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
hopes of the kingdome the Kinges only sonne who dyed of a naturall death in his bed roome and the Kinges daughter who was drowned in the adioyning riuer the young ladyes body was drawne out of the waters and layd by her brothers dead corps to solemnise their obsequies both together In the meane time newes was spread ouer ouer all the Citty that S. Patricke of Ardmuch the potent reuiuer of many dead to life was seene in the towne The King hearing thereof reioyced much and caused him to come where his two children were dead full of fayth promised that if God by his prayers did restore his children to life he himselfe with all the Citty would become Christians The Saint seeing such gayne of soules in a readines in the sight of the King his Nobles and all the communalty raysed from death to life the princely children whose corporall resurrection cooperated much to the spirituall resurrection of their Father with the rest of the people The King was named Alphinus his sonne Cochad his daughter Dublinia who gaue her owne name to the Citty The King and all the Citty being astonished at this great miracle abiured the worship of Idols and were baptised in S. Patrickes Well which to encrease the beliefe of the faythful the Saint made to gush out by stricking the point of the staffe of Iesus in the earth From that day forwards King Alphinus with all the Cittizens of Dulbin obliged themselues by vow and their posterity to the seruice of Saint Patricke and the Primates of Ardmach moreouer as a perpetuall gage of their seruice ordained that euery company of trades-men should pay a yearely annuity to the Primat of Ardmach The King and the Princes offering each of them a talent of pure refined gold to the Saint al which liberall guifts the true professour of pouerty bestowed vpon the poore reseruing ōly a part which he kept for the building of Churches 5. The glorious Bishop gaue his benedictiō to the people of Dublin and taking his leaue of them he went to a towne called Cnoc where he sent often for one named Murinus a man of Belial who would not in any wise present himselfe before the Saint whose wisedome he deemed able to conquere the hardest hart the Saint sent for him often but all in vaine for he caused answer to be made that the S. should suffer him to sleep The Saint knowing by inspiration of the holy Ghost that he was a child of perdition adioyned therunto saying Let him sleep let him sleep and before the generall day of iudgment let him not awake or arise Which being sayd the Saint hastned on his iourney and the wicked wretch dyed a double death both of soule and body 6. A wicked man named Foilge carryinge great malice and spite to the Saint for the destruction of the formentioned idoll called the head of the Godes attempted to lay violent handes vpon the Saint and being not able to compasse his wicked intent he rushed very violently vpon Odranus the Saints Coachman and murdered him in the Saints sight the Saint stunge at the hart thundred out his malediction against the man of Belial who being stricken therwith yelded vp his wicked spirit to be ingulfed in hell fire But as for Odranus his soule the Saint saw it carryed vp betweene Angels to heauen where it was ranged among the triumphant hostes of Martyrs Of S. Patrickes iourney into Munster and of the miraculous refection of 1400. with many other miracles wrought by the Saint in those quarters CHAP. VIIII THE Saint leauing Leinster tooke his iorney towards Mounster The King of that Country named Oengus hearing of the approach of the glorious Bishop went to meet him and receaued him with great honour and exultation A principall motiue of the Kinges ioy and of receauing the Christian fayth was that hauing entred his Idolatrous temple that morning to adore his false Gods he found them all prostrate vpon the ground and albeit he did set them often vp in their owne place yet still they tumbled downe for as Dagon could not stand before the Arke of Gods couenant so could not these Idols stand in their place whē the Blessed Bishop Patricke drew neere vnto them who deseruedly we may call the Arke of the couenant seeing in his cleane hart he carryed as in a golden vessel the diuine Manna of contemplatiue sweetnes the table of the diuine Law and the Rod of heauenly discipline The aforesayd King led the Saint with great reuerēce and honour to his Court at Cashell where vpon the Saints preaching he beleeued in the most holy Trinity and receaued the grace of regeneration 2. As the Saint gaue the King his benediction by laying his sacred handes vpon his head the King requiring it often with great deuotion it happened that the point of the Saints staffe wounded the kinges foot which yet put him to no payne in regard that his hart being wounded with