ctain, Finnlaoc, Kevin, &c.
[Mobi]. These therefore were under the rule and spiritual sway of bishop
Declan thenceforward, and they spent their lives devoutly there and
wrought many wonders afterwards.

16. After some time Declan set out to visit Aongus MacNatfrich, king
of Cashel, to preach to him and to convert him to the faith of Christ.
Declan however had two uterine brothers, sons of Aongus, scil.: Colman
and Eoghan. The grace of the Holy Ghost inspiring him Colman went
to Ailbe of Emly and received baptism and the religious habit at the
latter's hands, and he remained for a space sedulously studying science
until he became a saintly and perfect man. Eochaid however remained
as he was (at home)--expecting the kingdom of Munster on his father's
death, and he besought his father to show due honour to his brother
Declan. The king did so and put no obstacle in the way of Declan's
preaching but was pleased with Declan's religion and doctrine, although
he neither believed nor accepted baptism himself. It is said that
refusal (of baptism) was based on this ground: Declan was of the Decies
and of Conn's Half, while Aongus himself was of the Eoghanacht of Cashel
of Munster--always hostile to the Desii. It was not therefore through
ill will to the faith that he believed not, as is proved from this that,
when the king heard of the coming to him of Patrick, the archbishop of
Ireland, a man who was of British race against which the Irish cherished
no hate, not only did he believe but he went from his own city of Cashel
to meet him, professed Christianity and was immediately baptised.

17. After this Declan, having sown the word of God and preached to the
king (although the latter did not assent to his doctrines), proceeded
to his own country and they (the Desii) believed and received baptism
except the king alone and the people of his household who were every day
promising to believe and be baptised. It however came about through the
Devil's agency that they hesitated continually and procrastinated.

18. Other authorities declare that Declan went many times to Rome, but
we have no written testimony from the ancient biographers that he went
there more than three times. On one of these occasions Declan paid a
visit to the holy bishop of the Britons whose name was David at the
church which is called Killmuine [Menevia] where the bishop dwelt beside
the shore of the sea which divides Ireland from Britain. The bishop
received Decl