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
taking in euill part prophecied That none of his posterity should inherit his liuing or thriue in any other Country except the infant yet shut vp in his Mothers wombe which fell out accordingly As the Saint for the like respect was to giue his curse vpon two brothers named Fiechus and Enda his disciple S. Secundinus requested him not to lay his curse vpon the man but vpon the stones that in great heaps layd hard by wherto the Saint condescended A marueilous thing ensued for from that tyme forwardes those stones proued vnseruiceable for any building or structure Enda did pennance for the iniury offered to the Saint presented his ninth sonne named Cormacus with the ninth part of all his liuing to S. Patrike the child grew vp in years and grace and ended his dayes in great sanctity How Saint Mell and S. Lupita cleared themselues before S. Patricke and of some miracles wrought by the Saint CHAP. XII SAINT Lupita S. Patrickes sister liued in one house with S. Mell her nephew by occasion whereof some suspected the holy Bishop S. Mell with committing of incest with her which aspersion the holy Bishop remoued by taking many great Fishes on the dry land in S. Patrickes sight Lupita in like manner to declare her innocency carryed hoate embers in her lappe without signe or token of any burning S. Patricke seeing such great miracles pronounced them both innocent yet to cut off all occasion of scandall he ordayned that the men should liue in houses apart from the women building for them distinct houses and Churches 2. S. Patricke being to passe the Sinny a deep and vnwadable riuer that runeth betweene Meath and Connact could not get a boate to ferry him ouer he prayed therfore to God for help loe the earth did ryse vp so high in the riuer that it gaue a dry passage ouer to the Saint all his cōpany The Saint thought it expedient for the aduancement of Religiō to build a Church there in a certaine field but the Lord who owed the place gaue him a repulse would not giue way to the building vnles the Saint bought it with gold The S. offering his prayers to God went to a place wher Swine had rooted vp the ground and found there so much as was sufficiēt to purchase the field Another tyme also did he find in the same place so much gold as serued to buy a peece of ground whereupon he ment to built a Church 3. In that Church called Ellfin S. Patricke installed one of his disciples named Asicus who was a Monke making him a Bishop S. Asicus as Saint Patricke had appointed brought thither a great company of Monkes whom himselfe gouerned as Abbot This holy man vpon a certaine tyme told a lye when he should haue vttered the truth sincerely which ouerlashing of his tongue he so seuerely chastised in himself that he retyred himself from the company of men and liued in a desert 7. years vnknowne vnseene to any person where he might be foūd at last by his Mōks they requested him that he wold returne home to his Bishopricke but he would not yeild to their persuasion iudging pronouncing himselfe vnworthy to exercise episcopall authority since his tongue had beene defiled with a witting vntruth which in the mouth of a Priest is as the holy Canons declare sacriledge the forsayd Monkes would not in any case depart from S. Asicus but liued within that place all the dayes of his life after whose death they builded a monastery there wherein they serued Almighty God in iustice and sanctity 4. As some of S. Patrickes disciples came by sea to visite him there arose a great tēpest which moued the Saint to great compassion for his beloued children some who were with him said that the ship was not able to sustayne so boysterous a storme The Saint immediatly betooke himselfe most feruently to his prayers and then within a little while in the hearing of all them who were present he commanded the windes waues to become calme O stupendious euent Without delay the wind was allayd the seas ceased to boyle and there ensued a great calme the same day the disciples arriued and tould how they escaped that eminent danger Another tyme the disciples aforesayd comming to visit their holy father and traualing by the sea side they were encompassed by the tide before they were aware which put them in great feare of death The Saint knowing in spirit what danger his children were in commanded the sea in the name of God to giue his disciples a free passage the sea obeyed the Saints commandment so that his discipls returned to their father to their great ioye and to the vnspeakable admiration of all those who heard of so prodigious a miracle 5. S. Patricke of his profound humilty and charity kept alwaies in his company some leaper or other whome himself tended most carefully washing with his owne hands his vlcerous soares and prouiding him of al his necessities A certain leaper that liued with the Saint being depriued of his bodily health laloured by frequent prayers and other exercises of piety to procure and conserue the health of his soule This leaper fearing to be offensiue to others withdrew himself from the cōpany of men liuing solitary in a great hollow tree One day he requested a Christiā that passed by to bring him out of a place hard by a bundell of reedes the man went to the place and as he pluckte vp the reedes a faire fountaine gushed out whereof he gaue notice to the leaper when he brought him the reedes who replied Know then my deare brother that God sent thee hither to wash me in that fountaine and lastly to bury me in that place which said he gaue vp the ghost as the Christian washed the leaper in that miraculous water there remained not a spot of leprosy vpon him and so burying him he departed It hapned that S. Munis much about that time bringing from Rome many relikes with him was forced to lodge neare that place In the night he saw squadrons of Angells to descend from heauen and to keep watch and warde about the leapers sepulcher vntill it was moring al which visiō he related to S. Patricke signifying that he intended to remoue that holy body out of that solitary place S. Patricke forbid him so to do fortelling that a sonne of light not yet borne whose name should be Keranus would inhabit in that place which he would furnish with a holy company of Saints and that he would exhibit great honour to that leaprous body all which fel out to be true in processe of tyme. 6. The foresayd S. Munis with S. Patrickes leaue made him a cell in a certaine place where he suffered great distraction and disturbance of mind by reason of the frequent cōcourse of courtiers who came oftē to visite him from the kings pallace being built ouer a great water that lay hard by the place where S. Munis liued
Martin Archbishop of Tours in France This holy couple liued togeather in great sanctity and perfectioÌ„ being iust before God and walking in his iustifications and commandements without blame In processe of tyme it pleased God to blesse them with a holy and happy issue whome they named Patricke who was no sooner regenerated in the lauer of holy Baptisme but God began to denounce to the world his admirable sanctity by the voyce of stupendious miracles in maÌ„ner following 2. A certaine man strucken with blindnes from his mothers wombe named Gormas heard in his sleep a voyce commanding him with the right haÌ„d of the child Patrick newly christened to make the signe of the Crosse on the ground which voice added further that thereupon would gush out a vaine of liuing water wherewith if he washed his eyes he should recouer his sight The man obeyed the diuine oracle found the vertue of Siloe rieterated in that miraculous fountaine Nay which is more prodigious at the same tyme his spirituall eyes were opened being illustrated with the guift of infused knowledged so that of an ingorant blind man he became a learned Reader and vnderstander of holy Scriptures 3. The holy child Patricke encreasing in yeares grew likewise in grace and as a shop full fraught with sweet perfumes breathed forth the fragrant odours of astonishing miracles In Emptor Towne where the holy child and his sister Lupita were brought vppe vnder the care of an Aunt of theirs after the dissoluing of the frost a certaine sinke or Vaâ—te did so swell vp with waters that it threatned the destruction of many houses and particulerly the inundation did ouerwhelme the house wherein the holy child