110 Mr. Petrie on the History and Antiquities of Tara Hill. 



of Colgan, though he was not able to account for it — See Trias Thaum. p. 218, 

 col. 1. That this preface and table of contents belong to, and should have been 

 prefixed to the first book of the work of Maccuthenius, is satisfactorily proved by 

 their perfect agreement with the matter contained in it, and by the fact that a 

 similar table is prefixed to the second book, and which is in its proper place. 



The settlement of this point is of considerable importance, as it determines, 

 beyond a doubt, the age of the life itself. And as the preface clearly shews that, 

 even at the period of the composition of this work, which is undoubtedly the 

 foundation of all the subsequent lives, as well as the notices in Erric of Auxerre 

 and Nennius, the greatest uncertainty existed respecting the history of Patrick, 

 and as the writer acknowledges that his authorities were doubtful, and their 

 truth suspected by many, it necessarily follows, not only that the details of sub- 

 sequent writers on the points under consideration, not contained in this life, must 

 have but little claim to historical authenticity, but also that even the statements 

 of Maccuthenius himself, must be received with considerable caution. 



The preface alluded to runs as follows : 



" Quoniam quidem, mi Domine Aido, multi conati sunt ordinare narrationem utique Jstam 

 secundum quod patres eorum, et qui ministri ab initio fuerunt sermonis, tradiderunt illis; sed 

 propter difficillimum narrationis opus, diversasque opiniones, et plurimorum plurimas suspiciones, 

 numquam ad unum, certumque historiae tratnitem pervcnierunt : ideo, ni fallor, juxta hoc nostrorum 

 proverbium, ut deducuntur pueri in ambiteathrum, in hoc periculossum et profundum narrationis 

 sanctse pylagus, turgentibus proterve gurgitum aggeribus inter acutissimos Carubdes per ignota 

 aequora insitos, a nullis adhuc lintribus, excepto tantum uno patris mei cognito, si expertum atque 

 occupatum ingeni olim ei puerilem remi cymbam deduxi. Sed ne magnum de parvo videar finguere, 

 pauca hsec de multis Sancti Patricii gestis parva peritia, incertis auctoribus, memoria labih, attrito 

 sensu, vili sermone, sed affectu pissirao, caritatis et sanctitatis tuae et auctoritatis imperio oboedens, 

 carptim, gravatimque explicare aggrediar." — Fol. 20, p. a, col. 1. 



After the table of contents the following notice is appended : — " H«c pauca 

 de Sancti Patricii peritia et virtutibus Muirchu Maccumachtheni, dictante Aiduo 

 Slebtiensis civitatis Episcopo conscripsit." — Fol. 20, b, i. 



It is greatly to be regretted that the first folio of this life has been lost since 

 the book was in the possession of Archbishop Ussher, but the subjects of which 

 it treated are preserved by Probus, though, as usual, in an amplified or interpo- 

 lated form, as appears from the titles of the chapters given in the table already 

 referred to. These titles, however, throw but little light on the subject now 



