THE LIFE OF THE GLORIOVS BISHOP S. PATRICKE APOSTLE AND PRIMATE OF IRELAND TOGEATHER WITH THE LIVES OF THE HOLY VIRGIN S. BRIDGIT AND OF THE GLORIOVS ABBOT SAINT COLVMBE PATRONS OF IRELAND At S. OMERS For IOHN HEIGHAM 1625. VVith Approbation TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL And the rest of his deere countreymen the Catholikes of Ireland the Translator wisheth all happinesse BEING to publish to the view of the world and by way of dedication to present to your worthy selues deere Countreymen this volume contayning the liues of the three renowned Patrons of our Countrey I deemed it very wel befitting the argument I handled and the condition of the tymes we liue in to addresse the selfe same Commonitory to you that the Euangelicall Prophet directed to the Israelits Attend sayth he to Abraham your Father and to Sara your Mother that boare you For in these turbulent times wherein the fury of armed heresy hath thrust her violent hāds to the stelth of your choisest treasure the Roman faith I meane which you haue peaceably enioyed during the reuolution of many ages what is more powerfull to stirre vp in your breasts the zeale of Catholike Religion What more able to kindle in your hartes the flame of perfect charity What more soueraigne to scatter the cloudes of your afflicted mindes Or what more potent to breath into your soules the sweet gale of Christian comfort Then to offer vnto your intellectuall view S. Patricke the Abraham from whome you descended and Irland the Sara by whome you were borne Truly on whome soeuer of them both you cast your eyes the contemplation of either him or her will inrich your memories with the knowledge of so worthy matters as are able to glutt your minds with content and rauish your soules with delight Vouchsafe then deere Countrymen to cast a fixed eye on the ancient dignity of Irland and you shall find that shee hath exposed on the theater of the Catholicke Church such firme pillars of fayth such burning lights of Religion such clear mirrours of perfection such perfect paternes of sanctity such rare miracles of learning that other Christian Kingdomes are so farre from ouer-peering her that few peere her in flying so high a pitch of true glory And fearing to be branded with the foule note of adulation to your worthy selues or partiality to my deere Country I will keep within compasse so as I meane to produce nothing but what hath beene deliuered from the pens of famous Authors who either for their antiquity claime veneration or for their learning deserue credit or for their sanctity chalenge authority Euery Author I will alleadge by name speaking in his genuin sense if not in his proper wordes And to commence from the splendour of learning I wil not detaine you with a longe discourse touching our domestique Academies Lismor Dune Cashell Magon Dublin and Ardmach the happy nurses fecundious mothers of al human and diuine literature but will remit such as are curious after fuller content in this behalfe to the perusall of the lessons of of the Church of Tarentum The treatise of the Colledge of the Conception Bishop Thyrrie and Father Fitzimons and wil my selfe passe to take a Suruey of forraine kingdomes and externe Academies that receaued from Irland the first beginnings or at least the increase and propagation of learning Lupoldus Babarbugius sayth The French may be matched with the Romans by the industry of Clement the Irish man This Clement to geather with one Iohn a Monke by profession and an Irish-man by birth layd the first foundations of the famous vniuersity of Paris which was and hath beene accounted for many Century of yeares the florishing Athens of Christendome as witnesseth S. Antonine Sabellius Nauclerus Barronius The same learned and graue Authours depose in like manner That the renowned vniuersity of Padua in Italy was erected by the prementioned Irishmen who were the founders of the vniuersityes of Oxford Landesfarne and Malmsbury in England Who were the erecters of the Academies of Herbipolis Cullen Sengallensis and Fulda in Germany Who the authors of Bobium in Italy and Luxouium in France Irishmen as auerreth Cambden the renowned English antiquary What infinite numbers flocked out of the Neighbour kingdomes into Ireland to be enriched with the ornaments of learning and treasures of piety the foresayd learned Cronicler consecrateth to posterity telling vs in these wordes That his Countrymen the English Saxons did throug from all parts into Irland as vnto the mart of all good litterature in so much that it grew to a common Prouerbe among them of such as were giuen to their studies he was sent into Irland to be trayned vp This we may further confirme from the suffrage of S. Adelme who in his epistle to King Elfride speaking of Ireland sayth It florished and was stored with as copious a number of