d he
remained there a long time disseminating faith, so that he brought all
the Ulidians, with the net of the Gospel, to the harbor of life.

Patrick went subsequently from Sabhall southwards, that he might preach
to Ros, son of Trichim. He it was that resided in Derlus, to the south
of Dun-leth-glaise (Downpatrick). There is a small city (cathair,
_i.e._, civitas, but also meaning a bishop's _see_) there this
day--_i.e._, Brettain, ubi est Episcopus Loarn qui ausus est increpare
Patricium tenentem manum pueri ludentis justa Ecclesiam suam. As
Patrick was then on his way, he saw a tender youth herding pigs.
Mochae his name. Patrick preached to him, and baptized him, and cut
his hair, and gave him a copy of the gospels and a reliquary. And he
gave him also, another time, a _bachall_ which had been given them from
God--viz., its head into Patrick's bosom, and its end in Mochae's
bosom; and this is the Detech-Mochae of Noendruim; and Mochae promised
Patrick a shorn pig every year. And this, indeed, is still given.

When the solemnity of Easter approached, Patrick considered that there
was no place more suitable to celebrate the high solemnity of the
year--_i.e._, the Easter--than in Magh-Bregh, the place where the head
of the idolatry and druidism of Erinn was--viz., in Temhair. They
afterwards bade farewell to Dichu, son of Trichim, and put their
vessels on the sea; and they proceeded until they anchored in
Inbher-Colptha. They left their vessels in the Inbher, and went by
land until they reached Ferta-fer-fec, and Patrick's tent was fixed in
this place, and he cut the Easter fire. It happened, however, that
this was the time in which the great festival of the Gentiles--_i.e._,
the _Fes of Tara_--was usually celebrated. The kings and princes and
chieftains were wont to come to Laeghaire Mac Neill to Tara, to
celebrate this festival. The druids and the magicians were also wont
to come to prophesy to them. The fire of every hearth in Erinn was
usually extinguished on that night, and it was commanded by the king
that no fire should be lighted in Erinn before the fire of Tara, and
neither gold nor silver would be accepted from any one who would light
it, but he should suffer death for it. Patrick knew not this thing;
and if he knew it, it would not prevent him.

As the people of Tara were thus, they saw the consecrated Easter fire
at a distance which Patrick had lighted. It illuminated all
Magh-Bregh. Then t