¹ “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

² Jesus Christ spoke these words after overcoming death by the resurrection, to strengthen his apostles and disciples to teach the faithful people of the world and to baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Therefore he said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations …”. Matthew, however, is the one who wrote these same words in the person of Jesus, saying, “Go therefore …”. These words are also implied where he says, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.”. Then follows, “Go therefore now,” that is, since my power is present in every land and not in Judaea only. What I long ago forbade, saying, “Do not go among the Gentiles,” I now grant to you and command you: “Go, teach.”

³ Meet is the order, teaching before baptism, for it cannot be that the body should receive the sacrament of baptism before the soul receives the truth of faith. “All nations,” that is, without distinction of persons. “Baptizing them,” that is, the people of the Gentiles. “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. He says “in the name,” not “in the names”: here the unity and the Trinity of Persons are set forth, for the singular word “name” expresses the unity, while the diversity of the titles indicates the Trinity. “Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”. This is a particular order: he directed the apostles first to teach all nations, then to baptize them with the sacrament of faith, and, in support of faith and baptism, to command the observance of all things that were to be kept. And lest we should think that the commands were few or of little weight, he added, “all that I have commanded you”, so that those who have believed and been baptized in the Trinity may do all that has been enjoined. “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age”, as if he were saying, “This is your reward,” and as if he had said, “Do not fear to go out into the world and to be harassed by tribulations, for my help will be present with you there, even to the end of life, in the working of signs and miracles.” The apostles fulfilled this, and so forth.

⁴ When Patrick came with his ships to Ireland to preach to the Gael, and when he went to Tara, he left Lomman at the estuary of the Boyne to guard his ship during the forty nights of Lent. Patrick commanded him to row his vessel up the Boyne until he should reach the place where Áth Truimm stands today. Áth Truimm was at that time the stronghold of Feidlimid son of Lóegaire, son of Niall. In the morning Fortchern son of Feidlimid went and found Lomman with his Gospel before him. The teaching that he heard was a marvel to him. He believed and was baptized by Lomman, and Fortchern listened to the teaching until his mother came seeking him. She welcomed the clerics, for she was of the Britons, namely Scoth, daughter of the king of the Britons. Feidlimid himself then came to speak with Lomman, and he believed, and he offered Áth Truimm to God, and to Patrick, and to Lomman, and to Fortchern.

⁵ Patrick himself went and founded Áth Truimm twenty-five years before the founding of Armagh, and there he left his disciple Lomman. Moreover, Lomman son of Gollit was of British descent, and his mother was Patrick’s own sister. These are Lomman’s brothers: Bishop Munis in Forcnide at Cuircne, in the north of Meath, south of the Eithne; Broccaid in Imlech Ech in Connacht, that is, in Ciarraige; Broccan in Brechmag in Uí Dothrain; and Mogenoc in Cell Dumai Gluinn in the southern part of Brega. Now these are the people who belonged to Patrick by kinship and by faith and by baptism and by teaching; and all the land and churches that they obtained they offered to Patrick for ever.

⁶ Now after some time, when Lomman’s death drew near, he went with his foster-son Fortchern to speak with his brother Broccaid, and he bequeathed his church to Patrick and to Fortchern. But Fortchern refused to receive his father’s inheritance and entrusted it to God and to Patrick. Then Lomman said, “You shall not receive my blessing unless you receive the abbacy of my church.” Therefore, after Lomman’s death, Fortchern assumed the abbacy for three days until he reached Áth Truimm, and afterwards he gave his church to Cathlaid the Pilgrim. These are the offerings of Feidlimid son of Lóegaire to Saint Patrick and to Lomman and to Fortchern: Áth Truimm in the territories of Lóegaire in Brega, and Imlech Ó in the territories of Lóegaire in Meath. Thus all these offerings were made to Patrick and to Lomman and to Fortchern, both for Feidlimid himself and for all kings, great and small, even until Doomsday.

⁷ Now, on the first feast day, Patrick came to Tailtiu, the place where the royal assembly was held, to Coirpre son of Niall. It was he who desired to kill Patrick, and who drove Patrick’s household with scourging into the River Seile. Therefore Patrick used to call him “God’s enemy,” and he said to him: “Your seed shall serve the descendants of your brothers, and from your seed there shall never be a king”; and there will never be salmon in that river, because of Patrick’s curse.

⁸ Thereafter Patrick went to Conall son of Niall. There was his settlement, in the place where Domnach Patraic stands today. Conall received him with great joy, and Patrick baptized him and confirmed his kingship for ever. And Patrick said to him: “Your brother’s seed shall serve your seed for ever, and . . . show mercy to my heirs after me, you and your sons and your sons’ sons, so that it may be lawful and enduring for my faithful children.” Then Conall measured out a church for God and for Patrick, sixty feet by his own feet. And Patrick said: “Whoever of your offspring shall take anything from this church, his reign will not be long and will not be secure.” When he measured Rath Airthir, . . . this:

⁹ “Patrick measured Rath Airthir with his crozier,
That there would be only one slaughter within it for ever.”
And this was fulfilled.

¹⁰ Early on Sunday they went into Rath Airthir. Cinaed and Dub-da-leithe, two sons of Cerball son of Máel-Ódrae son of Áed Sláine, saw the hero lying down, namely the son of Bressal. One of the two thrust a sword into him, and then they fled. One of the two went across Tailtiu with their band. The other went into Domnach Patraic.

¹¹ Then he, Patrick, blessed the green of the Assembly at Tailtiu, so that no corpse will ever be carried from it.

¹² There was a conflict there in the days of Donnchad: three thousand were with Coibdenach son of Fidgaile, and Coibdenach was among them, plying the spear with his . . . At the end of the day he complained of the weariness of his hand and said: “A power that could not be able . . . the spear could not slay them.”

¹³ When the octave of Easter had ended, on the first feria, he went to Áth dá Larg (the Ford of Two Forks) and founded a church in that place. He left there the three brothers with their sister, namely Cathaceus and Cathurus and Catneus, and Catnea the sister. She it was who used to milk the hinds.

¹⁴ Then he went to Druim Corcortri and founded a church there, and left in it Diarmait son of Restitutus.

¹⁵ As Patrick was going east from Domnach Patraic to Tara, to Loegaire, for they had made friendship, he gave a blessing to Conall son of Niall. When he went thence, his flagstone followed him eastwards to the hill in which stands the cross by the mill over the water. There was thereafter a customary renewal, a blessing that he gave for the benefit of the tribes, to endure in that place for ever.

¹⁶ And Patrick left a number of his household at his flagstone in Domnach Patraic, and he said this: “Whoever shall violate it, his life and his realm shall be cut off.” Cinaed son of Irgalach, king of Tara, violated it, that is, he slew a man under its protection. And three drops of blood immediately trickled out of it, and did not cease flowing until Cinaed son of Congalach offered to Patrick three senclethi with their land, namely Uachtar Nessa and Oí Midgnai and Tír mac Conaing, from the church eastwards. And the third drop did not stop until he himself came beneath his cross; that is, until Flaithbertach son of Loingsech slew Cinaed son of Irgalach in the battle of Druim Corcain.

¹⁷ Thereafter Patrick went to Tara, to Loegaire, for they had made an agreement between them that Patrick should not be slain during his reign. But Loegaire was unable to believe, saying: “Niall, my father,” said he, “when he heard the false prophecy, the coming of the Faith, charged us not to believe it, but that I should be buried on the highest part of Tara, like men of war”; for it was the custom of the heathen to be buried in their armour, face to face, even to the Day of Judgement.

¹⁸ When Patrick was on a journey to Rome, or returning from it—for he went three times to Rome after having studied in the land—he met six young clerics and six gillies with them, and their books in their girdles. They were going on pilgrimage. “Ill-prepared has one gone there,” said Patrick. “Make for yourselves a wallet from this hide which is with me. It has been under my seat and under my side in Ireland for twenty years, and at Mass.” “Question,” said they, “and when we part, to which of us shall it belong?” “Not hard to say,” said Patrick: “at every ecclesiastical dwelling where you settle, put your wallet into the earth; and the place which swallows it up, there it shall remain.” And this was fulfilled. This is the Breifnech Pátraic in Cluain Ernainn. It is uncertain what hide it was, whether a seal’s or a cow’s. It was afterwards adorned with gold and white bronze.

¹⁹ Now these are the six: Presbyter Lúgach in Cell Airthir; Presbyter Colómb in Cluain Ernainn; and Meldán of Cluain Crema; and Lugaid son of Ere in Fordruim; and Presbyter Cassán in Domnach Mór Maige Echnach. Five saints were those of Patrick’s household in Delbna Assail, and five patens of Patrick they had. The sixth was old Ciarán of Saigir. Yet Ciarán kept asking Patrick where he should settle. Patrick said: “Seek the Uar; build a monastery on its brink. In thirty years, by victorious deed, we shall meet there, I and you.”

²⁰ When Patrick was baptizing the Lugnai at the place where Domnach Mór Maige Echnach stands, he said to Cassán that his resurrection would take place there, and that his establishment on earth would not be great. And yet many will not depart with a sigh of heart from his relics, and great is the splendour of that Cassán in miracles.

²¹ When Patrick went in his chariot from the hill, he overtook a certain woman there, with her son beside her. “For God’s sake,” she said, “bless my son for me, O cleric: his father is ill.” Patrick made the sign of the cross over his mouth and entrusted him to Cassan to learn to read. It is said that he read the Psalms in twelve days. This is Lonán, son of Senach, who is in Caill Uallech; Rigell was his mother. The community of Clonmacnoise obtained it (Caill Uallech), and afterwards exchanged it with the community of Clonard for Cell Lothair in Brega and for Cluain Alad Deirg in the west.

²² Do-Lue of Croibech and Lugaid son of Óengus, son of Natfraech—these are the ones from Patrick’s household who are in Druim Inesclaind in Delbna.

²³ The men of eastern Meath Patrick baptised at Tech Laisrenn in the south. His well is in front of the church. He left two of his people there, namely the virgin Bice and Lugaid, and Bice’s tomb stands to the north of the well.

