Of S. Patrickes Country, Parents, Byrth, and some miracles wrought by him in his Infancy. CHAP. I.

IN the village of Taburnia in Brittany, hard by Emptor Towne, in the South of England, there liued a man named Calphurnius, who took to wife a french Damoiselle named Conquessa, Neece to S. Martin Archbishop of Tours in France. This holy couple, liued togeather in great sanctity, and perfectiō, 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 [Page 2] in the lauer of holy Baptisme, but God began to denounce to the world, his admirable sancti­ty, by the voyce of stupendious miracles, in mā ­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 hād of the child Patrick (newly christened) to make the signe of the Crosse on the ground:The si­gne of the cros­se. 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 [Page 3] Aunt of theirs, after the dissoluing of the frost, a certaine sinke, or Va [...]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 thē 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 [Page 4] 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 admiratiō 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 [Page 5] 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 negligēce, 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 [Page 4] [...] [Page 5] [...] [Page 6] 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 motiō 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,Fastes, Wat­chinges, & other workes of Pen­nance. and spiritual Canticles, which he got by hart; for euē 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 [Page 7] 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, breakinge into England, carryed away many captiues, and among the rest S. Patricke, being then sixtene yeares old, of whome they made sale in Ireland to a certaine Pagan petty-king named Milchoe, who raigned in the North. By Milchoes appoin­tement, S. Patricke was deputed to the seruile charge of keeping Hogges: the holy youth, im­braced patiētly God dispostition, & omitted not in the meane season to exercise himself in deuotiō & in the care of his saluation. An hundred times a day, and as many more in the night, did he pro­strate himselfe in prayer before God. As for his fastes, they were admirable, liuing on roots, hear­bes, [Page 8] and such other slight food, and full often without any corporall sustenance, neyther could the rigour of the season, or sharpenes of the wea­ther, cause him at any tyme to intermit his exer­cises of deuotion.

2. After the enduring of six yeares captiui­ty, the Blessed Saint ceased not with vnfatigable groanes, and feruent prayers, to solicite the diuine Maiesty in behalfe of his freedome, & returne to his natiue soyle, and parents. Whereupon one day as he was in prayer, an Angel appeared to him, as­suring him that his fastes, and prayers had ascen­ded vp in the sight of God, & that his releasemēt was neere at hand. The Angel added further, that himselfe was named Victor, that he was peculiarly deputed to his custody, and that at all occasions he would be ready to releeue, and assist him. Thē the Angel directed the Saint to a place which the Swine had digged and rooted vp, where he was to find a summe of gold wherewith to pay his ran­some. Moreouer the Angell told him, that at the next hauen there was a Ship bound for England, which could not (God appoynting it so) haue a fauourable wind without his presence.

3. S. Patricke hauing payd his ransome to his greedy, aud cruell Lord, hastened to the ha­uen [Page 9] fore showen to him by the Angell, where im­barking himselfe in the formentioned Ship, after three dayes sayling (the windes being fauourable) they arriued safely on the coast of England, where going ashore, in traueling through a solitary, and baren Countrey, some foure & twenty dayes to­geather, they began to feel the extremity of hun­ger. S. Patricke all this while [...] not to preach vnto them the kingdome of heauen, and the saith of the most holy Trinity, but they willfully shut their eyes against the light of truth, vital that ve­xation, the mistris of vertue, gaue them vnderstā ­ding: for being pinched with the implacable rage of hunger, the eldest of the broke out into these wordes: Thou seest, O worshipper of Christ, to what extremity we are brought, inuocate then thy God, whose omnipotency thou blasest to the end, that tasting of his liberality, we may be [...]cited to a dore, & [...] knowledge his Maiesty. Saint Patricke offered vp his players to god in their behalfe, and loe suddenly there appeared [...] and wild hony in such plenty, that they [...] their present distresse and were wel prouided for against their future ne­cessaryes. And though for the present they both thanked God, and had his Saint in great venera­tion; yet the [...] gale of prosperity & plenty [Page 10] ingendred in them an obliuion of their bountiful benefactour, and ingratitude for his singuler be­nefite, in so much that of that miraculous proui­sion, they offered victimes and sacrifices to their Idols, and after eate of them, of which idolatrous victuals S. Patricke would not in any case tast, al­beit he were earnestly intreated thereunto, but by Gods fauour, fasted out twenty dayes without any kind of corporall sustenance.

4. Least the greatnes of miraculous signes or fastes, should extoll Godds chosen vessell Saint Patricke, the Angell of Satan was permitted to buffet him. One night, the prince of darknes rushed vpon the Saint so fiercely, that he depri­ued him of the vse, and exercise of his members, and senses, and thus molested him for the space of three dayes: the Saint in his distresse had recour­se to God, his sure, and soueraigne refuge, twice inuoking for his helpe,The in­uocatiō of Saints Elias the prince of Prophtes: Elias being sent by our Lord, chased away that di­abolicall tentation, restored the Saint to the vse of his senses, and members, illustrating him both inwardly & outwardly with immense splendour. The Saint ouercoming this assault of the aduersa­ry, togeather with some other difficultyes in the way, returned home to his natiue soyle, to the vn­speakable [Page 11] ioy of his Parēts, who requested him with teares in their eyes, not to depriue them any more of the contentment Parents reap of their childrēs presence. The mirrour of obedience Patricke, out of reuerence & respect to his Parents, remayning with them for a while.

Of a vision Saint Patricke had touching the conuersion of Ireland: of his iourney to Rome, where he was made Bishop, and of his mission by the Popes ho­lynes for Ireland. CHAP. III,

WHILES S. Patricke liued with his Fa­ther, one night, he saw in a vision as it were a man of a comely countenance, and cariage, bringing many letters from Ireland, and giuinge him one to reade: which when he began to reade, he found written in the very beginning: Haec est vox Hibernigenarum. This is the voyce of the Irish nation. Hauing read the beginning, and inten­ding to go on with the rest, it seemed to him that he saw in spirit, the Irish infants shut vp yet in their mothers wombes, crying to him with a loud voice: We pray thee, O holy mā Patrick, that thou come, & conuerse with vs & set vs free. The Saint [Page 12] could not read any further, but awaking out of sleepe, he rendred many thankes to God, and by reason of the vision, he persuaded himselfe, that God called him to conuert the Irish nation, that seemed to craue and desire his presence: & being desirous to know further the diuine pleasure tou­ching this affaire, he had recourse to God, who by the Angel Victor, commaunded him to repaire into France, there to be trayned vp in Christian learning, and discipline.

2. S. Patricke, as God appointed him, went into France, and there repaired to S. German Bi­shop of Antisiodorum, with whome he liued some eighten yeares al which tyme he imployed in stu­dying the holy Scriptures: He was by S. G [...]rm [...]n promoted to holy orders successiuely, & lastly in­uested with the sacred order of Priesthood.Holy orders Priest­hood. Saint Patricks earnest desire of attayning to greater gra­ce of diuine knowledge, made him repayne to his Vncle S. Martin Archbishop of Tours: this holy Bishop being a Monke himselfe, cloathed his Ne­pheu Patricke with a monkes weed and instructed him in regular discipline,S. Pa­tricke was a Monke. and monasticall obser­uances, which the Saint embraced very willingly, and according to the tenour of them, directed his life [...]. So taking their leaues each of [Page 13] other, S. Patricke returned to his old maister S. Germain againe.

3. S. Patricke determined with himselfe to go to Rome,S. Pa­tricke would not vn­dergo the con­uersion with­out the Popes speciall leaue. to be better instructed in the Ecclesi­asticall constitutions, and Canons being [...] with all that his iourney for Ireland might be ap­proued, and ratifyed by Apostolicall authority; which his 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 Ile 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, [Page 14] 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,S. Pa­tricke honou­red the reliques of Mar­tyrs, & prayed at their shrines. 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,S. Pat. was ma­de Bi­shop by the Po­pe. 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,S. Pa­trickes mission. commanded S. Patricke to succeed him, in that charge of preaching the Ghospell to the Irish na­tion. S. Patricke, with twenty more famous for [Page 15] 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,Hallow­ed Altar stones. 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 [Page 16] 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 [...] shalbe set in the East of his house, and his people shall [Page 17] 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, [Page 18] 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,Sauall, that is S. Patricks grange. 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,S. Pa­trike said masse. 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 [Page 19] 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,Miracls wroght at the se­pulcher of Saints 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 [Page 20] 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. Holy orders. 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, [Page 21] 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, [Page 22] 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, [Page 23] 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,Candels vsed in the di­uine of­fice. 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,Hallow­ing of fire on Easter saturday 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 [Page 24] 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.Psal. 19. v. 8. 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 [Page 25] 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,Psal. 6 [...] v. 1. 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 [Page 26] 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 S^t.: 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 [Page 27] 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 cō ­fessed. 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, [Page 26] [...] [Page 27] [...] [Page 28] 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 [Page 29] 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 [Page 30] 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 three holy Bishops Mal [...] Moch, and Munis, who also following their Oncle, became diligent worke men in our Lords vineyard.

[...]. 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 [Page 31] 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 foundatiō 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 [Page 32] Christ, none of thy posterity shall enioy thy Kingdome▪ but it shalbe transferred to thy yoūger 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 benedictiō 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.