liued so that al the houshold stuffe was ouerflowen the Blessed child being hungry called to his Nurce for bread Who answered that he was neerer drowning then getting any thing to eate With that the holy child dipped his fingers in the swelling waters and sprinckling them thrice ouer the same with the signe of the holy Crosse commanded the sinke in the name of the most holy Trinity to retyre It was a wounder to see the inundation ceased the sinke or Vault became sodainly dry For from his sacred fingers it seemed to theÌ„ that stood by in lieu of droppes of water sparckles of fire to issue forth which dryed vp those swelling waters 4. On a certaine day in the winter tyme the holy child being among a company of his play-fellowes gathered vp in his lap some pieces of Ice and carrying them home layd them on the floor To whome his Nurce sayd that it had beene better and much more fitting for the season to haue brought home wood for the fire then so to play the wanton with the peeces of Ice The sweet child answered wisely saying It is easy for the Author of nature to dispense with the course of nature aud to make euen this frozen water seruiceable for the vse of fire Then he layd the peeces together and after praying and making the signe of the Crosse vpon them he blew them with that they tooke fire which cast out such flammes and heat as yeelded forth not only the benefit of warmeth but also ministred great matter of admiratioÌ„ to all that saw it which what els could the same foreshew but that this great Saint shold inflame the cold and frozen hartes of many and with the word of God breathed from his sacred soule inflame them in the loue of so potent a Lord 5. One tyme as Lupita S. Patrickes sister went to weane the lambes from their Dames she fell and in falling burst her head against a sharp edged Flint that wounded her cruelly many ran to see that great mischance and among them the Blessed child Patricke who by making the signe of the crosse on her forehead restored her to perfect health In like manner did the Blessed child reuine his Vncle who dyed of suddayne death by making the signe of the Crosse vpon him and offering his deuout prayers for him S. Patricke was by his Aunt deputed to the charge of keeping sheep One day as he ledd them out to their pasture there rushed out of a wood hard by a famished wolfe who carryed away one of the sheep his Aunt missing the sheep imputed the losse of it to the Saints negligeÌ„ce in performing his charge he supported patiently her vndeserued check prayed to God earnestly for the bringing back of the lost sheep Behould the next morning the Woolfe came carying the sheep in his mouth layd the same before the Saint and so went his way The holy childs Nurce in her sickenes longed much for hony but none being to be gotten she fell a greeuing and lamenting the holy child blessing a cup of cold water conuerted it into hony and gaue it to his Nurce wherewith she satisfyed her longing and recouered her health perfectly 6. A noble man that liued in Emptor-Towne forced S. Patrickes Aunt to vndergo the heauy yoake of seruitude giuing her in charge to cleanse or empty euery day the dirt and filth of a great stable or Ox-stall where many Oxen and Horses were stabled The vertuous woman supporred with great meeknes this affliction as comming from the hand of God But S. Patricke offering his prayers to God for his Aunt all the roomes were made cleane so continued for a long time without any human help which great miracle exciting all men to admiration was the cause that the woman was set at liberty and the Saint held in great veneration 7. The admirable progresse the holy childe made in the course of vertue went farre beyond the number of his yeares for his tender breast abounded with plenty of diuine gifts that pure receptacle was enriched and stored with all vertues so that in the slippery course of youth he slidd not into any lapse that might ly as a stayne on the spottles robe of his chastity such was his care in keeping the integrity both of soule and body vnblemished And albeit the inward motioÌ„ of grace did instruct and direct him in all his actions yet when he came to competent yeares his parents tooke care for his trayning vp in learning The child plyed his booke very diligently particularly he gaue himselfe to learne Psalmes Hymnes and spiritual Canticles which he got by hart for eueÌ„ from the prime of his youth he was wont euery day to say the whole Psalter His tender body he chastised with fastings watchinges and other exercises of devotion exhibiting it a liuely host holy and pleasing to God representing in his mortall body the life of an Angel without a body Of S. Patricks being carryed into Ireland and of his captiuity and release from the yoke of seruitude CHAP. II. FIER tryeth gold and the furnace of tribulation the iust to the end that S. Patricks vertues should becom more illustrious his crown of blisse more glorious he was exposed to the assaults of tentation For some Pirates
determinatiō when he opened to S. German he liked well thereof and ioyned with him the seruāt of God Sergerius the Priest as a comfort in his trauailes as a faythfull witnes of his holy conuersation Setting himselfe on his way by diuine inspiration he went to a certaine Ermite of great fame sanctity and merit named Iustus liuing in an I le of the Tyrrhene Sea where after charitable saluations and some spirituall conference passing betweene them the holy man Iustus deliuered to S. Patricke a little staffe which he sayd he receaued out of our Sauiours owne handes to giue to him Saint Patricke after some dayes abod with the seruant of God Iustus went on his iourny to Rome being enriched with that holy staffe that God had sent him O singular guift descending from the Father of lights For as by Moyses Rod God wrought many prodigious wounders in bringing the Israelites out of the house of bondage so by this holy staffe which himselfe sent to his true seruant Patricke did he worke wonderful miracles in the conuersion of many Nations 4. After the Saints safe arriuall at Rome he visited with great deuotion and reuerence the memoryes of the Apostles and Martyrs comming to the Popes aquaintāce his holynes admitted him to great fauour grace There sate then in the Apostolicall chayre both by name and conuersation Pope Celestimus the first the three and fortith after S. Peeter The Popes holynes finding S. Patricke sound in fayth learning and sanctity consecrated him Bishop determined to employ him in the conuersion of Ireland His holynes had sent before into Ireland for that end another Doctour named Palladius his owne Archdeacon on whō he bestowed store of bookes with Reliques of the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul of many other Martyrs But he finding the Irish nation obstinatly bent against the doctrine of truth departed from Ireland intending to returne backe to Rome dyed in the way The Popes holynes being certifyed of Palladius death commanded S. Patricke to succeed him in that charge of preaching the Ghospell to the Irish nation S. Patricke with twenty more famous for learning and sanctity whome his holynes had giuen him as his coadiutors in that great worke he was to vndertake set himselfe on his iourney towardes Ireland In the way he repaired to his ould master and instructor S. German of whose guift he receaued chalices vestements and other like Church stuffe 5. As S. Patricke tooke shipping in England for to passe into Ireland where a poore leaper besought the Saint most earnestly to carry him into Ireland the Saint of the aboundance of his piety cōdescended to the distressed leapers request but the Mariners would not in any case admit him into the Shippe the Saint ful of confidence in God cast out into the sea a hallowed Altar stone which his holynes had bestowed vpon him and made the leaper to sit on it O prodigious wounder that stone set on loaden in that manner being supported by the Head corner stone floted on the waues against its owne nature and went side by side with the Shippe all the seas ouer and euen with it came to the shore When they came in sight of the land the Saint saw an host of Diuells inuironing the Iland and opposing themselues as a strong Bulwarke to hinder his entrance into the Country But the Saint was nothing terrifyed at the sight of these vgly spirits knowing that there were