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
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
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
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
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
the gold-smith to deuide it equally amongst thē But he making his excuse that he could not deuide it into three equal partes the most holy virgin her selfe tooke it into her hand and stroke it against a stone and soe deuided it iust into three equall parcells in so much that afterwardes being put in scales to be weighed neither part did ouerweigh the other not so much as one drāme so equall were the deuisions and so the leapers departed away ioyfull with their shares without cause either of enuy or any iniury 3. According to the example of holy Iob she neuer permitted the poore to departe from her with empty handes for she gaue them very pretious and rich garmentes which a holy Bishop named Conleath vsed to weare in saying the diuine mysteries of the Masse vpon the higher feastes of our Lord and the Apostles Now when the time came that the venerable Prelate should according to his wonted manner vse the aforesaid episcopall robes the holy virgin who had giuen them to Christ in his needy members receaued other such robes fully resembling the former as well in the weauing or texture as in colour which were brought her in a waggon of two horses euen at the same houre that she liberally gaue the others to the poore 4. So large and liberall was her charity to the poore that none euer had a repulse at her handes as it is cleare and euident by this ensuing narration For one time being abroad in the feildes feeding of her flocke one who was well acquainted with the tendernes of her hart and largenes of her hand came to her seauen times in one day begging of almes and euery time she gaue him a weather and when euening approaching she droue home the sheep yet being tould ouer twice or thrice the flocke was found entire and complete not one being missing to the great wonder of those who knew what chaunced It is also recorded of her that after prayer made for that intent she got miraculously a summe of money with which she ransommed a guilty person whome the King appointed to be put to death How the holy virgin declared the innocency of Bishop Broon Saint Patrickes disciple by making a yong suckling to speake and of other no lesse remarkable miracles CHAP. IX A Certayne malitious woman without regard of conscience or feare of God slandered most wickedly a venerable Bishop of Saint Patrickes disciples named Broon by fathering vpon him a child which she had gotten by another The Bishop standing vpō denial of the fact S. Bridgit calling the woman sayd Who is the father of your child She answered Bishop Broon With that S. Bridgit signed the womans mouth with the figure of Christs banner and instantly her head swelled vp with a great tumour after she blessed the young infants tongue saying to him Who is your Father The child made answeare Bishop Broon is not my Father but that vilde and deformed man who sitteth last among the people then all the assembly rendring many thankes and prayses to God constrained the lewed woman to do pennance for her folly 2. There was a certaine man named Linguidinus who was indued with such admirable strength and surpassing vigour of body that he himselfe alone could do so much worke as twelue men and who moreouer was so great a deuourer of meate as to eate at once so much as might well serue twelue men for as in working he did counteruaile twelue men so likewise in eating did he match that number This man came to S. Bridgit beseeching her to obtaine of God that he would vouchsafe to temper and bridle the immoderate appetite of his deuouring and rauenous stomack without diminishing or mayning the strength of his body The holy Virgin gaue him her blessing and offered vp her prayers to God in behalfe of his iust petition which he obtayned by her merits and intercession for neuer after did he take more then was able to satisfy one man being neuertheles able to performe so much worke as he was before when he did eate most of all 3. The sacred virgin sent for many workemen and reapers to cut downe her corne hauing agreed with them for their pay and appointed a day when they should come to performe their worke it hapned that the day appointed proued very rayny in so much that the cloudes powred forth showers in great aboundance ouer all the prouince excepting on S. Bridgits feilds which were not wet at all the rayne falling thicke vpon euery side so that where all the workemen in the country were constrayned to giue ouer their worke by reason of the wet moisty season S. Bridgits workemen continued from morning without intermission or impediment cutting downe of her corne not without the admiration of all who saw and heard of that vnusuall miracle 4. Another miracle no lesse stupendious wherin the Reader may contēplate the purity of her hart the perfctiō of her soule the eminency of her merits and the prerogatiue of her vertues we are to recount which was this At what time this sacred virgin fed her flocke in a wide open playne farre from any shelter showres of rayne fell downe so thicke that she was wet to the skin who comming home with her cloathes all full of water she saw a Sunne beame pearcing in thorough a chinke that illuminated the roome and taking it for a pearch the quickenes of her eyes being hindered or somewhat blunted she cast thereon her wet mantle or vpper garmente whereupon it hung being supported by it as well as by a beame or post to the great astonishment of all the neighbours who could not sufficiently admire the merits and vertues of this holy virgin Of S. Bridgits happy departure out of this life and how she knew thereof by diuine reuelation and of some miracles wrought after her death by her intercession and merits CHAP. X. THE sacred virgin hauing run out the course of her mortall dayes in the exercise of all kind of sanctimony and innocency of life the time of the resolution of her terrene tabernacle drew neere at hand whose deposition as her selfe knew by reuelation and foretould to one of her virgins was not farre off The holy virgin gaue vp her soule to her heauenly spouse about the yeare of our redemption 518. Her venerable body was placed in a sumptuous monument of gould and siluer adorned with iewells and pretious stones and was first interred in her owne monasterie at Kildare together with the the sacred body of the holy Bishop Conleath afterwardes it was translated whereof we haue an authentical record to the citty of Dune in Vlster where it lyes together with the venerable bodies of S. Patricke and S. Columbe the other two glorious patrons of Ireland At Kildare and other places many miracles haue been wrought by the merits of Saint Bridgit we will content our selues with the relation of some few fearing to cloy the Reader with to much
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
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
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
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