[Page 33] 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 [Page 34] 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 heauēly 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, & [Page 35] 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, [Page 36] how the Saint conuerted the two holy Virgins, daughters to Gauranus: how he brought a Magi­tian, whome the earth had swallowed 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 cō ­ming 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 [Page 37] 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 coū ­trey 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 [Page 38] 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 [Page 39] 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 [Page 40] 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, shal­be 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 [Page 40] 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 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 [Page 40] [...] [Page 40] [...] [Page 42] 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 [Page 43] 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 [Page 44] 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 [Page 45] 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 [Page 46] of Christs bāner,The si­gne of the cros­se. 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, shalbe 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 [Page 47] 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 Oengus being attended vpon with twelue of his Princes, and 1400. of his subiects, followed the Saint, whē he came as farr as Coiueach a towne lying vpon a riuer Prosnach, where a ho­ly Bishop named Frianus, a Romā by nation kept his residence, by diuine prouidence it fell out, that noe victuals could be had for that great com­pany; the blessed Bishop being desirous to giue the multitude a spirituall and corporall refection, commanded a Cow, by whose milke S. Frianus liued, to be made ready for supper: but what was it among so great a company? The Saint therfore directed his prayers to the heauenly sanctuary, & loe there ranne out to the adioyning wood, two [Page 48] great Stagges, and two great Hogges, which pre­sented themselues before the Saint, who commā ­ded that they should be likewise made ready: so al the company being set to supper, that little pro­uision was layd before them, which by vertue of the Saints sacred benediction, serued to satisfy all the company so plentifully, that a great deale of reuersion was gathered vp, and carryed thence, which need not seeme incredible to any, who will reflect with the eye of their consideration, vpon our Sauiours promise: He that beleeueth in me, the miracles that I doe, he shall also doe, and greater then these shall he doe.

5. This miraculous refection was seconded by as miraculous a signe; for the holy Saint to re­moue and roote out of their harts the tares of infi­delity, in presence of that great assembly, restored to life 19. dead bodyes at once: all those who were so miraculously restored to the number of the li­uing, rehearsed in the hearing of all the assembly, what they had seen touching the torments of hel, proclayming Patrickes God, to be the true and li­uing God. King Oengus, and his subiects magni­fyed God, and honoured the Saint as their proper Apostle: the men who were reuiued were christ­ned, & became Monkes vnder the obedience of S. Frianus.

Of S. Patrickes returne into the North, of the resusci­tation of King Echu, and of his prophecy touching the sanctity of S. Columba. CHAP. X.

THE holy Bishop came againe vnto the North, where King Echu reigned, who had a daughter named Cynnia, whome he loued most tenderly. This young Princesse imbraced S. Pa­trickes doctrine, and against her Fathers will, & loathing a carnall wedlocke, she resolued to dedi­cate her virginity to her heauenly spouse: her Fa­ther seeing the loue of chastity soe deeply rooted in her hart, sent for the Saint, and spoke to him as followeth; The hope I had by my daughter, to be blessed with a copious posterity of Nephueus, is cut off by your meanes; if then for the want of so great a blessing, you promise me the kingdome of heauen, without compelling me to receaue Baptisme, she shall serue her Creator, as you shall thinke good, otherwise you shall misse of your desire. The Saint full of confidence in God, lea­uing all the matter to his diuine disposition, yeil­ded to the Kinges request. The young Lady, be­ing vayled, & consecrated by the Saint, led a life so excelling with many ornaments of vertue, that [Page 50] she by her example, drew many to the seruice of Christ, & both in this life, & after her death, shi­ned aboundantly with the glory of miracles. The Saint commended her to the care of S. Cethuberis, who was the first of all the Irish Virgins, that re­ceaued the veyle of virginity from the Saint: to her being Superiour of the Monastry of Druimdu­chan where a great number of sacred virgins liued, the Saint wrote a letter of exhortation.

2. Within a few dayes King Echu departed this life, who before his death commanded, that his buriall should be deferred vntill such tyme as the Saint came, who knowing by reuelation all what happened, made al hast possible to the kings court, where arriuing he offered his feruēt pray­ers to Almighty God in the behalfe of his resur­rection. The King being reuiued, rehearsed what he had seene touching the glory of heauen, and the torments of the damned: and further added, that he saw the place, which the Saint promised him in the heauenly glory, whereof he could not take possession, because he was not baptised: after baptisme the Saint put the King to his choice, eyther of prolonging his dayes in this life, or go­ing speedily to heauen: the King misprising al the glory of this world, in comparison of the celestial [Page 51] felicity, did choose to be dissolued, and to be with Christ: so taking the diuine Viaticum of the holy Eucharist, he was translated to an immortall life.

3. The Blessed Saint by occasion of difficul­tyes and doubtes, which in some places where he preached the Ghospell, were obiected against the last, & generall resurrection of the dead, brought to life againe men, whose bodyes were resolued into cinders many yeares before, as himselfe in an epistle directed to a deare friend of his beyonde the seas, deposeth in these tearmes: Our Lord im­parted to me, his vnworthy little one, the vertue of doing such signes among this Pagan people, as we reade neuer the like to haue beene wrought euen by the Apostles themselues, so that in the name of our Lord Iesus, I haue reuoked from the dead, bodyes turned into ashes many yeares before, yet notwithstanding I pray that none e­steeme me, for these or other like miracles, worthy to stand in comparison with the Apostles, or any men of perfection, considering I am a wretched sinner, and con­temptible. Stay thy selfe heere, courteous Reader, and obserue to what height of perfection this B. Bishop had attained, who working such, and so great miracles, was so abiect, and so contemptible in his owne eyes; for my part I admire more this profound humility in him, thē the raysing of the cad.

[Page 52] 4. My intended course of breuity, makes me not to set down at large, how the Saint reclaymed from idolatry a petty King called Elelius, with all his kingdome, by reuiuing the kings sonne, whō swine had torne in peeces. As also a noble man, who was very hard fauoured, and contemptible in his person, by vertue of S. Patrickes prayers, became very faire of complexion, and very personable of stature, to the great astonishment of all that knew him. A tender suckeling, found in the tombe where his mother lay buryed, was brought to S. Patricke, who named him Olcanus, and set him to his booke, & being come to riper yeares, he passed into France, where he attayned to great learning. Afterward comming into Ire­land, he taught in publick schooles, and was ma­ster of many a holy Bishop, and himselfe became a Bishop of great merit and vertue.

5. A certaine Prince named Conallus, sought and obtayned S. Patrickes blessing: his younger brother named Fergusus, came to the Saint with the like intention: the Saint hauing first prayed, blessed Fergusus with great attention; Conallus see­ing what diligence and deuotion the Saint vsed in in blessing his younger brother aboue him selfe, was not a little astonished, and troubled thereat. [Page 53] S. Patricke obseruing that alteration in the Prin­ces countenance, declared what moued him to vse such diuersity in blessing them, fortelling prophe­tically: Blessing, I haue blessed thy brother Fergusus, in regard of a blessed sonne that shall descend from him, for his sonne Feleminus, shal beget a sonne, who shalbe called Columba, a name very answerable to his holy life, for from his Mothers wombe, he shalbe full of the holy Ghost, and shalbe inriched with the treasures of di­uine wisedome, and vnderstanding: he wilhe the shy­ning, and burning lanterne of his generation, and shalbe iustly called the Prophet of the highest, & from the time that he comes to yeares of discretion, a deliberate vn­truth shall not escape out of his mouth. How truly this hath beene presaged of S. Columba called Columcill, who was the founder of an hundred Monasteryes, the history of his life, sufficiently declareth.

6. Within the compasse of seauen weekes, which S. Patrike spent in the country called Tur­tirini, he builded seauen Churches, ouer which he ordayned Pastour S. Connendus, a man of great ver­tue, and learning. After a few dayes S. Connedus came to S. Patricke, who commanded him to re­turne back to his Church, fortelling that he need not to feare the effusion of his blood, for that none should be killed in that place for euer. The [Page 54] euent hath showed his prophecy to haue beene most true. The B. Bishop prophecied of the nati­uity of S. Treha, Vayling of vir­gins. at whose consecratiō a vayle was sent from heauen, wherwith the Saint vayled her.

Of the conuersion of the Ile of Man, of a strange vision S. Brigit had, and of the prophecye touching the future sanctity of the Saints, Colmanellus, and Comgallus. CHAP. XI.

SAINT Patricke seeing that in Ireland the haruest was great, and the workemen few, tooke shipping to passe into England, there to ga­ther many coadiutors and fellow-helpers, in cul­tiuating our Lords field. In those dayes the Arri­an perfidy, and Pelagianisme tooke great rootinge in England, which the Blessed Bishop laboured to extirpate, by reclayming with signes & sermōs his deere Country-men to their former integrity of fayth: so comming backe into Ireland, he brought with him many learned and Religious men, of which number, thirty were installed by him Bishop in seuerall Episcopall seas. In his re­turne, he conuerted the Isle of man, ordayninge a learned and holy person named Germanus, Bishop [Page 55] ouer that young flocke, the like he did in seuerall other Isles. It was his custome not only in citties, but euen in principall townes, to install Bishops, to the end the faythful should not be depriued of the sacrament of Confirmation.

