Gwynn (ed.), Liber Ardmachanus (1913) — translated from the Latin and Irish.

Fragmentary Irish note: “… Fíacc’s father … son of Mael-Odrae … Tigernach son of Crimthann … from Colmán of the Britons … the silver … that handmaid went to Forlog in the land of Aed …”

Item. Bishop Fith and Patrick and Iserninus were with Germanus in the city of Auxerre. Germanus, however, commanded Iserninus to come and preach in Ireland, and he was ready to obey. “In whatever land you shall be sent, save Ireland” — Germanus said to Patrick — “and you, will you be obedient?” As he wished, Germanus said: “This shall be between you” — and Iserninus could not cross to Ireland. Patrick came to Ireland; Iserninus, however, was sent to another region, but a contrary wind bore him into the right-hand part of Ireland.

Irish: “… a small band … Cotrige was his name. He went from there and founded Toicuile, with some of his household there. From there he went and founded Ráith Fhoalascaigh, with some of his household there. He went from there to Lathrach dá Arad between the two plains. The seven sons of Cathboth came to him there; he preached to them, and they believed and were baptised; and Fáelán the Little went with them — Énna Cennselach and Fubthinn — in faith. Bishop Fith went with them to Forlog each … Patrick came there afterwards, and the seven sons of Dúnlang believed in him. He went from there to Crimthann mac Énda Cennselaig, and he himself believed at Ráith Biligh. Patrick remained there after the baptism, and the sons of Cathboth brought Iserninus to them and to Coite Dae. The sons of Cathboth went from there … Fena Forfid. They came to Patrick and to Crimthann mac Énda … Patrick … Crimthann mac Énda went north to Fotharta beyond Gabar Liphi … the Laigin … Iserninus to Patrick at Fotharta, and the two … and Patrick gave him to Bishop Fith, and he gave himself to the sons of Cathboth, and he founded Lethu (Áth Fithot).”

When Patrick came from Temair into the territory of the Laigin, he met Dubthach maccu Lugir at Domnach Mór Criathar among the Uí Chennselaig. Patrick asked Dubthach to show him a candidate for the episcopate from among his disciples of the Laigin: a free man, well-born, without stain or blemish, neither too little nor too great — the husband of one wife, married but once. Dubthach answered: “I know not among my household, save Fiacc the Fair of the Laigin, who has gone from me into the land of Connacht.” And while they were speaking together, they saw Fiacc the Fair coming towards them. And Dubthach said to Patrick: “Come, let us tonsure him.” Fiacc thought he would be tonsured for the sake of mockery, and he was greatly afraid — until it was made known to him what was toward. Then Fiacc son of Dubthach was tonsured, and Patrick baptised him, and conferred the rank of bishop upon him; so that he is bishop of the Laigin forever. And Patrick gave Fiacc a case — that is, a bell and a menstir and a staff and a book-satchel. And he left with him seven men of his household: Mucatóc of Inis Fáil, Augustine of Inis Bec, Técán, and after them Diarmait of Domnach Féic, Naindid, and Paul; and Fedelmid, a man of his household, was with them there — thirty men of his household in all.

Then the angel came to him and said to him: “It is to the north-west of you that your resurrection shall be — in Cúil Maige. Where you shall find the boar, found an oratory there; where you shall find the lamb, found a church there.” Fiacc said to the angel that he would not go until Patrick should come to mark out his site for him and consecrate it, and that it should be by him that he took his place. Then Patrick went to Fiacc and marked out his site and consecrated it, and established his foundation there — and Crimthann gave that place to Patrick, for it was Patrick who had given baptism to Crimthann; and it was in Sletty he was ordained — none but Crimthann.

Sechnall came afterwards to reproach Patrick about the chariot he had. Whereupon Patrick sent the chariot to Sechnall, without driver in it — only the angel guided it. Sechnall sent it back at once, with his monks; and he sent it to Fiacc. And Fiacc measured out for them afterwards. They went past Im-melo and Im-ma-an-eclis; and the angel said: “It is for you it was brought from Patrick, since … labours.”

Bishop Aed, who was in Sletty, went to Armagh; he brought his testament to Ségéne of Armagh. Ségéne gave Aed his testament, and Aed gave his testament and his church to Patrick until doom. Aed left his testament with Conchad. Conchad went to Armagh, and Fland Febla gave him his church — and thereafter Conchad himself died.

