in G ulban Guirt Benbulben e e one ( ) , anoth r on Sli ve Donard , on Drum Be man g to watch over Meath, a fifth at Clonard , and e k a sixth on Sliev Cua, the ridge overloo ing the valley of the Blackwater . Although this celestial bargaining between the has Almighty and St . Patrick the humorous quality of e the e the old Miracl plays , yet it contains gr at fact about n e n e as the man who , comi g to Ir la d as a slav boy, died he be a e a National Saint, that would not s tisfi d until he a e in s fact had won a mighty h rv st of souls , until he e e e e had won Ir land for God , and the promis of v rlasting e life for his spiritual children . Th re can be no greater e e picture of him than this , the lon ly pilgrim wr stling in prayer for Ireland ; a man so small in that vast scape of sea and sk so e in land and y, gr at soul that Cruachan the hi Aigle was as a clod to heights of s spirit . There is a fine conclusion to the long struggle on the ’ i t e e mountain . I take from Dr . H aly s App ndix VI, Part 3 And to console Patrick the whole mountain summit was filled with beautiful white birds which sang most e the e the n n m lodious Strains , and voic s of mou tai and e n e e e so the e the sea wer mi gl d with th ir m lody, that R ek became for a time as it were the Paradise of God . ’ et e e the e ff e e Now g the gon , said angel , you hav su r d , e e e but you have been comforted . Th s whit birds are ’ God s saints and angels come to visit you and to console and the the n e you ; spirits of all saints of Eri , past, pr sent ’ and e are e e n futur , h r by God s high comma d to visit their father and to join him in blessing this land and Show [ 90 ]

CHAPTER I' PATRICK IN THE WEST

IT 1 is at this period , about 44 , that Professor Bury places

e . e his a Visit mad by St Patrick to Rom , to report upon e Leo Irish Mission to Pop the Great, who was con h s rat d 0 . e t e ec e in 44 . But Dr H aly relates that saint e e e e e e s nt a mess ng r, Murris , to Rom and that relics w r given to him for the Church in Ireland . However, e e e e Tirechan e e Prof ssor Bury r fers for vid nce to , a s v nth e e c ntury authority, who sp aks of Patrick as going to l Rome with Sachel us . ’ Here we are chiefly concerned with the saint s n And n journeys in Irela d . we find him goi g about e Croa h atrick Mayo in a period aft r his Fast on g p , by and a e Clo h atrick Drum , Balla, B llintob r, waiting at g p e a he e and Manulla, and it is lik ly th t found d churches in e is e and the plac which now Castl bar at Turlough, near e e e e e e Castl bar, wh r th r is a Round Tow r to prove n antiquity a d celebrity . h e e . a e is Th n, lik St P ul , he determin d to visit new e ne e church s and retur d through Roscommon by Boyl , where miracles were performed according to the old

e . e e stori s A giant was rais d from his grav and baptized, e e e n e e whil anoth r pagan, buri d u d r a cross by mistak , n was made to give an accou t of himself. e he e the nn Lat r cross d Sha on at Athlone and , visiting his e in e e e a church s W stm ath, cam gain to Tara . the a e e the e e n Amal aid On road to T ra w r tw lv so s of g , n a first cousin of Ki g Laoghaire. They were going to lay the difficult question of the succession before [ 92 ] PATRICK IN THE WEST

Th n e e now . e High Ki g, for th ir fath r was an old man chi ef competitors for the rule of Connaught were Aengus and e n e e Enda Crom , who , b i g nicknam d for his d formity

as e e e. a hunchback, was not judg d suitabl to rul But ’ the n ea e e en e Conall, son of E da, was g r to d f d his fath r s a met the claim before Patrick and Laoghaire . Con ll saint apart and gave him a message from the west All th e children of Ireland call upon thee. Patrick was ” greatly moved by this repetition of that dream message ’ H n en n e of long ago . e became Co all s fri d at o c and e e e the the h lp d him to ent r halls of Tara, from which ' e n e e e e h fri nds of his u cl and rival , A ngus , had xclud d So Patrick told young Conall about that dream and the ’ angel s message ; and in return Conall told him of his longing to see his father receive justice as the eldest son A al m aid e n e . of g , his fath r so ha dicapp d in infirmity Patrick advised him willingly Go now when the r Eo han a e en . doors op Look for g , son of Niall, who is e e e e a faithful friend of min , press his third fing r s cr tly, ” n for that is a token betwee us. Eo han was e e e and e the Now g chi f g n ral at Tara, wh n man e the n he n : young gav him Sig , asked at o ce What ’ ” a ? h e e e e e t e . is P trick s d sir To h lp me, r pli d youth ’ So Conall was allowed to plead his father s cause and the e a was be won chi ftaincy for him , though the l nd to divided b etween Aengus and Enda . Then the sons of Amalgaid set out on their return to Tir wl a e the . y, district of northern Mayo about Killala They went in twelve chariots and Patrick followed in the h n thirteenth chariot with t e you g Prince Conall . They went from Tara by the great north-western road and through Meath Longford , crossing the Shannon perhaps at the fords at Drumboylan . But Aengus drove on ahead and begged his brothers The e to kill Patrick and young Conall . brothers agr ed to do this in the family territory of Corann in Sligo ; [ 93 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN but they repented the decision and would not slay the e and saint or his companions , th ir own brother nephew . e the So the chariots drov on through west of Sligo , n the ke crossi g Ox Mountains , most li ly by the valley e e e e of Lough Talt, d sc nding to Ballina, wh r they crossed the e Tirawle the n Moy and cam to y, land of Ki g m l i n n n A a a d. e g But A gus was Still i te t on murder, and

’ he went ahead and urged the Druids on religious grounds h e t e new . to slay Patrick, the m ssenger of faith The Druids readily agreed and formed themselves into two bands . e M anwhile the saint, with Enda and Conall , had e c the stopp d at a pla e , now Crosspatrick, to preach to men of Tirawley and to baptize the converts . Patrick e heard of the attack and prepared to m et it . Miraculous happenings converted one of the chief Druids and slew h a n e the t e e . oth r But, ag i , we may be c rtain of fact ’ that the saint s courage won the day and dismayed men of Tir le lesser will . His way was now clear in aw y and he l found himself at the Wood of Foc uth. MacN ill nof e e AS . e we have seen, Dr does b liev that e the e this was the wood that had call d to young r Patrick, but thinks rather that the call was from the wood of his

o e . k y uthful days , that by Lough N agh But Patric had yearned over the west and delighted to found his first We e church there , Donaghmore . r ad of cures and n e e l e wo ders p rform d in this district, which have eft th ir n the e traditio s in n ighbourhood of Killala, such as e -Patraic e Dis rt , the woodland round M elick Lake, where lived a hermit who humbly accepted his penance of n n e e in n e e e a bli d ess b caus , u r g nerat d ys , he laughed at the stumblings of a blind man who came to the saint for cure . n ocluth Accordi g to Dr . Healy, portions of old F Wood the oldest wood that ever grew in Eire was [ 94 ] PATRICK IN THE WEST

