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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/18482-8.txt b/18482-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ad1478b --- /dev/null +++ b/18482-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11043 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick, by +Various, Edited by James O'Leary + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick + Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings + + +Author: Various + +Editor: James O'Leary + +Release Date: June 1, 2006 [eBook #18482] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOST ANCIENT LIVES OF SAINT +PATRICK*** + + +E-text prepared by Al Haines + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 18482-h.htm or 18482-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/4/8/18482/18482-h/18482-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/4/8/18482/18482-h.zip) + + + + + +THE MOST ANCIENT LIVES OF SAINT PATRICK; + +Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, +and His Extant Writings. + +Illustrated with the Most Ancient Engravings +of Our Great National Saint; + +With a Preface and Chronological Table. +by +Rev. James O'Leary, D.D. + +Fifth Edition. + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: Images of Saint Columba, Saint Patrick, and Saint +Brigida, Taken from the Spicilegium Sanctorum, and engraven at Paris, +A.D. 1629, by Messingham.] + + + + +New York: +P. J. Kenedy, No. 5 Barclay Street. +1880. +Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by +P. J. Kenedy, +In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. + + + + +TO THE + +RIGHT REV. T. W. CROKE, D.D., + +Bishop of Auckland, New Zealand, + +HOPING THAT HE MAY YET BE SET DOWN AS + +The St. Patrick of New Zealand, + +FROM HIS FORMER PUPIL, COLABORER, AND COMPANION, + +J. O'LEARY. + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS + +Preface + +The Confession of St. Patrick + +St. Patrick's Epistle to Coroticus + +St. Fiech's Metrical Life of St. Patrick + +Tripartite Life: Part I + +Tripartite Life: Part II + +Tripartite Life: Part III + +The Proeme of Jocelyn + +The Life and Acts of St. Patrick by Jocelin + + CHAPTER + + I + II How a Fountain burst forth, and how Sight + and Learning were given to the Blind. + III Of the Stone of Saint Patrick. + IV Of the Well dried up. + V How he produced Fire from Ice. + VI How the Sister of St. Patrick was healed. + VII How he restored to Life his Foster-Father. + VIII Of the Sheep released from the Wolf. + IX Of the Cow freed from an Evil Spirit, + and Five other Cows restored to Health. + X Of the Water turned into Honey, and of his Nurse + restored to Health. + XI How the Fort was Cleansed. + XII Of the Religious Conversation of Saint Patrick. + XIII How Saint Patrick was Carried into Ireland. + XIV Of Milcho's Dream, and of its Interpretation. + XV Of the Angel Victor appearing to Saint Patrick. + XVI How St. Patrick was Redeemed from Slavery. + XVII How he Relieved those who were Perishing of Hunger. + XVIII Of his Fast continued for Twenty Days. + XIX How he Overcame the Temptation of the Enemy. + XX How he was again made Captive, and released + by the Miracle of the Kettle. + XXI Of Saint Patrick's Vision. + XXII How he dwelt with the blessed Germanus, and how + he received the Habit from Saint Martin. + XXIII Of the Flesh-meat changed into Fishes. + XXIV How in his Journey to Rome he Found the Staff of Jesus. + XXV How he Journeyed unto Rome, and was made a Bishop; + and of Palladius, the Legate of Ireland. + XXVI How he Saw and Saluted the Lord. + XXVII Of the Miraculous Voyage of the Leper. + XXVIII How he beheld Devils. + XXIX Of the River sentenced to perpetual Sterility. + XXX How the Dry Land was turned into a Marsh. + XXXI Of his coming into Ulidia, and of the Prophecy + of the Magicians on his coming. + XXXII How a Fierce Dog was suddenly Tamed; + of the Conversion of Dichu; and how a Fountain + rose out of the Earth. + XXXIII Of the Evil-doer Swallowed up by the Earth. + XXXIV Of the Aged Man restored unto his Youth. + XXXV Of the Death of Rius. + XXXVI Of the Death of Milcho. + XXXVII Of the Holy Mochna. + XXXVIII Of the Hostages of Dichu which were Freed by an Angel. + XXXIX Of Saint Benignus, and of the Prophecy which was made of him. + XL The Fire that was Lighted by Patrick. + XLI Of the Holy Man named Hercus. + XLII How the Magician was Destroyed. + XLIII Of the Miraculous but Terrible Rescue of Saint Patrick. + XLIV How the Saint Escaped the Deadly Snares. + XLV Of the Poison mingled in the Wine. + XLVI Of the Fantastic Snow. + XLVII How the Darkness was Dispersed. + XLVIII How the Magician and his Garment were consumed, and + Benignus and the Garment of St. Patrick preserved unhurt. + XLIX Of Many who were Swallowed up by the Earth, and how + the rest were Converted unto God. + L Of the Sisters and the Nephews of St. Patrick. + LI How Saint Lumanus Sailed against the Wind and the Stream. + LII How Forkernus and his Parents were Converted and Baptized. + LIII Of the Prophecy of St. Patrick on Coyrbre, + and of the Unfruitfulness of a River. + LIV Of Conallus, and of the Prophecy of Patrick concerning him. + LV Of the Altar of Saint Patrick. + LVI Of the Images destroyed from Heaven, and + of the Fountain produced from the Earth. + LVII How the Darkness was Dispersed. + LVIII Of the Virgins who went unto Heaven. + LIX Of the Magician Struck by Lightning, + and of Twelve Thousand Men Converted unto Christ. + LX Of another Magician whom the Earth swallowed up. + LXI How another Magician is Sunken up to the Ears, + and again is Raised up. + LXII How a huge Stone was raised by the Saint. + LXIII How the Women were raised from Death. + LXIV Two Women who were pregnant are with their Infants + rescued from Death unto Life. + LXV How he builded a Church of Clay alone. + LXVI Of the two Rivers, Dubh and Drobhaois. + LXVII Of the Voice that issued from the Sepulchre. + LXVIII Of his Journey, and of his manifold Miracles. + LXIX The Prophecy of the Saint Concerning Dublinia; + and the Sick Man cured. + LXX A Fountain is produced out of the Earth. + LXXI The Dead are raised up; the King and the People are + converted; a Fountain is produced, and Tribute promised. + LXXII Of the Sentence pronounced on Murinus. + LXXIII Foylge is punished with a double Death, and the + deceiving Fiend is driven out of his body. + LXXIV Of the Saint's Prophecy concerning the Kings of Momonia. + LXXV How Dercardius and his Companions were destroyed. + LXXVI Of the Quarrel of the Two Brothers. + LXXVII Fourteen Thousand Men are miraculously refreshed + with the Meat of Five Animals. + LXXVIII Nineteen Men are raised by Saint Patrick from the Dead. + LXXIX The King's Daughter becomes a Nun. + LXXX The King Echu is raised from Death. + LXXXI A Man of Gigantic Stature is revived from Death. + LXXXII Of Another Man who was Buried and Raised Again. + LXXXIII Of the Boy who was torn in pieces by Swine + and restored unto Life. + LXXXIV The Prayers of the Saint confer Beauty on an Ugly Man. + LXXXV The Stature of the same Man is increased unto + a sufficient Height. + LXXXVI Of Saint Olcanus, the Teacher and Bishop, + raised out of the Earth. + LXXXVII How the Tooth of Saint Patrick shone in the River. + LXXXVIII The Saint Prophesieth of the Virgin Treha, + and a Veil is placed on her Head by an Angel. + LXXXIX Saint Patrick Prophesieth of the Sanctity + of Saint Columba. + XC The River is Divided in Twain, and Blessed. + XCI The Prophecy that Patrick made unto Connedus. + XCII Of Mannia and the other Islands Converted unto God. + XCIII Of the Saint's Prophecy concerning Six Priests, + and of a Skin which he bestowed to them. + XCIV Saint Patrick Continueth his Preaching Three Days. + XCV Of the Vision of the Blessed Brigida, + and its Explanation. + XCVI Of the Angels of God, of the Heavenly Light, + and of the Prophecy of Saint Patrick. + XCVII The Temptation of the Nun is Subdued. + XCVIII Of Saint Comhgallus, and the Monastery foreshowed + of Heaven. + XCIX The Saint Prophesieth of the Obstinate Fergus + and of his Children. + C The Malediction of the Saint is laid upon the Stones + of Usniach. + CI Of the Woman in Travail, and of her Offspring. + CII The Bishop Saint Mel catcheth Fishes on the Dry Land. + CIII The Footprints of Certain Virgins are impressed on a Stone. + CIV The Earth is raised in the midst of the Stream. + CV Of the Altar and the Four Chalices discovered under + the Earth. + CVI A Treasure is Twice discovered in the Earth by Swine. + CVII Saint Patrick prophesieth of the two Brothers. + CVIII The Penitence of Asycus the Bishop. + CIX The Tempest of the Sea is Composed. + CX The Miracle of the Waters is Repeated. + CXI Of the Cowl of Saint Patrick which remained untouched + by the Sea. + CXII Of the Veil that was sent from Heaven. + CXIII Of the Holy Leper, of the New Fountain, + of the Angelic Attendance, and the Prophecy + of Patrick thereon. + CXIV Of the Lake which was removed by Saint Patrick. + CXV Patrick understandeth the Conscience + of Saint Fiechus, and blesseth him. + CXVI The Chariot is, by the Decision of the Angel, + sent unto Fiechus. + CXVII The Several Offices of a certain Monastery are + appointed by an Angel. + CXVIII The Prophecy of Saint Patrick concerning the + Men of Callria. + CXIX Certain Cheeses are converted into Stones, + and many Wicked Men are drowned. + CXX Of the Pitfalls passed over without danger, + and the Prophecies of the Saint. + CXXI The Prophecy of the Saint on a Certain Village. + CXXII The Sentence prophetically declared. + CXXIII The Prophecy of the Saint on a Certain Bishop + and on the one who consecrated him. + CXXIV The Blind Man is restored to Sight; from him + who seeeth is Sight taken; and three are relieved + of Lameness. + CXXV Nine Evil-doers are consumed by Fire from Heaven, + and a Fountain is produced out of the Earth. + CXXVI Another Magician is in like manner Consumed. + CXXVII A Grove is cursed by the Saint. + CXXVIII The Sentence pronounced by the Saint on his Deceivers. + CXXIX A Mountain is swallowed up in the Earth, + and again it is raised. + CXXX Euchodius is cursed by the Saint, and his Son is blessed. + CXXXI Of Saint Sennachus the Bishop. + CXXXII The Miracle which is worked for Certain Hewers of Wood. + CXXXIII A Hone is divided by Saint Patrick, and the Oppressor + is drowned. + CXXXIV An Angel foretelleth to Patrick of Saint Moccheus. + CXXXV The Sentence pronounced by Patrick on Moccheus. + CXXXVI The Saint prophesieth of two Brothers, + and a Fountain is produced out of the Earth. + CXXXVII The Saint Prophesieth of a Certain Youth. + CXXXVIII Of Conallus and of his Shield. + CXXXIX A Heavenly Light shineth around Saint Patrick, + and Victor is converted unto the Faith. + CXL A Certain Cymbal of Saint Patrick is lost and + found again. + CXLI The Obedience of Saint Volchanus. + CXLII Of Saint Rodanus, the Herdsman of Patrick. + CXLIII Of Saint Kertennus, the Bishop of Clochor. + CXLIV Of a Boy who was blessed by Saint Patrick. + CXLV Of a Woman who was raised from Death. + CXLVI The Testimony of One who was revived from Death. + CXLVII The Cross that was not observed; and the Voice + which issued from the Sepulchre. + CXLVIII A Goat bleateth in the Stomach of a Thief. + CXLIX Of the Cloaks which fell from Heaven. + CL A wicked Tyrant is transformed into a Fox. + CLI The wicked Man Machaldus and his Companions + are converted unto the Faith. + CLII The Penitence of Machaldus. + CLIII A Meadow is overflowed by the Sea. + CLIV A Stone is changed into Milk, and Milk is changed + into Stones. + CLV A Wagon laden with Twigs is saved from the Fire. + CLVI The Saint is preserved untouched from the falling Rain. + CLVII The Fingers of Saint Patrick shine with Light. + CLVIII Fire is also seen to issue from his Mouth. + CLIX The holy Virgin Memhessa departeth unto God. + CLX Of the Work which was done in the Lord's Day. + CLXI A certain Man is healed, and a Horse revived, + in a place which is called Feart. + CLXII Of the Vessel which was given unto Saint Patrick, + and again taken from him. + CLXIII Ardmachia is given unto Saint Patrick; and a Fountain + is produced out of the Earth. + CLXIV The Saint beholdeth a Vision of Angels, and cureth + Sixteen Lepers. + CLXV Of the City of Ardmachia, and Twelve of its Citizens. + CLXVI At the Direction of the Angels Saint Patrick goeth + unto Rome. + CLXVII The Acts of Saint Patrick while returning from Rome. + CLXVIII The Acts of St. Patrick after he had Returned. + CLXIX Of the Threefold Plagues of Hibernia. + CLXX The Threefold Plague is driven out of Hibernia + by Saint Patrick. + CLXXI Without Earthly Food the Saint completeth a Fast + of Forty Days. + CLXXII He banisheth the Demons forth of the Island. + CLXXIII Troops of Angels appear unto the Saint. + CLXXIV The Saint titheth Hibernia and the Dwellers therein. + CLXXV The different States of Hibernia are in a Heavenly + Vision shown unto the Saint. + CLXXVI The Answer of Saint Patrick to Secundinus. + CLXXVII Secundinus composeth a Hymn in Honor of Saint Patrick. + CLXXVIII The Soul of a Certain Sinner is by Saint Patrick + freed from Demons. + CLXXIX How the Saint appeared unto Colmanus while singing + his Hymn. + CLXXX The Admirable Contemplations of the Saint. + CLXXXI Saint Patrick beholdeth the Souls of the Rich and + of the poor Man sent unto different Places. + CLXXXII Saint Vinvaloeus is miraculously stayed by Saint + Patrick from his purposed Journey. + CLXXXIII The Daily Prayers and Genuflexions of the Saint. + CLXXXIV How he passed the Night Season. + CLXXXV The Habit, the Bearing, and the Acts of Saint Patrick. + CLXXXVI Of the Sick whom he healed, and the Dead whom he + raised; and of his Disciples who recorded his Acts. + CLXXXVII The Angelic Voice showeth unto Saint Patrick of his + Death and of the Place of his Burial. + CLXXXVIII The Place of his Sepulture is foreshown by a Light + from Heaven. + CLXXXIX Saint Brigida bringeth unto Saint Patrick the Garment + which was to enshroud his Body. + CXC The Death of Saint Patrick. + CXCI The Number of the Years of his Life. + CXCII The Funeral Honors which Men and Angels paid unto + the Body of the Saint. + CXCIII The Light continueth for Twelve Days. + CXCIV The Miraculous Rising of the Sea between + the Contending People. + CXCV Two Wains appear, the which are sent by a Miracle. + CXCVI The Sepulture of Saint Patrick in the City of Dunum. + +A Chronological Table to the Lives of St. Patrick + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +Images of Saint Columba, Saint Patrick, and Saint Brigida, + Taken from the Spicilegium Sanctorum, and engraven at Paris, + A.D. 1629, by Messingham. . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ + +The Saint Patrick of Ancient Ages + +The Saint Patrick of Medieval Times + +The Saint Patrick of Our Own Century + + + + +PREFACE. + +The present volume has three objects in view: first, to present the +life of Saint Patrick without writing a history of the national church +which he founded or introducing irrelevant matter; secondly, to place +his life and character before the reader as they have been handed down +to us in the most ancient extant documents, without overcoating or +withholding anything in the originals; and, thirdly, to deliver to the +public at as low a price as possible the original documents grouped +together. + +At first I had intended to present the Seven Lives of St. Patrick as +published by Colgan; but, to my knowledge, there is no copy of the +_Acta Triadis Thaumaturgae_ in this country, and the four lives which I +have omitted--that is, by Benignus, Patrick Junior, Eiselan the Wise, +and Probus--are of little consequence. The metrical life by St. Fiech +is undoubtedly the most ancient and the most removed from saintly +imaginings of miracles. The other two, that by Saint MacEvin and that +by Jocelin, appear to have been elaborate compendiums of stories +written in antecedent ages, and extant in their time, concerning Saint +Patrick. Of the life by Saint Fiech I have made a rude translation +corresponding with the original; of the Tripartite I have given +Professor Hennessy's version; and of the extraordinary biography by +Jocelin I reproduce, for the first time in this country, the rendering +from Colgan by Mr. Swift, as published by the Hibernia Press Company, +at Dublin, in 1809. Colgan's Latin version of the Life of Saint +Patrick by Jocelin is given by the Bollandists, and may be seen in many +libraries in this country; but the original Lives, as published at +Louvain, are at the Irish College in Rome and at Trinity College, +Dublin. A copy may be found elsewhere, but, if so, it is exceedingly +valuable, forasmuch as it is exceedingly rare. The Life of Saint +Patrick by Saint Fiech will convey an estimate of his character about +the time of his death; the Tripartite life by Saint MacEvin will +probably impart the notions of the eighth century; and the life by +Jocelin will communicate the exaggerations of mediaeval times in the +twelfth century. The public will thus have fairly placed before them +the thoughts of ages about Saint Patrick through seven centuries after +his death. I supply the reader with the Confession and Epistle +attributed to Saint Patrick, though I incline to the opinion that they +are the issue of an age subsequent to that of Ireland's Saint. The +Chronotaxis or Chronological Table at the end of the book I have made +out from the work by the Bollandists, which seems to have been prepared +with scholarly and judicious diligence. + +Of the illustrations, it is to be stated that the one prefixed to the +life of St. Fiech has been an heirloom in the family of Counsellor +Shechan, of this city, and is taken from an old Irish prayer-book, +supposed to be between three and five hundred years old. The +frontispiece and the illustration fronting the Tripartite Life are +taken from the Spicelegium, were engraved by Messengham, with the +approbation of the French King and the Paris Archbishop, at Paris, in +1629, and were reproduced at Dublin in 1809. They are now re-engraved +for the first time in this country. The illustration prefixed to the +life by Jocelin is of ancient date, and supposed to have been suggested +by the representation of St. Patrick in the Kilkenny Cathedral. + +I hold myself responsible in no way whatsoever for the statements of +St. Fiech, St. MacEvin, or Jocelin, but I present to the reader what +they asserted they had received from antiquity. Their narratives may +be pronounced fables, or legends, or inventions, or superstitions, or +histories. On their intrinsic merits I am silent, except inasmuch as +they breathe a firm belief in the omnipresence of God amongst men, +strangely at variance with the lifeless, frosty indifference of our own +day, and are, in addition, savored with a holy heat of charity and a +high moral tone. Without comment, then, from me, I present to you in +America, kind readers, Saint Patrick, the Apostle and Patron of Ireland +and the Irish race, as I received him from my ancestors. I neither +overstate, nor under-estimate, nor withheld anything. Judge for +yourselves. + +REV. JAMES O'LEARY, D.D. + + + + +THE CONFESSION OF ST. PATRICK. + + +_THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOKS OF THE BISHOP ST. PATRICK._ + +I, Patrick, a sinner, the rudest and least of all the faithful, and +most contemptible to very many, had for my father Calpornius, a deacon, +the son of Potitus, a priest, who lived in Bannaven Taberniae, for he +had a small country-house close by, where I was taken captive when I +was nearly sixteen years of age. I knew not the true God, and I was +brought captive to Ireland with many thousand men, as we deserved; for +we had forsaken God, and had not kept His commandments, and were +disobedient to our priests, who admonished us for our salvation. And +the Lord brought down upon us the anger of His Spirit, and scattered us +among many nations, even to the ends of the earth, where now my +littleness may be seen amongst strangers. And there the Lord showed me +my unbelief, that at length I might remember my iniquities, and +strengthen my whole heart towards the Lord my God, who looked down upon +my humiliation, and