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
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
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
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
to kill the Saint 4. S. Patricke leauing his furniture in the custody of Dichu his first be gotten in Christ wēt himselfe as he had purposed often to visit his old Master Milchoe in hope by his preaching to subdue him to the sweet yoke of our Sauiour but the wicked wretch fearing that S. Patrickes efficacious preaching should soften his stony hart and withal disdayning to submit himselfe to the doctrine of him who in former tymes had beene his slaue when he heard of the Saints approching being giuen ouer into a reprobate sense and gatheringe all his substance in a heap togeather he set fire to it and after cast himselfe into the midest of the flames as a sacrifice to the infernall Furyes But Milchoes two Daughters were conuerted to the faith by Saint Patricke and receaued the grace of Baptisme wherein both were named Emeria These holy virgins were endued in their life with many ornaments both of grace and vertue and the many miracles wherewith according to S. Patrickes prophecie God honoured their sepulcher in Cluainbron giue euident testimony that they are translated to a better life 5. As S. Patricke passed through the coūtry sowing the seed of euangelicall doctrine he became acquainted with a youth named Mochna whome by diuine inspiratiō he knew would proue a chosen vessell the holy youth Mochna imbraced willingly S. Patrickes doctrine the Saint himselfe baptised him and taught him his crosse row The youth within the compasse of one month learned all the psalter and before a yeare came to an end attayned the vnderstanding of holy Scriptures After a while as S. Patricke passed by that place Mochna repaired to him and being both in talke of diuine matters a pastorall staffe sent from heauen fell iust betweene them S. Patricke tooke great ioy in that miraculous guift turning to Mochna sayd to him Know my deerest child that by this pastorall staffe you are designed to take vpon you the charge of soules promoting him therefore though much against his will to holy orders at last he installed him Bishop of Edruim S. Mochna did great good in the Church of God by meanes of his holy conuersation and singular doctrine and ascended to the triumphant being indued with the ornaments of rare vertues and glory of many miracles 6. Leogarius the Monarch to keepe his subiectes in awe and subiection constrayned all his Princes and great Lords to giue him hostages of their loyalty amōg others he had Dichues sonnes as pledges of their Fathers fidelity when King Leogarius who was wholly addicted to superstitiō and idolatry heard that Dichu and all his family was conuerted to the Christian Religion he fell into a great rage and chafe against him commaunded that his two sonnes who where hostages should be put to death by keeping all manner of liquour and drinke from them The Saint knowing by diuine reuelation of that most cruel commandement had his recourse to his wonted weapons of holy prayer and loe the night following an Angell comming into the prison presented to the young noble men a soueraigne liquor that quenched their present thirst and which is farre more strange extinguished in them all appetit of drinking vntil within a few dayes he came againe and released them at S. Patrickes intercession How S. Patricke prophecyed that S. Benignus should succeed him in the Primacy of Ireland and of many hard conflictes the Saint had with King Leogarius and his Magitians CHAP. V. THE solemne feast of our Sauiours triumphant Resurrection approached which S. Patricke determined to celebrat with great solemnity in a fayre and spatious field called Breage and there by euangelizing the Kingdome of heauen and administring the sacrament of holy Baptisme to encrease the number of the faythful for which end he went to a certaine noble mās house hard by the field aforesayd The noble man whose name was Sesgnen entertayned the Saint very courteously and was himselfe with all his house conuerted to the true fayth This noble man had a Son whom at the sacred font the Saint called Benignus a name rightly beseeming him for in his life and demeanour he was most benigne and sweet being beloued both of God men worthy of eternall glory in heauen and to be reuerenced of all men vpon earth This holy child could not be separated from the company of the Saint for when the Saint layd him downe to rest the child stealing from his Father and Mother fell downe at his feet imbracing thē very louingly and fixing many a sweete kisse vpon them The next morning as the Saint got vp into his Coach hauing one foot in the boote of his Coach another vpon the ground the child tooke him by the feet beseeching him after a most earnest manner not to leaue him behind and returning to his Parents that laboured to detayne him he sayd weeping crying out aloud Get you hence Get you hence dismisse me I pray you that I may follow my spirituall Father The Saint behoulding admiring such