of the Saints blessing learned all the Psalter in fiften dayes who after led a most holy life and dyed glorious for vertue and miracles The Saint by reuiuing a noble mans wife named Ethra gayned the noble man himselfe with all his followers vnto Christ. 5. Some wicked men enuying the progresse of Christian religion and the Saints glory suborned a woman that vsed to beate and to dresse flax in the way the Saint was to passe to hide a great quantity of the flax in a hollow tree not farre off and when the Saint should passe that way they wished her to exclaime against him and his holy company as hauing stolne the flaxe The womā did as she was put in the head by those wicked men who rushed out of their dennes when the woman began to crye and flocking about the Saint and his companions they accused them as theeues guilty of torments and of death Neere the place where this tumult was excited there was one buryed whome the Saint reuiued the reuiued man by his testimony cleared the innocency of the Saint and freed him from that slaunder shewing where the flaxe was hidden The contriuers of this mischiefe were by this miraculous euent reclaymed from idolatry to the acknowledgement of the true God 6. A man of Iueach hauing stolne eaten a he-Goate S. Patricke had and thinking by oath to cleare himselfe of all suspition swore that he had no hand at all in the theft loe the eaten goate by a hideous noyse made in his belly bewrayed him to be the author of the theft whose posterity euer after wore goates beardes It was S. Patrickes custome to keepe company to loue and frequent the society of vertuous and holy men which custome how gratefull it was in the eyes of the Almighty himselfe vouchsafed to manifest by this insuing miracle For as he and a man of a most venerable life named Vinnocus were in conuersatiō together of diuine matters and hauing bestowed their garmentes vpon the poore behold there came from heauen a cloake that fell iust between them both Each of the Saintes alleadged that it was sent to the other they being in this humble and charitable debate the cloake disappeared and two others were brought by an Angell for each of them one 7. In that part of Britanny which is now called VVales there reigned a wicked Tyrant a cruell persecutour and ennemy of Christians named Cereticus The Saint directed to him a commonitory epistle hoping thereby to reclaime him from his wicked courses but he derided the Saint and became more obstinate in mischiefe and iniquity which when the Saint vnderstood he prayed to God in manner following Our Lord God omnipotent cast this foxe-natured man who is so monstruous in vices after a monstruous manner from the face of the earth Our Lord inclined his eares to the voyce of his seruant for he transformed him into a fox who flying away was neuer seene afterwards Of S. Machaldus conuersion and most rigid pennance and of S. Memessaes holy life CHAP. XVI A Wicked man named Machaldus the prince of theeues and robbers seeing S. Patricke passe by the way determined to kill him but after holding it a disgrace to shed the blood of so poore weake and seeble a man as the Saint was he and his ruffian like company thrōged about the Saint and by way of contempt and derision requested him to reuiue againe one of his company named Garbanus whome they had couered with a cloake counterfeiting him for dead The Saint could them that their iest was turned into a truth and so departed The theeues found their companiō dead and fearing that the like mischance might fall vpon themselues they rann apace after the Saint prostrated themselues before him acknowledging their heynous offence they became Christians The Blessed Bishop at their request restored againe their dead companiō to the number of liuing 5. Machaldus hauing confessed his sinnes requested the Saint to set downe for him some course of pennance by which he might purchase eternall life the holy Bishop being inspired from aboue inioyned him to forsake his natiue soyle for euer and to bestow all his substance vpon the poore then did he attyre himselfe in a course and despiceable weed and locked his feet in fetters casting the key into the sea after he commanded him to enter all alone into a boate whither soeuer the boate should carry him there to liue all the dayes of his life The truely penitent Machaldus followed the Saints direction and so committing himself to the sea he lāded in the Isle of Man The two holy Prelates Counidrius and Romulus whome S. Patricke sent to succeed S. German in the gouernement of that Isle seeing the man in so miserable a plight knowing the cause intertayned him very charitably detayning him with themselues After the compasse of many yeares in the belly of a fish that by diuine prouidence was brought to Machaldus was found a key which vnlocked his fetters S. Machaldus attayned to such eminent sanctity that after the death of the two forementioned Bishops he was created Bishop of the Iland and ended his dayes there in great sanctity being famous both for vertue and miracles 3. The glorious Saint by conuerting stones into milke milke into stones conuerted a Magitian from the worshiping of stones to the seruice of the true and liuing God Such reuerence did the Blessed Saint carry to Sunday in honour of our Sauiours triumphant resurrection that he was neuer accustomed to trauaile vpon Sonday for wheresoeuer he was belated vpon Saterday there did he stay vntill Munday morning giuing himselfe wholy to diuine contemplation 4. One Saterday he was benighted in a great field farre from any shelter it began to rayne heauily but not a drop did touch the Saint or any of his company This miracle was seconded with a farre greater for euen that night the Saint was thus sheltred miraculously from the rayne the plane was ouercast with so thicke a mist that the Saints coach-man could not find the coach horses which he let out to pasture The Saint knowing in what affliction his faithfull seruant was of cōpassion towardes him he stretched out his sacred hand and loe an vnseene and neuer heard of prodigy his fiue fingers like fiue brightsome Sunne beames illuminating all the country ouer conuerted the darknes into light and the night into day By helpe of this immense splendour the coach man found his horses and so returned ioyfull and greatly conforted to his good Father Whiles the Saint preached the Ghospell to a certaine noble man there came a flame out of the Saints mouth which entered in at the noble mās mouth and eares heating therewith his hart and also all his inward powers 5. A yong Lady named Memessa daughter to a great Prince in England by contemplation of the creatures attayned to such perfect knowledge and loue of the Creator that for his loue she misprised all the world
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
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
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
her parents laboured very much but could not nether by faire or foule meanes enforce her euer to contract with any of the great Lordes that were suters to her so constant she was in her purpose of dedicating her virginity to her maker her parents seeing nothing could preuaile with her sent her into Ireland to S. Patricke who instructed her in the Christian religion and after receiuing the blessed Sacrament being in prayer she yeilded vp her pure soule which was carried betweene Angells into the bed chamber of her heauenly spouse Holy water made by the Saint was no sooner besprinkled vpon a noble man named Darius who lay sicke vpon a dead horse but the noble man recouered his health and the horse his life Of a vision S. Patricke had touching the building of Ardmuch and of the cure of 16. Leapers CHAP. XVII THE formentioned noble man Darius being willing to gratify the Saint bestowed vpon him a faire pleasant and delightfull peece of ground antiently called Druimsallac and now Ardmuch the next night after the saint saw the Angells squaring the forme and compasse of a faire Citty that was to be built in that pleasant and delightful field One of the Angels commanded him the next day to goe to a place called S. Patrickes well where he should cure 16. leapers couered ouer with vgly soares the Saint did accordingly and baptized the leapers in the well aforesayd which miracle comming to the notice of the people was a mayne helpe towardes the building of the citty At the Saints request an Angel remoued out of his place a great rocke that was like to make the entrāce into the citty very cumbersome and difficulte 2. The glorious Bishop with Gods help and fauour begun throughly built a citty faire for the situation greatnes and compasse brought many principall cittizens to inhabit therein The citty it selfe was adorned with faire and decēt churches wherin were ordained by the Saint Cleargy men for the singing of the diuine office the gouernement of soules and instruction of the people There were besides Monasteryes furnished with Monkes and others replenished with sacred Virgins In a monastery of holy Virgins liued a virgin the King of Englands daughter nine other ladyes which accompanyed her when she came to S. Patricke the Saint saw with his owne eyes three of his holy number ascend vp to heauen In this Citty did the Saint erect his Archepiscopall sea intending to make it the principall and metropolitan Church of all Ireland and that this his intention might be established for all succeeding ages he purposed to make a iourney to Rome there to haue it confirmed and ratifyed by Apostolicall authority The Angell appearing liked well thereof and because for the present the Saint wanted horses he prouided him miraculously of coaches to carry him and his retinue to the water side 3. The glorious Bishop after that with infatigable trauaile of preaching marueilous plēty of miracles he had conuerted the kingdome to the Christian religion hauing ordained Bishops Priests and other Cleargy men in all places that he thought conuenient blessing and taking his leaue of them all he went with some of his company to Rome Comming thither he acquainted the Popes holines with the affaires of Ireland and the cause of his iourney His holynes imbracing the Saint as the Apostle of Ireland honoured him with a palle and constituted him as his owne Legate ouer all Ireland confirming with his apostolicall authority all what the Saint had ordered disposed or done in Ireland His holynes gaue him rich presents and pretious guifts among other his guifts were relicques of the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul and S. Stephen the Protomartyr and that which passeth all his Holynes bestowed vpon him a certaine sheet died with our Sauiours blood The Blessed Bishop after his returne placed all these rich relicques behinde the high Altar in the Metropolitan Church of Ardmuch It was the custome in that church euery yeare to expose these relicques at Easter and at Whitsontide to be seene and honoured of the people 4. It passeth our abilityes to set downe the innumerable signes which he wrought in his iorney going and comming from Rome for in all places did he manifest signes of his sanctity In Englād his natiue soyle he made some stay where he built many Monasteryes and repaired many more destroyed by the Pagans which he furnished with Monkes which liued according to the forme of religious discipline life that the Saint prescribed them he also prophetically foretould many aduerse and prosperous euents that should happen in England In like manner did he forsee and fortell the sanctity of S. Dauid being as yet in his mothers wombe After his returne from his tedious paynefull iourney bringing with him from beyond the seas thirty Bishops whome he sent to labour in the feild of our Lord he began in time conuenient to celebrate solemne councells in which he cut off any thing he found to be preiudiciall to Christian religion or contrary to the churches canons placed established such constitutions as were conformable to the holy Canons and made for the aduancement of religion piety and good life in the meane space he dayly shined with the splendour of infinite miracles whereof this insuing as it cannot but be deemed most stupendious so questionles is to be accounted most beneficiall How S. Patricke freed Ireland from the encombrance of Diuels Magitians and venemous beasts And how he fasted 40. dayes without corporall food CHAP. XVIII IRELAND since its first inhabitation was pestered with a triple plague to wit with great aboundance of venemous beastes copious store of Diuells visiblely appearing and infinit multitudes of Magitians that the like is not recorded of any other country or kingdome The glorious and most holy Bishop laboured by intercession of most feruent prayers and other exerecices of deuotiō to deliuer the Iland of that triple pestilēce the most excellent Prelate taking the staffe or wand of Iesus into his sacred hand and eleuating it after a threatning manner as also by the fauourable assistance of Angels he gathered together in one place all the venemous beastes that were in Ireland after he draue them vp before him to a most high mountaine hanging ouer the sea called then Cruachanailge and now Cruach Padruig that is S. Patrickes mountaine from thence he cast thē downe in that steepe precipice to be swallowed vp by the sea O singuler signe O magnificent miracle vnseene vnheard of since the beginning of the world now known spoken of by al nations after directing his face towards the I le of Man blessing it with all the other Isles by him conuerted to Christ by help of his prayers he procured them the same singuler benefit Of the Magitians he conuerted and reclaimed very many and such as persisted incorrigible he rooted them out from the face of the earth By his prayers