had pity upon my youth and ignorance, and kept me +before I knew him, and before I had wisdom or could distinguish between +good and evil, and strengthened and comforted me as a father would his +son. + +Therefore I cannot and ought not to be silent concerning the great +benefits and graces which the Lord has bestowed upon me in the land of +my captivity, since the only return we can make for such benefits is, +after God has reproved us, to extol and confess His wonders before +every nation under heaven. + +For there is no other God, nor ever was, nor shall be hereafter, except +the Lord, the unbegotten Father, without beginning, by whom all things +have their being, who upholds all things, as we have said; and His Son, +Jesus Christ, whom, together with the Father, we testify to have always +existed before the origin of the world, spiritually with the Father, +ineffably begotten before every beginning; and by Him were the visible +things made--was made man, death being overthrown, in the heavens. And +he hath given Him all power over every name of things in heaven and +earth and hell, that every tongue should confess to Him that Jesus +Christ is Lord, and whose coming we expect ere long to judge the living +and dead; who will render to every one according to his works; who hath +poured forth abundantly on us both the gift of His Spirit and the +pledge of immortality; who makes the faithful and obedient to become +the sons of God and coheirs with Christ; whom we confess and adore one +God in the Trinity of the holy Name. For He Himself has said by the +prophet: "Call upon me in the day of thy trouble: I will deliver thee, +and thou shalt magnify me." And again he says: "It is honorable to +reveal and confess the works of God." + +Although I am imperfect in many things, I wish my brothers and +acquaintances to know my dispositions, that they may be able to +understand the desire of my soul. I am not ignorant of the testimony +of my Lord, who declares in the psalm: "Thou wilt destroy all that +speak a lie." And again: "The mouth that belieth, killeth the soul." +And the same Lord: "Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall +render an account for it in the Day of Judgment." Therefore I ought, +with great fear and trembling, to dread this sentence in that day when +no one shall be able to withdraw or hide himself, but all must give an +account, even of the least sins, before the judgment-seat of the Lord +Christ. + +Therefore, although I thought of writing long ago, I feared the censure +of men, because I had not learned as the others who studied the sacred +writings in the best way, and have never changed their language since +their childhood, but continually learned it more perfectly, while I +have to translate my words and speech into a foreign tongue; and it can +be easily proved from the style of my writings how I am instructed in +speech and learning, for the Wise Man says: "By the tongue wisdom is +discerned, and understanding and knowledge and learning by the word of +the wise." But what avails an excuse, however true, especially when +accompanied with presumption? For I, in my old age, strive after that +which I was hindered from learning in my youth. But who will believe +me? And if I say what I have said before, that as a mere youth, nay, +almost a boy in words, I was taken captive, before I knew what I ought +to seek and to avoid. Therefore I blush to-day and greatly dread to +expose my ignorance, because I am not able to express myself briefly, +with clear and well-arranged words, as the spirit desires and the mind +and intellect point out. But if it had been given to me as to others, +I would not have been silent for the recompense; and although it may +seem to some who think thus that I put myself forward with my ignorance +and too slow tongue, nevertheless it is written, "The tongues of +stammerers shall speak readily and plain"; how much more ought we to +undertake this who are the epistle of Christ for salvation unto the +ends of the earth, written in pure heart, if not with eloquence, yet +with power and endurance, "not written with ink, but with the Spirit of +the living God"; and again the Spirit testifies, "Husbandry, it was +ordained by the Most High." + +Therefore I undertook this work at first, though a rustic and a +fugitive, and not knowing how to provide for the future; but this I +know for certain: that before I was humbled, I was like a stone lying +in deep mire, until He who is powerful came, and in his mercy raised me +up, and indeed again succored and placed me in His part; and therefore +I ought to cry out loudly, and thank the Lord in some degree for all +his benefits, here and after, which the mind of man cannot estimate. +Therefore be amazed, both great and small who fear God; rhetoricians +and ye of the Lord, hear and enquire who aroused me, a fool, from the +midst of those who seem to be wise, and skilled in the law, and +powerful in speech and in all things, and hath inspired me (if indeed I +be such) beyond others, though I am despised by this world, so that, +with fear and reverence and without murmuring, I should faithfully +serve this nation, to whom the charity of Christ hath transferred me, +and given me for my life, if I shall survive; and that at last with +humility and truth I should serve them. + +In the measure, therefore, of the faith of the Trinity it behoves me to +distinguish without shrinking from danger, and to make known the gift +of God and everlasting consolation, and, without fear, confidently to +spread abroad the name of God everywhere, so that after my death I may +leave it to my Gallican brethren and to my sons, many thousands of whom +I have baptized in the Lord. And I was neither worthy nor deserving +that the Lord should so favor me, his servant, after such afflictions +and great difficulties, after captivity, after many years, as to grant +me such grace for this nation--a thing which, still in my youth, I had +neither hoped for nor thought of. + +But after I had come to Ireland, I was daily tending sheep, and I +prayed frequently during the day, and the love of God, and His faith +and fear, increased in me more and more, and the spirit was stirred; so +that in a single day I have said as many as a hundred prayers, and in +the night nearly the same; so that I remained in the woods, and on the +mountain, even before the dawn, I was roused to prayer, in snow, and +ice, and rain, and I felt no injury from it, nor was there any +slothfulness in me, as I see now, because the spirit was then fervent +in me. And there one night I heard a voice, while I slept, saying to +me: "Thou dost fast well; fasting thou shalt soon go to thy country." +And again, after a very short time, I heard a response, saying to me: +"Behold, thy ship is ready." And the place was not near, but perhaps +about two hundred miles distant, and I had never been there, nor did I +know any one who lived there. + +Soon after this, I fled, and left the man with whom I had been six +years, and I came in the strength of the Lord, who directed my way for +good; and I feared nothing until I arrived at that ship. And the day +on which I came the ship had moved out of her place; and I asked to go +and sail with them, but the master was displeased, and replied angrily: +"Do not seek to go with us." And when I heard this, I went from them +to go thither where I had lodged; and I began to pray as I went; but +before I had ended my prayer, I heard one of them calling out loudly +after me, "Come quickly, for these men are calling you"; and I returned +to them immediately, and they began saying to me; "Come, we receive +thee in good faith; make such friendship with us as you wish." And +then that day I disdained to supplicate them, on account of the fear of +God; but I hoped of them that they would come into the faith of Jesus +Christ, for they were Gentiles; and this I obtained from them; and +after three days, we reached land, and for twenty-eight days we +journeyed through a desert, and their provisions failed, and they +suffered greatly from hunger; and one day the master began to say to +me: "What sayest thou, O Christian? Your God is great and +all-powerful; why canst thou not, then, pray for us, since we are +perishing with hunger, and may never see the face of man again?" And I +said to them plainly: "Turn sincerely to the Lord my God, to whom +nothing is impossible, that He may send us food on your way until ye +are satisfied, for it abounds everywhere for Him." And with God's help +it was so done; for, lo! a flock of swine appeared in the way before +our eyes, and they killed many of them, and remained there two nights, +much refreshed and filled with their flesh; for many of them had been +left exhausted by the wayside. After this, they gave the greatest +thanks to God, and I was honored in their eyes. + +They also found wild honey, and offered me some of it, and one of them +said: "This is offered in sacrifice, thanks be to God"; after this, I +tasted no more. But the same night, while I was sleeping, I was +strongly tempted by Satan (of which I shall be mindful as long as I +shall be in this body), and there fell, as it were, a great stone upon +me, and there was no strength in my limbs. And then it came into my +mind, I know not bow, to call upon Elias, and at the same moment I saw +the sun rising in the heavens; and while I cried out Elias with all my +might, behold! the splendor of the sun was shed upon me, and +immediately shook from me all heaviness. And I believe that Christ my +Lord cried out for me; and I hope that it will be so in the day of my +adversity, as the Lord testifies in the Gospel: "It is not you that +speak," etc. + +Some time after, I was taken captive; and on the first night I remained +with them I heard a divine response, saying: "You shall be two months +with them"; and so it was. On the sixtieth night the Lord delivered me +out of their hands, and on the road He provided for us food, and fire, +and dry weather daily, until on the fourteenth day we all came. As I +have above mentioned, we journeyed twenty-eight days through a desert, +and on the night of our arrival we had no provisions left. + +And again, after a few years, I was with my relations in Britain, who +received me as a son, and earnestly besought me that then, at least, +after I had gone through so many tribulations, I would go nowhere from +them. And there I saw, in the midst of the night, a man who appeared +to come from Ireland, whose name was Victorious, and he had innumerable +letters with him, one of which he gave to me; and I read the +commencement of the epistle containing "The Voice of the Irish"; and as +I read aloud the beginning of the letter, I thought I heard in my mind +the voice of those who were near the wood of Focluti, which is near the +western sea; and they cried out: "We entreat thee, holy youth, to come +and walk still amongst us." And my heart was greatly touched, so that +I could not read any more, and so I awoke. Thanks be to God that, +after very many years, the Lord hath granted them their desire! + +And on another night, whether in me or near me God knows, I heard +eloquent words which I could not understand until the end of the +speech, when it was said: "He who gave His life for thee is He who +speaks in thee"; and so I awoke full of joy. And again, I saw one +praying within me, and I was, as it were, within my body, and I heard, +that is, above the inner man, and there he prayed earnestly with +groans. And I was amazed at this, and marvelled, and considered who +this could be who prayed in me. But at the end of the prayer it came +to pass that it was a bishop, and I awoke and remembered that the +apostle said: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity, for we +know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself +asketh for us with unspeakable groanings." And again: "The Lord is our +advocate, who also maketh intercession for us." [And when I was tried +by some of my elders, who came and spoke of my sins as an objection to +my laborious episcopate, I was on that day sometimes strongly driven to +fall away here and for ever. But the Lord spared a proselyte and a +stranger for His name's sake, and mercifully assisted me greatly in +that affliction, because I was not entirely deserving of reproach. I +pray God that they may not be found guilty of giving an occasion of +sin; they found me after thirty years, and brought against me words +that I had confessed before I was a deacon; from anxiety, with sorrow +of mind, I told my dearest friend what I had done in my youth, in one +day, nay, rather in one hour, because I was not then able to overcome. +I know not, God knows, if I was then fifteen years of age, and from my +childhood I did not believe in the living God, but remained in death +and unbelief until I was severely chastised, and, in truth, I have been +humbled by hunger and nakedness; and even now I did not come to Ireland +of my own will until I was nearly worn out. But this proved a blessing +to me, for I was thus corrected by the Lord, and he made me fit to be +to-day that which was once far from my thoughts, so that I should care +for the salvation of others, for at that time I had no thought even for +myself. + +And in the night of the day in which I was reproved for the things +above mentioned, I saw in the night.] I saw in a vision of the night a +writing without honor before me. And then I heard an answer saying to +me, "We have heard with displeasure the face of the elect without a +name." He did not say, "Thou hast badly seen," but "We have badly +seen," as if he had there joined himself to me, as he said: "He that +touches you is as he who toucheth the apple of my eye." Therefore I +give thanks to Him who comforted me in all things that He did not +hinder me from the journey which I had proposed, and also as regards my +work which I had learned of Christ. But from this thing I felt no +little strength, and my faith was approved before God and man. + +Therefore I dare to say that my conscience does not reproach me now or +for the future. I have the testimony of God now that I have not lied +in the words I have told you. [But I feel the more grieved that my +dearest friend, to whom I would have trusted even my life, should have +occasioned this. And I learned from certain brethren that, before this +defence, when I was not present, nor even in Britain, and with which I +had nothing to do, that he defended me in my absence. He had even said +to me with his own lips: "Thou art going to be given the rank of +bishop," though I was not worthy of it. How, then, did it happen to +him that afterwards, before all persons, good and bad, he should +detract me publicly, when he had before this freely and gladly praised +me? And the Lord, who is greater than all? I have said enough. +Still, I ought not to hide the gift of God which he gave me in the land +of my captivity, for I sought him earnestly then, and found him there, +and He preserved me from all iniquity, I believe, through the +indwelling of His Spirit, which worketh within me unto this day more +and more. But God knows, if it were man who spoke this to me, I would +perhaps be silent for the love of Christ. + +Therefore I give unceasing thanks to my God, who preserved me faithful +in the day of my temptation, so that I can to-day offer him sacrifice +confidently--the living sacrifice of my soul to Christ my Lord, who +preserved me from all my troubles, so that I may say to Him: "Who am I, +O Lord! or what is my calling, that divine grace should have so wrought +with me, so that to-day I can so rejoice amongst the nations, and +magnify Thy name, wherever I am, not only in prosperity, but also in +adversity?" and I ought to receive equally whatever happens to me, +whether good or evil, giving God thanks in all things, who hath shown +me that I should, undoubtingly, without ceasing, believe in Him who +hath heard me though I am ignorant, and that I should undertake, in +those days, so holy and wonderful a work, and imitate those of whom our +Lord predicted of old that they should preach His Gospel to all nations +for a testimony before the end of the world; which has been +accomplished, as we have seen. Behold, we are witnesses that the +Gospel has been preached to the limits of human habitation.] + +But it is too long to detail my labors particularly, or even partially. +I will briefly say how the good God often delivered me from slavery and +from twelve dangers by which my soul was threatened, besides many +snares, and what in words I cannot express, and with which I will not +trouble my readers. But God knows all things, even before they come to +pass [as he does me, a poor creature. Therefore the divine voice very +often admonished me to consider whence came this wisdom, which was not +in me, who neither knew God nor the number of my days. Whence did I +obtain afterwards the great and salutary gift to know or love God, and +to leave my country and my relations, although many gifts were offered +to me with sorrow and tears. And I offended many of my seniors then +against my will. But, guided by God, I yielded in no way to them--not +to me, but to God be the glory, who conquered in me, and resisted them +all; so that I came to the Irish people to preach the Gospel, and bear +with the injuries of the unbelieving, and listen to the reproach of +being a stranger, and endure many persecutions, even to chains, and to +give up my freedom for the benefit of others. And if I be worthy, I am +ready to give up my life unhesitatingly and most cheerfully for His +name, and thus, if the Lord permit, I desire to spend it even until my +death.] + +For I am truly a debtor to God, who has given me so much grace that +many people should be born again to God through me, and that for them +everywhere should be ordained priests for this people, newly come to +the faith, which the Lord took from the ends of the earth, as He +promised formerly by His prophets: "Our fathers falsely prepared idols, +and there is no profit in them, to thee the Gentiles come and will +say." And again: "I have set thee to be the light of the Gentiles, +that thou mayest be for salvation unto the utmost parts of the earth." +And thus I wait the promise of Him who never fails, as He promises in +the Gospel: "They shall come from the east and the west [from the north +and from the south], and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and +Jacob." So we believe that the faithful shall come from all parts of +the world. + +Therefore we ought to fish well and diligently; as the Lord taught and +said: "Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men." And +again: "Behold, saith the Lord, I send many fishers and many hunters," +etc. Therefore we should, by all means, set our nets in such a manner +that a great multitude and a crowd may be caught therein for God, and +that everywhere there may be priests who shall baptize and exhort a +people who so need it and desire it; as the Lord teaches and admonishes +in the Gospel, saying: "Going, therefore, teach ye all nations, +baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy +Ghost, even to the consummation of the world." And again: "Go ye into +the whole world, and preach the Gospel to every creature; he that +believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not +shall be condemned." The rest are examples. [And again: "This Gospel +of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony to +all nations, and then shall the consummation come." And again, the +Lord, speaking by the prophet, says: "And it shall come to pass in the +last days, saith the Lord, that I will pour out my spirit upon all +flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men +shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Moreover, +upon my servants and handmaids in those days I will pour forth my +spirit, and they shall prophesy." And Osee saith: "And I will say to +that which was not my people: Thou art my people: and to her who hath +not found mercy; and they shall say; Thou art my God. And in the place +where I said to them, You are not my people, it shall be said to them, +Ye are the sons of the living God."] + +Wherefore behold