²⁴ Molue, a pilgrim of the Britons and one of Patrick’s household, was at the church called Immliuch Sescainn, to the south of Tech Laisrenn, on the shore of Loch Aininne. The community of Clonmacnoise afterwards obtained it.

²⁵ At Temair Singite by Tír Assail, Patrick baptised the men of Assail. On the road between Ráith Suibni and Cluain Fota Ainmirech there is a marvel, namely, a brake of hawthorn, thorns, and branches. Whoever tears anything from it will not make a winning cast of it. Domnach is its name.

²⁶ Then Patrick founded a cloister at Áth Maigne in Asal. A merciless man resisted him there, namely Fergus, brother of Brenainn, son of Eochaid Muinmedón. This Fergus is not renowned, because he died during his father’s lifetime. His brother, then, was that Brenainn, and it was he who resisted Patrick. Patrick marked out with his crozier a cross in the flagstone and cut the stone as if it were soft clay. “If I were not patient with you,” said Patrick, “the might of God’s power would cleave you, as the crozier cleft the stone.” Of him, that is, Brenainn, there is neither son nor successor, because of the curse which Patrick laid upon him. “For God’s sake, O Patrick,” said his wife, “let not your malediction fall upon me!” “It shall not visit you,” said Patrick, “nor shall it visit the child that is in your womb.” Nevertheless, of him there is no successor.

²⁷ A place close by it, to the south, belonged to Patrick. One of his household, Dicholl’s son, settled there. Colum Cille has it now through cunning.

²⁸ He came again from Tara until he was at Uisnech. He founded a cloister there. Two sons of Niall, namely Fiacha and Endae, came against him. Patrick said to them that their children would dwell in that cloister, if he should find welcome with them. They refused him and drove him away. “A curse,” said Patrick, “on the stones of Uisnech,” said Secundinus. “Be it so,” said Patrick. From that time forward nothing good is made of them. Not even washing-stones are made from them.

²⁹ Fiacha refused baptism from Patrick at that time at Carn Fiachach. However, he baptised Endae, and Endae offered his son, Cormac, who had been born the night before, together with his land, that is, every ninth ridge of Endae’s throughout Ireland. Patrick received the son and gave him to be fostered by four of his household, namely Bishop Domnall, Coimid Maccu-Baird, Da Bonne Maccu-Baird, and another. “He shall have,” said Lóegaire son of Niall, “because of Endae his brother, the land that Endae had from Lóegaire,” namely, fifteen senchleithe of Endae Artech in Connacht, to the north of Cruachain. These are Patrick’s to this day.

³⁰ Then they reared the son in the territory of Endae Artech: Bishop Domnall in Ailech Mór, which the community of Clonmacnoise took away; Bishop Coimid in Cluain Senmail; Bishop Do-Bonne in Cluain na Manach . . . their pupil, on All Saints’ Day . . . veneration for his fosterer, Saint Patrick, whenever he came, by giving a cow from each man to him. That service clung to the churches until Nuada, abbot of Armagh, released them. Cormac Snithene was the son’s name. Snithene’s field lies before Dairmag Cule Coennai. Tír Onma Snitheni, “the land of Snithene’s tree,” it is called. It is a cause of regret to Patrick’s community that it was not given to them.

³¹ Patrick left relics of elders in Lecan Midi, and with them a number of his household around Crúmaine.

³² When Patrick went by sea from the land of Britain to journey to Ireland, Bishop Muinis came after him, and after his brothers, namely Bishop Mel of Ard Achad and Kioc of Inis Bó Finne. They are sons of Conis and Darerca, Patrick’s sister, as the households of their churches say, and that is not to be denied. There are, moreover, sisters of those bishops, namely Eiche of Cell Glass, to the south of Ard Achad in Tethbae, and Lallocc of Senlis in Connacht. It is held that she, Darerca, is also the mother of the sons of Bairr, so that she had seven sons and two daughters.

³³ Patrick then went to sea. But first he turned back from it on the strand and cast his cowl from him onto a stone, and the sea surged up and reached it, yet did not touch the cowl. Afterwards they came to Ireland and found the cowl there.

³⁴ Muinis set his crozier on a branch. They forgot the crozier there and went on from that place. Muinis lamented to Patrick the loss of his crozier. They found it before them on another branch. “Let your crozier be mine,” said Patrick, “and let this be yours,” and so it was done. That is one of the relics which Muinis has in Forgnaide. Patrick entrusted to him a twelfth part of Ireland to baptise.

³⁵ When Patrick was at Cruachan Aigle, he sent Muinis to Rome with counsel to the Abbot of Rome, and relics were given to him. Then his leper separated from Patrick in Umall. The leper went to the place where Clonmacnoise stands today. He found a hollow elm there, with two branches from one stem stretching eastwards from it, and he sat between them. Then a certain man came to him. “Are you a believer?” said the leper. “Yes,” said the man. “Give me a bundle of the rushes below, which you pull up by the roots. Give me, in a clean vessel, the water which will afterwards spring forth.” That is today the well of Ciarán. The man did as the leper told him. “Bring then tools for digging the earth, so that you may bury me here.” That also was done. He was the first dead man who went under the clay of Clonmacnoise.

³⁶ Night then overtook Muinis in that place as he was coming from Rome. “It is a man of God,” said he, “that has been buried here; a service of angels is there.” They placed the chest with its relics into the hollow of the elm. The hollow closed around it until the morrow. They were sorrowful at this and related it to Patrick. “It is a son of Life that will come,” said Patrick; “he will require those relics,” namely Ciarán son of the wright.

³⁷ Then Bishop Muinis asked Patrick in what place he should settle. “My brothers,” said he, “namely Bishop Mel and Rioc, have obtained places.” Then there fell to him the place where Forgnaide stands today. “Good is the place below,” said Patrick, “in the . . . on the high hill yonder. There will not be many souls from it going to heaven; there will, however, be many . . .” “Grievous to me,” said Bishop Muinis, “is the lake beside me. The warriors with their shouting and their tumult will not leave me life there.” Then Patrick prayed, and God brought the lake out of the place where it lay, so that it is now Loch Cróni in Uí Mháine. Patrick left him in Forgnaide, and left with him his derg-derc, that is, a credence-table which used to be in his own keeping; it was made of bronze, and there was a pipe of gold upon it above. He left with him his crozier, as we said before, and he left a relic which he made with his own hand, Donaide Mátha was its name; and a cross . . . was made upon it, with four points of . . . And he left with him another relic also, namely, the likeness of the case of the book of John . . . by the relics of Paul and Peter and others, and it is always at the front of the shrine.

³⁸ Thereafter Patrick went into southern Teffia, to the place where Ardachad stands. He founded a church there and prophesied concerning earthly matters, about pregnant women and about men’s dwellings, what they would bring forth and what manner the offspring would be.

³⁹ Then he left Bishop Mel and Bishop Melchu his brother there. And Máine son of Niall believed in him, and Patrick baptised him. Máine brought to him a pregnant woman, his concubine, and prayed Patrick to bless the child that lay in her womb and to bless the woman herself. When Patrick stretched out his hand over her womb to bless it, he drew his hand back again, saying, “I know not; God knows.” That was a saying which he used. Nevertheless, he blessed the woman and her offspring, though by the spirit of prophecy he knew that it was the accursed Coirpre’s grandson who lay in her womb, namely Tuathal Moel-garb. And Patrick said, “Unlucky is this, O slender Máine. There will never be a king from you.” Máine knelt before Patrick and did penance, and Patrick said, “There will be no king in Ireland who will not maintain you, that is, your posterity, and your bond will endure the longest in Ireland. Moreover, he whom I have blessed will be a king, namely Tuathal. But it will not be known who will . . . who will . . .” And afterwards Tuathal took the kingship and drove out Diarmait son of Cerball, so that he was on Loch Uí and on Loch Derg and at Luimnech.

⁴⁰ On a certain day Diarmait came in his boat past the harbour of Clonmacnoise. Ciarán heard the noise and rattle of the vessel, and Diarmait was called in to the harbour. Ciarán said, “Come to me, for you are a king’s son; mark out the redes, that is, the little church, and offer the harbour to me.” Diarmait said, “I am not a king.” To him Ciarán said, “You will be a king tomorrow.” Yet on that same day Tuathal the king came with great forces to drive out Diarmait, and Máel Mór, a foster-brother of Diarmait, slew him, and Máel Mór himself was slain immediately thereafter. Hence comes the proverb, “Máel Mór’s exploit.” Thus Diarmait obtained the kingship of Ireland through Ciarán’s blessing, as he was marking out the little church. Three times Diarmait alighted as he was coming to Tara, and at each alighting he made an offering to Ciarán, together with Druim Raithe. Here we encounter a miracle told by anticipation.

⁴¹ At a certain time Patrick was told, through the error of the crowd, that Bishop Mel had sinned with his kinswoman, for they used to dwell together in prayer to the Lord. When Bishop Mel saw Patrick coming to him at Ard Achad to reprove him, he went to angle in the furrows on which rain had fallen. When Patrick was told that Mel was catching salmon in this manner, Patrick uttered the well-known saying: “On Us’s field, that is, on the ridges, he angled for salmon. I will help Mel to good fortune, for God does not aid a weak and ignorant man; that is, you shall not put the Lord your God to the test”. Then Bishop Mel’s kinswoman came, carrying fire in her chasuble, and her garment was not harmed. Then Patrick knew that there was no sin between them, and he said, “Let men and women be apart, so that we may not be found to give occasion to the weak, and so that through us the name of the Lord may not be blasphemed.” And thus he left them, with Brí Léith between them: she in Druim Chea to the west of Brí Léith, and he to the east of it, in Ard Achad.

⁴² Then Patrick went into northern Teffia, that is, into the territory of Coirpre, where Granard was offered to him by the sons of Coirpre. He left in that place Bishop Guasacht son of Milchu, his foster-brother, and the two Emers, who were sisters. They first settled at Cluain Brónaig, and therefore the. . . of the church stands opposite another; and it is the superior of Granard who always ordains the head of the nuns in Cluain Brónaig. When Patrick blessed the veil upon the aforesaid virgins, their four feet sank into the stone, and their footprints remain there ever since.