Martin Archbishop of Tours in France This holy couple liued togeather in great sanctity and perfectioÌ„ being iust before God and walking in his iustifications and commandements without blame In processe of tyme it pleased God to blesse them with a holy and happy issue whome they named Patricke who was no sooner regenerated in the lauer of holy Baptisme but God began to denounce to the world his admirable sanctity by the voyce of stupendious miracles in maÌ„ner following 2. A certaine man strucken with blindnes from his mothers wombe named Gormas heard in his sleep a voyce commanding him with the right haÌ„d of the child Patrick newly christened to make the signe of the Crosse on the ground which voice added further that thereupon would gush out a vaine of liuing water wherewith if he washed his eyes he should recouer his sight The man obeyed the diuine oracle found the vertue of Siloe rieterated in that miraculous fountaine Nay which is more prodigious at the same tyme his spirituall eyes were opened being illustrated with the guift of infused knowledged so that of an ingorant blind man he became a learned Reader and vnderstander of holy Scriptures 3. The holy child Patricke encreasing in yeares grew likewise in grace and as a shop full fraught with sweet perfumes breathed forth the fragrant odours of astonishing miracles In Emptor Towne where the holy child and his sister Lupita were brought vppe vnder the care of an Aunt of theirs after the dissoluing of the frost a certaine sinke or Vaâ—te did so swell vp with waters that it threatned the destruction of many houses and particulerly the inundation did ouerwhelme the house wherein the holy child liued so that al the houshold stuffe was ouerflowen the Blessed child being hungry called to his Nurce for bread Who answered that he was neerer drowning then getting any thing to eate With that the holy child dipped his fingers in the swelling waters and sprinckling them thrice ouer the same with the signe of the holy Crosse commanded the sinke in the name of the most holy Trinity to retyre It was a wounder to see the inundation ceased the sinke or Vault became sodainly dry For from his sacred fingers it seemed to theÌ„ that stood by in lieu of droppes of water sparckles of fire to issue forth which dryed vp those swelling waters 4. On a certaine day in the winter tyme the holy child being among a company of his play-fellowes gathered vp in his lap some pieces of Ice and carrying them home layd them on the floor To whome his Nurce sayd that it had beene better and much more fitting for the season to haue brought home wood for the fire then so to play the wanton with the peeces of Ice The sweet child answered wisely saying It is easy for the Author of nature to dispense with the course of nature aud to make euen this frozen water seruiceable for the vse of fire Then he layd the peeces together and after praying and making the signe of the Crosse vpon them he blew them with that they tooke fire which cast out such flammes and heat as yeelded forth not only the benefit of warmeth but also ministred great matter of admiratioÌ„ to all that saw it which what els could the same foreshew but that this great Saint shold inflame the cold and frozen hartes of many and with the word of God breathed from his sacred soule inflame them in the loue of so potent a Lord 5. One tyme as Lupita S. Patrickes sister went to weane the lambes from their Dames she fell and in falling burst her head against a sharp edged Flint that wounded her cruelly many ran to see that great mischance and among them the Blessed child Patricke who by making the signe of the crosse on her forehead restored her to perfect health In like manner did the Blessed child reuine his Vncle who dyed of suddayne death by making the signe of the Crosse vpon him and offering his deuout prayers for him S. Patricke was by his Aunt deputed to the charge of keeping sheep One day as he ledd them out to their pasture there rushed out of a wood hard by a famished wolfe who carryed away one of the sheep his Aunt missing the sheep imputed the losse of it to the Saints negligeÌ„ce in performing his charge he supported patiently her vndeserued check prayed to God earnestly for the bringing back of the lost sheep Behould the next morning the Woolfe came carying the sheep in his mouth layd the same before the Saint and so went his way The holy childs Nurce in her sickenes longed much for hony but none being to be gotten she fell a greeuing and lamenting the holy child blessing a cup of cold water conuerted it into hony and gaue it to his Nurce wherewith she satisfyed her longing and recouered her health perfectly 6. A noble man that liued in Emptor-Towne forced S. Patrickes Aunt to vndergo the heauy yoake of seruitude giuing her in charge to cleanse or empty euery day the dirt and filth of a great stable or Ox-stall where many Oxen and Horses were stabled The vertuous woman supporred with great meeknes this affliction as comming from the hand of God But S. Patricke offering his prayers to God for his Aunt all the roomes were made cleane so continued for a long time without any human help which great miracle exciting all men to admiration was the cause that the woman was set at liberty and the Saint held in great veneration 7. The admirable progresse the holy childe made in the course of vertue went farre beyond the number of his yeares for his tender breast abounded with plenty of diuine gifts that pure receptacle was enriched and stored with all vertues so that in the slippery course of youth he slidd not into any lapse that might ly as a stayne on the spottles robe of his chastity such was his care in keeping the integrity both of soule and body vnblemished And albeit the inward motioÌ„ of grace did instruct and direct him in all his actions yet when he came to competent yeares his parents tooke care for his trayning vp in learning The child plyed his booke very diligently particularly he gaue himselfe to learne Psalmes Hymnes and spiritual Canticles which he got by hart for eueÌ„ from the prime of his youth he was wont euery day to say the whole Psalter His tender body he chastised with fastings watchinges and other exercises of devotion exhibiting it a liuely host holy and pleasing to God representing in his mortall body the life of an Angel without a body Of S. Patricks being carryed into Ireland and of his captiuity and release from the yoke of seruitude CHAP. II. FIER tryeth gold and the furnace of tribulation the iust to the end that S. Patricks vertues should becom more illustrious his crown of blisse more glorious he was exposed to the assaults of tentation For some Pirates
breakinge into England carryed away many captiues and among the rest S. Patricke being then sixtene yeares old of whome they made sale in Ireland to a certaine Pagan petty-king named Milchoe who raigned in the North. By Milchoes appointement S. Patricke was deputed to the seruile charge of keeping Hogges the holy youth imbraced patieÌ„tly God dispostition omitted not in the meane season to exercise himself in deuotioÌ„ in the care of his saluation An hundred times a day and as many more in the night did he prostrate himselfe in prayer before God As for his fastes they were admirable liuing on roots hearbes and such other slight food and full often without any corporall sustenance neyther could the rigour of the season or sharpenes of the weather cause him at any tyme to intermit his exercises of deuotion 2. After the enduring of six yeares captiuity the Blessed Saint ceased not with vnfatigable groanes and feruent prayers to solicite the diuine Maiesty in behalfe of his freedome returne to his natiue soyle and parents Whereupon one day as he was in prayer an Angel appeared to him assuring him that his fastes and prayers had ascended vp in the sight of God that his releasemeÌ„t was neere at hand The Angel added further that himselfe was named Victor that he was peculiarly deputed to his custody and that at all occasions he would be ready to releeue and assist him TheÌ„ the Angel directed the Saint to a place which the Swine had digged and rooted vp where he was to find a summe of gold wherewith to pay his ransome Moreouer the Angell told him that at the next hauen there was a Ship bound for England which could not God appoynting it so haue a fauourable wind without his presence 3. S. Patricke hauing payd his ransome to his greedy aud cruell Lord hastened to the hauen fore showen to him by the Angell where imbarking himselfe in the formentioned Ship after three dayes sayling the windes being fauourable they arriued safely on the coast of England where going ashore in traueling through a solitary and baren Countrey some foure twenty dayes togeather they began to feel the extremity of hunger S. Patricke all this while â—â— not to preach vnto them the kingdome of heauen and the saith of the most holy Trinity but they willfully shut their eyes against the light of truth vital that vexation the mistris of vertue gaue them vnderstaÌ„ding for being pinched with the implacable rage of hunger the eldest of the broke out into these wordes Thou seest O worshipper of Christ to what extremity we are brought inuocate then thy God whose omnipotency thou blasest to the end that tasting of his liberality we may be â—â—cited to a dore 〈◊〉 knowledge his Maiesty Saint Patricke offered vp his players to god in their behalfe and loe suddenly there appeared 〈…〉 and wild hony in such plenty that they 〈◊〉 their present distresse and were wel prouided for against their future necessaryes And though for the present they both thanked God and had his Saint in great veneration yet the 〈◊〉 gale of prosperity plenty ingendred in them an obliuion of their bountiful benefactour and ingratitude for his singuler benefite in so much that of that miraculous prouision they offered victimes and sacrifices to their Idols and after eate of them of which idolatrous victuals S. Patricke would not in any case tast albeit he were earnestly intreated thereunto but by Gods fauour fasted out twenty dayes without any kind of corporall sustenance 4. Least the greatnes of miraculous signes or fastes should extoll Godds chosen vessell Saint Patricke the Angell of Satan was permitted to buffet him One night the prince of darknes rushed vpon the Saint so fiercely that he depriued him of the vse and exercise of his members and senses and thus molested him for the space of three dayes the Saint in his distresse had recourse to God his sure and soueraigne refuge twice inuoking for his helpe Elias the prince of Prophtes Elias being sent by our Lord chased away that diabolicall tentation restored the Saint to the vse of his senses and members illustrating him both inwardly outwardly with immense splendour The Saint ouercoming this assault of the aduersary togeather with some other difficultyes in the way returned home to his natiue soyle to the vnspeakable ioy of his PareÌ„ts who requested him with teares in their eyes not to depriue them any more of the contentment Parents reap of their childreÌ„s presence The mirrour of obedience Patricke out of reuerence respect to his Parents remayning with them for a while Of a vision Saint Patricke had touching the conuersion of Ireland of his iourney to Rome where he was made Bishop and of his mission by the Popes holynes for Ireland CHAP. III WHILES S. Patricke liued with his Father one night he saw in a vision as it were a man of a comely countenance and cariage bringing many letters from Ireland and giuinge him one to reade which when he began to reade he found written in the very beginning Haec est vox Hibernigenarum This is the voyce of the Irish nation Hauing read the beginning and intending to go on with the rest it seemed to him that he saw in spirit the Irish infants shut vp yet in their mothers wombes crying to him with a loud voice We pray thee O holy maÌ„ Patrick that thou come conuerse with vs set vs free The Saint could not read any further but awaking out of sleepe he rendred many thankes to God and by reason of the vision he persuaded himselfe that God called him to conuert the Irish nation that seemed to craue and desire his presence being desirous to know further the diuine pleasure touching this affaire he had recourse to God who by the Angel Victor commaunded him to repaire into France there to be trayned vp in Christian learning and discipline 2. S. Patricke as God appointed him went into France and there repaired to S. German Bishop of Antisiodorum with whome he liued some eighten yeares al which tyme he imployed in studying the holy Scriptures He was by S. Gâ—rmâ—n promoted to holy orders successiuely lastly inuested with the sacred order of Priesthood Saint Patricks earnest desire of attayning to greater grace of diuine knowledge made him repayne to his Vncle S. Martin Archbishop of Tours this holy Bishop being a Monke himselfe cloathed his Nepheu Patricke with a monkes weed and instructed him in regular discipline and monasticall obseruances which the Saint embraced very willingly and according to the tenour of them directed his life 〈…〉 So taking their leaues each of other S. Patricke returned to his old maister S. Germain againe 3. S. Patricke determined with himselfe to go to Rome to be better instructed in the Ecclesiasticall constitutions and Canons being 〈◊〉 with all that his iourney for Ireland might be approued and ratifyed by Apostolicall authority which his
