THE CONFESSION OF ST. PATRICK.

 

 

“They also found wild honey, and offered me some of it, and one of them said: “This is offered in sacrifice, thanks be to God”; after this, I tasted no more. But the same night, while I was sleeping, I was strongly tempted by Satan (of which I shall be mindful as long as I shall be in this body), and there fell, as it were, a great stone upon me, and there was no strength in my limbs. And then it came into my mind, I know not bow, to call upon Elias, and at the same moment I saw the sun rising in the heavens; and while I cried out Elias with all my might, behold! the splendor of the sun was shed upon me, and immediately shook from me all heaviness….

“Some time after, I was taken captive; and on the first night I remained with them I heard a divine response, saying: “You shall be two months with them”; and so it was. On the sixtieth night the Lord delivered me out of their hands, and on the road He provided for us food, and fire, and dry weather daily, until on the fourteenth day we all came. As I have above mentioned, we journeyed twenty-eight days through a desert, and on the night of our arrival we had no provisions left.

“And again, after a few years, I was with my relations in Britain, who received me as a son, and earnestly besought me that then, at least, after I had gone through so many tribulations, I would go nowhere from them. And there I saw, in the midst of the night, a man who appeared to come from Ireland, whose name was Victorious, and he had innumerable letters with him, one of which he gave to me; and I read the commencement of the epistle containing ‘The Voice of the Irish’. and as I read aloud the beginning of the letter, I thought I heard in my mind the voice of those who were near the wood of Focluti, which is near the western sea; and they cried out: ‘We entreat thee, holy youth, to come and walk still amongst us.'” [O’Leary]
Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland
Image Credit: Tomie dePaola on Amazon

I have considered taking on the task of writing and illustrating yet another book about Saint Patrick, and in researching the man, I have discovered a blinding amount of information. Remember the adage: “I can’t see the forest for the trees.” Sometimes it is difficult to whittle down a vast amount of information into a tidy package that will fit into a picture book. Fortunately, Tomie dePaola began to hit the high spots of this man’s life in his picture book biography Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland – first published in 1992.

In this blog, I’ll parallel what dePaola selected to write about Patrick, the Ancient Bishop, along with the wordy account written by James O’Leary in 1874.

“Many years ago, during the time of the Christian Roman Empire, there lived a boy named Patrick. He lived with his noble familly in Britain, near the Irish sea.” DePaola, Patrick.

From THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOKS OF THE BISHOP ST. PATRICK.

“I, Patrick, a sinner, the rudest and least of all the faithful, and most contemptible to very many, had for my father Calpornius, a deacon, the son of Potitus, a priest, who lived in Bannaven Taberniae, for he had a small country-house close by, where I was taken captive when I was nearly sixteen years of age. .. O’Leary.

Map of Roman Britain in 383-410 A.D.
Image Credit: Wikipedia

Patrick was born in Scotland and was taken to Ireland at about this time. Notice that Dumnoni is at the bottom of this region. Dumnoni is the setting of the historical fiction Game of Thrones.

Allow me to insert a pitch for the use of movies and televison in research. While television and movies are seldom accurate records, they do allow the writer to visualize the people, the costumes, and the sets of the era about which they write.

In her biography Tomie dePaola: His Art His Stories, Barbara Elleman quotes dePaola as having said that people who create picture books should have a background in theater.

The visual nature of television and theater makes it a massive resource for illustrators who need to capture the costumes and sets of stories long past.

Although Game of Thrones is NOT a true story, the costumes and sets of the time of “Saint” Patrick have been recorded and therefore, are a library of images for illustrators.

I hesitate to call Patrick a “Saint.” There were no official Saints when Patrick lived. Patrick was, however, and important Bishop in Ancient Celtic Ireland.

To write the text of a picture book biography, writers must learn to distill mounds of information into a mere spattering of words. The following words are on the next pages of dePaola’s book Patrick: The Patron Saint of Ireland.

“One night, fierce Irishmen from the island across the water came in their boats and raided the farms on the British mainland. They captured many people–Patrick among them. They took him back to Ireland and sold him as a slave to a man named Miliuse.” DePaola, Patrick.

“The cause of Patrick’s coming to Erinn was as follows: The seven sons of Fechtmad—viz., the seven sons of the King of Britain—were on a naval expedition, and they went to plunder in Armoric-Letha; and a number of the Britons of Srath-Cluaidh were on a visit with their kinsmen, the Britons of Armoric-Letha, and Calpurn, son of Potit, Patrick’s father, and his mother—i.e., Conches, daughter of Ocbas of the Galls—i.e., of the Franks—were killed in the slaughter in Armorica. Patrick and his two sisters—viz., Lupait and Tigris—were taken prisoners, moreover, in that slaughter. The seven sons of Fechtmad went afterwards on the sea, having with them Patrick and his two sisters in captivity.” O’Leary.

Are the Stories about Saint Patrick Truth or Myth?

Long ago, the stories about Saint Patrick reached the point of being legendary. They are part of Celtic mythology, and I cannot say that a great deal of fairy tale has not mixed with the facts of his life. Recorded accounts of who Patrick was are highly influenced by Bible literature.

“The Irish race were never much indebted to the written word. The learned class, the ollamhs, dwelt apart and kept their knowledge sacred. The people therefore lived entirely upon the traditions of their forefathers, blended with the new doctrines taught by Christianity; so that the popular belief became, in time, an amalgam of the pagan myths and the Christian legend, and these two elements remain indissolubly united to this day. The world, in fact, is a volume, a serial rather, going on for six thousand years, but of which the Irish peasant has scarcely yet turned the first page.” Lady Jane Wilde. Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms & Superstitions of Ireland.

It is important to remember that O’Leary’s account of Patrick is made of words supposedly uttered by Patrick himself, and Patrick is credited for having mixed pagan and Christian tradition.

The story about Patrick’s having been sold as a slave in a nearby land reminds me of the story of Joseph [the boy with a coat of many colors] who was sold to Egyptian traders. One might say that this is also reminiscent of the reasons the Israelites who became Egyptian slaves.

The seven sons in O’Leary’s account reminds me of the “seven sons of Father Abraham,” as they have been recorded in legend and song.

In other stories, Patrick is labeled as a shepherd. I am instantly reminded of the shepherd boy David and the fact that Jesus is regarded as the Good Shepherd of Christian followers.

“‘Now that I own you, said Miliuce, ‘I will take you to Mount Slemish, where you shall watch my sheep.'” DePaola

“For six years, in the strange and pagan land, Patrick, who was used to warm clothes, good food, and a nice house, was a shepherd, and he was very lonely.” DePaola, Patrick.

“But after I had come to Ireland, I was daily tending sheep….” O’Leary.”

All he could do was pray to God over and over and over again–a hundred times during the day, a hundred times during the night. And he felt the love of God in his heart.” DePaola, Patrick.

“…and I prayed frequently during the day, and the love of God, and His faith and fear, increased in me more and more, and the spirit was stirred; so that in a single day I have said as many as a hundred prayers, and in the night nearly the same; so that I remained in the woods, and on the mountain, even before the dawn, I was roused to prayer, in snow, and ice, and rain…. And there one night I heard a voice, while I slept, saying to me: ‘Thou dost fast well; fasting thou shalt soon go to thy country.’ And again, after a very short time, I heard a response, saying to me: ‘Behold, thy ship is ready.’ And the place was not near, but perhaps about two hundred miles distant, and I had never been there, nor did I know any one who lived there.” O’Leary

“Patrick’s prayers did not go unanswered. During his sleep, a voice came to him: ‘It is a good thing that you fast and pray, for soon you will go to your own country. See, your ship is ready.’

“The ship was more than two hundred miles away, but that didn’t stop Patrick. Believing in the strength of God, Patrick went on his way, fearing nothing. DePaola

 

“Now, the ship was filled with hunting hounds that wre being taken to france to be sold to rich people. When the hounds saw Patrick, the stopped barking and began to wag their tails.

