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
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
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
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
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
hundred and fiue cowes and this benediction shal remaine to your children nephewes Which prophetical prediction fel out to be most true the cowes being multiplyed to the foresaid nūber how many soeuer exceeded that number perished by seuerall mischances excepting those he spent in maintenance of his family or gaue by way of almes 2. The saint loued intirely the foresayd mā for many kindnesses and pious offices he had done him A certaine wicked man descending of the blood royall persecuted Columbanus the saints deare friend and robbed his house three seuerall tymes and tooke away all his goodes the third tyme it was his fortune to meet with the saint who rebuked him for his wickednes and persuaded him to restore the goodes vniustly taken but he regarding nothing the saints prayers yea rather laughing and scoffing at him the saint followed him euen to the sea side and entred into the salt water vp to the knees in that place offered his prayers most feruently to Christ who glorifyeth his elect that glorify him hauing made an end of his prayer he returned to the dry shoare where sitting downe with his companions he pronounced these fearefull wordes This miserable wretch who hath this day misprised Christ in his seruants shall neuer returne to the hauē whence he departed nor yet arriue to any other but shall be drowned in the midst of the Ocean waues togeather with his wicked complices Which dreadful though iust prophecy of the saint was fully accomplished in the presence of them all 3. The glorious saint commended a banished noble man of Pictland to the care of a certaine wealthy man entreating him for his respect to entertaine him as a friend for the space of some monthes The cruell man notwithstanding the saints intreaty and commendations put the noble mā to death within a few dayes which grieuous sinne when it came to the saints hearing he spoke in this manner That vnhappy man hath not lyed to me but to God his name shal be blotted out of the booke of life This I say now in sommer but hefore he tast in Autumne of porke that hath been fed with accornes he shall dye suddainly and be buryed in hell The cursed wretch laughed to scorne the Saints propheticall threatning the haruest season being now come the wicked man commanded a hogge fatted with accornes and kirnelles of nuts to be killed and ordained that a peece thereof should be rosted so that by tasting of it he might frustrate and make voyde the oth of the Saints prophecy The flesh being rosted the wretch stretched out his hand to take a morsell of it but before he could put it into his mouth he fell downe dead exhaling out his wicked soule to be buryed in hel they who heard and saw this prodigious effect of Gods iustice honoured Christ in his holy prophet 4. During the Saints abode in Pictland he preached by an interpreter to a certaine country man who imbraced the Christian religiō Within a few dayes one of the countreymens sonnes fell sicke to death whereupon the Magitians began to deride the man to extoll the power of their owne God and to hit him in the teeth with the weaknes of the God of the Christians When these thinges were made knowne to the Saint being inflamed thereat with the zeale of Gods honour he went together with his companions to the house where the comfortlesse parents celebrated the doleful funeralles of their dead sonne The Saint seeing them drowned in sorrow animated them with comfortable speaches after went himselfe all alone into the place where the dead corps lay where falling prostrate on his knees and bathing his face in teares he offered his prayers to Christ afterwardes he rose vp conuerting him to the dead he sayd In the name of our Lord Iesus returne to life and stand vpon thy feet With that venerable voice of Gods true seruant the soule returned to the body and the dead man opened his eyes whome the Apostolicall saint tooke by the hand raysing him vpon his feet and so brought him forth in his company and restored him liuing to his parents then did the people giue a great shout because sorrow was conuerted into ioy and the God of the Christians was glorifyed Of the cure of Brochan the Magitian And how the Saint sayled securely notwithstanding the tempest raysed by the Magitian as also how he opened the gates which the King shut against him CHAP V. AT the same tyme the venerable Prelate made earnest suite to Brochan the Magitian for the release of an Irish maydē-slaue but he would not yeild to the saints mercifull request wherefore the Saint spoke to him as followeth Know O Brochan that vnles you dismisse and forsake this strange captiue that before I depart this prouince you shall dye This he sayd before King Brudeus and so departed towards the riuer Neyse out of which he tooke a white stone saying to his companions Keepe this stone by which God wil worke many cures of diseased persons in that pagan people Hauing spoken this he added Now Brochan is smitten greuously for an Angel sent frō heauen striking him cruelly broke the glasse out of which he drunke into many peeces and left him euen ready to dy let vs expect heere two messingers sent vs from the King for to relieue in hast Brochan being at the point of death now Brochan