_ in
431, or of St. _Patrick_ the Year following: St. _Kieran_, St. _Ailbe_,
St. _Declan_, and St. _Ibar_, whom _Ussher_ calls the Precursors, or
Forerunners of St. _Patrick_, are pregnant Proofs of this; they were of
the Birth of _Ireland_, from whence they travelled to _Rome_, in Search of
Education and Learning, where they lived some Years, were ordained, and
returned Home about the Year 402.

It seems that those early Preachers confined their Labours to particular
Places, in which they had considerable Success, but fell very short of
converting the Body of the Nation: However, they sowed the Seed which St.
_Patrick_ came after to water: And it is certain that St. _Patrick_ was so
well satisfied with the Progress they made, in their particular Districts
in _Munster_, that this was the last Province in _Ireland_ he thought
proper to visit. That there were many Christians in _Ireland_, at this
Period, seems to be confirmed by _Prosper_, who, in giving an Account of
the Mission of _Palladius_, says, that he was ordained by Pope _Celestin_,
and sent the first Bishop to the _Scots_ believing in Christ. This Passage
can mean nothing else, but that _Palladius_, born in Britain, was sent to
the Scots [i.e. the _Irish_] who had already formed Churches under
_Kieran_, _Ailbe_, _Declan_ and _Ibar_; and so the Bishop of St. _Asaph_
expounds it. This then was the next Attempt that was made for the
Conversion of the _Irish_: _Palladius_ engaged in a more ample and
extensive Design than his Predecessors, yet he failed in the Execution of
it, stay'd but a short Time in _Ireland_, and did little worth remembring;
he converted, however, a few, and is said to have founded three Churches;
but he had neither Courage to withstand the Fierceness of the heathen
_Irish_, nor Abilities, for Want of the Language, proper for the Work.

_Nathi_, the Son of _Garcon_, an _Irish_ Prince, opposed his preaching;
upon which _Palladius_ left the Kingdom, and died in the Land of the
_Picts_, on the 15th of _December_, 431. This glorious Work was reserved
for St. _Patrick_, to whose holy Life, divine Mission, and extraordinary
Success, I refer the Reader. This great Apostle of the _Irish_ founded and
built the Cathedral Church of _Ardmagh_, about the Year 444, or 45, which,
from that early Period to this, hath continued the Metropolitan Church of
all _Ireland_. So that 1194 Years passed away from the Founding of the
City of _Rome_, to that of _Ardmagh_.