is immediate control and under his
direction as subjects than to be in authority in another monastery.

22. After this the holy renowned bishop, head of justice and faith in
the Gaelic island came into Ireland, i.e. Patrick sent by Celestinus, the
Pope. Aongus Mac Nathfrich went to meet him soon as he heard the account
of his coming. He conducted him (Patrick) with reverence and great
honour to his own royal city--to Cashel. Then Patrick baptised him and
blessed himself and his people and his city. Patrick heard that the
prince of the Decies had not been baptised and did not believe, that
there was a disagreement between the prince and Declan and that the
former refused to receive instruction from the latter. Patrick thereupon
set out to preach to the prince aforesaid. Next, as to the four bishops
we have named who had been in Rome: Except Declan alone they were not in
perfect agreement with Patrick. It is true that subsequently to this
they did enter into a league of peace and harmonious actions with Patrick
and paid him fealty. Ciaran, however, paid him all respect and reverence
and was of one mind with him present or absent. Ailbe then, when he saw
the kings and rulers of Ireland paying homage to Patrick and going out to
meet him, came himself to Cashel, to wait on him and he also paid homage
to him (Patrick) and submitted to his jurisdiction, in presence of the
king and all others. Bear in mind it was Ailbe whom the other holy
bishops had elected their superior. He therefore came first to Patrick,
lest the others, on his account, should offer opposition to Patrick, and
also that by his example the others might be more easily drawn to his
jurisdiction and rule. Bishop Ibar however would on no account consent
to be subject to Patrick, for it was displeasing to him that a foreigner
should be patron of Ireland. It happened that Patrick in his origin was
of the Britons and he was nurtured in Ireland having been sold to bondage
in his boyhood. There arose misunderstanding and dissension between
Patrick and Bishop Ibar at first, although (eventually), by intervention
of the angel of peace, they formed a mutual fellowship and brotherly
compact and they remained in agreement for ever after. But Declan did
not wish to disagree at all with Patrick for they had formed a mutual
bond of friendship on the Italian highway and it is thus the angel
commanded him to go to Patrick and obey him:--

23. The angel of God