death and dyed The Saint saw the Angells and Diuells fighting about the possession of his soule At last the Angells preuayled and conducted the soule to the ioyes of Paradise All this the saint tould one of his Monkes charging him not to reueale it all the dayes of his life Whilest the Saint liued in Leinster to be trayned vp in wisedom learning it fortuned that a wicked man a cruell persecutor of the good pursued in a certain place a yong Damsell who fled from him she by chance espyed her brother an old man who was master to S. Columbe to whome she made all haste possible for rescue The old man called on S. Columbe to the end that they might both iointly defend her from the cruell persecutors hands who came no sooner to the place but in their eyes he slue her without regarding them any whit whereat the good old monke was so grieued and strucke with anguish that turning to S. Columbe he sayd How long o holy youth Columbe will God the iust iudge suffer this wickednesse ioyned with our dishonour to passe vnpunished The Saint pronounced this iust though dreadfull sentence against the flagitious murderer The selfe same houre that the maydens soule shal ascend vp to heauen his soule shall descend downe to hell And loe without delay the wicked man fell downe dead The report of this fearefull and suddaine vltion was blowen ouer many Churches of Scotland to the great honour and veneration of the holy Deacon 2. A certaine pilgrime came to seiourne with the Saint in the I le of Hoy for some monethes to whome the Saint sayd This day a certaine cleargie man of your prouince whose name I know not is now a carrying betweene the Angels to heauen The brother hearing this began to muse with himselfe and to call to mind the mans name so after a litle while he sayd to the saint I know a seruant of Christ named Diarmitius who built him a little monastery in the selfe same territory wherein I kept my residence It is the selfe same party you name answered the Saint whome the celestiall spirits bring to the ioyes of Paradise Neyther is it negligently to be obserued how that the glorious Saint kept from the notice of men many secrets that were reuealed to him and this for two reasons as himselfe signifyed to a few of his monks First to auoyde ostentation and selfe esteeme secondly to auoyd the molestation that the multitudes would put him in inquiring after seuerall affaires and matters 3. Another tyme the saint sought in the woodes a solitary place vnfrequented by men commodious for the exercise of holy prayer whē he began to pray suddenly he saw an vgly and deformed army of Diuells to fight against him with Iron spits who intended as the Saint knew by the inward illustration of the holy Ghost to assaile his monastery to kill with their pointed stakes many of his monkes But he albeit all alone tooke S. Pauls armour and fought couragiously against the whole host of his infernal aduersaries and so the conflict continued for the most part of the day neither could they ouercome him nor yet he driue them out of his Ile vntill the Angells came to his helpe whose terrour made the Diuels depart After their departure the saint prophecyed how they would inuade the monasteryes of Ethica and inflict pestilent diseases on the inhabitants wherof many would dye Within two dayes likewise the saint foretould how Bathaneus by the help of prayers and fasts preserued his monastery from their inuasion in so much that none dyed but one 4. In the middle region of Ireland liued a certaine Smith a man much addicted to almes deeds and other good workes when this vertuous Artizan came to the finall period of his mortall life the Saint spoke to a few that were about him in this manner The Smith did not labour in vaine who with the labour of his handes hath purchased euerlasting rewardes his soule is now carryed by the Angels to the ioyes of the heauenly Country Another tyme did he see the soule of a poore but very holy woman comming in company of the Angells to meete her husbands soule at his decease and this he made knowne to one of his Monkes named Genereus a Saxon by birth How S. Columbe knowing by reuelation of the death of S. Brendan and S. Columbanus the Bishop sayd masse in honour of them and how a certaine Monke saw him conuersing with the Angels CHAP II. ANother tyme likewise whilest the saint siued in the I le of Hoy in the morning very earely he called vpon his familiar tender Diarmitius and sayd to him Let the sacred misteryes of the Eucharist be made ready in all haste for this day is the deposition of S. Brendan Why quoth Diarmitius doe you command such solemnityes of masses to be made ready this day seeing none came out of Ireland that might bring vs newes of that holy mans death Goe sayd the Saint and obey my word for this last night I saw the heauens open and quires of Angels descending downe to meet S. Brendans soule with whose bright and incomparable splendour the compasse of al the world was enlightned and illustrated 2. Another day also as the monkes put themselues in a readinesse for the seueral works of the monastery the saint cōmanded them to rest that day to make ready the furniture of the sacred oblation and their portions to be encreased as on Sunday For sayd he albeit I be altogether vnworthy yet must I this day celebrate the sacred mysteryes of the Eucharist in honour of that soule which this night hath been carryed among the holy quires of Angells to the interminable ioyes of Paradise These things being spoken the Religious obeyed very promptly and all thinges for the celebrating of the diuine seruice were prepared After they went with their holy Abbot to the Church where after singing part of the office they came to the Hymne where mention is made of S. Martin The Saint sayd to the singers This day you must sing of Columbanus the Bishoppe Then all the Monkes who were present vnderstood Columbanus the Bishop of Leynster S. Columbs deare friend to be translated to a better life Within a few dayes there came out of Leynster who reported that he departed the self same night that his death was reuealed to the Saint 3. Another tyme when the Saint sate writing in his cell his face was suddenly altered he pronounced this voyce from his pure breast Helpe helpe two brothers who stood at the doore to wit Colgus and Lugneus demanded the cause of that suddaine voice To whome the venerable Abbot made this answeare I commanded an Angel of our Lord who stood with you to succour one of the brothers falling downe from the toppe of a great house that is now building in the monastery of the Oaken-field The Saint added further Very admirable and scarce ineffable is the