Studients as the heauens were adorned with the syderiall beames of glittering starres These then were the burning lampes of learning and brightsome lights of wisedom that shined so gloriously at home and extended their lustre so spaciously abroad for the publique good and common benefit of all Europe Where you are to obserue that albeit they were men of rare learning of profound wisedome of deepe iudgment and subtile vnderstandings yet did they submit their vnderstanding and iudgments and captiuate their wisedomes and learning to the obedience of fayth so that in all their number there was none found to deny the deity of the second person with Arrius nor the diuinity of the holy Ghost with Macedonius nor the truth of the reall presence with Caluin nor the necessity of good workes with Luther none was found to be a Manichean Marcionist Donatist Eunomian Anabaptist or Puritan none I say was found among them to adhere to ould sectmasters or to follow new Dogmatizers none to embrace the heresies that grew in former ages or sprunge vp in these later tymes so happy was Ireland by the fauour of heauen to liue still in the perpetuall sunne-shine of Catholicke Religion without the interpositiō of any cloud of errour or heresy Neither was Ireland our deere Coūtry happy only in cōseruing the integrity of faith without any touch of disloyalty and being enriched with the treasures of wisedome and learning but she was much more fortunate and fecundious in producing from out of her wombe miriades of Saints and holy men whereof we haue infinite proofes extant of which I will for your comfort recite a few S. Bernard sayth Out of Ireland not only into the forementioned but euen into forraine regions as it were after an inundation such swarmes of Saints did breake out of whome S. Columbanus comming to these our quarters of France there builded the monastery of Luxonium being made into a great nation And Henricus Antisidorensis sayth What need I speake of Ireland passing almost all without any regard of the
dangers of the sea to these our shores with whole troupes of Philosophers and the more skillfull any of them is so much the more willing is he to vndertake a voluntary banishment that he might serue our most sage Salomon at will And Iocelinus beneath in this volume sayth Within a short space there was not a wildernesse noe nor scarce any corner nor place in all the Iland but was replenished with perfect Monkes and holy Nunnes so that Ireland by a peculiar name was iustly called all the world ouer The Iland of Saints They liued according to the prescript and tenour of life which S. Patricke set thē down for contempt of the world desire of heauenly thinges mortification of the flesh abdication of selfe will they matched the monkes of Egipt both in merit and number Many forraine regions were by them illustrated with doctrine and religion Theodorus Abbot sayth This iland as it surpasseth all the world for fertility of soyle so is it more blessed for the glorious simplicity of Saints Gaufridus likewise testifyeth Scotland which is also called Ireland is a fertile I le of Saints and equalling almost the number of starres with the patronages of Saints Marianus Scotus sayth Ireland is an Iland full of saints and very wounderfull men Gulimanus Ireland is the shoppe of most holy and learned men Ionas Abbot sayth Ireland for fayth excelleth all the Neighbour Countryes Baronius Ireland is most constant in the Catholike Religion Doctor Sanders The people of that Country are farre more Catholike then many other Nations Flodoardus sayth Ireland for fayth surpasseth all the neighbour Nations Ioannes Maginus The Irish maint aine the Christian religion purely These then be the testimonyes deere Country men that learned and graue Authors giue to the sanctity fayth and learning of Ireland But perchance your pious curiosity will not be satisfyed with these generall notions therefore I will descend to some particulers and giue a sight of a few of the many trompets of truth preachers of the ghospell and mirors of sanctity which Ireland hath dispersed all Europe ouer as witnes Ioannes Mōlanus Antonius Yepes Venerable Bede Wyon the English martyrologe Cambden and others Ireland hath sent S. Columbe the Great with his twelue holy companions into Scotland S. Columban with his twelue companions into France S. Clement with his twelue companions into Almaine S. Buan into Island S. Kilian into Franconia S. Scruan into the Orcades S. Brendan into the fortunate Iles. S. Aydan into Northumberland S. Finian into Marcia or the kingdome of the middle Englishmen S. Albuin into Lorraine S. Gallus into Switzerland S. Virgile into Carinthia S. Cathald into Tarentum Ireland hath giuen the Diocesse of Cambray S. Etton Adalgisus Mombulus And the Archbishop of Rhemes S. Abel She hath giuen to the Diocesse of Mecklin