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
to kill the Saint 4. S. Patricke leauing his furniture in the custody of Dichu his first be gotten in Christ wēt himselfe as he had purposed often to visit his old Master Milchoe in hope by his preaching to subdue him to the sweet yoke of our Sauiour but the wicked wretch fearing that S. Patrickes efficacious preaching should soften his stony hart and withal disdayning to submit himselfe to the doctrine of him who in former tymes had beene his slaue when he heard of the Saints approching being giuen ouer into a reprobate sense and gatheringe all his substance in a heap togeather he set fire to it and after cast himselfe into the midest of the flames as a sacrifice to the infernall Furyes But Milchoes two Daughters were conuerted to the faith by Saint Patricke and receaued the grace of Baptisme wherein both were named Emeria These holy virgins were endued in their life with many ornaments both of grace and vertue and the many miracles wherewith according to S. Patrickes prophecie God honoured their sepulcher in Cluainbron giue euident testimony that they are translated to a better life 5. As S. Patricke passed through the coūtry sowing the seed of euangelicall doctrine he became acquainted with a youth named Mochna whome by diuine inspiratiō he knew would proue a chosen vessell the holy youth Mochna imbraced willingly S. Patrickes doctrine the Saint himselfe baptised him and taught him his crosse row The youth within the compasse of one month learned all the psalter and before a yeare came to an end attayned the vnderstanding of holy Scriptures After a while as S. Patricke passed by that place Mochna repaired to him and being both in talke of diuine matters a pastorall staffe sent from heauen fell iust betweene them S. Patricke tooke great ioy in that miraculous guift turning to Mochna sayd to him Know my deerest child that by this pastorall staffe you are designed to take vpon you the charge of soules promoting him therefore though much against his will to holy orders at last he installed him Bishop of Edruim S. Mochna did great good in the Church of God by meanes of his holy conuersation and singular doctrine and ascended to the triumphant being indued with the ornaments of rare vertues and glory of many miracles 6. Leogarius the Monarch to keepe his subiectes in awe and subiection constrayned all his Princes and great Lords to giue him hostages of their loyalty amōg others he had Dichues sonnes as pledges of their Fathers fidelity when King Leogarius who was wholly addicted to superstitiō and idolatry heard that Dichu and all his family was conuerted to the Christian Religion he fell into a great rage and chafe against him commaunded that his two sonnes who where hostages should be put to death by keeping all manner of liquour and drinke from them The Saint knowing by diuine reuelation of that most cruel commandement had his recourse to his wonted weapons of holy prayer and loe the night following an Angell comming into the prison presented to the young noble men a soueraigne liquor that quenched their present thirst and which is farre more strange extinguished in them all appetit of drinking vntil within a few dayes he came againe and released them at S. Patrickes intercession How S. Patricke prophecyed that S. Benignus should succeed him in the Primacy of Ireland and of many hard conflictes the Saint had with King Leogarius and his Magitians CHAP. V. THE solemne feast of our Sauiours triumphant Resurrection approached which S. Patricke determined to celebrat with great solemnity in a fayre and spatious field called Breage and there by euangelizing the Kingdome of heauen and administring the sacrament of holy Baptisme to encrease the number of the faythful for which end he went to a certaine noble mās house hard by the field aforesayd The noble man whose name was Sesgnen entertayned the Saint very courteously and was himselfe with all his house conuerted to the true fayth This noble man had a Son whom at the sacred font the Saint called Benignus a name rightly beseeming him for in his life and demeanour he was most benigne and sweet being beloued both of God men worthy of eternall glory in heauen and to be reuerenced of all men vpon earth This holy child could not be separated from the company of the Saint for when the Saint layd him downe to rest the child stealing from his Father and Mother fell downe at his feet imbracing thē very louingly and fixing many a sweete kisse vpon them The next morning as the Saint got vp into his Coach hauing one foot in the boote of his Coach another vpon the ground the child tooke him by the feet beseeching him after a most earnest manner not to leaue him behind and returning to his Parents that laboured to detayne him he sayd weeping crying out aloud Get you hence Get you hence dismisse me I pray you that I may follow my spirituall Father The Saint behoulding admiring such great deuotion in such a tender breast gaue the child his benediction prophecied that he should be his Successour in the Primatship of Ireland which thing fell out accordingly 2. The holy Bishop solemnised the Paschall feast in the foresayd field and according to the custome of holy Church did light the candells with hallowed fire The Idolatrous people celebrating at that tyme a great solemne feast of theirs called Rach in which feast dedicated to the Prince of darknes the children of darcknes vsed no light for it was the custome with them to quench the fire in all places thereaboutes and it was treason for any to light it before it were seene lighted in the Kings pallace King Leogarius with all his nobility then kept court at Tarach his principall howse from whence seeing the fire which the Saint had kindled he raged extremely and diligently inquired who presumed to attempt such a matter One who was in the company presently answeared as it were by way of prophecy If this fire be not extinguished this night the kindler of it with his followers shal beare rule in all this kingdome The King being wholly incensed hereat hastned with all expedition to quench the same taking with him thrice nine that is 27. chariots in regard that his Magicians put him in the head that that number was fortunate and prosperous Vpō the sight of all these chariots the Saint sung that verse of the psalme These in charriots and these in horses but we will inuocate in the name of the Lord our God When the King came neere the place he sent for the Saint cōmanding him to make his appearance before him The diuine office being ended the Saint came but none of the Courtiers as the King commanded exhibited him any reuerence or honour except one Hercus who rose saluted the Saint very officiously The Saint gaue him his benediction and promised him life euerlasting Hercus receiuing the
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
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
such diuersity in blessing them fortelling prophetically Blessing I haue blessed thy brother Fergusus in regard of a blessed sonne that shall descend from him for his sonne Feleminus shal beget a sonne who shal be called Columba a name very answerable to his holy life for from his Mothers wombe he shal be full of the holy Ghost and shal be inriched with the treasures of diuine wisedome and vnderstanding he wilhe the shyning and burning lanterne of his generation and shal be iustly called the Prophet of the highest from the time that he comes to yeares of discretion a deliberate vntruth shall not escape out of his mouth How truly this hath beene presaged of S. Columba called Columcill who was the founder of an hundred Monasteryes the history of his life sufficiently declareth 6. Within the compasse of seauen weekes which S. Patrike spent in the country called Turtirini he builded seauen Churches ouer which he ordayned Pastour S. Connendus a man of great vertue and learning After a few dayes S. Connedus came to S. Patricke who commanded him to returne back to his Church fortelling that he need not to feare the effusion of his blood for that none should be killed in that place for euer The euent hath showed his prophecy to haue beene most true The B. Bishop prophecied of the natiuity of S. Treha at whose consecratiō a vayle was sent from heauen wherwith the Saint vayled her Of the conuersion of the I le of Man of a strange vision S. Brigit had and of the prophecye touching the future sanctity of the Saints Colmanellus and Comgallus CHAP. XI SAINT Patricke seeing that in Ireland the haruest was great and the workemen few tooke shipping to passe into England there to gather many coadiutors and fellow-helpers in cultiuating our Lords field In those dayes the Arrian perfidy and Pelagianisme tooke great rootinge in England which the Blessed Bishop laboured to extirpate by reclayming with signes sermōs his deere Country-men to their former integrity of fayth so comming backe into Ireland he brought with him many learned and Religious men of which number thirty were installed by him Bishop in seuerall Episcopall seas In his returne he conuerted the Isle of man ordayninge a learned and holy person named Germanus Bishop ouer that young flocke the like he did in seuerall other Isles It was his custome not only in citties but euen in principall townes to install Bishops to the end the faythful should not be depriued of the sacrament of Confirmation 2. After the Saints returne out of England he bestowed vpon six Cleargy-men that were going in pilgrimage ouer the seas a Whales skinne wherin himself was accustomed to stād whē he said Masse hauing that guift of the Saints loue they neuert felt in all the tyme of their trauaile any penury or want In processe of tyme they all six became very learned and were made Bishops ended their dayes in great sanctity their names were Lugacius Columbanus Meldanus Lugadius Cassanus Ceranus 3. Three whole dayes without intermission did the Saint preach to infinite multitudes that flocked from all parts to heare him they thought they had not beene there one day so sweet and attractiue were the Saints doctrine discourses In that assembly was present the most holy virgin S. Brigit who reclyning her head slept which Saint Patricke perceauing forbad that any should awake Gods beloued spouse till she pleased her selfe by the issue it was manifest that that passage of the Canticles might be fitly applyed to her I sleepe but my hart waketh in regard that her heauenly spouse imparted his secrets to her Whē she awaked the Saint cōmanded her to tel in the hearing of all the people what she had seene who obeying him tould that she saw first a Synod of mē all in white with ploughes oxen and fieldes all white after that she saw them to be stayned with spots and lastly to become wholy blacke S. Patricke interpreted the former part to his own time wherein good workes and fayth were vnited together and exercised the second state to the following generation which would indeed persist in the candour of fayth but would deface it with depraued workes the third state he referred to the insueing ages wherein men would not only giue ouer the exercise of good workes but also would prophane their liues with renouncing of their fayth 4. On a tyme S. Patricke made a iourney into Dalnardia as he passed by a place called Mucoomuir his disciple Benignus saw quires of Angells inuironing that place with celestiall splendour piercing the skyes with the harmonious concent of diuine prayses the vision disappering he related to S. Patricke all what he had contemplated who being inspired by God declared to his disciples what that admirable vision pretended Know then sayd he that a sonne of life whose name shal be Colmanellus will build a Church in that place where he will gather togeather manny sonnes of light who will become with the Angels cohabitants of the heauēly citty and he himselfe shal be the primate and legate of all Ireland In processe of time all fell out to be true as the Saint foretould 5. Another time S. Patricke with his holy family ascended a little mountaine not far distant from the valley where afterwardes the monastery of Bangor was built from the hill topp they saw al the valley replenished with celestial brightnes and Angelicall quires which admirable vision moued all the company to intreate the Saint to build a Church in that sacred valley which the Saint would not doe but prophecying foretould After the space of 60. years completely expyred there will be borne a sonne of Light named Comgallus which is interpreted a fayre pledge who shal be beloued both of God and men and shall build in the place a foresayd a Church of Saints wherein shal be gathered innumerable troupes of the children of light that shall dedicate themselues to the seruice of Christ. Not one iote of all this did passe vnaccomplished for in the tyme fortould Comgallus being borne built the monastery of Bangor wherein he begot to Christ by meanes of the Ghospell many thousands of perfect Monkes in so much that that holy place the fruitfull mother of Saintes as a vine fructifying in sweetnes of odour did extend its branches to the sea and its plants beyonde the sea for it filled Ireland Scotland and many other Ilandes with perfect Monkes and monasteries as also forraine Countryes One of the sonnes of that Monastery named Luanus founded a hundred monasteries another named Columbanus a most holy man full of diuine grace erected many Monasteries and was the father of a numberles number of holy Monkes he builded the famous Monastery of Luxonium in France and Bobium in Italy where he ended his dayes most gloriously and happily 6. A wicked man named Fergus who liued in Meath hindered the Saint from building a church within his territoryes which the Saint