Focluth and e are e e n Wood, gloomi st still xist nt arou d

ee e e ee a . M lick Lak , b tw n Crosspatrick and Kill la At In Killala we read of more miracles . a short life of

one e e e one. Patrick cannot mak r cord of ach But, with e we the a to Dr . H aly, must follow s int Downpatrick e e a e ene and e H ad , a plac of m gnific nt sc ry, th n back by Mulla hcross hi a the way of g , w ch was prob bly original in Tira l ea ne e seat of Druidism w ey. A gr t sto circl surrounding a Druid altar is still to be seen and a mono l l e e e Cairbre Ama aid. a ith r ct d to , son of g From Mull gh a e the cross , Patrick prob bly cross d Moy and founded ‘ th the n a church at e southern point of Peni sula of Ross . On the Moy the saint met insults and a Shower of ” o e a e e the G recraide st n s from trib call d , and his e was e e e n e n n the r tort, as usual , s v r , co d m i g stone n throwers to ignomi y . e e n the But th r was consolation, for at some poi t n m t Th e young prince Co all e him . e lderly bishop e ffe na e and e a lov d this a ctio t boy , p rhaps , half in fun s id h : e t e e . to him Thou too must tak crozi r Conall , a “ ’ e e n one an e e e : littl r lucta tly f ci s , answ r d If it is God s ”

e . n e e : so will I am r ady But Patrick a sw r d Not , for e and e e e be thy trib th ir h ritag thou shalt a warrior, a n the e on e and be be ri g crozi r thy shi ld , thou shalt Conall of the Crozier Shield and none of thy descendants hearingthis shield Shall be put to flight . ne e the a n and we His xt journ y brought s i t to Sligo , e n e B all sodare and find him at that ncha ting plac y , learn one ee e e e a and that of his t th f ll out, a hom ly d t il this , he e B n e 1 1 n that gav it to ishop Bro , who di d in 5 , havi g r lived long at Coole ra. Presently we find Patrick going south by Lough e and een the e e Arrow, K sh Gurt , and Curl w Hills . Th n we e e the n h ar of his chariot ups tting, and sai t, wet and the the angry, cursing half of river, but not other half, Col mcille e da because u would som y found a home there . [ 95 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

e e the e We N xt, having turn d westward from Curl ws, e en e o e so h ar of him in that place , so chant d by faery l r , n e e — I e roma tic in history, s cular and r ligious m an

e . Drumahaire . So enthrall d was St Patrick with this a e e e e e e e lovely spot th t he stay d th r som tim , v n making e e e ee he e er- plans to s ttl ther ; ind d , l ft his fost son i n B en g us there for twenty years . e n e But bound by thos marchi g ord rs of his , Patrick was off and away by Manorhamilton and the Rosses and ff h Deo es e ec Drumcli . And e blessed the w Riv r b ause the little boys who were fishing there gave him salmon . ” e e e e e e the And v n littl boys tak fish th r still , says ” e a : e Tripartite Life. Then the writ r s ys Thric now did Patrick wend across the Shannon into the land of

e and altara Connaught . Fifty bells and fifty chalic s fifty he the e e cloths left in land of Connaught, ach of th m in h - e the men his church . S even years was e a pr aching to He e of Connaught . a bl ssing with them

[ 96 ] CHAPTER ' PATRICK IN DONEGAL

To those who know and love Ireland there is a deep interest in following the travels of this great wandering a nd as e saint, in making a picture of him he w nt through

e . places, beautiful th n as now For his appearance we have only a tradition recorded H e e e e e . e e by Joc lyn , a monk who liv d c nturi s lat r sp aks

r e. e n of St . Pat ick as of low Statur C rtainly his stro g MacCartan e e e e man, of Clogh r, carri d him ov r flood d e n rivers and fords . Abov his tu ic Patrick wore a white ’ e n e or gr y habit of u dy d wool, with a monk s hood and ee a he sandals . It s ms certain th t was unusually hardy. That his nose once bled on a journey is the only record ar H n of any physical trouble that we e told . e k ew four — e n. n languag s British, Irish, French and Lati But o ly by results can we gather the tremendous force of his personality . Such is the man whose travels have covered the greater n part of Irela d . Now let us follow him from Bundoran to the banks of e e e Cairbre met e n e the Ern wh r him with r sista c , but e he e e een Assaroe and ov rcoming that, w nt on b tw the And e e en sea. in this p riod possibly pass d L t on in e e the an island Lough D rg, from which fact aros ’ a e . f mous pilgrimag to St Patrick s Purgatory, though A the actual cave of the Purgatory cannot now be n fou d . The e e n the ne n e chi f r lic of the isla d is idol sto , o c e e a e covered in gold , which gav Clogh r its n m (Clogh G 97 l SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

l on h oir st e . e t e , golden ) A great d scription of pil ’ grimage can be found in Carleton s Ta les as regards his on own period . But e may hear of it from any modern - pilgrim to day . The saint came through b eautiful B arnesmore Gap and Raphoe to the head of Lough Swilly and on to

Ailech the n e . of Ki gs , s cond only to Tara in importance ” G rianan The of Ely, as it is now called , stands above e the Derry . Patrick bless d fortress . He en Inishowen and then w t forth by by Moville, and through the County of Derry and close to Coleraine he e e e he cross d the Bann, and lat r, crossing the Riv r Bush, e the e e Dalriada i cam to anci nt, famous t rritory of , wh ch Dalriada is now Antrim . was a mountainous land of brave men ; some of them went forth to Scotland and founded the colony which gave ancestors to the royal The family of that land . saint was in that wild and ’ e lov ly country which boasts the Giant s Causeway, Fair e the H ad , Glens of Antrim , and Dunseverick which he n e e e blessed . Du s v rick was then the strongest fortr ss the Dalriads a e f of , fortr ss on an insulated cli f, joined to i the mainland now by a sway ng rope bridge. D l r Dalriada . e a a adia From St Patrick w nt back to , his Slemish own familiar country about , which he revisited . This third time on Slemish must have been full of n n n e meaning a d of tha kful ess to him . Once mor the k e crossing Bann, Patric came from Antrim to D rry, e Findafort ling red for forty days at , and passed on to e e e e and Magheraf lt, wh r he bless d a mother her unborn e be e the u daught r, later to call d Trea, from whom ch rch at Ardtrea is named . We find him in the neighbourhood of Stewartstown a e e he e and Dungannon and Co l Island . Pr s ntly w nt to

1 o ce in his P la ce-N a mes s utes s and ma es the name Clochar J y di p thi , k a stony place. 98 l

SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

me so Your church shall not be very far from , that ” mutual visiting between us be continued . E h There is another story of Clogher . c u was chieftain of the sub-kingdom of Clogher and lived at the royal ’ dlI n . had Cinnu for , Rathmore He a daughter, , whom he had arranged a marriage with Cormac, grandson of m the . King Niall Great But Ci nu , walking with her maidens near Clogher, met St . Patrick and his company . ’ the her en a After bishop s sermon and consequ t b ptism, ’ the her e girl wished to become a nun, contrary to fath r s be ambition for her . It must of this maiden whom Patrick speaks in his Conf ession And especially there was one blessed lady of Scotic e n e e birth, nobl ra k, v ry b autiful , of full age, whom I myself baptized and after a few days she came for a us e e certain purpose . She told in confid nc that she had e e e rec iv d a s cret admonition from God , and it warned

. be her to become a Virgin of Christ Thanks to God , the a e on sixth day ft rwards with best dispositions, and ” she e e ne a most eagerly r aliz d that divi voc tion . e are e e e a Th re furth r stori s , very human in th ir det ils , W e of Mac Cartan at Clogher . h n the stern saint had e the n Echu e e d parted , Ki g, , rev nged his thwart d ambi e tions on the new bishop . E hu preferred the Druids to MacCar n e ta . did the saints , and lik d to annoy He it, ’ e e n the a truly Irish reveng , by r fusi g to allow bishop s cow to graze near the Monastery . He had her driven off ’ Her bellowin s e h e . t e a n and ti d up g disturb d roy l dII . e a off a Driv the Christi ns , s id the Druids , or the ” r place will be t hei s. The son e king sent out his to tell th m to go , but the e e e the ee boy w nt to sl ep , in som barn no doubt, and qu n, e she e pacific cr ature that was , smooth d matters down n and MacCarta stayed on in Clogher . Echu he e e , himself, though r mained a chol ric, worldly old e . and e man, seems to have lov d St Patrick, wh n he [ I oo ] PATRICK IN DONEGAL

was dying he said to his servants : Bury me not till ” Patrick comes . ’ e the Patrick, then at Saul, had for sight of king s n h e a d e e e e . e t e d ath, trav ll d at onc to Clogh r He bad

Echu e. e dead king arise in the name of God . aros Th n Patrick asked him would he live for fifteen years more in Echu e e e be n e his m m in Clogher, but pr f rr d to i struct d ,

a e and e e . a b ptiz d , to d part to heav n So Patrick s id ” in Go peace and depart to God .

n e . A oth r tradition of Clogher is that St Brigid, a

e MacCartan e . e niec of Bishop , h ard St Patrick pr ach there and fell asleep during his sermon— not surprising hi he e e ee on and t s as pr ach d for thr days this occasion, sh e e was but a little girl . It is pl asant to know that the a e she be ne s int forbad that should roughly wake d, and later listened with interest to her dream . These two great saints of Ireland met on at least four ff e n di er nt occasio s that are recorded . And the old man asked her at one time to make his winding- sheet with her so own hands . And Brigid did . Now we may follow Patrick through Emyvale and e Glaslough, by Monaghan, to Donaghmoyn , two miles the e north of Carrickmacross , and on by Lagan Bridg , The e ff e and perhaps from there to Tara . histori s di r at n On e . e e this poi t story mak s him go lat r to Dublin, e e Ford of the Hurdl s , and there are trac s of his coming an at Finglas d in the city.

[ 1 01 ] CHAPTER 'I PATRICK IN NORTH LEINSTER

THESE records of journeys may seem to hamper direct ’ narrative of the saint s life. But they give a remembered glory to the roads of Ireland which are travelled by more and e more in th se days of omnibus , motor, train and e The - bicycl . place names connect the old world with the so e e new and make it one . No prayer was f rv nt ”

. k s e with St Patric a Thy Kingdom come. Som one has said : The strength of a character is the s trength ” of its desires . Then Patrick was as strong as his never-resting desire to win Ireland for Christ the

King . e - Almost wh rever we go to day, except in the south in and find west, Clare parts of Galway, we the way the we taken by saint, slowly and laboriously, while e travel it in hast . i mm This t me we follow him to the royal at Naas , ff going through Stra an . At Naas the fair green is the site of his tent . There is a holy well beyond the town . The fair green was an ancient place of assembly since Tu th the time of the a a da Danaan . Fro'm Naas the saint looked towards the Wicklow e and Hills, which ev r must enchant the heart call to it to come . Patrick, knowing that he faced death in and e and those glens for sts lonely passes , determined set to out at once . His way would take him by Ballymore Eustace and Hollywood (marked at this day and by Druid stones), through lovely Wicklow Gap , e he e at last to Rathnew, wh re rec ived no welcome [ I oz ]

SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

to tell him . The boys were watching for the

chariot . ’

e e . Drive on now in God s nam , th y shouted ’ e e e called the Yes , for God s sak driv saf ly on, saint t to his charioteer, and without harm hey crossed the

pitfall . Presently Patrick journeyed in South Leinster to fine e Rathvilly, travelling by that salmon riv r, the h nn e . Crint a Slan y King gave him fine land, from the Wicklow Hills at Rathglass on the north to Mount And Is rninus . e Leinster in the south, good Carlow land the received for his new church lovely spot Aghade, as where, a Bishop , he lived and died . It is curious to e the think of him there in that gr en spot by Slaney, in e the very middle of Ireland, for he had refus d to go to e G rmanus Ireland wh n e of Auxerre suggested it . But e e later he cam and join d St . Patrick . The prosperous turn of events must have b een con solation to the saint who had lost his beloved nephew - S chn ll S hn ll e e a . ec a and f llow worker, of Dunshaughlin e in e e e and had arly lif compos d a po m about his uncle, on n had accompanied him his jour eys . e e Now th r comes a meeting, very interesting to those e the e e who lov coast of W xford , for it took plac , accord b e ing to Father Shearman, on the seashore north of Ca or , that sandy stretch which lies under the grass cliff s between P ls n Cahore and . o ho e Courtown Harbour Here, at , D - e ubthach the . saint and po t met, Patrick and , arch poet Dubthach had been given this new domain by the King e e sea- - e e of South L inst r, bound , slow wav d ; astward ” 1 h it was by the fishful sea . To meet t e poet the saint must have come by Tinahely through the parish of the s Crosspatrick to Donaghmore by ea. Dubthach with his nephew Fiacc were the two who

1 was ca e Formael a s c en fi e ea man as Lunbuck It ll d , di tri t id ti d by Sh r , f C W x o in the a s o ca an o e . p ri h Kil v , . f rd [ 1 04 ] PATRICK IN NORTH LEINSTER had e dis risen to gr et Patrick on his coming to Tara, - a obeying the High King . But the arch poet of Irel nd m The was a an who might defy anybody. position of the e Dubthach bards was xtraordinarily high, and was head of a large school of bards who received training n for ma y years . At this time his nephew Fiacc was away in Connaught h h H e n t e e t e . e with the school , coll cti g du s of bards was e e ee n e e d stin d to succ d his u cl as Chi fPoet, a glorious a post for a young man. Now Patrick ppears to have n He n e Fiacc a bee diplomatic . wa t d as bishop for He sa Du th ch . e b a Rathvilly did not y so , but ask d to e en one n r comm d him of his you g bards , of good Th old e e e e e e . e lineag , without d f ct, of mod rat m ans “ poet fell into the trap and replied : I know no such e be iacc the e n e and man exc pt it F Fair, of L i st r, he has ” n go e to Connaught .