great deuotion in such a tender breast gaue the child his benediction prophecied that he should be his Successour in the Primatship of Ireland which thing fell out accordingly 2. The holy Bishop solemnised the Paschall feast in the foresayd field and according to the custome of holy Church did light the candells with hallowed fire The Idolatrous people celebrating at that tyme a great solemne feast of theirs called Rach in which feast dedicated to the Prince of darknes the children of darcknes vsed no light for it was the custome with them to quench the fire in all places thereaboutes and it was treason for any to light it before it were seene lighted in the Kings pallace King Leogarius with all his nobility then kept court at Tarach his principall howse from whence seeing the fire which the Saint had kindled he raged extremely and diligently inquired who presumed to attempt such a matter One who was in the company presently answeared as it were by way of prophecy If this fire be not extinguished this night the kindler of it with his followers shal beare rule in all this kingdome The King being wholly incensed hereat hastned with all expedition to quench the same taking with him thrice nine that is 27. chariots in regard that his Magicians put him in the head that that number was fortunate and prosperous Vpō the sight of all these chariots the Saint sung that verse of the psalme These in charriots and these in horses but we will inuocate in the name of the Lord our God When the King came neere the place he sent for the Saint cōmanding him to make his appearance before him The diuine office being ended the Saint came but none of the Courtiers as the King commanded exhibited him any reuerence or honour except one Hercus who rose saluted the Saint very officiously The Saint gaue him his benediction and promised him life euerlasting Hercus receiuing the
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
vp euen to the eares for attempting some mischeefe against the Saint to the detestation of Idolatry and how by rowling a stone which a hundred men could not stirre he drew a grat multitude to beleeue in the corner stone our deare Sauiour Iesus Christ. 2. The glorious bishop S. Patricke ceased not in all places to enlighten the hartes of such as were blinded with Idolatry so that the number of the faythfull increased dayly One day cōming to a place called Fearta he found two womē dead ouer whom inuocating the name of Christ he restored them againe to life who being reuiued exclaymed against the Idols panyme Gods in the hearing of all the company proclaymed Christ to be the true and only God all who were present gaue glory to God deuoutly receaued the sacrament of Baptisme A certaine woman named Fidelina dyed in trauayle of child birth her friendes brought her dead corps layd it before the glorious Bishop requesting him with teares in their eyes to restore her to the number of the liuing which the B. Saint did by vertue of his feruent prayers the woman after her restoring to life againe was deliuered of a sonne both of them were christned within a few dayes The woman relating what she had seene of the glory of heauen and paynes of hell excited many thousands to become Christian this miracle the Saint reiterated in another woman 3. The holy Saint trauailed about all Connact neuer ceasing from preaching or working of miracles vntill such tyme as he brought all the coūtrey to imbrace the fayth of Christ. In many places he builded Churches appointed Priests other ecclesiasticall persons to direct them in the way of saluation to sing the diuine office In a fayre and spatious field farre distant from woods quarryes he built by miracle a fayre Church which standeth to this day Of two riuers that were in those quarters one called Dubh aboūding with fish another called Drobhois which wanted that commodity the holy Bishop requested some Fishers who drew in their nets full of Fish to help him to some but the Fisher men deuoyd of all charity dismissed the faythfull seruant of our Lord empty but God the louer and author of charity depriued Dubh of that benefit bestowed it vpon Drobhois which vntill that tyme had beene barren Hereby the prudent Reader may learne how meete it is to entertaine with all charity the true members of Christ and faythful seruants of Almighty God 4. In regard of the great scarsity of Churches in Ireland in the infancy of Christian Religion the Blessed Saint ordained that at the sepulcher of euery Christian who could not be buryed in a Church-yeard a Crosse should be erected the better thereby to distinguish the faythfull sheep from the vnbeleeuers as also to excite the faythfull who suruiued to impart their charitable suffrages to their deceased Brethren It happened that at what tyme the Saint departed Connact he saw the head of one at the tombes of two lately interred a crosse standing The Saint bid his coach man make a stand then turning himselfe to the graue where the crosse was he questioned with the dead What sect or Religion he was Who answered that he was a Pagan ignorant of the Christian Religion To whome