Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Probus
PROBUS (d. 948?), biographer of St. Patrick, is identified by Colgan with Coenechair, prelector or head master of the school of Slane in the county of Meath, famous as the place in which Dagobert, son of Sigebert, king of Austrasia in the seventh century, was educated. Probus's 'Life of St. Patrick,' which was the first life of the saint to be printed, was published anonymously in the edition of Bede's works brought out at Basle in 1563. It was afterwards republished by Colgan, with the author's name prefixed, and forms the fifth life in his collection. It is addressed to Paulinus, apparently Mael-Poíl (d. 920), abbot of Indedhnen, near Slane, who is described by the 'Four Masters' as 'bishop, anchorite and the best scribe in Leath Chuinn,' i.e.the north of Ireland. It may be regarded as a revised edition of the life by Muirchu Maccu Machcheni [q. v.] in the 'Book of Armagh,' but with the Roman mission added, of which there is no mention in Muirchu. This was apparently taken from Tirechan. Muirchu had attempted to combine the authentic narrative of the 'Confession' with the later legendary matter, but the contradiction between them was obvious. Probus, following in the same path, but with more literary skill, invented a double mission for St. Patrick — a first mission of thirty years, during which he laboured as a priest without success; and a second, when he returned as a bishop with a commission from Rome [see Patrick].
In 948 (Four Masters) or 950 (Ussher) Probus and the chief members of the community took refuge in the Round Tower of Slane from one of the Danish inroads. They carried with them their valuables, including especially the crozier and the bell of St. Erc the founder. The Danes, however, set fire to the building, and all perished.
[Vita S. Patricii, ed. R. P. E. Hogan, S.J. (Analecta Bollandiana), Præfatio, p. 15 : Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga ; Annals of the Four Masters ; Ussher's Works, iv. 378, vi. 373 ; Lanigan's Eccl. History, i. 82. iii. 371.]