[365] In A.D. 383 he was sent on an embassy to the Persians (whom Keller calls “Parthians,” p. 15), and married Serena soon after (384 or 385). In A.D. 386 he was engaged in the campaign with the Gruthungi. [366] This seems to me a just remark of Mr. Hodgkin, _Italy and her Invaders_, vol. i. (2nd ed.), p. 716. [367] “Tyrants of Britain, Gaul, and Spain,” _Eng. Hist. Review_, 1886, i. 55, note 3. This is the chief study on the subject (republished in _Western Europe in the Fifth Century_, 1905, chaps. ii., iii.). Cp. App. 20 to Bury’s edition of Gibbon, vol. iii. [368] II. k. Jan. ed. Mommsen, p. 465. [369] Prosper’s notice, _sub ann._ 407, agrees with the implication in Olympiodorus. [370] Preface to edition of Gildas (_Chron. Min._ iii. 1), p. 7. [371] The Picts are described as a _gens transmarina_ (the Picts of Dalaradia?). [372] _Ann. Ult. sub a._ 461. [373] _Ann. Inisf._ ed. O’Conor _sub a._ (“488” =) 493: _anno ccccxxxii a passione Domini_. [374] Ed. Mommsen, p. 158-9. [375] Rolls ed. p. 365₁₅, _nescio, Deus scit, si habebam tunc annos quindecim_. [376] _Ib._₁₁. [377] 366₁₀. [378] 365₁₀. [379] So it is interpreted by Todd, _St. Patrick_, p. 392; by Neander, _Allg. Geschichte der christlichen Religion u. Kirche_, iii. 185, note; by Zimmer, _Celtic Church_, p. 43. [380] I adopt the admirable correction of Dr. N. J. D. White for _occasionum—inuenerunt me_ (MSS.). [381] The truth is that the length of time which elapsed since the wrongdoing is not pertinent. The point is the interval between the confession of it to his friend, who offered no obstacle to his ordination as deacon (nor later to his ordination as bishop), and the occasion on which it was used against him. It is this lapse of 30 years which makes his friend’s conduct so unaccountable. [382] It is interesting to note that this name is found on three ogam stones, in the genitive forms _Gosoctas_, _Gossucttias_, and _Gosocteas_ (see Rhŷs, _Ogam-inscribed Stones_, in reprint from _Proc. of Royal Soc. of Antiquaries of Ireland_, Part i. vol. xxxii. 1902, p. 24). [383] The force of _adhuc_ here (not synonymous with _iterum_) is exactly like its force in _adhuc capturam dedi_. See above, Appendix B, note on p. 34. [384] Muirchu’s _et erat annorum triginta_ (496₁) must not be alleged; it is based on a misconception of the _annos triginta_ of the _Confession_ (365₁₀), and influenced by the Scriptural parallel to which Muirchu refers. [385] Jerome, Ep. cxxiii. (_ad Ageruchiam_), Migne’s ed. vol. i. 1057-8. [386] After A.D. 439. [387] vii. § 50. Orosius, vii. 38 and 40, gives no details of the devastations. [388] Edited by Brandes in the _Corp. Script. Eccl._ 1889. [389] Compare the sketch of Professor Dill, based on these poems, in _Roman Society_, bk. iv. cap. 2 (p. 263, ed. 1).