Martin Archbishop of Tours in France This holy couple liued togeather in great sanctity and perfectioÌ„ being iust before God and walking in his iustifications and commandements without blame In processe of tyme it pleased God to blesse them with a holy and happy issue whome they named Patricke who was no sooner regenerated in the lauer of holy Baptisme but God began to denounce to the world his admirable sanctity by the voyce of stupendious miracles in maÌ„ner following 2. A certaine man strucken with blindnes from his mothers wombe named Gormas heard in his sleep a voyce commanding him with the right haÌ„d of the child Patrick newly christened to make the signe of the Crosse on the ground which voice added further that thereupon would gush out a vaine of liuing water wherewith if he washed his eyes he should recouer his sight The man obeyed the diuine oracle found the vertue of Siloe rieterated in that miraculous fountaine Nay which is more prodigious at the same tyme his spirituall eyes were opened being illustrated with the guift of infused knowledged so that of an ingorant blind man he became a learned Reader and vnderstander of holy Scriptures 3. The holy child Patricke encreasing in yeares grew likewise in grace and as a shop full fraught with sweet perfumes breathed forth the fragrant odours of astonishing miracles In Emptor Towne where the holy child and his sister Lupita were brought vppe vnder the care of an Aunt of theirs after the dissoluing of the frost a certaine sinke or Vaâ—te did so swell vp with waters that it threatned the destruction of many houses and particulerly the inundation did ouerwhelme the house wherein the holy child liued so that al the houshold stuffe was ouerflowen the Blessed child being hungry called to his Nurce for bread Who answered that he was neerer drowning then getting any thing to eate With that the holy child dipped his fingers in the swelling waters and sprinckling them thrice ouer the same with the signe of the holy Crosse commanded the sinke in the name of the most holy Trinity to retyre It was a wounder to see the inundation ceased the sinke or Vault became sodainly dry For from his sacred fingers it seemed to theÌ„ that stood by in lieu of droppes of water sparckles of fire to issue forth which dryed vp those swelling waters 4. On a certaine day in the winter tyme the holy child being among a company of his play-fellowes gathered vp in his lap some pieces of Ice and carrying them home layd them on the floor To whome his Nurce sayd that it had beene better and much more fitting for the season to haue brought home wood for the fire then so to play the wanton with the peeces of Ice The sweet child answered wisely saying It is easy for the Author of nature to dispense with the course of nature aud to make euen this frozen water seruiceable for the vse of fire Then he layd the peeces together and after praying and making the signe of the Crosse vpon them he blew them with that they tooke fire which cast out such flammes and heat as yeelded forth not only the benefit of warmeth but also ministred great matter of admiratioÌ„ to all that saw it which what els could the same foreshew but that this great Saint shold inflame the cold and frozen hartes of many and with the word of God breathed from his sacred soule inflame them in the loue of so potent a Lord 5. One tyme as Lupita S. Patrickes sister went to weane the lambes from their Dames she fell and in falling burst her head against a sharp edged Flint that wounded her cruelly many ran to see that great mischance and among them the Blessed child Patricke who by making the signe of the crosse on her forehead restored her to perfect health In like manner did the Blessed child reuine his Vncle who dyed of suddayne death by making the signe of the Crosse vpon him and offering his deuout prayers for him S. Patricke was by his Aunt deputed to the charge of keeping sheep One day as he ledd them out to their pasture there rushed out of a wood hard by a famished wolfe who carryed away one of the sheep his Aunt missing the sheep imputed the losse of it to the Saints negligeÌ„ce in performing his charge he supported patiently her vndeserued check prayed to God earnestly for the bringing back of the lost sheep Behould the next morning the Woolfe came carying the sheep in his mouth layd the same before the Saint and so went his way The holy childs Nurce in her sickenes longed much for hony but none being to be gotten she fell a greeuing and lamenting the holy child blessing a cup of cold water conuerted it into hony and gaue it to his Nurce wherewith she satisfyed her longing and recouered her health perfectly 6. A noble man that liued in Emptor-Towne forced S. Patrickes Aunt to vndergo the heauy yoake of seruitude giuing her in charge to cleanse or empty euery day the dirt and filth of a great stable or Ox-stall where many Oxen and Horses were stabled The vertuous woman supporred with great meeknes this affliction as comming from the hand of God