Paul, Peter, and many other martyrs. He left, too, in the churches after
him these four, Augustinus, Benedictus, Silvester, and Solonius, whilst
Palladius was returning to Rome, because he found not the honour due to
him, when disease seized him in the country of the Picts (_Cruithnech_),
and he died there."--_Annals of the Four Masters._

Again--

"A.D. 431. The fourth year of Laogar. Patrick came to Ireland this year,
and imparted baptism and blessing to the Irish, men, women, sons, and
daughters, except those who were unwilling to receive baptism or faith
from him, as his life relates (_ut narrat ejus vita_). The church of
Antrim was founded by Patrick, after its donation from Felim the son of
Laogar, the son of Nial, to him, to Loman, and to Fortchern. Flann of
the monastery has sung--

"Patrick, abbot of all Ireland, McCalphrain, McFotaide,
McDeisse, the withholder of testimony to falsehood, McCormac Mor,
McLeibriuth,
McOta, McOrric the Good, McMaurice, McLeo of the church,
McMaximus the Mournful, McEncret, the Noble, the Illustrious,
McPhilist the Best of All, McFeren the Blameless,
McBritain the Famous by Sea, whence the Britons strong by sea,
Cochnias his mother the Noble, Nemthor his city, the Warlike;
In Momonia his portion is not denied, which he acquired at the
prayers of Patrick."

In the Books of the Schools on Divine Things the rest of this poem is to
be found, _i.e._, De Mirabilibus Familiae Patricii Orationum.

The value due to a series of Lives of Saints may be allowed to the Irish
Annals subsequent to A.D. 430; and isolated events, without much
reference to their importance, is what we get from them. As soon as
Christianity introduces the use of letters, we see our way to the
preservation of the records, and the dawning of history begins.

If the annals of the Christian period rest almost wholly on Christian
records, what can be the authority of the still earlier histories?
Separate substantive proof of the existence of early historians, or
early poets there is none. We only assume it from the events narrated.
We also assume the event from the narrative; and, so doing, argue in a
circle. The fact from the statement, and the statement from the fact.
Such is too often the case.

An additional century of antiquity may be gained by admitting the
existence of an imperfect Christianity in Ireland anterior to the time
of St. Patrick--thou