⁴³ Thereafter Patrick went over the water to Mag Slecht, a place in which was the chief idol of Ireland, namely Cenn Cruaich, covered with gold and silver, with twelve other idols covered with bronze around him. When Patrick saw the idol from the water, he uttered Guth-ard, that is, he lifted up his voice; and when he drew near to the idol, he raised his hand to place Jesus’ staff upon it. He did not reach it, but . . . its right side, for its face was turned southwards, that is, toward Tara. The mark of the staff still remains on its left side, and yet the staff did not leave Patrick’s hand. The earth swallowed up the twelve other images as far as their heads, and they still stand thus as a token of the miracle. He cursed the demon and drove him into hell. Patrick summoned all, with King Lóegaire. These are they who had worshipped the idol, and all saw him, namely the demon, and they feared that they would perish unless Patrick should cast him into hell. Then Patrick’s brooch fell from his cloak as he was . . . the conflict and the contest against the idol. He stripped away the heather in that place and found his brooch, and no heather plant grows in that spot more than in the rest of the field.

⁴⁴ He founded a church in that place, namely Domnach Maige Slecht, and left there Mabran, whose byname is Barbaras Patricii, a kinsman of his and a prophet. There too is Patrick’s well, in which he baptised many.

⁴⁵ Then Patrick went into the province of Connacht by Snam dá Én over the Shannon. There Patrick encountered a marvel: the earth rose up beneath him in the ford, and the learned still find that ridge. He entered the harbour at once, and there Buad-Mael, Patrick’s charioteer, died and was buried in that place. Cell Buadmoíl is its name, and it belongs to Patrick.

⁴⁶ Now when the magicians of Lóegaire son of Niall heard of all that Patrick was doing—Máel and Caplait, two brothers, who had reared Lóegaire’s two daughters, Ethne the Fair and Fedelm the Ruddy—they brought thick darkness over the whole of Mag Ai, by the power of the devil, for three days and three nights. Then Patrick prayed to God, bent his knees, and made the sign of the cross over the plain, so that it was darkness to the magicians and light to everyone else. He gave thanks to God, and all the darknesses were driven from Mag Ai.

⁴⁷ And they went over the Shannon to Duma Graid. There he ordained Ailbe an archpresbyter, and he is in Sen-chua with the descendants of Ailill; and Patrick informed him of a stone altar in Sliab Hua-n-Ailella under the ground, with four glass chalices at the four corners of the altar, et dixit, “Beware of breaking the edges of the excavation.” For he was among the descendants of Ailill. And he baptised holy Mane, whom Bishop Bron son of Icne ordained, and who is in Caisel Irroe, a servant of God, a companion of Patrick.

⁴⁸ Patrick went to Mag Glass. There he founded Cell Mor Maige Glaiss, and left there two of his household, namely Conleng and Ercleng. Then he came into the territory of Corcu-Ochland on this side of the Hui-Ailella and to the north of Badgna. Two brothers were living in that place, namely Id and Hono: wizards they were. Hono said to Patrick, “What will you give me for that land?” Patrick said, “Eternal life.” Hono said, “You have gold: give me some for it.” Patrick replied, “I have given my gold to everyone, but God will give me other gold.” He afterwards found a lump of gold where the swine were rooting, and Patrick gave him that mass of gold for his land. Títh in Srotha is its name. Then Patrick said, “You will not be a king, nor will any of your descendants reign for ever.” But Patrick took pity on his tears, saying, “He will not be king whom you—that is, your posterity—will not accept and will not ordain.” This has been fulfilled. The race of Mac Erce is the mightiest and firmest in Connaught, but they do not rule as overkings.

⁴⁹ Óengus’s son Óno, son of Ere the Red, son of Brón, from whom descend the Hui-Onach, offered his dwelling to Patrick; and Imlech Onand was its name then, but Ail Find (White Stone) today. The place is named Ail-find from the stone (ail) which was raised out of the well that Patrick made in the green, and which stands on the brink of the well; it is named from the water, find (fair). And Patrick said, “Your descendants shall be blessed, and there shall be victory of laymen and clerics from you for ever, and they shall possess the inheritance of this place.” And he placed there Assicus and Bite son of Assicus, and Cipia, mother of Bite the bishop. The holy bishop Assicus was Patrick’s coppersmith, and he made altars and four-sided tables and four-sided book-covers in honour of Patrick; and one of these four-sided tables was in Armagh, another in Ailfind, and another in Domnach Mór Maige Seolai, on the altar of Felart the holy bishop, with the Hui-Briuin Seolai far westward from Ailfind.

⁵⁰ However, Assicus, in shame because of a lie he had told, fled northwards to Sliab Liacc in Tír Boguini. He remained for seven years on an island there, and his monks sought him, and after much trouble found him in the mountain glens and brought him back with them; and he, namely Assicus, died with them in the wilderness, and they buried him in Ráith Cungai in Serthe, for he had declared that he would not return again to Mag-Ai because of the falsehood that he had spoken there. Hence is said, “It is time to travel into Serthe.” And the king of the land gave to him, and to his monks after his death, the grazing of a hundred cows with their calves and of twenty oxen, as a perpetual offering. His relics are in Ráith Cungai, and the church belongs to Patrick, although the community of Colum Cille and Ard Sratha have encroached upon it.

⁵¹ Patrick went from Ail Find to Dumacha Hua n-Ailella, and founded a church there, namely Senchell Dumaige, and left there Maichet and Cetchen and Rodan, an archpresbyter, and Mathona, Benen’s sister, who took the veil from Patrick and from Koclan, and was a nun of theirs.

⁵² While Patrick was staying at Duma Graid, ordaining the great host, he smiled. “What is that?” said Benen. “It is not hard to say,” said Patrick. “Bron and the monk Olcan are coming towards me along the Strand of Eothaile, and my pupil Mac Erca is with them. The surge of the flood made a great rush at them, and the boy was afraid of being carried away.” That was a prophecy.

⁵³ Then he went through the territory of the Hui-Ailella, and founded the church to the east in Tamnach, and it was protected by God and by men. And she, Mathona, made a bond of friendship with the relics of Saint Rodan, and their successors feasted in turn. But after this they placed beside the holy church in Tamnach Bishop Cairell, whom Patrick’s bishops, Bron and Bite, ordained.

⁵⁴ Thereafter Patrick went at sunrise to the well, namely Cliabach, on the slopes of Cruachan. The clerics sat down beside the well. Two daughters of Loegaire son of Niall went early to the well to wash their hands, as was their custom, namely Ethne the Fair and Fedelm the Ruddy. The maidens found beside the well the assembly of the clerics in white garments, with their books before them. They marvelled at the appearance of the clerics, and thought that they were men of the elves or apparitions. They asked Patrick about themselves, saying, “Where are you from, and from where have you come? Are you of the elves or of the gods?” And Patrick said to them, “It would be better for you to believe in God than to ask about our kind.” The elder girl said, “Who is your God, and where is he? Is he in heaven, or on earth, or under the earth, or upon the earth? Is he in seas or in streams, or in mountains or in glens? Does he have sons and daughters? Is there gold and silver, is there abundance of every good thing in his kingdom? Tell us about him: how is he seen, how is he loved, how is he found? Is he young, or is he old? Does he live for ever? Is he beautiful? Have many fostered his son? Are his daughters dear and beautiful to the people of the world?” Then holy Patrick answered, filled with the Holy Spirit, “Our God is the God of all things, the God of heaven and earth and sea and river, the God of sun and moon and all the stars, the God of high mountains and low valleys, the God above heaven and in heaven and beneath heaven. He has a dwelling in heaven and on earth and in the sea and in all that is within them. He gives life to all things, he enlivens all things, he surpasses all things, he sustains all things. He kindles the light of the sun and the light of the moon. He made springs in dry land and dry islands in the sea, and he appointed stars to serve the greater lights. He has a Son who is coeternal with himself and like him. The Son is not younger than the Father, nor is the Father older than the Son, and the Holy Spirit breathes in them. Father and Son and Holy Spirit are not divided. Yet I wish to unite you to the Son of the heavenly King, for you are daughters of an earthly king.” And the maidens said, as if with one mouth and one heart, “How shall we be able to believe in that King? Teach us most carefully, so that we may see the Lord face to face. Teach us the way, and we will do whatever you tell us.” And Patrick said, “Do you believe that through baptism the sin of your mother and your father is taken away from you?” They answered, “We believe.” “Do you believe in repentance after sin?” “We believe.” And they were baptised, and Patrick blessed a white veil upon their heads.

⁵⁵ And they asked to see Christ face to face. And Patrick said to them, “You cannot see Christ unless you first taste death, and unless you receive the Body of Christ and his Blood.” And the girls answered, “Give us the sacrifice, that we may be able to see the Bridegroom.” Then they received the sacrifice and fell asleep in death; and Patrick placed them beneath one mantle on one bed, and their friends mourned them greatly.

⁵⁶ Now the wizards, namely Moel and Caplait, contended against Patrick, because the girls had received the faith and because they had gone to heaven. Caplait came and cried out against Patrick, for he, Caplait, had fostered the second girl. Patrick preached to him, and he believed in God and in Patrick, and Patrick placed the shears about his hair. Thereafter the other wizard came, namely Moel, and said to Patrick, “My brother has believed in you. You will gain no advantage or profit from him. I will bring him back to heathenism.” And he was reviling Patrick. Patrick preached to him, and the wizard believed in God and in Patrick, and Patrick tonsured him; so that from this comes the saying, “Moel is like Caplait,” that is, they were at one in their belief. And the days of mourning were completed, and the girls were buried in that place, and Sendomnach Maige Ai was granted to Patrick in perpetuity; and some say that the relics of the girls were taken to Armagh, and there they await the Resurrection.

