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
malediction he stretched out his left hand whōsoeuer he blessed Gods blessing did light vpon him and whomesoeuer he cursed Gods curse came vpon him 3. And though in all vertues he did match or rather surpasse other Saints yet in humility he did farre surpasse himselfe hence it came that in his missiue letters he styled himselfe The greatest sinner in the world the least and most despiceable among them and setting little by the signes he wrought he deemed himselfe vnworthy to be compared to any perfect man He exercised himselfe in the manuall workes as S. Paul did of tilling the ground and fishing but especially in building of Churches three hundred and fifty Bishops did he consecrate with his owne handes fiue hundred did he inuest with the holy functiō of Priesthood the number of them that were ordayned in inferiour orders as also of Monkes Nunnes is so numberlesse that God alone doth know them 4. The Blessed Bishop liuing and leading a life of this tenour shined with so many and so great miracles that in them he was not inferiour to any of the Saints that went before him It was in a manner a dayly exercise with him to cleanse leapers cripels deafe dumbe to cure palseies lethurgies lunatickes epilephies to erect cripls to restore sight to the blind speach to the dumbe to the deafe hearing in a word to heale all diseases he merited to be the magnificent reuiuer of three and thirty dead persons threescore and six treatises were written of his giftes vertues and miracles a great part of them perished by fire vnder the Pagan Princes Iurmundus Turgesius Foure volumes are yet extant written by foure of his disciples S. Benignus S. Mell S. Lumanus S. Patricke the yonger who lyes buried in Glastenbury monastery in England S. Euinus compiled his actes and miracles partly in Irish and partely in Latin out of which holy authors we haue extracted what we thought good and digested it into this volume 5. The most glorious bishop being loaded with yeares and abounding with merits knew by diuine reuelation that the dissolution of his earthly tabernacle was neere at hand which moued him to goe towardes the citty of Armuch thinking to inrich that his Metropolitā Church with the pretious depositum of his sacred body but the Angell Victor appearing to him tould him that it was the diuine pleasure he should expect the generall resurrection in the Cittie of Downe in Vlidia The Saint embracing with great resignation the disposition of the diuine prouidence returned backe againe to Vlidia 6. Within a few dayes after as the most holy Prelate S. Patricke preached of the glory of heauen to a great multitude of religious and ecclesiasticall men there descended from thence an immense splendour that illustrated a place in the east part of the Church-yeard the pearle of Ireland S. Brigit being present The Saint commanded her to declare the mistery of that diuine light she tould in the hearing of all the assembly how that celestial light sanctifyed and designed the place where a Saint most glorious most deare vnto God shold be shortly interred then rounding S. Ephembria in her eare she tould it was the patron Apostle of Ireland S. Patrik adding further that she would account her selfe happy if his sacred body might be wraped in a winding sheet which she had spunne and weaued with herown hands had prepared for that purpose 7. The Blessed Saint knowing by diuine inspiration the holy Virgins desire commanded her to go and bring that sheet wherein for the most tender loue he carryed to the most blessed vigin he would haue his sacred body wrapt himselfe went to the Monastery of Sauall where sickning he expected the end of this life or rather the beginning of the other life that hath no end the B. virgin Brigit was so ouer wearied with the length and difficulty of the iourney that she could not come so soone as she purposed The Blessed Bishop knowing in what distresse the holy virgin was in he sent his coach-man to meet her the sacred virgins that came in her company so the virgins comming to Sauall where the Saint laye sicke she presented him with the sheet which he receaued very gratefully then kissing his feet handes she and her virgins receaued his benediction Of S. Patrickes death of the Angelicall obsequies exhibited to him and of his entertainment at Downe CHAP. XXII THE Blessed Saint being brought very low by his infirmity as the Angell had admonished receaued the holy Sacraments at the hādes of his disciple S. Tasach Bishop eleuating his eyes he saw Iesus standing in the midst of a multitude of Angels then blessing his disciples and rendring thankes to God he passed out of this life his blessed soule was receaued into the ioyes of his Lord by the all-immaculate Virgin the Mother of God and sacred quires of virgins with the Patriarkes Apostles Martyrs Confessours and Angels no maruaile that he was honored of all Saints sith there shined in him the vertue of all Saints an Angell he was not by nature but by office since his lips did keep science and the law of life a Prophet since few of the Prophets were indued with the foresight of future thinges so copiously as he was an Apostle he was since Ireland and the neighbour Ilands are signes of his Apostleship a Martyr he was in regard of the many coflicts he had against Kings Magitians Idolaters and Diuels A confessour he was since that he neuer ceased from the preaching and confessing the name of Christ. A virgin he was for as much as he kept the integriof fayth in body soule The glorious Saint deceased at the age of a hundred and twenty three yeares he was sixteene yeares old when he was carryed away by the Pirates six yeares did he serue in captiuity eightene yeares did he liue with S. German in France he was fiue and fifty when he came into Ireland to preach the Ghospell fiue and thirty yeares did he imploy