nd and
permission of God, the sea commenced to move out from its accustomed
place--so swiftly too that the monsters of the sea were swimming and
running and that it was with difficulty they escaped with the sea.
However, many fishes were left behind on the dry strand owing to the
suddenness of the ebb. Declan, his crosier in his hand, pursued the
receding tide and his disciples followed after him. Moreover the sea
and the departing monsters made much din and commotion and when Declan
arrived at the place where is now the margin of the sea a stripling
whose name was Mainchin, frightened at the thunder of the waves and the
cry of the unknown monsters with gaping mouths following the (receding)
water, exclaimed:--"Father, you have driven out the sea far enough; for
I am afraid of those horrid monsters." When Declan heard this and (saw)
the sea standing still at the word of the youth it displeased him and
turning round he struck him a slight blow on the nose. Three drops of
blood flowed from the wound on to the ground in three separate places
at the feet of Declan. Thereupon Declan blessed the nose and the blood
ceased immediately (to flow). Then Declan declared:--"It was not I who
drove out the sea but God in His own great power who expelled it and He
would have done still more had you not spoken the words you have said."
Three little wells of clear sweet water burst forth in the place where
fell the three drops of blood at the feet of Declan, and these wells are
there still and the colour of blood is seen in them occasionally as a
memorial of this miracle. The shore, rescued from the sea, is a mile
in width and is of great length around (the island) and it is good and
fertile land for tillage and pasture--lying beneath the monastery of
Declan. As to the crosier which was in Declan's hand while he wrought
this miracle, this is its name--the Feartach Declain, from the
miracles and marvels [fertaib] wrought through it. I shall in another,
subsequent, place relate some of these miracles (narrated).

21. After the expulsion of the sea by this famous Saint, scil.: Declan,
whose name and renown spread throughout Erin because of his great and
diverse miracles, he commenced to build a great monastery by the south
side of the stream which flows through the island into the sea. This
monastery is illustrious and beautiful and its name is Ardmor Declain,
as we have said. After this came many persons to Declan, drawn from the
uttermost