S. Pumold Archbishop of Dubline and King of Irelands sonne and S. Hiniclin To the Diocesse of Liedge S. Moman Martyr S. Foylan Vltan and Bertuin To the Diocesse of S. Omers S. Luglius King of Ireland and S. Luglianus Archbishop To the Diocesse of Gaunt S. Liuin and Columban To the Diocesse of Antwerp S. Fredegand To the Diocesse of Namures S. Foranan and S. Eloquius To the Diocesse of Bruges S. Guthagon To the Diocesse of Harlem S. Geron. To the Diocesse of Ruremond S. Wiron and Plechelmon To the Diocesse of Balduke S. Dymphna and Oda Martyrs and Virgins of roiall blood and S. Gereberne These were the masters of fayth the Embassadors of Religion the Euangelistés of peace Ireland emploied in illustrating forraine Countryes not to speak of Iliades millions that shined at home like so many meridian sunnes Pastors and Bishops to vse S. Augustines phrase who were graue learned holy earnest defendors of the truth who sucked the Catholicke fayth with their milke and tooke it with their meate whose milke and meate they ministred to the little and great Hitherto deere Countrymen I haue exhibited Ireland to your consideration giuing you rather a transitory sight then a full vieu of the beauty and maiesty the finger of the Almighty hath imprinted on her face Now it resteth that I present to your fauourable aspects another no lesse gratefull and eysome an obiect S. Patricke your glorious Abbot from whom Ireland receaued fayth religion piety and whatsoeuer els in this kind she holdeth glorious deemeth deere or accounteth honorable I doe not deny that S. Iames the Great came long before S. Patricke to plant the Christian Religion in Ireland as Flauius Dexter an anciēt Author liuing in the same age with Ierom Ioannes Gill and Vincentius Bellouacensis teach Grant S. Mansuetus an Irish man by birth and disciple to S. Peter the Apostle was sent by S. Peter himselfe in the yeare of our Lord 49. to preach the Ghospell in Ireland as it pleaseth Fisingrēnsis Admit Palladius suppose Cataldius grant Derlanus Ytarus Riaranus Hildebertus for the reduction of Irelād from paganisme this notwithstanding the full reclaime and entiere conuersion of Irelād was reserued for S. Patricke who won her to the detestation of Idols and worshipp of one true and liuing God and this none will controll or gayne stand but such as are possessed with the spirit of contradiction and who are more earnest to iangle thē desirous to be informed of the truth His life which heere we offer you will aboundantly teach how stupendious he was in perpetrating of miracles how admirable in al kind of sanctimony and how enflamed with the zeale of gayning soules He wrote as Pitseus witnesseth many workes Of the future life of the Elect one booke Of the three habitacles one booke A Iournall of Confession one booke The history of Ireland one booke Offermons one booke One booke of Epistles against the superstitions of the Gentils An epistle to the inhabitants of Aualon Seuerall epistles to the Brittons Seuerall epistles to the Churches of Ireland Hodeoporicon or Itinetarium of Ireland one booke He liued an hundred and two and twenty yeares most part of which tyme he spent in reclayming the Irish from idolatry to the agnition of one true God during the course of so many yeares so fruitfully spent among vs his pen neuer deliuered his tongue neuer vttered nor himselfe neuer practifed indeed any thing that might haue the least colour of fauouring or establishing that Religion which the preachers of the fift Ghospel proudly vaunt and vainely boast to be the doctrine and fayth of the Primitiue Church And since they obtrude their new found Ghospell on you vnder the specious vizard of venerable antiquity loe we offer heere S. Patrickes life written by a learned pen 400. yeares agoe and extracted out of the seuerall volumes S. Luman S. Benignus S. Mel S. Patricke the yonger and S. Leuinus haue compiled of his famous acts and stupēdious signes Loe I say we offer them Saint Patrickes life who liued in the
purer times of christianity let them examine it let them search it point vs out what they shall find in it to couÌ„tenance their cause or to aduance their religion but sure I am they will shrincke from such a disquisition as would turne to their notable preiudice and open confusion by discouering the fondnes and nouelty of their religion For nothing will occure heere but quires of sacred virgins cap. 17. § 2. and cap. 18. § 4. and troupes of holy monkes ibid. c. 13. § 5. cap. 12. § 3. They will admire at the frequent mention of holy Vayles cap. 10. § 1. c. 13. § 5. and Ecclesiasticall tonsure cap. 4. § 1. Holy water cap. 16. § 5. Vessels of holy oyles cap. 15. § 4. Hallowed fire cap. 5. § 2. The signe of the Crosse cap. 18. § 2. alibi sound very harshly in Protestants eares Our wiuing Ghospellers hold no commerce or society with a