in the conuersion of Ireland and the adioyning Iles afterwardes for three and thirty yeares he gaue himselfe to the sweet rest of contemplation eyther at Ardmuch or at Sauall monastery during which tyme he neuer came abroad vnles it were for great affaires or keeping a Councel once a yeare for the redresse of abuses 2. After his departure his sacred body was wrapt vp in the sheet which the blessed virgin S. Bridgit had prepared and a great multitude of cleargy men and seculers came to bemone the death of their common father and Apostle and to solemnize his funerals The night following a brightsome quier of Angels that kept watch at his body with their sweet harmony cast all the multitude into an extaticall sleepe vntill their departure the next morning the Angels left so fragrant an odour behind them that it continued for the space of twelue daies whilst the holy body was vnburied during which time in all that region
in the meane tyme these many dayes I haue deuoutly begged of God that he would be pleased in the end of this 30. years to finish my earthly pilgrimage and to call me to his heauenly mansion this was the cause of my ioy for I saw the Angels sent frō the throne of glory to meet my soule after its departure out of my body loe being now suddenly stayd they stand on the rocke at further side of our sea would come in hast for my soule but they are not permitted to approach neerer for what our Lord hath graunted he hath now suddēly altered hearing the prayers of many churches for me who haue obtained a thing against my will that foure yeares more may be added to the tearm of my mortall pilgrimage this sorrowfull delay is the cause of my present griefe which foure years when they shall come to an end I shall without any precedent sicknesse of body passe to the euerlasting ioyes of Paradise 2. The tearme of the prementioned years now drawing on the true Prophet and very noble Abbot being loaden with yeares went forth in a waggon one day to visit the Brothers that were at worke to whome he sayd I conceaued an earnest desire to go to our Sauiour who granted it me if my selfe would on Easter day which we haue lately celebrated but because I would not haue the ioy of that festiuity conuerted into heauinesse I chose rather to diferre my departure out of this world a little longer With this the Monkes fell into great heauinesse whome their pious Father begon to animate with very comfortable words and sweete exhortations as much as he could Then cōuerting his face to the Orient he blessed the Iland with all the inhabitants From that tyme forwards the Iland was neuer molested with the annoy of vipers within a few dayes after whilest the masses were a celebrating as the Saint eleuated vp his gracious countenance it was suddenly dyed with a most delectable and liuely rednes for at that houre he saw the Angell of our Lord flitting vp and downe in the Oratory and in regard the admirable aspect of an Angel instilleth ioy into the harts of the elect the Saint therfore here abounded with ioy and when some that were present enquired after the cause of his ioy he answered Loe an Angell of our Lord sent to require a certaine depositum very deere to God came into the Church and after looking downe ouer vs and blessing vs departed None of them that were present vnderstood what depositum was that the Angell came for But our holy Patron called his owne soule which God committed to his charge by the name of depositum which he rendred vp within six dayes after 3. On the next Saturday the holy Abbot and his faythfull tender Diarmitius went out to blesse a Barne where the Saint seeing two heaps of grayne sayd I congratulate much with my monkes for if I must needs depart this yeare they haue sufficient prouision Diarmitius hearing this sentence became very heauy you constristate vs so often this yeare because you speake so often of your departure to whome he sayd I will acquaint you with a secret touching my death so that you promise faythfully not to disclose it before I dye Diarmitius gaue him his faithfull word and promise Then the glorious Saint added This day in the sacred volumes is called Sabbaoth that is interprettd rest and truly this day is a Sabbaoth to me because it is the last of my laborious life wherein after the paines of my trauailes I sabbaoth and this next ensuing midnight of the venerable Sunday I shall be gathered to the holy Fathers for now our Lord Iesus vouchsafeth to inuite me to whome I shal depart at night as himselfe hath reuealed to me After this he returned backe towardes the Monastery In the way he ascended a little mountaine ouerlooking the monastery standing on the top of the hill eleuating his handes he blessed his monastery saying The Kinges not only of Scotland with their subiects but euen the Kinges of foraine nations with their vassalls will honor much this place though it be now narrow and despiseable and the Saints of other Churches will giue no small veneration to it How S. Columbe approching to the houre of his death made a mysticall diuision of the Psalme Inquirentes Dominum Lastly of his death buriall and some visions of his happy passage CHAP. VI. AFTER he had bestowed his sacred benediction he returned to his monastery and sate him downe to write the Psalter and comming to that verse of the 33. Psalme Inquirentes Dominum non minuentur omni bono They that seeke after our Lord shall not be diminished of any good Here must I pause in the end of this page Let Bathaneus write what followeth The last verse which the Saint wrote befitteth him very much since he shall neuer be depriued of the interminable riches of heauen and the subsequent verse Come childrē heare me I wil teach you the feare of our Lord becommeth his successor Bathaneus as being his successor not only in the office of teaching but also in the charge in writing After the Saint had giuen a stoppe