COENISH DEDICATIONS. 113 



The harsh sound of Ere has been softened in Cornish 

 mouths into Erth. 



That Ere and Euny were related is probable enough. 



The Scholiast on the Martyrology of Oengus says of 

 Eoghain (Euny), on Aug. 23, " Son of Bishop Ere of Slane, 

 ut periti ferunt,''^ but gives "stent aln" another parentage to him. 

 Nevertheless on Nov. 2 he returns to the point, and then says 

 without hesitation, " Bishop Eoghain, of Ardstraw, was a son 

 of Bishop Ere, of Slane." 



The father of Ere was Degaid of the royal race of Ulster, 

 but the family lived in Munster. Degaid or Deagh was brehon 

 or judge of King Laoghaire. The day before S. Patrick 

 appeared at Tara, the Apostle was camped on the heights of 

 Slane. The date was 455, and the time, the festival of Samhain, 

 All Saints Eve, the greatest pagan festival of the year.* 



It began by the extinction of every fire in the country and 

 whosoever violated the order was slain. Patrick however lighted 

 the fire as usual. This was seen from Tara, where the King was. 

 When, at night, the little red spark shone out over the plain, 

 Laoghaire's druids went to him and said, "Unless this fire be 

 extinguished, it will not be quenched till doomsday." 



The King then ordered that the man who had kindled the 

 fire should be put to death. The druids then cautioned the 

 King: — "Do not thyself go to the place, lest this stranger 

 suppose that thou doest an act of reverence to him. Stay outside, 

 a little way off, and send for him." 



The King agreed to this, so the whole party crossed the 

 plain till they approached the height of Slane, and then a 

 summons was sent to Patrick to come before Laoghaire. 



Meanwhile all had agreed to show no respect to the Saint, 

 but to receive him, seated. 



Patrick on being handed the summons, at once rose and went 

 forth in obedience, chanting, " Some put their trust on chariots 

 and some on horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord 

 our Grod." When he arrived in the royal presence, he found the 



* It is usually said that this was at Easter. But there seems some reason to 

 suspect that the incident really took place at 8amhain. The Tripartite Life 

 says " Easter." 