how in Ireland they who never had the knowledge _of +God_, and hitherto only worshipped unclean idols, have lately become +the people of the Lord, and are called the sons of God. The sons of +the Scoti and the daughters of princes are seen to be monks and virgins +of Christ. [And there was one blessed Irish maiden, of adult age, +noble and very beautiful, whom I baptized, and after a few days she +came to us for a reason, and gave us to understand that she had +received a command from God, and was informed that she was to become a +virgin of Christ, and to draw near to God. Thanks be to God, six days +after this she most excellently and eagerly entered on this state of +life, which all the virgins of God now adopt, even against the will of +their parents, even enduring reproaches and persecution from them, and +notwithstanding they increase in number; and as for those who are born +again in this way, we know not their number, except the widows and +those who observe continency. But those who are in slavery are most +severely persecuted, yet they persevere in spite of terrors and +threats. But the Lord has given grace to many of my handmaids, for +they zealously imitate him as far as they are able. + +Therefore, though I could have wished to leave them, and had been ready +and very desirous to go to Britannia, as if to my country and parents, +and not that alone, but to go even to Gallia, to visit my brethren, and +to see the face of my Lord's saints; and God knows that I desired it +greatly. But I am bound in the spirit, and he who witnesseth will +account me guilty if I do it, and I fear to lose the labor which I have +commenced--and not I, but the Lord Christ, who commanded me to come and +be with them for the rest of my life; if the Lord grants it, and keeps +me from every evil way, that I should not sin before him. But I hope +that which I am bound to do, but I trust not myself as long as I am in +this body of death, for he is strong who daily tries to turn me from +the faith, and from the sincere religious chastity to Christ my Lord, +to which I have dedicated myself to the end of my life, but the flesh, +which is in enmity, always draws me to death--that is, to unlawful +desires, that must be unlawfully gratified--and I know in part that I +have not led a perfect life like other believers. But I confess to my +Lord, and do not blush before him, because I tell the truth, that from +the time I knew him in my youth the love of God and his fear increased +within me, and until now, by the favor of the Lord, I have kept the +faith. + +Let him who pleases insult and laugh at me; I will not be silent, +neither do I conceal the signs and wonders that the Lord hath shown to +me many years before they took place, as he who knew all things even +before the world began. Therefore I ought to give thanks to God +without ceasing, who often pardoned my uncalled-for folly and +negligence, who did not let his anger turn fiercely against me, who +allowed me to work with him, though I did not promptly follow what was +shown me and what the Spirit suggested; and the Lord had compassion on +me among thousands and thousands, because he saw my good-will; but then +I knew not what to do, because many were hindering my mission, and were +talking behind my back, and saying: "Why does he run into danger among +enemies who know not God?" This was not said with malice, but because +they did not approve of it, but, as I now testify, because of my +rusticity, you understand; and I did not at once recognize the grace +which was then in me, but now _I know I should have known before_. + +Therefore I have simply related to my brethren and fellow-servants who +have believed me why I have preached and still preach to strengthen and +confirm your faith. Would that you also might aim at higher things and +succeed better. This shall be my glory, because a wise son is the +glory of his father. You know and God knows how I have lived among you +from my youth up, both faithful in truth and sincere in heart; also, I +have given the faith to the people among whom I dwell, and I will +continue to do so. God knows I have not overreached any of them, nor +do I think of it, because of God and his Church, lest I should excite +persecution for them and all of us, and lest the name of the Lord +should be blasphemed through me; for it is written, "Woe to the man +through whom the name of the Lord is blasphemed." For though I am +unskilled in names, I have endeavored to be careful even with my +Christian brethren, and the virgins of Christ, and devout women, who +freely gave me gifts, and cast of their ornaments upon the altar; but I +returned them, though they were offended with me because I did so. But +I, for the hope of immortality, guarded myself cautiously in all +things, so that they could not find me unfaithful, even in the smallest +matter, so that unbelievers could not defame or detract from my +ministry in the least. + +But when it happened that I baptized so many thousand men, did I expect +even half a "screpall" from them? Tell me, and I will return it to +you. Or when the Lord ordained clergy through my humility and +ministry, did I confer the grace gratuitously? If I asked of any of +them even the value of my shoe, tell me, and I will repay you more. I +rather spent for you as far as I was able; and among you and everywhere +for you I endured many perils in distant places, where none had been +further or had ever come to baptize, or ordain the clergy, or confirm +the people. By the grace of the Lord I labored freely and diligently +in all things for your salvation. At this time also I used to give +rewards to kings, whose sons I hired, who travelled with me, and who +understood nothing but [to protect] me and my companions. And on one +day they wished to kill me; but the time had not come yet; but they put +me in irons, and carried off all we possessed. But on the fourteenth +day the Lord released me from their power, and what was ours was +restored to us through God and through the friends we had before +secured. + +You know how much I expended on the judges in the districts which I +visited most frequently. For I think I paid them not less than the +hire of fifteen men, that you might have the benefit of my presence, +and that I might always enjoy you in the Lord. I do not regret it, nor +is it sufficient for me. I still spend, and will still spend, for your +souls.] Behold, I call God to witness on my soul that I do not lie, +neither that you may have occasion, nor that I hope for honor from any +of you; sufficient for me is the honor of truth. But I see that now in +the present world I am greatly exalted by the Lord; and I was not +worthy nor fit to be thus exalted, for I know that poverty and calamity +are more suitable for me than riches and luxury. But even Christ the +Lord was poor for us. + +Truly, I, a poor and miserable creature, even if I wished for wealth, +have it not; neither do I judge myself, because I daily expect either +death, or treachery, or slavery, or an occasion of some kind or +another. [But I fear none of these things, relying on the heavenly +promise; for I have cast myself into the hands of the omnipotent God, +who rules everywhere; as the prophet says: "Cast thy care upon the +Lord, and He shall sustain thee." + +Behold, now I commend my soul to my most faithful God, whose mission I +perform, notwithstanding my unworthiness; but because He does not +accept persons, and has chosen me for this office, to be one of the +least of His ministers. "What shall I render to Him for all the things +that He hath rendered to me?" But what shall I say or promise to my +Lord? For I see nothing unless He gives Himself to me; but He searches +the heart and reins, because I ardently desire and am ready that He +should give me to drink His cup, as He has permitted others to do who +have loved Him. Wherefore may my Lord never permit me to lose His +people whom He has gained in the ends of the earth. I pray God, +therefore, that He may give me perseverance, and that He may vouchsafe +to permit me to give Him faithful testimony for my God until my death. +And if I have done anything good for my God, whom I love, I beseech Him +to grant to me that with those proselytes and captives I may pour out +my blood for His name, even if my body should be denied burial, and be +miserably torn limb from limb by dogs or fierce beasts, or that the +birds of heaven should devour it. I believe most certainly that if +this should happen to me, I have gained both soul and body; for it is +certain that we shall rise one day in the brightness of the sun--that +is, the glory of Christ Jesus our Redeemer--as sons of God but as joint +heirs with Christ, and to become conformable to His image. + +For that sun which we see rises daily for us; but it will not rule or +continue in its splendor for ever, and all who adore it shall suffer +very miserably. But we who believe in and adore the true sun, Christ, +who will never perish, neither he who shall do His will, but even as +Christ shall abide for ever, who reigns with God the Father Almighty, +and with the Holy Spirit, before the ages, and now, and for ever and +ever. Amen. + +Behold, again and again, I shall briefly declare the words of my +confession. I testify in truth and in joy of heart, before God and His +holy angels, that I never had any occasion, except the Gospel and its +promises, for returning to that people from whom I had before with +difficulty escaped.] + +But I beseech those who believe in and fear God, whoever may condescend +to look into or receive this writing, which Patrick, the ignorant +sinner, has written in Ireland, that no one may ever say, if I have +ever done or demonstrated anything, however little, that it was my +ignorance. But do you judge, and let it be believed firmly, that it +was the gift of God. And this is my confession before I die. + +Thus far is what Patrick wrote with his own hand; he was translated to +heaven on the seventeenth of March. + + + + +ST. PATRICK'S EPISTLE TO COROTICUS. + + +_ST. PATRICK'S EPISTLE TO THE CHRISTIAN SUBJECTS OF THE TYRANT +COROTICUS._ + +I, Patrick, a sinner and unlearned, have been appointed a bishop in +Ireland, and I accept from God what I am. I dwell amongst barbarians +as a proselyte and a fugitive for the love of God. He will testify +that it is so. It is not my wish to pour forth so many harsh and +severe things; but I am forced by zeal for God and the truth of Christ, +who raised me up for my neighbors and sons, for whom I have forsaken my +country and parents, and would give up even life itself, if I were +worthy. I have vowed to my God to teach these people, though I should +be despised by them, to whom I have written with my own hand to be +given to the soldiers to be sent to Coroticus--I do not say to my +fellow-citizens, nor to the fellow-citizens of pious Romans, but to the +fellow-citizens of the devil, through their evil deeds and hostile +practices. They live in death, companions of the apostate Scots and +Picts, blood-thirsty men, ever ready to redden themselves with the +blood of innocent Christians, numbers of whom I have begotten to God +and confirmed in Christ. + +On the day following that in which they were clothed in white and +received the chrism of neophytes, they were cruelly cut up and slain +with the sword by the above mentioned; and I sent a letter by a holy +priest, whom I have taught from his infancy, with some clerics, begging +that they would restore some of the plunder or the baptized captives; +but they laughed at them. Therefore I know not whether I should grieve +most for those who were slain, or for those whom the devil insnared +into the eternal pains of hell, where they will be chained like him. +For whoever commits sin is the slave of sin, and is called the son of +the devil. + +Wherefore let every man know who fears God that they are estranged from +me, and from Christ my God, whose ambassador I am--these patricides, +fratricides, and ravening wolves, who devour the people of the Lord as +if they were bread; as it is said: "The wicked have dissipated thy +law," wherein in these latter times Ireland has been well and +prosperously planted and instructed. Thanks be to God, I usurp +nothing; I share with these whom He hath called and predestinated to +preach the Gospel in much persecution, even to the ends of the earth. +But the enemy hath acted invidiously towards me through the tyrant +Coroticus, who fears neither God nor His priests whom He hath chosen, +and committed to them the high, divine power: "Whomsoever they shall +bind on earth shall be bound in heaven." + +I beseech you, therefore, who are the holy ones of God and humble of +heart, that you will not be flattered by them, and that you will +neither eat nor drink with them, nor receive their alms, until they do +penance with many tears, and liberate the servants of God and the +baptized hand-maids of Christ, for whom he was crucified and died. "He +that offereth sacrifice of the goods of the poor, is as one that +sacrificeth the son in the presence of the father." "Riches, he saith, +which the unjust accumulate shall be vomited forth from his belly, the +angel of death shall drag him away, he shall be punished with the fury +of dragons, the tongue of the adder shall slay him, inextinguishable +fire shall consume him." Hence, "Woe to those who fill themselves with +things which are not their own." And "what doth it profit a man if he +gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul?" It were too +long to discuss one by one, or to select from the law, testimonies +against such cupidity. Avarice is a mortal sin. "Thou shall not covet +thy neighbor's goods." "Thou shall not kill." The homicide cannot +dwell with Christ. "He who hateth his brother is a murderer," and "and +he who loveth not his brother abideth in death." How much more guilty +is he who hath defiled his hands with the blood of the sons of God, +whom He hath recently acquired in the ends of the earth by our humble +exhortations! + +Did I come to Ireland according to God or according to the flesh? Who +compelled me? I was led by the Spirit, that I should see my relatives +no more. Have I not a pious mercy towards that nation which formerly +took me captive? According to the flesh, I am of noble birth, my +father being a Decurio. I do not regret or blush for having bartered +my nobility for the good of others. I am a servant in Christ unto a +foreign people for the ineffable glory of eternal life, which is in +Christ Jesus my Lord; though my own people do not acknowledge me: "A +prophet is without honor in his own country." Are we not from one +stock, and have we not one God for our Father? As He has said: "He +that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me +scattereth." Is it not agreed that one pulleth down and another +buildeth? I seek not my own. + +Not to me be praise, but to God, who hath put into my heart this desire +that I should be one of the hunters and fishers whom, of old, God hath +announced should appear in the last days. I am reviled--what shall I +do, O Lord? I am greatly despised. Lo! thy sheep are torn around me, +and plundered by the above-mentioned robbers, aided by the soldiers of +Coroticus: the betrayers of Christians into the hands of the Picts and +Scots are far from the charity of God. Ravening wolves have scattered +the flock of the Lord, which, with the greatest diligence, was +increasing in Ireland; the sons of the Irish and the daughters of kings +who are monks and virgins of Christ are too many to enumerate. +Therefore the oppression of the great is not pleasing to thee now, and +never shall be. + +Who of the saints would not dread to share in the feasts or amusements +of such persons? They fill their houses with the spoils of the +Christian dead, they live by rapine, they know not the poison, the +deadly food, which they present to their friends and children; as Eve +did not understand that she offered death to her husband, so are all +those who work evil: they labor to work out death and eternal +punishment. + +It is the custom of the Christians of Rome and Gaul to send holy men to +the Franks and other nations, with many thousand solidi, to redeem +baptized captives. You who slay them, and sell them to foreign nations +ignorant of God, deliver the members of Christ, as it were, into a den +of wolves. What hope have you in God? Whoever agrees with you, or +commands you, God will judge him. I know not what I can say, or what I +can speak more of the departed sons of God slain cruelly by the sword. +It is written: "Weep with them that weep." And again: "If any member +suffers anything, all the members suffer with it." Therefore the +Church laments and bewails her sons and daughters, not slain by the +sword, but sent away to distant countries, where sin is more shameless +and abounds. There free-born Christian men are sold and enslaved +amongst the wicked, abandoned, and apostate Picts. + +Therefore I cry out with grief and sorrow. O beautiful and +well-beloved brethren and children! whom I have brought forth in Christ +in such multitudes, what shall I do for you? I am not worthy before +God or man to come to your assistance. The wicked have prevailed over +us. We have become outcasts. It would seem that they do not think we +have one baptism and one Father, God. They think it an indignity that +we have been born in Ireland; as He said: "Have ye not one God? Why do +ye each forsake his neighbor?" Therefore I grieve for you--I grieve, O +my beloved ones! But, on the other hand, I congratulate myself I have +not labored for nothing--my journey has not been in vain. This +horrible and amazing crime has been permitted to take place. Thanks be +to God, ye who have believed and have been baptized have gone from +earth to paradise. Certainly, ye have begun to migrate where there is +no night or death or sorrow; but ye shall exult like young bulls loosed +from their bonds and tread down the wicked under your feet as dust. + +Truly, you shall reign with the apostles and prophets and martyrs, and +obtain the eternal kingdom, as He hath testified, saying: "They shall +come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham and +Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven." Without are dogs, and +sorcerers, and murderers, and liars, and perjurers, and they shall have +their part in the everlasting lake of fire. Nor does the apostle say +without reason: "If the just are scarcely saved, where shall the +sinner, the impious, and the transgressor of the law appear?" Where +will Coroticus and his wicked rebels against Christ find themselves +when they shall see rewards distributed amongst the baptized women? +What will he think of his miserable kingdom, which shall pass away in a +moment, like clouds or smoke, which are dispersed by the wind? So +shall deceitful sinners perish before the face of the Lord, and the +just shall feast with great confidence with Christ, and judge the +nations, and rule over unjust kings, for ever and ever. Amen. + +I testify before God and His angels that it shall be so, as He hath +intimated to my ignorance. These are not my words that I have set +forth in Latin, but those of God and the prophets and apostles, who +never lied: "He that believeth shall be saved, but he that believeth +not shall be condemned." + +God hath said it. I entreat whosoever is a servant of God that he be a +willing bearer of this letter, that he be not drawn aside by any one, +but that he shall see it read before all the people in the presence of +Coroticus himself, that, if God inspire them, they may some time return +to God, and repent, though late; that they may liberate the baptized +captives, and repent for their homicides of the Lord's brethren; so +that they may deserve of God to live and to be whole here and +hereafter. The peace of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy +Ghost. Amen. + + +[Illustration: The Saint Patrick of Ancient Ages.] + + + + +ST. FIECH'S METRICAL LIFE OF ST. PATRICK. + +_Written in the Irish Language about 1,400 years ago_. + + + I + + At Nemthur Saint Patrick was born, + As history handed it down; + And when but sixteen years of age, + A captive was led from