¹ God is wonderful in His saints. The Holy Spirit, from whom comes every good gift and every grace to the Church in both dispensations, the Old Law and the New Testament, is He who uttered this short declaration through the mouth of the royal prophet David, son of Jesse, of whom it is written, “Samuel anointed David king and prophet”.

² It is this David who composed, in poetic metre, three times fifty psalms to praise the Lord. Now one of those praises that David made to the Lord is the sixty-seventh psalm, at the end whereof stands this line, namely, “Mirabilis Deus in sanctis suis” (“God is wonderful in His saints”), that is, praiseworthy through the signs that He Himself works, whether in His angels or in holy men who obey His commands. For He it is who alone works great miracles. Therefore James the Apostle says, “Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights”. Truly God is shown in the sight of the heathen to be “wonderful in His saints”, when He has given to those who are promised the kingdom of heaven, namely to the teachers, power to cure the sick, to raise the dead, to cleanse lepers, to cast out demons, to give sight to the blind, to heal the lame and the deaf, and so forth. Thus the greatness of the signs proves the greatness of the promises. As, then, God is wonderful in His saints, so also the saints who do these things are praiseworthy in God. Those who perform miracles do not ascribe them to their own power, but to God’s help. Therefore those who give praise to God make themselves praiseworthy, and those who give Him honour gain, without doubt, honour for themselves.

³ Now, one of the saints and of the just, through whom praise and glorification of the Lord came before men because of the miracles and wonders that God worked through him—raising the dead to life, cleansing lepers, casting out demons, healing the blind, the lame, and the deaf, and all manner of sick persons besides—is the noble, venerable, just man whose festival falls at this season and time, namely Saint Patrick, Bishop.

⁴ Patrick left the presbyter Conaed in Domnach Airthir Maige, in the province of the Northern Uí Briúin. Conaed remained there throughout Sunday. He went after Patrick from that place as far as the wood to the west. “What has brought you?” said Patrick. “I cannot bear your absence, O elder,” said Conaed. “Truly,” said Patrick, “you have reason: there are no sons of Life around you there, but swine shall feed upon your land for ever. Nevertheless, the land of your place shall not be reddened with bloodshed.” Quod probavimus (“which we have proved”), when Connacán son of Colmán, son of Niall the Showery, came into the land with an army. They removed nine men from one log: an artisan who fled into another territory was beheaded there, but the eight who remained in Conaed’s land were set free.

⁵ Afterwards he went to Telach Maine (Maine’s Hill), and he found a welcome with Maine son of Conlaed, who showed him honour. Patrick blessed him, and blessed his wife, so that she conceived and brought forth two daughters. Patrick baptised them, placed a consecrated veil upon their heads, and left an old man with them to instruct them. Patrick did not proceed to Armagh on that occasion, but went instead into the district of Uí Chremthainn, and there he founded churches and monasteries.

⁶ Once, when Patrick was coming from Clochar from the north, his champion, namely Bishop Mac Cairthinn, lifted him over a difficult place. This is what he said after lifting Patrick: “Oh, oh!” “By God’s judgement!” said Patrick, “it was not your custom to utter that word.” “I am now an old man and infirm,” said Bishop Mac Cairthinn, “and you have left my companions settled in churches, while I am still on the road.” “I will leave you, then, in a church,” said Patrick, “which shall not be very near, lest there be too great familiarity, and shall not be very far, so that mutual visiting between us may continue.” Patrick then left Bishop Mac Cairthinn in Clochar, and placed with him the silver reliquary called the Domnach Airgid (“the Silver Church”), which had been sent to Patrick from heaven while he was at sea on his way toward Ireland.

⁷ Thereafter Patrick went into Lemain. Findabair is the name of the hill on which Patrick preached. For three days and three nights he preached, and it seemed to those who heard him no longer than one hour. Then Brigit fell asleep during the preaching, and Patrick did not allow her to be awakened. Afterwards Patrick asked her what she had seen. Dixit illa (“she said”): “I saw white assemblies and light-coloured oxen and white cornfields. Behind them were speckled oxen, and after these black oxen. Afterwards I saw sheep and swine and dogs and wolves contending with one another. Thereafter I saw two stones, one small and the other large. A shower fell upon them both. The little stone grew under the shower, and silvery sparks burst forth from it, but the large stone wasted away.” “Those,” said Patrick, “are the two sons of Echaid son of Crimthann.” Coirbre Damargait believed, and Patrick blessed him and his descendants. Bressal, however, refused to believe, and Patrick cursed him. Patrick also expounded Brigit’s vision in an excellent manner.

⁸ Patrick raised Echaid son of Crimthann from death. Echaid had a daughter, namely Cinnu. Her father wished to give her in marriage to a man of noble lineage, that is, to the son of Cormac, son of Coirbre, son of Niall. As she was walking, she met holy Patrick with his companions. Patrick preached to her that she should unite herself to the spiritual Spouse, and she believed, followed Patrick, and was afterwards baptised by him. While her father was searching for her in order to give her to her husband, she and Patrick went to speak with him. Patrick asked her father to allow her to be united to the eternal Spouse. Echaid agreed, provided that heaven should be given to him in return for her, and that he himself should not be compelled to be baptised. Patrick promised both things, though it was difficult for him to do so. Then the king allowed his daughter Cinnu to be united to Christ. Patrick made her a female disciple and entrusted her to a certain virgin to be instructed, namely Cechtumbar of Druimm Dubain, in which place both virgins now rest.

⁹ Now, after many years, the aforesaid Echu came to the end of his life; and when his friends were standing around him, he said, “Do not bury me until Patrick has come.” When Echu had finished these words, he gave up his spirit. Patrick, however, was then at Saball Pátraic in Ulster, and Echu’s death was made known to him; and he resolved to journey to Clochar Mac nDoimni. There he found Echu, who had been lifeless for twenty-four hours. When Patrick entered the house in which the body lay, he sent out the people who were standing around the corpse. He bent his knees to the Lord, shed tears, and prayed, and afterwards said in a clear voice, “O King Echu, in the name of Almighty God, arise!” Straightway the king arose at the voice of God’s servant. When he had sat upright, he spoke, and the weeping and lamentation of the people were turned into joy. Then holy Patrick instructed the king in the way of the faith and baptised him. Patrick commanded him, before the people, to set forth the punishments of the ungodly and the blessedness of the saints, and to proclaim to the people that all the things made known to him concerning the pains of hell and the joys of the blessed who have obeyed were true. As he had been commanded, Echu preached of both. Patrick then gave him a choice: either fifteen years in the sovereignty of his land, if he would live quietly and justly, or to go at once to heaven, if that seemed better to him. But the king immediately said, “Though the kingship of the whole world were given to me, and though I should live for many years, I would count it as nothing compared with the blessedness that has been shown to me. Therefore I choose, above all, to be delivered from the sorrows of the present world and to return to the everlasting joys that have been revealed to me.” Patrick said to him, “Go in peace and depart to God.” Echu gave thanks to God in the presence of his household, commended his soul to the Lord and to Patrick, and gave up his spirit to heaven.

¹⁰ Thereafter Patrick went to the district of Uí Méith Tire, to Tech Talan. He left Bishop Cillíne there, together with elderly members of his household, and relics of the ancients which he had brought with him over sea from the east.

¹¹ Then the Uí Torrorrae, especially of the Uí Méith Tire, stole and ate one of the two goats that used to carry water for Patrick, and they went and swore falsely to Patrick; but the goat bleated from the bellies of the three who had deceived him. “By God’s judgement!” said Patrick, “the goat himself declares the place where he was eaten. From this day for ever,” said Patrick, “goats shall cling to your children and to your race.” And this is fulfilled even to this day.

¹² Eógan son of Brión, son of Muiredach, son of Immchath, son of Colla Dá Chrích, was king of the Uí Méith when those people believed, and Patrick blessed them. Eógan entreated Patrick to raise to life his grandfather, namely Muiredach. Patrick raised him to life thereafter, baptised him, and buried him again at Omne Rende, on the boundary of Mugdoirn and Uí Méith; but that place belongs to Mugdoirn.

¹³ Patrick went into the province of Mugdoirn, to Domnach Maigen. When Victor, who dwelt in that place, heard that Patrick had gone there, he withdrew to avoid Patrick, and went out of the place until he reached a thorn-brake that lay beside the settlement. Then God worked a miracle for Patrick: He lit up the thicket in the dark night so that everything within it was plainly visible. Thereafter Victor went to Patrick and submitted himself to him. Patrick gave the church to him, conferred upon him the order of a bishop—that is, upon Victor—and left him in Domnach Maigen. Patrick baptised the men of Mugdoirn, and said that from them would come distinguished laymen and clerics. He bade them farewell and left his blessing with them.

