and asked of him the aforesaid island. Whereupon the king gave it to
him.

20. Declan next returned to Ait-mBreasail where, in a haven at the north
side, were the shipping and boats of the island, plying thither and
backwards. The people of the island hid all their boats not willing that
Declan should settle there; they dreaded greatly that if Declan came to
dwell there they themselves should be expelled. Whereupon his disciples
addressed Declan:--"Father," said they, "Many things are required (scil.:
from the mainland) and we must often go by boat to this island and there
will be (crossing) more frequently when you have gone to heaven and we
pray thee to abandon the place or else to obtain from God that the sea
recede from the land so that it can be entered dry shod, for Christ has
said:--'Whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name He will give it
to you' [John 15:16]; the place cannot be easily inhabited unless the sea
recede from it and on that account you cannot establish your city in it."
Declan answered them and said:--"How can I abandon the place ordained by
God and in which He has promised that my burial and resurrection shall
be? As to the alleged inconvenience of dwelling therein, do you wish me
to pray to God (for things) contrary to His will--to deprive the sea of
its natural domain? Nevertheless in compliance with your request I shall
pray to God and whatever thing be God's will, let it be done." Declan's
community thereupon rose up and said:--"Father, take your crosier as
Moses took the rod [Exodus 14:16] and strike the sea therewith and God
will thus show His will to you." His disciples prayed therefore to him
because they were tried and holy men. They put Declan's crosier in his
hand and he struck the water in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Ghost and made the sign of the cross over the water and
immediately, by command and permission of God, the sea commenced to move
out from its accustomed place--so swiftly too that the monsters of the