contineÌ„t and chast Monke cap. 20. § 3. cap. 22. § 1. The refined Ritualists of Geneua will neuer acknowledge our glorious Prelate walking in the maiesty of a Romaine Pallium These delicate reformers wil neuer challenge a religious consumed with fasts and weakned with hayre-cloath cap. 1. § 7. cap. 20. § 3. as a disciple of their sensuall Palenesse comming of long standing in cold water cap. 20. § 3. a thing neuer practised by our tender â—olifidians Short and broken sleepes taken all alone on a hard flint cap. 20. § 3. seeme strange and absurd in the Theology of our libidinous Ministers who lie immersed in beds of downe not alone but embracing their sweet harts with greater deuotion then euer any Genua Bible This rigid tenor of life sauoureth much of Martin and German those austere old men whome S. Patricke glorieth to haue been his masters instructors c. 3. § 1. This child of grace glorieth to haue had so worthy educators whose liues if any list to peruse he shal quickly discerne how far they were from impressing in his hart any thing that relisheth to Lutheranisme or Caluinisme But what need I run so far into these proportionles parales WheÌ„ as the monasteries our glorious Apostle erected the Churches he fouÌ„ded the Cloisters he gouerned the Bishops he coÌ„secrated the Priests he ordained the Virgins he vayled the pennance he preached the mortificatioÌ„ he exersiced the progeny froÌ„ him descended proclaime to the world that he aduaÌ„ced no other colors of religioÌ„ theÌ„ those vnder which Christs militant spouse the Catholike Roman Church marcheth at this present day And though the whole body of the reformed religioÌ„ lyeth a bleeding at al her veynes and had been long since buryed in the cenders of obliuioÌ„ did it receaue no more support from the teÌ„poral sword then it doth froÌ„ the sword of the spirit being so deeply lanced cruelly wounded by the irresistable weapons wherwith Ekius Castro Bellarminus Baronius FeuardeÌ„tius Becanus Cano Stapleton Panagaroll other valiant chaÌ„pions of the Catholike cause haue copiously stored the Arsenals of their famous writings yet wil I here to remoue all ambiguity in behalfe of S. Partrick furnish the scrip of your memoryes with fiue most bright stons taken vp out of the torrent of our glorious Apostles life wherwith if you charge the sling of your tongues the weakest among you shal be able to encounter cast downe any temerarious Goliah-harted protestant that should vndertake to renew the lost field or to recouer the gayned breach or to breath life a new into these fiue for exaÌ„ples sake death-sicke members of the fift Ghospell Euery King teÌ„porall Prince is head of the Church within his own dominions and signeories The holy SacrameÌ„t of the Eucharist is but a bare type naked figure no religious worship is to be exhibited to the sacred reliques of Saints the Masse deserueth not the honour or name of a sacrifyce it being but a phantastical stage-show fraught with ridiculous gesticulatioÌ„s sole naked fayth is able to traÌ„port vs to the hauen of interminable happines What is this the symbole that Patricke hath planted with infatigable paynes roborated with stupendious miracles Is this the forme of belief that hath ingendred in our worthy Ancestors such contempt of sublunar felicity such detestation of sensuall blandishments such thirst of heauenly beatitudes Why then did Patrike seeke and accept of his mission from the Roman chaire c. 3. § 2. 4 Why did he procure her priuiledges and indults c. 17. § 2 Why did he not misprize the title of Apostle the office of Legat the Pallium of Bishop she bestowed of him c. 17. § 33 Where doth he treate with Kinges touching the vndergoing this care of preaching Or where is the least mentioÌ„ to be fouÌ„d that he was emploied by them in this charge We find in this volume c. 10 § 2. 4. that he reuoked to life enspirited againe the dead bodyes of Kinges but neuer that he entituled them heads of the Church surely he was no lesse faythful in designing of these liuing vnder one supreme and soueraigne Pastour then he was fortunate in reuiuing them By S. Patrickes verdict then not Kings but Bishops are gouernors of the Church Presidents of fayth The moderne sect masters depriue you of the substaÌ„ce and substitute but a bare shadow of Christs body in the holy Eucharist But more liberall is Patricke who confidently teacheth q the bloud body of our spouse to be shrouded vnder these visible symbols c. 6. § 6. c. 16. § 5. and stileth it a diuine Viaticum c. 10. § 2. These pure Gospellers daigne not scarce the honor of sepulture to sacred bodies of whose cinders S. Patrick deliuereth magnificent eulogies prophecieth gloriously c. 12 § 5. and brought himselfe froÌ„ Rome reliques of the Apostles Martyrs togeather with a sheet died with our Sauiours bloud causing theÌ„ to be shrined