173 



the island. (" Quaedam arbor erat valde pomosa prope monasterium, 

 &c.")* Venerable Bede is more diffuse, terming it the proper 

 country of the Scots, and preferring it to Britain on account of the 

 serenity of its climate, its rarely being incommoded by snow, its mild 

 winters, its exemption from venemous reptiles, its abundance of milk, 

 honey, vines, fishes, birds, game for hunting, &c.-f' 



The history of the island during this interval, is so pre-eminently 

 ecclesiastical, as to be more referrible to the third section of this 

 period. A few circumstances, however, may be here stated. Saint 

 Patrick, having commenced his mission in Ireland A. D. 432,.]: 

 acquired such an influence in a short time, that in 438, he is said§ to 

 have effected a collecting and general calling in of all the aunals, 

 poems, and ancient documents of the nation, for revision, purgation, 

 and qualified publication, on which occasion he is stated to have 

 destroyed a mass of heathen learning.il In 448 occurred the earth- 

 quake already incidentally noticed.** And about A. D. 450, the 

 first event that legitimately connects itself with this part of the Essay, 

 was the incursion of a Welsh prince named Coroticus, who, landing 

 in Ireland with a party of armed followers, at a season of public bap- 

 tism, carried off a number of newly converted Christians, whom he 



* Trias Thaum. p. 350, and see post, Per. 2. sect. 5. 



f " Hibernia, et latitudine sui status et salubritate ac serenitate aerum, multum Brifannise 

 prsestat, itaut raro ibi nix plusquam triduana remaneat. Nemo propter hyemem aut foena secet 

 restate, aut stabula fab ricet jumentis; nullum ibi reptile videri soleat, nullus vivere serpens 

 valeat. ***** Dives lactis ac mellis insula, nee vinearum expers ; piscium volu- 

 cnimque sed et cervorum venatu insignis. Hasc autem proprie patria Scoftorum est." — Eccl. 

 Hist. lib. 1. c. 1. 



t See post, third section of this Period. 



§ See Jocelin.— Chronicon Scottorum. — Annal. Tnisfal. — and the Annals of the Four 

 Masters, cited in O'Conor's Rer. Hib. Script, v. 1. Ep. Nunc. p. xv. 



il Ajite, p. 102. ** Ante, p. 136. 



