serpent and gentle like a dove and industrious like the bee, for as
the bee gathers honey and avoids the poisonous herbs so did Declan,
for he gathered the sweet sap of grace and Holy Scripture till he was
filled therewith. There were in Ireland before Patrick came thither
four holy bishops with their followers who evangelized and sowed the
word of God there; these are the four:--Ailbe, Bishop Ibar, Declan,
and Ciaran. They drew multitudes from error to the faith of Christ,
although it was Patrick who sowed the faith throughout Ireland and it
is he who turned chiefs and kings of Ireland to the way of baptism,
faith and sacrifice and everlasting judgment.

14. These three, scil.:--Declan, Ailbe and Bishop Ibar made a bond
of friendship and a league amongst themselves and their spiritual
posterity in heaven and on earth for ever and they loved one another.
SS. Ailbe and Declan, especially, loved one another as if they were
brothers so that, on account of their mutual affection they did not
like to be separated from one another--except when their followers
threatened to separate them by force if they did not go apart for a
very short time. After this Declan returned to his own country--to
the Decies of Munster--where he preached, and baptized, in the name
of Christ, many whom he turned to the Catholic faith from the power
of the devil. He built numerous churches in which he placed many of
his own followers to serve and worship God and to draw people to God
from the wiles of Satan.

15. Once on a time Declan came on a visit to the place of his birth,
where he remained forty days there and established a religious house
in which devout men have dwelt ever since. Then came the seven men
we have already mentioned as having made their abode around Magh
Sgiath and as having prophesied concerning Declan. They now dedicated