2. After the Saints returne out of England, he bestowed vpon six Cleargy-men, that were go­ing in pilgrimage ouer the seas, a Whales skinne, wherin himself was accustomed to stād whē he said Masse; hauing that guift of the Saints loue, they neuert felt in all the tyme of their trauaile, any penury or want. In processe of tyme they all six became very learned, and were made Bishops, & ended their dayes in great sanctity: their names were Lugacius, Columbanus, Meldanus, Lugadius, Cas­sanus, Ceranus.

3. Three whole dayes without intermission, did the Saint preach to infinite multitudes, that flocked from all parts to heare him, they thought they had not beene there one day, so sweet and at­tractiue were the Saints doctrine & discourses. In that assembly, was present the most holy virgin S. Brigit, who reclyning her head slept, which Saint Patricke perceauing, forbad that any should awake Gods beloued spouse, till she pleased her selfe: by the issue it was manifest, that that passage [Page 56] of the Canticles might be fitly applyed to her: I sleepe, but my hart waketh, in regard that her hea­uenly spouse imparted his secrets to her. Whē she awaked, the Saint cōmanded her to tel in the hea­ring of all the people, what she had seene, who o­beying him, tould that she saw first a Synod of mē all in white, with ploughes, oxen, and fieldes all white: after that she saw them to be stayned with spots, and lastly to become wholy blacke. S. Pa­tricke interpreted the former part to his own time wherein good workes and fayth,Faith & good workes. were vnited to­gether, and exercised: the second state to the fol­lowing generation, which would indeed persist in the candour of fayth, but would deface it with de­praued workes: the third state, he referred to the insueing ages, wherein men would not only giue ouer the exercise of good workes, but also would prophane their liues with renouncing of their fayth.

4. On a tyme S. Patricke made a iourney in­to Dalnardia, as he passed by a place called Mucoo­muir, his disciple Benignus saw quires of Angells inuironing that place with celestiall splendour, & piercing the skyes with the harmonious concent of diuine prayses; the vision disappering, he rela­ted to S. Patricke, all what he had contemplated, [Page 57] who being inspired by God, declared to his disci­ples, what that admirable vision pretended: Know then, sayd he, that a sonne of life, whose name shalbe Colmanellus, will build a Church in that place, where he will gather togeather manny sonnes of light, who will become with the Angels, cohabitants of the heauēly citty, and he himselfe shalbe the primate and legate of all Ire­land. In processe of time all fell out to be true, as the Saint foretould.

5. Another time S. Patricke with his holy fa­mily, ascended a little mountaine, not far distant from the valley, where afterwardes the monaste­ry of Bangor was built: from the hill topp they saw al the valley replenished with celestial bright­nes, and Angelicall quires: which admirable visi­on, moued all the company to intreate the Saint to build a Church in that sacred valley, which the Saint would not doe, but prophecying foretould: After the space of 60. years completely expyred, there will be borne a sonne of Light named Comgallus, which is interpreted a fayre pledge, who shalbe beloued both of God and men, and shall build in the place a fore­sayd, a Church of Saints, wherein shalbe gathered innu­merable troupes of the children of light, that shall dedi­cate themselues to the seruice of Christ. Not one iote of all this did passe vnaccomplished; for in the [Page 58] tyme fortould, Comgallus being borne, built the monastery of Bangor, wherein he begot to Christ by meanes of the Ghospell, many thousands of perfect Monkes: in so much, that that holy place, the fruitfull mother of Saintes as a vine fructify­ing in sweetnes of odour, did extend its branches to the sea, and its plants beyonde the sea; for it filled Ireland, Scotland, and many other Ilandes with perfect Monkes, and monasteries, as also forraine Countryes. One of the sonnes of that Monastery named Luanus founded a hundred mo­nasteries, another named Columbanus a most holy man full of diuine grace, erected many Monaste­ries, and was the father of a numberles number of holy Monkes: he builded the famous Monastery of Luxonium in France, and Bobium in Italy, where he ended his dayes most gloriously, and happily.

6. A wicked man named Fergus, who liued in Meath, hindered the Saint from building a church within his territoryes, which the Saint 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 [Page 59] 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, [Page 60] 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 [Page 61] 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 [Page 62] 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 [Page 63] 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 [Page 64] 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: which difficulty he made knowne to S. Patricke, who offered deuout and feruent prayers vp to God for this effect. And loe the next night after, God trās­ferred the water and the pallace so farre of, that it wrought his seruant no annoye, who afterwardes (though very much against his will) was ordained Bishop, & departed this life, shining with vertues, and miracles.

How S. Patricke penetrated S. Fiechus his conscience: of S. Fiecus his sanctity, and some great miracles wrought by S. Patricke. CHAP. XIII.

A Young gentleman of excellent education, and learning named Fiechus, had marryed [Page 65] a wife, which within few dayes dyed. As this man came where S. Patricke was, the Saint by inward illustration of the holy Ghost, penetrating his conscience, said: Behould a man or one wife, who according to the Apostle may be worthely aduan­ced to the sacred order of preisthood, and Episco­pall diginty. The younge gentle man, admiring how he came to see the secrets of his hart, receiued the lauer of regeneration, and by vertue of Saint Patricks blessing, made such progresse in learning, that in one day he learned the whole Psalter, and in a short time attayned to the vnderstanding of sacred Scriptures; he was successiuely inuested with holy orders, and in fine made Bishop in the Church of Sclepten, Monks. who in his episcopall sea, ere­cted a faire conuent of Monkes.

2. Because this holy Bishop, in regarde of his many infirmityes,Fastes. & weakning by long fasts, could not visite his Diocesse on foote, or exercice his Bishop-like function, S. Patricke sent him a Coach, which S. Secundinus, being ouercome by humane frailty tooke ill, thinking that himselfe deserued it better. S. Patrike knowing of the trou­ble Secundinus was in, sayd vnto him; fearing that by following of our own iudgmēt we may erre, let vs leaue the discussiō of the matter to the arbitre­mēt [Page 66] of an Angel. With that the Saint prayed to God, who sent an Angel, by whose order the horses were put into the coach, & dismissed without any to driue thē, adding further: that they were sent to him, with whome they would make a stay. The horses being harnished, and dismissed in manner as the Angell had set downe, the first night they came to S. Secūdinus dwelling place, the next night to another Saints house, and the third night to S. Fiechus house, where they stayed: giuing therby to vnderstand, that they were chiefly sent to him.

3. Another tyme the Angell commanded S. Fiechus to build a monastery, and the Angell him­selfe designed the Refectory, Oratory, & all other houses belonging thereunto. This holy Bishop was accustomed in the beginning of lent,Fasting of Lent. to retire himselfe to a solitary place, bringing with him for his sustenance but fiue barly loaues mingled with ashes. On Palme Sunday, or Maundy Thursday he would returne, bringing with him halfe of one of the loaues vneaten: this Blessed Fiechus sent be­fore him to heauen 60. Saintes, whome himselfe followed, being renowned both for sanctity and miracles.

4. Some wicked men sent the Saint as it were by way of present some poysoned cheses, which to [Page 67] the great astonishment of many he conuerted in­to hard stones, wherwith they were nothing reclai­med from their malice, but rather became more obstinate; for conspiring together against him, they sent fifty men to kill him. As they entred a certaine Forde to passe ouer it, the Saint seeing them, and knowing by diuine instinct, what mis­chiefe they intended, sayd vnto them with a loud voyce: You shall neyther come hither to vs, nor yet returne backe to your owne people, for your bodyes shal remaine in that water vntill the day of iudgment. Ac­cording to the Saints censure, they were without delay drowned, neither could their bodyes be euer after found, albeit great, and diligent search had beene made after them.

5. Another tyme, some children of Beliall digged vp deep pits and holes, in the way which the Saint with al his retinue was to passe, couering them ouer with greene grasse. The Saint full of confidence in God, gaue his benediction to his holy family, and so he, and they passed without receauing any hurt or detriment, the green grasse like solid earth yealding them firme passage. The Saint commanded a yong mayd, who gaue them notice of the ambush layd, for to call her Father, whome with his ten sonnes, and three daughters [Page 68] he conuerted to the Christian faith:Nunnes the daughters became Nunnes, and were vayled with the Saints owne handes. Of the sonnes, fiue florished in the world in great prosperity,Monks. and the fiue others, be­came Monkes of great perfection and sanctity, as the Saint had prophecied of them.

6. A certaine mā named Domnardus, being blind for a long time, & hearing that S. Patricke passed by, went forth to meet him, hoping by the Saints merits to recouer his eye-sight. As the blind came along in the way, he stunbled very often, which moued a cleargy man who was in the Saints cōpa­ny to laughter, which when the Saint vnderstood, that none of his cōpany should euer after presume to do the like, he spoke, as followeth to the Clergy mā: Amen I say to thee, that the eyes of this blind shalbe opened, & thy eyes excyting to thee irrilegious laughter shalbe stricken with blindnes: with that making the signe of the crosse, he opned the blind mās eyes, & shut the eyes of the cleargy man. The same day did the Saint erect vpon their feet three criples.