As they were talking of him the young man appeared . H ne n e e had retur d u exp ectedly . Wh n his back was ne e e n e e e tur d , his ld rs co coct d a sch me which will s em to n Dubthach us a dubious way of forcing a vocatio . suggested that Patrick should appear to be giving him ’ the e e and e iacc e pri st s tonsur , th n F would surely volunte r n to release his uncle a d so take his place. The e e in t young po t, dup d no Chris ian fashion we ee the e a n e Dubthach and f l, saw pr p ration to to sur , “ ? ” “ cri ed out : What is being done Dubthach is n F e e . e iacc about to be tonsur d, th y told him Th

e . do prot sted That is a foolish thing to , for Erin has e e and he e e he e no po t lik him, if b com s a bishop giv s up ” his profession and all his privileges .

Wi be e . You ll tak n in his stead, replied Patrick At e a ene the that, mor Christi n in his g rosity than two e e e e the n e : plott rs w r in th ir craft, you g poet answer d Very well 'for I shall be much less loss to Ireland ”

the e . en Fiacc and to bardic ord r So , tak at his word , [ 1 0 5 ] was n e and i Slett a d to sur d in t me became Bishop of y, n e e e one an xc ll nt . e Diarmaid e - A r lation of his , , gr at grandson of the e u ildiermit on a chief bard , found d a ch rch K , the e st e of Tara Hill, ov r Courtown Harbour iacc b u The e . e fam of St F , po t and bishop , clings a o t an Sl tt Sl m r the e Rathvilly d e y and ieve a gy. But stori s of his deeds and the legends are too long to relate here .

the e Fiacc ee . c After choic of , it s ms that St Patri k spent some ti me in the north of County

[ 1 06 ]

SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

Cashel at this time was the chief royal residence of

e so e e . e Munst r, and it was for centuri s aft r Even b fore - e e Druim e . this gr atn ss it was Sid , or fa ry hill Cashel was e the e e the Munstermen capital of Munst r, plac wh re e th e e paid th ir tribute on e Rock . Aft r Tara and p rhaps the e e Armagh, it was most c l brated of the provincial courts . e Eithne At this time A ngus was king, and his wife ’ e h r alr ady knew the saint in e father s palace . Aengus was and e e a just b lov d prince, with a long family to follow in his steps . Patrick and his followers arrived in the evening and encamped below the Rock for the night . The next mm n morning, up in his on the Rock, the ki g found

and . n terror confusion All the idols were overthrow , i ? ly ng on their faces . What could it mean At the same e time came news of the strangers in the town . P rhaps a rumour that it was the saint reached the queen . We hear that Aengus came down from the Rock to receive the holy man and his company, and to welcome them his to fortress on the height .

Soon the king professed himself ready for baptism . The ceremony took place at the Coronation Stone of the is now en Kings of Munster . It surmounted by an anci t e e cross . Up on that windy h ight, a lim stone rock a e ee the e hundr d f t above plain, there is a Vi w of mountain and n - fertile cou try which is picturesquely Irish . The n the Comera hs e Galtee Mountai s , g , Keep r Mountain, Slievenamon ee , k p watch about the rock across a green The sk distance . cloud pageant of an Irish y is seen e p rfectly from this height . e e the e H r by ston stood saint and king, surrounded e the nd by a throng of warriors and cl rics . Only at e of the ceremony did Patrick notice blood on the ground ’ the n e he and on ki g s foot . Th n realized that his h crozier had pierced t e foot . 1 08 PATRICK AT CASHEL Why didst thou not tell me this ?” asked the saint in distress . e e 0 was It s em d to me, Patrick, that this a part i ” of th s holy rite. ’ Th n the e . e traditio of St Patrick s s rmon on Trinity, r e e illust at d by the Shamrock, though it has giv n rise to h the old t e i e e . nat onal mbl m , is not found in books And it is a disputed point whether it belongs to Cashel or to Tara . e e e In Munst r, Patrick found other saints b for him , i r An e Ibar e Sa he . d we Alb and , D clan and Ciaran of g read of Patrick and Aengus going to a banquet given by e e e e e the Ciaran, when eight ox n w r all too littl m at for guests . We hear of him begging a ram from a boy to feast some jugglers who would not stay their hunger ’ a h a to w it t e king s b nquet . e e Th n he is on a hill south of Foyn s , looking across ’ the t a e e Shannon s mouth ow rds County Clar , and bl ssing it northward to Slieve Elne and eastwards as far as Slieve Au h h rmo t . e e e e g y N xt is in South Lim rick near F y, the the e l e travelling to country of D isi , a war ik tribe H whose [and reached to Waterford Harbour . e crossed T n h r fi n the River ar at Clogheen a d t e Suir at A d n an. At last the time came for the saint to bid farewell to the Munstermen and he en n ea , w t dow to ford the str m e that should part him from them . It sp aks of the charity he had shown and kindled that whole households n th - n followed him i a great crowd to e river ba k . When they found him they uttered a great cry and great ” and ea ee the e joyful clamour, from that gr t ch ring Riv r Brosnacha na e the n the got its m , now Bros a ; and place e e was e e e of this far w ll Riv rstown, l ss than a mil to the south of Birr . the his Then saint, an old man now, lifted up right hand to bless Munster of these friendly souls . And he said [ 1 09 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

essin on the men of uns Bl g M ter, Men o s and o en ' , b y w m Blessing on the land a Th t gives them fruit. Blessing on every treasure That shall be produced on their plains ou an one e n in an of e With t y b i g w t h lp , ’ God s blessing on Munster '

ess n on t e eaks Bl i g h ir p , On e a e fla stones th ir b r g , ess n on e ens Bl i g th ir gl , ess n on Bl i g their ridges. Like sand of sea under ships Be the number of their hearths On s o es on a ns l p , pl i , On o n n u a s on eaks. m t i , p n From Munster St . Patrick we t to the Kingdom of ff hi e e e O aly, w ch ext nded from the northern dg of e Ki Slieve Bloom eastward to the Hill of All n in ldare, and from Croghan Hill in the north to the Heath of ff e e e . e Maryborough, wh r it join d Leix O aly and L ix

are e . e ff now county nam s Exc pt for Croghan, O aly is e e e a vast plain, an xpans of moorland and lim stone , h drained by t e Barrow . ff ail e When Patrick came to O aly, the king, F g B erraide he n , declared that would kill the sai t in revenge th for the destruction of e idol Crom Cruach . This e t story, one of the most b au iful of all the histories , is ” h a told in t e Tripartite Life . I quote it as it st nds ’ After this Patrick went into the province of H11i oil e B erraide e he k Falgi , and F g boast d that would ill Patrickwhenever he should meet with him in vengeance the Cenn-cruacch for idol (Crom Cruach), for he was ’ l h e e a god of Foi ge s . Now is household conc al d from oil e da his Patrick what F g had boasted . One y charioteer Odrau said to Patrick : e e Sinc I am now a long tim charioteering for thee, 0 - sit and master Patrick, let me to day in the chief seat [ 1 1 0 ]

