This is the banishment of the serpents, which
it appears was first mentioned by Jocelin in the twelfth century. It
is expressly stated by Solinus, who wrote in the third century, that
in Ireland "There are no snakes and few byrdes," to use the language
of the old English translator, Arthur Golding. This statement of the
previous exemption of Ireland from venomous reptiles was warmly
disputed by Dr. David Rothe, the Bishop of Ossory, early in the
seventeenth century. It will be remembered that "David Roto" has
already been quoted as an authority on the subject of St. Patrick's
Purgatory, and it is his collateral controversy with Solinus that
probably led Montalvan, and subsequently Calderon, to suppose that
Solinus had in some way alluded to that legend. A valuable 'Life of
St. Patrick', by P. Lynch (Dublin, 1828), contains many allusions to
this subject, of which the following may be given as an example.
"The objections which Doctor Roth raised to the testimony of Solinus
have as slender a foundation in reason. For Solinus (saith he) not
only mentions thisexemption of Ireland from venomous creatures, but
says further, that in Ireland there are few birds, and no bees; and
therefore concludes, that as he is mistaken in these latter
particulars, so he is not to be believed in the former,"-- p. 42.
The author of this Life of St. Patrick goes on to say that Solinus
may have been perfectly accurate in these statements.
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