“Patrick offered to pay for his passage, but the captain worried that he might be an escaped slave and said, ‘I cannot take you with us. ‘ Get off my ship.’

“So Patrick left. He gegan to pray that the captain would change his mind. The hounds started to howl.

“‘Those hounds were fine when that fellow was here,’ said one of the men. “But now they’re making so much noise, they’ll raise the dead.’

“‘Run and get him,’ said the captain, ‘or else we will have no peace on our journey.’

“Patrick’s prayers were answered. He was allowed to board the ship, and it set sail.

“After three days the ship landed. The countryside was deserted because there had been a war. For twenty-eight days, thenmen and the hounds traveled through the desolate land, finally overcome with hunger.

“‘Tell me. Christian, ‘ the captain said, ‘You say that your God is great and all-powerful. Why don’t you pray for us, then? Can’t you see how hungry we are?’

“‘Nothing is impossible for my God,’ Patrik answered. ‘This day, He will send food to us.’

“Suddenly, a herd of pigs appeared on the road in front of them, oinking and squealing. The men caught and killed them. For two days, everyone, includg the dogs, had plenty to eat. And they did not go hungry again.

“Soon, Patrick left the little group and traveled alone for two years. When he finally arrived back home in Britain, his family rejoiced and begged him never to leave them again.

“Once more, Patrick had a dream. Thi time, a man named Victoricus appeared to him. Victoricus ha come from Ireland with an armload of letters. He gave one of them to Patrick. It read, ‘the voice of the Irish.’ Then OPatrick heard voices calling from the woods: ‘Come and walk among us again.’

“Patrick woke up. He wasn’t sure what the dream meant. A few nights later, Patrick heard more voices calling to him, and then he knew what he must do

“He must return to Ireland and take the people the good news of God.” DePaola, Patrick.

“When Patrick had completed his sixtieth year, and had learned knowledge, his auxiliary angel, Victor (for he was of assistance to him when he [Patrick] was in bondage with Miliuc, and regarding everything besides which he might wish), went to him, and said to him: “You are commanded from God to go to Erinn, to strengthen faith and belief, that you may bring the people, by the net of the Gospel, to the harbor of life; for all the men of Erinn call out your name, and they think it seasonable and fit that you should come.” Patrick afterwards bade farewell to Germanus, and gave him a blessing; and a trusted senior went with him from Germanus, to guard him and testify for him; his name was Segetius, and he was by grade a priest, and he it was who usually kept the Ordo of the church besides Germanus.

Patrick went subsequently on the sea, his company being nine.” O’Leary

“Although it was hard to part with his family, Patrick left home to study and become a missionary. Finally, he was ready to sail for Ireland and take the word of God to the Irish people. He sold his worldly good, bought all he needed for his work, and hired a boat.

“A huge crowd went along to help him: priests, bakers, chariot drivers–all kinds of  people. Patrick was now a bishop, and the work that God had planned for im was about to begin.

 

TRIPARTITE LIFE.

PART I.

“The people who sat in darkness saw a great light, and they who were in the land and in the shadow of death received light by which came their illumination.

“Patrick, then, was of the Britons of Alcluaid by origin. Calpurnn was his father’s name. He was a noble priest. Potid was his grandfather’s name, whose title was a deacon. Conceis was his mother’s name. She was of the Franks, and a sister to Martin. In Nemtur, moreover, the man St. Patrick was born; and the flag (stone) on which St. Patrick was born would give forth water when any one swore a false oath upon it, as if it were lamenting the false testimony. If the oath was true, however, the stone would continue in its natural condition.