to his pen at the foresayd verse he entred into the Church to heare sundayes euening masse which being done he came backe to his cell and sate in his bed where he had insteed of a bed a bare stone and another stone in lieu of a bolster sitting in that place he bequeathed to his ghostly children these his last precepts in the hearing only of Diarmitius I commend to you my children these my last wordes conserue true and vnfained charity and peace among you and if you obserue this according to the example of the Saints God the comforter of the good will help you and I being with him will intercede for you and he will affoarde you both what you all want in this life and likewise the ioyes which are prepared for them that keepe his Commandements 2. After finishing these sacred documents the glorious Saint held his peace at midnight when the bell rung to matines he rose going sooner then any of the company to the Church he fell downe on his knees before the Altar Diarmitius following slowly after saw all the church illustrated with Angelicall splendour which at his approach disappeared entring in therfore into the Church he called oft to the Saint with a weeping voice saying O father where are you And so groping vp and downe in the darke he found him lying prostrate before the Altar Diarmitius sate him downe by the Saint and laid his head in his sacred lappe in the meane tyme the Monkes came who seeing their holy Father ready to dye began to lament euen at the very instant of the separation of his soule as we heard from some who were eye-witnesses he looked about him with a viuacious and pleasant countenance contemplating the holy Angells that came to fetch
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
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
a desire to compose a hymne in honour of a Saint that yet was liuing and because it was S. Patricke himselfe he ment he concealed the Saints name the glorious Bishop answered it is iust and reasonable that people display the vertues of Saintes and that the Church declare their prayses which yet is more securely done after their deaths when all occasion of sinning is cut off but if you will put in execution what you entende do it quickly loe death is at the doore of all the Bishops that are in Ireland you are the first that shal depart this life Secundinus made the hymne and within a few dayes after he dyed at Donnachseachluin his episcopall citty showing by frequent miracles that he reigneth with Christ. 4. S. Kennechus saw a company of Diuels to go fetch the soule of a flagitious sinner who for his many misdeedes deserued to be buryed in Hell The Saint abiurde them at their returne to let him vnderstand the successe of the matter After a little respit the Diuels comming againe tould S. Kennechus how S. Patricke defended the sinners soule from thē in regard that he was accustomed vpō the Saints day to keep a great feast in honor of him euery day to sing some chapter of that hymne S. Kennechus reioyced much thereat and by telling that miracle excited many to sing that hymne very deuoutly in honour of the Saint An Abbot S. Patrickes disciple named Colmanus did sing the foresayd hymne very often being demanded the cause he answered that whilest he sung it he enioyed stil the Saints presence before him and that his eyes could neuer be satiated with the contemplation of his delectable face wherby it is cleare how faythful a friend this blessed Saint is to all those who frequent his memory or haue him for their patron Of the Saints admirable contemplations reuelations mortifications and prayers CHAP. XX. OFtentims did the glorious Saint see our Sauiour the heauens open our Lord Iesus stāding in the midst of the multituds of Angels this sometimes whē he sayd masse other times when he deuoutly sung S. Iohns reuelatiōs besides the Angel Victor so often mētioned in this volum was wont to appeare to him thrice euery week for to recreate him with his diuine colloquies discourses Of soules departing this life our B. Saint saw ful often some to go to endure the paynes of hel others to be sent to enioy the ioyes of heauen one example very remarkable which the Saint himselfe for edificatiōs sake was wont to recite I will here recount A great noble man who liued in much prosperity dyed with no lesse glory was accounted by them that knew his life end most happy pleasing vnto God wheras a poore indigēt lazar who liued al his life in great misery after his death wanting the honour of burial became a prey to the fouls of the ayre was esteemed most wicked before God but the B. Bishop seeing the blindnes of humane iudgement tould them that he saw the rich mans soule to be buryed in hell and the poore mans soule to be carryed vp to heauen and this which the Saint saw concerning these two he was wonte to recite of many other 2. The fame of S. Patrickes vertues excited a holy man of great merit and vertue named Vinuualoeus who liued in Britany in France to leaue his natiue soyle and to go for Ireland there to become S. Patrickes disciple scholler The night before he was to begin his iourney he saw in a vision a most venerable man attyred in episcopal robes who tould him that himselfe was S. Patrike know my dearest Vinuualoeus that I am Patricke to whō you repaire know that the time of my resolutiō is neere at hand so that before you can come where I am I shall depart this life it is the wil of God that you forsake not this place with that the vision disappeared 3. The course which the Saint held in his deuotion as it was most admirable so did he continue it daly without any intermission euery day was he wont to say deuoutly the whole Psalter with canticles hymnes and S. Iohns reuelation besides two hundred other prayers three hundred times in the day did he prostrate himselfe in adoration before God and in singing euery canonicall hower he was accustomed