more and farre more potent with him then against him wherefore making the victorious signe of the Crosse against them he chased away all that army of diabolicall fiendes Of S. Patrickes arriuall in Ireland of the conuersent◠a noble Man named Dichum and of many miracles wrought by the Saint CHAP. IIII. SAINT Patricke with his holy family landed at Inuerds hauen in Leinster and thence hauing first refreshed him after his long nauigatiō sayled towardes the North for he had a great desire to bring Milcho in whose seruice he was all the tyme of his bondage to the knowledge of the true God and of his Religion but God disposing it so for the greater gaine of soules the Saint arriued in Vlidia where being ready to go ashore a multitude of Pagans stood there in a readines to hinder his entrance for the Magitians and Diuines of that Region prophecyed of his comming in manner following There will one come with his crowne shauen in his hand a croked staffe his 〈◊〉 shal be set in the East of his house and his people shall stand behind him from his table he wil sing blasphemies and all his family will answeare Amen Amen This man when he shal come will destroy our Gods ouerthrow our Altars and Temples seduce the people after him he will subdue or cut off our Kinges that will resist him and his doctrine shall raigne for euer Which moued Leogarius the sonne of Neil being then the Monarch of Ireland to commaunde his subiects throughout all his dominions to watch al the hauens and ports to the end they might driue S. Patricke away whersoeuer he meant to land 2. As S. Patricke went to the shoare being all alone the cruell Pagans incited a most fierce dogge to assayle the Saint but the Dogge no sooner saw Gods seruant but he became mute and as stiffe as a stone which when a certaine man of great strength of a huge stature and fierce spirit named Dichu saw he drew out his sword thinking to kill the Saint but God opposinge the sheild of his diuine protection all his strength fayled him and such a stifnes grew ouer al his body that he could neyther sturre hand nor foot The noble man seeing this great miracle wrought vpon himselfe became another man for he and al his house beleeuing in Christ were baptised Dichu hauing obtayned health both of soule and body bestowed vpon Saint Patricke the place where that miracle hapned with all the appartenances for the building of a church The place is called S. Patrickes Barne euen to this day in processe of tyme the Saint built theron a faire Monastery which he furnished with a company of perfect Monkes ouer whome he placed S. Dunnius his owne disciple as Abbot 3. One day as the Saint sayd Masse in the sayd Church a sacrilegious Magician the child of perdition stood without and with a rodd put in at the window cast down the chalice shed the holy Sacrament but God without delay seuerely punished so wicked a sacriledge for the earth opening his mouth after a most strange manner deuoured the Magician who descended a liue downe to hell the Saint sorrowed much for the effusion of the Chalice and as he afflicted himselfe with bitter teares the Chalice by diuine vertue was erected in its owne place with the sacrament so entyre that there appeared no signe nor marke of the effusion The same seuere reuenge did almighty God exercise vpon another Magitian for attempting
to kill the Saint 4. S. Patricke leauing his furniture in the custody of Dichu his first be gotten in Christ wēt himselfe as he had purposed often to visit his old Master Milchoe in hope by his preaching to subdue him to the sweet yoke of our Sauiour but the wicked wretch fearing that S. Patrickes efficacious preaching should soften his stony hart and withal disdayning to submit himselfe to the doctrine of him who in former tymes had beene his slaue when he heard of the Saints approching being giuen ouer into a reprobate sense and gatheringe all his substance in a heap togeather he set fire to it and after cast himselfe into the midest of the flames as a sacrifice to the infernall Furyes But Milchoes two Daughters were conuerted to the faith by Saint Patricke and receaued the grace of Baptisme wherein both were named Emeria These holy virgins were endued in their life with many ornaments both of grace and vertue and the many miracles wherewith according to S. Patrickes prophecie God honoured their sepulcher in Cluainbron giue euident testimony that they are translated to a better life 5. As S. Patricke passed through the coūtry sowing the seed of euangelicall doctrine he became acquainted with a youth named Mochna whome by diuine inspiratiō he knew would proue a chosen vessell the holy youth Mochna imbraced willingly S. Patrickes doctrine the Saint himselfe baptised him and taught him his crosse row The youth within the compasse of one month learned all the psalter and before a yeare came to an end attayned the vnderstanding of holy Scriptures After a while as S. Patricke passed by that place Mochna repaired to him and being both in talke of diuine matters a pastorall staffe sent from heauen fell iust betweene them S. Patricke tooke great ioy in that miraculous guift turning to Mochna sayd to him Know my deerest child that by this pastorall staffe you are designed to take vpon you the charge of soules promoting him therefore though much against his will to holy orders at last he installed him Bishop of Edruim S. Mochna did great good in the Church of God by meanes of his holy conuersation and singular doctrine and ascended to the triumphant being indued with the ornaments of rare vertues and glory of many miracles 6. Leogarius the Monarch to keepe his subiectes in awe and subiection constrayned all his Princes and great Lords to giue him hostages of their loyalty amōg others he had Dichues sonnes as pledges of their Fathers fidelity when King Leogarius who was wholly addicted to superstitiō and idolatry heard that Dichu and all his family was conuerted to the Christian Religion he fell into a great rage and chafe against him commaunded that his two sonnes who where hostages should be put to death by keeping all manner of liquour and drinke from them The Saint knowing by diuine reuelation of that most cruel commandement had his recourse to his wonted weapons of holy prayer and loe the night following an Angell comming into the prison presented to the young noble men a soueraigne liquor that quenched their present thirst and which is farre more strange extinguished in them all appetit of drinking vntil within a few dayes he came againe and released them at S. Patrickes intercession How S. Patricke prophecyed that S. Benignus should succeed him in the Primacy of Ireland and of many hard conflictes the Saint had with King Leogarius and his Magitians CHAP. V. THE solemne feast of our Sauiours triumphant Resurrection approached which S. Patricke determined to celebrat with great solemnity in a fayre and spatious field called Breage and there by euangelizing the Kingdome of heauen and administring the sacrament of holy Baptisme to encrease the number of the faythful for which end he went to a certaine noble mās house hard by the field aforesayd The noble man whose name was Sesgnen entertayned the Saint very courteously and was himselfe with all his house conuerted to the true fayth This noble man had a Son whom at the sacred font the Saint called Benignus a name rightly beseeming him for in his life and demeanour he was most benigne and sweet being beloued both of God men worthy of eternall glory in heauen and to be reuerenced of all men vpon earth This holy child could not be separated from the company of the Saint for when the Saint layd him downe to rest the child stealing from his Father and Mother fell downe at his feet imbracing thē very louingly and fixing many a sweete kisse vpon them The next morning as the Saint got vp into his Coach hauing one foot in the boote of his Coach another vpon the ground the child tooke him by the feet beseeching him after a most earnest manner not to leaue him behind and returning to his Parents that laboured to detayne him he sayd weeping crying out aloud Get you hence Get you hence dismisse me I pray you that I may follow my spirituall Father The Saint behoulding admiring such great deuotion in such a tender breast gaue the child his benediction prophecied that he should be his Successour in the Primatship of Ireland which thing