magus: "Nolo ego ad judicium ire aquae cum ipso; aquam etiam Deum
habet"; because he heard that it was through water Patrick used to
baptize. Et respondit rex: "Mittite igitur in igne"; et ait Patricius:
"Promptus sum;" at magus nolens dixit; "Hic homo versa vice in alternos
annos nunc aquam nunc ignem deum veneratur." "It is not this that
shall be done," said Patrick; "for since you say that it is the fire I
adore, go you, if you wish, into a house apart, and well closed, and a
student of my people along with you, and let my _casula_ be about you,
and your druidic tunic about my student (_mac cleirech_); and fire will
be applied to the house, that God may decide between you there." This
counsel was agreed to by the men of Erinn, including Laeghaire. The
house was then made, one-half of dry faggots, and the other half of
fresh materials. The druid was put into the fresh part, and Patrick's
_casula_ about him. Benen, however, was put into the dry part, with
the druid's tunic about him. The house was afterwards closed and
fastened on the outside, before the multitude, and fire was applied to
it. A great prodigy occurred there through Patrick's prayers. The
fresh part of the house was burned, as well as the druid under the
casula, and not a bit of the _casula_ was destroyed. The dry portion,
in which was Benen, however, was not burned, and God preserved Benen
under the druid's tunic, and the tunic was burned, so that it was
reduced to ashes. The king was greatly enraged against Patrick for the
killing of his druid. He arose, and would like to slay Patrick; but
God did not permit it, through the intercession of Patrick. The anger
of God fell afterwards on the impious multitude, so that great numbers
of them died--viz., twelve thousand in one day. Patrick said to
Laeghaire: "If you do not believe now, you shall die quickly; for the
anger of God will come upon your head." When the king heard these
words, he was seized with great fear. The king went into a house
afterwards to take counsel with his people. "It is better for me,"