ardent charity expelled all sense feeling of that bodily sore but whē the Saint saw in what case the kinges foote was blessing it with the figure of Christs bāner he cured it perfectly The king reioycing giuing thankes vnto God for so great a signe wrought vpon him the holy Prelate ful of the spirit of prophecy spake to the king as immediatly followeth The blood of no King of thy stocke who shall fit in this place vpon thy throane shal be shed but of one only Which prediction the inhabitants of that Country constantly auerre to haue proued true in as much as no king of his posterity was euer kild vnto the tenth generation but only one 3. From Cayshell the holy Saint went into Ormand there to extirpate roote out the briers of Idolatry and to sow in steed thereof the pure wheate of Euangelicall doctrine where God with suddaine death seuerely punished a wicked wretch with al his complices for disgorging impious obloquies against the Saint At what time the Angell of peace S. Patricke passed through the country of Ciarragi he saw two brothers named Bibradius and Locradius at mortall debate about the parting of their Fathers inheritance in so much that from high words they fell to bloody blowes and stroakes the Saint fearing least so heinous a sinne as fratricide should be cōmitted in his presence with his holy prayers he so benummed their handes that they hunge stiffe and inflexible in the ayre vpon sight of that stupendious miracle the two brethren referred their cause to be decided by the Saints arbitrement who not only reneued between them the league of brotherly loue but also restored to them the perfect vse both of their armes hands the place where this miracle hapned the two brothers was bestowed vpon the Saint towardes the building of a Church there 4. After that the blessed Bishop had confirmed the people of Munster in the knowledge and loue of the true God he tooke his iourny towards the North king
determinatiō when he opened to S. German he liked well thereof and ioyned with him the seruāt of God Sergerius the Priest as a comfort in his trauailes as a faythfull witnes of his holy conuersation Setting himselfe on his way by diuine inspiration he went to a certaine Ermite of great fame sanctity and merit named Iustus liuing in an I le of the Tyrrhene Sea where after charitable saluations and some spirituall conference passing betweene them the holy man Iustus deliuered to S. Patricke a little staffe which he sayd he receaued out of our Sauiours owne handes to giue to him Saint Patricke after some dayes abod with the seruant of God Iustus went on his iourny to Rome being enriched with that holy staffe that God had sent him O singular guift descending from the Father of lights For as by Moyses Rod God wrought many prodigious wounders in bringing the Israelites out of the house of bondage so by this holy staffe which himselfe sent to his true seruant Patricke did he worke wonderful miracles in the conuersion of many Nations 4. After the Saints safe arriuall at Rome he visited with great deuotion and reuerence the memoryes of the Apostles and Martyrs comming to the Popes aquaintāce his holynes admitted him to great fauour grace There sate then in the Apostolicall chayre both by name and conuersation Pope Celestimus the first the three and fortith after S. Peeter The Popes holynes finding S. Patricke sound in fayth learning and sanctity consecrated him Bishop determined to employ him in the conuersion of Ireland His holynes had sent before into Ireland for that end another Doctour named Palladius his owne Archdeacon on whō he bestowed store of bookes with Reliques of the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul of many other Martyrs But he finding the Irish nation obstinatly bent against the doctrine of truth departed from Ireland intending to returne backe to Rome dyed in the way The Popes holynes being certifyed of Palladius death commanded S. Patricke to succeed him in that charge of preaching the Ghospell to the Irish nation S. Patricke with twenty more famous for learning and sanctity whome his holynes had giuen him as his coadiutors in that great worke he was to vndertake set himselfe on his iourney towardes Ireland In the way he repaired to his ould master and instructor S. German of whose guift he receaued chalices vestements and other like Church stuffe 5. As S. Patricke tooke shipping in England for to passe into Ireland where a poore leaper besought the Saint most earnestly to carry him into Ireland the Saint of the aboundance of his piety cōdescended to the distressed leapers request but the Mariners would not in any case admit him into the Shippe the Saint ful of confidence in God cast out into the sea a hallowed Altar stone which his holynes had bestowed vpon him and made the leaper to sit on it O prodigious