to blesse himselfe a hundrd times with the signe of the Crosse moreouer it was his wont euery day to say masse with great deuotion and reuerence neither did he omit to preach to the people or to teach his disciples The night tyme which he deuided into three partes he spent after a most heauenly manner the former part he imployed in reciting twice fifty Psalmes and in making two hundred genuflexions the second part he spent in saying of the third quinquagenary of psalmes and of other prayers all which time he stood immersed in colde water the third part he allotted to his sleep hauing for his bed a bare stone another stone in steede of a bolster giuing himselfe in this manner to his rest he would girde his loines with a roughe and course haire cloath steeped in cold watter to keepe his body in due subiection fearing it should stirr vp any dishonest motions against the spirit in this manner did the blessed Bishop offer himselfe a holy liuing and gratfull victime vnto God Of Saints Patrickes most profound humility and of his many miracles CHAP. XXI THE glorious Bishop ouer his other attire wore a white robe repesenting by the forme and colour of his attire the candour of his inward powers nay he would accept of no guifts or presents esteeming it happier to giue then to receaue and if sometymes rich men did bestow any present vpon him he would without delay giue it to the poore easing himselfe of it as of a heauy burthen In his countenance in his aspect in his talke in his gate euen in the motion of his members and deportement of all his body the beholders might see and learne lessons of edification his speech being tempered with sweetnes and seasoned with the salt of discretion he accomodated himself to al sexes people occasions he was wel seene in foure languages the English Irish French and Latin attained to good insight in the Greeke he wrote a volume called S. Patrickes canons which is furnished with excellent doctrine for all sorts of people 2. When any difficulte or obscure questions were put vnto him he was wont of his profound humility first to answeare I know not God knowes He was indued with the gift of prophecy whatsoeuer he foretould fell out without any ambiguity He did prophecie of the Saints of Ireland and especially of all the Saints of Munster Connact that were to be borne within the compasse of one hundred yeares so clearly that he fortould their names liues and places of their habitation In giuing his benediction he extended his right hand and in bestowing his
they inioyed the brightnes of the day light without the interposition of any night By occasion of this stupendious miracle the Archmachians and Vlidians fell into grat debate and contention for the possession of that sacred treasure and as they were vpon the poynt of entring into a fierce and bloody conflict they heard a voyce from heauen which seemed to be S. Patricks cōmaunding them to surcease from the effusion of blood the sea moreouer passing its wōted boundes swole vp so high that it impeached their mutuall fight and slaughter for the present 3. The Vlidians put the blessed Saints body vpon a new wayne drawen by two kine and so carried it away with great ioye and singing of psalmes hymnes and spiritual canticles wherat the Ardmuchians fury was so inkindled that they intended by force of armes to detayne the holy body of their patron and primat but Almighty God to stint that bloody strife substituted before the Ardmuchians eyes a phantasticall wayne which resembled so fully the former that they being perswaded it was the same that carried the rich treasure of the Saintes sacred body followed it so farre as the riuer Caulune in the confines of the prouince of Ardmuch where that imaginary wayne disappeared out of their sight in the meane time the Vlidians entred the citty of Downe and after great solemnity of masses they interred the holy body in the place aforesaid S. Patricke departed this life in the yeare of our redemption 493. Felix being Pope Anastasius being Emperour Aurelius Ambrosius being Gouernour of England and Forchernus reigning in Ireland and Iesus Christ being sole monarch of all the world to whome all honour glory and prayse for all eternity Amen Heere ends S. Patrickes life THE LIFE OF THE HOLY VIRGIN SAINT BRIGIT PATRONESSE OF IRELAND Abridged out of what COGITOSVS her owne nepheu and IOANNES CAPGRAVIVS haue written more largely of her famous Actes and Miracles Of S. Brigits Countrey Parents Birth and many vertues and especially of her charity to the poore CHAP. I. THE glorious virgin S. Brigit who descended of the ancient and honorable family of Etech in the kingdom of Ireland was borne at Fochart a village a mile distant from Dundalke in the country of Louth Her Father was a noble man of Leinster named Dubtacus who falling in loue with a handmayd of his named Brocseca a woman indued with singuler beauty and admirable comlines he got her with child of this sacred virgin which when his owne wife perceiued being in great trouble therat and taking the matter very greeuily she said vnto him cast out this handmayd fearing her posterity surpasse mine Dubtacus cōstrayned through his wiues importuinty made sale of her to a certaine Magitian in whose house falling in trauaile she was safe deliuered of the holy child such as were present at her birth saw the cloath wherewith her tender head was couered to burne with a flame of fire whereupon hastning to quench it they found no fire at all 2. So much did the holy virgin loath to feed of the Magitians meats that she was constrayned euery day to cast vp what she eate The Magitian considering attentiuely the cause therof said I am vncleane this holy virgin ful of the spirit of God cannot taste of my meate choosing out therfore a white merch cow he bestowed it vpon her to liue by her milke The holy virgin increased in vertue no lesse then in