fell out accordingly 2. The holy Bishop solemnised the Paschall feast in the foresayd field and according to the custome of holy Church did light the candells with hallowed fire The Idolatrous people celebrating at that tyme a great solemne feast of theirs called Rach in which feast dedicated to the Prince of darknes the children of darcknes vsed no light for it was the custome with them to quench the fire in all places thereaboutes and it was treason for any to light it before it were seene lighted in the Kings pallace King Leogarius with all his nobility then kept court at Tarach his principall howse from whence seeing the fire which the Saint had kindled he raged extremely and diligently inquired who presumed to attempt such a matter One who was in the company presently answeared as it were by way of prophecy If this fire be not extinguished this night the kindler of it with his followers shal beare rule in all this kingdome The King being wholly incensed hereat hastned with all expedition to quench the same taking with him thrice nine that is 27. chariots in regard that his Magicians put him in the head that that number was fortunate and prosperous Vpō the sight of all these chariots the Saint sung that verse of the psalme These in charriots and these in horses but we will inuocate in the name of the Lord our God When the King came neere the place he sent for the Saint cōmanding him to make his appearance before him The diuine office being ended the Saint came but none of the Courtiers as the King commanded exhibited him any reuerence or honour except one Hercus who rose saluted the Saint very officiously The Saint gaue him his benediction and promised him life euerlasting Hercus receiuing the
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
hopes of the kingdome the Kinges only sonne who dyed of a naturall death in his bed roome and the Kinges daughter who was drowned in the adioyning riuer the young ladyes body was drawne out of the waters and layd by her brothers dead corps to solemnise their obsequies both together In the meane time newes was spread ouer ouer all the Citty that S. Patricke of Ardmuch the potent reuiuer of many dead to life was seene in the towne The King hearing thereof reioyced much and caused him to come where his two children were dead full of fayth promised that if God by his prayers did restore his children to life he himselfe with all the Citty would become Christians The Saint seeing such gayne of soules in a readines in the sight of the King his Nobles and all the communalty raysed from death to life the princely children whose corporall resurrection cooperated much to the spirituall resurrection of their Father with the rest of the people The King was named Alphinus his sonne Cochad his daughter Dublinia who gaue her owne name to the Citty The King and all the Citty being astonished at this great miracle abiured the worship of Idols and were baptised in S. Patrickes Well which to encrease the beliefe of the faythful the Saint made to gush out by stricking the point of the staffe of Iesus in the earth From that day forwards King Alphinus with all the Cittizens of Dulbin obliged themselues by vow and their posterity to the seruice of Saint Patricke and the Primates of Ardmach moreouer as a perpetuall gage of their seruice ordained that euery company of trades-men should pay a yearely annuity to the Primat of Ardmach The King and the Princes offering each of them a talent of pure refined gold to the Saint al which liberall guifts the true professour of pouerty bestowed vpon the poore reseruing ōly a part which he kept for the building of Churches 5. The glorious Bishop gaue his benedictiō to the people of Dublin and taking his leaue of them he went to a towne called Cnoc where he sent often for one named Murinus a man of Belial who would not in any wise present himselfe before the Saint whose wisedome he deemed able to conquere the hardest hart the Saint sent for him often but all in vaine for he caused answer to be made that the S. should suffer him to sleep The Saint knowing by inspiration of the holy Ghost that he was a child of perdition adioyned therunto saying Let him sleep let him sleep and before the generall day of iudgment let him not awake or arise Which being sayd the Saint hastned on his iourney and the wicked wretch dyed a double death both of soule and body 6. A wicked man named Foilge carryinge great malice and spite to the Saint for the destruction of the formentioned idoll called the head of the Godes attempted to lay violent handes vpon the Saint and being not able to compasse his wicked intent he rushed very violently vpon Odranus the Saints Coachman and murdered him in the Saints sight the Saint stunge at the hart thundred out his malediction against the man of Belial who being stricken therwith yelded vp his wicked spirit to be ingulfed in hell fire But as for Odranus his soule the Saint saw it carryed vp betweene Angels to heauen where it was ranged among the triumphant hostes of Martyrs Of S. Patrickes iourney into Munster and of the miraculous refection of 1400. with many other miracles wrought by the Saint in those quarters CHAP. VIIII THE Saint leauing Leinster tooke his iorney towards Mounster The King of that Country named Oengus hearing of the approach of the glorious Bishop went to meet him and receaued him with great honour and exultation A principall motiue of the Kinges ioy and of receauing the Christian fayth was that hauing entred his Idolatrous temple that morning to adore his false Gods he found them all prostrate vpon the ground and albeit he did set them often vp in their owne place yet still they tumbled downe for as Dagon could not stand before the Arke of Gods couenant so could not these Idols stand in their place whē the Blessed Bishop Patricke drew neere vnto them who deseruedly we may call the Arke of the couenant seeing in his cleane hart he carryed as in a golden vessel the diuine Manna of contemplatiue sweetnes the table of the diuine Law and the Rod of heauenly discipline The aforesayd King led the Saint with great reuerēce and honour to his Court at Cashell where vpon the Saints preaching he beleeued in the most holy Trinity and receaued the grace of regeneration 2. As the Saint gaue the King his benediction by laying his sacred handes vpon his head the King requiring it often with great deuotion it happened that the point of the Saints staffe wounded the kinges foot which yet put him to no payne in regard that his hart being wounded with ardent charity expelled all sense feeling of that bodily sore but whē the Saint saw in what case the kinges foote was blessing it with the figure of Christs bāner he cured it perfectly The king reioycing giuing thankes vnto God for so great a signe wrought vpon him the holy Prelate ful of the spirit of prophecy spake to the king as immediatly followeth The blood of no King of thy stocke who shall fit in this place vpon thy throane shal be shed but of one only Which prediction the inhabitants of that Country constantly auerre to haue proued true in as much as no king of his posterity was euer kild vnto the tenth generation but only one 3. From Cayshell the holy Saint went into Ormand there to extirpate roote out the briers of Idolatry and to sow in steed thereof the pure wheate of Euangelicall doctrine where God with suddaine death seuerely punished a wicked wretch with al his complices for disgorging impious obloquies against the Saint At what time the Angell of peace S. Patricke passed through the country of Ciarragi he saw two brothers named Bibradius and Locradius at mortall debate about the parting of their Fathers inheritance in so much that from high words they fell to bloody blowes and stroakes the Saint fearing least so heinous a sinne as fratricide should be cōmitted in his presence with his holy prayers he so benummed their handes that they hunge stiffe and inflexible in the ayre vpon sight of that stupendious miracle the two brethren referred their cause to be decided by the Saints arbitrement who not only reneued between them the league of brotherly loue but also restored to them the perfect vse both of their armes hands the place where this miracle hapned the two brothers was bestowed vpon the Saint towardes the building of a Church there 4. After that the blessed Bishop had confirmed the people of Munster in the knowledge and loue of the true God he tooke his iourny towards the North king