wounder that stone set on loaden in that manner being supported by the Head corner stone floted on the waues against its owne nature and went side by side with the Shippe all the seas ouer and euen with it came to the shore When they came in sight of the land the Saint saw an host of Diuells inuironing the Iland and opposing themselues as a strong Bulwarke to hinder his entrance into the Country But the Saint was nothing terrifyed at the sight of these vgly spirits knowing that there were more and farre more potent with him then against him wherefore making the victorious signe of the Crosse against them he chased away all that army of diabolicall fiendes Of S. Patrickes arriuall in Ireland of the conuersent◠a noble Man named Dichum and of many miracles wrought by the Saint CHAP. IIII. SAINT Patricke with his holy family landed at Inuerds hauen in Leinster and thence hauing first refreshed him after his long nauigatiō sayled towardes the North for he had a great desire to bring Milcho in whose seruice he was all the tyme of his bondage to the knowledge of the true God and of his Religion but God disposing it so for the greater gaine of soules the Saint arriued in Vlidia where being ready to go ashore a multitude of Pagans stood there in a readines to hinder his entrance for the Magitians and Diuines of that Region prophecyed of his comming in manner following There will one come with his crowne shauen in his hand a croked staffe his 〈◊〉 shal be set in the East of his house and his people shall stand behind him from his table he wil sing blasphemies and all his family will answeare Amen Amen This man when he shal come will destroy our Gods ouerthrow our Altars and Temples seduce the people after him he will subdue or cut off our Kinges that will resist him and his doctrine shall raigne for euer Which moued Leogarius the sonne of Neil being then the Monarch of Ireland to commaunde his subiects throughout all his dominions to watch al the hauens and ports to the end they might driue S. Patricke away whersoeuer he meant to land 2. As S. Patricke went to the shoare being all alone the cruell Pagans incited a most fierce dogge to assayle the Saint but the Dogge no sooner saw Gods seruant but he became mute and as stiffe as a stone which when a certaine man of great strength of a huge stature and fierce spirit named Dichu saw he drew out his sword thinking to kill the Saint but God opposinge the sheild of his diuine protection all his strength fayled him and such a stifnes grew ouer al his body that he could neyther sturre hand nor foot The noble man seeing this great miracle wrought vpon himselfe became another man for he and al his house beleeuing in Christ were baptised Dichu hauing obtayned health both of soule and body bestowed vpon Saint Patricke the place where that miracle hapned with all the appartenances for the building of a church The place is called S. Patrickes Barne euen to this day in processe of tyme the Saint built theron a faire Monastery which he furnished with a company of perfect Monkes ouer whome he placed S. Dunnius his owne disciple as Abbot 3. One day as the Saint sayd Masse in the sayd Church a sacrilegious Magician the child of perdition stood without and with a rodd put in at the window cast down the chalice shed the holy Sacrament but God without delay seuerely punished so wicked a sacriledge for the earth opening his mouth after a most strange manner deuoured the Magician who descended a liue downe to hell the Saint sorrowed much for the effusion of the Chalice and as he afflicted himselfe with bitter teares the Chalice by diuine vertue was erected in its owne place with the sacrament so entyre that there appeared no signe nor marke of the effusion The same seuere reuenge did almighty God exercise vpon another Magitian for attempting
grace of regeneration and leading a life conspicuous both for miracles and vertues being after made Bishop departed to a better life in the citty of Slane 3. A certaine Magician that was in great fauour with the King whome the King honoured as a God opposed himself against S. Patrike euen in the same kind that Simon Magus resisted the Apostle S. Peter the miserable wretch being eleuated in the ayre by the ministery of Diuels the King and the people looked after him as if he were to scale the heauens but the glorious Saint with the force of his feruent prayers cast him downe vnto the ground where dashing his head against a hard flint he rēdred vp his wicked soule as a pray to the infernall Fiendes 4. The Magitians death put the King in a great rage so that with a great troup well appointed for so cruell a masacre he attempted to kill the Saint Who perceiuing their desperate intention began to sing that verse of the Psalme Let God arise and let his ennemyes be dispersed let them