Against Theory of Early Fifth Century period.
I.--Contradictions, anachronisms, &c., of Life.
II.--Lack of allusion to Declan in the Lives of St. Patrick.
III.--Prosper's testimony to the mission of Palladius as first bishop to
the believing Scots.
IV.--Alleged motives for later invention of Pre-Patrician story.

In this matter and at this hour it is hardly worth appealing to the
authority of Lanigan and the scholars of the past. Much evidence not
available in Lanigan's day is now at the service of scholars. We are to
look rather at the reasoning of Colgan, Ussher, and Lanigan than to the
mere weight of their names.

Referring in order to our tabulated grounds of argument, pro and con, and
taking the pro arguments first, we may (I.) discard as evidence for our
purpose the Life of St. Ibar which is very fragmentary and otherwise a
rather unsatisfactory document. The Lives of Ailbhe, Ciaran, and Declan
are however mutually corroborative and consistent. The Roman visit and
the alleged tutelage under Hilarius are probably embellishments; they
look like inventions to explain something and they may contain more than
a kernel of truth. At any rate they are matters requiring further
investigation and elucidation. In this connection it may be useful to
recall that the Life (Latin) of St. Ciaran has been attributed by Colgan
to Evinus the disciple and panegyrist of St. Patrick.

Patrick's apparent neglect of the Decies (II.) may have no special
significance. At best it is but negative evidence: taken, however, in
connection with (I.) and its consectaria it is suggestive. We can
hardly help speculating why the apostle--passing as it were by its front