But S. Patricke offering his prayers to God for his Aunt all the roomes were made cleane so continued for a long time without any human help which great miracle exciting all men to admiration was the cause that the woman was set at liberty and the Saint held in great veneration 7. The admirable progresse the holy childe made in the course of vertue went farre beyond the number of his yeares for his tender breast abounded with plenty of diuine gifts that pure receptacle was enriched and stored with all vertues so that in the slippery course of youth he slidd not into any lapse that might ly as a stayne on the spottles robe of his chastity such was his care in keeping the integrity both of soule and body vnblemished And albeit the inward motioÌ„ of grace did instruct and direct him in all his actions yet when he came to competent yeares his parents tooke care for his trayning vp in learning The child plyed his booke very diligently particularly he gaue himselfe to learne Psalmes Hymnes and spiritual Canticles which he got by hart for eueÌ„ from the prime of his youth he was wont euery day to say the whole Psalter His tender body he chastised with fastings watchinges and other exercises of devotion exhibiting it a liuely host holy and pleasing to God representing in his mortall body the life of an Angel without a body Of S. Patricks being carryed into Ireland and of his captiuity and release from the yoke of seruitude CHAP. II. FIER tryeth gold and the furnace of tribulation the iust to the end that S. Patricks vertues should becom more illustrious his crown of blisse more glorious he was exposed to the assaults of tentation For some Pirates
Lord hath elected to be King will runne suddainly into my lappe They being called Euchodius ran vnto the Saint who kissing him sayd to his father This is he that shall suruiue and shal be King after you and his children shal raigne after him Al which fell out to be true according to the Saints prophecy 3. Domnaldus the sonne of Aydo being yet but a child was by his Nurses brought to S. Columbe who asked them Whose sonne is this you haue brought me They tould him he was Dōnaldus whome they brought to the end he might be inriched with his blessing whome when the Saint had blessed he presently adioyned This child shall ouerliue all his brethren and shall become a famous King neyther shal he euer be deliuered into the handes of his ennemyes but shall in his old age dye a quiet peacecible death in his own house Al which was fullfilled according to the Saints prophecy At the same tyme and in the same place he went to visit Scandalanus the sonne of Colmanus being then detayned prisonner by King Aydus whom when the Saint had blessed he sayd Sonne be not heauy but rather reioyce and be of good comfort King Aydus whose captiue you are will depart this life before you and after your banishment for a little tyme you shal be King in your owne country for thirty yeares then shal you againe be chased out of your kingdome and shall liue in exile for a few dayes which dayes being expired the people will proclaime you King againe ouer whome you shall beare rule for three shorte tymes All this was accomplished in forme and manner as the Saint had prophecyed for after thirty yeares reigne he was driuen out of the kingdome for a certaine space being after recalled by the people he reigned not three years as he thought but three months only and then dyed without delay Two country men brought their sonnes to the Saint in the I le of Hoy to the one he told his sonne should dye the same week and to the other that his sonne should liue to see his nephewes and that he should after a good old age be buryed in the same Iland 4. One of the Saints Monkes named Berachius being to sayle to the Iland of Ethica came to the Saint to craue his blessing to whome the Saint sayd Beware my sonne you hould not your direct course of Ethica by sayling along the wide seas but rather take your course winding about the little Iles fearing that otherwyse you should not escape by reason of the terrour of a monstruous prodigie Berachus receauing the Saints blessing departed and so getting into the ship regarding but little the Saintes admonition he sayled directly through the broad seas loe he and they that were with him saw a mighty huge Whale like to a bigge mountaine to rise vp ouer the waters whose sight strucke a great terrour into their mindes whereupon the marriners strucke downe their sayle and turning backe againe hardly could they escape that danger arising from the tempestuous agitation of the VVhale the they called to mind the Saints propheticall prediction not without admiration Bathaneus being to passe the same morning to the prementioned I le the Saint admonished him of the Whale to whome Bathaneus answered I and the beast are vnder Godes power then the Saint sayd Goe in peace thy faith in Christ will preserue thee from this danger So Bathaneus tooke the Saints benediction launced out from the hauen after sayling forth a good space into the sea he and his companions saw the VVhale which put them all in great feare only Bathaneus without any terrour lifting vp his handes blessed the seas the VVhale and loe in the selfe same moment the VVhale sunke downe vnder the waues and neuer after appeared to them The saint prophecyed of a certaine wicked man who had committed fratricide likewise incest with his owne mother that he should be slaine by his ennemyes which happened true within few daies How S. Columbe saw a citty in Italy to be strucken with thunder and admonished Cailtanus and two other Monkes of their emminent death CHAP. III. AS one of the Saints Monks named Lugbeus came vpon a tyme to the saint he could not looke vpon his face being couered ouer with a marueilous rednes whereat conceauing great feare he ran away whome the saint