In reply to the first objection, we may observe that St.Patrick is said to have destroyed all the remnants of pagan writing.[160] Caesar mentions that the druids of Gaul used Greek characters.

It appears impossible that the Irish druids, who were at least their equals in culture, should have been destitute of any kind of written character.

The ancient form of Welsh letters were somewhat similar to the runes of which we give a specimen, and this alphabet was called the "alphabet of the bards," in contradistinction to which is placed the "alphabet of the monks," or Roman alphabet.

The alphabet of the Irish bard may have been the Beith-luis-nion, represented by the Ogham character, of which more hereafter.
The difficulty arising from the fact of St.Patrick's having given _abgitorium_, or alphabets, to his converts, appears to us purely chimerical.

Latin was from the first the language of the Church, and being such, whether the Irish converts had or had not a form of writing, one of the earliest duties of a Christian missionary was to teach those preparing for the priesthood the language in which they were to administer the sacraments.