'The Deer's Cry' Illustrations by Archibald Knox

There is a beautiful illuminated version of The Deer's Cry in the Manx Museum (Manx Gaelic: Thie Tashtee Vannin) consisting of a series of pages of illuminated lettering bound into a book. It was designed and executed by Archibald Knox (1864-1933) combining intricate interlacing patterns, inspired by Manx crosses and Celtic manuscripts. The illustrations can be seen on the Manx Museum iMuseum website. The works were not commissioned but were a personal and spiritual exercise which he worked on for over 20 years. They were not completed by the time of his sudden death in 1933. In 1957, they were donated to the Manx Museum and bound into a volume in accordance with the donor’s wishes.

The Deer's Cry, also known as Saint Patrick's Breastplate, The Lorica of Saint Patrick or Saint Patrick's Hymn comes from a Christian prayer said to have been recited by St Patrick for protection. The Latin word lōrīca originally meant armour or breastplate. It is said that Saint Patrick sang The Deer's Cry when subject to an ambush laid by Lóegaire. Lóegaire mac Néill, according to the Irish annals and king lists, was a 5th century King of Tara or High King of Ireland and reputed to be an opponent of Saint Patrick. In laying a trap for Patrick his aim was to prevent him going to Tara to spread his faith. In answer to Patrick's prayer for protection, he and his monks were turned into or given the appearance to his enemies of being wild deer with a fawn following them. This is where the name Deer's Cry comes from. This allowed them to evade the ambush.

Link: https://www.imuseum.im/search/all/search?term=Knox+Deers+Cry