The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings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The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings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?
Patrick received welcome in the district from Erc's twelve sons. And
Fergus Mor Mac Erca said to Patrick: "If I am preferred before my
brothers in the division of our land, I will offer some to you." And
Patrick gave to Bishop Olcan this part--_i.e._, Airther-Maighe. Patrick
said to Fergus: "Though thy esteem with thy brothers is not great to-day,
it is thou that shall be king. The kings of this land and of Fortren
shall be from thee for ever"; and this is what was fulfilled in Aedan Mac
Gabhrain, who possessed Alba by force. Patrick left many cells and
establishments in the territory of Dal-Riada.
He founded Fothraidh, and left two of his people in it--viz., Presbyter
Cathbadh, and the monk Dimman; and he founded Rath-Mudhain, and left
Presbyter Erclach in it; he left Bishop Nem in Telach-Ceniul-Aenghusa;
Dachen-nindan in Domhnach-Cainri, in Cothraighe; Enan in Druim-Indich;
and Bishop Fiachra in Cuil-Echirainn. And Patrick blessed Dun-Sobhairce;
and Patrick's well is there, and he left a blessing upon it.
He went afterwards to Dal-Araidhe. He found Caelbadh's twelve sons
before him. He proposed to found a place where Cill-glas is. He was
repelled from it; and it belongs to him yet; and he left two of his
people there--viz., Glaisiuc and Presbyter Libur. And he determined that
he would found a place where Lathrach-Patraic is. It is there Daniel,
Patrick's angel and dwarf, is. It is there Patrick's well is--_Slan_ is
its name--which Patrick discovered there. Saran, the son of Caelbad,
seized his hand to expel him; and Patrick took heaven and land from him.
Connia, the son of Caelbadh, however, received Patrick with humility, and
gave him Domhnach-Combair; and Patrick blessed him, and declared that
kings and chieftains should be of his race for ever. And he founded many
churches in Dal-Araidhe--viz., Domhnach-mor of Magh-Damhairne, and
Rath-Sithe (and he left two of his people there), and Telach-Conadain,
and Gluaire in Latharna (and Mac Laisre is in it). He founded
Glenn-indechta, and Imlech-[c]luana, in Semhne (where Caemhan was left),
and Rath-Escuip-Indich, in the territory of Ui-Erca-chein.
After some time the aforesaid Saran bore off some men in captivity from
the district of Dal-Riada. Bishop Olcan met him, and the poor people
were grievously complaining to him. Olcan interceded, but it was of no
avail, unless he would assure heaven to Saran. "I cannot do so, indeed,"
said he, "for Patrick has deprived thee of it." "I will kill thy people
about thee but thee alone," said he, "and I will slay all these captives;
and wherever I shall find a priest (tailcend), I shall bring him under
the edge of the sword."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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