sumptuously worshiped religiously c. 17. § 3. Calum Luthers progeny are so incensed against the holy sacrifice of masse that they are not only coÌ„tent to abrogat the vse therof but they would haue the very name obliterated But S. Patrike was a most earnest establisher of the Masse by the coÌ„fessioÌ„ of protestants theÌ„selues so that with the bare instrumeÌ„ts used in that misterious oblatioÌ„ he wrought stupeÌ„dious signes c. 11. § 2. deliuered many honorable encomioms of it Now as for saluatioÌ„ attained by sole fayth the Proto-patriark of the fift gospell is so serious to establish this wicked Theorem that in fauour of it he shameth not to discard canonicall Scripture thinking perchance that himselfe being the Apostle of a god goddes Bacbus Venus might by authority down waigh ouer the Apostle of Iesus Christ. S. Patricke was so farre from allowing of this exoticall and vnchristian paradoxe the sluce to all flagitiousnesse that he tearmeth with S. Iames Fayth that is not animated by good workee a dead and life-lesse fayth nay no fayth
answere with Tertullian Who be yee Whence and when came yee Whence do yee now come abroad Where did yee lurke so long We neuer hitherto heard any thing of you And with blessed Optatus Show vs the beginning of your Chayre yee who claime to your selues holy Church And with holy Hilary You came newly you rose too late we haue what we ought to beleeue touching Christ the Church and Sacraments for we may well suspect that it is not long since you began to appeare in regard that the good corne was sowen and grew before and not after the darnel You may likewise seuerely admonish them with that holy Doctor S. Hierom. Whosoeuer thou beest that art a teacher of new opinions spare the Romās eares spare the fayth that hath beene praysed by the Apostles mouth Why do you labour to teach vs after 400. now 1500. years What we neuer heard of before VVhy did you bring to light that which S. Peter S. Paul would not preach VVithout this your fayth the world hath beene Christian to this present day I will professe being now an old man that fayth wherein I was borne a child Lastly you may iustly obiect to thē the goldē trumpet of the ghospel S Paul thundring out this terrible commination But although we or an Angel from heauen euangelize to you beside that which we haue euangelized to you be he Anathema or accursed By this is most euidēt with what feare with what care with what solicitude with what zeale nouelty is to be detested and antiquity to be maintained Protestancy to be auoided Catholik religion to be embraced since it is not lawfull for S. Peter S. Paul S. Iohn no nor the whole senat of the Apostls nor yet for al the hostes of Angels to set down any forme of belief other then that which hath byn preached already Now if the dissemination of the tares new dogmats be liable to this Apostolical Anathema or curse subiect to so heauy a cēsure questionlesse the ēbracement of them is as damnable implyes no lesse then wrack of our souls euerlasting weale The terror of which dreadful menace I pray God by the merits of our glorious Patrōs intercession of their numerous holy progeny of Saints that it may alway soūd in your eares sinke into your harts to the end that amidst the swelling billowes boyling waues of enraged heresy you may sticke fast to the irremoueable rocke of the Roman Church by the stronge cable of true ancient Religion and after attaine to that euerlasting beatitude which God of his inexhausted manificence bestoweth of them that neuer change their fayth from him For this and no other end haue I vndertaken this traduction of our glorious Patrons liues So wishing you deere Contrymen all edification and furtherance in vertue by the perusall of this little Volume humbly begging for my selfe a part in your holy deuotions I will vpon confidence of your fauorable allowance take the quality of Your most obsequious seruant in all Christian duty Fr. B. B. one of the Irish Franciscan Friars at Louain ADVERTISEMENTS TO THE READER FIRST gentle Reader I would haue thee vnderstād that in this Translation of S. Patrickes life I haue followed Iocelinus of Tornesio who had written it in latin aboue 400. yeares agone at the intreaty of S. Malachy Bishop of Conerthen of the right Reuerend Father in God Thomas Lord Primate of Ireland of the honorable Knight Syr Iohn de Curcy as himself signifyeth in his Preface which togeather with many other celebrious and note-worthy thinges I haue willingly left out contenting my selfe in this present edition to publish a summary abridgment of the matters that are most remarkable and best befitting our tymes If I learne that this my labour will proue gratefull I will God willing put my hand to an entiere edition Secondly I would haue thee know that in seuerall Chapters and passages I haue for the latin word Brittānia