O'Donovan well observes, that it bears internal
evidence of its authenticity in its allusion to pagan customs. Tirechan,
who wrote in the seventh century, says that there were four honours paid
to St. Patrick in _all monasteries and churches throughout the whole of
Ireland_. First, the festival of St. Patrick was honoured for three days
and nights with all good cheer, except flesh meat [which the Church did
not allow then to be used in Lent]. Second, there was a proper preface
for him in the Mass. Third, his hymn was sung for the whole time.
Fourth, his Scotic hymn was sung always. As we intend publishing a
metrical translation of his hymn suitable for general use, we hope it
will be "said and sung" by thousands of his own people on his festival
for all time to come.

[126] _Hell_.--O'Curry, p. 539. This is translated from the Tripartite
Life of St. Patrick.

[127] _Moment_.--Keating, Vol ii. p. 15.

[128] _Land_.--Near the present town of Killala, co. Mayo.

[129] _Protected him_.--Book of Armagh and Vit. Trip.

[130] _Death_.--Vit. Trip. It was probably at this time St. Patrick
wrote his celebrated letter to Caroticus.

[131] _Daire_.--Book of Armagh, fol. 6, b.a.

[132] _Confessio_.--This most remarkable and interesting document will
be translated and noticed at length in the _Life of St. Patrick_, which
we are now preparing for the press.

[133] _St. Tussach_.--All this Dr. Todd omits. The Four Masters enter
the obituary of St. Patrick under the year 457. It is obvious that some
uncertainty must exist in the chronology of this early period.

[134] _Oracle_.--It is said that, three years before St. Patrick's
apostolic visit to Ireland, the druids of King Laeghaire predicted the
event to their master as an impending calamity. The names of the druids
were Lochra and Luchat Mael; their prophecy runs thus:--

"A _Tailcenn_ will come over the raging sea, With his perforated
garment, his crook-headed staff, With his table at the east end of his
house, And all his people will answer 'Amen, Amen.'"

The allusions to the priestly vestments, the altar at the east end of
the church, and the pastoral staff, are sufficiently obvious, and easily
explained. The prophecy is quoted by Macutenius, and quoted again from
him by Probus; but the original is in one of the most ancient and
authentic Irish MSS., the Book of Armagh.

[135] _Died_.--O'Curry, p. 273.

[136] _Burial_.--"The body of Laeghaire was brought afterward