⁵⁷ Patrick then went into Tír Cairedo, and founded at Ard Licce a church, namely Sendomnach, and he left there Deacon Coeman. And Patrick built Ard Senlis, where he placed holy Lallocc, and he obtained a place in Mag Nento. And they went with Bishop Cethech to his own country. Of the race of Ailill was Cethech’s mother. Of the Cenél Sál of Cianacht, from Domnach Sairigi at Dom-liacc Cianáin, was his father. And this was the custom of Bishop Cethech: in Domnach Sairigi he used to celebrate the Great Easter, and in Áth-da-Laracc in Cenannus he used to celebrate the Little Easter with Comgilla, for the community of Cethech say that Comgilla was a nun under Cethech.

⁵⁸ Then Patrick went into the territory of the Hui-Maine, and left there an archdeacon of his household, namely Deacon Just, and founded Fidarta. And Patrick left with him his book of ritual and of baptism, and he baptised the Hui-Maine. And in his old age Deacon Just baptised Ciarán son of the wright out of that book of Patrick, for he was a hundred and forty years old when he baptised Ciarán, as the most learned say.

⁵⁹ Patrick’s Franks, moreover, departed from him, namely fifteen brothers and one sister: Bernicius, Hibernicius, Hernicus, and others, and their sister Nitia. And many places were granted to them. One of these was Ingae Baislicce between Hui-Maine and Mag Ai. Patrick indicated to them the likeness of the place with his finger from Cell Garad, for they had come to Patrick so that he might choose for them the places they were to find.

⁶⁰ Patrick founded Cell Garad, where Cethech and the tomb of Cethech are together. There Patrick made the well called Uaran Garad, and he loved that water greatly, as he himself said:

⁶¹ Uaran Gar!
Spring that I have loved, that has loved me!
Sad is my cry, O dear God,
Without my drink from Uaran Gar!
Cold Uaran,
Cold is everyone who has gone from it.
Were it not my King’s command,
I would not go from it, though the weather is cold.
Three times I went into the land;
Three fifties was my number,
Among.
This was my consolation, Uaran.

⁶² Thereafter Patrick went to Mag Selce, that is, to Duma Selce, and staying there were Brian’s six sons, namely Bole the Red, Derthacht, Eichen, Cremthami, Coelcharna, and Echaid. And Patrick wrote three names in that place on three stones, namely JESUS, SOTER, SALVATOR. Patrick blessed the Hui-Briuin from Duma Selce, and Patrick’s seat is there among the three stones on which he inscribed the letters. And the names of the bishops who were there with him are Bron the bishop, Bite of Caisel Irre, Sachell of Baslec Mór in Ciarraige, Brochaid of Imlech Ech, brother of Lomman of Áth Truim, Bronach the priest, Rodan, Cassan, Benen, Patrick’s successor, and Benen, brother of Cethech, Bishop Felart, and a nun who was his sister, and another sister who is on an island in the sea of Conmacne, namely Croch of Cuil Conmacne. And he founded a church on Loch Selce, namely Domnach Mór Maige Selce, in which he baptised the Hui-Briuin and blessed them.

⁶³ Patrick went into Grecraide of Loch Techet. He founded a church there, namely at Drumne, and beside it he dug a well, and no stream flows into it or out of it, but it is full for ever; and this is its name, Bith-lán “Everfull”.

⁶⁴ After that he founded Cell Atrachta in Gregraide, and placed in it Talan’s daughter, who took the veil from Patrick’s hand; and he left a paten and a chalice with her, Atracht daughter of Talan son of Cathbad, of the Gregraide of Loch Techet, sister of Coeman of Airtne Coemain. Patrick blessed the veil upon her head. Druminana was the name of the place where they were staying; it is called Machaire today. A chasuble was sent from heaven into Patrick’s bosom. “Let the chasuble be yours, nun,” said Patrick. “Not so,” said she; “it has not been given to me, but to your holiness.”

⁶⁵ Then he went to the sons of Ere. They stole Patrick’s horses, and Patrick cursed them, saying, “Your descendants shall serve the descendants of your brothers for ever.”

⁶⁶ Patrick went into Mag Airtig and blessed a place, namely Ailech Airtig in Telach na Cloch, the Hill of the Stones. And then he went into Drummat Ciarraigi. There he found two brothers, namely Bibar and Lochru, two sons of Tamanchenn of Ciarraige, fighting with swords over their father’s land after his death. Patrick blessed their hands, and their hands stiffened upon their swords, so that they were unable either to raise them or to lower them. Patrick said to them, “Sit down,” and he blessed them and made peace between them. And they gave the land to Patrick for the sake of their father’s soul. And there Patrick founded a church, in which is Conu the wright, brother of Bishop Sachall, that is, of Baslic.

⁶⁷ After that Patrick went into Ciarraige Arnc, and Ernaisc and his son Loarnach met him there under a tree. And Patrick wrote an alphabet for him, and stayed with him for a week with twelve men. And Patrick founded a church in that place and appointed him abbot, and he was indeed full of the Holy Spirit.

⁶⁸ And Patrick went to Topur Mucno, that is, Mucno’s well, and established Senchell. And Secundinus was there apart under a tall elm, and the sign of the cross remains in that place to this day. And afterwards Patrick went into the land of the Conmaicne, into Cul Tolaith, and established four-cornered churches in that place. One of them is Ard Uiscon, and others besides.

⁶⁹ He went into Mag Oerae. They stayed at Ciul Corre, and he founded a church in that place and baptised many.

⁷⁰ After that Patrick went into Mag Foimsen, and found two brothers there, namely Luchta and Derglam. Derglam sent his bondsman to kill Patrick; however, Luchta restrained him. To him Patrick said, “From your race there will be priests and bishops. But accursed will be your brother’s offspring, and they will be few.” And he left Priest Conan in that place, and afterwards went to the well of String-ell in the wilderness, and remained at that well for two Sundays.

⁷¹ Patrick went to the men of Urnall, to Achad Fobair. There Bishop Senach was ordained. This is the name that Patrick gave him: Agnus Dei. It was he who asked three boons of Patrick: that he should not transgress while in orders; that the place should not be named after him; and that what was lacking from his own lifespan should be added to the lifespan of his son Óengus. For him Patrick wrote an alphabet on the day Bishop Senach was ordained.

⁷² Patrick. . . that he should take a city at Achad Fobair, and he said:
“I would choose
To remain here on a little land,
After travelling among churches and waters;
Since I am weary, I would not go.”

⁷³ The angel said to Patrick:
“You shall have everything around which you go,
Every land,
Both mountains and churches,
Both glens and woods,
After travelling around churches and waters,
Though you are weary, wherever you go.”

⁷⁴ Then Patrick left two salmon alive in the well, and they will remain there for ever.

⁷⁵ “My two salmon, never separated,
Who go against. . . streams;
Without contention and without sin,
Angels will remain with them there.”

⁷⁶ Then Patrick went to Cruachan Aigle on the Saturday of Whitsuntide. The angel came to converse with him and said to him, “God does not grant you what you ask, because it seems to him excessive and stubborn, and the requests are great.” “Is that his will?” said Patrick. “It is,” said the angel. “Then this is my will,” said Patrick: “I will not leave this rock until I die, or until all my requests are granted to me.”

⁷⁷ Then Patrick remained on Cruachan in great distress, without drink and without food, from Shrove Saturday to Easter Saturday, after the manner of Moses son of Amram, for they were alike in many things. To both God spoke out of the fire. One hundred and twenty years was the age of each of them. The burial place of both is unknown.

⁷⁸ Now at the end of those forty days and forty nights the mountain was filled with black birds, so that he could discern neither heaven nor earth. He sang psalms of cursing against them. They did not leave him because of this. Then his anger grew against them. He struck his bell at them, so that the men of Ireland heard its sound, and he hurled it at them, so that its mouth broke from it, and that bell is Brigit’s Gapling. Then Patrick wept until his face and the front of his chasuble were wet. No demon came into the land of Erin after that until the end of seven years and seven months and seven days and seven nights. Then the angel came to console Patrick, and cleansed the chasuble, and brought white birds around the Reek, and they would sing sweet melodies for him. “You shall bring,” said the angel, “that number of souls out of torment, and all those whom your eye can reach across the sea.” “That is no great boon to me,” said Patrick, “for my eye does not reach far across the sea.” “Then you shall have both sea and land,” said the angel. Patrick said:

⁷⁹ “I fear to enter the round Rick:
Godless hosts are before me.
Fear has seized me against. . .
Ten hundred heads are striving against me,
Dark men with dreadful teeth,
With the colour of death and. . .
Thirteen sure thousands,
Ten hundreds in every thousand are they.

⁸⁰ “Is there anything else that he grants to me besides that?” says Patrick. “There is,” says the angel. “Seven persons every Saturday until Doomsday are to be taken out of the pains of Hell.” “If he should give anything to me,” says Patrick, “let my twelve men be given.” “You shall have them,” says the angel, “and now go from the Rick.” “I will not go,” says Patrick, “since I have been tormented, until I am blessed. Is there anything else, then, that will be given to me?” says Patrick. “There is,” says the angel, “you shall have, out of the pains of Hell, seven every Thursday and twelve every Saturday; and now go from the Rick.” “I will not go,” says Patrick, “since I have been tormented, until I am blessed. Is there anything else that is granted to me?” says Patrick. “There is,” says the angel: “a great sea shall come over Ireland seven years before the Judgment; and now go from the Rick.” “I will not go,” says Patrick, “since I have been tormented, until I am blessed.” “Is there anything else that you would demand?” says the angel. “There is,” says Patrick, “that the Saxons should not dwell in Ireland, by consent or by force, so long as I abide in heaven.” “You shall have this,” says the angel, “and now go from the Rick.” “I will not go,” says Patrick, “since I have been tormented, until I am blessed.”