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
God the second tyme the mountaine did forthwith swell vp to its former height greatnes 2. A wicked Tyrant named Euchodius who liued in the country of Vlibia caused two holy Virgins to be stiffled and misprised S. Patricks intercession for them The Saint denounced prophetically to him That none of his posterity should succeed him but that his Lordship should be transferred to his younger brother The Tyrants wife came begged the Saintes blessing both for her selfe for the child which she carried in her wombe which the Saint gaue her and foretould that she should be deliuered of a most holy issue The childe being borne was named Douengardus and was most renowned both for sanctity miracles Euchodius within a few dayes was depriued both of life and of his lordship which his yonger brothers posterity inioyed according to S. Patrickes prophecy 3. S. Patricke founded an Episcopall sea in a place called Achadfouiur where he made one of his disciples namned Sennachus Bishop a man of admirable purity and innocency S. Patticke blessed him and all his family prophecying that many Saintes and holy Pristes should spring out of it in which place Sennachus ended his daies in great sanctity 4. As S. Patricke passed through a wood in Midernia he found there a great company of men cutting downe of great oaken trees in regard their axes were edge-lesse and that they had no whetstons to whet thē the poore mē were quite wearied out of breath the skin flesh was torne from their handes euen to the sinewes bones The Saint compassionating their distresse gaue them his blessing wherupon they recouered their strength their hands were healed vp their hatchets so well edged that they cut the solid oake trees with as little difficulty as if they had beene tender twigges This prodigious effecte of the Saints blessing did perseuer in them vntill such tyme as the Saint procured their release for which end he went to their cruell Lord named Tremei but he wold not admit the Saints intercessiō The Saint after three dayes fast prayer came againe with great submission to procure their exemption from bondage but this cruell man he found to be āother Pharao who presētly got vp into his coach with purpose to agg rauate their yoake of affliction but God reuenged the contempt offered his new Moyses for loe the horses precipitated themselues with great violence into a standing water nere by the man of Belial being drowned the captiues were restored to their long expected and wished liberty 5. S. Patricke intended to erect an episcopal sea in a place called Luda but an Angell wished him to desist from that worke for that S. Micheus who came out of England in pilgrimage into Ireland should there build and inhabit that place which fell out accordingly One day as Saint Patricke and Micheus were in spiritual conference an Angell tendered them a letter wherin S. Patricke was commaunded to bestow that place with all the appartenaunces vpon S. Micheus and himselfe to erect his Archepiscopall sea at Ardmach The Saint obeyed willingly the diuine commandement committing to S. Micheus his care of twelue leapers whome himselfe was accustomed to tend and so departed 6. Twelue brethren whose Father was lately deceased made a meeting for the parting of their portions and excluded their younger brother named Fergusius from any share in that diuision who had recourse to Saint Patricke by whose intercession he receaued a competent portion of his fathers inheritance the young noble man bestowed one halfe of his estate vpon S. Olcan who erected an Episcopall sea in a place called Derkan S. Patricke blessed Fergusius prophetically sayd vnto him Albeit thou seemest now humble and contemptible in the eyes of thy brethren yet thou shalt be shortly prince ouer them and many good Kings will descend from thee which shall not only reigne in their owne country but also in foraine Kingdomes This prophecy of the Saint was fullfilled for from him descended Edanus the sonne of Gabranus who subdued Scotland and whose posterity reigneth yet in that kingdome How S. Patricke gaue Prince Conall his benediction and the Crosse for his armes and of many remarkable miracles CHAP. XV. SAINT Patricke came to his deare ghostly child Prince Conall demanding of him whether he would be content or no to be cloathed with a Monkes weede the Prince answered that his hart was ready to performe what the Saint would inioyne him The holy Bishop reioycing much at his deuotion is reported to haue sayd to him Thou shalt carry a sheild and staffe as the markes of soueraigne power and as the signes of thy great merit Thou shalt represent the person and habit of a lay man but shalt enioy the merit and dignity of a Monke many Saints shall spring from thee and many nations of the earth shal be blessed in thy seed Moreouer with the rodde of Iesus the Saint made the signe of the Crosse vpon Prince Conals shield which he and his posterity euer after tooke for their armes 2. A certaine man named Victor hid himselfe in the night fearing that if he appeared in the Saints presence he should be forced by the euidence of his doctrine and signes to renounce Idolatry The Saint comming to the place where Victor was so bright subtill a light issued from him that the splendour thereof pearced euen to the secret place where Victor lay lurking Victor being conuicted or rather attracted by so euident a signe became a Christian bestowed all his estat vpon the Saint and made himselfe the Saints disciple who in processe of tyme attayned to such learning and sanctity that he was made a Bishop 3. S. Patricke had a disciple named Volchanusa a man of great vertu but specially of most remarkeable obedience The Saint being desirous that his vertue knowne only to God should be manifested to the world for the edificatiō exāple of others cōmanded Volchan to go build a church wheresoeuer God would vouchsafe to prouide him a place he without delay taking an axe vpon his shoulders went his way The Saint seeing the alacrity and promptnes of his obedience sayd to him Doe not despayre my most deare Volchan of finding a place wheresoeuer the Axe shall fall build in that place for there thou shalt increase into a great nation After Volchan had walked on all day long towardes the euening the Axe by chance slipped off his shoulder in which place the obedient Volchan builded a Monastery wherein himselfe and many others liued and dyed in great perfection 4. S. Patricke had a Drouer named Rodanus who after became very learned and a Bishop of great merit and miracles the Saint likewise preferred S. Reuternus to the episcopall sea of Ciocher and when he had consecrated him Bishop he bestowed vpon him a Chrismatory or vessell of holy oyles for extreme Onction and Confirmation that was sent him from heauen A child named Lunanus by vertue
he obtayned of God that the apparitions and illusions should not molest the Christians from thence forwardes 2. To the end that Ireland neuer after should be molested with venemous beasts nor yet encō with the accustomed habitatiō of Diuels the most excellent Bishop fasted forty dayes without any corporall food imitating in that holy fast Moyses who obserued it in the law of nature and Elias who obserued it in the written law and especially our deare Sauiour who consecrated in his person that mysticall fast The Saint therfore ascended the high mountaine of Cruachanailge where he disposed fiue stones in forme of a Crosse and in the midst of them he placed himselfe shewing aswell by the forme and manner of his sitting as by the mortification of his abstinence himselfe to be the true seruant of Christs crosse The Diuels grieuing much that their power and dominion in Ireland had beene ouerthrowne and weakned thronged about the Saint in the shap of most vgly and deformed birdes labouring with their horrid skrikes to annoy and hinder the Saint in his holy prayers but he being preuented by the grace of God and assisted by his power making the signe of Christes triumphant banner against those fowle fiendes he chased them away farre from him and with frequent percussion of his cymball he draue them out of all the coastes of Ireland so that from that tyme euen to this present day no venemous beastes were seene in Ireland nor yet are the inhabitants since molested with illusory apparitions of Diuells as they be in other countryes the Saints cymball being broken with often playing vpon it was amended by an Angell 3. By Gods fauour whose wont it is after a storme to cause a calme the Diuels being chased and driuen away a great multitude of Angels illustrated the mountaine with heauēly splendour and recreated the Saint with their sweetest harmony the Saint after immolating the hostes of thankesgiuing and prayses to God for inabling him to performe so long a fast for conferring such admirable fauours to Ireland at his intercession descended from the mountaine and played on his cymball the sound wherof was heard ouer all the kingdome then eleuating his handes he blessed all Ireland with the inhabitants thereof and commended them to Christ then did he make glad all the Church with his presence solemnizing with great deuotion our Sauiours triumphant Resurrection 4. The paschall festiuityes being duely and deuoutly accomplished the Saint with a great traine of spirituall children in his company made a circuit about the land teaching the wayes of Lord in al places with his efficacious sermons strēghtning the inhabitāts in the faith of Christ. The people being incited by that admirable and most prodigious signe of chasing away the diuels venemous beasts and Magitians flocked from al parts to the saint submitted thēselues al they had to his holy will pleasure embracing with great deuotiō his doctrine precepts The Saint seeing what disposition our Lords field was in to yeild not only the 30. or 60. but euē the hundred fold fruit caused al the land to be deuided and equally distributed being deuided to be tithed with al the inhabitāts of both sexes euery tēth head aswel in men women as cattle and moueables did he separate for our Lords part al the mē he made Monks al the women he consecrated Nunnes building innumerable monasteryes for thē assigning them the fifthes of lands cattle other moueable goods for their sustentation within a short space there was not a wildernes no nor skarce any corner or place in all the Ilād but was replenished with perfect Mōks holy Nunnes so that Ireland by a peculier name was iustly called al the world ouer The Iland of Saints They liued according to the prescript tenour of life which S. Patrick set thē downe for cōtempt of the world desire of heauenly things morrtification of the flesh abdication of self wil they matched the Monks of Aegypt both in merit number Many foraine Regions were by thē illustrated with doctrine religion How the present future state of Ireland was reuealed to S. Patricke and of the patronage the Saint affoordeth them who are deuout vnto him CHAP. XIX THE B. Saint with great instāce of praiers beged of God to know in what estate Irelād was in his Maiestyes eyes God did heare the desire of his hart for being in prayer he saw al Irelād on a flame of fire flaming vpward euen to heauen an Angel telling him that such was the estate of Ireland in the eyes of God for that present Within a little while he saw mountaines as it were of fire ascending to the cloudes a short while after he saw brightsome torches shining afterwardes small lightes and lastly a few coals raked in ashes but yet aliue to whome the Angell appearing said That by that variety was expressed the seuerall estats Ireland should vnder go in the succeeding time Saint Patricke bathing his face in tears often redoubled that of the Royall Prophet VVil God reiect for euer Or will he not add to be better pleased Or will be cut off his mercy for euer from generation to generation Or will God forget to haue mercy Or will be in his wrath keep in his mercyes The Angell sayd looke towardes the North thou shalt see the mutation of the right hand of the highest The Saint lifted vp his eyes and saw a little light arising in Vlidia which striuing for a long space with the darknes chased it away and after illuminated all the Country neuer ceasing to increase vntill it brought Ireland to its free resembling and florishing estate By the Saints interpretation the fiery ardour designed the present deuotion and zeale of Religion and charity wherewith the inhabitants were inflamed in the Saints dayes The flaming mountains the Saints who were conspicuous for miracles vertuous life and learning The diminution of light the decrease of sanctity and the mist ouerclouding all the land the infidelity that should preuaile in the Country 2. As some of S. Patrickes disciples discoursed together of his guiftes vertues one of them sayd he was the holiest man breathing vpon the face of the earth to whom S. Secundinus answered Truly he had beene most holy had he not beene indued with lesse fraternall charity then it behoueth him Which comming to S. Patrickes hearing he asked Secundinus what moued him to vtter such censure against him Secundinus answered because you accept not of the liuinges and rich presents that are offered you with which you might maintaine great multitude of holy men To whome S. Patricke replyed Charity makes me not to accept of such great charity for if I did accept of what would be giuen me I should leaue not so much as the pasture of two horses for the Saints who shall liue after vs. 3. The aforesaid S. Secundinus being of great learning and wisedome signifyed to S. Patricke that he had