a desire to compose a hymne in honour of a Saint that yet was liuing and because it was S. Patricke himselfe he ment he concealed the Saints name the glorious Bishop answered it is iust and reasonable that people display the vertues of Saintes and that the Church declare their prayses which yet is more securely done after their deaths when all occasion of sinning is cut off but if you will put in execution what you entende do it quickly loe death is at the doore of all the Bishops that are in Ireland you are the first that shal depart this life Secundinus made the hymne and within a few dayes after he dyed at Donnachseachluin his episcopall citty showing by frequent miracles that he reigneth with Christ. 4. S. Kennechus saw a company of Diuels to go fetch the soule of a flagitious sinner who for his many misdeedes deserued to be buryed in Hell The Saint abiurde them at their returne to let him vnderstand the successe of the matter After a little respit the Diuels comming againe tould S. Kennechus how S. Patricke defended the sinners soule from thē in regard that he was accustomed vpō the Saints day to keep a great feast in honor of him euery day to sing some chapter of that hymne S. Kennechus reioyced much thereat and by telling that miracle excited many to sing that hymne very deuoutly in honour of the Saint An Abbot S. Patrickes disciple named Colmanus did sing the foresayd hymne very often being demanded the cause he answered that whilest he sung it he enioyed stil the Saints presence before him and that his eyes could neuer be satiated with the contemplation of his delectable face wherby it is cleare how faythful a friend this blessed Saint is to all those who frequent his memory or haue him for their patron Of the Saints admirable contemplations reuelations mortifications and prayers CHAP. XX. OFtentims did the glorious Saint see our Sauiour the heauens open our Lord Iesus stāding in the midst of the multituds of Angels this sometimes whē he sayd masse other times when he deuoutly sung S. Iohns reuelatiōs besides the Angel Victor so often mētioned in this volum was wont to appeare to him thrice euery week for to recreate him with his diuine colloquies discourses Of soules departing this life our B. Saint saw ful often some to go to endure the paynes of hel others to be sent to enioy the ioyes of heauen one example very remarkable which the Saint himselfe for edificatiōs sake was wont to recite I will here recount A great noble man who liued in much prosperity dyed with no lesse glory was accounted by them that knew his life end most happy pleasing vnto God wheras a poore indigēt lazar who liued al his life in great misery after his death wanting the honour of burial became a prey to the fouls of the ayre was esteemed most wicked before God but the B. Bishop seeing the blindnes of humane iudgement tould them that he saw the rich mans soule to be buryed in hell and the poore mans soule to be carryed vp to heauen and this which the Saint saw concerning these two he was wonte to recite of many other 2. The fame of S. Patrickes vertues excited a holy man of great merit and vertue named Vinuualoeus who liued in Britany in France to leaue his natiue soyle and to go for Ireland there to become S. Patrickes disciple scholler The night before he was to begin his iourney he saw in a vision a most venerable man attyred in episcopal robes who tould him that himselfe was S. Patrike know my dearest Vinuualoeus that I am Patricke to whō you repaire know that the time of my resolutiō is neere at hand so that before you can come where I am I shall depart this life it is the wil of God that you forsake not this place with that the vision disappeared 3. The course which the Saint held in his deuotion as it was most admirable so did he continue it daly without any intermission euery day was he wont to say deuoutly the whole Psalter with canticles hymnes and S. Iohns reuelation besides two hundred other prayers three hundred times in the day did he prostrate himselfe in adoration before God and in singing euery canonicall hower he was accustomed to blesse himselfe a hundrd times with the signe of the Crosse moreouer it was his wont euery day to say masse with great deuotion and reuerence neither did he omit to preach to the people or to teach his disciples The night tyme which he deuided into three partes he spent after a most heauenly manner the former part he imployed in reciting twice fifty Psalmes and in making two hundred genuflexions the second part he spent in saying of the third quinquagenary of psalmes and of other prayers all which time he stood immersed in colde water the third part he allotted to his sleep hauing for his bed a bare stone another stone in steede of a bolster giuing himselfe in this manner to his rest he would girde his loines with a roughe and course haire cloath steeped in cold watter to keepe his body in due subiection fearing it should stirr vp any dishonest motions against the spirit in this manner did the blessed Bishop offer himselfe a holy liuing and gratfull victime vnto God Of Saints Patrickes most profound humility and of his many miracles CHAP. XXI THE glorious Bishop ouer his other attire wore a white robe repesenting by the forme and colour of his attire the candour of his inward powers nay he would accept of no guifts or presents esteeming it happier to giue then to receaue and if sometymes rich men did bestow any present vpon him he would without delay giue it to the poore easing himselfe of it as of a heauy burthen In his countenance in his aspect in his talke in his gate euen in the motion of his members and deportement of all his body the beholders might see and learne lessons of edification his speech being tempered with sweetnes and seasoned with the salt of discretion he accomodated himself to al sexes people occasions he was wel seene in foure languages the English Irish French and Latin attained to good insight in the Greeke he wrote a volume called S. Patrickes canons which is furnished with excellent doctrine for all sorts of people 2. When any difficulte or obscure questions were put vnto him he was wont of his profound humility first to answeare I know not God knowes He was indued with the gift of prophecy whatsoeuer he foretould fell out without any ambiguity He did prophecie of the Saints of Ireland and especially of all the Saints of Munster Connact that were to be borne within the compasse of one hundred yeares so clearly that he fortould their names liues and places of their habitation In giuing his benediction he extended his right hand and in bestowing his
malediction he stretched out his left hand whōsoeuer he blessed Gods blessing did light vpon him and whomesoeuer he cursed Gods curse came vpon him 3. And though in all vertues he did match or rather surpasse other Saints yet in humility he did farre surpasse himselfe hence it came that in his missiue letters he styled himselfe The greatest sinner in the world the least and most despiceable among them and setting little by the signes he wrought he deemed himselfe vnworthy to be compared to any perfect man He exercised himselfe in the manuall workes as S. Paul did of tilling the ground and fishing but especially in building of Churches three hundred and fifty Bishops did he consecrate with his owne handes fiue hundred did he inuest with the holy functiō of Priesthood the number of them that were ordayned in inferiour orders as also of Monkes Nunnes is so numberlesse that God alone doth know them 4. The Blessed Bishop liuing and leading a life of this tenour shined with so many and so great miracles that in them he was not inferiour to any of the Saints that went before him It was in a manner a dayly exercise with him to cleanse leapers cripels deafe dumbe to cure palseies lethurgies lunatickes epilephies to erect cripls to restore sight to the blind speach to the dumbe to the deafe hearing in a word to heale all diseases he merited to be the magnificent reuiuer of three and thirty dead persons threescore and six treatises were written of his giftes vertues and miracles a great part of them perished by fire vnder the Pagan Princes Iurmundus Turgesius Foure volumes are yet extant written by foure of his disciples S. Benignus S. Mell S. Lumanus