called backe asking him what was the cause of his running away he answeared because I was in great feare And within a little while dealing with the saint more confidently he made bould to aske of the saint whether any fearefull vision had beene manifested to him the saint then answeared A terrible vengeance hath beene now exercised in a remote part of the world VVhat vengeance was it Or in what country did it happen The Saint replyed A sulphurous flame was powred downe at this houre vpon a citty of the Romane dominion within the marches of Italy whereby three thousand men besides women and children were almost consumed and before this present yeare be expired there wil come marchants out of france who will tell you the same newes At a placed called Camprio-Regionis Lugbeus found a french pilot of whome he learned al the Saint had foretould him 2. Vpon a certaine very colde winter daye the saint sorrowed much and wept exceedingly His familiar seruant Diarmitius asked him the cause of his sorrow who receaued this answere O my little child I do not sorrow at this present without cause seeing how Laifranus toyleth my Monkes already weary in the building of a great house which disgusteth me much A wonder to be spoken in the selfe same moment Laifranus liuing in the monastery of the Oken-field being forced in a manner by coaction and inflamed as it were with fire interiourly commanded the Monkes to cease from the worke some recreation of meate to be prepared gaue them leaue to rest not only for that day but also so long as the hard season coutinued The saint hearing in spirit these comfortable words spoken by Laifranus forbere to weep reioyced exceedingly tould the brethren there present al what passed and withall gaue his benediction to Laifranus 3. As the saint sat one day vpon the top of an high mountaine hanging ouer the monastery turning to his familiar seruant Diarmitius he sayd I marueile what it is that stayes a shippe comming out of Ireland which carryeth in it a wise man who for a certaine sinne whereinto he hath falne doth bitter pennance Within a little while the familiar Brother looking towardes the South he saw the sayles of the shippe approaching to the hauen and showed it to the Saint who sayd Rise in hast and let vs go meet the proselite whose true pennance Christ hath regarded Fechnaus comming a shoare fell downe prostrate and weeping bitterly vpon his knees he confessed his sinnes in presence of all the company The Saint out of compassion weeping with him sayd Rise
in the meane tyme these many dayes I haue deuoutly begged of God that he would be pleased in the end of this 30. years to finish my earthly pilgrimage and to call me to his heauenly mansion this was the cause of my ioy for I saw the Angels sent frō the throne of glory to meet my soule after its departure out of my body loe being now suddenly stayd they stand on the rocke at further side of our sea would come in hast for my soule but they are not permitted to approach neerer for what our Lord hath graunted he hath now suddēly altered hearing the prayers of many churches for me who haue obtained a thing against my will that foure yeares more may be added to the tearm of my mortall pilgrimage this sorrowfull delay is the cause of my present griefe which foure years when they shall come to an end I shall without any precedent sicknesse of body passe to the euerlasting ioyes of Paradise 2. The tearme of the prementioned years now drawing on the true Prophet and very noble Abbot being loaden with yeares went forth in a waggon one day to visit the Brothers that were at worke to whome he sayd I conceaued an earnest desire to go to our Sauiour who granted it me if my selfe would on Easter day which we haue lately celebrated but because I would not haue the ioy of that festiuity conuerted into heauinesse I chose rather to diferre my departure out of this world a little longer With this the Monkes fell into great heauinesse whome their pious Father begon to animate with very comfortable words and sweete exhortations as much as he could Then cōuerting his face to the Orient he blessed the Iland with all the inhabitants From that tyme forwards the Iland was neuer molested with the annoy of vipers within a few dayes after whilest the masses were a celebrating as the Saint eleuated vp his gracious countenance it was suddenly dyed with a most delectable and liuely rednes for at that houre he saw the Angell of our Lord flitting vp and downe in the Oratory and in regard the admirable aspect of an Angel instilleth ioy into the harts of the elect the Saint therfore here abounded with ioy and when some that were present enquired after the cause of his ioy he answered Loe an Angell of our Lord sent to require a certaine depositum very deere to God came into the Church and after looking downe ouer vs and blessing vs departed None of them that were present vnderstood what depositum was that the Angell came for But our holy Patron called his owne soule which God committed to his charge by the name of depositum which he rendred vp within six dayes after 3. On the next Saturday the holy Abbot and his faythfull tender Diarmitius went out to blesse a Barne where the Saint seeing two heaps of grayne sayd I congratulate much with my monkes for if I must needs depart this yeare they haue sufficient prouision Diarmitius hearing this sentence became very heauy you constristate vs so often this yeare because you speake so often of your departure to whome he sayd I will acquaint you with a secret touching my death so that you promise faythfully not to disclose it before I dye Diarmitius gaue him his faithfull word and promise Then the glorious Saint added This day in the sacred volumes is called Sabbaoth that is interprettd rest and truly this day is a Sabbaoth to me because it is the last