Maoltuile, was troubled about the boy, noticing his absence [from the homestead at Achaddi] that evening and not knowing the cause thereof.  He immediately sent messengers to seek the youth throughout the country, and one of these found him sitting, as indicated, in the shadow of the doorway of the bishop’s house.  The messenger took Mochuda with him back to the king.  The latter questioned him:—­“My child, why have you stayed away in this manner?” Mochuda replied, “Sire, this is why I have stayed away—­through attraction of the holy chant of the bishop and clergy; I have never heard anything so beautiful as this; the clerics sang as they went along the whole way before me; they sang until they arrived at their house, and thenceforth they sang till they went to sleep.  The bishop however remained by himself far into the night praying by himself when the others had retired.  And I wish, O king, that I might learn [their psalms and ritual].”  Hearing this the king at once sent a message to the bishop requesting the latter to come to him.

About this time Mochuda’s father gave a feast in the king’s honour and as the company were at supper the king calling Mochuda before him offered him a shield, sword, javelin, and princely robe, saying:  “Take these and be henceforth a knight to me as your father has been.”  But Mochuda declined the offer.  “What is it,” asked the king, “that you will accept, so that [whatever it be] I may give it to you?” Mochuda answered:—­“I do not long for anything of earth—­only that I be allowed to learn the psalms of the clerics which I heard them sing.”  In this answer the king discerned the working of divine grace, whereupon he promised the youth the favour he asked for.  Shortly afterwards the bishop, Carthach, whom we have mentioned as sent for by the king, arrived, and to him the latter entrusted Mochuda to be instructed in reading and writing.  With great joy the bishop undertook his charge for he saw that his pupil was marked by grace, and under the bishop’s guidance and tutelage Mochuda remained till his promotion to the priesthood.

Mochuda was very handsome of features with the result that at different times during his youth maidens to the number of thirty were so enamoured of him that they could not conceal their feeling.  But Mochuda prayed for them, and obtained for them by his prayers that their carnal love should be turned into a spiritual.  They afterwards became consecrated religious and within what to-day is his parish he built them cells and monasteries which the holy virgins placed under his protection and jurisdiction.

Finntan Mac Cartan, bringing with him an infant for baptism came to Bishop Carthach.  The latter said to him:—­“Let the young priest there who was ordained to-day baptise the child.”  Whereupon Finntan handed the infant to the young priest.  Mochuda enquired the name he was to impose, and the father answered—­Fodhran.  Having administered baptism Mochuda taking the infant’s