⁸¹ “Is there anything else that he grants to me?” says Patrick. “There is,” says the angel: “everyone who shall sing your hymn, from one watch to the other, shall not have pain or torment.” “The hymn is long and difficult,” says Patrick. “Everyone who shall sing it from Christum illum to the end, and everyone who shall give anything in your name, and everyone who shall perform penitence in Ireland—his soul shall not go to Hell; and now go from the Rick.” “I will not go,” says Patrick, “since I have been tormented, until I am blessed. Is there anything else?” says Patrick. “There is,” says the angel: “a man for every hair on your chasuble you shall bring out of pains on the Day of Doomsday.” “Which of the other saints who labour for God will not bring that number into heaven? Truly, I will not take that,” says Patrick. “Question: what will you take?” says the angel. “Not hard to say,” says Patrick. “Seven persons for every hair that remains on the chasuble are to be taken out of Hell on the Day of Doomsday.” “You shall have this,” says the angel, “and now go from the Rick.” “I will not go,” says Patrick. “Your hand will be seized,” says the angel to him. “Except only if the High King of the seven heavens should come, I will not go,” says Patrick, “since I have been tormented, until I am blessed.” “Is there anything else that you would demand?” says the angel. “There is,” says Patrick. “On the day when the twelve thrones shall be on Mount Zion, when the river of fire shall be around the mountain, and the three households shall be there, namely, the household of heaven, the household of earth, and the household of hell—let me myself be judge over the men of Ireland on that day.” “Certainly,” says the angel, “that is not obtained from the Lord.” “Unless it is obtained from him,” says Patrick, “I will not leave this Rick from today until Doomsday; and, what is more, I shall leave a guardian there.”

⁸² The angel went to heaven. Patrick went to Mass.

⁸³ The angel came back at nones. “How is that?” says Patrick. “Thus,” says the angel. “All creatures, visible and invisible, including the twelve apostles, sought the Lord, and they have obtained. The Lord said, ‘There has not come, and there will not come, after the apostles, a man more admirable, were it not for your hardness.’ What you have prayed for, you shall have. Strike your bell,” says the angel. “A power will come upon you from heaven, so that you shall fall on your knees, and there will be a consecration of the men of the people of Ireland, both living and dead.” Patrick says: “A blessing on the bountiful King who has given; and now the Rick shall be departed from.”

⁸⁴ Then Patrick went on until he was staying at Achad Fobair, and there he celebrated Easter. Moreover, there are keepers belonging to Patrick’s household still alive in Ireland. There is a man of his in Cruachan Aigle; they hear the voice of his bell, and he is not found. There is a man of his in Gulban Guirt. There is a third man of his to the east of Cluain Iraird, together with his wife. They showed hospitality to Patrick in the reign of Lóegaire son of Niall. They are, and they will remain until Doomsday, of the same age. There is a man of his in Drummann Breg. There is another man of his in Sliab Slange, namely Domongart son of Echaid: he it is who will raise Patrick’s relics shortly before Doomsday. His church is Rath Murbuilc on the side of Sliab Slange, and there is a fork with its surroundings, and a pitcher of beer before him every Easter, and he gives them to the people of the Mass every Easter Tuesday always.

⁸⁵ So Patrick’s charioteer died and was buried between the Rick and the sea.

⁸⁶ Then Patrick went into the territory of Corcu Temne, and baptized many thousands of people there, and he founded three churches there, namely the three Tuaga.

⁸⁷ Patrick went to the well of Findmag. Slán is its name. They told Patrick that the heathen honoured the well as if it were a god. Now the well was four-cornered, and there was a four-cornered stone above it. The foolish people believed that a certain dead prophet had made a bibliotheca for himself beneath the stone in the water, so that it might wash his bones always, because he feared fire. Patrick was zealous for the living God, and said, “You speak falsely in saying that this fountain was king of waters,” for he did not, as they did, hold it to be king of waters. Patrick ordered them to lift the stone, and they were unable to do so. But Patrick, together with Cainnech, whom he baptized, lifted it. And he said to Cainnech, “Your offspring will be blessed for ever.” Cell Tog, in the territory of Corcu Temne, is what Bishop Cainnech, Patrick’s monk, founded.

⁸⁸ Once, as Patrick was travelling in the plains of the son of Ere, namely in Dichuil and Erchuil, he saw there a huge grave, a hundred and twenty feet in length. When the brethren asked that the dead man should be raised, Patrick brought to life the man who lay in the grave and asked news of him: when and how he came there, and of what race and of what name he was. He answered Patrick, saying, “I am Cass son of Glass. I was the swineherd of Lugaid, king of Iruata, and the warriors of Mac Con killed me in the reign of Coirpre Nia Fer. A hundred years have I been here today.” Patrick baptized him, and he returned again into his grave.

⁸⁹ Who can comprehend the measure of the diligence of his prayer? For all the psalms and hymns and the Apocalypse, and all the spiritual songs of the Scriptures, he used to chant every day, whether remaining in one place or travelling on a journey.

⁹⁰ From vespers on Sunday night until the third Roman hour on Monday, Patrick would not leave the place where he was staying. And on a certain Sunday, Patrick was out in the fields at the hour of evening, and a great rain poured upon the land, but it did not fall on the place where Patrick was staying, as happened in the case of Gideon’s fleece.

⁹¹ It was Patrick’s custom to make the sign of the cross of Christ over himself a hundred times every day and every night. And whether he was in a chariot or on a horse, he used to go to every cross, and he would turn from his path, even if the cross were a thousand paces away, provided he saw it or knew that it was near. Now once, on a certain day, Patrick failed to visit a cross that lay on his way, and he did not know that it was there. At the end of the day his charioteer said to him, “You left a cross today on your path without visiting it.” Patrick then left the guesthouse and his supper and went back to the cross. While Patrick was praying at the cross, he said, “This is a grave. Who has been buried here?” From the grave the corpse answered, saying, “I am a wretched heathen. I was buried here. While I was alive I was harming my soul, and I fell while doing so, and then I was buried here.” “What was the reason,” says Patrick, “for placing on your grave the sign of the Christians, namely the cross?” “Not hard to say,” he said. “A certain woman was living in a distant land, and during her absence her son was buried here in this country. She came from distant lands and set the cross on this grave. It seemed to her that she placed it on her son’s grave. Through her grief she was unable to recognise her son’s grave.” Patrick said, “That is why I passed by the cross, because it was on a heathen’s grave.” Then Patrick set up the cross on the grave of the Christian son.

⁹² It once happened to Patrick’s charioteer that his horses went missing. He could not find them because of the darkness of the night. Patrick raised his hand: his five fingers lit up the whole plain as if they were five lamps, and the horses were found at once.

⁹³ Patrick crossed the river Moy into the land of the Uí Amalgada. Twelve sons of Amalgaid son of Fiachra son of Echaid came to meet him, namely Oengus, Fergus, Fedilmid, Endae the Bent, Endae Bare-poll, Corbmac, Coirpre, Echaid the Spotless, Echaid One-ear, Eogan the Just, Dubchonall, and Ailill Kettle-face. The sons of Amalgaid were disputing over the kingship. There were twenty-four tribes in the land, and they refused to accept as king a man who bore a nickname. Then Oengus gave nicknames to his brothers. The most arrogant of Amalgaid’s sons was this Oengus. Loegaire son of Niall son of Echaid, king of Tara, and his brother Eogan son of Niall gave judgment in the dispute.

⁹⁴ The sons of Amalgaid went to Tara in twelve chariots, but in Patrick’s books it is found that only seven of the brothers submitted to the judgment. They were welcomed by the king at Tara. Oengus was a foster-son of Loegaire’s, and for that reason he was given a special welcome there. Oengus asked the doorkeepers not to let into the fortress Conall, his brother’s son, namely the son of Endae the Bent. Oengus feared the boy’s sharpness in arguing his claim, and he obtained this from the doorkeepers. While Conall was outside the court, he heard the sound of Patrick’s bell from Patrick’s well beside the fortress. Conall went to him, and Patrick blessed him. “O cleric,” he said, “do you know what language this is that is in my memory: ‘All the children of Ireland cry out to you,’ which two girls sang from their mother’s womb in our lands?” “It was I who was called thus,” said Patrick. “I heard it while I was staying in the islands of the Tyrrhenian Sea, and I did not know whether the words were spoken within me or outside me. And I will go with you into your country, to baptize, to teach, and to preach the gospel.”

⁹⁵ Patrick then asked Conall why he had come, and Conall told him the reason, saying that he had not been allowed to enter Tara. Patrick said to him, “Go in now, the doors being open, and go to Eogan son of Niall, a faithful friend of mine, who will help you if you secretly take the finger next to his little finger, for this is always a sign between us.” And so it happened. “Welcome,” said Eogan, “what is Patrick’s desire?” Conall said, “Help me.” Then Conall made his argument: “If it is according to age that one speaks in a palace and takes land, then it is I who am youngest. If it is according to my father’s age, then Endae the Bent is the eldest among them.” To this Loegaire replied, “Truly, speech and precedence belong to the eldest. Nevertheless, if jewels and treasures have been given to anyone, I do not take them away from him.”

⁹⁶ They went on from there, Patrick with them, and Patrick gave his chariot to Conall, so that it became the thirteenth chariot. Then they continued their journey. Oengus bore no goodwill toward them—that is, toward Conall his brother’s son and toward Patrick. He left it to his two brothers, Fergus and Fedilmid, to kill Patrick and Conall. Fergus and Fedilmid then separated from Oengus and from Loegaire, after Oengus had received his instructions from Loegaire, and they went northward to visit their land. The place where Oengus intended to carry out the killing of his kin was in Corann. Fergus pretended to be asleep. “Truly,” said Oengus— but his brothers refused to do what he demanded. “We will not kill the innocent man, namely Patrick; nor will we commit the killing of our kinsman.” Oengus went against them with two war-bands in order to kill them, and he had with him two wizards, Reon and Rechred, of the tribe of Foelán the Warrior.

⁹⁷ It was no more than a mile between the place from which Patrick saw the enemies, the cross to the west of Patrick’s Cross, and Cell Fóreland. Reon said that in the place where he would see Patrick, the earth would swallow Patrick up. This was reported to Patrick. “Truly,” said Patrick, “it is I who shall see him first.” As soon as Patrick saw him, the earth swallowed Reon down. “I will believe,” he said, “if I am saved.” The earth threw him back up, so that he was above the winds, and he fell down half alive. He believed and was baptized. Then Rechred was lifted up into the air and cast down from above, so that his head broke against the stone, and fire from heaven burned him. The wizard’s stone still stands there, and there is a church there. Its name is Cros Phádraig (Patrick’s Cross), to the east of the wood of Fochlad. Telach inna nDruad (the Wizards’ Hill) is the name of the place where the troop of the heathen stood, to the west of Cros Phádraig. Glaiss Conaig lies between them. Oengus said, “I will believe if my sister is brought back to life,” namely Fedlem daughter of Amalgaid, who had died long before.