Fountain of Water – Miraculous Sight – Patrick’s Baptism

“When the man St. Patrick was born, he was taken to a blind, flat-faced man to be baptized. Gornias was the priest’s name; and he had no water out of which he could perform the baptism until he made the sign of the cross over the ground with the infant’s hand, when a fountain of water burst forth. Gornias washed his face, and his eyes were opened to him; and he, who had learned no letter, read the baptism. God wrought three miracles through Patrick in this place—viz., the fountain of water through the ground, his eyesight to the blind man, and his reading the ordo of the baptism without knowing a letter up to that time. And Patrick was subsequently baptized. A church was founded, moreover, over this well in which Patrick was baptized; and the well is at the altar, and it has the form of the cross, as the learned report.

“Many prodigies and miracles were wrought through Patrick in his youth, but we shall only relate a few out of many of them. One time Patrick was in his nurse’s house, in winter time, when a great flood and rain filled his nurse’s residence, so that the vessels and furniture of the house were floating about, and the fire was extinguished. Patrick then cried to his nurse, as usual with children when desiring food. Then his nurse said to him: ‘That is not what troubles us; there is something else we would rather do than to prepare food for thee; even the fire is extinguished.’ When Patrick heard these words, truly, he sought a certain spot in the house to which the water had not reached; and he dipped his hand in the water, and five drops fell from Patrick’s fingers, and they were suddenly changed into five sparks, and the fire glowed, and the water rose not. The names of God and of Patrick were magnified thereby. Another time, as Patrick was playing amongst his companions, in the time of winter and cold in particular, he collected his armful of pieces of ice, which he brought home to his nurse. Then his nurse said: “It would be better for you to bring us withered brambles to warm ourselves with than what you have brought.” Thereupon he said to his nurse:

“‘Believe thou, because God is powerful thereto, that even the sheets of ice will burn like faggots.’ And no sooner were the pieces of ice placed on the fire, and he had breathed on them, than they burned like faggots. The names of God and Patrick were magnified through this miracle.

“One time, when Patrick and his sister (i.e., Lupait) were herding sheep, the lambs came suddenly to their dams, as is customary with them, to drink milk. When Patrick and his sister saw this, they ran quickly to prevent them. The girl fell, and her head struck against a stone, so that death was nigh unto her. As soon as Patrick perceived that his sister was lying down, and that death was nigh unto her, he wept loudly; and he raised her up immediately, and made the sign of the cross over the wound, and it healed without any illness. (Nevertheless, the signs of the ‘white wound’ would appear there.) And they came home as if no evil had happened to them.

“Another time, Patrick was with the sheep, when a wolf took away a sheep from him. His nurse reproved him greatly therefor. The wolf brought the sheep whole to the same place on the morrow; and the restoration in this way was wonderful—viz., the wolf’s dislike regarding the habitual food.

“When Patrick’s nurse, therefore, saw him magnified by God in prodigies and miracles, she used to love him very much, and would not wish to go anywhere without him. One time his nurse went to milk the cow. He went with her to get a drink of new milk. The cow [became mad] in the booley, and killed five other cows. The nurse was much grieved, and asked him to resuscitate the cows. He resuscitated the cows, then, so that they were quite well, and he cured the mad cow; and the names of God and Patrick were magnified through this miracle.

“There was a great assembly held by the Britons. He went to the assembly with his nurse and his guardian. It happened that his guardian died in the assembly. All were hushed into silence thereat; and his relatives cried, and his friends wept, and they said, ‘Why, thou gilla, didst thou let the man who was carrying thee die?’ As regards the gilla moreover, he ran to his guardian, and placed his hands about his neck, and said to him, ‘Arise, and let us go home.’ He arose forthwith at Patrick’s word, and they went home safe afterwards.

“The boys of the place in which Patrick was nursed were wont to bring honey to their mothers from the bees’ nests. Then his nurse said to Patrick:  ‘Although every other boy brings honey to his nurse, you bring none to me.’ Patrick afterwards carried off a bucket to the water, and filled it, and blessed the water, so that it changed into honey; and it healed every disease and ailment to which it was applied.