7. Nine Magitians cōspired the Saints death, & to haue the more free accesse to him, they coūter­feited thēselues to be Monks, putting on religious weeds. The Saint by diuine inspiration, knew thē to be wolues wraped in sheeps cloathing, making therfore the signe of the crosse against the childrē [Page 69] of Satan, behould fire descended from heauen, & consumed them all nine: The Saint lifting vp his hāds anathematized anidolatrous wood dedicated to Idols. O most strāge & remarkable miracle, all the wood like vnto the figge tree, spoken of in the holy Ghospel, withered by & by, and neuer after was seruiceable for any other vse, then the fire.

Of a mountaine swallowed downe, by the earth, and cast vp againe at the Saints intercession: and of seueral other great miracles. CHAP. XIIII.

ONE of the noble men of Munster, named Coruallus, would not permit S. Patricke to build a Church within his territoryes. Not farre from the noble mans house was a faire & spacious poole very pleasāt to behold, but the house by the interposition of a great mountayne, was depriued of the pleasure of that gratful prospect: the Saint vrged the noble mā, very much, to giue him leaue to build a church: who answeared. If you remoue this great mountaine, that depriues my house of the pleasāt prospect of the broad & spatious poole that lyes on the further side, I will then yeild to your request. The Saint offered his prayers vp to God, and with that the earth swallowed downe [Page 70] the mountaine, notwithstanding the wicked man would not stand to his former promise, wherefore the Saint prayed to God, the second tyme, & the mountaine did forthwith swell vp to its former height, & greatnes.

2. A wicked Tyrant named Euchodius, who liued in the country of Vlibia, caused two holy Virgins to be stiffled, and misprised S. Patricks in­tercession for them.Holy Virgins. The Saint denounced pro­phetically to him, That none of his posterity should succeed him, but that his Lordship should be transferred to his younger brother. The Tyrants wife came, & begged the Saintes blessing both for her selfe, & for the child, which she carried in her wombe, which the Saint gaue her, and foretould that she should be deliuered of a most holy issue. The childe being borne, was named Douengardus, and was most renowned both for sanctity & miracles. Euchodius within a few dayes, was depriued both of life, and of his lordship, which his yonger bro­thers posterity inioyed, according to S. Patrickes prophecy.

3. S. Patricke founded an Episcopall sea in a place called Achadfouiur, where he made one of his disciples namned Sennachus Bishop, a man of admirable purity, and innocency. S. Patticke [Page 71] blessed him, and all his family, prophecying, that many Saintes and holy Pristes should spring out of it, in which place Sennachus ended his daies in great sanctity.

4. As S. Patricke passed through a wood in Midernia, he found there a great company of men, cutting downe of great oaken trees, & in regard their axes were edge-lesse, and that they had no whetstons to whet thē, the poore mē were quite wearied out of breath, the skin & flesh was torne from their handes, euen to the sinewes, & bones. The Saint compassionating their distresse, gaue them his blessing, wherupon they recouered their strength, their hands were healed vp, & their hat­chets so well edged, that they cut the solid oake trees with as little difficulty, as if they had beene tender twigges. This prodigious effecte of the Saints blessing, did perseuer in them, vntill such tyme as the Saint procured their release, for which end, he went to their cruell Lord named Tremei, but he wold not admit the Saints intercessiō.Fast and prayer. The Saint after three dayes fast & prayer, came againe with great submission to procure their exemption from bondage, but this cruell man he found to be āother Pharao, who presētly got vp into his coach, with purpose to agg rauate their yoake of afflicti­on, [Page 72] but God reuenged the contempt offered his new Moyses, for loe the horses precipitated them­selues with great violence into a standing water, nere by, & the man of Belial being drowned, the captiues were restored to their long expected and wished liberty.

5. S. Patricke intended to erect an episcopal sea in a place called Luda, but an Angell wished him to desist from that worke, for that S. Micheus; who came out of England in pilgrimage into Ire­land, should there build and inhabit that place; which fell out accordingly. One day as Saint Pa­tricke and Micheus were in spiritual conference, an Angell tendered them a letter, wherin S. Patricke was commaunded to bestow that place, with all the appartenaunces vpon S. Micheus, and himselfe to erect his Archepiscopall sea at Ardmach. The Saint obeyed willingly the diuine commande­ment, committing to S. Micheus his care of twelue leapers, whome himselfe was accustomed to tend, and so departed.

6. Twelue brethren, whose Father was lately deceased, made a meeting for the parting of their portions, and excluded their younger brother na­med Fergusius from any share in that diuision: who had recourse to Saint Patricke, by whose intercessi­on [Page 73] he receaued a competent portion of his fathers inheritance: the young noble man, bestowed one halfe of his estate vpon S. Olcan, who erected an Episcopall sea in a place called Derkan. S. Patricke blessed Fergusius, & prophetically sayd vnto him: Albeit thou seemest now humble, and contemptible in the eyes of thy brethren, yet thou shalt be shortly prince o­uer them, and many good Kings will descend from thee, which shall not only reigne in their owne country, but also in foraine Kingdomes. This prophecy of the Saint was fullfilled; for from him descended Eda­nus the sonne of Gabranus, who subdued Scotland, and whose posterity reigneth yet in that king­dome.

How S. Patricke gaue Prince Conall his benediction, and the Crosse for his armes, and of many re­markable miracles. CHAP. XV.

SAINT Patricke came to his deare ghostly child Prince Conall, demanding of him whe­ther he would be content or no, to be cloathed with a Monkes weede: the Prince answered, that his hart was ready to performe what the Saint would inioyne him. The holy Bishop reioycing [Page 74] much at his deuotion, is reported to haue sayd to him: Thou shalt carry a sheild, and staffe as the mar­kes of soueraigne power, and as the signes of thy great merit: Thou shalt represent the person, and habit of a lay man, but shalt enioy the merit and dignity of a Monke; many Saints shall spring from thee, and ma­ny nations of the earth shalbe blessed in thy seed. Mo­reouer with the rodde of Iesus the Saint made the signe of the Crosse vpon Prince Conals shield, which he and his posterity, euer after tooke for their armes.

2. A certaine man named Victor, hid him­selfe in the night, fearing that if he appeared in the Saints presence, he should be forced by the e­uidence of his doctrine, and signes to renounce I­dolatry. The Saint comming to the place where Victor was, so bright & subtill a light issued from him, that the splendour thereof pearced euen to the secret place, where Victor lay lurking. Victor being conuicted, or rather attracted by so euident a signe, became a Christian, bestowed all his estat vpon the Saint, and made himselfe the Saints dis­ciple, who in processe of tyme, attayned to such learning, and sanctity, that he was made a Bi­shop.

3. S. Patricke had a disciple named Volchanusa [Page 75] a man of great vertu, but specially of most remar­keable obedience. The Saint being desirous that his vertue knowne only to God, should be mani­fested to the world, for the edificatiō, & exāple of others, cōmanded Volchan to go & build a church wheresoeuer God would vouchsafe to prouide him a place: he without delay taking an axe vpon his shoulders, went his way. The Saint seeing the a­lacrity, and promptnes of his obedience, sayd to him: Doe not despayre, my most deare Volchan, of finding a place, wheresoeuer the Axe shall fall, build in that place; for there thou shalt increase into a great na­tion. After Volchan had walked on all day long, towardes the euening the Axe by chance slipped off his shoulder, in which place the obedient Volchan builded a Monastery, wherein himselfe and many others liued and dyed in great perfecti­on.

4. S. Patricke had a Drouer named Rodanus, who after became very learned, and a Bishop of great merit, and miracles: the Saint likewise pre­ferred S. Reuternus to the episcopall sea of Ciocher, and when he had consecrated him Bishop, he be­stowed vpon him a Chrismatory, or vessell of holy oyles for extreme Onction, and Confir­mation, that was sent him from heauen. A [Page 76] child named Lunanus by vertue 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 [Page 77] 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.S. Pa­trickes charity to the poore. 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 [Page 78] 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 [Page 79] 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,Pennāce merito­rious of glory. 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 [Page 80] 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 [Page 81] 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 cō ­passion 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 [Page 82] she was in her purpose of dedicating her vir­ginity to her maker,Professi­on of chastity. 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,Holy water & a great miracle wrought by it. 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. [Page 83] 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 [Page 84] 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,Priests, cleargy­men. & marueilous plē ­ty 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.S. Patr. the Po­pes Le­gate. 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,The an­tiquity of a Pal­lium in 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. [Page 85] 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,Honour done to Relikes. 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 [Page 86] 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, [Page 87] 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,Honour done to Relikes. 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 Ile 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 he obtayned of God, that the apparitions, and illusions should not molest the Christians from thence forwardes.