that town. + + + II. + + Siccoth was Saint Patrick's first name; + His father Calphurn without miss; + His grandfather Otide was styled; + He was nephew of Deacon Odisse. + + + III. + + Six years did he live in dark bonds, + And the food of the Gentile ate not; + And Cathraige by men he was called, + Since to work for four homes was his lot. + + + IV. + + To the servant of Milcho 'twas said + To pass o'er the seas and the plain; + Then stood angel Victor on rock, + And his footprints to this day remain. + + + V. + + Departed Saint Patrick o'er Alps-- + On his way all successful he hies; + And with German remained in the South + 'Neath Letavia's wide-spreading skies. + + + VI. + + In the isles of the Tyrrhenian sea + Saint Patrick some period awaits, + And as canon with German he reads, + As his history still to us states + + + VII. + + To Hibernia Saint Patrick returned, + By visions from angels induced; + For visions to him appeared oft, + And his mind to subjection reduced. + + + VIII. + + Soul-saving was Patrick's intent, + For 'twas to far Foclut's dark flood; + He had heard the entreaty and wail + Of children in Foclut's far woods. + + + IX. + + For asked they the saint to make haste + And Letavia's wide lands desert, + That from error's dark ways Eire's men + He might in life's pathways direct. + + + X. + + Foretold Eire's seers years of peace, + Which were to remain through all time; + But the grandeurs of Tara the proud + Were to vanish in dust, as earth's slime. + + + XI. + + To Leary, the monarch, Druids told + Of the advent of Patrick the saint; + And their visions were true, as we know + From the facts which his histories paint. + + + XII. + + Renowned was Saint Patrick through life, + And of error he was a dire foe; + Hence for ever his name shall be grand + Among the nations, as ages shall flow. + + + XIII. + + The Apocalypse sang he, and hymns, + And three fifty full psalms, day by day; + He instructed and praised and baptized, + And all time he continued to pray. + + + XIV. + + Nor could any cold e'er prevent + That he stayed in the water o'er nights; + And to gain the grand kingdom of heaven, + Through the day he used preach on the heights. + + + XV. + + By the far-famous fount of the North, + Benibarka! thy waters sha'n't cease; + For a hundred full psalms he used sing + Each night the Lord's praise to increase. + + + XVI. + + Then he slept on a cold bed of stone, + And with a wet cover was dressed; + A stone was his pillow each night-- + Such, such was the saint's nightly rest. + + + XVII. + + To the people the Gospel was preached, + With power and with miracles signed; + The blind and the lepers were cured, + And Death his dead subjects resigned. + + + XVIII. + + Saint Patrick did preach to the Scots, + And in Letavia much he endured, + That whom he had won to the Lord + In Judgment's dread day be secured. + + + XIX. + + Emir's and proud Erimon's sons + A demon contrived to ensnare; + And them did dread Satan engulf + In the dark, fearful depths of his lair, + + + XX. + + Until our apostle arrived, + Who rescued and set them all free, + Through sixty long years of his life + To Christ's cross the brave Fenians flee. + + + XXI. + + Great darkness o'er Eire was spread, + And its people their idols adored, + Nor in the true Godhead believed, + Nor the Trinity, too, of the Lord. + + + XXII. + + At Armagh the realm's throne has been placed, + To Emania a glory to be; + And far-famed is Dundalethglas church, + Nor let fame from Temoria flee. + + + XXIII. + + To Armagh, in his infirm old age, + Saint Patrick desired much to go; + But God's angel at noon met the saint, + And induced him his wish to forego. + + + XXIV. + + Southward to the angel he came + (For Victor had been his good guide), + And the bush in which Victor appeared + Burned bright, and a voice from it cried: + + + XXV. + + "At Armagh let the government be, + And to Christ let all glory be brought; + Indeed, thou shalt come unto heaven; + Thou obtainedst, because thou hadst sought. + + + XXVI. + + "A hymn which you sing while alive + Shall to Celts a proud armament be; + And at judgment the Irish surround + Their father, their patron, in thee." + + + XXVII. + + After Patrick, good Tassach remained; + When Patrick to Tassach Christ gave, + Tassach said: "He from me shall receive"; + And the prediction of Tassach was grave. + + + XXVIII. + + For the night was installed a bright day, + And that day for one year did remain; + So that over all Eire the fair + Light's brilliance and brightness did reign. + + + XXIX. + + Bethoron a battle beheld + Of great Nun against Chanaan's sons, + In which Gabaon saw the sun stand, + As the Scriptural narrative runs. + + + XXX. + + For brave Josue stood the bright sun + To witness the wicked all slain; + Why not for Saint Patrick thrice more + To illumine Hibernia's plain? + + + XXXI. + + For all Eire's good clergy were come + To bury Saint Patrick with pride; + And the sounds of the singing from heaven + Cast them sleeping all round, far and wide. + + + XXXII. + + Saint Patrick's pure soul fled his frame + (His works immortality make); + And on the first night after death, + The angels of God watched his wake. + + + XXXIII. + + And when Patrick departed from life, + To the other Saint Patrick came he; + And to Jesus, of Mary the Son, + The two passed, bright and pure, great and free. + + + XXXIV. + + In Patrick pride's stain was not found; + And great were the works that adorn + This good son of Christ, Mary's Son! + With God's blessing Saint Patrick was born. + + +[Illustration: The Saint Patrick of Medieval Times.] + + + + +TRIPARTITE LIFE. + +PART I. + +The people who sat in darkness saw a great light, and they who were in +the land and in the shadow of death received light by which came their +illumination. + +Patrick, then, was of the Britons of Alcluaid by origin. Calpurnn was +his father's name. He was a noble priest. Potid was his grandfather's +name, whose title was a deacon. Conceis was his mother's name. She +was of the Franks, and a sister to Martin. In Nemtur, moreover, the +man St. Patrick was born; and the flag (stone) on which St. Patrick was +born would give forth water when any one swore a false oath upon it, as +if it were lamenting the false testimony. If the oath was true, +however, the stone would continue in its natural condition. + +When the man St. Patrick was born, he was taken to a blind, flat-faced +man to be baptized. Gornias was the priest's name; and he had no water +out of which he could perform the baptism until he made the sign of the +cross over the ground with the infant's hand, when a fountain of water +burst forth. Gornias washed his face, and his eyes were opened to him; +and he, who had learned no letter, read the baptism. God wrought three +miracles through Patrick in this place--viz., the fountain of water +through the ground, his eyesight to the blind man, and his reading the +_ordo_ of the baptism without knowing a letter up to that time. And +Patrick was subsequently baptized. A church was founded, moreover, +over this well in which Patrick was baptized; and the well is at the +altar, and it has the form of the cross, as the learned report. + +Many prodigies and miracles were wrought through Patrick in his youth, +but we shall only relate a few out of many of them. One time Patrick +was in his nurse's house, in winter time, when a great flood and rain +filled his nurse's residence, so that the vessels and furniture of the +house were floating about, and the fire was extinguished. Patrick then +cried to his nurse, as usual with children when desiring food. Then +his nurse said to him: "That is not what troubles us; there is +something else we would rather do than to prepare food for thee; even +the fire is extinguished." When Patrick heard these words, truly, he +sought a certain spot in the house to which the water had not reached; +and he dipped his hand in the water, and five drops fell from Patrick's +fingers, and they were suddenly changed into five sparks, and the fire +glowed, and the water rose not. The names of God and of Patrick were +magnified thereby. Another time, as Patrick was playing amongst his +companions, in the time of winter and cold in particular, he collected +his armful of pieces of ice, which he brought home to his nurse. Then +his nurse said: "It would be better for you to bring us withered +brambles to warm ourselves with than what you have brought." Thereupon +he said to his nurse: + +"Believe thou, because God is powerful thereto, that even the sheets of +ice will burn like faggots." And no sooner were the pieces of ice +placed on the fire, and he had breathed on them, than they burned like +faggots. The names of God and Patrick were magnified through this +miracle. + +One time, when Patrick and his sister (_i.e._, Lupait) were herding +sheep, the lambs came suddenly to their dams, as is customary with +them, to drink milk. When Patrick and his sister saw this, they ran +quickly to prevent them. The girl fell, and her head struck against a +stone, so that death was nigh unto her. As soon as Patrick perceived +that his sister was lying down, and that death was nigh unto her, he +wept loudly; and he raised her up immediately, and made the sign of the +cross over the wound, and it healed without any illness. +(Nevertheless, the signs of the "white wound" would appear there.) And +they came home as if no evil had happened to them. Another time, +Patrick was with the sheep, when a wolf took away a sheep from him. +His nurse reproved him greatly therefor. The wolf brought the sheep +whole to the same place on the morrow; and the restoration in this way +was wonderful--viz., the wolf's dislike regarding the habitual food. + +When Patrick's nurse, therefore, saw him magnified by God in prodigies +and miracles, she used to love him very much, and would not wish to go +anywhere without him. One time his nurse went to milk the cow. He +went with her to get a drink of new milk. The cow [became mad] in the +_booley_, and killed five other cows. The nurse was much grieved, and +asked him to resuscitate the cows. He resuscitated the cows, then, so +that they were quite well, and he cured the mad cow; and the names of +God and Patrick were magnified through this miracle. + +There was a great assembly held by the Britons. He went to the +assembly with his nurse and his guardian. It happened that his +guardian died in the assembly. All were hushed into silence thereat; +and his relatives cried, and his friends wept, and they said, "Why, +thou _gilla_, didst thou let the man who was carrying thee die?" As +regards the _gilla_ moreover, he ran to his guardian, and placed his +hands about his neck, and said to him, "Arise, and let us go home." He +arose forthwith at Patrick's word, and they went home safe afterwards. + +The boys of the place in which Patrick was nursed were wont to bring +honey to their mothers from the bees' nests. Then his nurse said to +Patrick: "Although every other boy brings honey to his nurse, you bring +none to me." Patrick afterwards carried off a bucket to the water, and +filled it, and blessed the water, so that it changed into honey; and it +healed every disease and ailment to which it was applied. + +One time the King of Britain's steward went to command Patrick and his +nurse to go and clean the hearth of the royal house in Al-Cluaid. +Patrick and his nurse went. Then it was that the angel came, and said +to Patrick: "Pray, and it will not be necessary for you to perform that +work." Patrick prayed. The angel afterwards cleaned the hearth. Then +Patrick said: "Though all the firewood in Britain were burned in that +fireplace, there would be no ashes of it on the morrow." And this, +indeed, is fulfilled yet. Another time, the King of Britain's steward +went to demand tribute of curds and butter from Patrick's nurse; and +she had nothing that she would give for the rent. Then it was that +Patrick made curds and butter of the snow, and they were taken to the +king; and the moment they were exhibited to the king, afterwards they +changed into the nature of snow again. The king thereupon forgave the +rent to Patrick for ever. + +The cause of Patrick's coming to Erinn was as follows: The seven sons +of Fechtmad--viz., the seven sons of the King of Britain--were on a +naval expedition, and they went to plunder in Armoric-Letha; and a +number of the Britons of Srath-Cluaidh were on a visit with their +kinsmen, the Britons of Armoric-Letha, and Calpurn, son of Potit, +Patrick's father, and his mother--_i.e._, Conches, daughter of Ocbas of +the Galls--_i.e._, of the Franks--were killed in the slaughter in +Armorica. Patrick and his two sisters--viz., Lupait and Tigris--were +taken prisoners, moreover, in that slaughter. The seven sons of +Fechtmad went afterwards on the sea, having with them Patrick and his +two sisters in captivity. The way they went was around Erinn, +northwards, until they landed in the north; and they sold Patrick to +Miliuc, son of Buan--_i.e._, to the King of Dal-Araidhe. They sold his +sisters in Conaille-Muirthemhne. And they did not know this. Four +persons, truly, that purchased him. One of them was Miliuc. It was +from this that he received the name that is Cothraige, for the reason +that he served four families. He had, indeed, four names. . . + +[Here a leaf is missing from both the Bodleian and British Museum MSS. +of the Tripartite Life, the contents of which would fill eight pages of +similar size to the foregoing.] + +When Patrick had completed his sixtieth year, and had learned +knowledge, his auxiliary angel, Victor (for he was of assistance to him +when he [Patrick] was in bondage with Miliuc, and regarding everything +besides which he might wish), went to him, and said to him: "You are +commanded from God to go to Erinn, to strengthen faith and belief, that +you may bring the people, by the net of the Gospel, to the harbor of +life; for all the men of Erinn call out your name, and they think it +seasonable and fit that you should come." Patrick afterwards bade +farewell to Germanus, and gave him a blessing; and a trusted senior +went with him from Germanus, to guard him and testify for him; his name +was Segetius, and he was by grade a priest, and he it was who usually +kept the _Ordo_ of the church besides Germanus. + +Patrick went subsequently on the sea, his company being nine. Then he +went upon an island, where he saw a withered old woman on her hands at +the door of a house. "Whence is the hag?" asked Patrick; "great is her +infirmity." A young man answered, and said: "She is a descendant of +mine," said the young man; "if you could see the mother of this girl, O +cleric! she is more infirm still." "In what way did this happen?" +enquired Patrick. "Not difficult to tell," said the young man. "We +are here since the time of Christ. He came to visit us when He was on +earth amongst men; and we made a feast for him, and he blessed our +house and blessed ourselves; but this blessing reached not our +children; and we shall be here without age or decay for ever. And it +is long since thy coming was foretold to us," said the young man; "and +God 'left it with us' [_i.e._, prophesied to us] that thou wouldst come +to preach to the Gaeidhel; and He left a token with us, _i.e._, His +_bachall_ (crozier), to be given to thee." "I will not take it," said +Patrick, "until He Himself gives me His _bachall_." Patrick remained +three days and three nights with them; and he went afterwards into +Sliabh-Hermoin, near the island, where the Lord appeared unto him, and +commanded him to go and preach to the Gaeidliel; and He gave him the +Bachall-Isa, and said that it would be of assistance to him in every +danger and every difficulty in which he would be. And Patrick besought +three requests of him--viz., (1) to be at His right hand in the kingdom +of heaven; (2) that he (Patrick) might be the judge of the Gaeidhel on +the Day of Judgment; and (3) as much as the nine companions could carry +of gold and silver to give to the Gaeidhel for believing. + +The Airchinnech that was in Rome at that time was Celestinus, the +forty-second man from Peter. He sent Palladius, a high deacon, with +twelve men, to instruct the Gaeidhel (for to the comarb of Peter +belongs the instruction of Europe), in the same way as Barnabas went +from Peter to instruct the Romans, etc. When Palladius arrived in the +territory of Leinster--_i.e._, at Inbher-Dea--Nathi, son of Garchu, +opposed him, and expelled him. And Palladius baptized a few there, and +founded three churches--viz., Cill-fine (in which he left his books, +and the casket with the relics of Paul and Peter, and the tablet in +which he used to write), and Tech-na-Roman, and Doinhnach-Airte, in +which Silvester and Solonius are. On turning back afterwards, sickness +seized him in the country of the Cruithne, and he died of it. + +When Patrick heard this thing, and knew that it was for him God +designed the apostleship of Erinn, he went subsequently to Rome to +receive grade; and it was Celestinus, Abbot of Rome, who read _grada_ +(orders, degrees) over him; Germanus and Amatho, King of the Romans, +being present with them. + +When Patrick came from Rome, where he arrived was at Inbher-Dea, in +Leinster. Nathi, son of Garchu, came also against him. Patrick cursed +him. Sinell, moreover, the son of Finnchadh, was the first who +believed in Erinn through Patrick's teaching. Hence it was that +Patrick blessed him and his seed. On the same day Auxilius and +Eserninus, and others of Patrick's people, were ordained; and it was +then, also, that the name Patricius--_i.e._, a name of power with the +Romans--was given to him; _i.e._, a hostage-liberating man. It was he, +moreover, who loosened the hostageship and bondage of the Gaeidhel to +the devil. And when they were reading the _grada_ (orders, degrees), +the three choirs responded--viz., the choir of the men of heaven, and +the choir of the Romans, and the choir of the children from the woods +of Fochlud--all whom cried out, "Hibernienses omnes," etc. In illis +diebus autem gesta sunt in predictis ita. In that time there was a +fierce pagan king in Erinn--_i.e._, Laeghaire Mac Neill--and his seat +and royal hold was in Tara. In the fifth year of the reign of +Laeghaire Mac Neill Patrick came to Erinn. The eighth year of the +reign of Lughaidh he died. The eighth year of the reign of Theodosius, +the forty-fifth man from Augustus, Patrick came; eight years Celestine +was then prince, as Gelasius said. + +This valiant king, then--_i.e._, Laeghaire Mac Neill--possessed druids +and enchanters, who used to foretell through their druidism and through +their paganism what was in the future for them. Lochru and Luchat Mael +were their chiefs; and these two were authors of that art of +pseudo-prophecy. They prophesied, then, that a mighty, unprecedented +prophet would come across the sea, with an unknown code of +instructions, with a few companions, whom multitudes would obey, and +who would obtain dignity and reverence from the men of Erinn; and that +he would expel kings and princes from their governments, and would +destroy all the idolatrous images; and that the faith which would +arrive would live for ever in Erin. Two years, or three, before the +arrival of Patrick, what they used to prophesy was [as follows]; + + "A _Tailcend_ (_i.e._, Patrick) shall come across the stormy sea. + His garment head-pierced, his staff head-bent, + His _mias_ (_i.e._, altar) in the east of his house; + His people all shall answer, Amen, amen." + + +Baile-Cuinn (the Ecstasy of Conn, a rhapsody so called) dixit: "A +_Tailcend_ shall come who will found cemeteries, make cells new, and +pointed music-houses, with conical caps [bencopar], and have princes +bearing croziers." "When these signs shall come," said they, "our +adoration and our _gentility_ (paganism) will vanish, and faith and +belief will be magnified." As it was foretold then and represented, so +it happened and was fulfilled. + +When Patrick completed his voyage, and his ship entered the harbor at +Inbher-Dea, in the territory of Leinster, he brought his ships to the +shore. Then it was that he decided to go to instruct Miliuc. He +thought fit as he labored at first