“One time the King of Britain’s steward went to command Patrick and his nurse to go and clean the hearth of the royal house in Al-Cluaid. Patrick and his nurse went. Then it was that the angel came, and said to Patrick: “Pray, and it will not be necessary for you to perform that work.” Patrick prayed. The angel afterwards cleaned the hearth. Then Patrick said: “Though all the firewood in Britain were burned in that fireplace, there would be no ashes of it on the morrow.” And this, indeed, is fulfilled yet. Another time, the King of Britain’s steward went to demand tribute of curds and butter from Patrick’s nurse; and she had nothing that she would give for the rent. Then it was that Patrick made curds and butter of the snow, and they were taken to the king; and the moment they were exhibited to the king, afterwards they changed into the nature of snow again. The king thereupon forgave the rent to Patrick for ever.

“The cause of Patrick’s coming to Erinn was as follows: The seven sons of Fechtmad—viz., the seven sons of the King of Britain—were on a naval expedition, and they went to plunder in Armoric-Letha; and a number of the Britons of Srath-Cluaidh were on a visit with their kinsmen, the Britons of Armoric-Letha, and Calpurn, son of Potit, Patrick’s father, and his mother—i.e., Conches, daughter of Ocbas of the Galls—i.e., of the Franks—were killed in the slaughter in Armorica. Patrick and his two sisters—viz., Lupait and Tigris—were taken prisoners, moreover, in that slaughter. The seven sons of Fechtmad went afterwards on the sea, having with them Patrick and his two sisters in captivity. The way they went was around Erinn, northwards, until they landed in the north; and they sold Patrick to Miliuc, son of Buan—i.e., to the King of Dal-Araidhe. They sold his sisters in Conaille-Muirthemhne. And they did not know this. Four persons, truly, that purchased him. One of them was Miliuc. It was from this that he received the name that is Cothraige, for the reason that he served four families. He had, indeed, four names. . .

[Here a leaf is missing from both the Bodleian and British Museum MSS. of the Tripartite Life, the contents of which would fill eight pages of similar size to the foregoing.]

When Patrick had completed his sixtieth year, and had learned knowledge, his auxiliary angel, Victor (for he was of assistance to him when he [Patrick] was in bondage with Miliuc, and regarding everything besides which he might wish), went to him, and said to him: “You are commanded from God to go to Erinn, to strengthen faith and belief, that you may bring the people, by the net of the Gospel, to the harbor of life; for all the men of Erinn call out your name, and they think it seasonable and fit that you should come.” Patrick afterwards bade farewell to Germanus, and gave him a blessing; and a trusted senior went with him from Germanus, to guard him and testify for him; his name was Segetius, and he was by grade a priest, and he it was who usually kept the Ordo of the church besides Germanus.

Patrick went subsequently on the sea, his company being nine. Then he went upon an island, where he saw a withered old woman on her hands at the door of a house. “Whence is the hag?” asked Patrick; “great is her infirmity.” A young man answered, and said: “She is a descendant of mine,” said the young man; “if you could see the mother of this girl, O cleric! she is more infirm still.” “In what way did this happen?” enquired Patrick. “Not difficult to tell,” said the young man. “We are here since the time of Christ. He came to visit us when He was on earth amongst men; and we made a feast for him, and he blessed our house and blessed ourselves; but this blessing reached not our children; and we shall be here without age or decay for ever. And it is long since thy coming was foretold to us,” said the young man; “and God ‘left it with us’ [i.e., prophesied to us] that thou wouldst come to preach to the Gaeidhel; and He left a token with us, i.e., His bachall (crozier), to be given to thee.” “I will not take it,” said Patrick, “until He Himself gives me His bachall.” Patrick remained three days and three nights with them; and he went afterwards into Sliabh-Hermoin, near the island, where the Lord appeared unto him, and commanded him to go and preach to the Gaeidliel; and He gave him the Bachall-Isa, and said that it would be of assistance to him in every danger and every difficulty in which he would be. And Patrick besought three requests of him—viz., (1) to be at His right hand in the kingdom of heaven; (2) that he (Patrick) might be the judge of the Gaeidhel on the Day of Judgment; and (3) as much as the nine companions could carry of gold and silver to give to the Gaeidhel for believing.