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
little ones Wherfore camest thou hither sayd the Blessed Virgin I remaine with this virgin sayd he and in regard of her slugishnes I haue gotten a place in her Behould then sayd the holie virgin turning to the other virgin whome you haue intertayned these many yeares And from that day forwardes the virgin was deliuered from the Diuell 4. There assembled together a great multitude of men with oxen and engines to draw away a great tree which was cut downe that was to be vsed in some building but all in vaine for neither the multitude of men the strength of the oxen nor yet the variety of engines could preuaile any thing towardes the remouing therof The men were almost ready to depart thinking it impossible to stir it out of its place at last by the help and force of Saint Bridgits prayers together with her pregnant faith like to a mustard seede by which faith as our Sauiour sayth Mountaines are transfered they carried away that tree without the asistance of any humane help and found no difficulty in bringing it to the place whither the Saint appointed them to carry it Of the obedience that vnreasonable creatures exhibited to Saint Bridgit CHAP. V. ONE day as the Saint saw Duckes sometimes swimming in the waters and other tymes flying in the ayre she commanded them to come to her They as if they had beene trayned vp vnder humaine discipline flew in great haste with prompt obedience to the Saint The blessed virgin touched them gentlely and imbraced them sweetly which doing for a pritty space permitted them after to fly away Another tyme a great wile bore being pursued very eagerly came in great hast to S. Bridgits heard of swine she beholding the boare among her swine gaue him her blessing and he remayned familiar without any feare euer afterwith her heard By this and the other precedent example it is cleare and euident that the fowles of the ayre and beastes of the earthe were subiect to her commaund and obeyed her will and pleasure as we may further gather from these ensuing accidents 2. A simple country man comming to the Kinges court saw there a Fox who being taught for that purpose made the King great recreation with his many sleightes and trickes and thinking it was not tame or familiar he killed it in presence of all the multitude for which being reprehended cast into fetters he was brought fast bound to the King who commaunded that he should be put to death vnles he procured him another Foxe like vnto the former in all conditions and subtill feates and that his wife children should be made slaues S. Brigit hearing thereof prayed very earnestly to God for the release of the poore man by and by another Fox entring into her coach sat quietly and familiarly by her side whome when she had presented to the King and that he saw it to play trickes and pranks and in all thinges to be conformable to the other Fox his wrath appeased therewith he set the poore man at liberty S. Bridgit returning to her monastery and the Fox remayning as yet amongst the presse of people fled backe againe into his denne all those who saw what had passed wondered much at the miracle and honoured noe lesse the Saint by whose meanes it was wrought 3. As the sacred Virgin sat with her virgins in her coach she saw a man with his wife family and oxen toyled very much with carrying heuy and cumbersome burthens euen in the extreame heat of the sunne and taking compassion of them she gaue them her owne coach-horses to helpe and ease them of their insupportable paynes In the meane tyme she sat downe by the way side and spoke to some of her virgins bidding them to digge vnder the adioyning earth to the end that water might spring forth wherewith such as were drye might quench their thirst Vpon the digging vp of the ground there gushed out a cleare and faire riuer Within a little time after there came a certaine Captaine to the place who hearing of what S. Bridgit had done with the horses he bestowed vpon her wilde and madd horses which became without delay so tame and gentle as if they had beene alwayes wont to draw a coach There came leapers sometymes to Saint Bridgit who begged her coach of her which she gaue them without delay her horses likewise 4. A certaine Queene came to visit S. Brigit bringing with her many rich presents and amongst the rest a very fayre siluer chayne which her maydes tooke away hiding it the Saint bestowing the rest vpon the poore Not long after when a poore man cried to the Saint for almes hauing nothing she tooke the chaine and gaue it him The maydes seeing it sayd you are the cause that we loose all that God sendes vs for you giue all to the poore leauing vs poore and needy To whome she answeaed seeke the chaine in the place where I am wont to pray in the Churche and peraduenture you shall find it there they finding the chayne showed it to many and kept it euer after as an euident testimony of her sanctimony and vertue How S. Bridgit protected and assisted such as inuocated her in their distresse and dangers CHAP. VI. SAINT Bridgit came one time being intreated therunto by her father to the King saying Let me haue your sword for my Father and release me one of your slaues To whome the King answeared what will you giue me for these two great petitions She replied if you will the life euerlasting and that your seede thall reigne for euer after you The King answeared againe I couet not a life which I doe not see neither am I sollcitous in behalfe of my children that shall liue after me two other thinges I desire and couet the first is that I may enioy this life which I loue and the second is that in all places and conflictes I get the vpper hand ouer mine ennemies These two thinges said the Blessed virgin shal be graunted you Not long after with a few in his company he went to fight with a great multitude and inuocating S. Bridgits helpe and assistance he saw her goe before him and a piller of fire to burne all vp euen to the skies soe the King hauing defeated his ennemies he returned homewardes magnifying the glory and name of the most sacred virgin 2. A virgin that suffered shipwracke by inuocating S. Bridgitts helpe walked drie foote vpon the liquid waues escaping by that meanes the daunger of death Some of Saint Bridgitts maydes hauing receiued from a certaine rich man many measures of meale could not passe ouer a water that was in the way being therfore destitute of all humane helpe and assistance they inuocated the powerfull suffrages of their their most holy mistris and they were suddainly transported to the further side A man that prohibited S. Bridgits coach to passe through his feildes and stroake at her horses fell downe to the ground and
yeilded vp his ghost suddainly 3. A gentleman who was in the country loned dishonestly a certaine woman contriuing with himself how to compasse his filthy delights he gaue her in custody a rich siluer pynne which he stole away priuily at vnawares from her and cast it into the sea thinking that when she could not restore it she should become his slaue and so should glut his wanton desires all which wicked plot he put in practise neither could he be contented otherwise then either by getting againe the siluer pin or by her bondage The chast woman being driuen to this pinche fled to S. Bridgit as to a cittie of refuge As the holy virgin was musing with her selfe what to doe in this matter behold one brought home fish taken out of the neighbour riuer they vnbowelling the fishes the siluer pin was found in one of their bellies so bringing the pin with her she went to the assembly where the matter was to be determined where she did show the pin and it being knowne by many that saw it to be the selfe same he cast in to the sea she freed the vertuous womā from her cruell tyrants handes who afterwardes acknowledging his fault and guiltines submitted himselfe to S. Bridgits pleasure who hauing wrought this great miracle returned backe againe to her monastery 4. It fell out that the King called together an assembly of his subiectes to make abroade and fayre high waye in a deep and impassible marsh through which a great riuer ranne The people meeting by their family and kindreds they diuided the worke allotting to euery family his own share of that laborious taske that part wher the riuer ran was most difficult and fell to one of the families who being potent strong forced S. Bridgits kinsefolkes being weaker to change with them They in this their distresse falling prostrate before the Saint bemoned their wrong to her To whome she answeared Departe in peace it is the will of God that the riuer passe from that place where you are put to such heauy workes to the other which they haue made choice of The next morning when the multitude rose to begin the work the riuer was found to haue left its ancient channel where S. Bridgits family was constrayned to worke to be transferred into the part of the potent and proude men who so vniustly oppressed the weaker company in proofe whereof the auncient channell where the riuer tooke its course in former tymes appeares drye without any waters to this very day Of many miraculous cures wrought by the merits and intercession of the Saint CHAP. VII THE sacred virgin hauing deliuered many leapers cripples obsessed persons from their infirmities there came two leapers with teares in their eyes beging the cure of their disease Then the Saint praying and blessing water she commanded them to washe one another in that water One being washed by his companion became cleane to whome the Saint said wash now your fellow who seeing himself cleane and boasting of his health wold not touch the others vlcers which pride of his God did chastice for immediatly after he said I feele sparkles of fire vpon my shoulders and instantly all his body his companion being cleansed was couered ouer with leaprosy 2. A certaine woman comming of deuotion to visit S. Bridgit brought her daughter with her who was dumbe S. Bridgit seeing the yong mayden said vnto her Are you content to be a virgin but not knowing that she was dumbe The maid answeared incontinently I will willingly do what you will commaund me so dedicating her virginity to God she to her dying day remayned most eloquent A blind virgin named Daria spoake to S. Bridgit saying Blesse mine eyes to the end that I may see the world according vnto my desire her eyes being opened without delay she sayd shut mine eyes againe for the more that one is absent from the world so much the nearer is that party to God then S. Bridgit shut her eies as she requested 3. One of Saint Bridgits virgins burnt in the concupiscence of a certaine man to whome she promised to steale forth in the night after Saint Bridgit betooke her to her rest the virgin rose according to her promise being inflamed with the fire of sēsuality likwise vexed with the tormēt of conscience she knew not what to do but fearing God and S. Bridgit prayd her earnestly that she would vouchsafe to helpe and assist her being indistresse At last she resolued with her selfe to make a fire putting her selfe therinto so by that meanes with fire she quenched fire and with payne ouercame payne which S. Bridgit knewe by diuine reuelation yet neuertheles kept it secret to see the euent and issue of the virgins combat The next morning the virgin acknowledgd her sin to Saint Bridgit who sayd to her because in fighting couragiously this night thou hast burnt thy selfe the fire of forincation shall neuer annoye thee in this life nor the fire of hel burne thee in the next then the holy virgin did heale her feete so that no marke of the burning did appeare in them 4. Neither ought we to omit that great miracle which this blessed Saint wrought in imitation of our Sauiour by opening the eyes of a mā who was blind frō his natiuity A certaine Queen that had no children by the holy Virgins intercession obtayned issue And as Almighty God for her sake and merits did help others in their necessityes so did he not fayle to assist her selfe in her wantes for vpon a certaine time the holy virgin being in great necessity besought God to help her to some honny and what she sought for she found it in great plenty vpon the pauement of her house How the holy Virgin for the relief of the poore wrought many admirable signes CHAP. VIII SAINT Bridgit said to a certaine virgin who begged almes of her I heare that there are many afflicted with sicknes in your country take therfore my girdle and with it steaped in water you shal in the name of our Sauiour Iesus Christ deliuer them of their infirmityes and they will giue you both meate cloathes who taking the girdle as the Saint commaunded she cured diseases getting therby great gaynes and becomming very rich she her selfe afterwardes dealt great almes to the needy Another time she cōuerted water into good bere to giue to leapers who called to her for it In like manner did she for the comfort of a needy person conuert a stone into salt She likewise deuided one garment betwene two poore men and by diuine vertue each part became an entire garment 2. Among the many stupendious miracles she wrought this is not to be accoūted the least nor the least to be admired To three leapers who besought her to bestow some charity of them she gaue a siluer vessell and fearing it should be an occasion of debate or discord amongst them if they deuided it themselues she spoke to