that hate him fly from his face Almighty God in whose protection the Saint was with thunder and lightning stroke some of them downe starke dead and the rest he put to flight The King hauing but foure in his company hid himselfe in a close roome from the fury of God the Queene falling prostrate before the Saint vndertooke in the behalfe of her husbād that he would adore the true God submit himselfe to the Saints directions who praying to Almighty God the vehement storme ceased The King came as the Queen had promised couering with the vaile of humility the obstinate malice of his hart in shew and outward adoration acknowledging the soueraigne maiesty of God he intreated the Saint that he would be pleased to come to his court promising that he would be wholy directed gouerned by the St. wherto he condescended albeit he were not ignorant of the Kinges deep wicked dissimulations 5. But the wicked King being obdurate in his malice beset al the way wherby the Saint was to passe with armed chariots for euery seuerall passage he belayd with nine chariots to the end if he escaped one passage he should be intrapt in another But the malice of man cannot preuaile against the goodnes of God who conducted his true seruant Patricke with eight more and the holy youth Benignus inuisible through the midst of their blood-thirsting ennemyes to Tarach where the King kept court When the Saint entred the Kings pallace none did exhibite him any honor or reuerence excepting the Kings Poet who with great submission saluted him which was reputed in him to iustice for he receaued the grace of baptisme the poems which before he sung in honor of the false Gods thence forwards he imploied in praysing the true and liuing God 6. The wicked King seeing he could not by force cut off the Saint attempted to make him away by fraude for by the hand of his Magitiā he offered the Saint a poysoned cuppe which to the great astonishment of all the company he drunke off without receauing any dommage thereby but the Magitian fearing to be ouercome with his diabolicall spels caused a fantasticall snow to fall ouer all the adioyning country in like manner by force of his magical charmes he ouercast all the land with a palpable darknes the one or other he was not able to remoue as himselfe publikely cōfessed But S. Patricke the child of light offering his deuout prayers to the Sunne of iustice chased away both the fantasticall snow and diabolicall darknes the people of that Region who sat in darknes now seeing this great light praysed the true God magnifyed his holy seruāt S. Patricke 7. All this could not bring the child of Belliall the Magitian to any good therefore to discerne the light of fayth from the darkenes of idolatry the verity of true doctrine from the vanity of magical leuity a new course of tryal was set down for by the appointment of al the company S. Pawicke and the Magitian according thereunto a new house was built after a strange extraordinary manner the one halfe being made of greene Oake the other of dry and withered Timber then binding both Saint Benignus and the Magician they placed them in the house opposite one against another S. Benignus attyred in the Magitians apparell was placed in the part that was made of dry wood and the Magitian with S. Patrickes vestement was placed in the part that was built of greene Timber this being done fire was put to the house O strange and vnheard euent the fire burnt the Magitian with the greene part of the house euen to ashes leauing not so much as the least signe of burning in the Saintes vestement But the holy youth Benignus was not touched by the fire nor receaued any harme by it the Magitians garment being consumed into ashes Behold then the renouation of the miracle of the three Childrē in the Babylonian furnace registred by Daniel in his booke of prophecyes 8. For all this King Leogarius relented not from his wicked malice but rather hardned his hart like another Pharaoe for in reuenge of the Magitians death he contriued by al meanes possible the Saints vtter destruction finding many of his subiects willing prompt to execute his blody purpose but Almighty God the powerful protector of his seruant armed the zeale of senseles creatures to fight against those senceles idolaters for the earth gaping horribly swallowed downe to the bottomles pit of hell those officers of malice and many of the Cittizens of Tarach who had any hand in this wicked designe This seuere reuenge strooke such a terrour in their mindes that all the people of the Country thereabout fearing to incurre the like danger became Christians receaued the grace of Baptisme but the wicked King he could not reclaime therefore he thūdred out his malediction against him denoūcing prophetically that none of his progeny should raigne after him in the kingdome but