of my laborious life wherein after the paines of my trauailes I sabbaoth and this next ensuing midnight of the venerable Sunday I shall be gathered to the holy Fathers for now our Lord Iesus vouchsafeth to inuite me to whome I shal depart at night as himselfe hath reuealed to me After this he returned backe towardes the Monastery In the way he ascended a little mountaine ouerlooking the monastery standing on the top of the hill eleuating his handes he blessed his monastery saying The Kinges not only of Scotland with their subiects but euen the Kinges of foraine nations with their vassalls will honor much this place though it be now narrow and despiseable and the Saints of other Churches will giue no small veneration to it How S. Columbe approching to the houre of his death made a mysticall diuision of the Psalme Inquirentes Dominum Lastly of his death buriall and some visions of his happy passage CHAP. VI. AFTER he had bestowed his sacred benediction he returned to his monastery and sate him downe to write the Psalter and comming to that verse of the 33. Psalme Inquirentes Dominum non minuentur omni bono They that seeke after our Lord shall not be diminished of any good Here must I pause in the end of this page Let Bathaneus write what followeth The last verse which the Saint wrote befitteth him very much since he shall neuer be depriued of the interminable riches of heauen and the subsequent verse Come childrē heare me I wil teach you the feare of our Lord becommeth his successor Bathaneus as being his successor not only in the office of teaching but also in the charge in writing After the Saint had giuen a stoppe to his pen at the foresayd verse he entred into the Church to heare sundayes euening masse which being done he came backe to his cell and sate in his bed where he had insteed of a bed a bare stone and another stone in lieu of a bolster sitting in that place he bequeathed to his ghostly children these his last precepts in the hearing only of Diarmitius I commend to you my children these my last wordes conserue true and vnfained charity and peace among you and if you obserue this according to the example of the Saints God the comforter of the good will help you and I being with him will intercede for you and he will affoarde you both what you all want in this life and likewise the ioyes which are prepared for them that keepe his Commandements 2. After finishing these sacred documents the glorious Saint held his peace at midnight when the bell rung to matines he rose going sooner then any of the company to the Church he fell downe on his knees before the Altar Diarmitius following slowly after saw all the church illustrated with Angelicall splendour which at his approach disappeared entring in therfore into the Church he called oft to the Saint with a weeping voice saying O father where are you And so groping vp and downe in the darke he found him lying prostrate before the Altar Diarmitius sate him downe by the Saint and laid his head in his sacred lappe in the meane tyme the Monkes came who seeing their holy Father ready to dye began to lament euen at the very instant of the separation of his soule as we heard from some who were eye-witnesses he looked about him with a viuacious and pleasant countenance contemplating the holy Angells that came to fetch
a desire to compose a hymne in honour of a Saint that yet was liuing and because it was S. Patricke himselfe he ment he concealed the Saints name the glorious Bishop answered it is iust and reasonable that people display the vertues of Saintes and that the Church declare their prayses which yet is more securely done after their deaths when all occasion of sinning is cut off but if you will put in execution what you entende do it quickly loe death is at the doore of all the Bishops that are in Ireland you are the first that shal depart this life Secundinus made the hymne and within a few dayes after he dyed at Donnachseachluin his episcopall citty showing by frequent miracles that he reigneth with Christ. 4. S. Kennechus saw a company of Diuels to go fetch the soule of a flagitious sinner who for his many misdeedes deserued to be buryed in Hell The Saint abiurde them at their returne to let him vnderstand the successe of the matter After a little respit the Diuels comming againe tould S. Kennechus how S. Patricke defended the sinners soule from thē in regard that he was accustomed vpō the Saints day to keep a great feast in honor of him euery day to sing some chapter of that hymne S. Kennechus reioyced much thereat and by telling that miracle excited many to sing that hymne very deuoutly in honour of the Saint An Abbot S. Patrickes disciple named Colmanus did sing the foresayd hymne very often being demanded the cause he answered that whilest he sung it he enioyed stil the Saints presence before him and that his eyes could neuer be satiated with the contemplation of his delectable face wherby it is cleare how faythful a friend this blessed Saint is to all those who frequent his memory or haue him for their patron Of the Saints admirable contemplations reuelations mortifications and prayers CHAP. XX. OFtentims did the glorious Saint see our Sauiour the heauens open our Lord Iesus stāding in the midst of the multituds of Angels this sometimes whē he sayd masse other times when he deuoutly sung S. Iohns reuelatiōs besides the Angel Victor so often mētioned in this volum was wont to appeare to him thrice euery week for to recreate him with his diuine colloquies discourses Of soules departing this life our B. Saint saw ful often some to go to endure the paynes of hel others to be sent to enioy the ioyes of heauen one example very remarkable which the Saint himselfe for edificatiōs sake was wont to recite I will here recount A great noble man who liued in much prosperity dyed