tediousnes 2. The ouerseer of Saint Bridgits great and famous monastery sent workemen and stone-hewers to prouide a mill stone they neither reflecting vpon the difficulty of the way nor yet regarding that there was no meanes of getting downe the stone went vp to the topp of a most high and craggy mountayne where they hewed out a great stone forming it into a mill stone the Ouerseer came with oxen and horses to carry it away but seeing it impossible with oxen and horses to go where it was in regard of the steepe and craggy ascent all begūne to despaire of euer getting it downe and so were ready to departe But the prudent Ouerseer said Not so but let vs in the name of God and S. Bridgit to whome nothing is impossible rowle it downe and so conceauing a firme faith of the holie virgins asistance they cast it downe and loe tho stone rowling amongst the rocky stony cragges trunled downe without any detriment from the mountaine and thence was carried to the mill To which mill a certaine pagan sent his corne by an ignorāt simple man to be groūd when the corne was laid betweene the stones the aforesaid stone being the vppermost stood irremoueable neither could the violent current of the great riuer nor yet the paynfull industry of men whele it about at last knowing that the corne belonged to a pagan Magitian and therefore S. Bridgits mill would not grinde it they remoued and put it away powring other graine insteede therof and then the stone without any impediment kept its ordinary wonted course in grinding 3. It hapned within a while after that the mill by some chaunce or other tooke fire which consumed the howse and the other stone to that was ioyned to this but as for this stone that was particulerly dedicated to S. Bridgit the fire did not presume to touch neither was it branded with any signe or marke of burning which made them to bring the stone away and to place it neare to S. Bridgits church doore where many diseased meeting by the only touch of this stone were deliuered from their maladies Here our author by occasion of this insueing miracle enlargeth himself in describing the magnificence of Saint Bridgits church the sumptuousnes of the oratories the curiosity of anticke workes and variety of curious portratures with many other remarkable particulers worthy the reading which we to continue our intended course of breuity do wittingly passe ouer and will content our selues with the bare succinct relation of the miracle it selfe which was this 4. The gate of Saint Bridgits oratory thorough which she and her holy virgins passed when they went to receaue the delicious viand of our Sauiours sacred and pure body being broken downe made wider the carpenters setting the former doore vpon the hinges which was found was lesse by a fourth part or quarter wherupon they resolued either to add another peece to the ould doore or to make another al of new and as they were debating the busines the principall worke maister sayd Wee ought this next night to watch and pray at S. Bridgits monument to the end that she may direct vs in the morning what is best to be done in this matter so passing al the night ouer at her shrine and rysing the next morning after saying some prayers setting the ould doore vpon the hinges it fitted all the gate so iust that it nether wanted nor yet exceeded any thing in conuenient bignes and in this manner was the doore by the merits of Saint Bridgit extended to an equall commensuratiue proportion with the gate of the church Who can expresse sayth our author here the admirable beauty of this Church or how can we declare the marueiles of this Citty Or who may recount the innumerable thronges and infinit multitudes of people flocking thither from all countryes Some come to delight them selues with plentifull diuersity of banquets some to solace themselues with variety of pleasant showes and spectacles others to obtayne the cure of their diseases and others with rich and great donaryes to solemnise Saint Bridgits natalitiall feast which falleth vpon the first of February vpon which day in the yeare of Christ 518. as we haue touched aboue in the first paragraffe of this present chapter the holy virgin passed from the miseries of this mortal life to the immortall ioyes of paradise Whither God of his infinit grace conduct vs all to him to his all immaculate mother and to the two glorious patrones of Ireland Saint Patricke and Saint Bridgit be all honour glory and prayse world without end Amen FINIS THE LIFE OF THE GLORIOVS ABBOT S. COLVMBE THE GREAT PATRON OF IRELAND AND APOSTLE OF THE PICTS Abridged out of the Latin written by S. Adamnanus The first booke of S. COLVMBS propheticall Reuelations Of S. Columbs Parents Nauigation into Brittany and of his prophecy touching S. Fintenus CHAP. I. SAINT Columbe the Great was borne of noble and illustrious parents his Father was named the sonne of Fergusus and his Mother Aethnea The second yeare after the warre of Culedreiune and the two and forty of his age he passed ouer into Britanny being desirous for the loue of Christ to goe thither in pilgrimage From his youth he was trained vp in Christian discipline and in the study of wisedome his integrity of body and purity of soule he kept alwayes vnblemished and though he liued on earth yet his conuersation was in heauen His countenance was sweet and angelicall his talke cleane and chast his carriage holy and saint-like his wit quicke and excellent and his councell graue and mature no part of his tyme not so much as the space of one houre did he euer mispend for he was alwayes imployed eyther in prayer in writting in reading or in some good exercise His abstinēce was so great and his watchinges so longe in which he exercised himselfe day and night without intermission that they went beyond the course of humane ability and yet in the midst of all these austerityes he alwayes showed a cheerefull countenance representing thereby the Saint like ioy of his hart 2. S. Fintenus who after became so famous ouer all the Churches of Ireland conceaued in his younger yeares an earnest desire of forsaking Ireland and visiting our Saint Columbe Being inflamed with this desire he went to a certaine friend of his a very wise and venerable man named Columbus to take his aduice in the matter who liked well of his holy resolution thither at the same tyme came two of S. Columbes monkes who being demanded touching their iourney answerd We are newly come out of Brittany and this day from the monastery of the Oaken-field Roboretum is your holy father S. Colomb wel and in good health sayth Columb With that they sheding teares aboundantly replyed truly our father and Patron is well for a few dayes past he departed to Christ. Vpon knowledge whereof Fintenus Columbus and the rest that were
present falling downe prostrate vpon the ground wept bitrerly Fintenus demanded further of them saying whome did he ordaine his successour they made answere his disciple Bathaneus with that Columbus asked Fintenus what he ment to do who answered I will with Gods grace repaire ouer to the wise and holy man Bathaneus and will take him for my Abbot then taking his leaue of Columbus he imbarked himselfe without delay for the I le of Hoy where he was intertained with great charity as an vnknowne guest 3. The next day after his arriuall he made it knowne to Bathaneus that he had a desire to confer with him who presently sent for him Fintenus being brought to Bathaneus his presence fell downe vpon his knees but the Saint made him rise and sit downe with him Then did Fintenus recount to the saint his name countrey kindred conuersation what had moued him to vndertake that paineful nauigation and lastly closed vp his discourse with an humble request in behalfe of his admittance Bathaneus vnderstanding all sayd My child I am bound to render many thankes to God for your arriuall but know this for certaine that you cannot be a monke of ours Fintenus hearing this became very heauy and sadd saying Perchance I am vnworthy to be your monke To whome the old Senior replyed It is not as you say for albeit I had rather detaine you with me then otherwise yet can I not prophane the commandement of my patron S. Columbe by whose mouth the holy Ghost hath prophecyed of you in manner following saying to me O Bathaneus you must listen to these my wordes with great attention for presently after my wished and long desired departure out of this life to Christ a certaine brother named Fintenus will come to you out of Ireland and begge earnestly to be receaued of you among the other monkes but it is not preordained for him in the prescience of God that he become a monke to be subiect for he is preelected for the Abbot of monkes and for a captaine to leade many soules to heauen doe not therefore detaine the foresaid man with you in our Ile but send him backe againe into Ireland that he may build a monastery in Leynster on the bancke of the sea where feding a flocke of Christs sheep he may conduct innumerable soules to the ioyes of paradise The young Saint hearing this and powring out aboundance of tears with thāks giuing to God sayd Be it done to me according to the propheticall marueilous prescience of S. Columbe so taking S. Bathaneus his benediction he returned backe into Ireland 4. About that tyme that the holy man was founding by diuine inspiration the monastery of Diarmag in the midle region of Ireland he purposed to visit the holy company that liued in S. Kiaranus monastery at Cluayre They vnderstanding of his approach went all forth in company of their Abbot Alitherus to meet him and lead him honorably singing of Psalmes Hymnes to the Church At the same tyme a certaine despicable familiar youth came behind the Saint and hiding himselfe so much as he could he thought to touch at vnawares the Saint and without his feeling the hem of his exteriour garment but what the Saint could not see with his corporall eyes he saw with his interiour and mentall eyes for making a stand he put his hand behind him so taking hold of the youth by the necke he placed him in presence of all the people Then all that were there present sayd Dismisse him dismisse him why doe you detaine that vnhappy boy The Saint breathing out from his pure breast these propheticall wordes sayd Giue ouer now brethren giue ouer And then turning to the youth that trembled and quaked for feare he sayd O child open your mouth and put out your tongue The youth did accordingly then the Saint extending his holy hand and blessing his tongue diligently pronounced this prophecy of him Albeit this youth seemeth to you vilde and despiceable let none therefore contemne him for from henceforth he wil not only displease you but he will proue very pleasing to you in vertue and holy conuersation he will dayly goe forward and from hence forth his wisedome and prudence will more and more increase and in this our congregation he shall become a worthy member and his tongue shal be indued by God both with wholesome doctrine and eloquence This youth was Ereneus who afterwards was so famous and well knowne throughout all the Churches of Ireland How S. Columbe foresaw the danger and comming of S. Chamnechus and Columbanus the victory of King Aldan and other remarkable thinges CHAP II. THE saint being in his monastery of Hoy one day that the seas were very rough and the windes blew boisterously commanded the monkes to make ready the guest-roome and to draw water for some that were to come One of the Brothers asked who can haue a prosperous nauigation such a day as this though the passage be neuer so short The saint answered God will prepare a calme amidst this tempest for a Saint and for one of his elect that shall come to vs before euening And loe the expected ship wherin S. Chamnechus was arriued according to the saints prophecye Another tyme likewise the saint being in his owne great Church he brooke forth after a smiling manner into these wordes Columbanus sayling towards vs is in danger amidst the swelling waues the Abbot fitting in the foredecke eleuateth his handes to heauen and blesseth the fearefull and swelling sea whome our Lord doth terrify not that the shipp shall suffer shipwracke but to excite him to pray more feruently and so to come safe to vs. 2. Of Cormarus that holy man who so often sought for a wildernes in the sea S. Columbe prophecyed in this manner This Cormarus hoping to find a desert set out this day from that region that lyeth beyond the riuer Moda and is called Ircos yet shall he not find what he desires for no other fault of his but that he brought with him in his company a mōk belonging to a Religious Abbot without his leaue Another tyme the Saint commanded his seruant to ring the bell in hast to call the Monkes to the Church where falling vpon his knees he sayd Now let vs offer our prayers very earnestly for this people and King Alban for at this present they begin to fight a battaile Within a little while going out of the oratory and casting his eyes towards heauen he sayd Now the ennemyes are put to flight for the victory is granted to King Aldan Before the beginning of the foresayd warre the Saint questioned with King Aldan touching his successour who answeared that he knew not which of his three sonnes should raigne after him The saint consequently prophecied in this manner None of these three shal be your successour for they shall be all slaine by their ennemyes now if you haue any younger children send for them and he whom our