Latin note of the redactor: “These few things, written imperfectly in the Irish manner — not because I could not have composed them in the Roman tongue, but because these tales can scarcely be recognised in their own Ireland. For had they been told in Latin, a reader would not so much have been uncertain of them as ignorant of what he had read, or in what tongue it had sounded — from the abundance of Irish names having no Latin quality.

“I have knocked at this door as best I could: let everyone who reads it pray that I may escape punishment and dwell in heaven and in the rewards of the highest kingdom for ever, while Patrick knocks at the Lord’s door — Ailbe the elder; the altar; Máchet; Cetchen; Ródán; Mathóna …”

[There follow in the manuscript the memoranda of churches and names — a fragmentary catalogue of Patrick’s foundations, their founders and kindreds:] Búal; the family of Mac Eirc; Bishop Maine; the baptismal font of Echu; Domnach Mór Ailmaige; Domnach Mór Maige Éne; Dub; Drobés; Esrúaid; Muirgus mac Maile-Dúin maicc Scandláin; Ráith Cungi; Clí; Ard Fothaid; Latharn; Domnach Mór Maige Ítha; Múaduba mac Orcáin; the men of Achad Drumman; Coílboth mac Oenguso maicc Éogain; Brécán mac Áedo maicc Fhetaid maicc Éogain — Éogan of Fid Mór; Doro Cam Sétne; twelve; Eirc; Fergus Mór mac Nise; twelve sons of Olcán; Bishop Nem of Telach Ceniuil; Múadan the martyr; and the priest Erclach in Ráith Mnádáin; … of Cendán in Domnach Cainri at Cothrugu; Énán in Druim Findich; twelve sons of Coílboth; Cell Glass in Élniu … ; Lathrach Pátraic; Daniel; Slanán; Sarán mac Coílboth; Énlae mac Coílboth; Domnach Combar with the kin of Fiachrach — kings. The sons of Cuill … Imlech; Sescenn; Mulu … Cram-Muintir; Abaic; Áth M F B; Mac Áedo maicc Táicc; Cáir mac Fergusso; the sons of …; Presbyter Leo; Presbyter Lugach in Cúil; Presbyter Colmán; Ernán; Meldán; Cienna; Lugid mac Eirc in Fordruim; Cruimther Cássan; Sen-Chiarán of Saigir; Lonán mac Senaig of the kindred of Congal; Rigell the mother of Lulae; Chroibige; Trían mac Feic maicc Amalgaid, brother of Trichim; Sétne; Lét; Echu; Cairell; Domungart; Fíacc; Oengus; Ailill Mór; Conall between them; Macc Ercae; the father of Echuid Guin; mac Oengosso; Crimthann mac Cennselaig; seven sons of Onchú; Erdit; Augustine; Técán; Diarmait; Naindid; Paul; Fedelmid; Domnach Féic; sixty; Cúl-Maige; Currus; Cnoc Dromma Gablae; Brig daughter of Fergus mac Cothig; … Erchon; Bile Macc …; Soergus; Dimmoc; Gúas; Brandub; Fintan; Aed; Ínaedóc; Finan of Tech Airthir; Brig; Lasar of Duib-leim; Cell Auxili; Mac Tail; Cumbir; Patrick; Silvester; an exorcist; Maine mac Caiss; Cruimther; Domnach Mór Maige Fhile; Sendomnach in Uí Eras; Brig in Ard … in Britain; Pinn; Eochail; Domnach Mór Maige Réto; Mogin; Fedelm; Dubán; Dubáed; Findmag; Nóeirit; the daughters of the king of Longbard; the relics; the hymn; Berach; Brig; Doas; Oengus; Fergal; Cambas; Forgair; Muru Ath Eirnn; Lonán mac Maicc Eirc; Cúil Lenn; Ailill mac Cathbad maicc Lugthig; Trían; Conall; Cormac; Erc; Fetamir; Icrich Coirpri maicc Briuin; Dau mac Briuin; Tuadclare Coirpn; Broccán; Coíman of Cell Ráith; Ard; Muin Lombchu; Grian; Banchuire; Dens; Cuir; Orbri; Luirg Muindech; Mechar; Forat; Maicc Conid; Rausca; Cúlachán Imchot; Labthach Gairne; Amnid; Trían; Carthach; Níall; Naindid; Maicc Nise Conán; Dungalach …

[Accounts owing:] fourteen … ; Trían; Foto mac Foráí, eighteen; Gas mac Airt in the Field of Willows; Doirine …

*[A mass-formulary note:] “Tiberius Augustus Caesar … the fish … the letter … the measure … the Ethiopians … the Angles … eight … geese, twelve … the mouth … the station … Busca … the tomb, sixty …”