⁹⁸ Once a blind man came to meet Patrick. He hurried toward him in his desire for healing. A man of Patrick’s household laughed at him. “By my God’s judgment,” said Patrick, “it would be fitting that you should be the blind man.” And so the blind man became whole, and the one who was whole became blind. Mignae is the name of the man who was blinded there. He was one of the two men of Patrick’s household who remained in the deserted Disert Patraic, which is near the well at Patrick’s Cross, and Domnall was the other, although their superior was angry with them. It was Euan son of Cú-cnama, Amalgaid’s charioteer, who was healed there. Roi Ruain is the name of the place where the blind man was healed, and it afterwards belonged to Patrick.

⁹⁹ Two lame men came to him at Ochtar Caerthin. They complained to him that, because of their infirmities, they were effectively disinherited, and that it was difficult for them to travel between their lands in the mountains and those on the plain. Why should I say more? They were heard.

¹⁰⁰ Then he went to Domnach Mór, where Bishop Mucnae is. Then he went to Patrick’s Cross, and there Aed the Tall, son of Echaid son of Oengus, came to him, and Patrick healed him of lameness at the well to the west of Patrick’s Cross. Aed offered him two ox-gangs of land on which the place was founded, and Patrick left there two of his household, namely Teloc and Nemnall.

¹⁰¹ Enda saw wizards seeking to kill Patrick, and he said to his son, “Go and protect Patrick, so that the wizards may not kill him.” Patrick himself perceived them, and fire from heaven consumed them, nine in number.

¹⁰² Patrick founded Cell Alaid and left there an aged man of his household, namely Bishop Muiredaig.

¹⁰³ Patrick baptized the women Crebriu and Lesru, the two daughters of Gle Rú son of Cummene. It was they who called out to Patrick from their mother’s womb when he was in the islands of the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is they who are patronesses of Cell Forgland in Uí Amalgada, west of the river Moy.

¹⁰⁴ He went into Forrach mac n-Amalgodo, and Amalgaid’s seven sons believed in him, together with Enda and the king. It was there that he baptized a pregnant woman together with her unborn child, and raised another woman to life.

¹⁰⁵ Then Patrick and Conall went to the grave where the dead pregnant woman, namely Fedilm, was lying, by the lower path to Cell Alaid. Oengus, however, went by the upper path. They came to the grave. Patrick raised the woman to life, and also the boy in her womb, and both were baptized in the well of Oen-adarc, “One-horn.” The well was so named from the steep little mound of earth that stands near it. When she was brought back to life, she preached to multitudes about the pains of hell and the rewards of heaven, and with tears she begged her brother to believe in God through Patrick. This came to pass, and he was baptized. On that day twelve thousand were baptized in the well of Oen-adarc, as it is said:

¹⁰⁶ In one day are baptized
twice six great thousands,
together with Amalgaid’s seven sons:
that was well.

¹⁰⁷ Truly, twelve thousand believed in Patrick among the Uí Amalgada and from the wood of Fochlad, and he left with them Maucen the Master.

¹⁰⁸ He went south to the Ferta of Loch-Dáea. The land belonged to Óengus. Patrick thought that he would take it for himself there. Óengus came to him in drunkenness, for it was not from the heart that he believed, even when he was baptised and confessed his belief. “My God’s doom!” said Patrick, “it were right that thy dwellings and thy children after thee should not be exalted. Thy successors will be ale-bibbers, and they will be parricides through thee.”

¹⁰⁹ Patrick went eastward to Lecc Finn, where he made a cross in the stone over Cell Mór Uachtair Muaide (the great church of the Upper Moy) to the west; but Lia na Manach (the Monk’s Stone) is its name today, that is, Saint Crumther Monach’s, or Cell Olcáin; but there was no church there at that time. And he baptised Echaid, son of Nathí, son of Fiachra, and raised to life his wife Echtra at Áth Echtra over the little stream, right in the doorway of Cell Mór. And Echtra’s grave-mound is on the edge of the ford. It is a matter of knowledge among them in their country, the story which commemorates this miracle.

¹¹⁰ Bishop Olcán went from him to dwell in the place where Cell Mór stands today. Thus he went, axe on back. And Patrick said to him that where his axe should fall from his back, there his dwelling should be. And this came to pass where Cell Mór Uachtair Muaide now stands.

¹¹¹ Then he went northwards to Lecc Balbeni, where he found the sons of Amalgaid and blessed them. And he went out of the country from Bertlacha in the west into Bertlacha in the east, in the estuary of the Moy, over against the sea. A girl was drowned before him there; and he blessed that harbour and said that no one should be drowned there forever. Patrick prophesied that the eastern Bertlacha would belong to him. It stands in one of their histories that on the day of war the king of the land shall call upon Patrick to protect that country, and he shall be victorious.

¹¹² There at the stream the Grecraige flung stones at Patrick and his household. “My God’s doom!” said Patrick, “in every contest in which you shall be engaged you shall be routed, and you shall abide under spittle and wisps and mockery in every assembly at which you shall be present.”

¹¹³ “Arise, O Conall!” said Patrick, “thou must take the crozier.” Conall said, “If it is pleasing to God, I will do it for thee.” “That shall not be so,” said Patrick. “Thou shalt be under arms for the sake of thy tribe’s heritage, and thou shalt be Conall Crozier-shield. Dignity of laymen and clerics shall come from thee, and every one of thy descendants in whose shield shall be the sign of my crozier, the warriors with him shall not be put to flight.” And this Patrick did for him.

¹¹⁴ Patrick went eastward into the territory of the Uí Fiachrach by the sea. A body of water opposed him, that is, there was a great and unnatural flood in it, and he cursed it. On the water is a stead called Búal Patraic (Patrick’s Byre), that is, a small mound with a cross upon it. He tarried there for a little while. Then the holy bishop Brón of Caisel Írre came to him, and the holy Mac Rime of Cell Corcu Roide, and there he wrote an alphabet for them. And I have heard from a certain person that in that place he gave one of his teeth from his mouth to Bishop Brón, because he was dear to Patrick.

¹¹⁵ Just as he was coming from the west over the Moy into Grecraige, three poison-giving wizards overtook him at Ráth Rigbard. They could do nothing against him, and he said that for that race there would never be lacking a man of that magical skill.

¹¹⁶ As for Mac Erce, son of Draigen, who is in Cell Róe Mór in the territory of Amalgaid: there were seven sons of Draigen, whom Patrick baptised, and of them he chose Mac Erce, and he gave him to Bishop Brón to be fostered, for it was not easy to take him away to a distant place, because of his father’s affection for him.

¹¹⁷ Patrick marked out Caissel Írre, and in the middle of the hall stands the flagstone on which Patrick’s tooth fell. Bishop Brón occupied the place, and Patrick prophesied that that place would be deserted by the heathen, which thing came to pass. Then Patrick sang the stave:

¹¹⁸ man . . .
And . . .
Since we have been alive
Have not seen you until today.
While we have been together
I did not suffer cold or heat.
A blessing on the King of all the (elements).
Whatever I have. . . of you at any time
In my name. Before many
To the will of God of white heaven,
The white God who is in heaven,
Dearly loved Christ, work with me,
He created me under pure baptism:
He does not leave me in disgrace with any one.

¹¹⁹ Then Patrick told the fishermen to cast the nets for him into the river, namely into the Slicech. They said to him, “Salmon are not caught in it, in this river, in winter; but since thou sayest it,” said the fishermen, “we will do it.” They cast their nets and caught great salmon and gave them to Patrick. And he blessed the river, so that the Slicech is the milch-cow of the waters of Ireland, for in it fish is caught in every quarter of the year.

¹²⁰ Bishop Ródán, Patrick’s herdsman, Patrick left in Muireasc Aigle, in Cell Easpaig Ródáin (that is, Bishop Ródán’s Church). His calves used only to do what was permitted them. Of him it is that the harpers and the musicians say in . . .

¹²¹ “Your calves, O Rotan, suck.
He left to them …”

¹²² The Callraigi of Cúil Cernadáin were in a hidden place ahead of Patrick, and they struck spears against shields to terrify Patrick and his household. “My God’s doom!” said Patrick, “not good is what they have done. Every battle and every conflict that you and your children after you shall wage, you shall be routed in it.” Straightway all of them, save five men, knelt before Patrick. Patrick said, “In every battle in which you shall be routed, though all Connacht should be against you, there shall fall no greater number of you than five men,” as has been fulfilled.

¹²³ Once, as Patrick was passing by Bernas Ua Oilella to go into Mag Luirg, he fell into Buall, that is, a river which comes out of Loch Techet. Áth Carpait is the name of the ford, near the cataract called Ess mac nÉirc. Patrick cursed the eastern half of the water. “And the half from the ford westward, why hast thou spared it?” “There shall come,” said Patrick, “a son of Life, who will afterwards settle there, and he will prefer to have a fruitful water at his dwelling.” That is, Colum Cille, son of Feidlimid, at Ess mac nÉirc, from the ford, that is, upstream to the lake. The best fishing in Ireland is there, according to everyone; but from there downstream little is caught.

¹²⁴ Then Patrick went into the district of Mag Luirg, and his horses were forcibly taken by the tribe of the Sons of Ere, and he cursed the people of that country. But Bishop Máine of the Uí Ailella besought Patrick to forgive his brethren, and Patrick softened the malediction. And Máine washed Patrick’s feet with his hair and with his tears, and he drove the horses into a meadow and cleansed their hooves in honour of Patrick. And Patrick said, “There will be weeping and wailing and lamentation among the people of that country, and there will be no neighbourliness there for ever,” as has been fulfilled. And Patrick said that he would afterwards have a great part of that country, as has been fulfilled in Nódain of Loch Uama. Bishop Máine, moreover, is of Patrick’s household, and Gemtene in the Echanach in Uí Ailella.

