land by reason of the marueilous dilatation of their mind Though the saint seemeth to report this of others for the auoidance of all vaine glory and selfe esteeme yet that he meant it of himself indirectly is cleare to any that hath perused the vessell of election S. Paul in his 2. to the Corinthians For he discoursing of visions and rapts happening to himself wrote not I know of my selfe but I know such a man that he was rapt into paradise which though he seeme to recount of another yet none can doubt but he spoke of himselfe 5. It fell out another tyme that one of the brothers came to the place where the faint was writting and sayd to him I beseech you blesse this Iron I hould in my hand the saint stretched out his hand holding the pen blessed the Iron according to the brothers request in the meane tyme he held his face towards the book he wrot the brother being gone away the saint asked What Iron he had blessed for the Brother Diarmitius his familiar tender answered A knife wherewith Beeues are killed then the saint replyed I trust firmely in our Lord that this weapon I haue blessed will neuer do hurt to man nor beast The truth of which sentence of the Saint was showen in effect the selfe same houre For the brother going out of the monastery with an intent to kill a Cow endeauoured thrice therunto and yet could not so much as pierce her skinne Another tyme the Saints faythfull tender Diarmitius sickened euen to death the Saint came to visit him in that extremity and standing by the beds side prayed after this manner I beseech thee O Lord be fauourable to me and let not the soule of my pious tender be takē out of this mortal life before I end the course of my dayes After praying thus he held his peace for a little space then opening his sacred mouth he sayd This my louing child shal not only escape the danger of this present infirmity but shall moreouer liue for many yeares after my death Diarmitius was deliuered incontinently of his disease and suruiued the Saint many a longe yeare How S. Columbe discouered a Bishop that would not haue himselfe knowne how he foretould the comming of a Crane out of Ireland and how by the presents that were offered to him to be blessed he knew the sinnes of the owners CHAP. V. THERE came out of the Prouince of the Numinenses a certaine proselit to visit the saint this man being a Bishop dissembled al that he could his degree and estate yet could he not keep it hidden from the saints al-piercing knowledge For the proselit being to consecrate the next sunday our Sauiours holy body the saint sayd to him Since you are a Bishop breake this dominicall bread after the manner and with the same solēnity a Bishop ought to breake it now we know ful wel that you are a Bishop why did you conceale your selfe from vs by occasion wherof we did not demean our selues towards you with that respect veneration your place and calling requires The humble harted pilgrim hearing him speake in this kind glorifyed Christ in his holy seruant Columbe Another time the venerable Abbot sent his vncle Ernanus to gouerne the monastery of Humba of whome at his departure he pronounced this prophecy This my friend whome I now send away I neuer hope to see him liuing againe in this world Within a few dayes Ernanus fell sicke and would haue himselfe caryed backe to the saint who was very glad thereof and went forth to meet him Ernanus though he were very weake and sickly yet would he needes go on his feet and loe in the way he gaue vp his ghost suddainly before the saint could haue a sight of him 2. The saint tould a certaine Peasant that came to his monastery Loe the barbarous ennemies sacke and spoile all the Prouince you inhabit VVhich dolefull newes made the poore fellow fall into pittiful lamentatiōs for his wife children The saint seeing him drowned in sorrow anguish sayd to him your wife and family haue escaped to the mountaines but you goods and cattle the ennemy hath taken away the man going home found all to be true as the saint had tould him A certaine valiant and strong man named Gorens would faine learne of the saint what kind of death himselfe should dy of The saint told him You shall not be slaine in the field nor drowned in the sea but the companion of your way whom you lest distrust or suspect shall be the cause of your death within some years after the foresayd Gorens seeing men fighting at mortal debate ran in haste to separate them in the meane tyme by some chance or other he let his knife fall carelessely which wounded him in the knee of which wounde after the sickenesse of some moneths he dyed and so the prophecy of the Saint was fullfilled 3. Another tyme likewise the saint being in the often mentioned Iland of Hoy he called one of the monkes to him and commanded him as followeth The third day next ensuing you shall goe to the Weast part of this I le and shall expect the comming of a certaine Crane from the North part of Ireland which Crane being driuen by the force of the blustering windes through the spacious Regions of the ayre all weary and turmoyld