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
my sonne and be of good cheare for your sinnes are forgiuen you because it is written A contrite and humble hart God wil not despise who afterwardes being very louingly intertained of the Saint he sent him to Bathaneus liuing at a place called Lungefield Another tyme the Saint sent two monkes for one of his Monks named Cailtanus biding him to repaire in al hast to him Cailtanus vnderstanding of the Saintes pleasure came speedily in company with the Mōkes that went for him VVhen the Saint saw Cailtanus he spoke to him in manner following O Cailtanus you haue done very well in hastning to me so obediently rest you a little Louing you as a friend I inuited you to come that you might finish the course of your mortall life heere with me in true obedience for before this weeke come to an end you shall render your soule in peace to God Then Cailtanus with thankes to God kissed the saint and to receauing his benediction went to the guest roome the night following he sickned and according the saints word departed the selfe same weeke to a better life 4. On a certayne Sunday some cryed from the further side of the often mentioned sea The Saint hearing the cry sayd to the brethren Goe in all hast and bring the pilgrimes that come frō a farre Country they went as the saint appointed them and brought them to his presence whom when he had saluted he began to question with them concerning their iourney they tould him they came to seiourne with him for that yeare to whome the saint replyed You may not liue with me a yeare as you desire vnlesse you tye your selues to the obseruance of the monasticall vowes The eldest made answere Truely we had no such intention hetherto notwithstanding we will embrace your counsell inspired by God as we beleeue To be short they followed the Saint deuoutly into the oratory and there on their knees obliged themselues to the monasticall vowes Then the saint conuerting his speach to the brothers there present sayd These two proselites exhibiting thēselues a liuing hoste to God and accomplishing in a few dayes the course of Christian perfection shall yield vp their soules to Christ before this present month run to an end and so it fell out for both of them fell sicke one after another and departed to a better life within the tearme prophecyed and perfixed by the saint How S. Columbe foretould the baptisme of a certain Pagan knew by diuine reuelation the death of two Irish noble men and by prayer obtained the life of Diarmitius his familiar seruant CHAP. IIII. WHILST the saint for the space of some few dayes remayned in Ireland being at a place bordering on the sea he struck the earth with his staffe saying to the Monkes that were with him Behould my little children a certaine Gentil who al his life tyme followed the good instincts and propensions of nature shall this day be baptized dye and be buryed in this place and loe within the space as it were of an houre a shippe strucke into the same hauen in whose foredecke sate an ancient Pagan named Geone whome two young men lifted vp between them brought him to the saints presence the old man ēbraced presently the Christiā doctrin the saint preached to him by an interpreter at whose handes he receaued the grace of regeneration Immediatly after the receipt of holy baptisme he gaue vp his ghost and was buryed in the same place by the Saints companions 2. During the Saints aboade in the foresayd region he went one Sunday to a neighbour monastery named Trioint and seeing the same day a certaine Priest celebrating the holy misteryes of the Eucharist whome the Monkes made choise of for that purpose for that they deemed him a man of a very holy and religious life he suddainly pronounced this fearefull sentence Cleane and vncleane thinges are now mingled togeather to wit the cleane misteryes of the sacred oblation handled by an vncleane man who hideth in his conscience some enormious sinne the party of whō he had spoken in this kind confessed his sinne before all the company which with great astonishement admired in the Saint this stupendious knowledge penetrating euen to the secrets of mens harts 3. Another time the Saint being in the Iland of Hoy he called to him two of his Monkes named Lugbeus and Silnanus and sayd to them sayle ouer into the I le of Malea and neere the sea banke seeke out the theefe Ertus who lurketh there expecting in the night tyme to get ouer to the little I le where our sea-calues breed to steale some away and bring them home to his house They did accordingly and found the theefe in the place premonstrated whome they brought to the saint as he had commanded The saint seeing him sayd Wherefore dost thou trespasse against the diuine commandement in stealing away other mens goods so often when thou art driuen to any necessity come to vs and we will releeue thy wantes And with this he appointed that some weathers should be kild and giuen to the miserable theef that he might not return home to his house with empty handes Within a short tyme the saint knew by reuelation that the theeues death drew neere he sent him therefore a fat Cow seauen measures of corne which were spent at his funerailles In like manner the saint foresaw and foretould the death of a Scottish poet named Coronanus 4. It happened another tyme in the same Iland of Hoy as the saint was at his booke reading that he cast out deep and sorrowfull sighes Lugbeus who was present began to demande the cause of his suddaine griefe the Saint made this answere In Scotland two noble men of the bloud royal haue kild one another at a place not farre distant from the Monastery of Cellarois in the Prouince of the Magdeni and the eight day hence there will come one out of Ireland who wil report the truth of al this The man whose comming the Saint foresaw came on the presaged day and among many other newes reported that Colmancanus and Romanus had slaine one another After this Lugbeus the souldier of Christ getting the Saint at his leasure sayd to him I beseech you let me know how in what manner these propheticall reuelations are manifested to you whether you know them by an intuition of your eyes or by the help of your ears or after some strange manner vnknowne of to other men The Saint answered I cannot acquaint you with any thing touching this subtile matter you inquire after vnlesse you first take an othe on your knees neuer to speake of this obscure sacrament all the dayes of my life Lugbeus swore as the saint would haue him then the saint spoke as followeth There are some albeit they be but few in number that by Godes speciall grace clearely contemplate with one single aspect and in one momēt the compasse of the whole world the heauens the sea and
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
of this guift giuen for the reliefe of the poore after he poynted likwise at the present of a wise but couetous man saying I can in no wise taste of this guift vnlesse the giuer do pennance for his auarice which word being published among the people Columbus the sonne of Aidus came in haste and falling on his knees did pennance and promised euer after to abiure couetousnes and withall to amend his life and to become more liberall The rich and liberall man named Brendanus hearing in like manner what the Saint spoke of him came likewise and fell downe at his feet beseching him to pray for him Brendanus being rebuked for some offences promised amendement from that tyme forwardes so it came to passe that both of them amended their faults The end of the first Booke THE II. BOOKE OF SAINT COLVMBES MIRACLES How S. Columbe conuerted water into wine how corne sowen in Iune by his appointment was ripe in the beginning of August And of a soueraigne remedy he prouided against the infection of a pestiferous cloud CHAP I. WHILST the holy Saint liued in Ireland with S. Findbarrus to be trayned vp in the study of holy Scriptures it happened one day that no wine could be found for the sacrificall mystery The holy young man being then a Deacon takinge the cruet went to the fountaine for water and by inuocating the name of our B. Sauiour who at the marriage feast of Cana conuerted cold water into good wine merited to worke the same stupendious signe all who knew of it rendred many thankes to God but the holy young man declining all selfe esteeme ascribed the operation of that great signe to the holy Bishop Vinnian And as by this admirable miracle our Sauiour made this the beginning of the many miracles which himselfe wrought so did he by it giue the first manifestation of the sanctity of his Blessed seruant S. Columbe Hard by the monastery of the Oaken-field was a very fruitfull apple-tree but so bitter that no good came of it the Saint knowing so much went forth in the haruest to the place where the tree was loaden with fruit and eleuating his sacred hand blessed it saying In the name of Almighty God O bitter tree let al this bitternes depart from thee and thy apples that hitherto haue beene most sowre let them now become most sweet and pleasant to the tast And without delay the apples suddenly became marueilous delightfull to all those who tasted of them 2. The holy Saint sent some of his Monks to fetch out of the fields of a certaine countryman some rods and twigges for the building of a cell they brought their boate well loaden and withal signifyed to the Saint that the farmer conceaued great griefe at the matter in regard of the losse he sustayned thereby Then the Saint sayd Fearing the man should be scandalized at vs let there be nine measures of barley carryed to him and let him sow them in his fields euen at this present tyme. The corne being sent and deliuered with the former errand the man receaued it gratefully but sayd How can corne grow against the nature of this country being sowen after Midsommer To whome his wife answered Do as the Saint hath commanded to whome our Lord will graunt what thing soeuer he shall demand The country man out of obedience to the Saint fell a ploughing the land and sowing the corne which in the midst of Iune grew so fast and ripened so soone that to the great astonishment of all the Neighbours he cut it downe in the beginning of August 3. Another time the Saint saw a thicke misty cloud to come from the South which whē he perceaued he sayd to a Monke of his named Syluanus that sat with him This cloud will proue very noysome both to men and beasts for flying away hence it will extend it selfe ouer a part of Ireland showre downe towards the euening a contagious rayne that will ingender in men and in the duggs of beasts pestilent vlceres and with these pestilent soares men will sicken euen to death but we ought of compassion to prouide some remedy against their disease Descend therefore with me O Syluanus make your selfe ready to crosse the seas for men and beasts shall recouer with Gods grace their health if the water wherein you shal steepe holy bread of my blessing shal be sprinkled on them In which Syluanus obeying the Saint promptly and hauing by Gods fauour a prosperous passage came spedily to the prementioned part of the country where he found all the people strucke downe with that contagious disease and first of all sixe men that dwelled in a house bordering vpon the sea being sprinkled with the water wherein the bread was steeped recouered their health the selfe same day the report of which suddaine cure being blowen ouer al the region consumed with that pestilent sicknes inuited all the diseased people to hasten to S. Columbs Legate who according to the Saints commandement cast the water on them wherein the holy bread was steaped and both men and beasts were deliuered of their infirmityes without delay How S. Columbe saw in spirit the holy virgin Mugina inuocating his ayde and cured her Of the cure of many infirmityes and production of a fountaine out of a rocke CHAP. II. ANOTHER tyme the Saint called vpon a Brother named Lugaidus and spoke to him in this manner Put your selfe in readines to passe spedily into Ireland for I must send vnto the monastery of Chilnocherum For this last night the holy Virgin Maugina comming after masse out of the Oratary by chance stumbled and broke her huckle bone into two parts she by inuocating often vpon my name hopeth by my intercession to receaue comfort from God Lugaidus being ready to depart the saint gaue him a boxe made of Pine with a certain hollowed thing within it and sayd This benediction whē you arriue where Maugina is you shal steep it in water the water you shal wil be to powred on her huckle bone and with that the broken bone will be ioyned togeather againe and the virgin shal receaue her health I wil write in the couer of this boxe the number of three and twenty yeares that she shall liue in this world after the cure of her hurt Lugaidus left nothing vnperformed that the Saint gaue him in charge to do so the holy virgin recouered her health liued out the number of three and twenty years in the exercise of good workes according to the Saintes prophecy 2. The venerable Prelate as we haue learned by the tradition of them that knew it cured the languors of many sicke persons during the little tyme he made aboade in the place called in latin Dorsum Cetae whither he went to be present at the meeting of Kinges for with the touch either of his holy hand hemme of his garment or with salt bread water or any thing els blessed by