translated England wherof I would haue none to take aduantage I know the English lay clayme to S. Patricke so doe the French so doe the Moderne Scots Therefore it was not my minde or meaning to giue a decissiue verdict or suffrage in a matter so disputable on all sides or to depriue any of the former nations of the right or title they haue to him For S. Patricke is too rich a iewell to be lost but vpon good euidence and better then I haue alleadged Thirdly concerning S. Bridgits life I haue translated it partly out of Cogitosus her nephew as some do thinke and partly out of Capgraue haue my slefe distinguished it by Chapters and Paragraphes otherwise then it is in the latin thinking that the methode I obserued therein would be more for thy spirituall profit the ornament of the worke and perspicuity of the life it selfe Fourthly this summary of S. Columbes life I haue abridged out of S. Adamnan whome I haue preferred before many other authors supposing that none will be so impudent as to deny what hath beene deliuered from so holy and innocuous a pen Further for the latin worde Scotia I haue most commonly translated Ireland in regard that Ireland was anciently called Scotia by the conspiring confession and vniforme consent of all learned Writers and especialy because it is cleerer then midday that my Authour meaneth by the latin word Scotia Ireland which he calls sometymes Scotia and sometimes Hibernia in one and the selfe same paragraphe whereof see cleere and vndenidable proofes lib. 2. cap. 6. § 1. and lib. 3. cap. 2. § 1. Which we haue faythfully translated as they lye in the latin to show with what sincerity and candour and vpon what iustifyable groundes we haue proceeded in this matter Fiftly gentle Reader I trust that as the desire of of aduancing thy spirituall profit made me vndertake this translation so thou wilt be pleased of thy curtesy to correct patiently or to couer charitably the faults escaped both in the English and print Truly were I able as I was not to inuest these Saints liues in a lofty and magnificent stile yet would I preferre a a plaine and simple phrase I know that would sound sweetest in the eare but this sinketh deepest into the hart whereof holy Scriptures written in a phrase plaine inough giue aboundant testimony But as for the faults of the presse they could not but be many by reason of my owne absence from the Print the most principall I haue noted downe in the correctiue table the rest I leaue to thy fauourable correction Farewell THE LIFE OF THE GLORIOVS BISHOP SAINT PATRICKE APOSTLE AND PRIMAT OF IRELAND Of S. Patrickes Country Parents Byrth and some miracles wrought by him in his Infancy CHAP. I. IN the village of Taburnia in Brittany hard by Emptor Towne in the South of England there liued a man named Calphurnius who took to wife a french Damoiselle named Conquessa Neece to S.
at all that in any wise auailes towardes our finall happinesse By this Antithesis of these fiue articles in debate betweene vs and Protestants not to enterlarge me any more in a cause so perspicuous in any dispassionate eye the Antinomy or opposition of the fift ghospell and S. Patrickes religion is rendred so luculent and manifest that the proudest Achilles of the Protestant side vnlesse he be moone-sicke wil neuer presume to accept of the combat on the open playne of S. Patrickes life Now to declare the triall of so indifferent and vnpartiall a barre and to flinche from the vnpreiudicate verdict of Saint Patricke who liued within the compasse of the fiue prime ages of the confessed purity of fayth and religion cannot but put all Catholikes and especially Irishmen in suspicion of their fraudulent dēportement and foule wracking impostures since it was Patrike that brought to them the brightsome light of true and neuer fayling fayth if euer she blazed her glorious beames on the face of Ireland and I suppose none will be soe impudent as to deny she did since it was Patricke that planted Ireland a Paradise of pleasures whether Elias would not disdaine to be transported in his fiery Caoch to glut his mind with her marueilous delights since it was he that consecrated her as it were a third heauen whether S. Paul would willingly be rauished to contemplate her delightfull maruayles since it was he that disimpestered her by the soueraigne influxion of his sacred benediction of the encombrance of serpents scorpions other venemous animals since it was he that beautifyeth her with the stately structures of religious monasteries garnished her with many miriades of renowned Saints enriched her with copious treasures of sacred priuiledges so that scarce any corner can be found in Ireland that is not sanctifyed with some worthy monument of his holy benediction What hitherto we haue instanced in a more ample and diffuse manner concerning S. Patricke our chiefe