¹⁴ Thereafter Patrick went to Fir Roiss, to Enach Conglais. Patrick remained there throughout a Sunday. There the Uí Lilaig gave poison to Patrick in cheeses made of curds. Patrick then blessed the cheeses and turned them into stones.

¹⁵ When Patrick went on the Monday thereafter, crossing the ford southward, the Uí Lilaig followed him with fifty horsemen by the ford, intending to slay him. On the little hill to the south of the ford, Patrick turned toward them, raised his left hand, and said, “You shall not come out of the ford on this side, nor shall you go out of it on that side. You shall remain in that water until Judgement.” Immediately the water rose over them.

¹⁶ Áth Uí Lilaig (“the Ford of the descendants of Lilaig”) is the name of the ford for ever, and, in memory of the miracle, the cheeses of stone are at Enach Conglais to this very day.

¹⁷ Thereafter he went to Ráth Cule and blessed Fir Cule, that is, the Uí Segain, saying:

¹⁸ “A blessing on Fir Cule.
I am pleased though . . .
On Fir Ross without . . .,
From Lerga to Leire.”

¹⁹ Thereafter he went to Bile Tortain (Tortan’s Tree); and near Bile Tortain he built a church for Justian the presbyter, which now belongs to the community of Ard Brecain.

²⁰ When Patrick was journeying into the territory of Leinster from Domnach Tortain, he slept one night at Druim Urchailli.

²¹ After that Patrick went to Naas. The place of his tent is on the green of the fort, to the east of the road, and to the north of the fort is his well, wherein he baptised the two sons of Dúnlang, namely Ailill and Illann, and wherein he baptised Ailill’s two daughters, Mogain and Fedelm. Their father offered to God and to Patrick their consecrated virginity, and Patrick blessed the veil upon their heads.

²² Patrick sent to summon the reeve of the fort of Naas, namely Faillen. He avoided Patrick and pretended to be asleep. They went to Patrick to excuse him and said that the reeve was asleep. “By God’s judgement!” said Patrick, “it is no wonder to me if this be his last sleep.”

²³ Then his people went to awaken him, and he was found dead, because of the disrespect he had shown to Patrick. Wherefore the Irish have a proverb: Faille ris suan i Ráth Dricriu (“Faillen went to sleep in the fort of Dricriu”).

²⁴ Dricriu was king of Uí Garrchon when Patrick arrived at that time, and he had as wife a daughter of Lóegaire son of Niall. For Lóegaire’s sake he refused to invite Patrick to his feast at Ráth Inbir. Nevertheless Cillíne welcomed him, slew his single cow for him, and gave Patrick the measure of meal which he had brought for his own sustenance from the king’s house. Then Patrick said to the cooking-woman, while she was warming her own son and that of Cillíne:

²⁵ O woman, cherish your little son!
From a piglet comes a great boar;
From a spark comes a flame:
Your child will be swift, will be strong.
Corn is the best of the plants of the earth.
It is Márcán son of Cillíne
Who is best of the descendants of Garrchu.

²⁶ Thereafter he went into Mag Liphi. He founded churches and monasteries there, and left Auxilius in Cell Uí T’Saili, and Iserninus and Macc Tail in Cella Culind, and other saints besides.

²⁷ As Patrick was going into western Liphe, the boys of Laiges made pits of water along the road before him, with traps set over them. “For God’s sake,” said the little boys, “drive on your horses.” “Drive on, then, your horses,” said Patrick to his charioteer, “for God’s sake.”

²⁸ But he did them no harm. He laid a curse upon Laiges, namely the Laiges of the son of Finn, in the place where Móin Coluimb (Columb’s Bog) is today. Patrick said that among them there would be neither king nor bishop, and that a foreign ruler would be over them for ever. However, Brig, daughter of Fergna son of Cobthach, of the Uí Ercain, went and revealed to Patrick the wrong that was intended against him. Patrick bestowed a blessing upon her, and upon her father and her brothers, and upon all the Uí Ercain. Patrick said that they would never lack distinguished laymen and clerics.

²⁹ Then Patrick alighted on the hill which was then called Bile Maccu Cruaich (“the tree of the sons of Cruach”); today, however, it is called Forrach Pátraic (“Patrick’s meeting-place”). Patrick then said that over them there would never be a king nor a foreign reeve. If a cow were divided by the king of Leinster in his palace, one of the two portions would go to the king, the other to the king of the Uí Ercain. Patrick’s meeting-place they possess; Patrick’s measure they possess; dignity of laymen and clerics they possess; wealth and permanence belong to them. They had eight princes until the reign of Conchobar son of Donnchad in Tara. Laiges, however, was the tribe of the boys who committed the wrongs: of them there will never be king nor bishop; a foreign ruler shall govern them; persecution and complaint shall never depart from them.

³⁰ Patrick went from Tara, and he and Dubthach Maccu Lugair met at Domnach Mór Maige Criathar in Uí Ceinselaig. Dubthach believed in Patrick. Patrick asked him for a comely youth of good birth: “I desire a man of one wife, to whom only one child has been born.” “Truly,” said Dubthach, “this is ill fortune for me. Fiacc son of Ere, I think, is such a man; but he has gone from me into the lands of the men of Connacht, practising poetry for the kings.” As these words were spoken, Fiacc arrived. Through Dubthach’s cleverness it was proposed to tonsure him for the clerical order. “What is it that you propose?” said Fiacc. “To make a bishop of Dubthach,” they said. “Truly this will be a blemish to the community,” said Fiacc; “it is a grief that I am not taken in his place.” “Indeed, you shall be taken,” said Patrick. He was tonsured, he was baptised, an alphabet was written for him. He read his psalms in one day, as has been handed down to me. He was ordained to the episcopal rank, and the bishopric of Leinster was given to him by Patrick; moreover, his only son, Fiachrae, was ordained.

³¹ So Patrick gave to Fiacc a case containing, namely, a bell, a credence-table, a crozier, and tablets; and he left seven of his household with him, namely My-Catoc of Inis Fáil, Augustin of Inis Becc, Tecan, Diarmait, Naindid, Paul, and Fedelmid.

³² After this he established himself at Domnach Feicc (Fiacc’s Church), and he dwelt there until sixty men of his community had died beside him. Then an angel came to him and said, “To the west of the river, in Cúil in Aige, is your resurrection. The place where you shall find the boar, there you shall set the refectory. The place where you shall find the doe, there you shall set the church.” Fiacc said to the angel that he would not go until Patrick should come to mark out his settlement with him and consecrate it, and that it should be from Patrick that he himself should receive his place. So Patrick went to Fiacc, marked out his settlement with him, and fixed his meeting-place; and Cremthann offered that spot to Patrick, for it was Patrick who had baptised him, and at Slebte he is buried. It was there that Fiacc was afterwards ordained.

³³ They, namely the Uí Ercain, were at that time suffering persecution from the king of Leinster, Cremthann son of Censelach, and therefore they went into exile. From them come the Manachs (monks) in Uí Chremthainn, the Manachs in Ulster, and the Cenél Endai in Munster. From them also comes the Fiacc whom we have already mentioned. Fiacc, Óengus, Ailill the Great, Conall, and Eterscela were five brothers. Their father was Macc Ercae. Through Patrick’s intercession the king received Fiacc upon land, namely his father’s fifth ridge, and upon it he built Sleibte.

³⁴ That Óengus afterwards slew King Cremthann son of Censelach, to avenge his exile. In thirties and forties are the churches which Cremthann gave to Patrick in the east of Leinster and in Uí Chenselaig, including Domnach Mór Maige Criathair and including Inis Fáil, wherein are My-Conóc and My-Catoe. Erdit and Augustin are in the Lesser Island, and since it was taken by the pagans their shrines are in Sleibte.

³⁵ At Domnach Mór Maige Reta (the great church of Mag Reta) Patrick remained throughout a Sunday. On that Sunday they were digging the foundations of Ráth Baccáin, the royal stronghold of the district. Patrick sent to forbid this, but nothing was done in obedience to him. Patrick said, “The building shall be unstable unless an offering is made there every day.” Patrick declared that the stronghold would not be inhabited until the wind should come up out of the lower part of Hell. This was Gaethíne (“Little Wind”), son of Cinaed. It was he who rebuilt the stronghold in the reign of Fedilmed and of Conchobar in Tara.

