8 St. Patrick rids Ireland of Snakes 



venomous and monstrous creatures, rising 

 out of the earth and out of the sea, so 

 prevailed over the whole Island, that they 

 not only wounded men and animals 

 with their deadly sting, but slayed them 

 with cruel bitings, and not seldom rent 

 and devoured their members. And the 

 Daemons, who by the power of Idolatry 

 dwelled in superstitious hearts, showed 

 themselves unto their worshippers in 

 visible forms ; often likewise did they, as 

 if they were offended, injure them with 

 many hurts ; unto whom, being appeased 

 with sacrifices, offerings, or evil works, 

 they seemed to extend the grace of health 

 or of safety, while they only ceased from 

 doing harm. And after was beheld such 

 a multitude of these, flying in the air or 

 walking on the earth, that the Island was 

 deemed incapable of containing so many ; 

 and therefore was it accounted the habita- 

 tion of Daemons, and their peculiar pos- 

 session. Likewise, the crowd of Magicians, 

 Evil-doers, and Soothsayers had therein 

 so greatly increased, as the history of not 

 any other Nation doth instance." 



" And the most holy Patrick applied all 

 his diligence unto the extirpation of this 

 threefold Plague; and at length by his 

 salutary doctrine and fervent prayer he 

 relieved Hybernia of the increasing mis- 



