391.
[186] _Ireland_ .-- The elder Sedulius, whose hymns are even now used by the Church, lived in the fifth century.

The hymn, _A solis ortis cardine_, and many others, are attributed to him.
[187] _Culdee_ .-- There was much dispute at one time as to the origin and true character of the Culdees.

The question, however, has been quite set at rest by the researches of recent Irish scholars.

Professor O'Curry traces them up to the time of St.Patrick.He thinks they were originally mendicant monks, and that they had no communities until the end of the eighth century, when St.Maelruain of Tallaght drew up a rule for them.

This rule is still extant.