for his body, that he should labor +for his soul. He then put stick to shore, and proceeded on a +prosperous voyage, past the coast of Erinn, eastwards, until he stopped +in Inbher-Domnand. He found no fish there, and cursed it. He went to +Inis-Patrick: and he sent to Inbher-Nainge, where nothing was found for +him. He cursed this also, and both are unfruitful. Then it was that +Benen came into his company. Soon after, Patrick slept awhile, and all +the odoriferous flowers that the youth could find, he would put them +into the cleric's bosom. Patrick's people said to Benen: "Stop doing +that, lest thou shouldst awake Patrick." Patrick said: "He will be the +heir of my kingdom." He went to Inbher-Boindi, where he found fish. +He blessed it, and the _Inbher_ is fruitful. He found druids in that +place who denied the virginity of Mary. Patrick blessed the ground, +and it swallowed the druids. Patrick went afterwards from +Inis-Patrick, past Conaille, and past the coast of Ulster, until he +stopped at Inbher-Brena. He went afterwards to Inbher-Slani, where the +clerics hid their ships; and they went ashore to put off their fatigue, +and to rest; so that there it was the swine-herd of Dichu, son of +Trichim, found them, where Sabhall-Patrick is to-day. When he saw the +divines and the clerics, he thought they were robbers or thieves, and +he went to tell his lord; whereupon Dichu came, and set his dog at the +clerics. Then it was that Patrick uttered the prophetic verse, "Ne +tradas bestis, etc., et canis obmutuit." When Dichu saw Patrick, he +became gentle, and he believed, and Patrick baptized him; so that he +was the first in Ulster who received faith and baptism from Patrick. +Then it was that Dichu presented the Sabhall to Patrick. Patrick said: + + "The blessing of God on Dichu, + Who gave to me the Sabhall; + May he be hereafter + Heavenly, joyous, glorious. + + "The blessing of God on _Dichu_-- + Dichu with full folds (flocks); + No one of his sept or kindred + Shall die, except after a long life." + + +Patrick went to preach to Miliuc, as we have said, and took gold with +him to prevail on him to believe; for he knew that he (Miliuc) was +covetous regarding gold. But when Miliuc heard that Patrick had +arrived, he wished not to believe for him, and to abandon the pagan +religion. He thought it unbecoming to believe for his servant, and to +submit to him. The counsel that a demon taught him was this: He went +into his royal house with his gold and silver; and he set the house on +fire, and was burned with all his treasures, and his soul went to hell. +Then it was that Patrick proceeded past the northern side of Sliabh-Mis +(there is a cross in that place), and he saw the fire afar off. He +remained silent for the space of two or three hours, thinking what it +could be, and he said, "That is the fire of Miliuc's house," said +Patrick, "after his burning himself in the middle of his house, that he +might not believe in God in the end of his life. As regards the man +who persuaded him thereto," added he, "there shall not be a king or +righdamhna of his family, and his seed and race shall be 'in service' +for ever, and his soul shall not return from hell to the judgment, nor +after judgment." After he had said these words, he turned _deisel_ +(right-hand-wise) and went back again into the territory of Uladh, +until he arrived at Magh-inis, to Dichu, son of Trichim, and he +remained there a long time disseminating faith, so that he brought all +the Ulidians, with the net of the Gospel, to the harbor of life. + +Patrick went subsequently from Sabhall southwards, that he might preach +to Ros, son of Trichim. He it was that resided in Derlus, to the south +of Dun-leth-glaise (Downpatrick). There is a small city (cathair, +_i.e._, civitas, but also meaning a bishop's _see_) there this +day--_i.e._, Brettain, ubi est Episcopus Loarn qui ausus est increpare +Patricium tenentem manum pueri ludentis justa Ecclesiam suam. As +Patrick was then on his way, he saw a tender youth herding pigs. +Mochae his name. Patrick preached to him, and baptized him, and cut +his hair, and gave him a copy of the gospels and a reliquary. And he +gave him also, another time, a _bachall_ which had been given them from +God--viz., its head into Patrick's bosom, and its end in Mochae's +bosom; and this is the Detech-Mochae of Noendruim; and Mochae promised +Patrick a shorn pig every year. And this, indeed, is still given. + +When the solemnity of Easter approached, Patrick considered that there +was no place more suitable to celebrate the high solemnity of the +year--_i.e._, the Easter--than in Magh-Bregh, the place where the head +of the idolatry and druidism of Erinn was--viz., in Temhair. They +afterwards bade farewell to Dichu, son of Trichim, and put their +vessels on the sea; and they proceeded until they anchored in +Inbher-Colptha. They left their vessels in the Inbher, and went by +land until they reached Ferta-fer-féc, and Patrick's tent was fixed in +this place, and he cut the Easter fire. It happened, however, that +this was the time in which the great festival of the Gentiles--_i.e._, +the _Fes of Tara_--was usually celebrated. The kings and princes and +chieftains were wont to come to Laeghaire Mac Neill to Tara, to +celebrate this festival. The druids and the magicians were also wont +to come to prophesy to them. The fire of every hearth in Erinn was +usually extinguished on that night, and it was commanded by the king +that no fire should be lighted in Erinn before the fire of Tara, and +neither gold nor silver would be accepted from any one who would light +it, but he should suffer death for it. Patrick knew not this thing; +and if he knew it, it would not prevent him. + +As the people of Tara were thus, they saw the consecrated Easter fire +at a distance which Patrick had lighted. It illuminated all +Magh-Bregh. Then the king said: "That is a violation of my prohibition +and law; and do you ascertain who did it." "We see the fire," said the +druids, "and we know the night in which it is made. If it is not +extinguished before morning," added they, "it will never be +extinguished. The man who lighted it will surpass the kings and +princes, unless he is prevented." When the king heard this thing, he +was much infuriated. Then the king said: "That is not how it shall be; +but we will go," said he, "until we slay the man who lighted the fire." +His chariot and horses were yoked for the king, and they went, in the +end of the night, to Ferta-fer-féc. "You must take care," said the +druids, "that you go not to the place where the fire was made, lest you +worship the man who lighted it; but stay outside, and let him be called +out to you, that he may know you to be a king, and himself a subject; +and we will argue in your presence." "It is good counsel," said the +king; "it shall be done as you say." They proceeded afterwards until +they unyoked their horses and chariots in front of the _Ferta_. +Patrick was "whispered" out to them; and it was commanded by them that +no one should rise up before him, lest he should believe in him. +Patrick rose and went out; and when he saw the chariots and horses +unyoked, he sang the prophetic stanza: + + "Hi in curribus et hi in eorus (equis), + Nos autem, in nomine Domini Dei nostri ma." + +They were then before him, and the rims of their shields against their +chins; and none of them rose up before him, except one man alone, in +whom was a figure from God--_i.e._, Ere, son of Dega. He is the Bishop +Ere who is [commemorated] in Slaine of Magh-Bregh to-day. Patrick +blessed him, and he believed in God, and confessed the Catholic faith, +and was baptized; and Patrick said to him: "Your seat (_cathair_, chair +or city) on earth shall be noble"; and Patrick's (_comarb_) successor +is bound to bend the knee before his _comarb_ in consideration of his +submission. + +Each then questioned the other--viz., Patrick and Laeghaire. Lochru +went fiercely, enviously, with contention and questions, against +Patrick; and then he began to denounce the Trinity and the Catholic +faith. Patrick looked severely at him, and cried out to God with a +loud voice, and he said: "Domine qui omnia potes et in tua potestate +consistit quidquid est, quique nos misisti huc ad nomen tuum gentibus +praedicandum hic impius qui blasphemat nomen tuum, elevatur nunc foras, +et cito moriatur. Et his dictis elevatus est magus in aëra et iterum +desuper cito dejectus sparso ad lapidem cerebro comminutus et mortus +fuerat coram eis." The pagans became afraid at this. But the king was +much infuriated against Patrick, and he determined to kill him. He +told his people to slay the cleric. When Patrick observed this +thing--the rising up against him of the pagans--he cried out with a +loud voice, and said: "Et exurget Deus et dissipentur inimici ejus, et +fugiant qui oderunt eum a facie ejus, sicut defecit fumus deficit sic +deficiant sicut fluit caera a facie ignis; sic pereint peccatorus facie +Domini." Immediately darkness went over the sun, and great shaking and +trembling of the earth occurred. They thought it was heaven that fell +upon the earth; and the horses started off, frightened, and the wind +blew the chariots across the plains, and all rose against each other in +the assembly; and they were all attacking each other, so that fifty men +of them fell in this commotion through Patrick's malediction. The +Gentiles fled in all directions, so that only three remained--viz., +Laeghaire, and his queen, and a man of his people; et timuerunt valde, +veniensque regina ad Patricium (_i.e._, Angass, daughter of Tassagh, +son of Liathan), dixit: "Ei homo juste et potens ne perdas regem. The +king will go to thee, and will submit to thee, and will kneel, and will +believe in God." Laeghaire went then, and knelt before Patrick, and +gave him a "_false peace_." Not long after this, the king beckoned +Patrick aside, and what he meditated was to kill him; but this happened +not, because God had manifested this intention to Patrick. Laeghaire +said to Patrick, "Come after me, O cleric! to Tara, that I may believe +in thee before the men of Erinn"; and he then placed men in ambush +before Patrick in every pass from Ferta-fer-féc to Tara, that they +might kill him. But God did not permit it. Patrick went, accompanied +by eight young clerics (maccleirech), and Benen as a _gilla_, along +with them; and Patrick blessed them before going, and a _dicheltair_ +(garment of invisibility) went over them, so that not one of them was +seen. The Gentiles who were in the ambuscades, however, saw eight wild +deer going past them along the mountain, and a young fawn after them, +and a pouch on his shoulder--viz., Patrick, and his eight [clerics], +and Benen after them, and his (Patrick's) _polaire_ (satchel, or +epistolary) on his back. + +Laeghaire went afterwards, about twilight, to Tara, in sorrow and +shame, with the few persons who escaped in his company. On the day +succeeding Easter Sunday the men of Erinn went to Tara to drink the +feast; for the _Fes_ of Tara was a principal day with them. When they +were banqueting, and thinking of the conflict they waged the day +before, they saw Patrick, who arrived in the middle of Tara, januis +clausis ut Christus in cennaculum; because Patrick meditated: "I will +go," said he, "so that my readiness may be manifested before the men of +Erinn. I shall not make a candle under a bushel of myself. I will +see," said he, "who will believe me, and who will not believe me." No +one rose up before him inside but _Dubhtach_ Mac Ua Lugair alone, the +king's royal poet, and a tender youth of his people (viz., his name was +Fiacc; it is he who is [commemorated] in Slebhte to-day). This +Dubhtach, truly, was the first man who believed that day in Tara. +Patrick blessed him and his seed. Patrick was then called to the +king's bed, that he might eat food, and to prove him in prophecy +(_i.e._, in Venturis rebus). Patrick did not refuse this, because he +knew what would come of it. The druid Luchat Mael went to drink with +him, for he wished to revenge on Patrick what he had done to his (the +druid's) companion the day before. The druid Luchat Mael put a drop of +poison into the goblet which was beside Patrick, that he might see what +Patrick would do in regard to it. Patrick observed this act, and he +blessed the goblet, and the ale adhered to it, and he turned the goblet +upside-down afterwards, and the poison which the druid put into it fell +out of it. Patrick blessed the goblet again, and the ale changed into +its natural state. The names of God and Patrick were magnified +thereby. The hosts then went and took up their station outside Tara. +"Let us work miracles," said Luchat Mael, "before the multitude in this +great plain." Patrick asked; "What are they?" The druid said: "Let us +bring snow upon the plain, so that the plain may be white before us." +Patrick said to him: "I do not wish to go against the will of God." +The druid said: "I will bring the snow upon the plain, though you like +it not." He then began the druidic poetry and the demoniacal arts +until the snow fell so that it would reach the girdles of men; and all +saw and wondered greatly. Patrick said: "We see this; send it away, if +you can." The druid answered: "I cannot do that thing until this time +to-morrow." "By my _debhro_," said Patrick, "in evil is thy power, and +not in good." Patrick blessed the plain before him, towards the four +points, and the snow immediately disappeared, without rain, without +sun, without wind, at Patrick's word. Darkness afterwards went over +the face of the earth, through the incantations of the druid. The +multitudes cried out thereat. Patrick said: "Expelli tenebras." The +druid answered: "I am not able to-day." Patrick prayed the Lord, and +blessed the plain, and the darkness was expelled, and the sun shone +out, and all gave thanks. They were for a long time contending thus +before the king--_i.e._, as Nero said to Simon and Peter--et ait rex ad +illos, "Libros vestros in aqua mittite, et ilium cujus libri illesi +evaserint adorabimus." Respondit Patricius: "Faciam ego"; et dixit +magus: "Nolo ego ad judicium ire aquae cum ipso; aquam etiam Deum +habet"; because he heard that it was through water Patrick used to +baptize. Et respondit rex: "Mittite igitur in igne"; et ait Patricius: +"Promptus sum;" at magus nolens dixit; "Hic homo versa vice in alternos +annos nunc aquam nunc ignem deum veneratur." "It is not this that +shall be done," said Patrick; "for since you say that it is the fire I +adore, go you, if you wish, into a house apart, and well closed, and a +student of my people along with you, and let my _casula_ be about you, +and your druidic tunic about my student (_mac cleirech_); and fire will +be applied to the house, that God may decide between you there." This +counsel was agreed to by the men of Erinn, including Laeghaire. The +house was then made, one-half of dry faggots, and the other half of +fresh materials. The druid was put into the fresh part, and Patrick's +_casula_ about him. Benen, however, was put into the dry part, with +the druid's tunic about him. The house was afterwards closed and +fastened on the outside, before the multitude, and fire was applied to +it. A great prodigy occurred there through Patrick's prayers. The +fresh part of the house was burned, as well as the druid under the +casula, and not a bit of the _casula_ was destroyed. The dry portion, +in which was Benen, however, was not burned, and God preserved Benen +under the druid's tunic, and the tunic was burned, so that it was +reduced to ashes. The king was greatly enraged against Patrick for the +killing of his druid. He arose, and would like to slay Patrick; but +God did not permit it, through the intercession of Patrick. The anger +of God fell afterwards on the impious multitude, so that great numbers +of them died--viz., twelve thousand in one day. Patrick said to +Laeghaire: "If you do not believe now, you shall die quickly; for the +anger of God will come upon your head." When the king heard these +words, he was seized with great fear. The king went into a house +afterwards to take counsel with his people. "It is better for me," +said he, "to believe in God than [to suffer] what is threatened to +me--my death." It was after this that Laeghaire knelt to Patrick, and +believed in God, and many thousands believed in that day. + +Then it was that Patrick said to Laeghaire: "Since you have believed in +God, and have submitted to me, length of life in thy sovereignty will +be given thee. As a reward for thy disobedience some time ago, +however, there will be no king nor roydamhna from thee for ever, except +Lughaidh," the son of Laeghaire; for his mother implored Patrick that +he would not curse the infant that was in her womb, when Patrick said: +"I will not, until he comes against me." Lughaidh then assumed the +sovereignty; and he went to Achadh-farcha. There he said: "Is not that +the church of the cleric who said that there would be neither king nor +roydamhna from Laeghaire?" After this, darts of lightning descended +from the heavens on his head, which killed him, and hence is [the name] +Achadh-farcha. These miracles live to this day. These are the +miracles the divines of Erinn knew, and through which they put a thread +of narration. Columcille, son of Fedhlidhmidh, Ultan, the grand-son of +Conchobhar, Adamnan, the grandson of Tinne, Eleran the Wise, Ciaran of +Belach-duin, Cruimther Collait from Druim-Railgech, knew Patrick's +miracles in the first place, and composed them. + +A man of truth, indeed, was this man, with purity of mind like the +Patriarchs; a true pilgrim like Abraham; gentle and forgiving of heart +like Moses; a praise-singing psalmist like David; a shrine of wisdom +like Solomon; a chosen vessel for proclaiming truth like Paul the +Apostle; a man full of grace and knowledge of the Holy Ghost like John; +the root of a holy herb-garden towards the children of faith; a vine +branch with fruitfulness; a sparkling fire, with power to heat and warm +the sons of life, in founding and dispensing charity. A lion in +strength and might; a dove in gentleness and humility. A serpent in +wisdom and cunning in regard to good; gentle, humble, mild, towards +sons of life; dark, ungentle, towards sons of death. A slave in work +and labor for Christ; a king in dignity and power, for binding and +releasing, for enslaving and freeing, for killing and reviving. +Appropinquante autem hora obitus sui, sacrificium ab Episcopo Tassach +sumpsit quod viaticum vitae aeternae ex consilio Victoris acceperat, et +deinceps post mortuos suscitatos, post multum populum ad Deum +conversum, et post Episcopos et presbyteros in ecclesiis ordinatos, et +toto ordine Ecclesiastico conversa tota Scotia ad fidem Christi, anno +aetatis suae cxii. obdormivit in vitam aeternam. + + +PART II. + +Euntes ergo docete omnes gentes baptizantes eos in nomine Patris, et +Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, docentes eos observare omnia quaecumque +mandavi vobis, etc. + +When Patrick came with his fleet to Erinn, to preach to the Gaeidhel, and +went to Tara, he left Lomman in Inbher-Boinne, to take care of his ships, +during the forty nights of the Lent. Patrick commanded him to row his +vessel against the [current of the] Boyne, until he would arrive at the +place were to-day Ath-Truim [Trim] is--at that time the _dún_ of +Fedhlimidh, where he (Lomman) found the son of Laeghaire +MacNeill--_i.e._, at Ath-Truim. And in the morning, Fortchern, +Fedhlimidh's son, went and found Lomman, and his gospels before him. He +wondered at the precepts he heard. He believed, and was baptized by +Lomman. And Fortchern was listening to the instruction, until his mother +went to seek him. She welcomed the clerics, for she was of the Britons, +viz.: Scoth, daughter of the king of Britain. Fedhlimidh himself came to +converse with Lomman; and he believed, and presented Ath-Truim to God and +Patrick, and to Lomman, and to Fortchern. Patrick himself went and +founded Ath-Truim [Trim], twenty-five years before the foundation of +Ard-Macha. Of the Britons, moreover, was the origin of Lomman, and his +mother was the sister of Patrick. + +Lomman's