is willing to dismisse the mayd slaue As the Saint was yet talking loe the Kings messengers came who reported all what happened in manner and forme as the Saint foresaw them they added further that the King and his Nobles sent vs to you Vt subuenias nutritio eius Brochano mox morituro to help his nurse Brochā being ready to dye With that the Saint sent two of his companions to the King with the stone which he had blessed saying If Brochanus promise to release the captiue and after shall drinke of the water wherein this stone shal be dipped he shall recouer his health but if he doe not set the woman at liberty he shall dye without delay Brochanus dismissed the woman free and dranke of the water wherein the stone was steeped and so was restored perfectly to the health of his body 2. After these thinges had passed in this kind Brochanus sayd to the glorious Saint Tell me O Columbe when do you intend to sayle The Saint answered I purpose with Gods grace to go to sea within these three dayes But you shal not quoth Brochanus for I can cause a contrary wind and besides I can induce a darke and obscure mist. To whome the Saint answered The power of God ouer-ruleth all in whose name all our actions are directed The Saint went the same day to the Riuer Neyse whither he was attended vpon by a great company The Magitians began to reioyce at the spreading abroad of the thicke mist and boisterous contrary wind The holy Saint seeing the elements to be stirred vp against him
three holy Bishops Malâ—â— Moch and Munis who also following their Oncle became diligent worke men in our Lords vineyard â— S. Patricke departing Vlidia came by sea vp to Meath and strucke in at Brine-mouth where leauing his Nepheu S. Lumanus to keep the ship he hastned into the country to preach the Ghospell S. Lumanus added forty dayes more to the forty dayes which S. Patricke had commaunded him to expect his owne returne then being weary of his longe abode in that place one day the windes being contrary he commanded the shipp in the name of God and of S. Patricke to conuey him to some commodious place O miracle the ship without any pilot sayled against the wind water and carryed him so farre as Trim into the Country there did he conuert to the Catholicke Religion a young noble man named Forkernus afterward his Father named Feleminus baptised him with many others in a fountaine which in their presence he produced out of the earth by his prayers There by furtherance of Feleminus Gods seruant he builded a Church some twenty fiue years before the foundatioÌ„ of Ardmach where himselfe was installed Bishop his Nephew hauing beene well trayned vp in learning he inuested with the holy order of Priesthood at his death he commanded him to take the gouernement of that Bishopricke vpon him which he did for the space of three dayes of obedience to his spirituall Father then resigned it ouer to one Cathladius an English man 3. King Leogarius had two brothers the eldest named Coibre was like himselfe in wickednes infidelity The other brother called Conall tooke no more of his brothers nature then the fish taketh of the salt sea nor the rose of pricking thorn The child of perdition Coibre would not listen to the Saints doctrine but threatned to kill him and whipped his seruants The Saint perceauing him to be obstinate in his infideliry and reproued of God sayd to him by way of prophecy In regard thou hast cast off the sweete yoke of Christ none of thy posterity shall enioy thy Kingdome but it shal be transferred to thy youÌ„ger brother Which afterward fell out to be most true 4. S. Patricke left the children of darknes repayred to the place where Conall liued who receaued the Saint with great ioy and exultation and opening his eares and hart to the doctrine of life was incorporated to Christ by the lauer of regeneration Conallus the child of grace bestowed his court with all the adioyning territory vpon the Saint whom he besought most earnestly that for the better enlargeing of Christian Religion he would be content to build a citty for himselfe and for his holy company in that place The Saint accepted thereof and congratulating much at his charity yelded to his louing request and built the citty which now is called Domnach Phadruig that is Saint Patrickes citty and not farre off appointed a place for the building of a new pallace for Conall as himselfe desired Then giuing his benedictioÌ„ by way of prophecy he sayd Happy and fortunate shall his pallace be and many shal liue happily in it Gods blessing will blesse thee and will establish thy throne he will enlarge thy dominion and thy Brethrens ofspring shall serue thy posterity for ener 5. S. Patricke determined with himselfe to go into Connact there to preach the Ghospell to the inhabitants of that Prouince By the way he went to a place where King Leogarius had an Idol gilded magnificently ouer with gold and siluer called Ceancrochie that is the head of the Gods This Idoll was compassed about with diuers petty Gods made of brasse that inclined towardes it in signe of subiection 6. The Saint seeing he could neyther by feruent Sermons nor great miracles reclayme the people from the madnes of their Idolatry had his recourse to his wonted weapons of holy prayers no sooner did he then eleuate his pure handes in prayer for the subuersion of the Idol and had after a threatning manner lifted vp the rod of IESVS against it but it fell downe vpon the left side and all the gold and siluer