³⁶ After this, Patrick founded churches and monasteries in Leinster. He left a blessing with the Hui-Censelaig and with all Leinster, and afterwards he ordained Fiacc the Fair at Slebte as bishop of the province.

³⁷ He then went by Belach-Gabrain into the land of the Osraige and founded churches and monasteries there. And he said that among them there would be very distinguished laymen and clerics, and that no province would prevail against them so long as they remained obedient to Patrick. After this Patrick bade them farewell, and he left with them relics of ancient men, and a portion of his household in the place where Martarthech (the relic-house) stands today in Mag-Raigne. At Druimm Conchinn in Mairg the domuin of Patrick’s chariot broke as he was going to Munster. Another was made from the wood of the ridge, and it broke at once. Again, another was made, and it too broke. Patrick declared that never would any building be made from the wood of that grove. This has been fulfilled: not even a skewer is made from it. Patrick’s hermitage stands there, but it lies waste.

³⁸ After this Patrick went into the province of Munster, to Cashel of the Kings. When Óengus son of Natfraich arose in the morning, all the idols were on their faces. And Patrick with his household found him beside the fort. He welcomed them and brought them into the fort, to the place where Patrick’s flagstone stands today. Afterwards Patrick baptised the sons of Natfraich, left blessing and prosperity upon them, and blessed the fort, namely Cashel, and said that until Doom only one slaughter would take place there. And he remained seven years in Munster. The learned reckon that he celebrated Mass on every seventh ridge that he crossed in Munster.

³⁹ While Patrick was baptising Óengus, the spike of the crozier went through Óengus’s foot. Said Patrick: “Why did you not tell this to me?” “It seemed to me,” said he [Óengus], “that it was a rite of the faith.” “You shall have its reward,” said Patrick: “your successor,” that is, the seed of Óengus and Ailill son of Natfraich, “shall not die of a wound from today for ever.” No one is king of Cashel until Patrick’s successor installs him and confers ecclesiastical rank upon him. Patrick said:

⁴⁰ “The sons of Natfraich, happy sound!
From them are kings, from them are sovereigns:
Óengus from the lands of Femen,
And his brother Ailill.”

⁴¹ And twenty-seven kings of the race of Ailill and Óengus ruled in Cashel under a crozier until the time of Cenn-gecan.

⁴² Thereafter Patrick went into Muscraige-Breogain and founded churches and monasteries there. One day, as he was washing his hands in a ford there, a tooth fell out of his head into the ford. Patrick went onto the hill to the north of the ford and sent to seek the tooth, and immediately the tooth shone in the ford like the sun. Ath-liacla (Ford of the Tooth) is the name of the ford, and Cell Fiacla (Church of the Tooth) is the name of the church in which Patrick left the tooth and four of his household, namely Cuircthe and Loscan, Cailech and Beóan. He bade farewell to the Muscraige-Breogain and left a blessing with them.

⁴³ After that he went to Arada-Cliach and stayed in Ochtar-Cuillen in Hui Cuanach. Ailill son of Cathbad, son of Lugaid, of the Eóganacht of Airthir Cliach, withstood him. Ailill’s wife went to the hill where they were staying and said, “Swine have devoured our son, O Ailill,” said she, “through their brutishness.” And Ailill said to Patrick: “I will believe if you bring my son back to life for me.” Patrick ordered the bones of the boy to be gathered together and directed a Culdee of his household, namely Malach the Briton, to bring him back to life. “I will not tempt the Lord,” said Malach. Unbelief had seized him. Patrick said: “Sad is that, O Malach! Your monastery will not be lofty on earth. Your house will be the house of one man.” His monastery is in the north-eastern corner of the southern Déisi; its name is Cell Malaich. Five cows can scarcely be fed there for ever. Thereafter Patrick ordered Bishop Íbar and Ailbe to bring the boy back to life, and he prayed to the Lord together with them. The boy was then brought back to life through Patrick’s prayer.

⁴⁴ After this the boy preached to hosts and multitudes in Patrick’s presence. Ailill and his wife then believed, and the Hui Cuanach also believed and were baptised in that place. And in the place where the boy was brought back to life is the seat of the four persons aforesaid, namely Patrick, Ailbe, Bishop Íbar, and the little boy. Patrick said on that occasion: “God heals by the physician’s hand”.

⁴⁵ Four men stole Patrick’s horses in the south. Patrick forgave them. One of them, named Cainchomrac, was a leech, another was a wright, another was an attendant, but the fourth, named Áed, was his groom. Patrick called him and blessed his hands, and told him that from that day his name should be Lám-Áed (Hand-Áed); and it is from him that the Lamraige descend.

⁴⁶ Then sickness attacked Ailill’s pregnant wife in such a way that death was near to her. Patrick asked what had befallen her. The woman answered, “I saw an herb in the air, and on earth I have never seen its like; and I shall die, or the child that is in my womb will die, or we shall both die, unless I eat that herb.” Patrick said to her, “What is the likeness of the herb?” “Like rushes,” said the woman. Patrick blessed the rushes so that they became a leek. The woman ate it afterwards and was healed at once, and afterwards she bore a son and blessed Patrick. And it is said that Patrick declared that all women who shall eat of that herb will be healed(?).

⁴⁷ He wished to remain beside Clár at the rath of Corbre and Broccán, but this was not permitted to him. And Patrick said that there would never be a king or a bishop of the race of Colmán who had resisted him. Patrick said that the place would belong to him afterwards, and after a long time he left a man of his household there, namely Coemán of Cella Ráith.

⁴⁸ Then he wished to reside in Grían in Arada (Cliach). Dola opposed him. Patrick said that there would be no dwelling of Dola’s there, or, if there should be one, that its inhabitants would not be more than two or three, and even these would be slaves and of lowly race, and the rest would emigrate. This was fulfilled. They went forth until they were in Airther Cliach. They are called Dal-mo-Dola until this day.

⁴⁹ Nena came to him. Patrick refused to receive him and said, “From Nena nothing shall come.” There has been no successor of his there since then, but his descendants are in bondage in Muscraige Mitine. They are called Menraige.

⁵⁰ Now, as Patrick was departing from there, the women of Grían came to lament Patrick’s leaving them. Patrick blessed them and said that every child whom they should bear to men of foreign tribes would be honoured.

⁵¹ Patrick was at Arada Cliach at Tédel, the name of a hill. When he was bidding farewell, two boys of his household remained behind. Men went after them, and they were found there sleeping under a thicket. This was told to Patrick, and he said: “Here will be their resurrection,” which is true. Muin and Lommchú are buried in Cell Tídil, which belongs to Patrick.

⁵² After this he went to Hui Fidgente, and Lomman son of Mac Éire made a feast for Patrick at Mullach-Cáe, to the south of Carn Feradaig. A man of Patrick’s household, namely the deacon Mantán, was preparing the feast at the king’s place. A company of jugglers came to Patrick to ask for food, and they would accept no refusal. “Go,” said Patrick, “to Lomman and to deacon Mantán, that they may help me.” But they refused and said, “It is not public criers who shall bless the beginning of our banquet.” Then Patrick said:

⁵³ “The boy who comes from the north,
To him the victory has been given.
To Cothraige he is near,
With his wether upon his back.”

⁵⁴ At that very hour a certain youth, named Nessan, came with his mother, carrying a cooked ram upon her back to be brought to the king’s feast. Patrick asked the boy to give him the wether, so that he might give it to the jugglers and save his honour. The boy at once gave it willingly. The mother, however, was unwilling, for fear of the king. Patrick gave the food to the jugglers, and immediately the earth swallowed them up. Derg son of Scirire of the Déisi was their leader. And Patrick said that of Lomman’s race there would never be king, nor crown-prince, nor bishop. He said also of the deacon Mantán that his monastery on earth would not be lofty, that it would be a dwelling of rabble, and that sheep and swine would pass over his remains. But he said to Nessan, who had saved his honour: “You are mighty of race.” And he baptised him, ordained him deacon, and founded a church for him, namely Mungret. And he said to Nessan’s mother, as she was making excuses, that she would not be buried in her son’s place, which is true. Her grave is in the ground to the west of Mungret, and the bell from the great Cathair is not heard there. They are close together, with only a wall between them.

