In former days there were great schools in Ireland, where every sort of learning was taught to the people, and even the poorest had more knowledge at that time than many a gentleman has now. But as to the priests, their learning was above all, so that the fame of Ireland went over the whole world, and many kings from foreign lands used to send their sons all the way to Ireland to be brought up in the Irish schools.  
Now, at this time there was a little boy learning at one of them who was a wonder to everyone for his cleverness. His parents were only labouring people, and of course poor; but young as he was, and as poor as he was, no king's or lord's son could come up to him in learning. Even the masters were put to shame; for when they were trying to teach him he would tell them something they never heard of before, and show them their ignorance. One of his great triumphs was in argument; and he would go on till he proved to you that black was white, and then when you gave in, for no one could beat him in talk, he would turn round and show you that white was black, or maybe that there was no colour at all in the world. When he grew up his poor father and mother were so proud of him that they resolved to make him a priest, which they did at last, though they nearly starved themselves to get the money. Well, such another learned man was not in Ireland, and he was as great in argument as ever, so that no one could stand before him. Even the bishops tried to talk to him, but he showed them at once they knew nothing at all.
 
Now, there were no schoolmasters in those times, but it was the priests taught the people; and as this man was the cleverest in Ireland, all the foreign kings sent their sons to him, as long as he had house-room to give them. So he [Pg 216] grew very proud, and began to forget how low he had been, and worst of all, even to forget God, who had made him what he was. And the pride of arguing got hold of him, so that from one thing to another he went on to prove that there was no Purgatory, and then no Hell, and then no Heaven, and then no God; and at last that men had no souls, but were no more than a dog or a cow, and when they died there was an end of them. "Whoever saw a soul?" he would say. "If you can show me one, I will believe." No one could make any answer to this; and at last they all came to believe that as there was no other world, everyone might do what they liked in this; the priest setting the example, for he took a beautiful young girl to wife. But as no priest or bishop in the whole land could be got to marry them, he was obliged to read the service over for himself. It was a great scandal, yet no one dared to say a word, for all the king's sons were on his side, and would have slaughtered anyone who tried to prevent his wicked goings-on. Poor boys; they all believed in him, and thought every word he said was the truth. In this way his notions began to spread about, and the whole world was going to the bad, when one night an angel came down from Heaven, and told the priest he had but twenty-four hours to live. He began to tremble, and asked for a little more time.
 
But the angel was stiff, and told him that could not be.
 
"What do you want time for, you sinner?" he asked.
 
"Oh, sir, have pity on my poor soul!" urged the priest.
 
"Oh, no! You have a soul, then," said the angel. "Pray, how did you find that out?"
 
"It has been fluttering in me ever since you appeared," answered the priest. "What a fool I was not to think of it before."
 
"A fool, indeed," said the angel. "What good was all your learning, when it could not tell you that you had a soul?"
 
"Ah, my lord," said the priest, "If I am to die, tell me how soon I may be in Heaven?"
 
[Pg 217] "Never," replied the angel. "You denied there was a Heaven."
 
"Then, my lord, may I go to Purgatory?"
 
"You denied Purgatory also; you must go straight to Hell," said the angel.
 
"But, my lord, I denied Hell also," answered the priest, "so you can't send me there either."
 
The angel was a little puzzled.
 
"Well," said he, "I'll tell you what I can do for you. You may either live now on earth for a hundred years, enjoying every pleasure, and then be cast into Hell for ever; or you may die in twenty-four hours in the most horrible torments, and pass through Purgatory, there to remain till the Day of Judgment, if only you can find some one person that believes, and through his belief mercy will be vouchsafed to you, and your soul will be saved."
 
The priest did not take five minutes to make up his mind.
 
"I will have death in the twenty-four hours," he said, "so that my soul may be saved at last."
 
On this the angel gave him directions as to what he was to do, and left him.
 
Then immediately the priest entered the large room where all the scholars and the kings' sons were seated, and called out to them—
 
"Now, tell me the truth, and let none fear to contradict me; tell me what is your belief—have men souls?"
 
"Master," they answered, "once we believed that men had souls; but thanks to your teaching, we believe so no longer. There is no Hell, and no Heaven, and no God. This is our belief, for it is thus you taught us."
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