proceeded to his own country and they (the Desii) believed and
received baptism except the king alone and the people of his
household who were every day promising to believe and be baptised.
It however came about through the Devil's agency that they hesitated
continually and procrastinated.

18. Other authorities declare that Declan went many times to Rome,
but we have no written testimony from the ancient biographers that he
went there more than three times. On one of these occasions Declan
paid a visit to the holy bishop of the Britons whose name was David
at the church which is called Killmuine [Menevia] where the bishop
dwelt beside the shore of the sea which divides Ireland from Britain.
The bishop received Declan with honour and he remained there forty
days, in affection and joy, and they sang Mass each day and they
entered into a bond of charity which continued between themselves and
their successors for ever afterwards. On the expiration of the forty
days Declan took leave of David giving him a kiss in token of peace
and set out himself and his followers to the shore of the sea to take
ship for Ireland.

19. Now the bell which we have alluded to as sent from heaven to
Declan, was, at that time, in the custody of Runan to carry as we
have said, for Declan did not wish, on any account, to part with it.
On this particular day as they were proceeding towards the ship Runan
entrusted it to another member of the company. On reaching the shore
however the latter laid the bell on a rock by the shore and forgot it
till they were half way across the sea. Then they remembered it and
on remembrance they were much distressed. Declan was very sorrowful
that the gift sent him by the Lord from heaven should have been
forgotten in a place where he never expected to find it again.