went over to it. He went so far as to disclose Patrick’s early sin which the latter had confided to him in a moment of spiritual anguish before he was ordained deacon. The synod rejected Patrick and nominated Palladius.18 In 431 Palladius was sent with papal authority to the Irish as their first bishop.19 On his way to the channel ports he had to pass through Auxerre. He may have taken the opportunity of conferring with Germanus about Patrick’s future. At any rate, we find Patrick, accompanied by