carelessly along he trod upon a piece of sharp iron which cut his
foot so that blood flowed freely and Declan began to limp. Ailbe of
Emly was present at this miracle and Sechnall a bishop of Patrick's
and a holy and wise man, and he is said to be the first bishop buried
in Ireland. The wound which Declan had received grieved them very
much. Patrick was informed of the accident and was grieved thereat.
He said:--"Heal, O Master (i.e. God), the foot of your own servant
who bears much toil and hardship on your account." Patrick laid his
hand on the wounded foot and made over it the sign of the cross when
immediately the flow of blood ceased, the lips of the wound united, a
cicatrix formed upon it and a cure was effected. Then Declan rose up
with his foot healed and joined in praising God. The soldiers and
fighting men who were present cried out loudly, blessing God and the
saints.

26. As Patrick and the saints were in Cashel, i.e. Ailbe and Declan
with their disciples, in the territory of Aongus Mac Nathfrich, they
made much progress against paganism and errors in faith and they
converted them (the pagans) to Christianity. It was ordained by
Patrick and Aongus Mac Natfrich in presence of the assembly, that the
Archbishopric of Munster should belong to Ailbe, and to Declan, in
like manner, was ordained (committed) his own race, i.e. the Deisi,
whom he had converted to be his parish and his episcopate. As the
Irish should serve Patrick, so should the Deisi serve Declan as their
patron, and Patrick made the "rann":--

"Humble Ailbe the Patrick of Munster, greater than any saying,
Declan, Patrick of the Deisi--the Decies to Declan for ever."

This is equivalent to saying that Ailbe was a second Patrick and that