⁵⁵ The men of North Munster, to the north of Limerick, went in sea-fleets to meet Patrick to the south, at Domnach Mór Maige Áine; that is, Dún n-Oac-féne at that time and today. And he baptised them in Tír-Glass to the south-east of it.

⁵⁶ Afterwards he went into Fininne, to the north-west of Domnach Mór, a hill from which the country to the north of Limerick can be seen. And he bestowed a blessing on the people of North Munster for the readiness with which they had come, bringing abundance of gifts, to meet Patrick.

⁵⁷ Cairthenn son of Blatt, elder of the children of Toirdelbach, believed in the Lord, and Patrick baptised him at Sangal; that is, a different angel came to speak with him on that day, and it was not Victor. No children except miscarriages used to be born to Cairthenn. Then Echu Redspot, son of Cairthenn, was born, a shapely boy. Patrick had formed him from the clot of gore, and that spot was in his body as a sign of the miracle.

⁵⁸ Patrick himself did not go into the land of Thomond, but he saw the land around Limerick to the west and to the north, and he blessed the territories and their islands, and he prophesied concerning the saints who would be there, their names and the time at which they would come. “The green island in the west,” said Patrick, “in the mouth of the sea: there shall come the candle of God’s household, who shall be the chief of counsel for this district,” namely Senán of Inis Cathaig, six score years thereafter, Senán son of Gerrchenn, son of Dubthach.

⁵⁹ Now Patrick did not cross Luachair into West Munster. But he prophesied of Brenainn Maccu-Ailte, who would be born in that land one hundred and twenty years later; and this has been fulfilled.

⁶⁰ Then he went into the southern Déisi. He desired a monastery at Ard-Patraic, and Patrick’s flagstone is there, and the plan of his church. Derball son of Áed opposed him. Derball said to Patrick: “If you were to remove the mountain in that place so that I might see Loch Lunga over it to the south in Fir Maige Féine, I would believe.” Cenn-Fébrat is the name of the mountain, and Belach Legtha (Pass of Melting) is the name of the pass that melted there. Derball said to Patrick when the mountain began to melt: “Even if you do it, there will be nothing in it.” Patrick said to Derball: “There shall be neither king nor bishop of your race until Doom; and it shall be lawful for the men of Munster to peel you always, every seventh year, like an onion.”

⁶¹ While Patrick was in the province of the Déisi, awaiting the king of the land, namely Fergair son of Ross, Patrick said to him after his arrival: “You have come slowly.” “The country is very stiff,” said the king. “Truly indeed,” said Patrick, “there shall never be a king from you. And what delayed you today?” said Patrick. “Rain delayed us,” said the king. “Your assemblies shall always be showery,” said Patrick. Patrick’s well is in that place, and there is the church of Mac Clarid, one of Patrick’s household; and the assemblies of the Déisi are not held except at night, for Patrick left that word upon them, since it was at night that they came to him.

⁶² Then Patrick cursed the streams of that dwelling, because his books had been drowned in them and the fishermen had refused his people. Patrick said that, notwithstanding their great abundance up to that time, the streams would not be fruitful, and that there would never be mills upon them, but that they would always lie near the mills of foreigners. However, he blessed the Suir and the land beside it; and the Suir is fruitful in fish, except where those streams enter it.

⁶³ Patrick went into Muscraige Thíre, to baptise and to preach the faith and to establish the faith there. Three brothers, rulers of that region, were found: Fuirc, Munnech, and Mechar, sons of Fora son of Connla. Munnech believed at once, and Patrick baptised him and blessed him, and ordained that illustrious laymen and clerics should descend from him for ever, and that the overkingship of his land should descend from him until Doom. As the poet said, to signify this:

⁶⁴ Munnech the great believed in Patrick before everyone;
Therefore over his tribe the leader is always from him.
Mechar the keen believed; he was a man of true counsel.
Patrick gave him a lasting blessing, fellowship with the King.
The fierce man Fuirc opposed, though he was a hoary royal hero.
His lot is to be last after all others; so shall he be for ever, not lamentable.

⁶⁵ As we have said before, Patrick set Munnech apart from his brothers in the kingship, but he permitted Munnech’s twelve sons to come to him, namely Muscan, Cellachán, Immchath, Dubthach, Gairtné, Lámnid, Trian, Carthach, Niall, Naindid, Mac Nisse, and Coninn. All came late except Muscan. Therefore the man of God destined the kingship for Muscan in preference to all the other brothers, and this remains unchanged to this day. But Coninn excused himself on account of setting up a fence; so Patrick said to him that his descendants would never be able fully to fortify their dwellings or their lands with walls or fences. For if they dig the earth, it gapes; if they put up a fence, it soon falls; if they build islands in a bog, they never stand firm. Cellachán said that he had come late because of debts, whether owed to him by another or owed by him to another, I do not know. To him Patrick said: “Whenever my protection over Munster is withdrawn, and you have transgressed, even though others may escape for some reason, you and your race shall never escape, but must either surrender the accused to death or pay seven cumals.” Carthach said that he would believe only if they would wait for his foster-father, wishing to see whether he would forbid him or not. Patrick said that from him and his descendants there would come men skilled and subtle in worldly affairs, but that they would be separated from this kingship. To each of them he thus spoke a word, and it has been fulfilled.

⁶⁶ When Cothraige imposed a rule upon virgin Ireland,
Upon the host of this island he bestowed a lasting blessing. Thus was that blessing: he granted it seven times,
Upon everyone who shall keep his pure rule, his law.

⁶⁷ Whoever breaks the rule—noble comparison—
He said that they would not see him in the land of the saints,
And that his race would not be with everyone after . . .
And that his race would never obtain restoration.

⁶⁸ Patrick’s rule, a great ordinance, was imposed upon every clan,
Until Dungalach of the race of Failbe Flann broke it.
Dungalach son of Faelgus, grandson of the true Nath Í,
It is he who first transgressed Patrick’s rule from the beginning.

⁶⁹ It is told in ancient tales, every multitude knows it,
That his succession is not in Cashel of the Kings.
Though he won battles, among his descendants there is not
A high bishop, nor an airchinnech, nor a prince, nor a sage.

⁷⁰ Soergus, splendid in honour,
Broke the law he had . . . for vehement Dungalach.
It is evident that no illustrious man comes from his strange race;
If there is none now, none shall be found from today until Doom shall come.

⁷¹ After this Patrick founded churches and cloisters in Munster; and Patrick ordained people of every rank, and healed all manner of sick folk, and raised the dead to life. After this he bade the Munstermen farewell and left a blessing with them.

⁷² After this he went to Brosnacha. The men of Munster followed after him, as though each of them sought to outstrip the others. And their households followed them also, following after Patrick. Then Patrick blessed the households that had remained in their places. So then the men of Munster—that is to say, men, women, and children—overtook Patrick at Brosnacha, and they uttered a great cry and a great joyful clamour (broscur) for gladness at the sight of Patrick; and from this the Brosnacha were so named.

⁷³ And it was there that Patrick brought to life Fot son of Derach, of the men of Munster, who had been dead for twenty-seven years. And it is there that he blessed at Craibecha the feast of the bushel given by Bishop Trian, a pilgrim of the Romans, when the men of Munster and the elders of Ireland also were satisfied. Then Patrick again bade farewell to the men of Munster and bestowed a blessing upon them, saying:

⁷⁴ “Blessing upon the men of Munster,
Men, youths, and women!
Blessing upon the land
That yields them fruit.

⁷⁵ Blessing upon every treasure
That shall be produced on their plains,
With no one lacking help or support,
God’s blessing upon Munster!

⁷⁶ Blessing upon their peaks,
Upon their bare flagstones,
Blessing upon their glens,
Blessing upon their ridges.

⁷⁷ Like the sand of the sea beneath ships,
So be the number of their hearths:
On slopes, on plains,
On mountains, on peaks.”

⁷⁸ After this Patrick went into the province of Uí Fhailge; and Foilge Ben-áide boasted that he would kill Patrick wherever he should meet him, in vengeance for the idol Cenn Cruaich, for he was Foilge’s god. Now his household concealed from Patrick what Foilge had boasted. One day his charioteer Odran said to Patrick: “Since I have long been your charioteer, O Master Patrick, let me today sit in the chief seat, and you be the charioteer.” Patrick did so. Thereafter Foilge came and gave a spear-thrust through Odran, thinking him to be Patrick. “My curse,” said Patrick, “upon the tree of Brí Dam,” said Odran. “So be it, then,” said Patrick. Foilge died at once and went down into hell. As for Foilge Ross, however, it is his children who are in the land to this day. And Patrick blessed him, and from him comes the sovereignty of the land forever.