brethren were, moreover, Bishop Munis in Forgnidhe in +Cuircne--_i.e._, in the north of Meath, to the south of the Ethne (Inny); +Broccaidh in Imlech-Achaidh, in Ciarraighe of Connacht; Broccan in +Brechmagh, in Ui-Dorthain; Mughenoc in Cill-Dumagloin, in the south of +Bregia. They were the relatives, moreover, who were dear to Patrick by +consanguinity, and faith, and baptism, and instruction; and they +presented to Patrick whatever they possessed, land and churches, for +ever. But, after some time, when Lomman's death drew nigh, Lomman and +his foster-son, _i.e._, Fortchern, went to converse with his brother, +_i.e._, Broccaid, and he committed his church to Patrick and Fortchern; +and Fortchern opposed it, that he might not inherit his father's +possessions, who gave the place to God and Patrick. But Lomman said, +"You shall not receive my benediction unless you assume the abbacy of my +church." Fortchern took upon him the abbacy after the death of Lomman, +for three days, when he went to Trim; and afterwards gave his church to +Cathlai, a pilgrim. These are the offerings of Fedhlimidh, son of +Laeghaire, to St. Patrick, and to Lomman, and to Fortchern, viz., +Ath-Truim, in the territory of Laeghaire of Bregia, and Imghae, in the +territory of Laeghaire of Meath. The way in which all these offerings +were presented to Patrick, and to Lomman, and to Fortchernd, per (_sic_) +omnibus regibus majoribus et minoribus usque indiem judicii. Prima feria +venit Patricius ad Taltenam, where the regal assembly was, to Cairpre, +the son of Niall. It was he who desired the murder of Patrick, and who +drove Patrick's people into the river Sele, wherefore Patrick called him +the enemy of God, and said to him, "Thy seed shall serve thy brother's +seed," and there shall not be salmon in that river, through Patrick's +malediction. Patrick went afterwards to Conall, the son of Niall, whose +residence was where Donagh-Patrick is this day, who received him with +great joy; and Patrick baptized him, and confirmed his royal seat for +ever. And Patrick said to him: "Thy brother's seed shall serve thy seed +for ever; and strive to exercise charity towards my successors after me, +and the sons of thy sons, that they may be perpetual subjects to my sons +of faith." Then it was that Conall measured a church for God and +Patrick, sixty feet in extent; and Patrick said: "Whichsoever of your +race diminishes this church shall not have a long reign, and he shall not +be prosperous." They went early on Sunday morning to Rath-Airthir, +Cinaed and Dubhdaleithe, the two sons of Cerbhall, son of Maelodhra, son +of Aedh-Slaine, when they saw a young man lying down--_i.e._, the son of +Bresal. One of them plunged a sword into him, and then throttled him. +The murderer then went past Tailten, up, on his straight road, and the +other went to Domnach-Patrick. It was then that Patrick blessed that +part of the plain of Tailte, so that dead bodies are never borne off from +it. + + [A few lines of the MS. at this place are damaged.] + + +The Pasch being therefore finished, on the next day Patrick came to +_vadum duarum forcarum_ (Ath-da-laarg, near Kells; county Meath), and +founded a church there, and left the three brothers there with their +sister, viz., Cathaceus, and Cathurus, and Catnean; and Catnea, the +sister, who used to milk the deer. He went afterwards to Druim +Corcortri, and founded a church there, and he left in it Diarmaid, son of +Restitutus. + +When Patrick was going eastwards to Tara, to Laeghaire (for they had +formed a friendship), from Domhnach-Patrick, he blessed Conall, son of +Niall. When he was going away, he threw his flagstone (_lec_) behind him +eastwards into the hill, _i.e._, where . . . . . . + + [A folio of the original MS. is missing here.] + + +And Maine knelt to Patrick and performed penance, and Patrick said, "Rex +non erit qui te non habebit; and thy injunctions shall be the longest +that will live in Erinn. The person whom I have blessed also shall be a +king, _i.e._, Tuathal [Maelgarbh]." And he [Tuathal] assumed the +sovereignty afterwards, and banished Diarmaid MacCerbhaill, so that he +was on _Loch-Ri_, and on _Derg-Derc_, and on _Luimnech_. + +One day as Diarmaid went in his boat past the shore of Cluainmic-Nois, +Ciaran heard the noise and motion of the craft, and called him ashore, +and Ciaran said, "Come to me, for thou art a king's son, and mark out the +Redes [a church] and the Eclais-bec [a little church], and grant the +place to me." He said, "I am not a king." To whom Ciaran said, "You +will be a king to-morrow." In that day, the king, Tuathal, came with +great bands to banish Diarmaid, when Maelmor (of the Conaille), +Diarmaid's foster-brother, killed him; and Maelmor was immediately slain. +Hence the old saying, "the feat of Maelmor." Diarmaid afterwards assumed +the sovereignty of Erinn, through Ciaran's blessing when Diarmaid was +marking the site of Eclais-bec, and bowed down thrice. He went to Tara, +and gave Ciaran an offering for every _tairlim_, along with Druimraithe. +Ocurrit nobis hic virtus etsi per ancificatione [_recte_ anticipationein]. + +Another time Patrick heard, through the malice of the vulgar, that Bishop +Mel had sinned with his sister, for they were wont to be in the same +house, praying to the Lord. When Bishop Mel saw Patrick coming towards +him to Ard-Achadh [Ardagh] to reprove him, Bishop Mel went out to a hill +to fish in the pools and furrows. When it was told to Patrick that he +had caught a salmon in this way, Patrick uttered the famous saying: +"Seorsim viri et seorsim foeminae ne occasionem dare intirmis inveniantur +et ne nomen Domini per nos blasphemetur, quid absit a nobis," for God +does not assist any unjust, false man; _i.e._, non temptabis Dominum Deum +tuum. Bishop Mel's sister then went with fire in her _casula_, Patrick +then knew there was no sin between them, dicens, "Seorsum feminis ne +occasione dare infirmis inveniamur et ne non Domini per nos blasfemaretur +quod absit a nobis, et sic reliquit eos," _i.e._, Bri-Leith between them: +she in Druim-Cheu to the west of Bri-Leith; he (Bishop Mel) to the east +of it, in Ard-Achadh. + +Patrick went afterwards into northern Tethbha, _i.e._, to the territory +of Cairbre, where Granard was presented to him by the sons of Cairbre, +and he left there Bishop Guessacht, son of Milchu, his foster-brother, +and the two sisters Emir, who first put up at Cluain-Bronaigh; and this +is the reason why the sides of the churches are joined to each other; and +it is the airchinnech (superior) of Granard that always ordains the head +nun in Cluain-Bronaigh. The moment that Patrick blessed the veil on the +aforesaid virgins, their four feet sank into the rock, and the traces +exist in it always. Patrick went afterwards across the water to +Magh-Slechta, where the arch-idol of Erinn was, _i.e._, Cenn Cruach, made +of gold and silver, surrounded by twelve other idols formed of bronze. +When Patrick saw the idols from the waters called Guthard (_i.e._, he +raised his voice--_guth_, voice; _ard_, high), and when he approached it, +he lifted his hand to lay the Bachall-Isa on it; but he could not, as the +idol inclined over to its right side (for towards the south its face was +turned), and the mark of the _bachall_ lives yet in its left side, +although the _bachall_ did not leave Patrick's hand. And the ground +swallowed the other twelve idols as far as their heads; and they are in +that condition in commemoration of the prodigy. And he cursed the demon +(idol), and banished him to hell; and he called all the people, with king +Laeghaire, who worshipped the idols; and all saw him (the demon), and +feared death unless Patrick would banish him to hell. His _graif_ +(fibula) fell from Patrick's garment whilst maintaining the conflict and +valor against the idol. He cut away all the heath in the place until he +found his _graif_, and no heath grows in that place, nor in the plain +besides. And he founded a church in that place, _i.e._, +Domhnach-Maighe-Slecht, and left there Mabran Barbarus, Patrick's +relative and prophet, and Patrick's well is there, ubi baptizavit multos. +Patrick went afterwards into the territory of Connacht, over Snamhda-en, +across the Shannon, where he found a ford, viz.: the land (bed of the +river) rose up under Patrick in the ford, and the learned will yet find +that _esker_. And Patrick landed (_i.e._, on the Connacht side of the +Shannon) immediately, and then it was that Buadmael, Patrick's +charioteer, died, and was buried there. Cill-Buaidhmael is the name (of +the church), and it is appropriate to Patrick. When Laeghaire Mac +Neill's druids (_i.e._, Mael and Caplait, two brothers, who had fostered +Laeghaire's two daughters, Ethne the Fair, and Feidelm the Red) heard all +that Patrick had done, they brought thick darkness over all Magh-Nai, +through the power of the demon, for the space of three days and three +nights. Patrick thereupon prayed to God, and bent his knees, and blessed +the plain, so that there was darkness for the druids, and light for all +others. And he gave thanks to God, and all the darkness was banished +from Magh-Ai. And they went past the Shannon to Duma-graidh, where he +ordained Ailbhe, a noble priest, who is [commemorated] in Senchua in +Ui-Ailella; and Patrick instructed him regarding a stone altar [which +was] in the mountain of Ui-Ailella, underground, and four glass Chalices +at its four corners: et dixit cavendum ne frangerantur orae fossurae. +Inter nepotes etiam Ailello fuit, et baptizavit Maineum sanctum quem +ordinavit Episcopus Bronus filius Iccni qui est i Caisel-Irra, servus Dei +socius Patricii. Patrick went to Magh-glas, where he founded Cill-mor of +Magh-glas; and he left two of his people there, viz., Conleng and +Ercleng. Deinde venit in fines Corcu-Achland, to the south of +Ui-Ailella, and to the north of Badhghna. There were two brothers there, +viz., Id and Hono, who were druids. Hono asked Patrick, "What will you +give me for this land?" Patrick answered "Eternity." Hono said, "You +possess gold: give it to me for it." Patrick replied, "I have given +much, but God will give more." He afterwards found a mass of gold in the +place where the pigs had been rooting, and Patrick gave the mass of gold +to him (_i.e._, to Hono) for his land. Tir-in-brotha is its name now. +Dixit Patricius, "Nec rex eris nec de semine tuo regnabit in aeternum." +Illius vero lacrimis misertus est Patricius, dicens, "Non erit rex quem +tua progenies non jurabit," etc., quod impletur. Cenel Maic Erce is the +strongest and most powerful [sept] in Connacht, but they do not govern +like high-kings. Ona, son of Aengus, son of Ere Derg (Ere the Red), son +of Brian, de quo Ui-Honach, presented his house to Patrick; and +Imlech-Onon was its name at that time: Ailfinn, moreover, [is its name] +this day; from the _ail_ (rock) taken out of the well which was made by +Patrick in the fair green, and which is on the brink of the well, the +place has been named. Et dixit illi Patricius: "Thy seed shall be +blessed, and the palm of laics and clerics shall be of thee for ever, and +the inheritance of this place shall belong to them." Et posuit ibi +Assicum et Bite filium fratris Assicus (Assici?) et Cipiam matrem Bitei. +Episcopus Assicus sanctus episcopus, faber aereus Patricii: and he made +altars, and four-cornered book-cases, and four-cornered dishes, in honor +of Patrick; and a four-cornered dish of them was in Ard-Macha, and +another in Ailfinn, and another in Domnach-mor of Magli-Seola, on the +altar of the holy bishop Felanus in Ui-Briuin-Seola, far westwards from +Ailfinn. Assicus, however, fled northwards to Sliabh-Liag, in +Tir-Boghaine, where he was on an island for seven years. And his monks +sought him, and found him, after much trouble, in the mountain glens; and +they brought him away with them; and Assicus died with them in the +desert, and they buried him in Rath-Cunga, in Seirthe. And the king of +that county gave to him, and to his monks after his death, the pasture of +one hundred cows with their calves, and twenty oxen, as a perpetual +offering; for he said that he would not again go to Magh-Ai, on account +of the falsehood which had been said there of him. His remains are in +Rath-Cunga, and to Patrick belongs the church, upon which the people of +Colum-Cilleand of Ard-Sratha have encroached. Patrick went from Elphin +to Dumacha (the mounds) of Ui-Ailella, and built a church there, _i.e._, +Senchell-Dumaighe, and he left Machet in it, and Cetchen, and Rodan, a +noble priest, and Mathona, Benen's sister, who received the veil from +Patrick and from Rodan, and who was a servitor to them. + +When Patrick was at Dumha-graidh, ordaining the great multitude, he +smiled. "What is that?" asked Benen. "Bron, and the monk Olcan," said +Patrick, "who came towards me along Traig-Eothaili, and my foster-son, +Mac-Erca, with them; a wave of the sea made a great dash, and tried to +carry off the youth." This was a prophecy. He (Patrick) went through +the territory of Ui-Oilella, and founded the church eastwards in +Tamhnagh, and it was built by God and men: et ipsa fecit amicitiam ad +reliquias Assici Rodani; et successores eorum epulabantur invicem. Post +hoc autem possuerunt episcopum Cairellum juxta sanctam Ecclesiam in +Tamhnagh, quem ordinaverunt Episcopum Patricii, viz., Bronus et Biteus. +Patrick went afterwards to the fountain, _i.e._, Clibech, on the slopes +of Cruachan, at sunrise. The clerics sat down at the fountain. +Laeghaire Mac Neill's two daughters, viz., Eithne the Fair, and Feidelm +the Red, went early to the fountain to wash their hands, as they were +wont to do, when they found the synod of clerics at the well, with white +garments, and their books, before them. They wondered at the appearance +of the clerics, and imagined they were _fir-sidhe_, or phantoms. They +questioned Patrick. "Whence are you, and whither have you come? Is it +from the _sidhe_? Are you gods?" Patrick said to them, "It would be +better for you to believe in God than to ask regarding our race." The +elder daughter said, "Who is your God, and in what place is he, in heaven +or in earth? is it under the earth, or on the earth, or in seas, or in +streams, or in hills, or in valleys? Has He sons and daughters? has He +gold and silver? Is there a profusion of every good in his kingdom? +Tell us plainly how we shall see Him, and how is He to be loved, and how +is He to be found. Is He young or old? or is He ever-living? Is He +beautiful, or have many fostered His son, or is His daughter handsome, +and dear to men of the world?" St. Patrick, full of the Holy Spirit, +responded, "Our God is the God of all, the God of heaven and earth, the +God of the seas and rivers, the God of the sun and moon, and all the +other planets; the God of the high hills and low valleys; God over +heaven, in heaven, and under heaven; and He has a mansion, _i.e._, +heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them. He +inspireth all things. He quickeneth all things. He enkindleth all +things. He giveth light to the sun, and to the moon. He created +fountains in the dry land, and placed dry islands in the sea, and stars +to minister to the greater lights. He hath a Son, coeternal and coequal +with Himself; and the Son is not younger than the Father, nor is the +Father older than the Son. And the Holy Ghost breatheth in them. And +the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are not divided. I desire, +moreover, to unite you to the Son of the heavenly king, for ye are +daughters of an earthly king." And the daughters said, as if with one +mouth and one heart, "How shall we come to believe in that king? Teach +us duly, that we may see the Lord face to face--teach us, and we will do +as you will say to us." Et dixit Patrici: "Do you believe that through +baptism the sin of your mother and of your father shall be put away from +you?" They answered, "We believe." "Do you believe in repentance after +sin?" "Yes." And they were baptized. And Patrick blessed a white veil +upon their heads; and they desired to see Christ face to face. And +Patrick said to them: "You cannot see Christ except that you first taste +death, and unless you receive the body of Christ and His blood." And the +daughters replied, saying: "Give us the Communion, that we may be able to +see the Prophesied One." And they after this received the Communion, and +fell asleep in death, and Patrick placed them under covering, and in one +bed [grave]; and their friends made a great lamentation over them. The +druids then entered into conflict with Patrick, on account of the +daughters having believed, and having gone to heaven, _i.e._, Mael and +Caplait. Caplait came crying against Patrick, for it was he [Caplait] +who fostered the second daughter. Patrick preached to him, and he +believed, and he cut off his hair. After this the other druid came, +_i.e._, Mael, and said to Patrick: "My brother has believed for thee," +said he; "it shall not serve nor strengthen him," said he; "I will again +lead him into paganism." And he was thus insulting Patrick; but Patrick +preached to him, and the druid believed in God and Patrick. And Patrick +shaved him; and hence "Mael is like Caplait" is a proverb; for it was +together that they believed. And the day of weeping was finished, and +the maidens were interred there; and Sen-Donahnagh of Magh-Ai was +presented to Patrick for ever. And others say the relics of the maidens +were brought to Ard-Macha, where they await the resurrection. + +Patrick went afterwards to Tir-Caireda, and he founded a church at +Ard-lice, _i.e._, Sen-Domhnach, and he left Deacon Caeman in it. And +Patrick erected Ard-Senlis, ubi posuit Lalloc sanctam et tenuit locum in +Campo Nento; and they went with Bishop Cethech to his country. Of the +race of Ailill was his mother; of Cenel-Sai [nigh] of Cinacht, from +Domhnach-Sairigi at Damhliac-Cianain; and it was Bishop Cethech's custom +to celebrate the great pasch in Domhnach-Sairigi; and in Ath-da-lorg, in +Kells, he celebrated the little pasch, with Comgilla; for Cethech's +people used to say that Comgilla was Cethech's servitor. Patrick went +afterwards to the territory of Ui-Maine, and he left there an arch-priest +(or deacon) of his people, _i.e._, Deacon Juis, and he erected Fidharta; +and Patrick left his books of orders and baptism with him; and he +baptized the Ui-Maine; and Deacon Juis, in his old age, baptized Ciaran +mac-int-sair, from Patrick's book, quia cxl anni fuit quando Ciaran +baptizavit, ut aiunt peritissimi. Patrick's Franks, moreover, left him, +viz., fifteen brothers and one sister, viz., Bernicius and Hibernicius, +and Hernicus, etc., and Nitria, the sister. And many places were given +to them. One of these is Imgoe of Baislic, between Hy-Maine and +Magh-Nai. Patrick described to them the likeness of the place with his +finger, from Cill-Garad, quia venerunt ad Patricium ut obteret illis de +locis quos invenerent. Patrick also founded Cill-Garad, where Cethech +[was left], and Ferta-gethich together. Then it was that Patrick made +the well which is called Uaran-garad, and he loved this water very much, +ut ipse dixit: + + "Uaran-gar--[Uaran-gar]-- + O well! which I have loved, which loved me; + Alas! my cry, O dear God! + That my drink is not from the pure well." + + +Patrick went afterwards to Magh-Selcae, _i.e._, to Dumha-Selca, where +there were young men, the six sons of Brian, viz., Bolcderc, Derthacht, +Echen, Cremthann, Caelcharna, Echuid; and Patrick wrote three names there +in three stones, viz., Jesus, Soter, Salvator. Patrick blessed the +Ui-Briuin from Dumha-Selca, and Patrick's seat is there between the +stones in quibus scripsit literas, et nona (_sic_) episcoporum cum illo +illic fuerunt, viz., Bronus of Caisel-Irra, Sachelus of Baislic-mor in +Ciarraighe, Brocaid of Imlech-ech (brother to Lomman of Ath-truim), +Bronachus, presbyter, Rodan, Cassan, Benen, comarb of Patrick, and Benen, +brother of Cethech, Felartus, bishop, and his sister, a nun there, and +another sister, quae sit insola in mari Conmaicne, _i.e._, +Croch-Cuile-Conmaicne. And he founded a church on Loch-Selca, _i.e._, +Domhnach-mor of Magh-Selca, in quo baptizavit