Mr. Petrie on the Domnach-Airgid. 19 



frauds of the middle ages, but still they are evidences of the tradition of the 

 country that such a gift had been made by Patrick to Mac-Carthen. And as 

 we advance higher In chronological authorities we find the notice of this gift 

 stripped of much of its acquired garb of fiction, and related with more of the 

 simplicity of truth. 



5. In the life of St. Patrick called the Tripartite, usually ascribed to St. Evln, 

 an author of the seventh century, and which even in its present Interpolated state 

 Is confessedly prior to the tenth, there is the following remarkable passage (as 

 translated by Colgan from the original Irish) relative to the gift of the Domnach 

 from the Apostle of Ireland to St. Mac-Carthen, in which it is expressly 

 described under the very same appellation which it still bears. 



" Aliquantls ergo evolutis dlebus Mac-Caertennum, sive Caerthennum 

 Eplscopum praefeclt sedl Episcopall Clocherensi, ab Ardmacha regnl Metropoli 

 hand multum dlstantl : et apud eum rellquit argenteum quoddam rellqularlum 

 Domnach-airgidh vulgo nuncupatum ; quod vlro Del, in Hiberniam venientl, 

 coelltus mlssum erat." — VII. Vita S.Patricii, Lib. iii. cap. 3, Tr. Th. p. 149. 



This passage is elsewhere given by Colgan, with a slight change of words in 

 the translation, as follows : 



" Aliquantls igitur evolutis dlebus S. Maccaerthennum Eplscopum, praefeclt 

 sedi Clocharensl ab Ardmacha regnl Metropoli hand multum dlstantl : et apud 

 eum rellquit argenteum quoddam rellqularlum Domnach-airgid vulgo appel- 

 latum, quod vlro Dei In Hiberniam venientl caelitus mlssum erat." — Vita 

 S. Maccaerthenni (24 Mart.) AA.SS. p. 738. 



In this passage, which is unquestionably prior to all the others, we find the 

 Domnach distinguished by the appellation of Airgid — an addition which was 

 applicable only to Its more ancient or silver plated case, and which could not 

 with propriety be applied to Its more recent covering, which In its original state 

 had the appearance of being of gold. 



On these evidences — and more might probably be procured If time had 

 allowed — we may, I think, with tolerable certainty, rest the following conclusions : 



1. That the Domnach is the Identical reliquary given by St. Patrick to St. 

 Mac-Carthen. 



2. As the form of the cumdach indicates that It was Intended to receive a 

 book, and as the relics are all attached to the outer and least ancient cover, it is 



c 2 