SAINT PATRI CK THE TRAVELLING MAN

Cairnech e Patrick, Benen and , thre bishops ; Laoghaire, e ee Dubthach Corc and Dair , thr kings ; Rossa, and B ee e e . e e eni nus Fergus , thr po t judg s B n n ( g ) was the Dubthach secretary to commission, and , chief poet, ‘ hidden the a e e the e was to show nci nt cod , all judgm nts e e of tru natur , which the Holy Ghost had spoken through the mouths of the Brehons and the just poets the men f the of of Erin , rom first occupation of the ” h a th island down to t e pre ching of e faith . Whatever clashed with the Gospel was then rej ected or purified . What did not clash was confirmed by the e commission , and was writt n in a book called the S enckus M or e the , and no human b ing of Gael is able ” S ens s to abrogate anything that is in the /m M ar. ea The chapter by Dr . H ly on the Brehon Laws is n e most interesti g but too long to discuss in a littl book . But some of the rules of Church discipline given in ’ Professor Bury s book may be given here. They belong e e e e e to rul s laid down in a circular l tt r, addr ss d by Auxilius and Iserninus the e e Patrick, , to all cl rgy ofIr land . ’ A bishop was not to interfere in his neighbour s

n e e e e . diocese. Vagabo d cl rks w r forbidd n Churches were not to be founded without the permission of the the e bishop . All the clergy, from pri st to the door

' e e e the e e e ke p r, w re to show compl t Roman tonsur , e their wives were to veil th ir heads . A monk and a consecrated Virgin were not to drive from house to house e e e in the same car . Christian slav s w r to be redeemed e one e and if possibl from slavery, but no might privat ly e e without permission mak a coll ction for this purpose .

Alms were not to be accepted from pagans . Only a year of penance was imposed on thos e who commit e manslaughter or fornication or consult a soothsay r, and - a half year for an act of theft . A Christian who believes in a supernatural form ” seen in a mirror is to be anathematized . [ 1 1 2 ] CHAPTER ' III PATRICK IN ARMAGH

t rn north r a WHEN St . Patrick u ed wa d ag in he went by the ancient road called Midluachair. It passed from e the e e e n Tara to Slane, cross d Boyne th r and w nt orth n n th H ee a d e a . e by Collon, Ard , Du dalk Moira P ss had various adventures on the way ; espousing the cause of s e e e e e e - om cru lly tr at d slav s who wer wood cutting . h e e en t e . Trian, th ir mast r, would not list to saint So Patrick followed an old custom of the time ; he remained ’ ’ e Trian s II n e d the outsid d r fusing food or rink . So did ’ T e Kin s T sko d k kre l . . poet in the play g , by Mr . W B

e . Yeats . But Trian was unmov d Instead of repenting he went to beat the poor wood—cutters for their com

. e he e e e e plaints But befor r ached th m, his hors s dash d a e a n madly into L ke Tr na, dr ggi g him and his chariot Tr so ended ian. with them, and e t e e e e Anoth r ime he bl ss d an unborn child , who b cam Doman art e e n e Saint g , from whom Sli v Do ard g ts its e he e the e the n e e e nam , b ing Ke per of Mountai , still b li v d its to inhabit cave. He e e e e was in Ross , a t rritory xt nding from n ar Castleblan H ey southward to Ardee . e had passed through it ten years before on his way from Clogher to and he e e we e e Meath, lov d it d arly, as do lov c rtain e can e plac s, we hardly t ll why . He thought of settling down there as he had thought e Th at Aghagow r in Mayo . e spot he loved was

e. e let e Dromor But his ang l would not him build th re, says tradition . H [ H 3 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

Go to Armagh in the north, he said . Patrick,

e e e . howev r, d termined first to found a church n ar Louth e he wi Mochta At this tim made a great friendship th , a

Briton like himself. Each day the two clerics used to ’ ” é r meet at a plac called Moch a s Flagstone . So happy were they that St . Patrick delayed his Visit to the north . the e e e At last ang l , Victor, with cel stial court sy, laid a letter between them on the flagstone

Mochta ous and a u , pi f ithf l , Let e a n e e he has set u him r m i wh r p, ’ a ck oes no at the K n s o P tri g rth i g w rd , ” To s in s ot A a re t mo h rm gh .

e v Then St . Patrick onc more braced himself to tra el e Mochta and to cut the ties of comradeship . He begg d to look after the twelve lepers he was tending at Ard

and . patrick, went his way At first Patrick may have had no idea of making

Armagh the primatial See . But we shall learn how the matter came about . Emain so e Now Macha, famous in history and in l gend , h d h e e . a e t e e was d solat It be n glory of Ulst r, the capital e e and the for six hundred y ars , the palac of King , Conor h t e Red . t e e Branch Knights It was sc ne of that erribl , e - e e s h art moving tragedy, the d ath of the thre ons of Usnach by the treachery of the old king because of his e e e e o ne d sir for the pe rl ss Deirdre, the wife of Naisi , - e of the three heroes . There heart broken D eirdr had e E the died . Th n a Druid cursed main Macha b ecause of e was e e e e treach ry that don th r , and it cam to pass that ’ n none of Conor s descendants ruled in Ema ia . The palace was burnt to the ground by the Three Collas who b ecame ancestors of the tribes of modern Ulster ’ the MacMahons O Hanlons MacDonalds , Maguires , , the and MacDu alds of Antrim the Isles, the g , and the Rori Mac es.

e In the days of St . Patrick, King Dair lived in this [ H 4 ]