dissolued into dust the litle Gods were swallowed vp by the earth euen to their neckes Hervpon many who saw that prodigious accident belieued in the true and liuing God and were baptized in a fountaine which the Saint by his prayers produced out of the earth 7. After the subuersion of the Idols the S. held on his intended iorney but when he drew neare the frontiers of Connact two Magitians their magicall charmes ouer cast all the region with a horrible darcknes for the space of three dayes hoping by that meanes to debar his enterance into the country but the Saint with fastes and prayers chased away that diabolical obscurity and so got into the country King Leogarius so often spoken of had two daughters one was named Ethne and the other Fedella both of them were fostered by these Magitians One daye that these yong ladies walked abroad for their pastime to a fountaine hard by there they found the Saint with his holy retinue who indeuoured to bring them into the waye of saluation promising that if they yelded to his persuasion they should contract a holy matrimony with the heaueÌ„ly spouse with which diuine exhortation the virgins were so inflamed that they imbraced without all delay the Christian Religion and were baptised Then they requested the Saint in performance of his promise to exhibit to them the sight of their heauenly spouse The Saint answeared you must first receyue the B. blood and flesh of your spouse to the end that being strenghtned by tasting of that diuine viaticum yow may passe to his heauenly mansion The holy virgins belieuing the Saint craued with great feruour the holy Eucharist receyued it with no lesse deuotion then giuing nature her due they ascended to their heauenly spouses nuptiall feast the Magitians who fostered them were also conuerted to the Christian Religion and receyued the grace of regeneration Of the Conuersion of Connact and of some miracles wrought by the Saint during his abode there CHAP. VII AFTER this a great and solemne Councell of all the prouince was assembled whether came with a great retinue the seauen sonnes of Amlaic a potent and rich noble man who liued in that prouince To this assembly the Saint repaired hoping to gayne many of that great multitude to Christ A certaine Magitian opposed himselfe against the Saint and laboured extremely to dispatch him out of the way but Almighty God stretched out his potent arme with lightning of thunder cut off the child of perdition in the presence of all the assembly This great terrible miracle induced the sonnes of Amlaic with twelue thousand more to embrace the Christian Religion wherein they persisted firme constant euer after Heere I forbeare to treat how the Saint conuerted the two holy Virgins daughters to Gauranus how he brought a Magitian whome the earth had swallowed
which difficulty he made knowne to S. Patricke who offered deuout and feruent prayers vp to God for this effect And loe the next night after God trāsferred the water and the pallace so farre of that it wrought his seruant no annoye who afterwardes though very much against his will was ordained Bishop departed this life shining with vertues and miracles How S. Patricke penetrated S. Fiechus his conscience of S. Fiecus his sanctity and some great miracles wrought by S. Patricke CHAP. XIII A Young gentleman of excellent education and learning named Fiechus had marryed a wife which within few dayes dyed As this man came where S. Patricke was the Saint by inward illustration of the holy Ghost penetrating his conscience said Behould a man or one wife who according to the Apostle may be worthely aduanced to the sacred order of preisthood and Episcopall diginty The younge gentle man admiring how he came to see the secrets of his hart receiued the lauer of regeneration and by vertue of Saint Patricks blessing made such progresse in learning that in one day he learned the whole Psalter and in a short time attayned to the vnderstanding of sacred Scriptures he was successiuely inuested with holy orders and in fine made Bishop in the Church of Sclepten who in his episcopall sea erected a faire conuent of Monkes 2. Because this holy Bishop in regarde of his many infirmityes weakning by long fasts could not visite his Diocesse on foote or exercice his Bishop-like function S. Patricke sent him a Coach which S. Secundinus being ouercome by humane frailty tooke ill thinking that himselfe deserued it better S. Patrike knowing of the trouble Secundinus was in sayd vnto him fearing that by following of our own iudgmēt we may erre let vs leaue the discussiō of the matter to the arbitremēt of an Angel With that the Saint prayed to God who sent an Angel by whose order the horses were put into the coach dismissed without any to driue thē adding further that they were sent to him with whome they would make a stay The horses being harnished and dismissed in manner as the Angell had set downe the first night they came to S. Secūdinus dwelling place the next night to another Saints house and the third night to S. Fiechus house where they stayed giuing therby to vnderstand that they were chiefly sent to him 3. Another tyme the Angell commanded S. Fiechus to build a monastery and the Angell himselfe designed the Refectory Oratory all other houses belonging thereunto This holy Bishop was accustomed in the beginning of lent to retire himselfe to a solitary place bringing with him for his sustenance but fiue barly loaues mingled with ashes On Palme Sunday