with no lesse glory was accounted by them that knew his life end most happy pleasing vnto God wheras a poore indigēt lazar who liued al his life in great misery after his death wanting the honour of burial became a prey to the fouls of the ayre was esteemed most wicked before God but the B. Bishop seeing the blindnes of humane iudgement tould them that he saw the rich mans soule to be buryed in hell and the poore mans soule to be carryed vp to heauen and this which the Saint saw concerning these two he was wonte to recite of many other 2. The fame of S. Patrickes vertues excited a holy man of great merit and vertue named Vinuualoeus who liued in Britany in France to leaue his natiue soyle and to go for Ireland there to become S. Patrickes disciple scholler The night before he was to begin his iourney he saw in a vision a most venerable man attyred in episcopal robes who tould him that himselfe was S. Patrike know my dearest Vinuualoeus that I am Patricke to whō you repaire know that the time of my resolutiō is neere at hand so that before you can come where I am I shall depart this life it is the wil of God that you forsake not this place with that the vision disappeared 3. The course which the Saint held in his deuotion as it was most admirable so did he continue it daly without any intermission euery day was he wont to say deuoutly the whole Psalter with canticles hymnes and S. Iohns reuelation besides two hundred other prayers three hundred times in the day did he prostrate himselfe in adoration before God and in singing euery canonicall hower he was accustomed to blesse himselfe a hundrd times with the signe of the Crosse moreouer it was his wont euery day to say masse with great deuotion and reuerence neither did he omit to preach to the people or to teach his disciples The night tyme which he deuided into three partes he spent after a most heauenly manner the former part he imployed in reciting twice fifty Psalmes and in making two hundred genuflexions the second part he spent in saying of the third quinquagenary of psalmes and of other prayers all which time he stood immersed in colde water the third part he allotted to his sleep hauing for his bed a bare stone another stone in steede of a bolster giuing himselfe in this manner to his rest he would girde his loines with a roughe and course haire cloath steeped in cold watter to keepe his body in due subiection fearing it should stirr vp any dishonest motions against the spirit in this manner did the blessed Bishop offer himselfe a holy liuing and gratfull victime vnto God Of Saints Patrickes most profound humility and of his many miracles CHAP. XXI THE glorious Bishop ouer his other attire wore a white robe repesenting by the forme and colour of his attire the candour of his inward powers nay he would accept of no guifts or presents esteeming it happier to giue then to receaue and if sometymes rich men did bestow any present vpon him he would without delay giue it to the poore easing himselfe of it as of a heauy burthen In his countenance in his aspect in his talke in his gate euen in the motion of his members and deportement of all his body the beholders might see and learne lessons of edification his speech being tempered with sweetnes and seasoned with the salt of discretion he accomodated himself to al sexes people occasions he was wel seene in foure languages the English Irish French and Latin attained to good insight in the Greeke he wrote a volume called S. Patrickes canons which is furnished with excellent doctrine for all sorts of people 2. When any difficulte or obscure questions were put vnto him he was wont of his profound humility first to answeare I know not God knowes He was indued with the gift of prophecy whatsoeuer he foretould fell out without any ambiguity He did prophecie of the Saints of Ireland and especially of all the Saints of Munster Connact that were to be borne within the compasse of one hundred yeares so clearly that he fortould their names liues and places of their habitation In giuing his benediction he extended his right hand and in bestowing his
they inioyed the brightnes of the day light without the interposition of any night By occasion of this stupendious miracle the Archmachians and Vlidians fell into grat debate and contention for the possession of that sacred treasure and as they were vpon the poynt of entring into a fierce and bloody conflict they heard a voyce from heauen which seemed to be S. Patricks cōmaunding them to surcease from the effusion of blood the sea moreouer passing its wōted boundes swole vp so high that it impeached their mutuall fight and slaughter for the present 3. The Vlidians put the blessed Saints body vpon a new wayne drawen by two kine and so carried it away with great ioye and singing of psalmes hymnes and spiritual canticles wherat the Ardmuchians fury was so inkindled that they intended by force of armes to detayne the holy body of their patron and primat but Almighty God to stint that bloody strife substituted before the Ardmuchians eyes a phantasticall wayne which resembled so fully the former that they being perswaded it was the same that carried the rich treasure of the Saintes sacred body followed it so farre as the riuer Caulune in the confines of the prouince of Ardmuch where that imaginary wayne disappeared out of their sight in the meane time the Vlidians entred the citty of Downe and after great solemnity of masses they interred the holy body in the place aforesaid S. Patricke departed this life in the yeare of our redemption 493. Felix being Pope Anastasius being Emperour Aurelius Ambrosius being Gouernour of England and Forchernus reigning in Ireland and Iesus Christ being sole monarch of all the world to whome all honour glory and prayse for all eternity Amen Heere ends S. Patrickes life