belongs the instruction of Europe), in the same way as Barnabas went
from Peter to instruct the Romans, etc. When Palladius arrived in the
territory of Leinster--_i.e._, at Inbher-Dea--Nathi, son of Garchu,
opposed him, and expelled him. And Palladius baptized a few there, and
founded three churches--viz., Cill-fine (in which he left his books,
and the casket with the relics of Paul and Peter, and the tablet in
which he used to write), and Tech-na-Roman, and Doinhnach-Airte, in
which Silvester and Solonius are. On turning back afterwards, sickness
seized him in the country of the Cruithne, and he died of it.
When Patrick heard this thing, and knew that it was for him God
designed the apostleship of Erinn, he went subsequently to Rome to
receive grade; and it was Celestinus, Abbot of Rome, who read _grada_
(orders, degrees) over him; Germanus and Amatho, King of the Romans,
being present with them.
When Patrick came from Rome, where he arrived was at Inbher-Dea, in
Leinster. Nathi, son of Garchu, came also against him. Patrick cursed
him. Sinell, moreover, the son of Finnchadh, was the first who
believed in Erinn through Patrick's teaching. Hence it was that
Patrick blessed him and his seed. On the same day Auxilius and
Eserninus, and others of Patrick's people, were ordained; and it was
then, also, that the name Patricius--_i.e._, a name of power with the
Romans--was given to him; _i.e._, a hostage-liberating man. It was he,
moreover, who loosened the hostageship and bondage of the Gaeidhel to
the devil. And when they were reading the _grada_ (orders, degrees),
the three choirs responded--viz., the choir of the men of heaven, and
the choir of the Romans, and the choir of the children from the woods
of Fochlud--all whom cried out, "Hibernienses omnes," etc. In illis
diebus autem gesta sunt in predictis ita. In that time there was a
fierce pagan king in Erinn--_i.e._, Laeghaire Mac Neill--and his seat
and royal hold was in Tara. In the fifth year of the reign of
Laeghaire Mac Neill Patrick came to Erinn. The eighth year of the
reign of Lughaidh he died. The eighth year of the reign of Theodosius,
the forty-fifth man from Augustus, Patrick came; eight years Celestine
was then prince, as Gelasius said.
This valiant king, then--_i.e._, Laeghaire Mac Neill--possessed druids
and enchanters, who used to foretell through their druidism and through
their paganism what was in the future for them. Lochru and Lu
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