maintains, that the reference is to pagan rhetors from Gaul whose
arrogant presumption, founded on their learning, made them regard
with disdain the comparatively illiterate apostle of the Scots.
Everyone is familiar with the classic passage of Tacitus wherein he
alludes to the harbours of Ireland as being more familiar to
continental mariners than those of Britain. We have references
moreover to refugee Christians who fled to Ireland from the
persecutions of Diocletian more than a century before St. Patrick's
day; in addition it is abundantly evident that many
Irishmen--Christians like Celestius the lieutenant of Pelagius, and
possibly Pelagius himself, amongst them--had risen to distinction or
notoriety abroad before middle of the fifth century.

Possibly the best way to present the question of Declan's age is to
put in tabulated form the arguments of the pre-Patrician advocates
against the counter contentions of those who claim that Declan's
period is later than Patrick's:--


For the Pre-Patrician Mission. Against Theory of Early
Fifth Century period.

I.--Positive statement of Life, I.--Contradictions, anachronisms,
corroborated by Lives of SS. &c., of Life.
Ciaran and Ailbhe. II.--Lack of allusion to Declan in
II.--Patrick's apparent avoidance the Lives of St. Patrick.
of the Principality of Decies. III.--Prosper's testimony to the
III.--The peculiar Declan cult and mission of Palladius as first
the strong local hold which bishop to the believing Scots.
Declan has maintained. IV.--Alleged motives for later