The Airchinnech that was in Rome at that time was Celestinus, the forty-second man from Peter. He sent Palladius, a high deacon, with twelve men, to instruct the Gaeidhel (for to the comarb of Peter belongs the instruction of Europe), in the same way as Barnabas went from Peter to instruct the Romans, etc. When Palladius arrived in the territory of Leinster—i.e., at Inbher-Dea—Nathi, son of Garchu, opposed him, and expelled him. And Palladius baptized a few there, and founded three churches—viz., Cill-fine (in which he left his books, and the casket with the relics of Paul and Peter, and the tablet in which he used to write), and Tech-na-Roman, and Doinhnach-Airte, in which Silvester and Solonius are. On turning back afterwards, sickness seized him in the country of the Cruithne, and he died of it.

When Patrick heard this thing, and knew that it was for him God designed the apostleship of Erinn, he went subsequently to Rome to receive grade; and it was Celestinus, Abbot of Rome, who read grada (orders, degrees) over him; Germanus and Amatho, King of the Romans, being present with them.

When Patrick came from Rome, where he arrived was at Inbher-Dea, in Leinster. Nathi, son of Garchu, came also against him. Patrick cursed him. Sinell, moreover, the son of Finnchadh, was the first who believed in Erinn through Patrick’s teaching. Hence it was that Patrick blessed him and his seed. On the same day Auxilius and Eserninus, and others of Patrick’s people, were ordained; and it was then, also, that the name Patricius—i.e., a name of power with the Romans—was given to him; i.e., a hostage-liberating man. It was he, moreover, who loosened the hostageship and bondage of the Gaeidhel to the devil. And when they were reading the grada (orders, degrees), the three choirs responded—viz., the choir of the men of heaven, and the choir of the Romans, and the choir of the children from the woods of Fochlud—all whom cried out, “Hibernienses omnes,” etc. In illis diebus autem gesta sunt in predictis ita. In that time there was a fierce pagan king in Erinn—i.e., Laeghaire Mac Neill—and his seat and royal hold was in Tara.” O’Leary

[My note: the Fairies lived on the Hill of Tara]

The Fairy Folk of Tara

“On the ancient Hill of Tara, from whose heights the High Kings once ruled all Ireland, from where the sacred fires in pagan days announced the annual resurrection of the sun, the Easter Tide, where the magic of Patrick prevailed over the magic of the Druids, and where the hosts of the Tuatha De Danann were wont to appear at the great Feast of Samain, to-day the fairy-folk of modern times hold undisputed sovereignty. And from no point better than Tara, which thus was once the magical and political centre of the Sacred Island, could we begin our study of the Irish Fairy-Faith. Though the Hill has lain unploughed and deserted since the curses of Christian priests fell upon it, on the calm air of summer evenings, at the twilight hour, wondrous music still sounds over its slopes, and at night long, weird processions of silent spirits march round its grass-grown raths and forts.[11] It is only men who fear the curse of the Christians; the fairy-folk regard it not.” Evans-Wentz, pg. 31.

“In the fifth year of the reign of Laeghaire Mac Neill Patrick came to Erinn. The eighth year of the reign of Lughaidh he died. The eighth year of the reign of Theodosius, the forty-fifth man from Augustus, Patrick came; eight years Celestine was then prince, as Gelasius said.

“This valiant king, then—i.e., Laeghaire Mac Neill—possessed druids and enchanters, who used to foretell through their druidism and through their paganism what was in the future for them. Lochru and Luchat Mael were their chiefs; and these two were authors of that art of pseudo-prophecy. They prophesied, then, that a mighty, unprecedented prophet would come across the sea, with an unknown code of instructions, with a few companions, whom multitudes would obey, and who would obtain dignity and reverence from the men of Erinn; and that he would expel kings and princes from their governments, and would destroy all the idolatrous images; and that the faith which would arrive would live for ever in Erin. Two years, or three, before the arrival of Patrick, what they used to prophesy was [as follows];

“A Tailcend (i.e., Patrick) shall come across the stormy sea.
His garment head-pierced, his staff head-bent,
His mias (i.e., altar) in the east of his house;
His people all shall answer, Amen, amen.”