¹²⁵ Thereafter Patrick went into the district of Callraige, to Druim Daro, the stead where today stands Druim Lías. There he baptised Caerthann’s son, and that place was offered to Patrick for ever. Thereafter Patrick established himself upon the offering in Druim Daro. Druim Lías it is called today, namely, from Patrick’s stations and from the sheds (liasa) it was named. Patrick left his foster-son Bendán there in the abbacy for the space of twenty years.

¹²⁶ Then he fared eastward into the Glens, where the tribe of Muinremar is today. Blood dropped from his two nostrils on the road. Patrick’s flagstone is there, and Patrick’s hazel a little distance westward from the church. He established himself there. Srath Pátraic it is called today; Domnach Sratha is its name from afar. Patrick rested there on a Sunday, and this is his only church in that territory.

¹²⁷ Patrick went past Druim Cliab, from Caisel Írre by the Rosses eastward, along Mag Éne. He built Domnach Mór Maige Éne (the Great Church of Mag Éne).

¹²⁸ Then he cursed the river Dub because of the refusal which the fishermen gave him. Howbeit, he blessed the river Drobess, because of the kindness which the little boys who were fishing in it showed to him. And even little boys still take fish there. A salmon of Drobess is the finest of Ireland’s salmon. Of any great salmon that is caught at Ess Ruaid this is what the fishermen say: “The salmon is from Drobess,” because peculiar to Drobess is the beautiful salmon there through Patrick’s blessing.

¹²⁹ Three times now did Patrick cross the Shannon into the land of Connacht. Fifty bells and fifty chalices and fifty altar-cloths he left in the land of Connacht, each of them in his church. Seven years was he preaching to the men of Connacht. He left a blessing with them and bade them farewell.

¹³⁰ Patrick then went to Ess Ruaid. He desired to establish himself there, in the place where Disert Pátraic and Lecc Pátraic are. Coirbre resisted him and sent two of his people to drive him away; Carbacc and Cuangus were their names. “Not good is what you do,” said Patrick. “If a dwelling were permitted to me here, my city, with its Ess Ruaid flowing through it, would be a second Rome of Latium with its Tiber flowing through it, and thy children would be my successors therein.” Coirbre refused that, as Patrick had prophesied. Carbacc then set a dog upon Patrick; howbeit Cuangus struck the dog with a rod. Patrick said that the race of Carbacc would not grow beyond a small band, and that dignity of laymen or clerics would not come from him, which thing has been fulfilled. As for Cuangus, since he had consented to expel Patrick for Coirbre, Patrick said that his race would not be more numerous than a troop, but that from them men would be ordained; which thing also has been fulfilled.

¹³¹ Coirbre promised to Cuangus, for expelling Patrick, all that he could see to the north from Sliab Císe. When he turned to take his view about him, a dark cloud closed around Cuangus, so that he saw only as far as the sea to the west and as far as Uisnech to the east. “The river that God has given thee, Coirbre,” said Patrick, “thy share of it shall not be fruitful for fishing”; that is, the northern half of the river lengthwise was Coirbre’s share, namely the half towards Cenél Conaill, for Coirbre at that time held the territory of Conall as far as Ráth Cungai. “Howbeit the share of Conall, the southern half, shall be fruitful.” Thus it was fulfilled, until Muirgius son of Máel Dúin, son of Scannlán, a wonderful king of the tribe of Coirbre, gave his barren portion to Colum Cille; and now that Colum Cille has it, it is fruitful.

¹³² Thereafter Patrick went between Ess Ruaid and the sea into Conall’s territory, where today is Ráth Cungai. He set a stake there and said that it would be a dwelling and a city for seven bishops; and there is Bíth, son of the brother of Assicus, from Ail Finn.

¹³³ Then he prophesied concerning Domnall son of Áed, son of Ainmire: he set a stake in Ard Fothaid, and on the morrow it was bent. And Patrick said that it would be the seat of a prince, which thing was fulfilled in Domnall.

¹³⁴ On Síd Áeda Patrick blessed Conall son of Niall. Then Patrick’s hands fell upon Fergus’s head. That was a marvel to Conall, when Patrick said:

¹³⁵ “A youth [Colum Cille] will be born of his tribe,
He will be a sage, a prophet, a poet;
A beloved light, pure, clear,
Who will not utter falsehood.”

¹³⁶ Brigit said:

¹³⁷ “Child of long-sided Ethne,
That is fragrant, that is a blossoming;
Little Colum of the church, without noise:
It was not too soon to perceive him.”

¹³⁸ Now after that Patrick blessed Cenél Conaill, and left a blessing upon their strongholds and upon their estuaries and upon their churches.

¹³⁹ He afterwards went into the country of Éogan son of Niall, over Bernas Mór of Tír Áeda into Mag Ítha, and to Domnach Mór Maige Ítha (the Great Church of Mag Ítha), and there he left Dúdubae son of Corcán, one of his household.

¹⁴⁰ And Patrick said to his household, “Beware lest the lion, Éogan son of Niall, come upon you.” Muiredach son of Éogan, who was at the head of the host of the warriors, met them on the way. Sechnall was at the rear of the host of the clerics. Sechnall said to Muiredach, “Thou shalt have from me a reward for it if thou prevail upon thy father to believe.” “What is the reward?” said he. “The kingship over thy tribe shall surely be from thee until Doom,” said Sechnall. “I will do so,” said Muiredach. In Fid Mór (the Great Wood), then, Éogan met Patrick, in the place where the flagstone is. Éogan believed in God and in Patrick. “If thou hadst believed while in thy own country,” said Patrick, “hostages of the Gaels would have come to thy land; but now hostages will not come save those whom thou shalt take by the strength of thy weapons and thy onslaughts.” “Not stately am I,” said Éogan; “my brothers exact a great wergild for my ugliness. What shape dost thou choose?” said Patrick. “The shape of the youth who is carrying thy box,” namely Ríoc of Inis Bó Findi (the Isle of the White Cow). Patrick covered them in one mantle, the two arms of each of them about the other. They slept thus and afterwards awoke with the same shape, only their tonsures being different. “My size also is not to my liking,” said Éogan. “What size dost thou desire?” said Patrick. Éogan stretched up his hand with his weapon. “I should like this,” said he. Straightway he grew to that height.

¹⁴¹ Then Patrick blessed Éogan with his sons. “Which of thy sons,” said Patrick, “is dearest to thee?” “Muiredach,” said Éogan. “Kingship shall descend from him for ever,” said Patrick. “And after him?” said Patrick. “Fergus,” said Éogan. “Ordained persons from him,” said Patrick. “And then?” said Patrick. “Eochu the Tuneful,” said Éogan. “Warriors from him,” said Patrick. “And after him?” said Patrick. “All the rest are equally beloved by me,” said Éogan. “One man’s love shall be upon them,” said Patrick.

¹⁴² Patrick went to Ailech of the Kings and blessed the fortress, and he left his flagstone there, and prophesied that kings and ordained persons from Ailech would rule over Ireland. “Whenever,” said Patrick, “thou shalt put thy feet out of thy bed to approach them, and thy successor after thee, the men of Ireland shall tremble before thee.” Now Patrick blessed the whole land of Éogan from Belach Ratha, and he bestowed upon Éogan a blessing of valour. Then said Patrick:

¹⁴³ “My blessing on the tribes
I give from Belach Ratha.
On you, descendants of Éogan,
Graces till Doomsday!
So long as field shall be under crops,
Victory in battle shall be on their men.
The head of the hosts of the men of Ireland to their place,
They shall assail every hill.
The seed of Éogan, son of Niall,
Bless, O fair Brigit.
Provided that they do good,
Rule shall descend from them for ever.
The blessing of us both
On Éogan son of Niall!
On every one who shall be born of him,
Provided he be wholly according to our will.”

¹⁴⁴ Eochaid son of Fiachra, son of Éogan, was baptised along with Éogan; and Patrick’s covenant was between them, and if either should break it, children would not be born to him thereafter, and when he dies his body does not decay in the earth.

¹⁴⁵ Thereafter Patrick went into Daigurt, into Mag Dula. Seven churches he has on the river Fochaine, namely Domnach Dola, Domnach Senliss, Domnach Dari, Domnach Senchúae, Domnach Mín Chluana, Domnach Cati, and Both Domnach.

¹⁴⁶ Patrick went into Tír Eógain na hInse (the land of Éogan of the island), that is, into the territory of Fergus. He desired to take a hermitage in a certain place. Achad Drumman is especially the name of the land in which he founded it.

¹⁴⁷ Coelbad son of Fergus, son of Éogan, drove him out from there; and Patrick said that his race would not have. . . there. This has lately been proved by Comman son of Algasach, of the race of Coelbad, who was dwelling at Ess mac nÉirc and who built a house there, and a single rush of its thatch had not been put upon it before it was pulled down by a clerical student of the community of Domnach Mór Maige Tochair (the Great Church of Mag Tochair). “Thou shalt have a welcome with me,” said Áed son of Fergus. There is neither bank nor wall between them and the aforesaid place. There they built Domnach Mór Maige Tochair, where Patrick remained forty days and left Caírthenn’s son.

¹⁴⁸ Patrick went from Domnach Mór Maige Tochair into the Bretach. There he found the three Dechnans, Patrick’s sisters’ sons, in the district of Ailill son of Eogan. And he ordained Oengus son of Ailill in that place, and rested there throughout Sunday: Domnach Bili is its name.