shal arriue there after the ninth houre and hauing all her forces and vigour consumed she will fall downe on the shoare before you forget not to take her vp mercifully and to bring her to the next house where you shall entertaine her liberally and feed her carefully for three dayes by which tyme her strength shall be well repayred and her selfe being vnwilling to soiourne with vs any longer will returne backe to Scotland her sweet country where she was borne and my motiue of commending her so seriously to your care is because she is of one country with vs. The brother obeyed willingly and the third day at the place and tyme appointed expected the arriuall of the new guest whome he tooke vp of the shoare and brought her weake and faint to the lodging where he fed her carefully to whome after his comming to the monastery in the euening the Saint sayd Gods blessing haue you my child for tending so carefully the strange guest who will make no long delay in her pilgrimage but will returne back to her natiue soyle after three dayes abode What the saint pronounced the euent showed to be true for the Crane after three dayes charitable entertaynement winded her selfe gently vp into the ayre in presence of her officious ministre and after kept her course directly towardes Ireland 4. On a certaine tyme many presents were layd in the street that leadeth to the Saints monastery to be blessed of him as he passed by wher poynting at the guift of a rich man and naming the party he sayd The mercy of God accompanieth the bestower
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
of the Saints blessing learned all the Psalter in fiften dayes who after led a most holy life and dyed glorious for vertue and miracles The Saint by reuiuing a noble mans wife named Ethra gayned the noble man himselfe with all his followers vnto Christ. 5. Some wicked men enuying the progresse of Christian religion and the Saints glory suborned a woman that vsed to beate and to dresse flax in the way the Saint was to passe to hide a great quantity of the flax in a hollow tree not farre off and when the Saint should passe that way they wished her to exclaime against him and his holy company as hauing stolne the flaxe The womā did as she was put in the head by those wicked men who rushed out of their dennes when the woman began to crye and flocking about the Saint and his companions they accused them as theeues guilty of torments and of death Neere the place where this tumult was excited there was one buryed whome the Saint reuiued the reuiued man by his testimony cleared the innocency of the Saint and freed him from that slaunder shewing where the flaxe was hidden The contriuers of this mischiefe were by this miraculous euent reclaymed from idolatry to the acknowledgement of the true God 6. A man of Iueach hauing stolne eaten a he-Goate S. Patricke had and thinking by oath to cleare himselfe of all suspition swore that he had no hand at all in the theft loe the eaten goate by a hideous noyse made in his belly bewrayed him to be the author of the theft whose posterity euer after wore goates beardes It was S. Patrickes custome to keepe company to loue and frequent the society of vertuous and holy men which custome how gratefull it was in the eyes of the Almighty himselfe vouchsafed to manifest by this insuing miracle For as he and a man of a most venerable life named Vinnocus were in conuersatiō together of diuine matters and hauing bestowed their garmentes vpon the poore behold there came from heauen a cloake that fell iust between them both Each of the Saintes alleadged that it was sent to the other they being in this humble and charitable debate the cloake disappeared and two others were brought by an Angell for each of them one 7. In that part of Britanny which is now called VVales there reigned a wicked Tyrant a cruell persecutour and ennemy of Christians named Cereticus The Saint directed to him a commonitory epistle hoping thereby to reclaime him from his wicked courses but he derided the Saint and became more obstinate in mischiefe and iniquity which when the Saint vnderstood he prayed to God in manner following Our Lord God omnipotent cast this foxe-natured man who is so monstruous in vices after a monstruous manner from the face of the earth Our Lord inclined his eares to the voyce of his seruant for he transformed him into a fox who flying away was neuer seene afterwards Of S. Machaldus conuersion and most rigid pennance and of S. Memessaes holy life CHAP. XVI A Wicked man named Machaldus the prince of theeues and robbers seeing S. Patricke passe by the way determined to kill him but after holding it a disgrace to shed the blood of so poore weake and seeble a man as the Saint was he and his ruffian like company thrōged about the Saint and by way of contempt and derision requested him to reuiue againe one of his company named Garbanus whome they had couered with a cloake counterfeiting him for dead The Saint could them that their iest was turned into a truth and so departed The theeues found their companiō