Now, in
that island depastured the sheep belonging to the wife of the
chieftain of Decies and it is thence that it derives its Irish
name--Ard-na-Ccaorac, scil.:--there was in it a high hill and it was a
promontory beautiful to behold. One of the party, ascending the summit
of the hill, said to Declan:--"How can this little height support your
people?" Declan replied:--"Do not call it little hill, beloved son, but
'great height' [ard mor]," and that name has adhered to the city ever
since, scil.:--Ardmore-Declain. After this Declan went to the king of
the Desii and asked of him the aforesaid island. Whereupon the king gave
it to him.

20. Declan next returned to Ait-mBreasail where, in a haven at the north
side, were the shipping and boats of the island, plying thither and
backwards. The people of the island hid all their boats not willing that
Declan should settle there; they dreaded greatly that if Declan came to
dwell there they themselves should be expelled. Whereupon his disciples
addressed Declan:--"Father," said they, "Many things are required
(scil.: from the mainland) and we must often go by boat to this island
and there will be (crossing) more frequently when you have gone to
heaven and we pray thee to abandon the place or else to obtain from God
that the sea recede from the land so that it can be entered dry shod,
for Christ has said:--'Whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my
name He will give it to you' [John 15:16]; the place cannot be easily
inhabited unless the sea recede from it and on that account you cannot
establish your city in it." Declan answered them and said:--"How can I
abandon the place ordained by God and in which He has promised that my
burial and resurrection shall be? As to the alleged inconvenience of
dwelling therein, do you wish me to pray to God (for things) contrary
to His will--to deprive the sea of its natural domain? Nevertheless in
compliance with your request I shall pray to God and whatever thing be
God's will, let it be done." Declan's community thereupon rose up and
said:--"Father, take your crosier as Moses took the rod [Exodus 14:16]
and strike the sea therewith and God will thus show His will to you."
His disciples prayed therefore to him because they were tried and holy
men. They put Declan's crosier in his hand and he struck the water in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and made
the sign of the cross over the water and immediately, by comma