⁷⁹ Patrick once went along the road of Midluachair, to go into the land of Ulster, and there he met wrights who were felling a yew tree. Patrick saw that blood was coming through the palms of the slaves as they cut it down. “Whence are you?” said Patrick. “We are slaves,” they said, “to Trian son of Flacc, son of Amalgaid, brother of Trichem. We are in bondage and in great affliction, and we are not allowed even to sharpen our irons against a flagstone, so that our labour may be harsher and more difficult. Therefore blood comes through our hands.” Patrick blessed the irons, so that they became easier to use, and he went to the king, to Rath Trena. And Patrick fasted against him, but Trian did nothing for him. On the morrow Patrick turned away from the fortress. He spat upon a rock that lay on the road before him, and the rock broke into three parts. A third part of the spittle was then cast a thousand paces away. Patrick said: “Two thirds of the fasting be upon the rock, a third upon the king and upon the fort and upon the district. Of Trian’s children there shall be neither king nor crown prince. He himself shall perish early and shall go down into bitter hell.”

⁸⁰ Trian himself went to bind and beat the slaves who had given an account of him. His horses dragged him and his charioteer away in his chariot, and they went into the lake. Loch Trena is its name; that was his final fall. He will not come out of that lake until the vespers of Doomsday, and even then it will not be for happiness.

⁸¹ The king’s wife went after Patrick. She repented and fell upon her knees. Patrick blessed her womb and her children, namely Setne son of Trian and Iarlaide son of Trian. Sechnall baptized Setne; Patrick baptized Iarlaide, and Patrick said that afterwards he would be one of his successors.

⁸² There dwelt at that time a certain wicked man in the lands of Ulster, namely Macc Cuill. Impious he was, and a son of Death. He was accustomed to plunder and to slay congregations. Once on a certain day Patrick with his companions passed by him, and he desired to slay Patrick. Macc Cuill said to his people: “This,” said he, “is the shaveling and the deceiver who is misleading everyone. Let us go and attack him, to see whether his God will help him.” This is what they devised: a man of his household was laid upon a bier as though he were dead, to be brought to life by Patrick and thus to deceive him. And they placed a mantle over his body and over his face. “Heal our companion for us,” they said to Patrick, “and pray to the Lord that He may raise him to life from death.” “By my God’s judgment,” said Patrick, “it is no wonder to me if he should be dead.” Garvan was the name of the man. Of him Patrick said:

⁸³ “Garvan’s mantle
Shall be upon the body of a corpse;
But I will declare more to you:
It is Garvan who shall be beneath it.”

⁸⁴ His people cast the mantle from his face and found him lifeless. Then they fell silent and said: “Truly this man Patrick is a man of God.” They all immediately believed, and Macc Cuill believed also, and at Patrick’s command he went upon the sea in a coracle of only one hide. Then, through Patrick’s prayer, Garvan was brought back to life from death. Now Macc Cuill went that same day upon the sea, with his right hand turned toward Mag Inis, until he reached Mann, and he found two wondrous men on the island before him. It was they who preached the word of God in Mann, and through their preaching the men of that island believed and were baptized. Conindri and Romuil were their names. When these men saw Macc Cuill in his coracle, they took him from the sea and received him with welcome; and he learned the divine rule with them, and he spent the whole time of his life with them, until he received the bishopric after them. This is Macc Cuill of the Sea, the illustrious bishop and prelate of Ard Uimnen. May his holy intercessions assist us!

⁸⁵ Patrick was once sleeping on a Sunday by the sea at Druim Bó. He heard a great noise of heathens digging a rath on a Sunday. He called to them and told them to be silent, but they did not heed him; instead, they mocked him. And Patrick said: “By my God’s judgment, let your labour be of no avail.” And this came to pass; for on the following night a wind arose, stirring up the sea, and the tempest destroyed all the work, according to Patrick’s word.

⁸⁶ Patrick said to Echaid son of Muiredach that no king would ever descend from him, and that from his race there would never be a troop sufficient for a folkmoot or an army in Ulster, and that his lineage would be scattered and dispersed, that his own life would be short, and that he would come to a violent end. For this reason Patrick was hostile to Echaid, as the most learned relate. Two maidens had offered their virginity to the Lord. Echaid bound them on the seashore beneath the waves, because they refused to worship idols and to marry. When Patrick heard this, he entreated the king on their behalf, but did not obtain them. “Your brother Cairell, whom you struck with a rod,” said Patrick, “since he granted me a noble gift, shall himself be a king, and from him there shall be kings and princes over your children and over all Ulster.” Therefore that is the seed of kings forever, the seed of Deman son of Cairell, son of Muiredach, according to Patrick’s word.

⁸⁷ Nevertheless, Echaid’s wife knelt at Patrick’s feet. Patrick blessed her, and blessed the child that lay in her womb, namely the wondrous and renowned Domangort son of Echaid. It is he whom Patrick left in his body, and he shall live there forever.

⁸⁸ So Patrick went back to Fir Roiss and began a cloister at Druim Mór in the territory of Ross above Cluain Cain. There the angel came to him and said: “You have not been granted leave to remain here.” “Tell me, then, what place?” said Patrick. “Go to Armagh in the north,” said the angel. “This meadow down here is truly fair,” said Patrick. “Let its name be Fair Meadow (Cluain Cain),” said the angel. “A pilgrim of the Britons shall come and settle there, and afterwards it shall be yours.” “I give thanks to God,” said Patrick.

⁸⁹ Thereafter Patrick went to Ard Patraic (Patrick’s Height), to the east of Louth, and he desired a cloister there. The Dál Runtir followed after him to detain him, each of them handing him on to another. After this Patrick blessed them, and he departed, leaving as his blessing that among them there should be famous laymen and clerics, and that a sovereign should rule over them from outside their own land, because they had gone out of their land after Patrick.

⁹⁰ Patrick would come each day from the east, from Ard Patraic, and Mochtae from the west, from Louth, so that they met together daily for conversation at Lecc Mochtai (Mochtae’s Flagstone). One day the angel placed a letter between them. Patrick read the letter aloud, and this is what was written in it:

⁹¹ “Mochtae, pious and faithful,
Let him remain in the place where he has settled;
Patrick goes at his King’s command
To dwell in fair Armagh.”

⁹² Patrick entrusted to Mochtae the twelve lepers whom he left at Ard Patraic, and their provision was carried to them by Mochtae every night.

⁹³ Thereafter Patrick went, at the word of the angel, to Armagh, to the place where Rath Daire (Dare’s Fortress) stands today. There dwelt a certain rich and honourable man named Dare, that is, Dare son of Findchad, son of Eogan, son of Niallan. Patrick asked him for the site of his cell. Dare said: “What place do you desire?” “On this great hill below,” said Patrick, the place where Armagh stands today. “I will not give it,” said Dare; “however, I will give you a site for the church in this strong rath below,” the place where the Ferta (grave) is today. So Patrick founded his cell there and remained in it for a long time.

⁹⁴ One day Dare’s two horses were brought into Patrick’s church to graze, because the graveyard was grassy. Patrick was angered against this, and the horses died at once. Dare’s servant told this to him, saying: “This Christian,” said he, “has killed your horses because they grazed on the grass growing around the church.” Dare was enraged at this, and he ordered his bondsmen to attack the cleric and drive him from the place, that is, from the Ferta. Immediately a sudden colic seized Dare, so that death was near him. Dare’s wife forbade the attack on Patrick and said to Dare that the cause of his illness was the offence given to Patrick; and she sent to ask Patrick for holy water for Dare. “Had not the woman deon this,” said Patrick, “Dare’s rising again from death would never have taken place.”

⁹⁵ Patrick blessed the water and gave it to the servants, and ordered them to sprinkle it upon the horses and upon Dare. And thus they did, and Dare and his horses arose at once from death.