patron and Apostle the same we may auouch no lesse of S. Bridgit the seconde in the number of our holy patrons how farre she was from houlding with Protestants or breaking with Catholikes her life will giue ample testimony The same we may as well auerre of S. Columbe who is the third in the glory of patronizing Ireland for he taught no other religion in Brittany or the lesser Scotland then that himselfe learned in Ireland or the greater Scotland What this religion was Protestant or Papisticall I leaue it to the arbittement of any that wil with conscience peruse his life which heere we haue compendiously set downe Heare then O worthy childrē with an obsequious eare the doctrin of your thrice worthy Father S. Patricke and of your two other holy Patrōs bind it on your fingers and write it in the tables of your hartes to preuent that you sincke not so deepe in the gulfe of true misery as you haue soared high in the ayre of Christian glory to preuent that the world that hitherto hath proclaymed your impregnable fidelity declayme not against your damnable perfidie If sinners entise you do not condescend to them for their feete do run to euill What greater euill can they runne into then to varnish their nouuell religion with the graue colours of venerable antiquity Or what greater imposture can they impose on you then to father their protestant paradoxes on the primitiue Christians Can any conceaue that our moderne sect-masters after the reuolution of so many ages see more clearely or practise more faithfully the religion that flourished in the first fiue centuryes after our redemption then S. Patricke who liued within the compasse of the sayd tymes O no! This bragge then of their pretensed concordance with the Christians of these purer tymes is a vaine flourish a painted shew a mere collusiō who is meanly conuersant in the Epistles of Anacletus the first Sixtus the first Euaristus the first Alexander the first or in Dionysius Eusebius Syluester Damasus or Anastasius but knowes what to hould and embrace concerning the primacy and headship of the Roman sea Who euer perused Tertullian S. Cyprian S. Hilary S. Ambrose S. Hierome S. Augustine but see how patently they confesse the reall presence of our Sauiours bloud body in the holy Eucharist There is none so little versed in Alexander Telesphorus Anacletus S. Cyprian Euseb Syluester S. Hilary S. Hierome but can tell that they acknowledge the masse to be a true and perfect sacrifice Who is so alphabeticall a Controuertist but can beare witnesse that Basil the Great Gregory Nissen Nazianzen S. Ambrose S. Cyrill of Hierusalem S. Chrisostome S. Hierome allow of religious honour done to Saints reliques Euery yesterday-reader of the famous monumēts of the holy Fathers can tel you that h Origen i Didimus Alexandrinus k Cyril of Hierusalem l Nazianzen m S. Gregory Nyssen n Theophilus Alexandrinus o S. Hierome p S. Austin q Sedulius r Saluianus openly teach and publikly professe the necessity of good works and generally declaime against the Lutheran iustification by sole fayth By these points insisted vpon and instanced by vs you may learne the sympathy between vs moderne Catholikes and S. Patricke betweene S. Patrike and the Primitiue Christiās and on the contrary discouer the discrepancy of the Protestāts not only with S. Patcrike whome I am sure they wil discard for a very superstitious papist but from all the current of the anciēt Catholiks hauing no more alliance with thē then truth with falshood light with darkenes or Christ with Belial And to returne home deere Contrymen it is not they that conuerted Ireland being a pagan Kingdome but rather peruerted her being a Catholike country they haue not illuminated her faythlesse with the light of faith but on the contrary obscured her faythfull with the fogge of heresy For which respect that remarkable censure of Tertullian may be deseruedly pronounced of them Of the administration of the word what shall I say Since it is their study not to conuert the Ethnicks but to peruert ours and this glory they ayme at if they may procure the ruine of such as stand and not the erection of them that are prostrate for their worke consists not of their owne proper building but of the destruction of the truth they digge vp our workes to build their owne so it comes to passe that they contriue more easily the ruine of stāding houses then the structure of ruinous buildings Sinc it is so deer Contrymen perseuer constantly to the end in that fayth our glorious Apostle S. Patricke hath denounced preached to you keep your selues intrenched within the strong impregnable fortresse of the Catholick Roman Churche which the fraud of heretiks shall neuer vndermine nor the force of Tyrants could neuer ouerthrow and to the new and late borne-ghospellers
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