2. To the end that Ireland neuer after should be molested with venemous beasts, nor yet encō [Page 88] with the accustomed habitatiō of Diuels, the most excellent Bishop fasted forty dayes without any corporall food, imitating in that holy fast Moyses; who obserued it in the law of nature, and Elias, who obserued it in the written law, and especial­ly our deare Sauiour, who consecrated in his per­son that mysticall fast. The Saint therfore ascen­ded the high mountaine of Cruachanailge, where he disposed fiue stones in forme of a Crosse, and in the midst of them he placed himselfe, shewing aswell by the forme, and manner of his sitting, as by the mortification of his abstinence, himselfe to be the true seruant of Christs crosse. The Diuels grieuing much that their power, and dominion in Ireland had beene ouerthrowne and weakned, thronged about the Saint in the shap of most vg­ly, and deformed birdes, labouring with their horrid skrikes, to annoy and hinder the Saint in his holy prayers, but he being preuented by the grace of God, and assisted by his power, ma­king the signe of Christes triumphant banner a­gainst those fowle fiendes, he chased them away farre from him, and with frequent percussion of his cymball, he draue them out of all the coastes of Ireland, so that from that tyme euen to this present day, no venemous beastes were seene in [Page 89] Ireland, nor yet are the inhabitants since mole­sted with illusory apparitions of Diuells, as they be in other countryes the Saints cymball being broken with often playing vpon it, was amended by an Angell.

3. By Gods fauour, whose wont it is after a storme to cause a calme, the Diuels being chased and driuen away, a great multitude of Angels il­lustrated the mountaine with heauēly splendour, and recreated the Saint with their sweetest har­mony, the Saint after immolating the hostes of thankesgiuing and prayses to God, for inabling him to performe so long a fast, & for conferring such admirable fauours to Ireland at his interces­sion, descended from the mountaine, and played on his cymball, the sound wherof was heard ouer all the kingdome: then eleuating his handes, he blessed all Ireland, with the inhabitants thereof, and commended them to Christ; then did he make glad all the Church with his presence, so­lemnizing with great deuotion, our Sauiours tri­umphant Resurrection.

4. The paschall festiuityes being duely, and deuoutly accomplished, the Saint with a great traine of spirituall children in his company, made a circuit about the land, teaching the wayes of [Page 90] Lord in al places, & with his efficacious sermons, strēghtning the inhabitāts in the faith of Christ. The people being incited by that admirable, and most prodigious signe of chasing away the diuels, venemous beasts, and Magitians, flocked from al parts to the saint, & submitted thēselues & al they had, to his holy will & pleasure, embracing with great deuotiō his doctrine & precepts. The Saint seeing what disposition our Lords field was in, to yeild not only the 30. or 60. but euē the hundred fold fruit, caused al the land to be deuided, and e­qually distributed, & being deuided, to be tithed with al the inhabitāts of both sexes, & euery tēth head▪ aswel in men, women, as cattle and mouea­bles, did he separate for our Lords part, al the mē he made Monks, & al the women he consecrated Nunnes, building innumerable monasteryes for thē, & assigning them the fifthes of lands, cattle, & other moueable goods for their sustentation: within a short space there was not a wildernes, no nor skarce any corner, or place in all the Ilād, but was replenished with perfect Mōks, & holy Nun­nes, so that Ireland by a peculier name was iustly called al the world ouer: The Iland of Saints: They liued according to the prescript, & tenour of life, which S. Patrick set thē downe; for cōtempt of the [Page 91] world, desire of heauenly things, morrtification of the flesh, abdication of self wil, they matched the Monks of Aegypt both in merit & number. Many foraine Regions were by thē illustrated with do­ctrine, & religion.

How the present, & future state of Ireland, was reuea­led to S. Patricke: and of the patronage the Saint affoordeth them, who are deuout vnto him. CHAP. XIX.

THE B. Saint with great instāce of praiers be­ged of God to know in what estate Irelād was in his Maiestyes eyes. God did heare the desire of his hart; for being in prayer, he saw al Irelād on a flame of fire; flaming vpward euen to heauen, an Angel telling him, that such was the estate of Ire­land in the eyes of God for that present. Within a little while, he saw mountaines as it were of fire, ascending to the cloudes; a short while af­ter he saw brightsome torches shining▪ after­wardes small lightes, and lastly a few coals raked in ashes, but yet aliue, to whome the Angell ap­pearing said: That by that variety was expressed▪ the seuerall estats Ireland should vnder go in the succeeding time. Saint Patricke bathing his face in tears, of­ten redoubled that of the Royall Prophet: VVil [Page 92] God reiect for euer? Or will he not add to be better pleased? Or will be cut off his mercy for euer from ge­neration to generation? Or will God forget to haue mercy? Or will be in his wrath keep in his mercyes? The Angell sayd, looke towardes the North, & thou shalt see the mutation of the right hand of the highest. The Saint lifted vp his eyes, and saw a little light arising in Vlidia, which striuing for a long space with the darknes, chased it away, and after illuminated all the Country, neuer ceasing to increase, vntill it brought Ireland to its free resembling and florishing estate. By the Saints interpretation, the fiery ardour, designed the pre­sent deuotion, and zeale of Religion and charity, wherewith the inhabitants were inflamed in the Saints dayes. The flaming mountains, the Saints who were conspicuous for miracles, vertuous life and learning. The diminution of light, the de­crease of sanctity; and the mist ouerclouding all the land, the infidelity that should preuaile in the Country.

2. As some of S. Patrickes disciples discour­sed together of his guiftes & vertues, one of them sayd, he was the holiest man breathing vpon the face of the earth: to whom S. Secundinus answered. Truly he had beene most holy, had he not beene [Page 93] indued with lesse fraternall charity then it beho­ueth him. Which comming to S. Patrickes hea­ring, he asked Secundinus what moued him to vtter such censure against him. Secundinus answered, because you accept not of the liuinges, and rich presents that are offered you, with which you might maintaine great multitude of holy men. To whome S. Patricke replyed: Charity makes me not to accept of such great charity; for if I did accept of what would be giuen me, I should leaue not so much as the pasture of two horses for the Saints who shall liue after vs.

3. The aforesaid S. Secundinus, being of great learning and wisedome, signifyed to S. Patricke, that he had 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 [Page 94] 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, [Page 96] 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 [Page 97] 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 [Page 99] 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: whō ­soeuer 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 [Page 100] 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 [Page 101] 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, & [Page 102] 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 hā ­des 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 [Page 104] 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 [Page 105] 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, they inioyed the brightnes of the day light, without the interposition of any night. By occa­sion of this stupendious miracle, the Archmachi­ans, and Vlidians fell into grat debate and con­tention, for the possession of that sacred treasure, and as they were vpon the poynt of entring into a fierce and bloody conflict, they heard a voyce from heauen, which seemed to be S. Patricks, cō ­maunding them to surcease from the effusion of blood, the sea moreouer passing its wōted boun­des swole vp so high, that it impeached their mu­tuall fight, and slaughter for the present.

3. The Vlidians put the blessed Saints bo­dy vpon a new wayne drawen by two kine, and so carried it away, with great ioye and singing of psalmes, hymnes, and spiritual canticles, wherat the Ardmuchians fury was so inkindled, that they intended by force of armes to detayne the holy body of their patron, and primat: but Al­mighty God to stint that bloody strife, substitu­ted [Page 106] before the Ardmuchians eyes a phantasticall wayne which resembled so fully the former, that they being perswaded it was the same that carried the rich treasure of the Saintes sacred body, fol­lowed it so farre as the riuer Caulune, in the confi­nes of the prouince of Ardmuch, where that ima­ginary wayne disappeared out of their sight: in the meane time the Vlidians entred the citty of Downe, and after great solemnity of masses, they interred the holy body in the place aforesaid. S. Patricke departed this life in the yeare of our re­demption 493. Felix being Pope, Anastasius being Emperour, Aurelius Ambrosius being Gouernour of England, and Forchernus reigning in Ireland, and Iesus Christ being sole monarch of all the world, to whome all honour glory and prayse for all eternity. Amen.

Of S. Brigits Countrey, Parents, Birth, and many vertues; and especially of her charity to the poore. CHAP. I.

THE glorious virgin S. Brigit, who des­cended of the ancient, and honorable family of Etech in the kingdom of Ire­land, was borne at Fochart, a village a mile distant from Dundalke in the country of Louth. Her Father was a noble man of Leinster, named Dubtacus, who falling in loue with a hand­mayd of his named Brocseca, a woman indued [Page 108] with singuler beauty, and admirable comlines, he got her with child of this sacred virgin, which when his owne wife perceiued, being in great trouble therat, and taking the matter very gree­uily, she said vnto him; cast out this handmayd, fearing her posterity surpasse mine. Dubtacus cō ­strayned through his wiues importuinty, made sale of her to a certaine Magitian, in whose house falling in trauaile, she was safe deliuered of the holy child; such as were present at her birth, saw the cloath, wherewith her tender head was couered, to burne with a flame of fire, whereu­pon hastning to quench it, they found no fire at all.

2. So much did the holy virgin loath to feed of the Magitians meats, that she was constrayned euery day to cast vp what she eate. The Magitian considering attentiuely the cause therof, said: I am vncleane, & this holy virgin (ful of the spirit of God) cannot taste of my meate; choosing out therfore a white merch cow, he bestowed it vpon her to liue by her milke. The holy virgin increa­sed in vertue, no lesse then in yeares; for she ex­celled in all kind of holy conuersation and sancti­ty of life, aed became very conspicuous for her modestie, chastity and temperance, but aboue al [Page 109] her charity to the poore is most remarkable.

