Whereupon he went to Maoltuile and told him the state of affairs.  Soon as the king heard the tale he came with Mochuda from the place where he then was on the bank of the Luimnech and stayed not till they reached the summit of Sliabh Mis, when he addressed Mochuda:  “Leave this confined region for the present to the envy and jealousy of the bishops and hereafter it will become yours and your coarbs’ to the end of time.”  The advice commended itself to Mochuda and he thanked the king for it.  Thereupon he abandoned his cell to the aforesaid bishops and determined to set out alone as a pilgrim to the northern part of Ireland.

In the meantime an angel visited Comghall and repeated to him what had been foretold him already—­that there should come to him a young priest desirous for Christ’s sake of pilgrimage beyond the seas—­that Comghall should dissuade him and, instead, retain the stranger with him for a year at Bangor.  “And how am I to recognise him?” asked Comghall.  The angel answered:—­“Whom you shall see going from the church to the guest-house” (for it was Mochuda’s custom to visit the church first). [See note 1.] Comghall announced to his household that there was coming to them a distinguished stranger, well-beloved of God, of whose advent an angel had twice foretold him.  Some time later Mochuda arrived at Comghall’s establishment, and he went first to the monastery and Comghall recognised him and bade him welcome.  In that place Mochuda remained a whole year, as the angel had said, and at the end of the year he returned to his own country where he built many cells and churches and worked many wonders, winning many souls to religion and to good works.  Many persons moreover placed themselves, their children, and their kindred under his jurisdiction, and the great parishes of their own territory were assigned to him, and finally the episcopate of Kerry became his.

Subsequent to this Mochuda, having committed the care of his cell and parish to certain pious and suitable persons, set out himself, accompanied by a few disciples, through the south of Munster to visit the Monastery of Ciaran Mac Fionntan at Rosgiallan [Rostellan].  From Ciaran Mochuda enquired, where—­in south Munster (as the angel had mentioned to Comghall)—­the chief and most distinguished of these churches should be.  Ciaran, who possessed the spirit of prophecy, replied—­“You shall go first to Meath where you will found a famous church in the territory of Ibh Neill and there you will remain for forty years.  You shall be driven thence into exile and you will return to Munster wherein will be your greatest and most renowned church.”  Mochuda offered to place himself under the patronage and jurisdiction of Ciaran:  “Not so, shall it be,” said Ciaran, “but rather do I put myself and my church under you, for ever, reserving only that my son, Fuadhran, be my successor in this place.”  This Mochuda assented to and Fuadhran governed the monastic city for twenty years as Ciaran’s successor in the abbacy.