the Saint replyed what then haue you to doe with the Crosse of Christ The dead man answered He that is buried neere vnto me was a Christian one of your Religion bringing a crosse by mistaking fixed it ouer our graue The Saint without delay descended out of his coach to put the Crosse ouer the Christians graue and after departed Of S. Patrickes iourney into Leinster of his prophecy of Dublin and conuersion of that Citty CHAP. VIII SAINT Patricke hauing confirmed the inhabitants of Connact in the Christian Religion made a iourney into Dalnardia in the North wher with his doctrine example miracls he brought the inhabitants of that Country to the profession of Christianity thence he departed and passing through Meath Leinster in all places he preached the Ghospell kingdome of heauen in places cōuenient he ordayned Bishops It would be a worke able to blunt the penne of the most eloquent Oratour to set downe the stupendious miracles which he wrought in that iourney for euen like another S. Peter with the very shadow of his body did he worke miraculous cures so many as he receaued to Baptisme knowing that our aduersary would labour to entangle them in his snares he endeauoured to confirme in fayth fearing their relapse into infidelity And because as witnesseth S. Iames the Apostle Faith without good workes is dead yea which is more that a dead fayth is not fayth The glorious Saint laboured to excite in them that pure and sincere fayth which through loue performeth good workes 2. When S. Patricke came in his iourney so farre as Finglas a place distant a mile from Dublin being then but a little village and contemplating the place territory there about blessing it he prophetically broke forth into these wordes That village which now is very small shal be hereafter very eminent it shal be enlardged in riches and dignity neyther will it cease to increase vntill such tyme as it become the principall seate of all the kingdome The inhabitants of that village hearing what great miracles and signes God had wrought by the meanes of his faythfull seruant Patricke went forth with great ioy to meet him The Lord of that places only sonne lay sicke euen ready to yeild vp his Ghost the Saint being intreated by his father and all the assembly thereunto went to the place where the sicke was and by prayer restored him to perfect health the people seeing this miracle beleeued in the author of life our Sauiour Iesus 3. In that village an honest matron in whose house then the Saint lodged complained to him of the penury of fresh water The B. Bishop taking pitty of her as also what the whole multitude newly regenerated there suffered that he might inkindle their thirst after the fountaine of life our dearest Sauiour he deemed it expediēt to mainfest his vertue and power The next day in the presence of many he went to a commodious place where stricking the earth with the end of the staffe of IESVS and making his prayer he produced thence a faire Well full of sweet and pleasant water and soueraigne in curing many diseases which well to this day is called S. Patrickes Well 4. Here the course of my history requires that I declare how the glorious Bishop S. Patricke came to the famous citty of Dublin which he foūd lying in the suddes of Paganisme and Idolatry but the Saint washed it with the pure waters of euangelicall doctrine and that with great facility by reason of a memorable accidēt that happened the which was this The King and all the Cittizēs were drowned in sorrow anguish for the death of the two flourishing
hundred and fiue cowes and this benediction shal remaine to your children nephewes Which prophetical prediction fel out to be most true the cowes being multiplyed to the foresaid nūber how many soeuer exceeded that number perished by seuerall mischances excepting those he spent in maintenance of his family or gaue by way of almes 2. The saint loued intirely the foresayd mā for many kindnesses and pious offices he had done him A certaine wicked man descending of the blood royall persecuted Columbanus the saints deare friend and robbed his house three seuerall tymes and tooke away all his goodes the third tyme it was his fortune to meet with the saint who rebuked him for his wickednes and persuaded him to restore the goodes vniustly taken but he regarding nothing the saints prayers yea rather laughing and scoffing at him the saint followed him euen to the sea side and entred into the salt water vp to the knees in that place offered his prayers most feruently to Christ who glorifyeth his elect that glorify him hauing made an end of his prayer he returned to the dry shoare where sitting downe with his companions he pronounced these fearefull wordes This miserable wretch who hath this day misprised Christ in his seruants shall neuer returne to the hauē whence he departed nor yet arriue to any other but shall be drowned in the midst of the Ocean waues togeather with his wicked complices Which dreadful though iust prophecy of the saint was fully accomplished in the presence of them all 3. The glorious saint commended a banished noble man of Pictland to