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Origin of the Shamrock of Ireland Patricius of Patrick, ye tutalor [sic? tutelary] saint of Ireland was sent into that Country in the year 433 by Pope Celestine to convert the people to Christianity. The Saint found it very difficult to make, even his disciples give credit to the trinity; and being ask'd one day, when he was preaching on the subject, to explain it, he took a blade of grass, from the stalk of wch issued 3 seperate leaves, and addressing himself to the congregation desired them to observe, that here were 3 Laves & but 1 stem distinct in their number yet united in their substance, each partaking similarly the essence, but none of the 3 exactly alike in form or size. This, it is said had the desired effect with the multitude, who, on every annual return of that day, (wh we make the 17th of March) wore a bunch of those triple blades of Grass in their hats, know known by the name of a Shamrock (or as the Irish call it) Shamrogue, a custom at this time as prevalent is the cross of St George's day, or the leak on St Davids.