that it should descend to his yoūger brother But the Queene imbraced the Christian Religiō receaued Baptisme at the Saints hands and ended her dayes happily After this he went ouer al the coūtrey preaching the Gospel our Lord working withall dayly confirming his doctrine with sundry miracles Of S. Patrickes sisters Tygridia Darercha Lupita and of S. Patrickes iourney into Meath and Connacke CHAP. VI. SAINT Patricke had three sisters of remarkeable sanctity perfection whose names were Tygridia Darercha and Lupita Tygridia was the happy mother of seauentene sonnes and three daughters all the sonnes were eyther Bishops of renowned sanctity or els Priests and Monkes of great perfection The daughters became Nunns ended their dayes in great sāctity The Bishops names were Brochaduis Brochanus Mogenochus Lumanus who came with their Oncle into Ireland and laboured diligently in cultiuating the field of our Lord. Darercha his youngest sister was mother to the
Oengus being attended vpon with twelue of his Princes and 1400. of his subiects followed the Saint whē he came as farr as Coiueach a towne lying vpon a riuer Prosnach where a holy Bishop named Frianus a Romā by nation kept his residence by diuine prouidence it fell out that noe victuals could be had for that great company the blessed Bishop being desirous to giue the multitude a spirituall and corporall refection commanded a Cow by whose milke S. Frianus liued to be made ready for supper but what was it among so great a company The Saint therfore directed his prayers to the heauenly sanctuary loe there ranne out to the adioyning wood two great Stagges and two great Hogges which presented themselues before the Saint who commāded that they should be likewise made ready so al the company being set to supper that little prouision was layd before them which by vertue of the Saints sacred benediction serued to satisfy all the company so plentifully that a great deale of reuersion was gathered vp and carryed thence which need not seeme incredible to any who will reflect with the eye of their consideration vpon our Sauiours promise He that beleeueth in me the miracles that I doe he shall also doe and greater then these shall he doe 5. This miraculous refection was seconded by as miraculous a signe for the holy Saint to remoue and roote out of their harts the tares of infidelity in presence of that great assembly restored to life 19. dead bodyes at once all those who were so miraculously restored to the number of the liuing rehearsed in the hearing of all the assembly what they had seen touching the torments of hel proclayming Patrickes God to be the true and liuing God King Oengus and his subiects magnifyed God and honoured the Saint as their proper Apostle the men who were reuiued were christned became Monkes vnder the obedience of S. Frianus Of S. Patrickes returne into the North of the resuscitation of King Echu and of his prophecy touching the sanctity of S. Columba CHAP. X. THE holy Bishop came againe vnto the North where King Echu reigned who had a daughter named Cynnia whome he loued most tenderly This young Princesse imbraced S. Patrickes doctrine and against her Fathers will loathing a carnall wedlocke she resolued to dedicate her virginity to her heauenly spouse her Father seeing the loue of chastity soe deeply rooted in her hart sent for the Saint and spoke to him as followeth The hope I had by my daughter to be blessed with a copious posterity of Nephueus is cut off by your meanes if then for the want of so great a blessing you promise me the kingdome of heauen without compelling me to receaue Baptisme she shall serue her Creator as you shall thinke good otherwise you shall misse of your desire The Saint full of confidence in God leauing all the matter to his diuine disposition yeilded to the Kinges request The young Lady being vayled consecrated by the Saint led a life so excelling with many ornaments of vertue that she by her example drew many to the seruice of Christ both in this life after her death shined aboundantly with the glory of miracles The Saint commended her to the care of S. Cethuberis who was the first of all the Irish Virgins that receaued the veyle of virginity from the Saint to her being Superiour of the Monastry of Druimduchan where a great number of sacred virgins liued the Saint wrote a letter of exhortation 2. Within a few dayes King Echu departed this life who before his death commanded that his buriall should be deferred vntill such tyme as the Saint came who knowing by reuelation all what happened made al hast possible to the kings court where arriuing he offered his feruēt prayers to Almighty God in the behalfe of his resurrection The King being reuiued rehearsed what he had seene touching the glory of heauen and the torments of the damned and further added