The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings
History
The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings
Patrick, Saint, 373?-463?
When Patrick was at Ailech-Airtich in Sonnacht, in Cinel-Enda, Enda came
to him. "Da mihi hunc locum," said Patrick. "Quasi non babussemus
clericos," said Enda. On the morrow venit Enda et suus filius secum,
Echu Caech. Patrick had turned off to pray, and his people to baptize,
to confer orders, and to propagate the faith. The two Maccairthinns were
there at the time, namely, qui est at Clochar et qui est at
Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair. "Confer ye the degree of bishop upon my
son," said Enda. "Let Patrick be consulted," said Patrick's champion,
Maccairthinn of Clochar. "It is our duty," said the other; "I will
confer the order." When Patrick, he said, "Ye have conferred orders in
my absence on the son of the Wolf; there shall be strife in the church of
the one for ever; there shall be poverty in the church of the other."
Quod impletur: strife at Clochar; Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair, poverty is
there. "The son upon whom the degree was conferred, two persons, after
committing murder, shall profane his relics. One hundred and twenty
years until a son shall be born in the southern parts [who shall
reconsecrate his church], and it shall be restored to me again." Quod
totum impletum est. The first place where his relics were was a high and
beautiful spot, but they were carried thence after a short time to a
lower place; and the first place where they were is deserted, and robbers
and murderers are accustomed to dwell there, through Patrick's curse.
And his church was ceded to Ciaran Mac-an-tsair, but was restored to
Patrick again. This Echu, son of Enda, is at this day called Bishop
Echan.
As Patrick was in Tir-Enda-Airtich at Tulach-liag, in Leitir, he stuck
[wattles for] a church there, which afterwards became a bush. After this
he went to the Lei, on the east of the Bann, ubi non capiebant homines
pieces nisi in nocte usque ad illud tempus. Deinde imperavit eis
Patricius ut in die caperent, et sic erit in finem seculi.
Patrick went afterwards into Dal-Araidhe and Dal-Riada. Then he
proceeded to Ror to Carn-Setna, southwards, where he heard the screams of
an infant from out of the ground. The carn was demolished, the sepulchre
was laid bare, and a smell of wine arose around them out of the
sepulchre. They saw the living child with the dead mother. A woman that
died of ague; she was brought across the sea to Eriu, and the child was
born after death; and seven days, it is said, it lived in the tumulus.
"That is bad (_olc_)," said the king. "That shall be his name (_Olcan_)"
said the druid. Patrick baptized him; and he is Bishop Olcan, of the
community of Airther-Maighe, in the district of Dal-Riada. And Mac
Nisse; of Condere, read his psalms with Patrick. . . .
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account