Baile-Cuinn (the Ecstasy of Conn, a rhapsody so called) dixit: “A Tailcend shall come who will found cemeteries, make cells new, and pointed music-houses, with conical caps [bencopar], and have princes bearing croziers.” “When these signs shall come,” said they, “our adoration and our gentility (paganism) will vanish, and faith and belief will be magnified.” As it was foretold then and represented, so it happened and was fulfilled.

“When Patrick completed his voyage, and his ship entered the harbor at Inbher-Dea, in the territory of Leinster, he brought his ships to the shore. Then it was that he decided to go to instruct Miliuc. He thought fit as he labored at first for his body, that he should labor for his soul. He then put stick to shore, and proceeded on a prosperous voyage, past the coast of Erinn, eastwards, until he stopped in Inbher-Domnand. He found no fish there, and cursed it. He went to Inis-Patrick: and he sent to Inbher-Nainge, where nothing was found for him. He cursed this also, and both are unfruitful. Then it was that Benen came into his company. Soon after, Patrick slept awhile, and all the odoriferous flowers that the youth could find, he would put them into the cleric’s bosom. Patrick’s people said to Benen: “Stop doing that, lest thou shouldst awake Patrick.” Patrick said: “He will be the heir of my kingdom.” He went to Inbher-Boindi, where he found fish. He blessed it, and the Inbher is fruitful. He found druids in that place who denied the virginity of Mary. Patrick blessed the ground, and it swallowed the druids. Patrick went afterwards from Inis-Patrick, past Conaille, and past the coast of Ulster, until he stopped at Inbher-Brena. He went afterwards to Inbher-Slani, where the clerics hid their ships; and they went ashore to put off their fatigue, and to rest; so that there it was the swine-herd of Dichu, son of Trichim, found them, where Sabhall-Patrick is to-day. When he saw the divines and the clerics, he thought they were robbers or thieves, and he went to tell his lord; whereupon Dichu came, and set his dog at the clerics. Then it was that Patrick uttered the prophetic verse, “Ne tradas bestis, etc., et canis obmutuit.” When Dichu saw Patrick, he became gentle, and he believed, and Patrick baptized him; so that he was the first in Ulster who received faith and baptism from Patrick. Then it was that Dichu presented the Sabhall to Patrick. Patrick said:

“The blessing of God on Dichu,
Who gave to me the Sabhall;
May he be hereafter
Heavenly, joyous, glorious.

“The blessing of God on Dichu—
Dichu with full folds (flocks);
No one of his sept or kindred
Shall die, except after a long life.”

“Patrick went to preach to Miliuc, as we have said, and took gold with him to prevail on him to believe; for he knew that he (Miliuc) was covetous regarding gold. But when Miliuc heard that Patrick had arrived, he wished not to believe for him, and to abandon the pagan religion. He thought it unbecoming to believe for his servant, and to submit to him. The counsel that a demon taught him was this: He went into his royal house with his gold and silver; and he set the house on fire, and was burned with all his treasures, and his soul went to hell. Then it was that Patrick proceeded past the northern side of Sliabh-Mis (there is a cross in that place), and he saw the fire afar off. He remained silent for the space of two or three hours, thinking what it could be, and he said, “That is the fire of Miliuc’s house,” said Patrick, “after his burning himself in the middle of his house, that he might not believe in God in the end of his life. As regards the man who persuaded him thereto,” added he, “there shall not be a king or righdamhna of his family, and his seed and race shall be ‘in service’ for ever, and his soul shall not return from hell to the judgment, nor after judgment.” After he had said these words, he turned deisel (right-hand-wise) and went back again into the territory of Uladh, until he arrived at Magh-inis, to Dichu, son of Trichim, and he remained there a long time disseminating faith, so that he brought all the Ulidians, with the net of the Gospel, to the harbor of life.