PATRICK IN ARMAGH

K e neighbourhood . He may have been ing of Ori l , or e n h of one of the tribes of Oriel . Dair was friendly o t e whole to the Christians and he granted Patrick a site for a Christian community not far from his own dwelling the the At foot of hill Ard Macha, a small tract of ground was granted to Patrick and that was the b eginning The e of the ecclesiastical city. monks built ther a home

e e e . the for thems lv s , a kitch n and an oratory But saint e e e n was not content . His ambitions w r always larg a d he pursued them with the ruthless fervour of a single H e e . minded zealot . want d Ard Macha e There were disputes b tween Daire and Patrick . The ’ king let his horses graze on the saint s land and the i in e e k e e . e hors s di d Daire a rag want d Patrick ll d , which e he e was a rash ord r, as nearly died hims lf until the queen e a pleaded for him and he was cured . Aft r this p ssage Daire went in humble mood to present the bishop with h e e t e sea . a wond rful braz n cauldron, brought from over m ” G ratzacha . , said Patrick This was Gratias ” a amus i e n e g , but Da re did not und rstand, and , goi g hom , he thought the saint had been rude and ungrateful for e the wonderful cauldron . So he told his s rvants to fetch

a . e it back ag in Th y brought it home duly. What ” did the sa ? n e . G ratzacham Christian y the ki g ask d , m e e e . G ratzacha e r p at d the servants when it is giv n,

G ratzacham when it is taken back . That must be a good ” ‘‘ ”

e . word , said Dair , bring it to him again He went with his gift this time and said to Patrick that he e Ard might hav the cauldron and Macha, the desire ’

the e . of saint s h art, as well ” e Aft r this , the Tripartite Life relates, Patrick went with his elders and Dare to the hill to mark

e e . e it out, and to bl ss it and to cons crate it Th y found n - a doe with her fawn in the place where the Bar is to day, h and his people went to kill er. And Patrick forbade ” and she e them, said that should serve him aft rwards . [ u s ] SAI NT PATRI CK THE TRAVELLING MAN

B ook o Arma k In the version from the f g , the saint the e doe hi took up fawn and carri d her, the running be nd, t e he h n let the fawn go in the wood . Now the place where they had found her was the spot where stands the - left hand chapel of the church . The function of measuring the land was a most solemn the his e e the one ; king and courti rs att nding, bishop, ff e his sta of Jesus in his hand , all his cl rics with him, marking out the land for his great foundation . The same zeal must have gone to the building of the The church and community houses . establishment was - e self sufficing. Th y produced all that they needed for the domestic purposes and for the church, except altar heir wi e . were t n For the rest they , own builders , smiths , artificers ti e farmers, , ar sts, brewers , gard ners , and

fishermen . This fact gives a pleasant picture of homely the w business going on throughout year at Armagh, ith

. e e St Patrick over it all , having a keen int rest in ev ry branch of his establishment . We know that he had always skilled men at work on bells , patens , shrine e cov rs ; and ladies who embroidered for his churches . e e For one of th se ladies was his own sist r, Lupita, who had once been sold into captivity. Tradition has two Hi more of his sisters in the workroom . s skilled workers One and e e . Assicus in gold , silver bronze, w re cl rgy was , e Bishop of Elphin, anoth r Bishop Tassach of Raholp, and e e with him in his last hour, the third , Bit , the neph w

Assicus. e w s of Thes ere not at Armagh, but the ame e e work would have been continu d th re .

' ’ was besides at There Armagh, under the saint s care, e u a s minary for clergy, for professors and st dents from tu e t all parts of Ireland . Here the Scrip res w re s udied and learnt by heart and the works of the Fathers read most carefully. was - Again, there a school of Psalm singing or Plain his song . Benen, that beloved friend of Patrick, true [ 1 1 6 ]

SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

so so Patrick, early an outdoor toiler, and long a man

ff . he of a airs , was no scholar His Latin was poor, and was unhappily aware of this lack of scholarship when n he wrote letters . He k ew that he was scorned for it m n e e e e e e . by mor lit rat , but probably l ss forc ful But e the e e e his e mov d by t rribl wrongs inflict d on peopl , his e e childr n, he wrote this Epistl , full of just indignation . Coroticus was ruler of Strathclyde in the days of

. a and e e St P trick, , though many of his p ople wer e e e Christian, he had no r luctanc to s nd a foraging e - e e exp dition to the north ast of Ir land , which was full e the of recent converts . It se ms that raiders surprised e a baptismal service, and without r morse slew many e e of the candidat s in their white rob s , the baptismal r chrism barely d y on their foreheads . Others were e the e e tak n captive to be at disposal of h ath n masters . ” e so e This crim horrid and unsp akable, Patrick calls it . ee e e He must have b n n ar, for he sent a pri st with a e the e da e e a e lett r very n xt y, d manding the r turn of c ptiv s e e e e e and booty . His m ss ng r was r ceiv d with j eering a On and a flat refusal to m ke restitution . this followed the Epistle which was to be read b efore Coroticus With mine own hand have I written and composed thes e words to be given and handed to and s ent to the soldiers of Coroticus. e e Coroticus Wh r shall with his guilty followers , e a e e e see e reb ls gainst Christ, wh r shall th y th mselves e a e th y who distributed b ptized dams ls as rewards, and ? that for the sake of a miserable temporal Kingdom e e e and The Church , th r for , bewails will lament her sons and daughters whom the sword has not as yet n are a e e off Slai , but who b nish d and carri d to distant lands where sin in the light of day weighs heavy and

e . e e ee e sham fully abounds Th r fr men are put up for sal , [ 1 1 8 ] PATRICK IN ARMAGH

e Christians are reduced to slav ry, and , worst of all, to

e e . most wick d , most vile and apostat Picts “ I beseech earnestly that whatever servant of God be he e e ready that be the bear r of this l tter, so that on no e e n e account it be suppr ss d by anyo e, but much rath r be e en the the e e e r ad in the pres ce of all people, yea, in pr s nc Coroticus so n of himself, if it be that God may i spire e e e e e e e e th m to am nd th ir liv s to God som tim , so that v n though late they may repent of their impious doings e e e the e the (murd r r as he is in r gard of br thren of Lord) ,

‘ and may liberate the baptized women captives whom t e so e e e e e hey had tak n, that th y may d s rv to liv to God,

e . and be made whole, here and in ternity

The n ea n in e . real , livi g, ger man sta ds out this Epistl n e the n one As Dr . Bury poi ts out in his Lif of sai t, realizes Patrick more in his own Conf ession and in this e in the e e e a Epistl than lat r coll ction of marv ls , th t sometimes are not as creditable as the writers would

e n . e e e . e e hav us thi k P rhaps som , sugg sts Dr Bury, w r a invented to please the popular taste of the d y.

[ H 9 ] CHAPTER 'IV PATRICK IN SAUL

T hi s S . PATRICK was in beloved Saul for three or four e e e as y ars wh n he felt that d ath w coming . Then he wished to return to Armagh that he might die among his people there and in the place that he had chosen for - l e . e the his headquart rs But as he was s tting out, ange , e e Victor, ev r his guid , appeared in a burning bush on the way and said to him e e e R turn to the plac from whenc you have come, s e di that i to Saul . Th re you shall eand enter on ” way of your fathers . e Patrick gri ved , and said

a e c osen a ace of esu ec ion I h v h pl r rr t , Armagh my Church : a e no o e o e ee o I h v p w r v r my fr d m, It is bondage to the end

is a a o e It Arm gh th t I l v , ea o e a clea A d r th rp , r hill , A fortress which my soul haunteth ; ” Emain of the heroes will be waste.