yeares for she excelled in all kind of holy conuersation and sanctity of life aed became very conspicuous for her modestie chastity and temperance but aboue al her charity to the poore is most remarkable 3. The sacred virgin being deputed by the Magitian to keepe his cowes gaue all the butter and milke she could gather to releiue the present wantes and necessities of the poore When the Magitian saw but a small quantity of butter in a great vesel wherin the butter was to be kept he chafed extreamely The Saint seeing what passion he was in offered her pure prayers vp to God and so by diuine vertue filled the vessell with butter euen vp to the topp wherat the Magitian was so much astonished and moued that he beleiued in Christ setting both her and her mother at liberty 4. In regard she gaue to the poore all whatsoeuer she could lay handes vpon and among othings her Fathers sword he purposed to sel her for which end bringing her where the King was he requested him that he would be pleased to buy his daughter To whome the Kinge spoke in this manner what made you to giue away your fathers sword to the poore man To whome she answeared I haue giuen it to Christ Sir if my God did aske your maiesty and my father too of me I would bestow you both and whatsoeuer els you haue vpō him if it lay in my power Thē the King turning to her father sayd to him this your daughter is of too great worth to be bought by me and of farre greater to be sould by you so giuing her another sword to giue her father he dismissed her Of S. Brigites singuler chastity and of some miracles wrought in approbation thereof as also of other stupendious signes CHAP. II. WHEN this sacred spouse of Christ saw herselfe pressed and importuned by her freindes to marry she prayed to God that he would be pleased to disfigure her body with some deformity to the end that men shold cease from making further loue vnto her and without delay her eye burst and melted in her head then taking three other maydes in her company she repayred to a holy Bishop called Machella S. Patrickes disciple to be vayled at his handes the holy Bishop saw a piller of fire appeare ouer her head and contemplating moreouer her earnest and ardent loue of virginall integrity he gaue her the holy vayle of chastity at which time as she fell prostrate before the venerable Prelate to offer her selfe a holy cleane and impolluted host to her heauenly spouse she touched the alter postle which incontinently budded forth a fresh with leaues and so continueth greene and florishing to this day Being vayled with the sacred cognizance of chastity her bursten eye was restored againe to perfect health 2. Against Easter the sacred virgin made bere of one onely measure or pecke of malt fending part therof to eighteen Churches that were roūd about and besides during all the octaue that small quantity sufficed aboundantly and serued to satisfy all those who would and were desirous to taste therof At the same time a Leaper came to the holy virgin requesting her to help him to a cow but she hauing none said to him Wil you that we pray God to deliuer you from your sicknes who answeared that he preferred his cure before all other guiftes whereupon she hauing blessed water sprinkled the leaper therwith and immediatly he became cleane in like māner two sicke virgins taking water which the holy Virgin had blessed recouered their
the gold-smith to deuide it equally amongst thē But he making his excuse that he could not deuide it into three equal partes the most holy virgin her selfe tooke it into her hand and stroke it against a stone and soe deuided it iust into three equall parcells in so much that afterwardes being put in scales to be weighed neither part did ouerweigh the other not so much as one drāme so equall were the deuisions and so the leapers departed away ioyfull with their shares without cause either of enuy or any iniury 3. According to the example of holy Iob she neuer permitted the poore to departe from her with empty handes for she gaue them very pretious and rich garmentes which a holy Bishop named Conleath vsed to weare in saying the diuine mysteries of the Masse vpon the higher feastes of our Lord and the Apostles Now when the time came that the venerable Prelate should according to his wonted manner vse the aforesaid episcopall robes the holy virgin who had giuen them to Christ in his needy members receaued other such robes fully resembling the former as well in the weauing or texture as in colour which were brought her in a waggon of two horses euen at the same houre that she liberally gaue the others to the poore 4. So large and liberall was her charity to the poore that none euer had a repulse at her handes as it is cleare and euident by this ensuing narration For one time being abroad in the feildes feeding of her flocke one who was well acquainted with the tendernes of her hart and largenes of her hand came to her seauen times in one day begging of almes and euery time she gaue him a weather and when euening approaching she droue home the sheep yet being tould ouer twice or thrice the flocke was found entire and complete not one being missing to the great wonder of those who knew what chaunced It is also recorded of her that after prayer made for that intent she got miraculously a summe of money with which she ransommed a guilty person whome the King appointed to be put to death How the holy virgin declared the innocency of Bishop Broon Saint Patrickes disciple by making a yong suckling to speake and of other no lesse remarkable miracles CHAP. IX A Certayne malitious woman without regard of conscience or feare of God slandered most wickedly a venerable Bishop of Saint Patrickes disciples named Broon by fathering vpon him a child which she had gotten by another The Bishop standing vpō denial of the fact S. Bridgit calling the woman sayd Who is the father of your