or Maundy Thursday he would returne bringing with him halfe of one of the loaues vneaten this Blessed Fiechus sent before him to heauen 60. Saintes whome himselfe followed being renowned both for sanctity and miracles 4. Some wicked men sent the Saint as it were by way of present some poysoned cheses which to the great astonishment of many he conuerted into hard stones wherwith they were nothing reclaimed from their malice but rather became more obstinate for conspiring together against him they sent fifty men to kill him As they entred a certaine Forde to passe ouer it the Saint seeing them and knowing by diuine instinct what mischiefe they intended sayd vnto them with a loud voyce You shall neyther come hither to vs nor yet returne backe to your owne people for your bodyes shal remaine in that water vntill the day of iudgment According to the Saints censure they were without delay drowned neither could their bodyes be euer after found albeit great and diligent search had beene made after them 5. Another tyme some children of Beliall digged vp deep pits and holes in the way which the Saint with al his retinue was to passe couering them ouer with greene grasse The Saint full of confidence in God gaue his benediction to his holy family and so he and they passed without receauing any hurt or detriment the green grasse like solid earth yealding them firme passage The Saint commanded a yong mayd who gaue them notice of the ambush layd for to call her Father whome with his ten sonnes and three daughters he conuerted to the Christian faith the daughters became Nunnes and were vayled with the Saints owne handes Of the sonnes fiue florished in the world in great prosperity and the fiue others became Monkes of great perfection and sanctity as the Saint had prophecied of them 6. A certaine mā named Domnardus being blind for a long time hearing that S. Patricke passed by went forth to meet him hoping by the Saints merits to recouer his eye-sight As the blind came along in the way he stunbled very often which moued a cleargy man who was in the Saints cōpany to laughter which when the Saint vnderstood that none of his cōpany should euer after presume to do the like he spoke as followeth to the Clergy mā Amen I say to thee that the eyes of this blind shal be opened thy eyes excyting to thee irrilegious laughter shal be stricken with blindnes with that making the signe of the crosse he opned the blind mās eyes shut the eyes of the cleargy man The same day did the Saint erect vpon their feet three criples 7. Nine Magitians cōspired the Saints death to haue the more free accesse to him they coūterfeited thēselues to be Monks putting on religious weeds The Saint by diuine inspiration knew thē to be wolues wraped in sheeps cloathing making therfore the signe of the crosse against the childrē of Satan behould fire descended from heauen consumed them all nine The Saint lifting vp his hāds anathematized anidolatrous wood dedicated to Idols O most strāge remarkable miracle all the wood like vnto the figge tree spoken of in the holy Ghospel withered by by and neuer after was seruiceable for any other vse then the fire Of a mountaine swallowed downe by the earth and cast vp againe at the Saints intercession and of seueral other great miracles CHAP. XIIII ONE of the noble men of Munster named Coruallus would not permit S. Patricke to build a Church within his territoryes Not farre from the noble mans house was a faire spacious poole very pleasāt to behold but the house by the interposition of a great mountayne was depriued of the pleasure of that gratful prospect the Saint vrged the noble mā very much to giue him leaue to build a church who answeared If you remoue this great mountaine that depriues my house of the pleasāt prospect of the broad spatious poole that lyes on the further side I will then yeild to your request The Saint offered his prayers vp to God and with that the earth swallowed downe the mountaine notwithstanding the wicked man would not stand to his former promise wherefore the Saint prayed to
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
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
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
vp euen to the eares for attempting some mischeefe against the Saint to the detestation of Idolatry and how by rowling a stone which a hundred men could not stirre he drew a grat multitude to beleeue in the corner stone our deare Sauiour Iesus Christ. 2. The glorious bishop S. Patricke ceased not in all places to enlighten the hartes of such as were blinded with Idolatry so that the number of the faythfull increased dayly One day cōming to a place called Fearta he found two womē dead ouer whom inuocating the name of Christ he restored them againe to life who being reuiued exclaymed against the Idols panyme Gods in the hearing of all the company proclaymed Christ to be the true and only God all who were present gaue glory to God deuoutly receaued the sacrament of Baptisme A certaine woman named Fidelina dyed in trauayle of child birth her friendes brought her dead corps layd it before the glorious Bishop requesting him with teares in their eyes to restore her to the number of the liuing which the B. Saint did by vertue of his feruent prayers the woman after her restoring to life againe was deliuered of a sonne both of them were christned within a few dayes The woman relating what she had seene of the glory of heauen and paynes of