3. The sacred virgin being deputed by the Magitian to keepe his cowes, gaue all the butter, and milke she could gather to releiue the present wantes, and necessities of the poore. When the Magitian saw but a small quantity of butter in a great vesel, wherin the butter was to be kept, he chafed extreamely. The Saint seeing what passi­on he was in, offered her pure prayers vp to God, and so by diuine vertue, filled the vessell with butter euen vp to the topp: wherat the Magitian was so much astonished and moued, that he be­leiued in Christ, setting both her, and her mo­ther at liberty.

4. In regard she gaue to the poore, all what­soeuer she could lay handes vpon, and among o­things, her Fathers sword, he purposed to sel her; for which end bringing her where the King was, he requested him that he would be pleased to buy his daughter. To whome the Kinge spoke in this manner; what made you to giue away your fathers sword, to the poore man? To whome she answeared, I haue giuen it to Christ, & Sir if my God did aske your maiesty, and my father too of me, I would bestow you both, and whatsoeuer els you haue vpō him, if it lay in my power. Thē [Page 110] the King turning to her father sayd to him; this your daughter is of too great worth to be bought by me, and of farre greater to be sould by you, so giuing her another sword to giue her father, he dismissed her.

Of S. Brigites singuler chastity, and of some miracles wrought in approbation thereof, as also of other stupendious signes. CHAP. II.

WHEN this sacred spouse of Christ saw herselfe pressed, and importuned by her freindes to marry, she prayed to God, that he would be pleased to disfigure her body with some deformity, to the end that men shold cease from making further loue vnto her; and without delay her eye burst, and melted in her head; then taking three other maydes in her company, she repayred to a holy Bishop, called Machella, S. Patrickes disciple, to be vayled at his handes▪ the holy Bishop saw a piller of fire appeare ouer her head, and contemplating moreouer her earnest and ardent loue of virginall integrity, he gaue her the holy vayle of chastity: at which time as she fell prostrate before the venerable Prelate to [Page 111] offer her selfe a holy, cleane and impolluted host to her heauenly spouse, she touched the alter postle, which incontinently budded forth a fresh with leaues, and so continueth greene and flori­shing to this day: Being vayled with the sacred cognizance of chastity, her bursten eye was resto­red againe to perfect health.

2. Against Easter the sacred virgin made bere of one onely measure or pecke of malt; fending part therof to eighteen Churches that were roūd about, and besides during all the octaue, that small quantity sufficed aboundantly, and serued to satisfy all those who would, and were desirous to taste therof. At the same time a Leaper came to the holy virgin, requesting her to help him to a cow, but she hauing none said to him; Wil you that we pray God to deliuer you from your sick­nes? who answeared, that he preferred his cure before all other guiftes; whereupon she hauing blessed water, sprinkled the leaper therwith, and immediatly he became cleane: in like māner two sicke virgins taking water, which the holy Vir­gin had blessed, recouered their perfect health.

3. Two blind men being Brittons, or En­glish men by birth, with a leaper who was their guide, came to her Church doore, and besought [Page 112] the sacred Virgin to help them to their bodily health; She intreated them to haue patience a lit­tle, and to enter into the lodging to refresh thē ­selues, and that she would in the meane time pray to God in their behalfe; which delay they tooke so impatiently, that with great indignation they replied; you heale the diseased of your owne nati­on, but as for vs being strangers, you neglect to cure vs for Christs sake. The holy virgin recea­uing this reproach, went forth vnto them, and ca­sting holy water vpon them, she cleansed the leaper, and restored the blynd men to their sight.

4. A certaine woman, brought some apples to the Saint, at which time there came some lea­pers to begge alms of her: thē the said Saint dealt these apples amongst them. The woman hea­ring it, cōuayed her aples away saying: I brought those apples for your selfe, and your virgins, & not to be giuen to leapers: whereat the Saint be­ing not a little offended, she answeared; You haue done very ill in hindering vs to giue almes, therfore your trees will neuer more produce any fruit. The woman going forth into her orchard, which she left full of apples, found none at all, and so it remayned fruitles alwayes after.

Of S. Brigits great austerity, and of many admirable miracles wrought by her. CHAP. III.

ONE night the season being frosty an cold, whē al had taken themselues to their rest; and were fast a sleepe, the holy virgin went to a deepe poole, wherin she stood all night long wee­ping and praying, firmely purposing with herself to obserue the same custome euery night: but our deare Sauiour out of the aboundance of his infi­nit mercy, would not haue her to continue it any longer, for the next night following, she found the poole dry without any water, and comming to see it the next morning, she saw it as full as it was before: the same hapned to her the second night, which was a sufficient reason that she for­bore that austere exercise of mortification.

2. Vpon a time that some venerable Bishops came to seeke lodging at her house, she being vn­prouided of all prouision, the diuine munifi­cence releiued her wantes by miracle: for thrice in one day did she milke one cow that she had, which yeilded so much milke, as the three best cowes would. Another tyme a Dog did fawne v­pon [Page 114] her for meate, the holy virgin, with whom mercy grew euen from her infancy, hauing no­thing but flesh, that was boyling for some guests that were to come, drew it out of the pot, and gaue the doge a peece therof. When the flesh was laid vpon the table, it appeared, so intire, as if no­thing had bine cut off, which excited the behol­ders to great admiration of the miracle, & vene­ration of the Saint.

3. The blessed virgin laboured very earne­stly, to reclaime nine men from fulfilling their nefarious vow made of killing a man in the Ka­lendes of Iuly, yet for nothing that she could, either say, or doe, would they relent from their wicked designe: Betaking her selfe therefore to prayer for the desperate wretches, loe there ap­peeared before their eyes a figure, resembling to the full, the man whome they intended to kill, whom they incontinently assayled with their swordes and launces, & after, as it were insulting by way of triumphe ouer their slaine ennemy, came backe immediatly to the Saint with their wepons all imbrued in blood, where learning the truth of the matter, they did pennance for their cruell intent.

4. Vpon a time that a certaine farmer came [Page 115] with all his family to celebrat some solemne feast with S. Bridgit, he being there, his Cowes were stolne away by theues, who in their way came to a riuer, which they found so swolne vp with wa­ter, that they could not passe ouer, tying there­fore their garments & armes, to the cowes hor­nes, they made them enter into the water, but they returning backe with great violence, came and ranne directly to S. Bridgits aboade, and the men being starke naked, followed them, doing afterwardes pennance for their heinous fact, in the Saints monastery.

5. The holy virgin being once benighted in a spatious field in Meath, declined to a certaine poore womans howse, with whome she lodged all night, and albeit the woman roceiued, her with great ioye, rendering God many thankes for the happy and safe arriuall of the most holy virgin, yet her pouerty was such, that she wanted wherwithall to entertaine so worthy a guest, but neuertheles of reuerence to the Saint, she broke downe a frame she vsed to weaue in, and boyled therewith the calfe of one onely cow which she had. Supper being ended, and after resting her selfe all night, the next morning, to the end the charitable woman shold not sustaine [Page 116] any dommage or detriment, by the entertayne­ment, or refection of the Saint, she found ano­ther calfe like to her owne with her cow, and found likewise a weauing frame, in forme and greatnes iust alike to her own that she had burnt.

Of the great power S. Brigit had ouer Diuels, & how much they feared her. CHAP. IIII.

WHEN a certaine person, tormented with a malignant spirit, knew that he was to be led to S. Brigit, he fell downe to the ground, saying: You shall not carry me thither. Do you know sayd they where she liues? yes sayd he, and I will not go by any meanes. And when they could not remoue him from the place, they sent for the Saint, intreating her to come thi­ther; when the Diuell saw the sacred virgin com­ming a farr off, being terrifyed, he departed from the man out of their sight.

2. Another obsessed person, who by reason of strange fits of fury and rage, wherewith he was vexed, bred great annoy & trouble to many, was brought to the Saint, to whome she sayd; Preach to me the word of our Sauiour Iesus [Page 117] Christ, he answered, O most holy Virgin Brigit, I am compelled against my wil to obey your cō ­maundement, saying: Loue God then, and all men will loue thee: honour God, and all men will honour thee: feare God, and all men will feare thee, this being said, the diuell fled away with a loud cry.

3. As Saint Brigit sat at the table with a cer­taine virgin whom she had inuited, she saw a Diuell sitting hard by her, the other virgin said: I would fayne see him, if it were possible. It is not impossible quoth S. Bridgit, but first signe your eyes, that they may be able to sustaine his sight, and contemplate his face: hauing signed her eyes, she saw the ennemy in a most vgly, and blacke shape, with a terrible great head, exhasing forth at his nostrils smoke, and flames of fire. Speake to vs Diuell, said S. Bridgit. To whome he answeared, O most holy virgin, I cannot speak to you, neither yet can I contemne your com­maundements, since you contemne not Godes holy ordonances, and are so affable to his poore, and little ones. Wherfore camest thou hither? sayd the Blessed Virgin. I remaine with this vir­gin, sayd he, and in regard of her slugishnes, I haue gotten a place in her. Behould then sayd [Page 118] the holie virgin (turning to the other virgin) whome you haue intertayned these many yea­res? And from that day forwardes, the virgin was deliuered from the Diuell.