S. Patricke the yonger who lyes buried in Glastenbury monastery in England S. Euinus compiled his actes and miracles partly in Irish and partely in Latin out of which holy authors we haue extracted what we thought good and digested it into this volume 5. The most glorious bishop being loaded with yeares and abounding with merits knew by diuine reuelation that the dissolution of his earthly tabernacle was neere at hand which moued him to goe towardes the citty of Armuch thinking to inrich that his Metropolitā Church with the pretious depositum of his sacred body but the Angell Victor appearing to him tould him that it was the diuine pleasure he should expect the generall resurrection in the Cittie of Downe in Vlidia The Saint embracing with great resignation the disposition of the diuine prouidence returned backe againe to Vlidia 6. Within a few dayes after as the most holy Prelate S. Patricke preached of the glory of heauen to a great multitude of religious and ecclesiasticall men there descended from thence an immense splendour that illustrated a place in the east part of the Church-yeard the pearle of Ireland S. Brigit being present The Saint commanded her to declare the mistery of that diuine light she tould in the hearing of all the assembly how that celestial light sanctifyed and designed the place where a Saint most glorious most deare vnto God shold be shortly interred then rounding S. Ephembria in her eare she tould it was the patron Apostle of Ireland S. Patrik adding further that she would account her selfe happy if his sacred body might be wraped in a winding sheet which she had spunne and weaued with herown hands had prepared for that purpose 7. The Blessed Saint knowing by diuine inspiration the holy Virgins desire commanded her to go and bring that sheet wherein for the most tender loue he carryed to the most blessed vigin he would haue his sacred body wrapt himselfe went to the Monastery of Sauall where sickning he expected the end of this life or rather the beginning of the other life that hath no end the B. virgin Brigit was so ouer wearied with the length and difficulty of the iourney that she could not come so soone as she purposed The Blessed Bishop knowing in what distresse the holy virgin was in he sent his coach-man to meet her the sacred virgins that came in her company so the virgins comming to Sauall where the Saint laye sicke she presented him with the sheet which he receaued very gratefully then kissing his feet handes she and her virgins receaued his benediction Of S. Patrickes death of the Angelicall obsequies exhibited to him and of his entertainment at Downe CHAP. XXII THE Blessed Saint being brought very low by his infirmity as the Angell had admonished receaued the holy Sacraments at the hādes of his disciple S. Tasach Bishop eleuating his eyes he saw Iesus standing in the midst of a multitude of Angels then blessing his disciples and rendring thankes to God he passed out of this life his blessed soule was receaued into the ioyes of his Lord by the all-immaculate Virgin the Mother of God and sacred quires of virgins with the Patriarkes Apostles Martyrs Confessours and Angels no maruaile that he was honored of all Saints sith there shined in him the vertue of all Saints an Angell he was not by nature but by office since his lips did keep science and the law of life a Prophet since few of the Prophets were indued with the foresight of future thinges so copiously as he was an Apostle he was since Ireland and the neighbour Ilands are signes of his Apostleship a Martyr he was in regard of the many coflicts he had against Kings Magitians Idolaters and Diuels A confessour he was since that he neuer ceased from the preaching and confessing the name of Christ. A virgin he was for as much as he kept the integriof fayth in body soule The glorious Saint deceased at the age of a hundred and twenty three yeares he was sixteene yeares old when he was carryed away by the Pirates six yeares did he serue in captiuity eightene yeares did he liue with S. German in France he was fiue and fifty when he came into Ireland to preach the Ghospell fiue and thirty yeares did he imploy in the conuersion of Ireland and the adioyning Iles afterwardes for three and thirty yeares he gaue himselfe to the sweet rest of contemplation eyther at Ardmuch or at Sauall monastery during which tyme he neuer came abroad vnles it were for great affaires or keeping a Councel once a yeare for the redresse of abuses 2. After his departure his sacred body was wrapt vp in the sheet which the blessed virgin S. Bridgit had prepared and a great multitude of cleargy men and seculers came to bemone the death of their common father and Apostle and to solemnize his funerals The night following a brightsome quier of Angels that kept watch at his body with their sweet harmony cast all the multitude into an extaticall sleepe vntill their departure the next morning the Angels left so fragrant an odour behind them that it continued for the space of twelue daies whilst the holy body was vnburied during which time in all that region
tediousnes 2. The ouerseer of Saint Bridgits great and famous monastery sent workemen and stone-hewers to prouide a mill stone they neither reflecting vpon the difficulty of the way nor yet regarding that there was no meanes of getting downe the stone went vp to the topp of a most high and craggy mountayne where they hewed out a great stone forming it into a mill stone the Ouerseer came with oxen and horses to carry it away but seeing it impossible with oxen and horses to go where it was in regard of the steepe and craggy ascent all begūne to despaire of euer getting it downe and so were ready to departe But the prudent Ouerseer said Not so but let vs in the name of God and S. Bridgit to whome nothing is impossible rowle it downe and so conceauing a firme faith of the holie virgins asistance they cast it downe and loe tho stone rowling amongst the rocky stony cragges trunled downe without any detriment from the mountaine and thence was carried to the mill To which mill a certaine pagan sent his corne by an ignorāt simple man to be groūd when the corne was laid betweene the stones the aforesaid stone being the vppermost stood irremoueable neither could the violent current of the great riuer nor yet the paynfull industry of men whele it about at last knowing that the corne belonged to a pagan Magitian and therefore S. Bridgits mill would not grinde it they remoued and put it away powring other graine insteede therof and then the stone without any impediment kept its ordinary wonted course in grinding 3. It hapned within a while after that the mill by some chaunce or other tooke fire which consumed the howse and the other stone to that was ioyned to this but as for this stone that was particulerly dedicated to S. Bridgit the fire did not presume to touch neither was it branded with any signe or marke of burning which made them to bring the stone away and to place it neare to S. Bridgits church doore where many diseased meeting by the only touch of this stone were deliuered from their maladies Here our author by occasion of this insueing miracle enlargeth himself in describing the magnificence of Saint Bridgits church the sumptuousnes of the oratories the curiosity of anticke workes and variety of curious portratures with many other remarkable particulers worthy the reading which we to continue our intended course of breuity do wittingly passe ouer and will content our selues with the bare succinct relation of the miracle it selfe which was this 4. The gate of Saint Bridgits oratory thorough which she and her holy virgins passed when they went to receaue the delicious viand of our Sauiours sacred and pure body being broken downe made wider the carpenters setting the former doore vpon the hinges which was found was lesse by a fourth part or quarter wherupon they resolued either to add another peece to the ould doore or to make another al of new and as they were debating the busines the principall worke maister sayd Wee ought this next night to watch and pray at S. Bridgits monument to the end that she may direct vs in the morning what is best to be done in this matter so passing al the night ouer at her shrine and rysing the next morning after saying some prayers setting the ould doore vpon the hinges it fitted all the gate so iust that