hell excited many thousands to become Christian this miracle the Saint reiterated in another woman 3. The holy Saint trauailed about all Connact neuer ceasing from preaching or working of miracles vntill such tyme as he brought all the coūtrey to imbrace the fayth of Christ. In many places he builded Churches appointed Priests other ecclesiasticall persons to direct them in the way of saluation to sing the diuine office In a fayre and spatious field farre distant from woods quarryes he built by miracle a fayre Church which standeth to this day Of two riuers that were in those quarters one called Dubh aboūding with fish another called Drobhois which wanted that commodity the holy Bishop requested some Fishers who drew in their nets full of Fish to help him to some but the Fisher men deuoyd of all charity dismissed the faythfull seruant of our Lord empty but God the louer and author of charity depriued Dubh of that benefit bestowed it vpon Drobhois which vntill that tyme had beene barren Hereby the prudent Reader may learne how meete it is to entertaine with all charity the true members of Christ and faythful seruants of Almighty God 4. In regard of the great scarsity of Churches in Ireland in the infancy of Christian Religion the Blessed Saint ordained that at the sepulcher of euery Christian who could not be buryed in a Church-yeard a Crosse should be erected the better thereby to distinguish the faythfull sheep from the vnbeleeuers as also to excite the faythfull who suruiued to impart their charitable suffrages to their deceased Brethren It happened that at what tyme the Saint departed Connact he saw the head of one at the tombes of two lately interred a crosse standing The Saint bid his coach man make a stand then turning himselfe to the graue where the crosse was he questioned with the dead What sect or Religion he was Who answered that he was a Pagan ignorant of the Christian Religion To whome the Saint replyed what then haue you to doe with the Crosse of Christ The dead man answered He that is buried neere vnto me was a Christian one of your Religion bringing a crosse by mistaking fixed it ouer our graue The Saint without delay descended out of his coach to put the Crosse ouer the Christians graue and after departed Of S. Patrickes iourney into Leinster of his prophecy of Dublin and conuersion of that Citty CHAP. VIII SAINT Patricke hauing confirmed the inhabitants of Connact in the Christian Religion made a iourney into Dalnardia in the North wher with his doctrine example miracls he brought the inhabitants of that Country to the profession of Christianity thence he departed and passing through Meath Leinster in all places he preached the Ghospell kingdome of heauen in places cōuenient he ordayned Bishops It would be a worke able to blunt the penne of the most eloquent Oratour to set downe the stupendious miracles which he wrought in that iourney for euen like another S. Peter with the very shadow of his body did he worke miraculous cures so many as he receaued to Baptisme knowing that our aduersary would labour to entangle them in his snares he endeauoured to confirme in fayth fearing their relapse into infidelity And because as witnesseth S. Iames the Apostle Faith without good workes is dead yea which is more that a dead fayth is not fayth The glorious Saint laboured to excite in them that pure and sincere fayth which through loue performeth good workes 2. When S. Patricke came in his iourney so farre as Finglas a place distant a mile from Dublin being then but a little village and contemplating the place territory there about blessing it he prophetically broke forth into these wordes That village which now is very small shal be hereafter very eminent it shal be enlardged in riches and dignity neyther will it cease to increase vntill such tyme as it become the principall seate of all the kingdome The inhabitants of that village hearing what great miracles and signes God had wrought by the meanes of his faythfull seruant Patricke went forth with great ioy to meet him The Lord of that places only sonne lay sicke euen ready to yeild vp his Ghost the Saint being intreated by his father and all the assembly thereunto went to the place where the sicke was and by prayer restored him to perfect health the people seeing this miracle beleeued in the author of life our Sauiour Iesus 3. In that village an honest matron in whose house then the Saint lodged complained to him of the penury of fresh water The B. Bishop taking pitty of her as also what the whole multitude newly regenerated there suffered that he might inkindle their thirst after the fountaine of life our dearest Sauiour he deemed it expediēt to mainfest his vertue and power The next day in the presence of many he went to a commodious place where stricking the earth with the end of the staffe of IESVS and making his prayer he produced thence a faire Well full of sweet and pleasant water and soueraigne in curing many diseases which well to this day is called S. Patrickes Well 4. Here the course of my history requires that I declare how the glorious Bishop S. Patricke came to the famous citty of Dublin which he foūd lying in the suddes of Paganisme and Idolatry but the Saint washed it with the pure waters of euangelicall doctrine and that with great facility by reason of a memorable accidēt that happened the which was this The King and all the Cittizēs were drowned in sorrow anguish for the death of the two flourishing