THE LIFE OF THE HOLY VIRGIN SAINT BRIGIT PATRONESSE OF IRELAND Abridged out of what COGITOSVS her owne nepheu and IOANNES CAPGRAVIVS haue written more largely of her famous Actes and Miracles Of S. Brigits Countrey Parents Birth and many vertues and especially of her charity to the poore CHAP. I. THE glorious virgin S. Brigit who descended of the ancient and honorable family of Etech in the kingdom of Ireland was borne at Fochart a village a mile distant from Dundalke in the country of Louth Her Father was a noble man of Leinster named Dubtacus who falling in loue with a handmayd of his named Brocseca a woman indued with singuler beauty and admirable comlines he got her with child of this sacred virgin which when his owne wife perceiued being in great trouble therat and taking the matter very greeuily she said vnto him cast out this handmayd fearing her posterity surpasse mine Dubtacus cōstrayned through his wiues importuinty made sale of her to a certaine Magitian in whose house falling in trauaile she was safe deliuered of the holy child such as were present at her birth saw the cloath wherewith her tender head was couered to burne with a flame of fire whereupon hastning to quench it they found no fire at all 2. So much did the holy virgin loath to feed of the Magitians meats that she was constrayned euery day to cast vp what she eate The Magitian considering attentiuely the cause therof said I am vncleane this holy virgin ful of the spirit of God cannot taste of my meate choosing out therfore a white merch cow he bestowed it vpon her to liue by her milke The holy virgin increased in vertue no lesse then in yeares for she excelled in all kind of holy conuersation and sanctity of life aed became very conspicuous for her modestie chastity and temperance but aboue al her charity to the poore is most remarkable 3. The sacred virgin being deputed by the Magitian to keepe his cowes gaue all the butter and milke she could gather to releiue the present wantes and necessities of the poore When the Magitian saw but a small quantity of butter in a great vesel wherin the butter was to be kept he chafed extreamely The Saint seeing what passion he was in offered her pure prayers vp to God and so by diuine vertue filled the vessell with butter euen vp to the topp wherat the Magitian was so much astonished and moued that he beleiued in Christ setting both her and her mother at liberty 4. In regard she gaue to the poore all whatsoeuer she could lay handes vpon and among othings her Fathers sword he purposed to sel her for which end bringing her where the King was he requested him that he would be pleased to buy his daughter To whome the Kinge spoke in this manner what made you to giue away your fathers sword to the poore man To whome she answeared I haue giuen it to Christ Sir if my God did aske your maiesty and my father too of me I would bestow you both and whatsoeuer els you haue vpō him if it lay in my power Thē the King turning to her father sayd to him this your daughter is of too great worth to be bought by me and of farre greater to be sould by you so giuing her another sword to giue her father he dismissed her Of S. Brigites singuler chastity and of some miracles wrought in approbation thereof as also of other stupendious signes CHAP. II. WHEN this sacred spouse of Christ saw herselfe pressed and importuned by her freindes to marry she prayed to God that he would be pleased to disfigure her body with some deformity to the end that men shold cease from making further loue vnto her and without delay her eye burst and melted in her head then taking three other maydes in her company she repayred to a holy Bishop called Machella S. Patrickes disciple to be vayled at his handes the holy Bishop saw a piller of fire appeare ouer her head and contemplating moreouer her earnest and ardent loue of virginall integrity he gaue her the holy vayle of chastity at which time as she fell prostrate before the venerable Prelate to offer her selfe a holy cleane and impolluted host to her heauenly spouse she touched the alter postle which incontinently budded forth a fresh with leaues and so continueth greene and florishing to this day Being vayled with the sacred cognizance of chastity her bursten eye was restored againe to perfect health 2. Against Easter the sacred virgin made bere of one onely measure or pecke of malt fending part therof to eighteen Churches that were roūd about and besides during all the octaue that small quantity sufficed aboundantly and serued to satisfy all those who would and were desirous to taste therof At the same time a Leaper came to the holy virgin requesting her to help him to a cow but she hauing none said to him Wil you that we pray God to deliuer you from your sicknes who answeared that he preferred his cure before all other guiftes whereupon she hauing blessed water sprinkled the leaper therwith and immediatly he became cleane in like māner two sicke virgins taking water which the holy Virgin had blessed recouered their
