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
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
they inioyed the brightnes of the day light without the interposition of any night By occasion of this stupendious miracle the Archmachians and Vlidians fell into grat debate and contention for the possession of that sacred treasure and as they were vpon the poynt of entring into a fierce and bloody conflict they heard a voyce from heauen which seemed to be S. Patricks cōmaunding them to surcease from the effusion of blood the sea moreouer passing its wōted boundes swole vp so high that it impeached their mutuall fight and slaughter for the present 3. The Vlidians put the blessed Saints body vpon a new wayne drawen by two kine and so carried it away with great ioye and singing of psalmes hymnes and spiritual canticles wherat the Ardmuchians fury was so inkindled that they intended by force of armes to detayne the holy body of their patron and primat but Almighty God to stint that bloody strife substituted before the Ardmuchians eyes a phantasticall wayne which resembled so fully the former that they being perswaded it was the same that carried the rich treasure of the Saintes sacred body followed it so farre as the riuer Caulune in the confines of the prouince of Ardmuch where that imaginary wayne disappeared out of their sight in the meane time the Vlidians entred the citty of Downe and after great solemnity of masses they interred the holy body in the place aforesaid S. Patricke departed this life in the yeare of our redemption 493. Felix being Pope Anastasius being Emperour Aurelius Ambrosius being Gouernour of England and Forchernus reigning in Ireland and Iesus Christ being sole monarch of all the world to whome all honour glory and prayse for all eternity Amen Heere ends S. Patrickes life THE LIFE OF THE HOLY VIRGIN SAINT BRIGIT PATRONESSE OF IRELAND Abridged out of what COGITOSVS her owne nepheu and IOANNES CAPGRAVIVS haue written more largely of her famous Actes and Miracles Of S. Brigits Countrey Parents Birth and many vertues and especially of her charity to the poore CHAP. I. THE glorious virgin S. Brigit who descended of the ancient and honorable family of Etech in the kingdom of Ireland was borne at Fochart a village a mile distant from Dundalke in the country of Louth Her Father was a noble man of Leinster named Dubtacus who falling in loue with a handmayd of his named Brocseca a woman indued with singuler beauty and admirable comlines he got her with child of this sacred virgin which when his owne wife perceiued being in great trouble therat and taking the matter very greeuily she said vnto him cast out this handmayd fearing her posterity surpasse mine Dubtacus cōstrayned through his wiues importuinty made sale of her to a certaine Magitian in whose house falling in trauaile she was safe deliuered of the holy child such as were present at her birth saw the cloath wherewith her tender head was couered to burne with a flame of fire whereupon hastning to quench it they found no fire at all 2. So much did the holy virgin loath to feed of the Magitians meats that she was constrayned euery day to cast vp what she eate The Magitian considering attentiuely the cause therof said I am vncleane this holy virgin ful of the spirit of God cannot taste of my meate choosing out therfore a white merch cow he bestowed it vpon her to liue by her milke The holy virgin increased in vertue no lesse then in yeares for she excelled in all kind of holy conuersation and sanctity of life aed became very conspicuous for her modestie chastity and temperance but aboue al her charity to the poore is most remarkable 3. The sacred virgin being deputed by the Magitian to keepe his cowes gaue all the butter and milke she could gather to releiue the present wantes and necessities of the poore When the Magitian saw but a small quantity of butter in a great vesel wherin the butter was to be kept he chafed extreamely The Saint seeing what passion he was in offered her pure prayers vp to God and so by diuine vertue filled the vessell with butter euen vp to the topp wherat the Magitian was so much astonished and moued that he beleiued in Christ setting both her and her mother at liberty 4. In regard she gaue to the poore all whatsoeuer she could lay handes vpon and among othings her Fathers sword he purposed to sel her for which end bringing her where the King was he requested him that he would be pleased to buy his daughter To whome the Kinge spoke in this manner what made you to giue away your fathers sword to the poore man To whome she answeared I haue giuen it to Christ Sir if my God did aske your maiesty and my father too of me I would bestow you both and whatsoeuer els you haue vpō him if it lay in my power Thē the King turning to her father sayd to him this your daughter is of too great worth to be bought by me and of farre greater to be sould by you so giuing her another sword to giue her father he dismissed her Of S. Brigites singuler chastity and of some miracles wrought in approbation thereof as also of other stupendious signes CHAP. II. WHEN this sacred spouse of Christ saw herselfe pressed and importuned by her freindes to marry she prayed to God that he would be pleased to disfigure her body with some deformity to the end that men shold cease from making further loue vnto her and without delay her eye burst and melted in her head then taking three other maydes in her company she repayred to a holy Bishop called Machella S. Patrickes disciple to be vayled at his handes the holy Bishop saw a piller of fire appeare ouer her head and contemplating moreouer her earnest and ardent loue of virginall integrity he gaue her the holy vayle of chastity at which time as she fell prostrate before the venerable Prelate to offer her selfe a holy cleane and impolluted host to her heauenly spouse she touched the alter postle which incontinently budded forth a fresh with leaues and so continueth greene and florishing to this day Being vayled with the sacred cognizance of chastity her bursten eye was restored againe to perfect health 2. Against Easter the sacred virgin made bere of one onely measure or pecke of malt fending part therof to eighteen Churches that were roūd about and besides during all the octaue that small quantity sufficed aboundantly and serued to satisfy all those who would and were desirous to taste therof At the same time a Leaper came to the holy virgin requesting her to help him to a cow but she hauing none said to him Wil you that we pray God to deliuer you from your sicknes who answeared that he preferred his cure before all other guiftes whereupon she hauing blessed water sprinkled the leaper therwith and immediatly he became cleane in like māner two sicke virgins taking water which the holy Virgin had blessed recouered their
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