dead and fearing that the like mischance might fall vpon themselues they rann apace after the Saint prostrated themselues before him acknowledging their heynous offence they became Christians The Blessed Bishop at their request restored againe their dead companiō to the number of liuing 5. Machaldus hauing confessed his sinnes requested the Saint to set downe for him some course of pennance by which he might purchase eternall life the holy Bishop being inspired from aboue inioyned him to forsake his natiue soyle for euer and to bestow all his substance vpon the poore then did he attyre himselfe in a course and despiceable weed and locked his feet in fetters casting the key into the sea after he commanded him to enter all alone into a boate whither soeuer the boate should carry him there to liue all the dayes of his life The truely penitent Machaldus followed the Saints direction and so committing himself to the sea he lāded in the Isle of Man The two holy Prelates Counidrius and Romulus whome S. Patricke sent to succeed S. German in the gouernement of that Isle seeing the man in so miserable a plight knowing the cause intertayned him very charitably detayning him with themselues After the compasse of many yeares in the belly of a fish that by diuine prouidence was brought to Machaldus was found a key which vnlocked his fetters S. Machaldus attayned to such eminent sanctity that after the death of the two forementioned Bishops he was created Bishop of the Iland and ended his dayes there in great sanctity being famous both for vertue and miracles 3. The glorious Saint by conuerting stones into milke milke into stones conuerted a Magitian from the worshiping of stones to the seruice of the true and liuing God Such reuerence did the Blessed Saint carry to Sunday in honour of our Sauiours triumphant resurrection that he was neuer accustomed to trauaile vpon Sonday for wheresoeuer he was belated vpon Saterday there did he stay vntill Munday morning giuing himselfe wholy to diuine contemplation 4. One Saterday he was benighted in a great field farre from any shelter it began to rayne heauily but not a drop did touch the Saint or any of his company This miracle was seconded with a farre greater for euen that night the Saint was thus sheltred miraculously from the rayne the plane was ouercast with so thicke a mist that the Saints coach-man could not find the coach horses which he let out to pasture The Saint knowing in what affliction his faithfull seruant was of cōpassion towardes him he stretched out his sacred hand and loe an vnseene and neuer heard of prodigy his fiue fingers like fiue brightsome Sunne beames illuminating all the country ouer conuerted the darknes into light and the night into day By helpe of this immense splendour the coach man found his horses and so returned ioyfull and greatly conforted to his good Father Whiles the Saint preached the Ghospell to a certaine noble man there came a flame out of the Saints mouth which entered in at the noble mās mouth and eares heating therewith his hart and also all his inward powers 5. A yong Lady named Memessa daughter to a great Prince in England by contemplation of the creatures attayned to such perfect knowledge and loue of the Creator that for his loue she misprised all the world
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
quicknesse of the angelicall motion for that heauen-dweller who flew away from vs when yonder man began to fall as it were in the shutting of an eye preuented him before he touched the earth neither could the party that fell feele ane bruse or payne O how stupendious is this most swift and oportune subuention that could so speedily be performed such spaces of sea and land lying in the way 4. The Saint on a tyme called all the company togeather and straightly charged them in this manner I meane to go out all alone to the western field of this I le let none therfore presume to follow me They all obeyed excepting one brother who went another way and hid himselfe on the top of a little hillocke whence he might espy the cause of the Saints solitary retyre whom the prementioned brother saw standing on a little hill with his hands and eyes cast towardes heauen lo suddenly a strange thing appeared for the holy Angels the inhabitants of the heauenly citty being all white flow downe and enuironed the Saint as he prayed and after some conference with him that heauenly squadron returned soon againe to their heauenly mansions The Saint likewise after that angelicall meeting returned to the monastery and calling all the company together againe not without a seuere reprehension he began to examine which of them had trespassed against his commandement The guilty party being not able to conceale what he had done fell prostrate before the saint acknowledging his fault begging pardon very humbly The saint brought him aside with great commination charged him not to reueale the matter all the dayes of his life By this we may wel coniecture the many apparitions and angelic all visitations the glorious saint had at