that he saw the place which the Saint promised him in the heauenly glory whereof he could not take possession because he was not baptised after baptisme the Saint put the King to his choice eyther of prolonging his dayes in this life or going speedily to heauen the King misprising al the glory of this world in comparison of the celestial felicity did choose to be dissolued and to be with Christ so taking the diuine Viaticum of the holy Eucharist he was translated to an immortall life 3. The Blessed Saint by occasion of difficultyes and doubtes which in some places where he preached the Ghospell were obiected against the last generall resurrection of the dead brought to life againe men whose bodyes were resolued into cinders many yeares before as himselfe in an epistle directed to a deare friend of his beyonde the seas deposeth in these tearmes Our Lord imparted to me his vnworthy little one the vertue of doing such signes among this Pagan people as we reade neuer the like to haue beene wrought euen by the Apostles themselues so that in the name of our Lord Iesus I haue reuoked from the dead bodyes turned into ashes many yeares before yet notwithstanding I pray that none esteeme me for these or other like miracles worthy to stand in comparison with the Apostles or any men of perfection considering I am a wretched sinner and contemptible Stay thy selfe heere courteous Reader and obserue to what height of perfection this B. Bishop had attained who working such and so great miracles was so abiect and so contemptible in his owne eyes for my part I admire more this profound humility in him thē the raysing of the cad 4. My intended course of breuity makes me not to set down at large how the Saint reclaymed from idolatry a petty King called Elelius with all his kingdome by reuiuing the kings sonne whō swine had torne in peeces As also a noble man who was very hard fauoured and contemptible in his person by vertue of S. Patrickes prayers became very faire of complexion and very personable of stature to the great astonishment of all that knew him A tender suckeling found in the tombe where his mother lay buryed was brought to S. Patricke who named him Olcanus and set him to his booke being come to riper yeares he passed into France where he attayned to great learning Afterward comming into Ireland he taught in publick schooles and was master of many a holy Bishop and himselfe became a Bishop of great merit and vertue 5. A certaine Prince named Conallus sought and obtayned S. Patrickes blessing his younger brother named Fergusus came to the Saint with the like intention the Saint hauing first prayed blessed Fergusus with great attention Conallus seeing what diligence and deuotion the Saint vsed in in blessing his younger brother aboue him selfe was not a little astonished and troubled thereat S. Patricke obseruing that alteration in the Princes countenance declared what moued him to vse
taking in euill part prophecied That none of his posterity should inherit his liuing or thriue in any other Country except the infant yet shut vp in his Mothers wombe which fell out accordingly As the Saint for the like respect was to giue his curse vpon two brothers named Fiechus and Enda his disciple S. Secundinus requested him not to lay his curse vpon the man but vpon the stones that in great heaps layd hard by wherto the Saint condescended A marueilous thing ensued for from that tyme forwardes those stones proued vnseruiceable for any building or structure Enda did pennance for the iniury offered to the Saint presented his ninth sonne named Cormacus with the ninth part of all his liuing to S. Patrike the child grew vp in years and grace and ended his dayes in great sanctity How Saint Mell and S. Lupita cleared themselues before S. Patricke and of some miracles wrought by the Saint CHAP. XII SAINT Lupita S. Patrickes sister liued in one house with S. Mell her nephew by occasion whereof some suspected the holy Bishop S. Mell with committing of incest with her which aspersion the holy Bishop remoued by taking many great Fishes on the dry land in S. Patrickes sight Lupita in like manner to declare her innocency carryed hoate embers in her lappe without signe or token of any burning S. Patricke seeing such great miracles pronounced them both innocent yet to cut off all occasion of scandall he ordayned that the men should liue in houses apart from the women building for them distinct houses and Churches 2. S. Patricke being to passe the Sinny a deep and vnwadable riuer that runeth betweene Meath and Connact could not get a boate to ferry him ouer he prayed therfore to God for help loe the earth did ryse vp so high in the riuer that it gaue a dry passage ouer to the Saint all his cōpany The Saint thought it expedient for the aduancement of Religiō to build a