P. 194.—The reference to the redemption of captives from the Franks is an illustration from Patrick’s own writings of his knowledge of Gaul. An untenable inference has been drawn from this passage by Sir S. Ferguson and Dr. Stokes, namely, that it must have been written before the Franks “crossed the Rhine and settled in Gaul, _i.e._ before A.D. 428” (Introduction to _Tripartite Life_, p. ci). The argument is based on ignorance of Frank history. The Salian Franks in question had been settled west of the Rhine since the time of Julian. Consequently if there was any validity in the argument it would prove that the _Letter_ must have been written before 358 A.D. But the reasoning is invalid. It is not clear whether the Salians are meant; but if they are meant, as they well may be, there is no reason in the world why they should not have carried off captives to their territory in Lower Germany, on the Gallic side of the Rhine, early in the fifth century, whether in the days of Chlojo or before; in fact it is what we should expect in those troubled years from 407 to the campaigns of Aetius in the late twenties. The argument that the Franks must have carried their captives _beyond the Rhine_ is to me unintelligible. _Ib._—Legend of the transformation of Ceretic into a fox: Muirchu, p. 498: _ilico uulpeculi_ (sic legendum) _miserabiliter arrepta forma_. The curious expression (_ib._₁₉), _ex illo die illaque hora uelut fluxus aquae transiens nusquam comparuit_, may possibly have been suggested by the words in the _Letter_ 380₇ referring to Coroticus: _miserum regnum temporale quod utique in momento transeat sicut nubes uel fumus qui utique uento dispergitur: ita peccatores et fraudulenti a facie Domini peribunt_. Muirchu found that story in an Irish written source (see above, App. A, ii. 3). P. 195.—Bitter phrases and self-justification in the _Letter_: see 375₂₀₋₂₁; 376₁₆ (_non usurpo aliena_); 377₁₄₋378₂; 379₁₂₋₁₈. For similar phrases in the _Confession_ and the _Letter_, cp. Mr. White’s list of recurrent phrases (_Proc. of R.I.A._ 1905, p. 299), to which may be added the use of _utique_. P. 197.—“Confession.” What Patrick meant by _confessio_ is made clear by the last sentences of the work (374₂₈₋375₅), and borne out by the general tenor. Compare esp. 358₄₋₁₀ (_confiteremur_), 361₁₇, 366₂₀, 370₃₄. P. 202.—The attack on Patrick, on account of the youthful fault (_Conf._ 365₂, etc.): et quando temptatus sum ab aliquantis senioribus meis qui uenerunt et peccata mea contra laboriosum episcopatum meum <..>, utique in illo die fortiter impulsus sum ut caderem [cp. Ps. 118, 38] hic et in aeternum, sed Dominus pepercit proselito et peregrino, etc.