other tymes especially in the lōg winter nights which for the most part he spent all alone without taking any rest How S. Brendanus saw a fiery piller ascending fro S. Columbes head as he sayd masse how for three entire dayes he enioyed heauenly visions and of other miracles in this kind CHAP. IIII. FOVRE holy founders of monasteryes whose names were Congellus Cahinnechus Brendanus and Cormacus comming out of Ireland to visit the Saint found him in the I le Himba these holy men with one accord did choose that S. Columbe should confecrate the holy mysteryes of the Eucharist in their presence who yeelding to their pious desire entred the church at once with them and whilest the masses were celebrating S. Brendan saw a very brightsome globe of fire shinning ouer the head of S. Columbe all the while he consecrated the sacred oblation and ascending like a piller of fire vntill he had made an end of the most holy mysteryes 2. Another tyme in the sayd I le of Himba the grace of the holy Ghost so copiously descēded on him that remayning the space of three entire dayes lockt vp in his cell he was so replenished during that tyme with diuine light that he did neyther eate or permitted any to come at him In the night two beames of immense brightnes issued out at the chinckes of the doore and holes of the locke he was likewise heard to sing most sweet and ineffable verses many secrets that were hidden from the knowledge of men since the beginning of the world were manifested to him the eyes of his most pure hart pierced into the difficultyes of the most obscure and abstruse passages of holy scriptures and he complained of the absence of Batthaneus his disciple who had he been present during those three dayes should haue described touching the forepassed or future ages many misteries vnknowne to other men 3. A Monke named Virgnous a man feruent in the loue of God entred the Church one night all alone sat him downe to pray in one of the oratories Within the space as it were of an houre S. Columbe likewise entred the sayd holy house together with him a golden light descending frō heauen was seen to replenish al the house as none can contemplate the meridiā sunne with stedfast and vndaseled eyes so could not Virgnous sustaine that heauenly splendour that blunted the quicknesse of his eyes where with he was so astonished and terrifyed that no strength remayned in him The next morning the Saint called on Virgnous speaking these comfortable wordes to him O my little child you haue pleased almighty God much yesternight by casting your eyes on the earth for had you not done so your eyes had beene blinded with the lustre of that diuine light beware you neuer bring this diuine visitation to the knowledge of men during my life Another brother named Colgus cōming that night by chance to the Church doore saw the same glistering light whome the saint admonished the next day not to speake of it to any all his life tyme. 4. Another tyme the saint charged one of his disciples named Brochanus Beware my sonne you approach not this night to my cell as you are wont Who notwithstanding the saints forbidding went to the doore and looked in at the key-hole thinking with himselfe as it fell out that the saint had within some heauenly vision for at that tyme the saints little lodging was replenished with diuine light which the disobedient young man being not able to sustaine fled way in haste The next day the Saint called Brochanus aside and he reprehended him with great seuerity speaking to him in this manner My sonne you haue sinned before God this last night in thinking it possible to conceale your crafty prying for if the holy Ghost did not yet I behould you comming returning from the doore of our lodging had not I then offered my prayers in your behalfe you would eyther haue fallen downe dead before the doore or els your eyes had fallne out of your head and know this that in your owne country of Ireland for liuing lasciuiously you shall sustaine shame and reproach all the dayes of your life yet I haue obtayned from our Lord that in regard your are our disciple that you shall do bitter pennance before your death and obtaine mercy All which happened to him afterwardes according to the Saints prophecy How S. Columbes life was prolonged by the prayers of many Churches How he foresaw his death and reuealed the tyme to Diarmitius his familiar tender CHAP. V. THE glorions Abbot being in Hoy a marueilous sweetnesse pleasantnesse appeared on his countenance and casting his eyes to heauenwardes he was wholy replenished with ioy but within a little space the sweetnes of his face was conuerted into heauines his ioy into sorrow which when two of his monkes named Lugneus and Pilu saw and perceaued they obtained of him not without great intreaty and a faythfull promise of neuer reuealing it in his life tyme the cause of that sad strange alteration to whom he spoke in this manner Loe to this present day there are runne out thrice ten years of my peregrination in Brittany
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