“Accept, we beseech You, O Lord, this oblation of our service and of all Your household; and dispose our days in Your peace, and bid us be delivered from eternal damnation and numbered among the flock of Your elect. Through Christ our Lord. In the thirteenth year, sixth month, tenth day. Cmgt(?) … the font of Jordan … 40 … the bird … I have written … seven times … the prayer … incline … the east … the heaven … late, quickly … Tuaim … for who of the heavens … the narrow … the messengers … the clergy, seven ounces, seven … the ladder … the bundle …”*

Preface of Muirchú. #

“De [the chapter-headings marked d throughout] … Indeed, my lord Aed: many have endeavoured to arrange this narrative according to what their fathers and they who were ministers of the word from the beginning handed down to them; but on account of the most difficult work of the narrative, and the various opinions and the very many doubts of very many persons, they have never arrived at one sure track of history. Therefore (unless I am mistaken), according to our proverb — as boys are brought down into the amphitheatre — I have launched the boyish rowing-boat of my small talent upon this perilous and deep ocean of sacred narrative, where the surging mounds of the storm swell between the sharpest Charybdises set in unknown waters, into which no craft has yet sailed save only one — tried and occupied by my father Cogitosus. But lest I seem to speak great things from small, these few of the many deeds of Saint Patrick — with little skill, uncertain authorities, failing memory, worn-out sense, and mean speech, yet with the most loving affection of charity, and in obedience to the bidding of your holiness and authority — I shall attempt to set forth, piecemeal and with difficulty.”

The chapter-headings of Muirchú’s Life:

1. Concerning Patrick’s birth and his first captivity.
2. Concerning his voyage with the heathen and his affliction in the wilderness.
3. Concerning the food brought to him from heaven among the gentiles.
4. Concerning the second captivity which he endured from his enemies for sixty days.
5. Concerning his reception by his parents, when they recognised him.
6. Concerning his age when he desired to go and see the apostolic see, to learn wisdom.
7. Concerning his finding holy Germanus in Gaul, and that therefore he went no further.
8. Concerning his age when Victoricus visited him, that he should come here.
9. Concerning his death.
10. Concerning his return from Gaul, and the ordination of Palladius.
11. Concerning his ordination by Amatho the king-bishop.
12. When Palladius was dead, Saint Patrick bearing the habit.
13. Concerning the gentile king of Ireland, when he had come.
14. Concerning his first journey in this island, that he might redeem himself from Miliucc before drawing others to him.
15. Concerning the death of Milcon and Patrick’s word concerning his seed.
16. Concerning Saint Patrick’s counsel, where he stood.
17. Concerning the celebration of the first Easter.
18. Concerning the offering of the first Easter in this island.
19. Concerning the gentile festival at Tara on that same night in which Saint Patrick kept Easter.
20. Concerning the going forth of King Loegaire from Tara to Patrick on the night of Easter.
21. Concerning the sons of Dega: death.
22. Concerning Patrick’s summoning before the king, and the faith of Érc the druid on that night.
23. Concerning the plagues and the piercing.
24. Concerning the wrath of the king and his men against Patrick, and the striking of Patrick before the gentiles.
25. Concerning Patrick’s coming to Tara on Easter Day, and the faith of Dubthach maccu Lugir.
26. Concerning Patrick’s contest with the druid in wonders and mighty works.
27. Concerning the word.
28. Concerning the conversion of King Loegaire, and Patrick’s conversion of his kingdom after him.
29. Concerning the doctrine and baptism and signs of the saint according to the example of Christ.
30. Concerning Macc Cuill and his conversion at the word.
31. Concerning the death of Monesan, and the tale of Daire, and the horse, and the offering of Armagh to Patrick.
32. Concerning the gentiles who laboured on the Lord’s day against Patrick’s command.
33. Concerning Patrick’s word: the fruitful land turned to saltness.
34. Concerning the death of Monesan the Saxon woman.
35. Concerning that Saint Patrick saw heaven opened and the Son of God and His angels.
36. Concerning Saint Patrick’s conflict against Coirthech, king of Aloo.

[Colophon:] “Muirchú maccu Machtheni wrote these things of Saint Patrick’s life and powers, at the dictation of Aed, bishop of the city of Sletty.”

“[To] Patrick the holy bishop, chief priest of the Lord, the angel … the due reverence of his apostolic see and the proper honour of his heir, delivered by all the Scots — wisely, therefore, he dictated to himself.”