it nether wanted nor yet exceeded any thing in conuenient bignes and in this manner was the doore by the merits of Saint Bridgit extended to an equall commensuratiue proportion with the gate of the church Who can expresse sayth our author here the admirable beauty of this Church or how can we declare the marueiles of this Citty Or who may recount the innumerable thronges and infinit multitudes of people flocking thither from all countryes Some come to delight them selues with plentifull diuersity of banquets some to solace themselues with variety of pleasant showes and spectacles others to obtayne the cure of their diseases and others with rich and great donaryes to solemnise Saint Bridgits natalitiall feast which falleth vpon the first of February vpon which day in the yeare of Christ 518. as we haue touched aboue in the first paragraffe of this present chapter the holy virgin passed from the miseries of this mortal life to the immortall ioyes of paradise Whither God of his infinit grace conduct vs all to him to his all immaculate mother and to the two glorious patrones of Ireland Saint Patricke and Saint Bridgit be all honour glory and prayse world without end Amen FINIS THE LIFE OF THE GLORIOVS ABBOT S. COLVMBE THE GREAT PATRON OF IRELAND AND APOSTLE OF THE PICTS Abridged out of the Latin written by S. Adamnanus The first booke of S. COLVMBS propheticall Reuelations Of S. Columbs Parents Nauigation into Brittany and of his prophecy touching S. Fintenus CHAP. I. SAINT Columbe the Great was borne of noble and illustrious parents his Father was named the sonne of Fergusus and his Mother Aethnea The second yeare after the warre of Culedreiune and the two and forty of his age he passed ouer into Britanny being desirous for the loue of Christ to goe thither in pilgrimage From his youth he was trained vp in Christian discipline and in the study of wisedome his integrity of body and purity of soule he kept alwayes vnblemished and though he liued on earth yet his conuersation was in heauen His countenance was sweet and angelicall his talke cleane and chast his carriage holy and saint-like his wit quicke and excellent and his councell graue and mature no part of his tyme not so much as the space of one houre did he euer mispend for he was alwayes imployed eyther in prayer in writting in reading or in some good exercise His abstinēce was so great and his watchinges so longe in which he exercised himselfe day and night without intermission that they went beyond the course of humane ability and yet in the midst of all these austerityes he alwayes showed a cheerefull countenance representing thereby the Saint like ioy of his hart 2. S. Fintenus who after became so famous ouer all the Churches of Ireland conceaued in his younger yeares an earnest desire of forsaking Ireland and visiting our Saint Columbe Being inflamed with this desire he went to a certaine friend of his a very wise and venerable man named Columbus to take his aduice in the matter who liked well of his holy resolution thither at the same tyme came two of S. Columbes monkes who being demanded touching their iourney answerd We are newly come out of Brittany and this day from the monastery of the Oaken-field Roboretum is your holy father S. Colomb wel and in good health sayth Columb With that they sheding teares aboundantly replyed truly our father and Patron is well for a few dayes past he departed to Christ. Vpon knowledge whereof Fintenus Columbus and the rest that were
death and dyed The Saint saw the Angells and Diuells fighting about the possession of his soule At last the Angells preuayled and conducted the soule to the ioyes of Paradise All this the saint tould one of his Monkes charging him not to reueale it all the dayes of his life Whilest the Saint liued in Leinster to be trayned vp in wisedom learning it fortuned that a wicked man a cruell persecutor of the good pursued in a certain place a yong Damsell who fled from him she by chance espyed her brother an old man who was master to S. Columbe to whome she made all haste possible for rescue The old man called on S. Columbe to the end that they might both iointly defend her from the cruell persecutors hands who came no sooner to the place but in their eyes he slue her without regarding them any whit whereat the good old monke was so grieued and strucke with anguish that turning to S. Columbe he sayd How long o holy youth Columbe will God the iust iudge suffer this wickednesse ioyned with our dishonour to passe vnpunished The Saint pronounced this iust though dreadfull sentence against the flagitious murderer The selfe same houre that the maydens soule shal ascend vp to heauen his soule shall descend downe to hell And loe without delay the wicked man fell downe dead The report of this fearefull and suddaine vltion was blowen ouer many Churches of Scotland to the great honour and veneration of the holy Deacon 2. A certaine pilgrime came to seiourne with the Saint in the I le of Hoy for some monethes to whome the Saint sayd This day a certaine cleargie man of your prouince whose name I know not is now a carrying betweene the Angels to heauen The brother hearing this began to muse with himselfe and to call to mind the mans name so after a litle while he sayd to the saint I know a seruant of Christ named Diarmitius who built him a little monastery in the selfe same territory wherein I kept my residence It is the selfe same party you name answered the Saint whome the celestiall spirits bring to the ioyes of Paradise Neyther is it negligently to be obserued how that the glorious Saint kept from the notice of men many secrets that were reuealed to him and this for two reasons as himselfe signifyed to a few of his monks First to auoyde ostentation and selfe esteeme secondly to auoyd the molestation that the multitudes would put him in inquiring after seuerall affaires and matters 3. Another tyme the saint sought in the woodes a solitary place vnfrequented by men commodious for the exercise of holy prayer whē he began to pray suddenly he saw an vgly and deformed army of Diuells to fight against him with Iron spits who intended as the Saint knew by the inward illustration of the holy Ghost to assaile his monastery to kill with their pointed stakes many of his monkes But he albeit all alone tooke S. Pauls armour and fought couragiously against the whole host of his infernal aduersaries and so the conflict continued for the most part of the day neither could they ouercome him nor yet he driue them out of his Ile vntill the Angells came to his helpe whose terrour made the Diuels depart After their departure the saint prophecyed how they would inuade the monasteryes of Ethica and inflict pestilent diseases on the inhabitants wherof many would dye Within two dayes likewise the saint foretould how Bathaneus by the help of prayers and fasts preserued his monastery from their inuasion in so much that none dyed but one 4. In the middle region of Ireland liued a certaine Smith a man much addicted to almes deeds and other good workes when this vertuous Artizan came to the finall period of his mortall life the Saint spoke to a few that were about him in this manner The Smith did not labour in vaine who with the labour of his handes hath purchased euerlasting rewardes his soule is now carryed by the Angels to the ioyes of the heauenly Country Another tyme did he see the soule of a poore but very holy woman comming in company of the Angells to meete her husbands soule at his decease and this he made knowne to one of his Monkes named Genereus a Saxon by birth How S. Columbe knowing by reuelation of the death of S. Brendan and S. Columbanus the Bishop sayd masse in honour of them and how a certaine Monke saw him conuersing with the Angels CHAP II. ANother tyme likewise whilest the saint siued in the I le of Hoy in the morning very earely he called vpon his familiar tender Diarmitius and sayd to him Let the sacred misteryes of the Eucharist be made ready in all haste for this day is the deposition of S. Brendan Why quoth Diarmitius doe you command such solemnityes of masses to be made ready this day seeing none came out of Ireland that might bring vs newes of that holy mans death Goe sayd the Saint and obey my word for this last night I saw the heauens open and quires of Angels descending downe to meet S. Brendans soule with whose bright and