Church there in a certaine field but the Lord who owed the place gaue him a repulse would not giue way to the building vnles the Saint bought it with gold The S. offering his prayers to God went to a place wher Swine had rooted vp the ground and found there so much as was sufficiēt to purchase the field Another tyme also did he find in the same place so much gold as serued to buy a peece of ground whereupon he ment to built a Church 3. In that Church called Ellfin S. Patricke installed one of his disciples named Asicus who was a Monke making him a Bishop S. Asicus as Saint Patricke had appointed brought thither a great company of Monkes whom himselfe gouerned as Abbot This holy man vpon a certaine tyme told a lye when he should haue vttered the truth sincerely which ouerlashing of his tongue he so seuerely chastised in himself that he retyred himself from the company of men and liued in a desert 7. years vnknowne vnseene to any person where he might be foūd at last by his Mōks they requested him that he wold returne home to his Bishopricke but he would not yeild to their persuasion iudging pronouncing himselfe vnworthy to exercise episcopall authority since his tongue had beene defiled with a witting vntruth which in the mouth of a Priest is as the holy Canons declare sacriledge the forsayd Monkes would not in any case depart from S. Asicus but liued within that place all the dayes of his life after whose death they builded a monastery there wherein they serued Almighty God in iustice and sanctity 4. As some of S. Patrickes disciples came by sea to visite him there arose a great tēpest which moued the Saint to great compassion for his beloued children some who were with him said that the ship was not able to sustayne so boysterous a storme The Saint immediatly betooke himselfe most feruently to his prayers and then within a little while in the hearing of all them who were present he commanded the windes waues to become calme O stupendious euent Without delay the wind was allayd the seas ceased to boyle and there ensued a great calme the same day the disciples arriued and tould how they escaped that eminent danger Another tyme the disciples aforesayd comming to visit their holy father and traualing by the sea side they were encompassed by the tide before they were aware which put them in great feare of death The Saint knowing in spirit what danger his children were in commanded the sea in the name of God to giue his disciples a free passage the sea obeyed the Saints commandment so that his discipls returned to their father to their great ioye and to the vnspeakable admiration of all those who heard of so prodigious a miracle 5. S. Patricke of his profound humilty and charity kept alwaies in his company some leaper or other whome himself tended most carefully washing with his owne hands his vlcerous soares and prouiding him of al his necessities A certain leaper that liued with the Saint being depriued of his bodily health laloured by frequent prayers and other exercises of piety to procure and conserue the health of his soule This leaper fearing to be offensiue to others withdrew himself from the cōpany of men liuing solitary in a great hollow tree One day he requested a Christiā that passed by to bring him out of a place hard by a bundell of reedes the man went to the place and as he pluckte vp the reedes a faire fountaine gushed out whereof he gaue notice to the leaper when he brought him the reedes who replied Know then my deare brother that God sent thee hither to wash me in that fountaine and lastly to bury me in that place which said he gaue vp the ghost as the Christian washed the leaper in that miraculous water there remained not a spot of leprosy vpon him and so burying him he departed It hapned that S. Munis much about that time bringing from Rome many relikes with him was forced to lodge neare that place In the night he saw squadrons of Angells to descend from heauen and to keep watch and warde about the leapers sepulcher vntill it was moring al which visiō he related to S. Patricke signifying that he intended to remoue that holy body out of that solitary place S. Patricke forbid him so to do fortelling that a sonne of light not yet borne whose name should be Keranus would inhabit in that place which he would furnish with a holy company of Saints and that he would exhibit great honour to that leaprous body all which fel out to be true in processe of tyme. 6. The foresayd S. Munis with S. Patrickes leaue made him a cell in a certaine place where he suffered great distraction and disturbance of mind by reason of the frequent cōcourse of courtiers who came oftē to visite him from the kings pallace being built ouer a great water that lay hard by the place where S. Munis liued
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