But the angel comforted him with thoughts of all he e e e had b en abl to accomplish in Ir land , and the hopes he had for her future . i th So at Saul on March 7 , his festal day for all times , e e he laid down a weary body in d ath, having first r ceived the Eucharist from Bishop Tassach of Raholp . was so are e As it about his birthplace, there innum rable doubts about his age at death and the place of his burial . e e as e One who would writ his lif a consecutiv narrative, [ I zo ]

SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

e e e e suppos d sit of his grav , or at Armagh, as som

beheved.

e is B ooko Lismore Ther this eulogy of the saint in the f , and with it this chapter shall conclude : e e A tru man , sur ly, was that man from purity of

e e . e natur , lik a patriarch A tru pilgrim like Abraham .

e n e e . e Gentl , forgivi g of heart lik Mos s A prais ful psalmist like David . A student of wisdom and know ledge like Solomon . A chosen vessel for proclaiming h e e t e e. right ousness , lik Paul Apostl A man full of the grace and favour of the Holy Spirit like John . A fair n garden with plants of virtues . A Vine bra ch with fire th fruitfulness . A flashing with e fervour of the e n the e kn warming and h ati g of sons of Lif , for i dling n a n and illumi ating charity. A lion for gre t stre gth e e e and might . A dov for gentl n ss and simplicity. A

e n e. e serp nt for cunni g and prudenc A man mild, g ntle, the e n e humble , tender to sons of Lif ; rough, u g ntle to a and e the sons of Death . A slave in l bour s rvice to in Christ . A king rank and might for binding and ee n e loosing, for fr i g and enslaving, for quick ning and n killi g . e be n e e And though gr at his ho our at pr s nt, greater be the e n e the men will it at me ti g of Doom , wh n of the ’ at e the a e world will arise Micha l Arch ng l s command . And the men of Ireland will go to meet Patrick to Down and wind along with him to Mount 'ion where Christ ’ ” will deal judgment to Adam s children on that day.

[ 1 22 ] CHAPTER 'V PATRICK’ S INFLUENCE

ST e et . PATRICK having di d , y lived on in his influence in d e n . an his adopt d cou try As a Briton a Roman citizen , one trained in the life and thought of the civilized parts as e e e of Europe, such Aux rr , he, unconsciously p rhaps , brought Ireland into a closer connection with the Con i tin nt e e e e . e . His influ nc was in this s ns aga nst insularity It was after his time that the Irish clergy preferred o n e certain of their w customs to those of Rom . His intention was to be in close touch wi th the Church of th n He e n e Contine t . had brought ov r with him ma y

and own e e . Franks Britons , his r lations among th m His tendency was to link Ireland up with the rest of e e he e n Europ , whil id ntified himself with Irish ational e e a her e the lif in his r g rd for rul rs , his work in revision the e e her e e of Br hon Laws and his lov for p opl , n r a h r ck as shown in his prayer o C o g pat i . His work w constructive. As e e for scholarship and church lif , he had foster d h a ad n the use i e b e . of Lat n, although was Lati ist hims lf he e e the e e e But had giv n an imp tus to writt n word , gr at r n n than it had as yet received from a y. His influence o art had been in the direction he gave it to the service the Cross o C n e . e o of r ligion Such uniqu works as f g, the Cha lice o Arda k and the B ook o Kells f g , f may be e the trac d to this inspiration, although workmanship was typically Irish . In converting the greater part of Ireland to Chris tianity St . Patrick became an instrument of that law of [ 1 23 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

change which shapes history throughout the ages . He stood for the New Order as the Druids stood for the he a s . t wa Old In fall of the Old Order, much th t chivalrous and magnificent in the National Ideal seemed uflr h to s e t e despoiling which comes with change . To e e popular imagination the h ro s of the Old Order, m his Cuchulain and the Red Branch, Fir and Com panions are so fine and dazzling that their treacheries a and lusts are overlooked . To the eye they make braver show than the shaven priests , the heroes of the New e e e e Order, but h ro s w r in no way extinct when n Brian Boru was a Christian ki g .

Like a spring tide, the monastic period was to sweep e e k the ov r Europ , and Patric prepared way for what was coming . An old book has it that there were three Orders of The e k Irish saints . First Ord r included Patric and were ”

e sun. e most holy, shining lik the Th y were founders and e of churches , mployed both laymen and women in the service of the houses of residence ; they being founded on the Rock of Christ feared not the blast ”

e . e e Ca ta lo ue of t mptation Th s bishops , says the g , e and w re sprung from the Romans, and Franks , i ” Br tons , and Scots .

The Second Order was of Catholic priests , of whom a few were bishops . They did not allow women to e serve in the monasteries . Thes were very holy and ” they shone like the moon . The Third Order consisted of priests and a few “ “ e e e and e bishops . Thes w r holy shone lik the ” e e stars . These were the hermits who lived in d s rt e e places , r fused privat property, and subsisted on herbs and water and the alms of the faithful . The clergy of the First Order were parochial f or the e e e most part, though monast ries w r founded and many e abbots were bishops . Th y had to renew constantly [ 1 24 ]

OF A NOTE ON THE LIVES ST . PATRICK

L es of . a ick are an o old and new. THE iv St P tr m y, b th The ancient Lives were grouped and numbered as seven by B t o a n an the Patrician Scholar Colgan. u bef re re di g y biography is es to ea a ck the n ea e man s eak of se it b t h r P tri , livi g g r , p him lf and for himself as he does in his own Confession and in the ” - In ese he is the s o flame fierce Epistle to Coroticus. th bi h p f o In his oe The eas a e or The and pastor o s uls. p m Br tpl t ’ ’ a s D ffic n Deer s Cry he is a poet . N0 St . P trick ay would be su ie t without the singing of his great hymn.

Translations of his Latin writings are easy to find. They ar in are given in all the longer modern lives. They e rendered ank e se Au de e e and a ue e uson and bl v r by bry V r by Sir S m l F rg , can be ou as a s enn a e so the b ght ixp y p mphl t, ld by in Dublin . The old Lives numbered by Colgan are these

. . ese ar ( I ) The hymns of St Piace and St Sechnall . Th e

eu o es . Fiacc was a oun a the en and u of l gi th t y g b rd, fri d p pil

Dubthach the c e a . He was consec a e s o of Slett . , hi f b rd r t d Bi h p y

The n of . Sechnall was en as has een o hym St writt , it b t ld - a ea as a eace off e n o ne e to unc e. was a e co e lr dy, p ri g fr m ph w l It w l m cause for that sort of spiritual bargaining which these saints of S hnall c a e e n nd sa a n for os old loved . ec l im d bl ssi gs a lv tio th e who s ou e ea the mn or e en the as nes of it— so h ld r p t hy , v l t li an e e so an e e as an a s as he had in his co m y h r , m y th r , m y h ir wl , so an for s da and so on . na . a ck t e in m y thi y, Fi lly St P tri hr w The n e ea e e o nne s ou unasked benefits . hym r p t d b f re di r h ld e nsure abundance at the meal ; if said in a new house the Saints B t es o e o es are of Ireland would hold a vigil there . u th e tw ul gi ’ very short and give few facts of their subject s history.

