Most of what is known about the life of Saint Patrick comes from his own writings. Amazingly, some fifteen centuries after he died, there are still two copies of his works in existence. The more important of the two is his Confession, and one of the interesting stories it tells is his capture and escape from Ireland.
Saint Patrick’s Kidnapping
No one can say for sure exactly when Saint Patrick was born, but it is likely that it was in the last two decades of the fourth century. He was British, the son of a well-to-do family who lived in the north of England. When Patrick was sixteen, his homeland was attacked by Irish Raiders. Patrick states that he was captured along with thousands of others and taken back to Ireland. It is the size of this raid that has caused many to theorize that he was captured by none other than Niall of the Nine Hostages, the most famous and powerful of the early Irish Kings.
Saint Patrick’s Escape
For six years, Patrick worked as a slave, tending flocks, sleeping in the cold, and often going hungry. During this time he turned to God, praying night and day. One night, God spoke to him and said that a ship was ready to take him away. On that night, Patrick slipped away. After six years, Patrick was probably left mostly unguarded for most people would have chosen a safe life as a slave over the dangers of wandering alone. Patrick walked two hundred miles until he reached a boat. At first the pagan Irishmen were reluctant to take him on board, but for reasons unknown they eventually relented.
They sailed for three days, at which point Patrick’s story becomes confused and muddled. They made landfall in a deserted place. It is likely they crashed, because Patrick states that they wandered 28 days across the wilderness before reaching habitation. Some have theorized that they had washed up in Gaul, but there are few places in Gaul so remote that they could have been 28 days away from habitation. More likely perhaps, is that they washed up in the heavily wooded, wilds of Wales, or perhaps even crashed in a remote part of Ireland.
As Patrick and the sailors made their way through the wilderness, they ran out of food and began to starve. The sailors called upon Patrick to ask his God for deliverance. This Patrick did, and soon a large number of pigs were discovered and eaten.
From here on, Patrick’s tale becomes indecipherable. He states that he was captured for a second time, and remained a captive for sixty days. But captured by who is not clear. Perhaps by the sailors, or perhaps captured with the sailors, it is impossible to say. It’s not even clear if this is a reference to the same story. Either way, Patrick states that after a few years he was home again in Britain with his parents. Again, it’s not clear if this is a couple of years after his escape, or a reference to the six years he spent as a slave.
Patrick says that his parents received him warmly and asked him never to go away again. However, Patrick would later take up the cross and return to Ireland, never to see Britain again.
For more information about the life and debate about Saint Patrick, see Saint Patrick: His Origins and Career by R.P.C Hanson, Oxford, 1968 or find a copy of Saint Patrick’s Confession.
