Page:Writings of Saint Patrick, Apostle of Ireland.djvu/80

Rh to be sent to Coroticus; I do not say, to my fellow-citizens, and to the citizens of the Roman saints, but to the citizens of demons, on account of their own evil deeds, who by hostile practice of barbarians live in death; —companions of the Scots and apostate Picts —who stain themselves bloody with the blood of innocent Christians, whom I have begotten without number to God, and have confirmed in Christ.

2. On the day after that in which (these Christians) were anointed neophytes in white robes, while it (the anointing) was yet glistening on their foreheads—they were cruelly massacred and slaughtered with the sword by those above-mentioned. And I sent a letter with a holy presbyter, whom I taught from his infancy, with (other) clergy (begging them) that they would restore to us some of the plunder, or of the baptized captives whom they took, (but) they mocked at them. Therefore, I do not know what I should lament for the more, whether those who were slain, or those whom they captured; or those whom the devil has grievously ensnared with the everlasting pain of Gehenna (hell-fire)—for they will be chained together with him. 'For' indeed 'he who commits sin is a slave,' and is termed 'a son of the devil.'

3. Wherefore, let every man fearing God know that they (the soldiers) are aliens from me, and from Christ my God, for whom I discharge an embassage,—patricides, fratricides, 'ravening wolves,' devouring the people of the Lord as the food of bread. As he says the ungodly 'have dissipated Thy law. Lord.' Since in these last times Ireland has been most excellently and auspiciously planted and