Page:A View of the State of Ireland - 1809.djvu/356

 very few there are that referre it to this Patricke their Apostle, but rather to an Abbot of the same name, whom I marvaile I finde not in the mighty bigge volume of their Saints: Notwithstanding these Originalls might bee either lost or altered, but the thing it selfe being extant, must needes have had a beginning, whereof possibly there are monuments in that Church, or in the Irish tongue to me unwitting.

Therefore I hold him unwise that will utterly mistrust the principally because the circumstances vary; or condemne the hole, because he could not reach to the undoubted truth of some part. If any man bee so delicate, that not a jote thereof will sinke into his head, ho shall controule him? neither hee nor ee are bound to believe any story besides that which is delivered us from the Scriptures, and the consent of Gods Church. Let the discreet Reader judge of it.

This I learne, that the holy Abbot Patricius secundus, not the Bishop their Apostle, laboured the conversion of the people of Vlster, which being now Christians, could yet at no hand be onne to renounce their olde sensuality, cruelty, murthers, extortion. And when he much inforced the life to come, they replyed unto him with contempt, that unlesse they saw proofes of these loves and paines hee preached, they would never leese possession of the pleasures in hand, for hope or dread of things to come they ist