⁹⁶ A cauldron of copper was given to Patrick as an offering from Dare. “Deo yratias [agamus] (Let us give thanks to God)." said Patrick. Dare asked his servants what Patrick had said. They replied that he had said “yrazacum.” Dare said: “That is a small return for a noble offering and a fine cauldron”, and he ordered the cauldron to be brought back to him. “Deo yratias [agamus],” said Patrick again, and Dare asked what Patrick had said when the cauldron was taken from him. The servants replied that he had said the same thing when it was taken away, that is, “yrazacum”. Dare said: “It is a good word he has,” said Dare: “yrazacum when it is offered to him, and yrazacum when it is taken from him.” Thereafter Dare and his wife went to Patrick in full submission, and they offered the cauldron again to Patrick, and also the hill which he had first requested. Patrick accepted this, and he blessed Dare, and he founded in that place the church which is called Armagh.

⁹⁷ After this Patrick went with his elders, and Daire with the magnates of the Airthir besides, to the hill to mark it out, to bless it, and to consecrate it. They found a doe with her fawn in the place where the Saball (Barn) stands to-day, and his people went to kill her. But Patrick forbade them, and said that she should serve him thereafter. And he sent her from the hill northwards to the place wherein Telach na Licce (the Hill of the Flagstone) stands to-day; and there the Lord, in consideration of his servant’s merits, wrought through her many marvellous things.

⁹⁸ Dare’s daughter loved Benen.
Sweet to her seemed
A sickness came upon her,
Benen took relics to her from
his voice at the chanting.
and thereby she died.
Patrick, and straightway that holy virgin rose up alive,
and afterwards she loved him spiritually.
She is Ercnat, Dare’s daughter, who is in Tamlachta Bó.

⁹⁹ Once upon a time there came nine daughters of the King of the Lombards, and a daughter of the King of Britain, on pilgrimage to Patrick. They stayed to the east of Armagh, in the place where Coll nan-Ingen (the Maidens’ Hazel) stands to-day. They sent to Patrick to learn whether they should go to him. Patrick said to the messengers: “Three of the virgins will go to heaven, and bury them in the place in which they are, namely Coll nan-Ingen. And let the rest of the virgins go to Druim Fendeda (the Champion’s Ridge), and let one of them go as far as this hillock in the east.” And so it was done.

¹⁰⁰ After this Cruimtheris went and settled at Cengoba, and Benen used to carry her ration to her every night from Patrick. And Patrick planted an apple tree in Achad inna-Elta (the Field of the Doe), which he had taken out of the fort to the north of the place, namely Cengoba. Wherefore that field is called Aball Pátraic (Patrick’s Orchard) in Cengoba. It was the milk of that doe that used to be given to the lapdog that was with the virgin, namely Cruimtheris.

¹⁰¹ At another time he was resting at the end of a night at Tipra Cerna (Cerna’s Well) in Tír Tiprat. An angel came to him and awoke him. Patrick said to him, “Is there anything by which I am accustomed to offend God, or is his anger against me?” “There is not,” said the angel; “and it has been ordained for you by God—if it seems good to you—that no one else shall have a share in Ireland except you alone; and the power of the sanctuary of your see from God shall reach as far as Dromma Breg, and to Sliab Mis, and to Bri Airigi.” Patrick answered, “It is my God’s judgment, indeed: sons of Life will come after me, and I desire that they should have honour from God after me in the land.” The angel answered, “That is loving-kindness; and God has given all Ireland to you, and every freeman who will remain in Ireland shall be yours.” “I give thanks to God,” said Patrick.

¹⁰² Patrick was angered with his sister, namely Lupait, for the sin of lust which she committed, so that she became pregnant. When Patrick came into the church from the east, Lupait went to meet him, and she cast herself down on her knees before the chariot in the place where the cross stands in Both-Arcall. “Drive the chariot over her!” said Patrick. The chariot went over her three times, for she still would come in front of it. Wherefore she there went to heaven at the Ferta, and she was afterwards buried by Patrick, and her requiem was sung. Colman, however, son of Ailill of the Uí Bressail, it was he who brought this destruction upon Lupait at Imdual. Aedán son of Colman, saint of Inis Lothair, was the son of Lupait and Colman. Lupait begged Patrick not to take heaven away from Colman along with his offspring; so Patrick did not take it away, but he said that they would always be sickly. Now, of the children of that Colman are the Uí Fáiláin and the Uí Duib-Dáire.

¹⁰³ Once upon a time Patrick’s household were reaping a farm which they had made in Trian Conchobair (Conchobor’s Third). Great thirst seized them; whereupon a pitcher of whey-water was brought to them from Patrick, and he urged them to have patience from tierce to vespers. And one of them died of thirst, and he was the first man who was buried by Patrick, namely Colmán the Thirsty, at the cross before Patrick’s house. This is what Patrick said when he was told of the death: “It is my God’s judgment: there will be abundance of ale and food and prosperity in the see after us.”

¹⁰⁴ Once upon a time the angels went and took from the road the stone that lay before the chariot. Therefore its name is Lee innanAingel (the Angels’ Flagstone). Now it was from that place, namely from Druim Chaili, that Patrick blessed Armagh with both his hands.

¹⁰⁵ The way in which Patrick measured the rath was this: the angel went before him and Patrick followed behind the angel, with his household and with the elders of Ireland, and Jesus’ Staff in Patrick’s hand; and he said that great would be the crime of anyone who should sin within it, just as great would be the reward of anyone who should do God’s will within it.

¹⁰⁶ In this way, then, Patrick measured the Ferta: seven score feet for the enclosure, seven and twenty feet for the great house, seventeen feet for the kitchen, and seven feet for the oratory; and in this way it was that he was accustomed always to found his cloisters.

¹⁰⁷ An angel came to Patrick in Armagh. “Today,” he said, “the relics of the apostles are being divided in Rome throughout the four quarters of the world, and I will carry . . ." and the angel carried Patrick into the air.

¹⁰⁸ At the southern cross in Oenach Macha four chariots were brought to Patrick. At the northern cross, however, God appeared to him in the form that He will have on the Day of Judgment; and in one day he went to Combur Trí n-Usce (Meeting of Three Waters).

¹⁰⁹ He left Sechnall in the bishopric with the men of Ireland until the ship should come from Burdigala of Letavia to carry him. Patrick went in it and came to Rome; and sleep fell upon the inhabitants of Rome, so that Patrick carried away as many of the relics as he wished. Afterwards those relics were taken to Armagh by the counsel of God and by the counsel of the men of Ireland. What was brought there was three hundred and sixty-five relics, together with the relics of Paul and Peter and Lawrence and Stephen, and many others. And there was also a cloth with Christ’s blood upon it, and with the hair of Mary the Virgin. Patrick left the whole of that collection in Armagh according to the will of God, and of the angel, and of the men of Ireland. They took away his relics from Patrick and carried them from him with instructions concerning them to the abbot of Rome. A letter was brought from him, the pontiff, directing that there should always be a vigil over them with lamps and lights by night, and Mass and psalm-singing by day, and prayer by night, and that they should be displayed every year for the multitudes to see.

¹¹⁰ Two brothers from Ulster, Dubán and Dubaed, stole Patrick’s two nags out of the land beside the chapel in the east; Tír Suicli Pátraic (the Land of Patrick’s Seat) is its name. They drove them southwards across the moor. “I will not take what belongs to the Adze-head,” said Dubán. “Indeed, I will take what falls to my share,” said Dubaed. Dubán returned and repented. “Your companion’s course is not good,” said Patrick. Dubaed was cast down, so that his head was broken and he died. Dubán studied and was ordained, and Patrick said to him, “Here in Armagh will be your resurrection.”

¹¹¹ Once upon a time there was brought from Setna son of Dallán to Patrick a horse-load of wheat that had fallen like manna from heaven in the hermitage over Druim Maicc Úblai. Patrick’s nag was carrying it. A grain of wheat fell from the load, and the horse lay down and could not be made to rise until Patrick came. “This is the cause,” said Patrick by prophecy: “a grain of wheat has fallen out of one of the two sacks,” at the place where the cross stands on the road southwards to the chapel. “Therefore let Nemed (Chapel) be the name of the place where the nag lay down,” said Patrick. And this is true.

¹¹² At another time Sechnall went to Armagh, and Patrick was not then residing there. Sechnall saw before him, with Patrick’s household, two chariot horses unyoked. And Sechnall said, “It would be better to bring those horses to the bishop,” that is, to Fiacc. When Patrick arrived, this was told to him. The chariot was yoked to the horses, and Patrick sent them without any human being with them, until they rested with Mochtae in his hermitage. On the morrow they went right-hand-wise to Domnach Sechnaill (Sechnall’s church). On the day after that they went to Cell Auxili. After this they went to Cell Manach. Then they went to Fiacc, to Sleibte.

