meinister, which, according to Dr. Lanigan, may have been
a cumdach enclosing the Gospels and the vessels for the
sacred ministry, or, according to Dr. Whitley Stokes,
simply a credence-table.[4] He sometimes gave a missal
(lebar nuird). He had books at Tara. On one occasion
his books were dropped into the water and were "drowned."
Presumably the books he distributed came from the Gallic
schools, although his followers no doubt began transcribing
as opportunity offered and as material came to hand.
Patrick himself wrote alphabets, sometimes called the
"elements"; most likely the elements or the A B C of the
Christian doctrine, corresponding with the "primer."[5]

[1] On the connection between Eastern and Celtic monachism, see
Stokes (G.T.).

[2] Stokes (W.), T. L., i. 30; ii. 446.

[3] Ib. ii. 421; ii. 475.

[4] D. N. B., xliv. 39; Stokes (W.), T. L., i, 191.

[5] Abgitorium, abgatorium; elementa, elimenta. Stokes (W.), T.
L., i. cliii.; also). 111, 113, 139, 191, 308, 320, 322, 326,
327, 328.


This was the dawn of letters for Ireland. By disseminating
the Scriptures and these primers, Patrick and
his followers, and the train of missionaries who came