4. There assembled together a great multi­tude of men with oxen and engines to draw a­way a great tree, which was cut downe that was to be vsed in some building, but all in vaine, for neither the multitude of men, the strength of the oxen, nor yet the variety of engines, could preuaile any thing towardes the remouing ther­of. The men were almost ready to depart, thin­king it impossible to stir it out of its place; at last by the help and force of Saint Bridgits pray­ers, together with her pregnant faith like to a mustard seede, by which faith as our Sauiour sayth, Mountaines are transfered, they carried a­way that tree without the asistance of any hu­mane help, and found no difficulty in bringing it to the place, whither the Saint appointed them to carry it.

Of the obedience that vnreasonable creatures exhibited to Saint Bridgit. CHAP. V.

ONE day as the Saint saw Duckes, some­times swimming in the waters, and other tymes flying in the ayre, she commanded them to come to her; They as if they had beene tray­ned vp vnder humaine discipline, flew in great haste with prompt obedience to the Saint. The blessed virgin touched them gentlely, and im­braced them sweetly, which doing for a pritty space, permitted them after to fly away. Another tyme a great wile bore being pursued very eager­ly, came in great hast to S. Bridgits heard of swine; she beholding the boare among her swine, gaue him her blessing, and he remayned famili­ar) & without any feare euer afterwith her heard. By this and the other precedent, example it is cleare and euident, that the fowles of the ayre, and beastes of the earthe, were subiect to her commaund, and obeyed her will and pleasure, as we may further gather from these ensuing ac­cidents.

[Page 120] 2. A simple country man comming to the Kinges court, saw there a Fox, who being taught for that purpose, made the King great recreati­on with his many sleightes, and trickes, and thinking it was not tame or familiar, he killed it in presence of all the multitude, for which being reprehended, & cast into fetters, he was brought fast bound to the King, who commaunded that he should be put to death, vnles he procured him another Foxe like vnto the former in all condi­tions, and subtill feates, and that his wife & chil­dren should be made slaues. S. Brigit hearing thereof, prayed very earnestly to God for the release of the poore man: by and by another Fox entring into her coach, sat quietly, and familiar­ly by her side, whome when she had presented to the King, and that he saw it to play trickes, and pranks, and in all thinges to be conformable to the other Fox, his wrath appeased therewith, he set the poore man at liberty, S. Bridgit returning to her monastery, and the Fox remayning as yet amongst the presse of people, fled backe againe into his denne: all those who saw what had pas­sed, wondered much at the miracle, and honou­red noe lesse the Saint by whose meanes it was wrought.

[Page 121] 3. As the sacred Virgin sat with her virgins in her coach, she saw a man, with his wife, fami­ly, and oxen, toyled very much with carrying he­uy, and cumbersome burthens, euen in the ex­treame heat of the sunne, and taking compassion of them, she gaue them her owne coach-horses to helpe, and ease them of their insupportable paynes. In the meane tyme she sat downe by the way side, and spoke to some of her virgins, bid­ding them to digge vnder the adioyning earth, to the end that water might spring forth, where­with such as were drye might quench their thirst. Vpon the digging vp of the ground, there gu­shed out a cleare, and faire riuer. Within a little time after, there came a certaine Captaine to the place, who hearing of what S. Bridgit had done with the horses, he bestowed vpon her wilde, and madd horses, which became without delay so ta­me and gentle, as if they had beene alwayes wont to draw a coach. There came leapers sometymes to Saint Bridgit, who begged her coach of her, which she gaue them without delay, & her hor­ses likewise.

4. A certaine Queene came to visit S. Bri­git, bringing with her many rich presents, and a­mongst the rest a very fayre siluer chayne, which [Page 122] her maydes tooke away, hiding it, the Saint be­stowing the rest vpon the poore. Not long after when a poore man cried to the Saint for almes, hauing nothing, she tooke the chaine, and gaue it him. The maydes seeing it, sayd, you are the cause that we loose all that God sendes vs, for you giue all to the poore, leauing vs poore and needy. To whome she answeaed, seeke the chai­ne in the place, where I am wont to pray in the Churche, and peraduenture you shall find it there: they finding the chayne, showed it to many, and kept it euer after, as an euident te­stimony of her sanctimony, and vertue.

How S. Bridgit protected, and assisted such as inuo­cated her in their distresse and dangers. CHAP. VI.

SAINT Bridgit came one time, being intrea­ted therunto by her father, to the King, say­ing, Let me haue your sword for my Father, and release me one of your slaues. To whome the King answeared, what will you giue me for these two great petitions. She replied, if you will, the life euerlasting, and that your seede thall reigne [Page 123] for euer after you. The King answeared againe; I couet not a life, which I doe not see, neither am I sollcitous in behalfe of my children, that shall liue after me: two other thinges I desire, and couet, the first is, that I may enioy this life, which I loue; and the second is, that in all pla­ces and conflictes, I get the vpper hand ouer mine ennemies. These two thinges, said the Blessed virgin, shalbe graunted you. Not long after, with a few in his company, he went to fight with a great multitude, and inuocating S. Bridgits helpe and assistance, he saw her goe be­fore him, and a piller of fire to burne all vp e­uen to the skies, soe the King hauing defeated his ennemies, he returned homewardes, magni­fying the glory, and name of the most sacred virgin.

2. A virgin that suffered shipwracke by inuo­cating S. Bridgitts helpe, walked drie foote, v­pon the liquid waues, escaping by that meanes the daunger of death. Some of Saint Bridgitts maydes hauing receiued from a certaine rich man, many measures of meale, could not passe ouer a water that was in the way, being therfore destitute of all humane helpe, and assistance, they inuocated the powerfull suffrages of their [Page 124] their most holy mistris, and they were suddain­ly transported to the further side. A man that prohibited S. Bridgits coach to passe through his feildes, and stroake at her horses, fell downe to the ground, and yeilded vp his ghost suddainly.

3. A gentleman who was in the country, lo­ned dishonestly a certaine woman, & contriuing with himself how to compasse his filthy delights, he gaue her in custody a rich siluer pynne, which he stole away priuily at vnawares from her, and cast it into the sea, thinking that when she could not restore it, she should become his slaue, and so should glut his wanton desires: all which wicked plot he put in practise, neither could he be con­tented otherwise, then either by getting againe the siluer pin, or by her bondage. The chast wo­man being driuen to this pinche, fled to S. Brid­git, as to a cittie of refuge; As the holy virgin was musing with her selfe what to doe in this matter, behold one brought home fish taken out of the neighbour riuer, & they vnbowelling the fishes, the siluer pin was found in one of their bellies, so bringing the pin with her, she went to the as­sembly, where the matter was to be determined, where she did show the pin, and it being knowne by many that saw it, to be the selfe same he cast in [Page 125] to the sea, she freed the vertuous womā from her cruell tyrants handes, who afterwardes acknow­ledging his fault, and guiltines, submitted him­selfe to S. Bridgits pleasure, who hauing wrought this great miracle, returned backe againe to her monastery.

4. It fell out that the King called together an assembly of his subiectes, to make abroade and fayre high waye in a deep and impassible marsh, through which a great riuer ranne. The people meeting by their family, and kindreds, they di­uided the worke, allotting to euery family his own share of that laborious taske, that part wher the riuer ran was most difficult, and fell to one of the families, who being potent & strong forced S. Bridgits kinsefolkes being weaker, to change with them. They in this their distresse, falling prostrate before the Saint, bemoned their wrong to her: To whome she answeared, Departe in peace, it is the will of God, that the riuer passe from that place, where you are put to such hea­uy workes, to the other which they haue made choice of. The next morning, when the mul­titude rose to begin the work, the riuer was found to haue left its ancient channel, where S. Bridgits family was constrayned to worke, & to be trans­ferred [Page 126] into the part of the potent, and proude men, who so vniustly oppressed the weaker com­pany: in proofe whereof, the auncient channell where the riuer tooke its course in former ty­mes, appeares drye without any waters to this very day.

Of many miraculous cures, wrought by the merits, and intercession of the Saint. CHAP. VII.

THE sacred virgin hauing deliuered many leapers, cripples, & obsessed persons, from their infirmities, there came two leapers with tea­res in their eyes, beging the cure of their disease. Then the Saint praying, and blessing water, she commanded them to washe one another in that water. One being washed by his companion, be­came cleane: to whome the Saint said, wash now your fellow; who seeing himself cleane, and boa­sting of his health, wold not touch the others vl­cers; which pride of his God did chastice, for im­mediatly after he said. I feele sparkles of fire v­pon my shoulders, and instantly all his body (his companion being cleansed) was couered o­uer with leaprosy.

[Page 127] 2. A certaine woman comming of deuotion, to visit S. Bridgit, brought her daughter with her, who was dumbe. S. Bridgit seeing the yong mayden, said vnto her. Are you content to be a virgin? (but not knowing that she was dumbe) The maid answeared incontinently, I will wil­lingly do, what you will commaund me, & so de­dicating her virginity to God, she to her dying day remayned most eloquent. A blind virgin na­med Daria, spoake to S. Bridgit saying. Blesse mine eyes, to the end that I may see the world ac­cording vnto my desire: her eyes being opened without delay, she sayd, shut mine eyes againe, for the more that one is absent from the world, so much the nearer, is that party to God; then S. Bridgit shut her eies as she requested.