¹¹³ This is the reason for giving the chariot to Fiacc: because he used to go on Shrove Saturday until he reached the hill of Druim Coblai. He had a cave there, and five cakes, as the tradition relates. On Easter Saturday he used to return to Sleibte, and there always remained with him a portion of the five cakes. This is also the reason for giving the chariot to Fiacc: because a beetle had gnawed his leg, so that death was near to him.

¹¹⁴ Sechnall said to Patrick, “When shall I make a panegyric for you?” “The time has not yet come,” said Patrick. “I do not ask you whether it shall be made,” said Sechnall, “for indeed it will be made.” “It is my God’s judgment,” said Patrick, “that it should be done quickly.” Patrick knew that the time of Sechnall’s death was not far off, for he was the first bishop who went under the earth of Ireland.

¹¹⁵ When he was making the hymn, a fair was being held near him. He told them to go away. They began to mock him. He said to them, “The earth has swallowed you up.” And at once the earth swallowed up twelve of their chariots.

¹¹⁶ Sechnall said to Patrick’s household at Ferta Martar, “Patrick is a good man, were it not for one thing. Patrick is an excellent man, if only there were not one thing.” When Patrick heard these words among his household, he asked Sechnall what he had said before. And Sechnall replied, “My elder, I said this: you preach too little about charity.” “My little son,” said Patrick, “it is for charity that I do not preach charity. For if I preached it, I would not leave a yoke of two chariot-horses for any of the saints in this island, present or future; but all that is mine and theirs would be given to me.”

¹¹⁷ Sechnall went to Patrick with his hymn. Patrick travelled by the Pass of Midluachair into the district of Conaille. He knelt on the mountain to the west. Sechnall hastened to him. Each of them blessed the other. “I desire,” said Sechnall, “that you should hear a panegyric which I have made for a certain man of God.” “Welcome,” said Patrick, “is praise of God’s household.” Sechnall then began and said, “Blessed is she who keeps the commandments of Christ,” lest Patrick should stop him if he were to hear his name at once. Sechnall recited as far as ‘For he shall be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’ Patrick rose up. The land on which Sechnall recited thus far is called Elda. “Why do you act so?” said Sechnall. “Let us reach a secret place which is near at hand; there what remains will be recited.” On the way Patrick asked how it could be said of a human being that he was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Secundinus answered, “The superlative is put for the positive, or else he excels most of his race, Britons or Scots.” They reached the place which was even then called Dallmuine, where Patrick prayed and sat down; and afterwards Sechnall recited the rest of the hymn, and Patrick heard his name, and afterwards wished Sechnall joy.

¹¹⁸ “What reward will there be for the hymn?” said Sechnall. “As many hairs as there are in your chasuble,” said Patrick, “so many sinners will go to heaven.” “If any of them are your pupils and the customs are kept,” said Sechnall. “Besides, the soil of your place has been given by God.” “I have chosen it,” said Sechnall. “Whoever among the men of Ireland,” said Patrick, “recites at the hour of death the last three chapters, or the last three lines, or even the last three words, with a pure intention, his soul will be made ready.” “I give thanks to God,” said Sechnall.

¹¹⁹ Patrick’s hymn was recited three times in the refectory by Colmán Elo. Patrick appeared and stood on the floor of the house. Then a layman said, “Do we have no other prayer we might say except this one?” After that, Patrick departed.

¹²⁰ Cainnech, while at sea in the south, saw a dark cloud of demons passing him by. “Come and visit me when you return,” said Cainnech. Later the demons came back and said: “We went out to meet the soul of a wealthy countryman who used to celebrate Patrick’s feast every year with a banquet, which his sons and sons-in-law would consume. He used to recite two or three stanzas of Patrick’s hymn every day, and, by your honour, the way he recited them sounded more like mockery than praise. Even so, by this we were defeated.”

¹²¹ Three curd cheeses and butter were brought to Patrick by a devout couple, Berach and Bríg. “This is for the children,” said the woman. “Good,” said Patrick. A magician came there, named Gall-druí, that is, a foreign wizard, and he said, “I will believe in you if these cheeses are turned into stones.” God did this through Patrick. “Turn them back into cheeses,” said the wizard, and Patrick did so. “Turn them into stones again.” He did so. “Now turn them back.” But Patrick said, “No; they will remain like this as a memorial of what was done, until a servant of God comes here,” that is, Dicuill of Ernaide. Then the wizard believed.

¹²² Patrick threw his handbell beneath a thick thicket there. A birch (bethe) grew up through its handle. This is what Dicuill found: the Bethechán (Betullanum), Patrick’s bell, a small bell of iron, which is now in the oratory of Dicuill. And there also stand the two stones that were made from the cheeses. The third, however, Dicuill brought to Louth when he was abbot there. It stands today in Gort Conaich. It is to be sought in the church.

¹²³ This is a short catalogue of Patrick’s miracles, namely:

¹²⁴ * The hound that was subdued in the territory of Galeng at Telach Maini (Máine’s Hill).
* The goat that spoke out of the bellies of thieves in the territory of Húi Meith.
* The running of the horse by itself to Druim Maicc Ublai, and its lying down beside the sheaf of wheat.
* The chariot without a charioteer, guided by no one who knew the way, from Armagh to Sléibte.
* Coroticus, king of the Britons, changed into the shape of a fox in his own land.
* A miracle that endures forever: the green of Oenach Tailten, from which no dead person is ever carried.
* The king of Cashel not to be killed by a wound, provided he be of the seed of Óengus son of Nad Fraích.
* The consecrated dwellings not to be destroyed, namely Rath-Airthir, Sen-domnach in Mag Ai, Eccur Sen-domnai—that is a proverb—and Sen-domnach at Dún Sobairce.
* Old age granted to the airchinnechs, that is, those of Sopaltair in Forbraige, of Domnach Naissi, of Mag Ítha, and of Mag Idir Dá Glais in Armagh.
* The sailing of Bertlach out from Bertlach of Calraige Cule Cernadan.
* The streams that the boy blessed at Drobais.
* The catching of fish by day in the eastern Bann.
* The catching of fish in every season in Sligeach. The Samer that flows from the lakes of Erne into the sea: fruitful is the eastern half toward Cenél Conaill; barren is its western half toward Cenél Coirbri, by Patrick’s word.
* A stream of clear water at Martarthech, Druim Cáin, and Druim Cruachna.
* The taking of kingship from Lóegaire, from Coirbre, from Fiacha, and from Máine.
* The granting of kingship to Eógan, to Conall, to Cremthann, and to Conall Erbal.
* The smiths who made the bells, namely Macc Cécht, Cuana, and Mac Tail.
* The craftsmen who made the patens, the credence tables, and the altar chalices, namely Tassach, Essu, and Bitiu.
* The nuns who made the altar cloths, namely Cochmaiss, Tigris, Lupait, and Darerca.

¹²⁵ After these great marvels, the day of Patrick’s death and of his going to heaven drew near, and he began to go to Armagh so that his resurrection might be there. The angel Victor came to meet him and said this to him: “It is not there that resurrection has been granted to you. Go back to the place from which you came, namely the Barn, for it is there that you shall die, and not in Armagh. It has been granted to you by God,” said the angel, “that your dignity and your pre-eminence, your piety and your teaching shall be in Armagh as though you yourself were alive there.” Patrick said:

¹²⁶ “I have chosen a place for my resurrection,
Armagh, my church.
I have no power over my own freedom;
it is bondage to the end.
It is Armagh that I love,
a dear settlement, a dear hill,
a stronghold that my soul inhabits;
Emain of the heroes will lie desolate.”

¹²⁷ The angel said:
“As your crozier . . . Great dignity will fill you . . . Armagh
Your church.”

¹²⁸ The angel then gave Patrick instructions about how he should be buried. “Let two unbroken young oxen,” he said, “from the cattle of Conall be brought out of Findabair, that is, from Clochar, and let your body be placed in a small cart behind them. Whichever direction the oxen go on their own, and wherever they stop, that is where you are to be buried. And let your body be placed a man’s cubit deep in the grave, so that your remains and your relics may not be taken from it.” This was done after his death. The oxen carried him as far as the place where Downpatrick stands today. He was buried there with honour and reverence.