child She answered Bishop Broon With that S. Bridgit signed the womans mouth with the figure of Christs banner and instantly her head swelled vp with a great tumour after she blessed the young infants tongue saying to him Who is your Father The child made answeare Bishop Broon is not my Father but that vilde and deformed man who sitteth last among the people then all the assembly rendring many thankes and prayses to God constrained the lewed woman to do pennance for her folly 2. There was a certaine man named Linguidinus who was indued with such admirable strength and surpassing vigour of body that he himselfe alone could do so much worke as twelue men and who moreouer was so great a deuourer of meate as to eate at once so much as might well serue twelue men for as in working he did counteruaile twelue men so likewise in eating did he match that number This man came to S. Bridgit beseeching her to obtaine of God that he would vouchsafe to temper and bridle the immoderate appetite of his deuouring and rauenous stomack without diminishing or mayning the strength of his body The holy Virgin gaue him her blessing and offered vp her prayers to God in behalfe of his iust petition which he obtayned by her merits and intercession for neuer after did he take more then was able to satisfy one man being neuertheles able to performe so much worke as he was before when he did eate most of all 3. The sacred virgin sent for many workemen and reapers to cut downe her corne hauing agreed with them for their pay and appointed a day when they should come to performe their worke it hapned that the day appointed proued very rayny in so much that the cloudes powred forth showers in great aboundance ouer all the prouince excepting on S. Bridgits feilds which were not wet at all the rayne falling thicke vpon euery side so that where all the workemen in the country were constrayned to giue ouer their worke by reason of the wet moisty season S. Bridgits workemen continued from morning without intermission or impediment cutting downe of her corne not without the admiration of all who saw and heard of that vnusuall miracle 4. Another miracle no lesse stupendious wherin the Reader may contēplate the purity of her hart the perfctiō of her soule the eminency of her merits and the prerogatiue of her vertues we are to recount which was this At what time this sacred virgin fed her flocke in a wide open playne farre from any shelter showres of rayne fell downe so thicke that she was wet to the skin who comming home with her cloathes all full of water she saw a Sunne beame pearcing in thorough a chinke that illuminated the roome and taking it for a pearch the quickenes of her eyes being hindered or somewhat blunted she cast thereon her wet mantle or vpper garmente whereupon it hung being supported by it as well as by a beame or post to the great astonishment of all the neighbours who could not sufficiently admire the merits and vertues of this holy virgin Of S. Bridgits happy departure out of this life and how she knew thereof by diuine reuelation and of some miracles wrought after her death by her intercession and merits CHAP. X. THE sacred virgin hauing run out the course of her mortall dayes in the exercise of all kind of sanctimony and innocency of life the time of the resolution of her terrene tabernacle drew neere at hand whose deposition as her selfe knew by reuelation and foretould to one of her virgins was not farre off The holy virgin gaue vp her soule to her heauenly spouse about the yeare of our redemption 518. Her venerable body was placed in a sumptuous monument of gould and siluer adorned with iewells and pretious stones and was first interred in her owne monasterie at Kildare together with the the sacred body of the holy Bishop Conleath afterwardes it was translated whereof we haue an authentical record to the citty of Dune in Vlster where it lyes together with the venerable bodies of S. Patricke and S. Columbe the other two glorious patrons of Ireland At Kildare and other places many miracles haue been wrought by the merits of Saint Bridgit we will content our selues with the relation of some few fearing to cloy the Reader with to much
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
him did he restore mē to their perfect health A woman that had an inflammation in her eye vsed a Petrasalis which the Saint had blessed It fell out after some dayes that the house wherein the Petrasalis was tooke fire al the house was cōsumed into ashes excepting the pearch wheron the Petrasalis hung and a part of the wall that sustayned it A yong man that carryed about him a leafe written by S. Columbes holy hand was drowned in a riuer his body after twenty dayes being extracted out of the waters the leafe was found as drye and vncorrupted as if it had beene lockt vp close in a casket 3. As the Saint was one time trauailing the parents of a young infant brought the child to the Saint to be christned and in regard no water could be found in the adioyning places the saint declined to a rocke hardby where after praying a little vpon his knees he blessed the rocke out of which gushed a streame of water wherin he baptized the young suckling of whome also he prophecyed that in his youth he would loose the raines to lust and sensuality but afterwardes that he should giue himselfe to the study of christian perfection and should dye in a good ould age All which fell out to be true The Saint being in Pictland he heard great report of a pagan fountaine which the foolish people being blinded by the Diuell held in great veneration but whosoeuer tasted of the water or washed their handes or feet in it became by diabolicall fascination God permitting it blind leaprous or weake with some infirmity The saint came to the fountaine wherat the Magitians whome he often confounded and ouercame were very glad hoping that he should