Ui-Briuin et benedixit. +Patrick went to Gregraidhe of Loch-Techet, and founded a church there in +Drumma, and dug a well thereat, and no stream went into or came out of +it, but it was always full, and its name is Bithlan (_i.e._, ever full). +He afterwards founded Cill-Atrachta in Gregraidhe, and [left] Talan's +daughter in it, who received a veil from Patrick's hand. And he left a +_teisc_ and chalice with Atracht, the daughter of Talan, son of Cathbadh, +of the Gregraidhe of Loch-Teched, sister of Caemhan of Airdne-Caemhain. +Patrick blessed a veil on her head. Drummana was the name of the place +in which they were; Machaire is its name to-day. A _casula_ was sent +down from heaven on Patrick's breast. "You shall have this _casula_, O +nun!" said Patrick. "No," said she, "not to me was it given, but to +thyself." + +He then went to the sons of Erc; they carried off Patrick's horses, and +Patrick cursed them, saying: "Your seed shall serve the seed of your +brother for ever." Patrick went into Magh-Airtich, and blessed a +place,;_i.e._, Ailech-Airtigh, in Telach-na-cloch. And he went +afterwards into Drummut of Ciarraighe-Airtigh, where he found two +brothers fighting regarding the father's land after his death, _viz_, +Bibar and Lochru, Tamanchend's two sons. Patrick stretched out his arms, +and their hands became fixed to the swords, so that they were not able to +lift or lower them, "Sit ye," said Patrick; and he blessed them, and made +peace between them. And they gave the land to Patrick, for their +father's soul. And Patrick founded a church there, where Conu the +artifex is, the brother of Bishop Sechnall. Patrick went subsequently to +Ciarraighe-Airne, where he met Ernaisc and his son Loarn under a tree, +and Patrick wrote an alphabet for him, and stayed a week with them, with +his twelve men. And Patrick founded a church there, et tenuit ilium +abbatem (_sic_), et fuit quidem spiritu sancto plenus. + +And Patrick went to Tobar-Mucno, and advanced to Senchill et fuit +Secundinus solus sub ulmo frondosa separatim, et est signum crucis in eo +loco usque in hunc diem. And he afterwards went into the country of +Conmaicne, into Cuil-Tolaigh, and he founded four-cornered churches in +that place. One of these is Ard-Uscon, etc. He went to Magh-Cera, and +stopped at Cuil-Corra, and founded a church in that place, et baptizavit +multos. + +Afterwards Patrick proceeded to Magh-Foimsen, where he met two brothers, +viz., Luchtae and Derclam. Derclam sent his servant to kill Patrick, but +Luchtse prevented him, to whom Patrick said: "There shall be priests and +bishops of thy seed, and the race of thy brother shall be cursed, and +shall be few." And he left in that place Cruimther-Conan, and went +afterwards to Tobar-Stringle in the desert, and he was two Sundays +[living] on that well. + +Patrick went to the men of Umhall, to Achadh-Fobhair where Bishop Senach +was ordained. The name Patrick conferred on him was "Agnus Dei." And he +it was who asked the three requests of Patrick--viz., that he should not +oppose him as regards orders, that the place should not be called after +him, and that what was wanting to complete his age should be added to the +age of Mac Aenghusa. It was for him (Mac Aenghusa) that Patrick wrote an +alphabet the day that Bishop Senach was ordained. Patrick desired truly +to erect a _see_ at Achadh-Fobhair, when he said: "I would remain here, +on a small plot of land, after circumambulating churches and fastnesses; +for I am infirm, I would not go." The angel said to Patrick: + + "Everything you select shall be yours-- + Every land, whether plain or rough, + Both hills and churches, + Both glens and woods, + After circumambulating churches and fastnesses + Though infirm, that you shall select." + + +Then Patrick left two trout alive in the well, and they will be there for +ever, as he said: + + "The two inseparable trout, + Which would advance against perpetual streams, + Without obligation, without transgression-- + Angels will be along with them in it." + +Patrick went to Cruachan-Aighle on the Saturday of Whitsuntide. The +angel went to converse with him, and said to him: "God will not give thee +what thou demandest; for He thinks the demands weighty and immense and +great." "Is that His decision?" said Patrick. "It is," answered the +angel. "This is my decision, then," said Patrick: "I shall not leave +this Cruachan until I die or all the demands shall be given." Patrick +was afterwards with illness of mind in Cruachan, without drink or food, +from Shrove Saturday to Easter Saturday, just like Moses, son of Amra; +for they were alike in many things. God accosted them both out of the +fire; six score years was the age of each; the place of sepulture of both +is uncertain. At the end of those forty nights and forty days the +mountain around him was filled with black birds, so that he could see +neither heaven nor earth. He sang cursing psalms at them, but they went +not away from him. He then became angry with them; he rang his bell at +them, so that the men of Erinn heard its sound. And he flung it at them, +so that a gap was broken out of it, and that [bell] is Bernan-Brighte. + +Patrick afterwards cried until his face and the front of his _casula_ +(cowl) were wet. No demon came after this to Erinn for the space of +seven years, and seven months, and seven days, and seven nights. + +The angel subsequently went to protect Patrick, and he cleaned his +_casula_, and brought white birds about the Cruachan; and they used to +chant sweet melodies for him. "I will bring so many souls from pain," +said the angel, "and as many as would cover as far as your eye could +reach on the sea." "That is no great boon for me," said Patrick; "not +far can my eye reach over the sea." "You shall have between sea and +land, then," added the angel. "Is there anything more granted to me +besides that?" asked Patrick. "There is," said the angel; "you can bring +seven every Saturday from the pains of hell for ever." "If anything be +granted to me," observed Patrick, ["let me have] my twelve men." "You +shall have it," said the angel; "and depart from Cruachan." "I shall not +depart," said Patrick, "because I have been tormented, until I am +recompensed. Is there anything else, then, to be granted to me?" asked +Patrick. "Yes," said the angel; "you shall have seven every Thursday, +and twelve every Saturday, from pains; and depart from Cruachan." "I +will not depart," answered Patrick, "because I have been tormented, until +I am recompensed. Is there anything else granted to me?" asked Patrick. +"There is," answered the angel; "the great sea to come over Erinn seven +years before the Judgment; and depart from the Cruachan." + +"I will not depart," said Patrick, "since I have been tormented, until I +am gratified." "Is there anything more you demand?" asked the angel. +"There is," answered Patrick; "that Saxons may not occupy Eriu, by +consent or force, whilst I shall be in heaven." "It shall be granted +thee," said the angel; "and depart from Cruachan." "I will not depart," +said Patrick, "since I have been tormented, until I am gratified. Is +there anything more granted to me?" asked Patrick. "There is," said the +angel; "every one who repeats thy hymn from one day to the other shall +not suffer pains." "The hymn is long and difficult," said Patrick. +"Every one who repeats from _Crist illum_" (recte _Crist lim_, "Christ +with me") "to the end, and every one who repeats the name, and every one +who observes penitence in Eriu, their souls shall not go to hell; and +depart from Cruachan" [said the angel]. + +"I will not depart," said Patrick, "for I have been tormented, until I am +gratified. Is there anything more?" asked Patrick. "Yes," said the +angel; "you shall have one man for every hair in your _casula_ from pains +on the Day of Judgment." "Which of the other saints who labor for God," +said Patrick, "that would not bring that number to heaven? I shall not +accept that," said Patrick. + +"What will you accept, then?" asked the angel. "Here it is," said +Patrick: "that I should bring from hell on the Day of Judgment seven +persons for every hair in this _casula_." "It shall be granted to you," +said the angel; "and depart from this Cruachan." "I will not depart," +said Patrick, "for I have been tormented, until I am gratified." "Is +there anything else you demand?" asked the angel. "There is," said +Patrick: "the day that the twelve royal seats shall be on the Mount, and +when the four rivers of fire shall be about the Mount, and when the three +peoples shall be there--viz., the people of heaven, the people of earth, +and the people of hell--that I myself may be judge over the men of Eriu +on that day." "This thing cannot be obtained from the Lord," said the +angel. "Unless this is obtained from Him, I will not consent to leave +this Cruachan from this day for ever; and even after my death there shall +be a caretaker from me there," answered Patrick. + +The angel went to heaven. Patrick went to his offering. The angel came +in the evening. "How now?" asked Patrick. "Thus," answered the angel: +"all the creatures, visible and invisible, including the twelve apostles, +entreated, and they have obtained. The Lord said that there came not, +and would not come, after the apostles, a man more illustrious, were it +not for the hardness of the request which is granted thee. Strike thy +bell," said the angel; "thou art commanded from heaven to fall on thy +knees, that it may be a blessing to the people of all Eriu, both living +and dead." "A blessing on the bountiful king that gave," said Patrick; +"the Cruachan shall be left." + +Patrick proceeded afterwards until he was in Achadhfobhair, where he +celebrated the ordo at Easter. There are, moreover, "keepers" of +Patrick's people in Eriu living still. There is a man from him in +Cruachan-Aigle. The sound of his bell is heard, but it [the bell] is not +found. And there is a man from him in Gulban-Guirt; and the third man +from him is to the east of Cluain-Iraird, together with his wife. Both +entertained Patrick in the reign of Laeghaire Mac Neill, and they are, +and will be for ever, the same age. There is a man from him in +Dromanna-Bregh; there is another man from him in Sliabh-Slainge--_i.e._, +Domangart, son of Eochaidh. It is he that will raise Patrick's relics a +little before the Judgment. His cell is Rath-Murbhuilg, at the side of +Sliabh-Slainge; and there is always a shin (of beef), with its +accessories, and a pitcher of ale, before him every Easter, which is +given to Mass people on Easter Monday always. Patrick's charioteer died, +moreover, and was buried between Cruachan and the sea. Patrick went +afterwards into the country of the Corco-Themne, and baptized many +thousand persons there, and he founded four churches there, viz., in the +three Tuagha. + +Patrick went then to Tobar-Finnmaighe--_i.e._, a well. It was told to +Patrick that the pagans honored this well as a god. The well was +four-cornered, and there was a four-cornered stone over its mouth, and +the foolish people believed that a certain dead prophet made it, +bibliothecam sibi in aqua sub petra ut dealbaret ossa sua semper, quia +timuit ignem, et zelavit Pat. de Deo vivo, dicens non vere dicitis quia +rex aquarum fons erat hoc necnon cum eis habuit rex aquarum, et dixit +Patricius petram elivari et non potuerunt elevavit autem eam petram; +Cainnech, que, baptizavit Patricius, et dixit erit semen tuum benedictum +in secula. Cill-Tog, in the territory of Corco-Themne--it was this +church that Bishop Cainnech, Patrick's monk, founded. One time, as +Patrick was travelling in the plains of Mac-Ercae--_i.e._, in Dichuil and +Erchuil--he saw a large sepulchre there, viz., 120 feet in length. The +brothers desiring that the dead man might be resuscitated, Patrick +thereupon "awoke" the dead man who was in the sepulchre, and questioned +him quando, et quomodo, et quo genere, et quo nomine esset. Respondit +sibi, dicens, "Ego sum Cass, filius of Glassi, qui fui subulcus Lugair +Iruatae, and Mac Conn's _fiann_ killed me in the reign of Cairpre Niafer, +in the hundredth year. I am here until to-day." Patrick baptized him, +and he went again into his sepulchre. + +Quis comprehendere valet modi (_sic_) diligentise orationis ejus omnes, +namque psalmos, et ymnos et Apocalipsi, ac omnia cantica spiritualia +scripturarum cotidie (quotidie) decantabat seu in uno loco seu in itinere +gradiens. From vespers on Sunday night until tierce on Monday Patrick +would not come from the place where he might be. + +One Sunday Patrick was in a cold, damp place, when great rain fell on the +earth, but it rained not in the spot where Patrick was, sicut in concha +et vellere Gideoni accederat. It was a custom with Patrick to place the +cross of Christ over himself one hundred times each day and night; and he +would go aside from his path, even though the cross were one thousand +paces away, provided that he saw it or knew it to be in his vicinity; +whether he was in a chariot or on a horse, he would proceed to each +cross. One day Patrick omitted to visit a cross which was on his way, +but he knew not that it was there. His charioteer said to him in the +evening: "You left a cross which was on your way to-day without +visiting." Patrick left his guest-house and his dinner, and went back to +the cross. When Patrick was praying at the cross, "This is a sepulchre," +said Patrick; "who was buried here?" A voice answered out of the +sepulchre: "I am a poor pagan," it said, "and I was buried here; whilst +living, I was injuring my soul until I died; and I was buried here +afterwards." "What was the reason," asked Patrick, "that the sign of +Christianity--_i.e._, the cross--was placed over thy grave?" "This," +answered the voice: "a certain woman that was in foreign lands, and her +son was buried here in this country in her absence; and she came from +foreign lands, and placed this cross over my grave. She thought it was +over the grave of her son it was placed; for she was not able through +grief to recognize her son's grave." "This is the reason that I missed +the cross," said Patrick--"_i.e._, its being over the grave of a pagan." +The cross was afterwards raised by Patrick over the Christian's grave. + +One time Patrick's charioteer wanted his horses; he could not find them, +owing to the darkness of the night. Patrick lifted up his hand; his five +fingers illuminated all the place as if they were five torches, and the +horses were immediately found. + +Patrick went across the Muaidh to Hy-Amhalghaidh; the twelve sons of +Amhalgaidh, son of Fiachra, son of Eochaidh, came to meet him, viz., +Aengus, Fergus, Fedhlimidh, Enna Crom, Enna Cullom, Connac, Cairbre, +Echui Dianimh, Oena, Eoghan Coir, Dubchonall, Ailill of the rough face. +The sons of Amhalghaidh were disputing about the sovereignty: twenty-four +tribes (_i.e._, old tribes) that were in the country; and they objected +that they would not admit any man asking over them with an additional +[nick] name. Aengus then imposed additional names upon his brothers. +This Aengus was the proudest of Amhalghaidh's sons. Laeghaire, son of +Niall, son of Eochaidh, King of Tara, and his brother Eoghan, son of +Niall, decided the dispute. The sons of Amhalghaidh went to Tara in +twelve chariots, sicut in libris Patricii inventus, quod exirent in +judicium tamen vii fratres de eis. They were welcomed by the king at +Tara. Aengus was foster-son to Laeghaire. He got a special welcome +there. Aengus prayed the door-keepers that they would not admit Conall, +the son of his brother--_i.e._, the son of Enna Crom--into the fort; for +Aengus feared his wisdom in arguing his right. Aengus obtained this +request from the door-keepers. As Conall was outside the _lis_, he heard +the sound of Patrick's bell from Tobar-Patrick at the fort. Conall went +to him and saluted him. "O cleric!" said he, "do you know this +expression which I have in commemoration--_i.e._, 'Hibernenses omnes +clamant ad te pueri,' etc.--which two girls uttered in their mother's +womb in our country?" "I am he whom that refers to," said Patrick; "and +I heard it when I was in the islands of the Tyrrhene Sea, et nescivi +utrum in meam vel extra locuta sunt verba, et ibo tecum in regionem tuam +baptizare, docere, evangelizare." Interrogat autem Patricius qua causa +venit Conall, and Conall related the reason to Patrick, and he said that +he was not allowed to enter Tara; to whom Patrick said: "Go in now, as +the doors are open; and go to my faithful friend, Eoghan Mac Neill, who +will assist you, if you lay hold, secretly, of the finger next his little +finger, which is always a sign between us." And so it was done. + +"Welcome," said Eoghan. "What is Patrick's wish?" Conall said: "That +you assist me." Conall afterwards observed: "If it is according to youth +precedence in a king's house or land is to be given, I am the youngest; +if according to mother's age, Enna Cromm is the oldest." To which +Laeghaire replied: "Honor to the senior, truly," said he, "and converse +with the learned; but if jewels and treasures are given to any one, +however, I will not deprive him of them." They came away, and Patrick +with them, and Patrick gave his chariot to Conall, so that it was the +thirteenth charlot. They went their way afterwards, and there was not +good-will with Aengus for his brother's son and for Patrick. He told his +two brothers--viz., Fergus and Fedhlimidh--to kill Patrick and Conall, as +he had agreed on parting Laeghaire, after Laeghaire had instigated him +thereto. They went northwards towards their country. The place which +Aengus had fixed upon for the fratricide was in Corann. Fergus simulated +sleep. His brothers refused what they had promised. "We will not kill +the innocent," said they, "and will not commit murder upon our brother." +Aengus went towards him (Patrick) to kill him, accompanied by two bands +and two druids---viz., Reon and Rechred, of the race of Faelan the +warrior. It is not more than a mile from the place whence Patrick saw +the enemies, from the cross to the west of Cross-Patrick, to +Cill-Forclann. Reon said that the ground would swallow Patrick on the +place where he would see him. This was related to Patrick. "It is I who +shall see him first," said Patrick. When Patrick saw him, the ground +swallowed him up. "I will believe," said he, "if I am rescued." The +ground flung him up until he was above the winds, and he fell down half +alive. He believed, and was baptized. Rechred was also lifted up and +let down until his head was broken against the rock, and fire from heaven +burned him. The druid's rock is there. There is a church there. +Cross-Patrick is its name, to the east of Coill-Fochlaidh. +Telach-na-Druadh is the name of the place where the pagans were, to the +west of Cross-Patrick. Glas-Conaigh is between them. Aengus said: "I +will believe if my sister is resuscitated"--_i.e._, Feidelm, daughter of +Amhalgaidh, who died long before. + +One time a blind man went to meet Patrick; he went in haste with the +desire of being healed. One of Patrick's people laughed at him. "My +_debroth_," said Patrick, "it would be fit that you were the blind +person." The blind man was healed, and the hale was made blind, quod +utrimque factum est. Mignae is the name of the person who was blinded; +and he is the second man of Patrick's people who remained in +Disert-Patrick, which is near the well at Cross-Patrick, and Donnmall was +the other. Ruan, son of Cucnamha, Amhalgaidh's charioteer, that was +healed there. Roi-Ruain is the name of the place where the blind was +healed, and it belonged to Patrick afterwards. He met two _bacachs_ in +Ochtar-Caerthin. They complained to him of their infirmity, for they +found it difficult to proceed through mountain or plain. What more shall +I say? They were healed. He went to Domhnach-Mor, where Bishop Mucna +is. He went afterwards to Cross-Patrick, where Aedh Fota, son of +Eochaidh, son of Oengus, came to him; and he healed him from lameness at +the fountain to the west of Cross-Patrick; and he (Aedh) presented to him +a plot of land there, where he founded a residence, and he left two of +his family there--viz., Teloc and Nemnall. Enna saw the