3. One of Saint Bridgits, virgins burnt in the concupiscence of a certaine man, to whome she promised to steale forth in the night: after Saint Bridgit betooke her to her rest, the virgin rose ac­cording to her promise; being inflamed with the fire of sēsuality, & likwise vexed with the tormēt of conscience, she knew not what to do, but fea­ring God, and S. Bridgit, prayd her earnestly, that she would vouchsafe to helpe and assist her being indistresse. At last she resolued with her [Page 128] selfe to make a fire, putting her selfe therinto, so by that meanes, with fire she quenched fire, and with payne, ouercame payne; which S. Bridgit knewe by diuine reuelation, yet neuertheles kept it secret, to see the euent and issue of the virgins combat. The next morning the virgin acknow­ledgd her sin to Saint Bridgit, who sayd to her: because in fighting couragiously this night, thou hast burnt thy selfe, the fire of forincation shall neuer annoye thee in this life, nor the fire of hel burne thee in the next; then the holy virgin did heale her feete, so that no marke of the burning did appeare in them.

4. Neither ought we to omit that great mi­racle, which this blessed Saint wrought in imita­tion of our Sauiour, by opening the eyes of a mā who was blind frō his natiuity. A certaine Queen that had no children, by the holy Virgins inter­cession obtayned issue. And as Almighty God for her sake and merits, did help others in their necessityes, so did he not fayle to assist her selfe in her wantes: for vpon a certaine time the holy virgin being in great necessity, besought God to help her to some honny, and what she sought for, she found it in great plenty, vpon the pauement of her house.

How the holy Virgin for the relief of the poore, wrought many admirable signes. CHAP. VIII.

SAINT Bridgit said to a certaine virgin who begged almes of her; I heare that there are many afflicted with sicknes in your country, take therfore my girdle, and with it, steaped in water, you shal in the name of our Sauiour Iesus Christ deliuer them of their infirmityes, and they will giue you both meate & cloathes: who taking the girdle, as the Saint commaunded, she cured dis­eases, getting therby great gaynes, and becom­ming very rich, she her selfe afterwardes, dealt great almes to the needy. Another time she cō ­uerted water into good bere to giue to leapers, who called to her for it. In like manner did she for the comfort of a needy person, conuert a sto­ne into salt. She likewise deuided one garment betwene two poore men, and by diuine vertue, each part became an entire garment.

2. Among the many stupendious miracles she wrought, this is not to be accoūted the least, nor the least to be admired. To three leapers who besought her to bestow some charity of them, [Page 130] she gaue a siluer vessell; and fearing it should be an occasion of debate, or discord amongst them, if they deuided it themselues, she spoke to the gold-smith to deuide it equally amongst thē. But he making his excuse, that he could not de­uide it into three equal partes, the most holy vir­gin her selfe tooke it into her hand, and stroke it against a stone, and soe deuided it iust into three equall parcells: in so much that afterwardes be­ing put in scales to be weighed, neither part did ouerweigh the other, not so much as one drāme, so equall were the deuisions, and so the leapers departed away ioyfull with their shares, & with­out cause either of enuy, or any iniury.

3. According to the example of holy Iob, she neuer permitted the poore to departe from her with empty handes, for she gaue them very pretious, and rich garmentes, which a holy Bi­shop named Conleath, vsed to weare in saying the diuine mysteries of the Masse, vpon the higher feastes of our Lord, and the Apostles. Now when the time came, that the venerable Prelate should according to his wonted manner, vse the afore­said episcopall robes, the holy virgin, who had giuen them to Christ in his needy members, re­ceaued other such robes fully resembling the for­mer, [Page 131] as well in the weauing, or texture, as in colour, which were brought her in a waggon of two horses, euen at the same houre that she li­berally gaue the others to the poore.

4. So large and liberall was her charity to the poore, that none euer had a repulse at her handes, as it is cleare and euident by this ensuing narration. For one time being abroad in the feildes feeding of her flocke, one who was well acquainted with the tendernes of her hart, and largenes of her hand, came to her seauen times in one day begging of almes, and euery time she gaue him a weather; and when euening approa­ching she droue home the sheep, yet being tould ouer twice or thrice, the flocke was found entire, and complete, not one being missing to the great wonder of those who knew what chaunced. It is also recorded of her, that after prayer made for that intent, she got miraculously a summe of mo­ney, with which she ransommed a guilty person, whome the King appointed to be put to death.

How the holy virgin, declared the innocency of Bishop Broon Saint Patrickes disciple, by making a yong suckling to speake, and of other no lesse remark­able miracles. CHAP. IX.

A Certayne malitious woman, without re­gard of conscience or feare of God, slande­red most wickedly a venerable Bishop of Saint Patrickes disciples named Broon, by fathering v­pon him a child, which she had gotten by ano­ther. The Bishop standing vpō denial of the fact S. Bridgit calling the woman sayd, Who is the fa­ther of your child? She answered, Bishop Broon; With that S. Bridgit signed the womans mouth with the figure of Christs banner, and instantly her head swelled vp with a great tumour, after she blessed the young infants tongue, saying to him; Who is your Father? The child made an­sweare, Bishop Broon is not my Father, but that vilde and deformed man, who sitteth last among the people: then all the assembly rendring many thankes, and prayses to God, constrained the lewed woman to do pennance for her folly.

2. There was a certaine man named Lin­guidinus, [Page 133] who was indued with such admirable strength, and surpassing vigour of body, that he himselfe alone could do so much worke as twelue men, and who moreouer was so great a deuourer of meate, as to eate at once so much, as might well serue twelue men, for as in working he did counteruaile twelue men; so likewise in eating did he match that number. This man came to S. Bridgit, beseeching her to obtaine of God, that he would vouchsafe to temper, and bridle the immoderate appetite of his deuouring, and rauenous stomack, without diminishing or may­ning the strength of his body. The holy Virgin gaue him her blessing, and offered vp her pray­ers to God in behalfe of his iust petition, which he obtayned by her merits, and intercession, for neuer after did he take more, then was able to satisfy one man, being neuertheles able to per­forme so much worke as he was before, when he did eate most of all.

3. The sacred virgin sent for many worke­men, and reapers to cut downe her corne, & ha­uing agreed with them for their pay, and appoin­ted a day when they should come to performe their worke, it hapned that the day appointed, proued very rayny, in so much that the cloudes [Page 134] powred forth showers in great aboundance ouer all the prouince, excepting on S. Bridgits feilds, which were not wet at all, the rayne falling thicke vpon euery side, so that where all the wor­kemen in the country were constrayned to giue ouer their worke, by reason of the wet, & moi­sty season, S. Bridgits workemen continued from morning without intermission or impediment, cutting downe of her corne, not without the ad­miration of all who saw, and heard of that vnu­suall miracle.

4. Another miracle no lesse stupendious, wherin the Reader may contēplate the purity of her hart, the perfctiō of her soule, the eminency of her merits, and the prerogatiue of her vertues we are to recount, which was this. At what time this sacred virgin fed her flocke in a wide & open playne, farre from any shelter, showres of rayne fell downe so thicke, that she was wet to the skin, who comming home with her cloathes all full of water, she saw a Sunne beame pearcing in tho­rough a chinke, that illuminated the roome, and taking it for a pearch (the quickenes of her eyes being hindered, or somewhat blunted) she cast thereon her wet mantle, or vpper garmente, whereupon it hung being supported by it, as well [Page 135] as by a beame, or post, to the great astonish­ment of all the neighbours, who could not suf­ficiently admire the merits, and vertues of this holy virgin.

Of S. Bridgits happy departure out of this life, and how she knew thereof by diuine reuelation, and of some miracles wrought after her death by her intercession and merits. CHAP. X.

THE sacred virgin hauing run out the course of her mortall dayes, in the exercise of all kind of sanctimony, and innocency of life, the time of the resolution of her terrene tabernacle drew neere at hand, whose deposition, as her selfe knew by reuelation, and foretould to one of her virgins, was not farre off. The holy virgin gaue vp her soule, to her heauenly spouse about the yeare of our redemption 518. Her venerable body, was placed in a sumptuous monument of gould, and siluer, adorned with iewells, and pretious stones, and was first interred in her owne monasterie at Kildare, together with the the sacred body of the holy Bishop Conleath; af­terwardes it was translated (whereof we haue an [Page 136] authentical record) to the citty of Dune in Vlster, where it lyes together with the venerable bodies of S. Patricke, and S. Columbe, the other two glorious patrons of Ireland. At Kildare and other places, many miracles haue been wrought by the merits of Saint Bridgit, we will content our sel­ues with the relation of some few, fearing to cloy the Reader with to much tediousnes.

2. The ouerseer of Saint Bridgits great and famous monastery, sent workemen, and stone­hewers 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 [Page 137] 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 [Page 138] 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, [Page 139] 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 [Page 140] patrones of Ireland, Saint Patricke, and Saint Bridgit, be all honour, glory and prayse, world without end. Amen.