2 The econ L e is a u e to a ck un o a ne e ( ) S d if ttrib t d P tri J i r, ph w f of the saint . This younger Patrick having been Bishop o Rosdela in es ea es ne his S ee and en as ac s an to W tm th, r ig d w t S ri t on his uncle at Armagh . It is said that he finally retired to Glast bury and wrote this life . [ 1 26 ] A NOTE ON THE LIVES OF ST . PATRICK

(3) The Third Life was taken from a Manuscript found .in a on en in u in a a a. was en in e an C v t Bib rg, B v ri It writt Ir l d by l mman or . Me . an s an e a s . Lo Iri hm , p rh p St St

A na (4) The Fourth Life was found in the Monastery of St. l in H is a u e o an to . Aileran the annonia . It ttrib t d by C lg St ” Wise.

( 5) The Fifth Life is by Probus. This Probus was possibly a Professor in the College of Slane.

H was 6 The L e was en oce n of u ness. e ( ) Sixth if writt by J ly F r ,

is t ou a e s an e on n to the onas e of es e . it h ght, W l hm b l gi g M t ry Ch t r In 1 1 8 2 when John de Curci expelled the Secular Canons from the Cathedral of Down he brought in a colony of monks from

o n a o . has een su es e too a Chester . J cely w s their Pri r It b gg t d th t this Jocelyn was one of the Cistercian monks brought in 1 1 80

o n de u c o u ness to nc A e nea o n a ck. by J h C r i fr m F r I h bb y, r D w p tri He o es Jocelyn wrote this Life from the existing material . q u t ”

M l . s o a L fe of . a ck en his ne e e fr m i St P tri , writt by ph w Thi ’

anusc is not in e s ence now . But ocel n s L e en in M ript xi t J y if , writt Downpatrick at the request of the Archbishop of Armagh and of the s o of o n has cons e a e a ue. Bi h p D w , id r bl v l

The n L i th n i the fa ous (7) Seve th ife s e most importa t . It s m a e L e c has een ans a e and e e Trip rtit if , whi h b tr l t d dit d by

e ok s . h a f i o Dr . Whitl y St e Neither t e n me o the author or h s peri d ar kno . okes o s a cou not a e n en e wn . Dr St h ld th t it ld h ve b e writt e o e the e of the en cen u and a o e ke b f r middl t th t ry, th t it m r li ly as o in th n The a of s w c mpiled e eleve th century. v lue thi Tri a L a of p rtite ife was topographical . It gives minute det ils ’ Patricks missionary journeys . es es L i h o A a as en B id these ives there s t e B ook f rm glz. It w writt ’ in A . D . 8 0 . Th T 8 e Scribe s name was Ferdomnach . he first document in this book is a Memoir of the saint by Muirchu

h ni. T n Mac te he second document contains annotations by Tirecha . He es an no n h and e giv m y tes o t e associates of St . Patrick th ir

Missionary labours. en o o s Tfie B ook o tlze An el an accoun of a e e a on Th f ll w f g , t r v l ti a to m de Patrick by an angel . Th e last part of the B oo/c of Armagh contains the Confession. The copyist concludes : Thus far the volume which Patrickwrote ” ’ his own an s o n a he co e th a n s own with h d, h wi g th t pi d e s i t an h dwriting . In r n to a ck t yi g m ke a story of the wanderings of St . Patri the a el n Man of G od a e use the o o n ooks Tr v li g , I h v d f ll wi g b [ 1 27 ] SAINT PATRICK THE TRAVELLING MAN

“

Li e and Writin s o S t. P a trick The os Rev. . H f g f , by M t Dr EALY,

Archbishop of Tuam .

. D . Li e o S t. P a trick ro esso . Lit . f f , by P f r J B BURY, t Tri a rtite Li e o P a trick e e p f f , dit d by WHITLEY STOKES,

LL . . D B ook o Arma h e e n o uc on and en ces b f g , dit d with I tr d ti App di y

D . D . L. W . C JOHN G YNN , , D P a tr c t. D . Tbe Rema ins o S i k M G LL. f , by Sir SA UEL FER USON,

S a int P a trick the A é RIG UET. , by bb

Tbe Iris/z Liber H mnorum e e and . y , dit d by BERNARD ATKINSON

H . H A Histo o I rela nd L . D . ry f , by ELEANOR ULL, H Celtic I reland o esso L. . . , by Pr f r EOIN MACNEILL , D

H . L itera ry His tory of I reland by Dr . DOUG LAS YDE

' A S ocia l Hzs to o Anci ent I reland . . . . ry f , by P W JOYCE , M A

[ riskHeroes . MACRAITH . , by I M i a e ace of . a ck o esso n N tiv Pl St P tri , by Pr f r EOIN ACNEILL o I r s A a em P roceedings of R y a l i h c d y . ”

a es L es of . a ck b ofesso in E rli t iv St P tri , y Pr r EOIN MACNEILL

j ourna l of tlze Roy a l I rish Aca demy . ” a Focluti o esso in P roceedin s o Silv , by Pr f r EOIN MACNEILL g f s tin? Roy al Iri h Aca demy . And I would like to name here with gratitude those who have f H nd a o helped me by the loan o books : Mrs. UTTON a M j r n a n h n c and c c s H. a d e t e a us MCCLINTOCK ; by r di g m ript riti i m, D n M. A. Ph . . And for u a ce to the Dr . PATRICK WALSH, , g id ’ sc ne of . a cks an n in A . D . 2 and to the aces con e St P tri l di g 43 , pl H B E and nected with his early and later days I thank Mrs . C AM R

ean M of o n. the Very Rev . D CAR ODY D w A so s to ackno e e e for the use of the ma l , I wi h wl dg my d bt p ’ ’ H 8 of . a icks ss ona ou ne s aken o . St P tr Mi i ry J r y , t fr m Dr EALY to a th a e A c great Lif e of S t P a trick. For this I have th nk e l t r h ’ s o s n ece and e ecu ss . an e s bi h p i x trix, Mi ELLEN CLEARY (Sr Ev g li t of the esen a ion on en ua and the u is e s of the Pr t t C v t, T m) P bl h r

ook ess s. LTD . and ess s. M LTD . b , M r GILL M r THO

D I N B URG H PRIN TE D IN G RE A T B RIT A IN B ' THE E DIN B URG H P RE S S , E