¹⁴⁹ While Patrick was staying in Ailech Airtich in Connaught, among the Cenél Endai, Endae came to him. “Give me this place,” said Patrick. “As if we had not clerics already!” said Enda. On the morrow Endae came, having with him his son Echu the One-eyed of Inber. Patrick was apart in an assembly, his household baptising, conferring orders, and sowing the faith. Two sons of Cairthenn were there at that time, one of whom is in Clochar and one in Domnach Mór Maige Tochair. “Confer on my son the rank of bishop!” said Endae. “Ask it of Patrick,” said Patrick’s champion, Mace Cairthinn of Clochar. “This is our duty,” said the other. The rank was conferred. Patrick perceived it. “Indeed,” said he, “to confer that rank in my absence on the son of the wolf! There shall always be contention in the church of one of you two. There shall be poverty in the dwelling of the other.” And this was fulfilled: there is contention in Domnach Mór Maige Tochair, and poverty in the other, Clochar. And Patrick further said, “The son on whom the rank has come, two after manslaughter shall see him. . . and. . . me one hundred and twenty years, unto the son who shall be born in the southern parts; and it shall revert to me again,” all of which was fulfilled. The first place in which Echu’s relics were was a lofty and delightful place. He was carried past it after a little while, and into a very low place. The first place in which he was is waste, and robbers and manslayers are wont to dwell there, through Patrick’s curse; and his church was granted to Ciarán the Wright’s son, and it fell to Patrick again. That Echu son of Endae is today called Bishop Ecan.

¹⁵⁰ Patrick, then, was staying in Tír Endai Airtich, at Tulach Liacc in Letherr. He planted there a horse-rod, which afterwards became a bush. Then he ordained the three Domnalls to the rank of bishop, namely Domnall son of Cremthann in Ailech Airtig, which we have mentioned above, Domnall son of Coilcne in Telach Liacc, and, thirdly, Domnall of Cuil Conalto.

¹⁵¹ Patrick went out of Daigort and out of Mag Dola into Ard Dálauig. He founded churches there, namely Dún Oíthne. He left Bishop Beó-áed there, after making a union between him and Eogan. Seven churches in Cianacht belong to Patrick, including Domnach Brechmaige and Domnach Airthir Ardda. Patrick’s well is there.

¹⁵² There came Setna son of Drona, son of Tigernach, to Patrick, and Patrick baptised him. There he blessed Setna’s pregnant wife and the child in her womb, namely Cianan of Daimliac. He studied with Patrick there, and Patrick prophesied concerning Cainnech, and said that that land should be his.

¹⁵³ After that he went into the Lei, to the east of the river Bann, where until that time people used to catch fish only by night. Then Patrick ordered that they should catch them by day, and thus it shall be until the end of the world.

¹⁵⁴ Then Patrick went into Dál Araide and afterwards into Dál Riata. Then came Dóro, king of Carn Sétna in the north. He heard the crying of an infant out of the earth. The cairn was broken open and the grave uncovered. A scent of wine spread around them from the grave. They saw the living son beside the dead mother, a woman who had died of ague. She had been taken by them overseas to Ireland, and after her death brought forth the infant, who, they say, lived seven days in the cairn. “That is evil,” said the king. “Let Olcan be his name,” said the druid. Patrick baptised him. He is Bishop Olcan of Patrick’s household in Airthir Maige, a noble city of Dál Riata.

¹⁵⁵ And Macc Nisse of Condaire recited his psalms with Patrick; et indignatus etc. Hence is Carn Lámha, that is, “the cairn of the hand”.

¹⁵⁶ Patrick received a welcome in the land with the twelve sons of Erc. And Fergus the Great, son of Erc, said to Patrick: “If my brother respects me in the division of the land, I would give it to you.” And Patrick offered that portion, namely Airthir Maige, to Bishop Olcan. Patrick said to Fergus: “Though your brother has little regard for you today, it is you who shall be king. The kings in this land and over Fortrenn shall be from you forever.” And this was fulfilled in Áedán son of Gabrán, who took Scotland by force.

¹⁵⁷ Patrick left many churches and monasteries in the district of Dál Riata. He founded Fothrad and left there two of his household, namely Presbyter Cathbad and Dimman the Monk. And he founded Ráith Mudain, and left Presbyter Erclach there. He left Bishop Nehemiah in Telach Cenéoil Oengusa, two Cennfindans in Domnach Cainri in Cothraige, Enan in Drumman Findich, and Bishop Fiachra in Cuil Echtrann. And Patrick blessed Dún Sobairce, and Patrick’s well is there, and he left a blessing upon it.

¹⁵⁸ After this he went into Dál Araide. He found the twelve sons of Coelbad before him. He proposed to take the place where Cell Glass now stands. He was refused, and yet he has it still. And he left there two of his household, namely Glaisiuc and Presbyter Libur. He further proposed to take the place where Lathrach Pátraic, Patrick’s site, now is. There is Daniel, who is called, from his purity, “the angel,” and, from his small size, “Patrick’s dwarf.” By him is Patrick’s well, whose name is Slán, that is, “healthful.” There Patrick’s nua cúiléir was found. Now Sáran son of Coelbad expelled him thence, and Patrick deprived him of heaven and earth.

¹⁵⁹ Howbeit Conlae son of Coelbad received Patrick with humility, and offered him Domnach Combair. And Patrick blessed him, and left as a benediction that there would be kings and princes of his race for ever. And he founded many churches in Dál Araide, namely Domnach Mór Maige Damoerna, and Ráith Síthe, in which he left two of his household, and Telach, that is, Cell Conadain, and Glúaire in Latharna, and Macc-Lessi is there. And he founded Glenn Indechta and Imlech Cluane, and Semne Coeman is there, and Ráith Epscuip Findich in the land of the Uí Darca-chéin.

¹⁶⁰ After some time the aforesaid Sáran brought people into bondage in the province of Dál Riata. And Bishop Olcan met him. The wretched captives were crying out to him. Olcan asked for them, and he did not obtain them, except on the condition that he should give heaven to Sáran in return. “Truly,” said Olcan, “I cannot do that, since Patrick has taken it from you.” “Then I will slay your people around you, sparing you alone, and all these captives shall be slain. And in every place where I shall find a shaveling, I will put them all to the sword.” So Bishop Olcan promised heaven to Sáran. Then Olcan went from the north to carry out Patrick’s will. He had been warned of Patrick’s anger against him, for having promised blessing and baptism, and heaven, to one from whom Patrick had taken them away.

¹⁶¹ And they met at Cluain Fiacnae in the north, on the road. “Drive the chariot over him,” said Patrick. “I dare not,” said the charioteer, “drive it over a bishop.” Patrick said to him that his monastery would not be exalted on earth, and that its three evils would come upon it, namely mildew, age, and the stench of blood; and this was fulfilled in the slaughter that was made there by Scandal, king of Dál Araide, and again by Cú-Chuarain, together with the fire by which it was burned, by Echaid son of Bresal. “And his land shall belong to the little boy who is carrying the box,” said Patrick, “one of your own household,” namely Macc Nisse of Condaire, “and to one who has not yet been born,” namely Senan of Inis Cathaig. “Your merit shall be exalted in heaven.” Sáran’s guilt was here imputed to Bishop Olcan.

¹⁶² Howbeit Sáran’s brother, namely Natsluaig, was humble toward Patrick, and he was in bondage when Patrick arrived. “You shall have from me,” said he, “the site of your cell.” “In what place do you give it to me?” said Patrick. “On the brink of the Bann, in the west,” said Natsluaig, “the place where the children are burning the fern.” “It shall be mine, however,” said Patrick. “A spiritual descendant of mine and of yours shall be there, namely Bishop Coirbre son of Deggell, son of Natsluaig. He it is who is in Cuil Ráithin on the brink of the Bann in the east. Bishop Brucach, who is in Rátha Maige Oenaich in Crích Conaill, is he who conferred orders on Bishop Coirbre. Patrick, then, had conferred orders on Bishop Brucach, so that in this matter Coirbre is a descendant of Patrick’s.” Now as for the twelve sons of Coelbad, Patrick left a curse on none of them except the king, Sáran. It was he who had shown disrespect to him.

¹⁶³ Now on that occasion Patrick brought with him Bishop Guasacht, son of his former master Milchu, out of the province of Dál Araide. It is he whom Patrick left in Granard; and the two Emers also, two daughters of Milchu, it is they who are in Cluain Brónaig, as we have said.

¹⁶⁴ Then Patrick went out of the province of Dál Araide by Fertais Tuamma, into the land of the Uí Tuirtri. He remained forty nights in Findabur, and he desired to build a monastery there, for it seemed to him a fitting place, with Loch nEchach on one side of it and Sliab Calland on the other. Cairthenn the Great, king of the land, came to him and ordered him to depart from there. So Patrick took the kingship away from him and from his children. Then Patrick gave the kingship to Cairthenn the Little, who was in exile because of his brother; and Patrick baptised him, and blessed his wife and the child that was in her womb. “By my God’s judgment,” said Patrick, “the child that is in your womb will be full of the grace of God, and it is I who shall bless the veil upon its head.” Mógan daughter of Fergus the Great, son of Nessa, of Dál Riata, was the woman; and Treá, daughter of Cairthenn’s son, was the child that lay in her womb. And it was Patrick who blessed the veil upon her head, as he had foretold. Yet the angels brought the veil from heaven and placed it upon her head, down over her eyes. And Patrick began to lift it up. “Why,” said Treá, “is it not good that it should remain as it was placed?” “Good indeed, then,” said Patrick. Throughout her life she saw nothing except what she beheld through that veil.

¹⁶⁵ Seven churches in Uí Tuirtri belong to Patrick, namely Domnach Fainre, Domnach Riascad, Domnach Fothirbe, Domnach Rígduinn, Domnach Brain, Domnach Maelain, and Domnach Libuir.

¹⁶⁶ Thereafter Patrick went to the Men of Gabrae, and they were not obedient to him. Patrick said that afterwards they would come with tribute to his church in wintertime, and that foreign peoples would later take their land. And this was fulfilled.

¹⁶⁷ Thereafter he went to the Men of Imchlar, and he baptised and blessed them. He left Presbyter Columb with them, and with him Patrick’s book of ritual and his bell.

¹⁶⁸ Thus far, to this day, are the miracles of Patrick.

¹⁶⁹ Now when Patrick had completed his victorious course in this present world, as Paul the Apostle said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day”, he received communion and sacrifice from Bishop Tassach.

¹⁷⁰ His relics and remains are here in honour and veneration with the Church on earth. And though great is the honour and veneration for him here on earth, greater shall it be hereafter, and so forth.