STEPHEN R.
LAWHEAD

A Novel

PATRICK

SON OF IRELAND

logo

To the memory of
Dave Hastings

Seven years your portion, under a stone, in a quagmire,
without food, without taste,
but the fire of thirst you ever torturing;
the law of judges your lesson,
prayer your language;
And if you like to return
You will be, for a time, a Druid, perhaps.

—ANCIENT IRISH POEM




In a book belonging to Ultán, Bishop of Connor, I have found four names for Patrick: Succat, when he was born; Magonus, which means “Famous”; Patricius, when he was ordained; and Corthirthiac, when he served in the House of Four Druids.

—MUIRCHÚ, CA. A.D. 680

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE

PART ONE: SUCCAT

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

PART TWO: CORTHIRTHIAC

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

PART THREE: MAGONUS

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

CHAPTER FORTY

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

PART FOUR: PATRICIUS

CHAPTER FIFTY

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

EPILOGUE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PRAISE

ALSO BY STEPHEN R. LAWHEAD

COPYRIGHT

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER