The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings
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The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings
Patrick, Saint, 373?-463?
"Welcome," said Eoghan. "What is Patrick's wish?" Conall said: "That
you assist me." Conall afterwards observed: "If it is according to youth
precedence in a king's house or land is to be given, I am the youngest;
if according to mother's age, Enna Cromm is the oldest." To which
Laeghaire replied: "Honor to the senior, truly," said he, "and converse
with the learned; but if jewels and treasures are given to any one,
however, I will not deprive him of them." They came away, and Patrick
with them, and Patrick gave his chariot to Conall, so that it was the
thirteenth charlot. They went their way afterwards, and there was not
good-will with Aengus for his brother's son and for Patrick. He told his
two brothers--viz., Fergus and Fedhlimidh--to kill Patrick and Conall, as
he had agreed on parting Laeghaire, after Laeghaire had instigated him
thereto. They went northwards towards their country. The place which
Aengus had fixed upon for the fratricide was in Corann. Fergus simulated
sleep. His brothers refused what they had promised. "We will not kill
the innocent," said they, "and will not commit murder upon our brother."
Aengus went towards him (Patrick) to kill him, accompanied by two bands
and two druids---viz., Reon and Rechred, of the race of Faelan the
warrior. It is not more than a mile from the place whence Patrick saw
the enemies, from the cross to the west of Cross-Patrick, to
Cill-Forclann. Reon said that the ground would swallow Patrick on the
place where he would see him. This was related to Patrick. "It is I who
shall see him first," said Patrick. When Patrick saw him, the ground
swallowed him up. "I will believe," said he, "if I am rescued." The
ground flung him up until he was above the winds, and he fell down half
alive. He believed, and was baptized. Rechred was also lifted up and
let down until his head was broken against the rock, and fire from heaven
burned him. The druid's rock is there. There is a church there.
Cross-Patrick is its name, to the east of Coill-Fochlaidh.
Telach-na-Druadh is the name of the place where the pagans were, to the
west of Cross-Patrick. Glas-Conaigh is between them. Aengus said: "I
will believe if my sister is resuscitated"--_i.e._, Feidelm, daughter of
Amhalgaidh, who died long before.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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