introduction of the Christian faith; and so great was it, that they, that is, the demons, used to tempt the people in human bodies, and that they used to show them secrets and places of happiness, where they should be immortal; and it was in that way they were believed. And it is these phantoms that the unlearned people call _Sidhe_ and _Aes Sidhe_.’[216] In connection with this belief was the class of people called _Druadh_, who were supposed to be able to conciliate these gods of the earth, or, by their influence with them, practise incantations and work spells. Thus, in the ancient hymn called _Ninine’s_ Prayer, he says of St. Patrick— He fought against hard-hearted _Druide_. He thrust down proud men with the aid of our Lord of fair heavens. He purified the great offspring of meadow-landed Erin. We pray to Patrick, chief apostle, who will save us at the judgment from doom to the malevolence of dark demons.[217] St. Patrick himself, in the very old hymn attributed to him, prays to be protected Against snares of demons, Against black laws of heathenry, Against spells of women, smiths, and _Druadh_. And Fiacc in his poem says, ‘The Druids of Laogaire concealed not from him the coming of Patrick.’[218] In the Book of Armagh we find, from the indications there given of the paganism which St. Patrick overthrew, that it bore the same character. Thus we are told in the Life of St. Patrick that ‘the gentiles were about celebrating an idolatrous solemnity accompanied with many incantations and some magical inventions and other idolatrous superstitions; their kings being collected, also their satraps with their chief leaders, and the principal among the people, and _Magi_ and enchanters and soothsayers and doctors, inventors of all arts and gifts, as being summoned before Laogaire in Temar.’[219] Again the _Magus_ of King Laogaire challenges St. Patrick ‘to perform signs’ to show their respective powers. The _Magus_, in presence of them all, ‘commenced his magical incantations, and brought down snow upon the whole plain;’ but St. Patrick blesses the plain, when ‘the snow immediately vanished without rain, clouds, or wind.’ The _Magus_, ‘having invoked the demons, brought down very thick darkness upon the earth,’ which also St. Patrick dispelled.[220] In Tirechan’s Annotations we are told that St. Patrick ‘came to the fountain of Findmaige, which is called Slan, because it was indicated to him that the _Magi_ honoured this fountain and made donations to it as gifts to God,’ and further, ‘that they worshipped the fountain like a God.’[221] And again we are told that St. Patrick ‘came to Muada; and behold the _Magi_ of the sons of Amolngid heard that the Saint came into the country, a very great crowd of _Magi_ assembled, with the chief _Magus_, named Recrad, who wished to slay Patrick; and he came to them with nine _Magi_ clad in white garments, with a magical host.’[222] Besides the objects of