“Patrick went subsequently from Sabhall southwards, that he might preach to Ros, son of Trichim. He it was that resided in Derlus, to the south of Dun-leth-glaise (Downpatrick). There is a small city (cathair, i.e., civitas, but also meaning a bishop’s see) there this day—i.e., Brettain, ubi est Episcopus Loarn qui ausus est increpare Patricium tenentem manum pueri ludentis just a Ecclesiam suam. As Patrick was then on his way, he saw a tender youth herding pigs. Mochae his name. Patrick preached to him, and baptized him, and cut his hair, and gave him a copy of the gospels and a reliquary. And he gave him also, another time, a bachall which had been given them from God—viz., its head into Patrick’s bosom, and its end in Mochae’s bosom; and this is the Detech-Mochae of Noendruim; and Mochae promised Patrick a shorn pig every year. And this, indeed, is still given.

Patrick and Easter

“When the solemnity of Easter approached, Patrick considered that there was no place more suitable to celebrate the high solemnity of the year—i.e., the Easter—than in Magh-Bregh, the place where the head of the idolatry and druidism of Erinn was—viz., in Temhair. They afterwards bade farewell to Dichu, son of Trichim, and put their vessels on the sea; and they proceeded until they anchored in Inbher-Colptha. They left their vessels in the Inbher, and went by land until they reached Ferta-fer-féc, and Patrick’s tent was fixed in this place, and he cut the Easter fire. It happened, however, that this was the time in which the great festival of the Gentiles—i.e., the Fes of Tara—was usually celebrated. The kings and princes and chieftains were wont to come to Laeghaire Mac Neill to Tara, to celebrate this festival. The druids and the magicians were also wont to come to prophesy to them. The fire of every hearth in Erinn was usually extinguished on that night, and it was commanded by the king that no fire should be lighted in Erinn before the fire of Tara, and neither gold nor silver would be accepted from any one who would light it, but he should suffer death for it. Patrick knew not this thing; and if he knew it, it would not prevent him.

“As the people of Tara were thus, they saw the consecrated Easter fire at a distance which Patrick had lighted. It illuminated all Magh-Bregh. Then the king said: “That is a violation of my prohibition and law; and do you ascertain who did it.” “We see the fire,” said the druids, “and we know the night in which it is made. If it is not extinguished before morning,” added they, “it will never be extinguished. The man who lighted it will surpass the kings and princes, unless he is prevented.” When the king heard this thing, he was much infuriated. Then the king said: “That is not how it shall be; but we will go,” said he, “until we slay the man who lighted the fire.” His chariot and horses were yoked for the king, and they went, in the end of the night, to Ferta-fer-féc. “You must take care,” said the druids, “that you go not to the place where the fire was made, lest you worship the man who lighted it; but stay outside, and let him be called out to you, that he may know you to be a king, and himself a subject; and we will argue in your presence.” “It is good counsel,” said the king; “it shall be done as you say.” They proceeded afterwards until they unyoked their horses and chariots in front of the Ferta. Patrick was “whispered” out to them; and it was commanded by them that no one should rise up before him, lest he should believe in him. Patrick rose and went out; and when he saw the chariots and horses unyoked, he sang the prophetic stanza:

“Hi in curribus et hi in eorus (equis),
Nos autem, in nomine Domini Dei nostri ma.” [O’Leary

Works Cited:

DePaola, Tomie. Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland. 1992

Ellemen, Barbara. Tomie dePaola: His Art His Stories. 1999.

Evans-Wentz. W. Y. The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries. 1911.

O’Leary, James. The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick. 1874.

Wilde, Lady [Jane].  Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms & Superstitions of Ireland. 1919.