incomparable splendour the compasse of al the world was enlightned and illustrated 2. Another day also as the monkes put themselues in a readinesse for the seueral works of the monastery the saint cōmanded them to rest that day to make ready the furniture of the sacred oblation and their portions to be encreased as on Sunday For sayd he albeit I be altogether vnworthy yet must I this day celebrate the sacred mysteryes of the Eucharist in honour of that soule which this night hath been carryed among the holy quires of Angells to the interminable ioyes of Paradise These things being spoken the Religious obeyed very promptly and all thinges for the celebrating of the diuine seruice were prepared After they went with their holy Abbot to the Church where after singing part of the office they came to the Hymne where mention is made of S. Martin The Saint sayd to the singers This day you must sing of Columbanus the Bishoppe Then all the Monkes who were present vnderstood Columbanus the Bishop of Leynster S. Columbs deare friend to be translated to a better life Within a few dayes there came out of Leynster who reported that he departed the self same night that his death was reuealed to the Saint 3. Another tyme when the Saint sate writing in his cell his face was suddenly altered he pronounced this voyce from his pure breast Helpe helpe two brothers who stood at the doore to wit Colgus and Lugneus demanded the cause of that suddaine voice To whome the venerable Abbot made this answeare I commanded an Angel of our Lord who stood with you to succour one of the brothers falling downe from the toppe of a great house that is now building in the monastery of the Oaken-field The Saint added further Very admirable and scarce ineffable is the
in the meane tyme these many dayes I haue deuoutly begged of God that he would be pleased in the end of this 30. years to finish my earthly pilgrimage and to call me to his heauenly mansion this was the cause of my ioy for I saw the Angels sent frō the throne of glory to meet my soule after its departure out of my body loe being now suddenly stayd they stand on the rocke at further side of our sea would come in hast for my soule but they are not permitted to approach neerer for what our Lord hath graunted he hath now suddēly altered hearing the prayers of many churches for me who haue obtained a thing against my will that foure yeares more may be added to the tearm of my mortall pilgrimage this sorrowfull delay is the cause of my present griefe which foure years when they shall come to an end I shall without any precedent sicknesse of body passe to the euerlasting ioyes of Paradise 2. The tearme of the prementioned years now drawing on the true Prophet and very noble Abbot being loaden with yeares went forth in a waggon one day to visit the Brothers that were at worke to whome he sayd I conceaued an earnest desire to go to our Sauiour who granted it me if my selfe would on Easter day which we haue lately celebrated but because I would not haue the ioy of that festiuity conuerted into heauinesse I chose rather to diferre my departure out of this world a little longer With this the Monkes fell into great heauinesse whome their pious Father begon to animate with very comfortable words and sweete exhortations as much as he could Then cōuerting his face to the Orient he blessed the Iland with all the inhabitants From that tyme forwards the Iland was neuer molested with the annoy of vipers within a few dayes after whilest the masses were a celebrating as the Saint eleuated vp his gracious countenance it was suddenly dyed with a most delectable and liuely rednes for at that houre he saw the Angell of our Lord flitting vp and downe in the Oratory and in regard the admirable aspect of an Angel instilleth ioy into the harts of the elect the Saint therfore here abounded with ioy and when some that were present enquired after the cause of his ioy he answered Loe an Angell of our Lord sent to require a certaine depositum very deere to God came into the Church and after looking downe ouer vs and blessing vs departed None of them that were present vnderstood what depositum was that the Angell came for But our holy Patron called his owne soule which God committed to his charge by the name of depositum which he rendred vp within six dayes after 3. On the next Saturday the holy Abbot and his faythfull tender Diarmitius went out to blesse a Barne where the Saint seeing two heaps of grayne sayd I congratulate much with my monkes for if I must needs depart this yeare they haue sufficient prouision Diarmitius hearing this sentence became very heauy you constristate vs so often this yeare because you speake so often of your departure to whome he sayd I will acquaint you with a secret touching my death so that you promise faythfully not to disclose it before I dye Diarmitius gaue him his faithfull word and promise Then the glorious Saint added This day in the sacred volumes is called Sabbaoth that is interprettd rest and truly this day is a Sabbaoth to me because it is the last of my laborious life wherein after the paines of my trauailes I sabbaoth and this next ensuing midnight of the venerable Sunday I shall be gathered to the holy Fathers for now our Lord Iesus vouchsafeth to inuite me to whome I shal depart at night as himselfe hath reuealed to me After this he returned backe towardes the Monastery In the way he ascended a little mountaine ouerlooking the monastery standing on the top of the hill eleuating his handes he blessed his monastery saying The Kinges not only of Scotland with their subiects but euen the Kinges of foraine nations with their vassalls will honor much this place though it be now narrow and despiseable and the Saints of other Churches will giue no small veneration to it How S. Columbe approching to the houre of his death made a mysticall diuision of the Psalme Inquirentes Dominum Lastly of his death buriall and some visions of his happy passage CHAP. VI. AFTER he had bestowed his sacred benediction he returned to his monastery and sate him downe to write the Psalter and comming to that verse of the 33. Psalme Inquirentes Dominum non minuentur omni bono They that seeke after our Lord shall not be diminished of any good Here must I pause in the end of this page Let Bathaneus write what followeth The last verse which the Saint wrote befitteth him very much since he shall neuer be depriued of the interminable riches of heauen and the subsequent verse Come childrē heare me I wil teach you the feare of our Lord becommeth his successor Bathaneus as being his successor not only in the office of teaching but also in the charge in writing After the Saint had giuen a stoppe to his pen at the foresayd verse he entred into the Church to heare sundayes euening masse which being done he came backe to his cell and sate in his bed where he had insteed of a bed a bare stone and another stone in lieu of a bolster sitting in that place he bequeathed to his ghostly children these his last precepts in the hearing only of Diarmitius I commend to you my children these my last wordes conserue true and vnfained charity and peace among you and if you obserue this according to the example of the Saints God the comforter of the good will help you and I being with him will intercede for you and he will affoarde you both what you all want in this life and likewise the ioyes which are prepared for them that keepe his Commandements 2. After finishing these sacred documents the glorious Saint held his peace at midnight when the bell rung to matines he rose going sooner then any of the company to the Church he fell downe on his knees before the Altar Diarmitius following slowly after saw all the church illustrated with Angelicall splendour which at his approach disappeared entring in therfore into the Church he called oft to the Saint with a weeping voice saying O father where are you And so groping vp and downe in the darke he found him lying prostrate before the Altar Diarmitius sate him downe by the Saint and laid his head in his sacred lappe in the meane tyme the Monkes came who seeing their holy Father ready to dye began to lament euen at the very instant of the separation of his soule as we heard from some who were eye-witnesses he looked about him with a viuacious and pleasant countenance contemplating the holy Angells that came to fetch