¹²⁹ For the space of twelve nights, that is, during the time when the elders of Ireland were keeping watch over him with hymns, psalms, and canticles, there was no night in Mag Inis, but an angelic radiance instead. Some say that this angelic radiance remained in Mag Inis until the end of a year after Patrick’s death. No one doubts that this happened in order to make clear the merit of so great a man. Thus night was not seen throughout that whole region during the days of mourning for Patrick, just as when Hezekiah was sick the sun went back ten degrees on the sundial of Ahaz, as a clear sign of his recovery. In the same way, the sun stood still over Gibeon and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.

¹³⁰ On the first night, the angels of the Lord of the elements were watching Patrick’s body with spiritual songs. The fragrance of divine grace that came from the holy body, and the music of the angels, brought sleep and joy to the elders of the men of Ireland who kept watch over the body on the nights that followed. Thus, in his case, the blessing of Jacob to his son was fulfilled: “Behold, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field which the Lord has blessed”.

¹³¹ Nevertheless, there was an attempt at a great conflict and battle between a province of Ireland, namely Ulster, and the Uí Néill and the men of Oriel. The men of Oriel and the Uí Néill sought to take Patrick’s body to Armagh, while the Ulstermen kept it with themselves. The Uí Néill then came to a certain river there, and through the power of God the river rose up against them. When the flood subsided, the hosts—that is, the Uí Néill and the Ulstermen—advanced to battle in order to carry off Patrick’s body. Yet this is what seemed to each of the armies: that they themselves were bearing the body away to their own land. In this manner God separated them through the grace of Patrick.

¹³² Thus far, let the miracles be set forth today.

¹³³ These are the miracles which the elders of Ireland have declared and which they connected in a continuous narrative. First, Colum Cille son of Fedlimid declared Patrick’s miracles and compiled them. Likewise did Ultan son of Conchobar’s descendant; Adamnán descendant of Tinne; Elerán the Wise; Ciarán of Belach Duin; Bishop Ermedach of Clochar; Colmán Uamach; and the presbyter Collait of Druim Roilgech.

¹³⁴ Truly, this man was righteous, pure in nature, like the patriarchs. A true pilgrim, like Abraham. Gentle and forgiving from the heart, like Moses. A praiseworthy psalmist, like David. A student of wisdom, like Solomon. A chosen vessel for proclaiming righteousness, like Paul the apostle. A man full of the grace and favour of the Holy Spirit, like John the child. A fair garden of herbs, planted with virtues. A vine-branch bearing fruit. A flashing fire, with the fervour of warming and kindling the sons of Life, to ignite and inflame charity. A lion in strength and might. A dove in gentleness and simplicity. A serpent in prudence and shrewdness for what is good. Gentle, humble, and merciful to the sons of Life; dark and stern toward the Sons of Death. A hardworking and devoted servant of Christ. A king in dignity and power, in binding and loosing, in freeing and enslaving, in killing and giving life.

¹³⁵ Now, after these great wonders—after raising the dead to life, after healing lepers and the blind and deaf and lame and sick people of every kind besides; after ordaining bishops and priests and deacons and people of every other rank in the Church; after teaching the people of Ireland and baptizing them; after founding churches and monasteries; after overthrowing idols and images and the arts of magic—the time of holy Patrick’s death drew near. He received the Body of Christ from the bishop Tassach, according to the counsel of the angel Victor. Then he sent forth his spirit to heaven in the one hundred and twentieth year of his age. His body remains here on earth with honour and reverence. But though his honour is great here, greater will be the honour he will have on the Day of Judgment, when he will give account of the fruit of his teaching, like every great apostle: in the fellowship of Jesus’ apostles and disciples; in the fellowship of the nine ranks of angels who have not transgressed; in the fellowship of the Godhead and Manhood of the Son of God; in the fellowship that is nobler than all fellowship, the fellowship of the Holy Trinity, Father and Son and Holy Spirit. I implore the mercy of God through Patrick’s intercession. May we all attain to that unity; may we dwell therein for ever and ever. Amen.

¹³⁶ These miracles, then, which we have related, which the Lord worked for Patrick, even if there were only one of them, would not be small. Nevertheless, they are few among many, for there is no human memory that could recall them all, and there is no writer who could write all the miracles and wonders that Patrick worked in the lands into which he came.

¹³⁷ Now, after founding churches in abundance, after consecrating monasteries, after baptizing the people of Ireland, after great patience and great labour, after destroying idols and images, after rebuking many kings who did not do his will and raising up those who did his will, after ordaining three hundred and seventy bishops, and after ordaining three thousand priests and people of every rank in the Church besides; after fasting and prayer, after mercy and clemency, after gentleness and mildness toward the sons of Life, after love of God and of his neighbour, he received the Body of Christ from the bishop Tassach, and then he sent forth his spirit to heaven. His body, however, remains here on earth with honour and veneration. And though its honour is great here, greater will be its honour on the Day of Judgment, when it will shine like the sun in heaven, and when it will give judgment on the fruit of his preaching, just as Peter or Paul. Thereafter it will abide in the fellowship of patriarchs and prophets, in the fellowship of the saints and holy virgins of the world, in the fellowship of the apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ, in the fellowship of the Church both of heaven and earth, in the fellowship of the nine ranks of heaven who did not transgress, in the fellowship of the Godhead and Manhood of God’s Son, in the fellowship that is nobler than any fellowship, the fellowship of the Trinity, Father and Son and Holy Spirit.

¹³⁸ I beseech God’s mercy through Patrick’s intercession. May we all attain to that fellowship. May we be worthy of it. May we dwell therein for ever and ever.

¹³⁹ So after founding churches, after consecrating monasteries, after baptizing people, after preaching the faith throughout the whole land, after so much patience and labour, after bestowing the grace of the Gospel, after overthrowing idols and rendering void the spells and practices of paganism, after the arts of sorcerers had been overcome; having foretold the future crowds of the sons of God, having put to flight the power of demons, having by the spirit of prophecy raised many to honour and kingship, and having also brought many kings low (for those whom he loosed were loosed by God, and those whom he bound were bound before God, the apostolic power having been rightly received, as Christ said to Peter, “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”.); after ordaining bishops and priests and elders and deacons and the other ministers of the Church; after patiently enduring the taunts and reproaches of tyrants, after suffering threats and temptations, dying daily for Christ; after such great patience and fasting; after mercy and kindness, after gentleness and compassion, after great charity, with companies of God’s sons sent before him from the fruit of his labour; after receiving the Eucharist from Bishop Tassach, he departed to the Lord and fell asleep in peace. And among the choirs of angels he rejoices with them in the presence of his Lord, being found worthy to behold Him. Therefore it is rightly said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Lord”. In this exaltation and blessedness he rejoices in the presence of the Trinity, Father and Son and Holy Spirit. We beg for mercy, and so on.

¹⁴⁰ These works, therefore, which we have proclaimed, which Divine Grace granted to be accomplished by the holy man Patrick, may appear wonderful and great to those who have heard even one of them. Yet they are but a few out of a multitude, little out of many, which have been entrusted to the treasury of memory. They are to be regarded as a summary, as it were an epitome, such as recollection can grasp. For what writer could recount every detail concerning the signs, the wonders, the mighty deeds which he accomplished in the various regions, provinces, towns, villages, and places?

¹⁴¹ These are the twenty-four persons who were in holy orders with Patrick, namely:

¹⁴² * Sechnall, his bishop.
* Mochta, his priest.
* Bishop Ere, his judge.
* Bishop Mace Cairthinn, his champion.
* Benen, his psalmist.
* Coeman of Cell Riada, his chamberlain.
* Sinell of Cell-Dareis, his bell-ringer.
* Athcen of Both Domnaig, his cook.
* Presbyter Mescan of Domnach Mescain at Fochain, his brewer.
* Presbyter Bescna of Domnach Dala, his chaplain.
* Presbyter Catan and Presbyter Acan, his two attendants.
* Odran of Disert Odrain in Hui-Failgi, his charioteer.
* Presbyter Manach, his keeper of firewood.
* Rottan, his cowherd.
* His three smiths, namely Macc-Cecht, [Laebau] of Domnach Laebain (it was he who made the bell called Findfdidech), and Fortchern in Rath Adine.
* Essa and Bite and Tassach, his three craftsmen.
* His three embroideresses, namely Lupait, and Ere daughter of Dare, and Cruimtbiris in Cengoba.

¹⁴³ And this is the number that should be in Joseph’s company, and it is the number that should be at the table of the King of Cashel from the time of Feidlimed son of Crimthann, king of the two provinces of Munster, and so forth.