The artificiality of this arrangement is emphasised by the circumstance that the author conceives each period to be coincident with exactly four reigns. This is contrary to fact in the case of periods 1 and 3. In period 1 the reign of Muirchertach, which lasted twenty years, is omitted; in period 3, three reigns are omitted. Thus historical accuracy has been sacrificed to symmetry. But there is also a fundamental chronological error. The author’s date for the beginning of his second period is too late, for the activity of some of the leading saints whom he places in it, such as Ciarán of Clonmacnois and Finian of Clonard, began earlier than A.D. 544.[346] These examples of looseness do not predispose us to accept the author’s particular statements without further evidence. But the most important point in his conception of the development, namely, the decline from uniformity and the rise of individualism after the Patrician period (though he puts the beginning of this movement too late), is in consonance with probability and with other evidence. 3. _Liber Angueli_ This document, contained in the _Liber Armachanus_ (printed in Rolls ed., 352 _sqq._), is a clumsy invention, fabricated at Armagh, probably early in the eighth century, in the interests of the Armagh jurisdiction. It has importance for the ecclesiastical history of Ireland, but none for the acts of Patrick. Its motive, however, illustrates the confessed motive of Tírechán’s _Memoir_, the interest of the _Paruchia Patricii_. It has been, for the first time, critically treated by Dr. Gwynn, who makes it highly probable that it consists of two different compositions: (1) the _Colloquy_ with the angel, and (2) _Decrees_ concerning the rights of Armagh. These parts are separated by a space in the MS. at the top of fol. 21 rᵒ a (Part ii. begins _de speciali reuerantia_), and Dr. Gwynn shows by a careful comparison that they are probably of distinct origin, the _Decrees_ being the older, and the _Colloquy_ being composed as a sort of introduction to them with the view of supporting their validity by divine authority (see Gwynn, _Introduction_ to the _Book of Armagh_, chap. vi.). For the mention of the appeal to the Roman see in last instance, see App. C, 16. APPENDIX B NOTES CHAPTER I P. 12.—The intercourse of Ireland with the Roman provinces is illustrated by coins found in the island. See _Proceedings of Royal Irish Academy_, ii. 184-8 (1843), on a find of coins (early imperial, from Vespasian to the Antonines) in Faugh Mountain, near Pleaskin, Giant’s Causeway, Co. Antrim; cp. also _ib._ 186-7; _ib._ vi. 441 _sqq._ (1856), a paper by Petrie on coins of the Republic found near Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin; _ib._ 525, on eight coins (imperial, from Tiberius to Constantine) found near Downpatrick; _Proc. of Royal Soc. of Antiquaries of Ireland_, xxx. p. 176 (1900), fifteen coins (Constantine) at Tara.