receaue some mischance The saint first inuocating vpon the name of Christ washed his handes feet and after blessing the water drunke of it which from that day forwardes bred no hurt or annoy to any and which is more admirable by vertue of the Saints benediction the water of that fountaine became a soueraigne remedy for the cure of many diseases How S. Columbe did with his prayers allaye tempest And how S. Cahinnechus did the same and of other miracles wrought by S. Columbe CHAP. III. VPON a certaine tyme the Saint was in danger at sea for the ship was soare shaken with huge waues the raging violence of the blustering windes beating vpon it the Saint in that distresse helped them what he could in pumping out the water whereupon the marriners sayd What you do now auailes vs but litle in this extremity it is more fitting for you to pray for vs being ready almost to be cast away With that the Saint began to power out before God a sweet and feruent prayer O great wonder No sooner did the Saint standing in the foredecke of the ship addresse his handes in prayer to the Omnipotēt but that the tempest of the ayre and boyling of the sea ceased whereupon followed a most serene and pleasant calme they who were in the shippe being strucken with admiration glorifyed God in his blessed seruant 2. Another tyme the Saint being in great danger by occasion of a fearefull and vehement tempest his companions cryed to him to pray for them but he made answere That belongeth not to me to doe for it is the holy Abbot Cahinnechus turne to pray for you this day Cahinnechus being then in his own monastery called Cowfield heard the foresayd speach of S. Columbe by reuelation of the holy Ghost for when he had begun after the ninth houre to sit downe to dinner he arose quickly from the table and hauing one shooe on leauing the other for hast he ranne to the Church saying all the way It is not tyme for vs now to dine when S. Columbs ship is in imminent danger at sea who calleth often vpon the name of Cahinnechus desiring him to pray for him and his companions hauing spoken these words Cahinnechus entred the oratory and prayed a little vpon his knees and loe our Lord heard incontinently his prayer for the tempest ceased and the sea became calme S. Columbe seeing in spirit S. Cahinnechus his preparation and promptnes in running to the Church he pronounced out of his pure breast this marueilous saying Now I know O Cahinnechus that God hath heard your prayer for your hasty running to the church with one of your shoes only auayles vs much 3. Bathaneus and other holy men came to the Saint entreating him to obtayne the next day from God a prosperous wind for them being to passe to contrary places The Saint answered Bathaneus shal haue in the morning a prosperous wind vntill he arriue at the hauen of Lungefield which God granted him according to the Saints wordes Then at nine of the clocke the Saint sent for Columbanus the Priest bidding him to make himselfe ready and telling him that the south wind that fauoured Bathaneus should turn to the north so Columbanus ēbarked himselfe for Ireland This stupendious miracle was wrought by vertue of the saints prayers because as it is written All things are possible to him that beleeueth After Columbanus his departure S. Columbe pronounced this prophecy of him The holy man Columbanus shall neuer more see me in this life So it fell out for S. Columbe departed to our Lord the selfe same yeare 4. A certaine young man named Columbanus brought a vessell full of milke to the place where the saint was requesting him to blesse it as he was accustomed As the Saint made the victorious signe of the Crosse in the ayre the vessell began to shake the couer fell to the ground the most part of the milke was shed the youth layd downe the vessell with the little milke that was left vpon the ground fell humbly on his knees to whome the Saint sayd Rise vp Columban for you haue been negligent in performing of your duty this day because you did not chase away with the signe of the crosse the Diuell that lurcked in the bottome of the empty vessell before you powred in the milke the vertue of which sacred signe he being vnable to sustaine he is now fled away Then the Saint blessed the little milke that was left and loe the vessell that was almost empty vnder the benediction of his sacred hand became brimfull How by vertue of S. Columbes benediction fiue Cowes increased to the number of 105. How the Saint foresaw the death damnation of a certaine man and of other no lesse remarkeable miracles CHAP. IIII. THe Saint hauing lodged one night at the house of one Columbanus a very poore and dy man in the morning he questioned with him concerning the quantity and quality of his substance The poore man answered I haue fiue Cowes which if you vouchsafe to blesse I doubt not but they will increase to a greater number The saint commanded him to bring them to his presence where blessing them he sayd You shal by Gods grace haue a
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