most sure and soueraigne refuge in all distresse At the same tyme S. Columbe was present in spirit with Cormacus he caused therefore a signe to be made for to call the Monkes to the Oratory where prophecying after his wonted manner he sayd Deere brethren pray most earnestly for Cormacus who now sustaineth monstruous affrightments neuer seene before we ought therefore to conceaue a tender compassion on our deare commembers being in such manifest danger and to pray to God for their comfort and safety After speaking this much more in this kind he fell downe prostrate on his knees before the Altar and with a pensiue hart and doleful voice besought the Omnipotent moderator of windes and waues for them After prayer he rose vp refrayning teares he ioyfully sayd Let vs reioyce with our deere brethren for God hath conuerted the south wind into a Northren gale that wil deliuer them out of all danger and bring them safe hither And incontinently the south-wind ceased and the north began to blow After many dayes Cormacus arriued safe gladded all the company with his presence By this the Reader may coniecture how great the holy Abbot was in Gods eyes who could by inuocating on Christs name command the blustring windes and swelling billowes Let this much suffice touching the miracls the Saint wrought in this present life Let the Reader further know that we haue omitted many more to auoyd tediousnes THE III BOOKE OF S. COLVMBES ANGELICAL APPARITIONS Of the apparition made to S. Columbes mother before his birth Of the visions S. Bredan and S. Finnian had touching him And how according to a vision he had he ordayned Aydan King CHAP. I. IN the first booke we haue treated succinctly of S. Columbes admirable reuelations In the seconde we haue discoursed of his stupēdious miracles In this third booke we meane to set downe the Angelicall visions that appeared to him or to others of him One day betwixt the conception and natiuity of the Saint an Angell appeared to his mother who brought her a wounderful rich robe and tooke it away presently she being very pensiue thereat sayd to the Angell appearing in the likenes of a very graue venerable man Why do you so soone withdraw this delightful mantle Because answeared he that it appertaines to me whome you cannot long detaine with you with that the woman saw the robe to be drawen longer and longer from her and to stretch so out in bredth as to surpasse the latitude of the fields with its ouerlarge dimensions to couer mountaines and forests and heard moreouer such a voice as this directed to her VVoman be not agrieued for you shall beare your husband so happy a sonne who as one of the Prophets of God shall be rāked among them and is predestinated by God to be the captaine to conduct infinit soules to heauen VVith which voyce the woman awaked Another night the childs foster-father a Priest of a very Religious life comming after masse out of the church found all the house illustrated with an immense splendour For he saw a globe of fire standing on the holy infants face at which strange sight he trembled and was strucken with astonishment at last he vnderstood thereby the copious effusion of the grace of the holy Ghost on the sweet suckling 2. VVhen the saint had beene excommunicated by a certaine synod for light and pardonable causes as it was euidēt in the end he came to the foresayd Synod whome when S. Brendan the founder of the monastery of Birra saw comming a farre of he rose vp in haste and embraced him For which being reprehēded by some of the ancientest of the assembly who asked him Why do not you feare to rise to honour an excōmunicated person and to embrace him He answered Had you knowne the thinges our Lord hath vouchafed to manifest to me touching this his faythfull seruant you would neuer haue excommunicated him whome our Lord doth not only not excommunicate but doth alwayes magnify him more and more And added further I saw a firy and brightsome piller going before this man of God whome you contemne and the Angels accompanying him along the fields I dare not therefore to contemne this man whome I see preordayned by God to be the Captaine of many that shall attaine to the immortall life of glory These things being sayd by him al the assembly honoured the Saint very much As S. Finnian the Saints master saw him one day approaching to the place where himselfe resided he sayd to some that were present Loe you see S. Columbe comming who hath merited to haue an Angell for the companion of his iourney About the same tyme the Saint with twelue of his disciples sayled into Brittany 3. Whilest the Saint liued in the Iland of Himbria he fell into an extasis wherein he saw an Angell of our Lord sent to him who held in his hand the booke contayning the ceremonyes of the enstalling of Kinges which he offered to the Saint commanding him to read it but when he would not ordayne Aydanus King as it was commended and commanded in the booke in regard he loued Iogenan Aydans younger brother better the Angell suddainly stretching out his hand strucke the Saint with a whip whose blew print or whaile remayned on his side all the dayes of his life and added further Know for certaine that I am sent to you to cause you according as is set downe in the booke to ordayne Aydanus King and if you doe not not obey I will strike you againe The Saint thereupon obeyed the iniunction of our Lord and for that end embarked himselfe for Hoy where he crowned Aydanus King who came thither about that tyme of whome of his posterity the Saint prophecied in manner following as recordeth Commeneus Albus I beleeue without all question O King Aydan that none of your ennemyes shal be able to make head against you vntill you vse some fraud and vniust deportement towards me and my posterity commend you this seriously to your sonnes and let them do the same to their sonnes and nephewes fearing otherwise that the scepter of the kingdome should be wrested out of their handes For at what tyme soeuer they shal work any harme to me or to my kinsmen in Ireland the scourge I haue sustayned for your sake shal be turned on them by the hand of our Lord and they will leese the harts of men and their ennemyes shall insult ouer them This prophecy hath beene fullfilled in our dayes by Belleroth Daniel Breco Aydans nephew who without any iust cause wasted and destroyed O Doainails country How the Saint saw the soule of one of his Monkes to be saued How with a word he killed a wicked man How he fought with the Diuels chased them away by help of the Angels CHAP. II. ONE of the Saints monkes a Britton by byrth a man much giuen to the exercise of good workes fell sicke to