183 



once more released him. The remembrance, however, of the beautiful 

 island he had seen clouded with heathenism, concurred with his piety 

 in inducing him to attempt a thorough conversion there. His Confes- 

 sion attributes the resolution to a vision, which, under the influence of 

 such thoughts, it was extremely probable he should have had, (" vidi 

 in visu nocte virum venientem quasi de Hiberni^,, &c.)* He does 

 not, however, appear to have gratified his wishes without the sanction 

 of the Roman Pontiff, Celestine, to whom, according to Erric of 

 Auxerre-f* and Nennius,J he received powerful recommendations, and 

 with whose countenance he proposed to proceed on his mission. 



In perfect conformity with this allegation. Saint Patrick himself 

 will be found, in one of his canons, § expressly directing, that if any 

 questions of conscience arise in this island, they shall be referred to 

 Rome, (ad sedem Apostolicam referantur.) William of Malmsbury 

 takes up the narrative, where he says that Saint Germanus, after hav- 

 ing settled the affairs of Britain, "inde in patriam meditatus reditum, 

 Patricium ad familiare contubernium ascivit, eundemque post aliquot 

 annos Hiberniensibus, jubente Celestino Papa, praedicatorem misit."i1 



The death of Palladius hastened the departure of this new mis- 

 sionary, and accordingly his first landing is recorded as occurring in 



* Confessio. 



■|- " Ad sanctum Cailestinum urbis Romse Papam per Segetium presbyterum suum eum 

 direxit (Germanus,) qui viro praestantissimi probitatis ecclesiastics testimonium apud sedem 

 ferret apostolicam. Cujus judicio approbatus, auctoritate fultus, benedictione denique robo- 

 ratus, Hibemiae partes expetiit." — Vita S. Germani, lib. 1. c. 12. 



+ Hist. Britt. c. 54. § D'Acherii Spicilegium, p. 13. 



II " Audita morte Palladii Episcopi Patricias, Theodosio et Valentiniano regnantibus, a 

 Celestino Papa Romano ****** ad Scotos convertendos in Christum mittitur." 

 With which agrees the Chronicon Alberici, at A. D. 431, (as edited by Leibnitz,) and the 

 Chronicon Sigeberti more fully at the year 432, where Patrick is, " par excellence," called 

 'tArchiepiscopus Scottorum."— De Antiq. Glast. Eccl. Gale's Collection, p. 300. 