the care of a certaine wealthy man entreating him for his respect to entertaine him as a friend for the space of some monthes The cruell man notwithstanding the saints intreaty and commendations put the noble mā to death within a few dayes which grieuous sinne when it came to the saints hearing he spoke in this manner That vnhappy man hath not lyed to me but to God his name shal be blotted out of the booke of life This I say now in sommer but hefore he tast in Autumne of porke that hath been fed with accornes he shall dye suddainly and be buryed in hell The cursed wretch laughed to scorne the Saints propheticall threatning the haruest season being now come the wicked man commanded a hogge fatted with accornes and kirnelles of nuts to be killed and ordained that a peece thereof should be rosted so that by tasting of it he might frustrate and make voyde the oth of the Saints prophecy The flesh being rosted the wretch stretched out his hand to take a morsell of it but before he could put it into his mouth he fell downe dead exhaling out his wicked soule to be buryed in hel they who heard and saw this prodigious effect of Gods iustice honoured Christ in his holy prophet 4. During the Saints abode in Pictland he preached by an interpreter to a certaine country man who imbraced the Christian religiō Within a few dayes one of the countreymens sonnes fell sicke to death whereupon the Magitians began to deride the man to extoll the power of their owne God and to hit him in the teeth with the weaknes of the God of the Christians When these thinges were made knowne to the Saint being inflamed thereat with the zeale of Gods honour he went together with his companions to the house where the comfortlesse parents celebrated the doleful funeralles of their dead sonne The Saint seeing them drowned in sorrow animated them with comfortable speaches after went himselfe all alone into the place where the dead corps lay where falling prostrate on his knees and bathing his face in teares he offered his prayers to Christ afterwardes he rose vp conuerting him to the dead he sayd In the name of our Lord Iesus returne to life and stand vpon thy feet With that venerable voice of Gods true seruant the soule returned to the body and the dead man opened his eyes whome the Apostolicall saint tooke by the hand raysing him vpon his feet and so brought him forth in his company and restored him liuing to his parents then did the people giue a great shout because sorrow was conuerted into ioy and the God of the Christians was glorifyed Of the cure of Brochan the Magitian And how the Saint sayled securely notwithstanding the tempest raysed by the Magitian as also how he opened the gates which the King shut against him CHAP V. AT the same tyme the venerable Prelate made earnest suite to Brochan the Magitian for the release of an Irish maydē-slaue but he would not yeild to the saints mercifull request wherefore the Saint spoke to him as followeth Know O Brochan that vnles you dismisse and forsake this strange captiue that before I depart this prouince you shall dye This he sayd before King Brudeus and so departed towards the riuer Neyse out of which he tooke a white stone saying to his companions Keepe this stone by which God wil worke many cures of diseased persons in that pagan people Hauing spoken this he added Now Brochan is smitten greuously for an Angel sent frō heauen striking him cruelly broke the glasse out of which he drunke into many peeces and left him euen ready to dy let vs expect heere two messingers sent vs from the King for to relieue in hast Brochan being at the point of death now Brochan is willing to dismisse the mayd slaue As the Saint was yet talking loe the Kings messengers came who reported all what happened in manner and forme as the Saint foresaw them they added further that the King and his Nobles sent vs to you Vt subuenias nutritio eius Brochano mox morituro to help his nurse Brochā being ready to dye With that the Saint sent two of his companions to the King with the stone which he had blessed saying If Brochanus promise to release the captiue and after shall drinke of the water wherein this stone shal be dipped he shall recouer his health but if he doe not set the woman at liberty he shall dye without delay Brochanus dismissed the woman free and dranke of the water wherein the stone was steeped and so was restored perfectly to the health of his body 2. After these thinges had passed in this kind Brochanus sayd to the glorious Saint Tell me O Columbe when do you intend to sayle The Saint answered I purpose with Gods grace to go to sea within these three dayes But you shal not quoth Brochanus for I can cause a contrary wind and besides I can induce a darke and obscure mist. To whome the Saint answered The power of God ouer-ruleth all in whose name all our actions are directed The Saint went the same day to the Riuer Neyse whither he was attended vpon by a great company The Magitians began to reioyce at the spreading abroad of the thicke mist and boisterous contrary wind The holy Saint seeing the elements to be stirred vp against him