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
called to our Sauiour for his help then ascending the ship he caused the sayles to be hoysed vp which being done in sight of all the company the ship sayled extreame swiftly against the wind and within a little space the contrary winds to the great astonishment of all turned to serue the saint in his voyage so that hauing a pleasant gayle of wind all day the saint came towardes euening to the wished hauen 3. When the saint went first to King Brudeus court the King being puffed vp with pride arrogancy caused the gates of his Pallace to be shut against him Gods true seruant Columbe vnderstanding therof came to the gates and first in drawing the figure of Christs victorious signe or crosse vpon the doores and then after pulling them with his handes loe they opened of themselues and so the saint and his holy family got in The King perceauing what had passed went forth to meet the holy man and euer after had him in great veneration Another tyme being in Ireland he went to visit the Monkes liuing in the monastery of the Holy-field the monkes conducted the Saint to the church doore where the keyes could not be found the Saint sayd Our Lord is able to open the doores of his house for his seruants And loe suddainly the leaues of the doore opened wide and so the Saint entered not without admiration of all the company 4. Another time a very poore and needy man came to the Saint bemoning himselfe that he had nothing wherewith to sustaine his wife children Goe sayd he and cut in the next woode a longe pole and bring it vnto me in haste Which he brought without delay and sharpened it with his owne handes forming it into a sharp poynted spit and blessing it likewise he deliuered it to the poore man saying Keepe this spit for so long tyme as you inioy it your house shall neuer want copious prouision of venision The poore man reioyced not a little thereat and returned home to his house then bringing the spit with him he fixed it in a place where wild beasts haunted and comming the next morning to see it he found a great stagge pierced therewith Euery day he found a stagge Roe or some other wilde beast stucke on the spit by meanes whereof he got such store of that he was glad to sell great quantity thereof to his neighbours at last the man being seduced by his wiues councell cut the spit in peeces and burnt it whereupon he fell into his former want and misery How S. Columbe succoured a woman in trauaill how he reconciled a marryed couple and foresaw the danger Cormarus was in CHAP. VI. THE Saint being in the often mentioned Iland of Hoy he interrupted suddenly the studdy of holy reading and after a smilling māner sayd I must now hasten to pray in behalfe of a poore kinswoman of myne who existing in Ireland calleth often on the name of Columbe hoping confidently by his intercessiō to be deliuered from the bitter paines and griping conuulsions of child-birth wherewith she is cruelly tormented After making an end of this speech the B. Prelate of tender pitty to his poore distressed kinswomā ranne to the church falling ō his knees directed his feruēt prayers to our sweet Sauiour for the ease of the womans distresse After finishing his prayer he went out of the Oratory saying Our Lord Iesus who daigned to be borne of a woman hath beene fauourable and propitious to this woman whome he hath eased of her anguishes for she is safely deliuered of a sonne At the selfe same houre the saint prophecied in this kind the afflicted womā recouered her health as it was after reported by some that came out of Scotland 2. When the holy man liued in the Iland Rechrea a certaine Peasant came to him complaining that his wife would not lye in bed with him The Saint hearing therof sent for the woman and spoke to her as followeth Wherfore woman dost thou striue to put away thyne owne flesh since our Lord sayth They shall be two in one flesh The woman made answere All thinges you please to commande me how painefull soeuer they be I am willing to performe this only excepted that you will not compell me to lie in bed with Lugneus so her husband was called I doe not refuse to take on me the care of all the house or if you wil haue it so I am content to crosse the seas liue in a Monastery of holy virgins What you propoūd replyed the saint cannot be lawfully done as long as your husband liues And added further This day will we three your husband your selfe and I fast pray for the happy successe of this affaire So they all three condescended with one accord to fast pray The night following the Saint offered his prayer deuoutly for them the next morning he called for the woman saying Tell vs o woman whether this day you be of the same mind you were yesterday of going to liue in a monastery of women I know your prayers haue beene heard for whome I hated yesterday I loue most tenderly this day my hart I know by what meanes I know not is wholy changed in me From that day forwards to her last gaspe her soule was linked with indissoluble affection to her husband so that she neuer after refused to discharge the behoofes of a wife 3. The holy man Cormacus of whome we spoke in the first booke laboured the second tyme to find a wildernes in the Ocean whome S. Columbe commended to the King of the Orcades in presence of King Brudeus with whome the Saint was at that tyme and requested King Brudeus to do the same This the Saint did because he knew by reuelation that Cormacus after a long and painefull nauigation should be driuen to the Orcades and so he was and for respect of the former commendation he escaped the danger of death As some of the Saints Monks fell in talke of Cormarus saying it was not knowne what issue good or bad his nauigation had The saint ouer-heard them talking in this manner and sayd Cormacus of whome you speake now you shall see this very day And so within one houres space Cormacus arriued to the great ioy and admiration of all the company 4. The third tyme that the sayd venerable man Cormacus attempted to find out a wildernes in the sea he fell into great dangers for being driuen by a strong south-wind that blew for fourteene dayes without intermission he sayled into the North seas beyond the course and limits of human nauigation and in these vnknowne seas there arose most fearefull and vnsupportable affrightments certaine vnseene and terrible beasts assailed the shippe furiously were euen ready and like to pierce it through With the sight of these and other monsters Cormacus and the Mariners were so amated amazed that with tears trickling downe their face they addressed their prayers to God who alone is the
most sure and soueraigne refuge in all distresse At the same tyme S. Columbe was present in spirit with Cormacus he caused therefore a signe to be made for to call the Monkes to the Oratory where prophecying after his wonted manner he sayd Deere brethren pray most earnestly for Cormacus who now sustaineth monstruous affrightments neuer seene before we ought therefore to conceaue a tender compassion on our deare commembers being in such manifest danger and to pray to God for their comfort and safety After speaking this much more in this kind he fell downe prostrate on his knees before the Altar and with a pensiue hart and doleful voice besought the Omnipotent moderator of windes and waues for them After prayer he rose vp refrayning teares he ioyfully sayd Let vs reioyce with our deere brethren for God hath conuerted the south wind into a Northren gale that wil deliuer them out of all danger and bring them safe hither And incontinently the south-wind ceased and the north began to blow After many dayes Cormacus arriued safe gladded all the company with his presence By this the Reader may coniecture how great the holy Abbot was in Gods eyes who could by inuocating on Christs name command the blustring windes and swelling billowes Let this much suffice touching the miracls the Saint wrought in this present life Let the Reader further know that we haue omitted many more to auoyd tediousnes THE III BOOKE OF S. COLVMBES ANGELICAL APPARITIONS Of the apparition made to S. Columbes mother before his birth Of the visions S. Bredan and S. Finnian had touching him And how according to a vision he had he ordayned Aydan King CHAP. I. IN the first booke we haue treated succinctly of S. Columbes admirable reuelations In the seconde we haue discoursed of his stupēdious miracles In this third booke we meane to set downe the Angelicall visions that appeared to him or to others of him One day betwixt the conception and natiuity of the Saint an Angell appeared to his mother who brought her a wounderful rich robe and tooke it away presently she being very pensiue thereat sayd to the Angell appearing in the likenes of a very graue venerable man Why do you so soone withdraw this delightful mantle Because answeared he that it appertaines to me whome you cannot long detaine with you with that the woman saw the robe to be drawen longer and longer from her and to stretch so out in bredth as to surpasse the latitude of the fields with its ouerlarge dimensions to couer mountaines and forests and heard moreouer such a voice as this directed to her VVoman be not agrieued for you shall beare your husband so happy a sonne who as one of the Prophets of God shall be rāked among them and is predestinated by God to be the captaine to conduct infinit soules to heauen VVith which voyce the woman awaked Another night the childs foster-father a Priest of a very Religious life comming after masse out of the church found all the house illustrated with an immense splendour For he saw a globe of fire standing on the holy infants face at which strange sight he trembled and was strucken with astonishment at last he vnderstood thereby the copious effusion of the grace of the holy Ghost on the sweet suckling 2. VVhen the saint had beene excommunicated by a certaine synod for light and pardonable causes as it was euidēt in the end he came to the foresayd Synod whome when S. Brendan the founder of the monastery of Birra saw comming a farre of he rose vp in haste and embraced him For which being reprehēded by some of the ancientest of the assembly who asked him Why do not you feare to rise to honour an excōmunicated person and to embrace him He answered Had you knowne the thinges our Lord hath vouchafed to manifest to me touching this his faythfull seruant you would neuer haue excommunicated him whome our Lord doth not only not excommunicate but doth alwayes magnify him more and more And added further I saw a firy and brightsome piller going before this man of God whome you contemne and the Angels accompanying him along the fields I dare not therefore to contemne this man whome I see preordayned by God to be the Captaine of many that shall attaine to the immortall life of glory These things being sayd by him al the assembly honoured the Saint very much As S. Finnian the Saints master saw him one day approaching to the place where himselfe resided he sayd to some that were present Loe you see S. Columbe comming who hath merited to haue an Angell for the companion of his iourney About the same tyme the Saint with twelue of his disciples sayled into Brittany 3. Whilest the Saint liued in the Iland of Himbria he fell into an extasis wherein he saw an Angell of our Lord sent to him who held in his hand the booke contayning the ceremonyes of the enstalling of Kinges which he offered to the Saint commanding him to read it but when he would not ordayne Aydanus King as it was commended and commanded in the booke in regard he loued Iogenan Aydans younger brother better the Angell suddainly stretching out his hand strucke the Saint with a whip whose blew print or whaile remayned on his side all the dayes of his life and added further Know for certaine that I am sent to you to cause you according as is set downe in the booke to ordayne Aydanus King and if you doe not not obey I will strike you againe The Saint thereupon obeyed the iniunction of our Lord and for that end embarked himselfe for Hoy where he crowned Aydanus King who came thither about that tyme of whome of his posterity the Saint prophecied in manner following as recordeth Commeneus Albus I beleeue without all question O King Aydan that none of your ennemyes shal be able to make head against you vntill you vse some fraud and vniust deportement towards me and my posterity commend you this seriously to your sonnes and let them do the same to their sonnes and nephewes fearing otherwise that the scepter of the kingdome should be wrested out of their handes For at what tyme soeuer they shal work any harme to me or to my kinsmen in Ireland the scourge I haue sustayned for your sake shal be turned on them by the hand of our Lord and they will leese the harts of men and their ennemyes shall insult ouer them This prophecy hath beene fullfilled in our dayes by Belleroth Daniel Breco Aydans nephew who without any iust cause wasted and destroyed O Doainails country How the Saint saw the soule of one of his Monkes to be saued How with a word he killed a wicked man How he fought with the Diuels chased them away by help of the Angels CHAP. II. ONE of the Saints monkes a Britton by byrth a man much giuen to the exercise of good workes fell sicke to
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
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
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