114 CORNISH DEDICATIONS. 



'King and his chiefs seated, "with the rims of their shields 

 against their chins, and none of them rose up before him, save 

 one man only, in whom was a divine spirit, namely Ere, son of 

 Deagh." '^' 



Laoghaire, however, was overcome by the dignity of the 

 Apostle, and probably also was unwilling to violate the rights of 

 hospitality, when Patrick appealed to him for protection. The 

 story has been laid hold of by legend writers, and a contest like 

 that of Moses with the magicians of Pharaoh, has been invented 

 and thrust into the story. 



When Ere was asked why he had arisen before Patrick, he 

 replied that the words that came from the lips of the Missioner 

 were full of Uving fire and light that kindled his soul. 



There was a second conference with the King at Tara, and 

 finally Laoghaire gave the Saint liberty to preach, but did not, 

 himself, believe. Patrick had taken notice of Ere, and a little 

 later he instructed him, and asked him if he desired baptism. Ere 

 eagerly consented. 



If Ere was, as is recorded, in his ninetieth year in 512 when 

 he died, then at this date, 455, he must have been aged thirty 

 three. It is said that his baptism took place the day after the 

 great gathering of Tara, but it is more probable that a little time 

 intervened for instruction. At the baptism of Ere, an incident 

 took place that we can hardly regard as an invention. 



Many years before, when Patrick was in Graul, he dreamt 

 that he heard the voices of the children of the Wood of Fochlad 

 crying out to him to come over and teach them the way of Grod. 

 He tells us this in his own Confession. Where Pochlad was, he 

 did not know. He had heard the name perhaps, when he had 

 been a slave-boy with Milchu, and the name had thus come up in 

 dream. Now he was in Ireland, and he had, perhaps, forgotten 

 the particulars. 



As he was engaged baptizing Ere, some fellows who stood 

 behind made fun of the ceremony, to the great annoyance of 

 Patrick. However, he took no open notice of this unmannerliness. 

 Presently one of the mockers said to another standing by, " Who 

 are you, and whence come you? we have not met previously." 



* Tripartite Life, pp. 43-5. 