him Then Diarmitius tooke vpp his holy hand to blesse his mōks the Saint himselfe did what he coule to moue his hand to giue them his blessing with the motion thereof since he could not performe it with the voice of his mouth after this his sacred benediction giuen in this kind the Saint yeilded vp suddenly his happy soule The Angelicall sight left such a cheerefullnesse remayning in his countenance that it seemed rather the sweete aspect of one cast in a pleasant slumber then the ghostly sight of a dead corse Heere we will relate some visions which certaine holy men had at that very houre of the Saints happy passage In a certaine Irish monastery there liued a very holy and venerable seruant of Christ named Lugildius who was both wise and iust this holy monke not without great sorrow related to a deere companion of his a man of no lesse holy conuersation a certaine vision he had This last midnight S. Columbe the piller of many Churches departed to the immortall ioyes of heauen and I saw in spirit all the I le of Hoy where I neuer was in person illustrated with celestiall and angelicall brightnesse al the spaciousnes of the ayre was to the skyes enlightned with the splendour of Angels Angels were sent that descended to conduct his holy soule to euerlasting rest I heard likewise most sweet hymnes and harmonious canticles that resounded melodiously at the same tyme this angelicall manifestation Virgnous learnt frō the mouth of the foresayd holy old man 3. Another ancient and religious seruant of Christs and a holy monke named Ferrelus related to me Adamnanus with no small protestation and asseueration of the truth thereof this ensuing vision That night of S. Columbes happy passage out of this life I and others with me being fishing in the fishy riuer Fende we saw all the region of the ayre suddenly illustrated being much moued with the suddennesse of the miracle we conuerted our eyes to the East and loe there appeared as it were a great fiery piller that ascending to heauen wards seemed to illuminate all the world as a summers day or meridian Sunne and when that pillar had penetrated the heauens then darkenesse ensued as after the Sun set neither did the vision appeare to vs alone for many other fishers that were vp and downe about the riuer beheld it these visiōs appearing at the very houre of our Patrons departur make remonstrance of the glory he inioyeth before God Now let vs returne thether from whence we haue digressed 4. The matins office being ended his holy body was carryed back with sweet symphony of psalmes to his little lodging his obsequies were solemnized with no lesse honour then deuotion for the space of three dayes and three nights which time being spent in the diuine prayses the body of our glorious Patron wrapped in cleane syndons was interred in a decent tombe with great veneration Heere we thinke not amisse to tell what the Saint had prophecied touching the foresayd three dayes of his exequies On a tyme one of the Monkes after a simple manner sayd to the venerable Abbot It is thought that all the people of these prouinces will sayle hether to this Iland of Hoy to celebrate your funeralls My sonne answeared the Saint it shall not be as you say for the vulgar sort shall not be able by any meanes to come to my obsequies only my owne familiar monkes shal accomplish my funerall rights and duties Which propheticall prenunciation the diuine Omnipotence put in executiō for during the three dayes of his holy funeralls so boisterous a wind blew that it was not possible for any to go to sea but immediatly after the Saints sepulture the wind ceased and the sea became calme such then was the end of our glorious Patrons life such were the happy beginning of his merits who is admitted into the society of the glorious Patriarkes of the holy Apostles of the sacred Martyrs and immaculate Virgins by the fauour of our sweet Sauiour Iesus To whome togeather with the Father and the holy Ghost be all praise honour vertue glory world without end Amen Finis vitae Sancti Columbae Nos infrascripti legimus has Sanctorum nostrorum vitas scilicet PATRICIj BRIGIDAE COLVMBAE á quodam ex nostris Patribus Anglicé redditas in quibus nihil moribus aut fidei Catholicae contrarium inuenimus Datum Louanij 29. Augusti 1625. Fr. Thomas Strange Diffinitor Commissarius prouinciae Hiberniae nec non Sacrae Theologiae lector Fr. Robertus Chamberlinus Sacrae Theologiae lector in Collegio Sancti Anthonij a Padua Louanij Fr. Ioannes Barnew allus S. Theologiae lector in Collegio Sancti Anthonij de Padua Louanij Licentia Reuerendissimi Domini Domini PAVLI BOVDOT Episcopi Audomarensis NOs PAVLVS BOVDOT Dei Apostolicae sedis gratia Episcopus Audomarensis has vitas Sanctorum PATRICIj BRIGIDAE COLVMBAE à quodam Patre Franciscano Collegij Sancti Antonij a Padua Louanij in linguam Anglicanam versas typis mandari ac diuulgari permittimus cum ex Patrum Lectorum praefati Collegij fide digno testimonio habeamus nihil in ijs aut fidei orthodoxae aut probis moribus aduersari Actum Audomaropoli in Palatio nostro episcopali 10. Octobris 1625. Licentia Reuerendissimi Patris nostri Fratris Iosephi Bergaigne super Prouincias Belgicas Commissarij Generalis totius Ordinis Seraphici diffinitoris Generalis VISA censura approbatione Venerandi admodum Patris Viceprouincialis Hiberniae Patrum Lectorum sacrae Theologiae nostri Collegij S. Antonij A Padua permittimus vt Typis mandentur hae vitae SS Patricij Brigidae Columbae obseruatis ijs quae statuta generalia nostri ordinis circa excussionem librorum obseruari praecipiunt Datum in nostro conuentu Dunkercano 16. Augusti 1625. Fr. Iosephus Bergaigne Commissarius Diffinitor generalis Faults escaped in the Printing Page Faults Correction Pag. 4. Century reade Centuryes Pag. ibid. Sabellius Sabellicus Pag. 7. Saint Soruan Seruan Pag. ibid. Marcia Mercia Pag. ibid. Saint Pumold Saint Rumold Pag. ibid. Saint Hiniclin Himelin Pag. 8. S. Patrick your glorious Abbot S. particke your glorious Bishop Pag. ibid. Derlanus Declanus Pag. ibid. Itarus Ybarus Pag. ibid. Riaranus Kiaranus Pag. 9. of their sensuall of their sensually schoole Pag. 12. now to declare now to decline from the triall Pag. ibid. foule wracking soule wracking Pag. 8. Vbique for Englād Brittany Pag. 13. Sergerius Sergecius Pag. 16. Dichum Dichu Pag. 30. Mal Mel Pag. ibid. Brine mouth Boyne-mouth Pag. 31. nephew neophit Pag. ibid. Coibre Coyrbre Pag. 42. vbique for Ardmuch Ardmach Pag. 44. 1400. 14000. Pag. 46. Ormand Ormond Pag. 47. Prosnach Broisneau Pag. ibid. Frianus Triamus Pag. 49. nephueus nephewes Pag. 53. Connendus Connedus Pag. 57. vbique Bangor Benchor Pag. 69. Coruallus Cearuallus Pag. 70. Vlbia Vlidia Pag. 72. Micheus Mocheus Pag. 74. Volchanusa Volchan