270 THE SHRINE OF ST. PATRICK'S BELL.
occurred
in one of those predatory expeditions of the Irish, or Scots as they
were then called, which under the chieftainship of Niall of the Nine
Hostages extended to all the neighboring coasts. Dumbarton suffered
repeatedly in this manner, a fact evidenced by the numbers of Roman
coins found all along the coast of Antrim in Ireland. Dumbarton, an
important military position, was the western limit of the Roman Wall
constructed by Agricola, a. d. 80, to cut off the ravaging Picts from the rest of Britain, but the Romans, although so near, never set foot in Ireland.
Having
been thus carried off to Ireland Saint Patrick became the slave of
Milchu who dwelt in Dalaradia in a place now identified with the valley
of the Braid, in the very heart of the county Antrim. As a slave the
Saint's duty was to tend sheep, and six years he spent in this humble
occupation. The fervent zeal and burning piety which were destined to
exalt him among men began to show themselves even in his youth. He used
to pray both day and night,