druids (magi) +wishing to kill Patrick, and he said to his son Conall, "Go and protect +Patrick, that the magi may not kill him." Patrick perceived them, and +ethereal fire burned them, to the number of nine. + +He then founded Cill-Alaidh, and he left an illustrious man of his family +there--_i.e._, Bishop Muiredhach. Patrick baptized women--viz., Crebriu +and Lesru, the two daughters of Glerann, son of Cummen. It was they that +called upon Patrick from their mother's womb when he was in the islands +of the Tyrrhene Sea. They are patronesses of Cill-Forglainn, in +Hy-Amhalghaidh or Tirawley, to the west of Muaidh. + +He went to Forrach-mac-Amalghaidh. Seven sons of Amalgaidh believed, +including Enna and the king. It was then he baptized the pregnant woman +and her offspring, and resuscitated another. Patrick and Conall went to +the grave where the dead pregnant woman was, by the lower road to +Cill-Alaidh. Aengus, however, went by the upper road. They reached the +grave, and Patrick resuscitated the woman, and her son in her womb; and +both were baptized in the well Aen-adharcae (from the little hillock of +land that is near it the well was named). Being resuscitated, she +preached to the multitudes of the pains of hell and the rewards of +heaven, and with tears prayed her brother that he would believe for God +and Patrick, which was done, and he was baptized. And in that day twelve +thousand were baptized in the well of Aen-adharcae, ut dicitur: "On one +day were baptized six great thousands, with the seven sons of Amhalgaidh. +This was the number." Twelve thousand, truly, that believed for Patrick +in Ui-Amhalghadha, and of those of Caille-Fochladh. And Patrick left +Magister Manchen with them. He went southwards to the ford of +Loch-Daela. The place was the property of Aengus. Patrick intended to +found a residence for himself there. Aengus came quickly when he saw him +(Patrick), for it was not from his heart that he believed when he was +baptized and confessed the faith. "My _debroth_," said Patrick, "'twere +right that thy houses should not be exalted, nor thy descendants after +thee. Thy successors shall be seldom just, and there shall be fratricide +through it." + +He went to the east, to Lec-finn, where Patrick made the cross in the +stone over Cill-mor-uachtair-Muaidh, to the west. But Lia-na-manach is +its name at this day--_i.e._ Cruimther Monach's, or Olcan's church; but +there was no church there at that time. And he baptized Eochaidh, son of +Nathi, son of Fiachra, and resuscitated his wife Echtra, at Ath-Echtra, +the little stream at the very door of Cill-mor. And Echtra's grave is on +the margin of the ford. It is a sign of knowledge with them in their +history to remember this grave. He (Patrick) sent Bishop Olcan to build +where the church is to-day. Thus he came with an axe on his back, and +Patrick told him that he should put up at the place where the axe would +fall off his back; quod factum est where Cill-mor-uachtair-Muaidh is. He +went afterwards to the north, to Lec-Balbeni, where he found and blessed +the sons of Amhalgaidh; and he went out of the country from [the western] +Bertlacha to the eastern Bertlacha, and passed it eastwards to the +estuary of the Muaidh, towards the mouth of the sea. A young woman was +drowned there before him; and he blessed the place, and said that no +person should be drowned there for evermore. Patrick prophesied that the +eastern Bertlacha should be with him, as it is in their history; and in +the day of war the king of that region will be victorious, if true to +Patrick. It was there, at the stream, the Gregraighe flung stones at +Patrick and his people. "My _debroth_," said Patrick, "you shall be +beaten in every conflict in which you may be; and you shall be subject to +insult and contumely in every assembly in which you may be." "Arise, O +Conall!" said Patrick, "that you may assume the _bachall_." Conall said, +"If it please thee, I shall do so." "That shall not be," said Patrick; +"but I will support thy valor, and will give comarbs to thy race, and +thou shall be the Conall Sciath-bachall. The palm of laics and clerics +shall be from thee; and every one of thy descendants in whose shield the +sign of my _bachall_ shall be will not be subdued." + +All this Patrick did to him. He went eastwards into the territory of +Hy-Fiachrach, by the sea. A water opposed his passage--_i.e._, there was +an unusually large rock in it--and he cursed it. On the water there is a +place, Buaile-Patrick is its name--_i.e._, a little mound--with a cross +there, where Patrick rested a short time. Then the holy bishop, Bron of +Caisel-Irra, and the holy Mac Rime of Cill-Corcaraidhe; and there he +wrote an alphabet for him; and I have heard from another that in the said +place he gave a tooth from his jaw to Bishop Bron, for he was dear to +Patrick. Immediately on coming from the west, across the Muaidh, into +Gregraighe, he met three virulent druids at Rath-Righbhaird, who were +able to do nothing to him; and he said that there never would be wanting +of this people a man of such magical knowledge. + +Mac Erca, the son of Draighen, who is in Cill-roe-mor, in the territory +of Hy-Amhalgadha. Patrick baptized the seven sons of Draighen, and he +selected of them Mac Erca, and gave him to Bishop Bron to be fostered; +for it would not be easy to take him far away, in consequence of the love +of his father for him. + +Patrick marked out the site of Caisel-Irra, and the flag on which +Patrick's tooth fell is in the middle of the _lis_. Bishop Bron founded +the place, and Patrick prophesied that the place would be deserted by +Gentiles, _quod factum est_. + +Then Patrick desired the fishermen to set their nets for him in the +river--_i.e._, in Sligech. They said to him, "A salmon is not taken in +this period of the winter; but as you desire it, however," said the +fishermen, "we will do so." They placed their nets, and caught large +salmon; and they gave them to Patrick; and he blessed the river, so that +Sligech is the most fruitful river of Erinn, for fish is caught in it +every quarter (of the year). + +Bishop Rodan, the herd--Patrick left him in Muirisk, in +Cill-espuig-Rodain. His calves would only do what he counselled; +wherefore the harpers and musicians had a proverb. The Callraighe of +Cul-Cernadhan were in a secret place before Patrick, and they brought +their spears close to their shields to assault Patrick and his people. +"My _debroth_," said Patrick, "what you did is not good. Every battle +and every conflict which you wage, and your children after you, will be +gained over you." They forthwith knelt to Patrick, except five. Patrick +said: "In any battle that may be won against you, though all Connacht be +after you, no greater number than five shall fall of you." And so is it +observed. + +One time he was after going by Bernas-Ui-Oilella to go to Magh-Luirg, +when he fell into water--_i.e._, a river that goes into (_recte_, from) +Loch-Techet. Ath-carpait is the name of the ford, near to Ess-mic-Eirc. +Patrick cursed the eastern half of the water. "And the half from the +ford westwards, why do you spare it?" asked his people. "A son of life +will come who will set up there hereafter," said Patrick, "who will like +fruitful water at his place"--_i.e._, Colum-Cille, son of Fedhlimidh, at +Ess-mic-Eirc. From the ford up to the lake the best fishing in Erinn is +found there by all. From the ford down not much is taken there. + +Patrick went afterwards into the territory of Magh-Luirg, when his horses +were carried off by Cenel-Mic-Erca. And Patrick cursed the people of +that country; but Bishop Maine of the Hy-Ailella, who prayed Patrick +regarding forgiveness for his kinsmen, and Patrick modified the +malediction. And Bishop Maine washed Patrick's feet with his hair and +tears, and drove the horses into a meadow, and cleaned their hoofs in +honor of Patrick. And Patrick said, "There shall be weeping, and +wailing, and mourning with the inhabitants of that country; and there +will not be neighborship there _in saecula saeculorum"; ut impletur_. +And Patrick also said that a great part of that country should afterwards +belong to him; which was fulfilled in the case of Nodain of Loch-Uama. +Bishop Maine is also of Patrick's people, and Geintene in Echainech in +Hy-Ailella. + +Patrick went after that into the territory of Callraidhe to Druim-dara, +where Druim-lias is to-day. It was then he baptized Mac Caerthinn; and +that place was presented to Patrick for ever. Patrick afterwards +established himself on the offering in Druim-dara, Druim-lias +to-day--_i.e._, from Patrick's seats and from the sheds it was named. +Patrick left his _dalta_ Benen there in abbotship during the space of +twenty years. He journeyed into the glens eastward, where +Cenel-Muinremur is to-day. His two nostrils bled on the way. Patrick's +flag (Lee-Patrick) is there, and Patrick's hazel (Coll-Patrick), a little +distance to the west of the church. He put up there. Srath-Patrick it +is named this day; Domhnach-Patrick was its former name. Patrick +remained there one Sunday; _et hoec est una ecclesia illius regionis_. +Patrick went afterwards past Druim-cliabh, from Caisel-Irra, by the +Rosses eastwards, along Magh-Eni, and founded Domhnach-mor of Magh-Eni. +Then it was that he cursed the Dubh River for the refusal which the +fishermen gave him. He blessed Drobhais, however, on account of the +kindness which the little boys who were fishing there did to him. + +Thrice Patrick went across the Shannon into the land of Connacht. Fifty +bells, and fifty altar chalices, and fifty altar cloths he left in the +land of Connacht, each of them in his church. Seven years was he +preaching to the men of Connacht; and he left them a blessing, and bade +them farewell. + +Patrick went to Es-Ruaidh. He desired to establish himself there, where +Disert-Patrick is, and Lec-Patrick. Cairbre opposed him, and sent two of +his people, whose names were Carbacc and Cuangus, to seize his hands. +"Not good is what you do," said Patrick; "if I were permitted to found a +place here, the second to Rome of Letha, with its Tiber running through +it, would be my establishment with its Es-Ruaidh through it; and your +descendants would be comarbs in it." Cairbre declined then, as Patrick +had foretold. Thereupon Cairbre incited a dog to attack Patrick. +Cuangus struck the dog with a rod. Patrick said that Cairbre's race +should not exceed a small band, and that the palm of laics or clerics +would not be from him, _quod impletur_. But as to Cuangus, since he +agreed to seize Patrick's hands for Cairbre, Patrick said that his race +should not be more numerous than a company, and that illustrious men +would be of them, _quod impletum est_. Cairbre promised to Cuangus, for +seizing Patrick's hands, as much as he could see to the north of +Sliabh-Cise. When he turned to take a view about him, a dark cloud +closed around Cuangus, so that he only saw to the sea westwards, and to +the _ash_ eastwards. "This river, which God gave you, Cairbre," said +Patrick, "your share of it shall not be fruitful as regards fish" +(_i.e._, the northern half of the river in length was Cairbre's +share--_i.e._, the half next to Cenel-Conaill--for Crich-Conaill belonged +to Cairbre at that time as far as Rath-Cunga); "but Conall's share (the +southern half) will be fruitful"; _sic impletum est_, until Murghins, son +of Maelduin, son of Scannal, an illustrious king of Cairbre's race, +presented the unfruitful part to Colum-Cille; and it is now fruitful with +Colum-Cille. + +He (Patrick) went afterwards between Es-Ruaidh and the sea into +Crich-Conaill, where Rath-Chunga is at this day. He fixed a stake there, +and said that it would be an abode and establishment for seven bishops; +and there Bite is now, the brother's son of Aisicus from Elphin. + +It was then also that he foretold of Domhnall, son of Aedh, son of +Ainmire--viz., he fixed a pole in Ard-fothaidh, and on the morrow it was +bent; and Patrick said that the place would be the seat of a king, which +was fulfilled in Domhnall. On Sith-Aedha Patrick blessed Conall Mac +Neill, when Patrick's hands would fall on the head of Fergus. Conall +wondered at this thing, when Patrick said: + + "A youth (_i.e._, Colum-Cille) shall be born of his tribe, + Who will be a sage, a prophet, and poet, + A glorious, bright, clear light, + Who will not utter falsehood." + + +After Patrick had blessed the Cenel-Conaill, and had left a blessing on +their forts and rivers and churches, he went into the country of Eoghan, +the son of Niall, across Bernas of Tir-Aedha into Magh-Itha, and to +Domhnachmor of Magh-Itha, where he left Dudubae, son of Corcan, of his +people. And Patrick said to his people: "Take care that you meet not +with the lion, Eoghan, son of Niall." Muiredhach, the son of Eoghan, who +was in the front of the youths, met on the way Sechnall, who was in the +rear of the host of clerics. Sechnall said to Muiredhach: "You would +have a reward from me, if you would persuade your father to believe." +"What reward?" asked he. "The sovereignty of thy tribe shall for ever +belong to thy heirs," said Sechnall. "I will," answered Muiredhach. In +Fidhmor it was that Eoghan met with Patrick, where the flag (_lec_) is. +"If you would believe in your country," said Patrick, "the hostages of +the Gaedhil would come to you." + +"I am not good-looking," said Eoghan; "my brother precedes me on account +of my ugliness." "What form do you desire?" asked Patrick. "The form of +the young man who is under (_i.e._., _who is bearing_) your +satchel--_i.e._, Rioc of Inis-bo-finde," said Eoghan. Patrick covered +them over with the same garment, the hands of each being clasped round +the other. They slept thus, and afterwards awoke in the same form, with +the difference of the tonsure. "I don't like my height," said Eoghan. +"What size do you desire to be?" asked Patrick. Eoghan reached up his +hand with his sword. "I should like this height," said he; and he +immediately grew to that height. Patrick afterwards blessed Eoghan, with +his sons. "Which of your sons is dearest to you?" asked Patrick. +"Muiredhach," said he. "Sovereignty from him for ever," said Patrick. +"And next to him?" asked Patrick. "Fergus," answered he. "Dignity from +him," said Patrick. "And after him?" asked Patrick. "Eocha Bindech," +said Eoghan. "Warriors from him," said Patrick. "And after him?" asked +Patrick. "They are all alike to me," answered Eoghan. "They shall have +united love," said Patrick. + +Patrick went to Ailech of the kings, when he blessed the fort and left +his flag there; and he prophesied that kingship and pre-eminence should +be over Erinn from Ailech. "When you lift your foot out of your bed to +approach it, and your successor after you," said Patrick, "the men of +Erinn shall tremble before you." + +He blessed the whole island (Inis-Eoghain) from Belach-ratha; and he gave +a blessing of valor to Eoghan. Then it was that Patrick said: + + "My blessing on the _tuatha_ (territories) + I give from Belach-ratha, + On you, you descendants of Eoghan, + Until the day of judgment. + + "Whilst plains are under crops, + The palm of battle shall be on their men. + The armies of Fail (Ireland) shall not be over your plains; + You shall attack every _telach_ (tribe). + + "The race of Eoghan, son of Niall, + Bless, O fair Brigid! + Provided they do good, + Government shall be from them for ever. + + "The blessing of us both + Upon Eoghan Mac Neill, + On all who may be born from him, + Provided they are obedient." + + +Eochaidh, son of Fiachra, son of Eoghan, was baptized with Eoghan, and +Patrick's covenant was made between them; and whosoever transgresses it +shall not have children born to him, and his body will not rot in the +clay. + +Where Patrick went after this was into Daigurt in Magh-Dula. He built +seven Domhnachs (churches) about Fochaine (_i.e._, flumen), namely, +Domhnach-Dola, Domhnach-Seinlis, Domhnach-Dara, Domhnach-Senchua, +Domhnach-Minchluane, Domhnach-Catte, Both-Domhnaigh. + +Patrick proceeded into Tir-Eoghain of the Islands--namely, into the +territory governed by Fergus--and he took to build a _disert_ at a +certain place; Achadh-Driman was the proper name of the land in which he +built it. But Coelbhadh, son of Eoghan, drove him from thence, and +Patrick said that in consequence thereof his race should never have a +goodly house there. Quod probatum est super by Comman, son of Algasach, +of the race of Coelbhadh, who was at Eas-nac-Eire, who made a house +there, but, before he had the roof on it, it was broken down by a young +cleric of the family of Domhnach-mor-Maighe Tochair. + +"Thou shalt receive welcome from me," said Aedh, son of Fergus. There is +neither bank nor wall between him and the aforesaid, and it was there +that he erected Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair, ribi xl, dubas mansit et Mac +Cairthin reliquit. + +Patrick proceeded from Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair into Bredach, and +there he met the three Deachans, the sons of Patrick's sister, in the +country of Ailell, son of Eoghan, and he ordained Oengus, the son of +Ailell, in that place, and he remained there on Sunday; Domhnach-Bile is +its name. + +When Patrick was at Ailech-Airtich in Sonnacht, in Cinel-Enda, Enda came +to him. "Da mihi hunc locum," said Patrick. "Quasi non babussemus +clericos," said Enda. On the morrow venit Enda et suus filius secum, +Echu Caech. Patrick had turned off to pray, and his people to baptize, +to confer orders, and to propagate the faith. The two Maccairthinns were +there at the time, namely, qui est at Clochar et qui est at +Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair. "Confer ye the degree of bishop upon my +son," said Enda. "Let Patrick be consulted," said Patrick's champion, +Maccairthinn of Clochar. "It is our duty," said the other; "I will +confer the order." When Patrick, he said, "Ye have conferred orders in +my absence on the son of the Wolf; there shall be strife in the church of +the one for ever; there shall be poverty in the church of the other." +Quod impletur: strife at Clochar; Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair, poverty is +there. "The son upon whom the degree was conferred, two persons, after +committing murder, shall profane his relics. One hundred and twenty +years until a son shall be born in the southern parts [who shall +reconsecrate his church], and it shall be restored to me again." Quod +totum impletum est. The first place where his relics were was a high and +beautiful spot, but they were carried thence after a short time to a +lower place; and the first place where they were is deserted, and robbers +and murderers are accustomed to dwell there, through Patrick's curse. +And his church was ceded to Ciaran Mac-an-tsair, but was restored to +Patrick again. This Echu, son of Enda, is at this day called Bishop +Echan. + +As Patrick was in Tir-Enda-Airtich at Tulach-liag, in Leitir, he stuck +[wattles for] a church there, which afterwards became a bush. After this +he went to the Lei, on the east of the Bann, ubi non capiebant homines +pieces nisi in nocte usque ad illud tempus. Deinde imperavit eis +Patricius ut in die caperent, et sic erit in finem seculi. + +Patrick went afterwards into Dal-Araidhe and Dal-Riada. Then he +proceeded to Ror to Carn-Setna, southwards, where he heard the screams of +an infant from out of the ground. The carn was demolished, the sepulchre +was laid bare, and a smell of wine arose around them out of the +sepulchre. They saw the living child with the dead mother. A woman that +died of ague; she was brought across the sea to Eriu, and the child was +born after death; and seven days, it is said, it lived in the tumulus. +"That is bad (_olc_)," said the king. "That shall be his name (_Olcan_)" +said the druid. Patrick baptized him; and he is Bishop Olcan, of the +community of Airther-Maighe, in the district of Dal-Riada. And Mac +Nisse; of Condere, read his psalms with Patrick. . . . + +Patrick received welcome in the district from Erc's twelve sons. And +Fergus Mor Mac Erca said to Patrick: "If I am preferred before my +brothers in the division of our land, I will offer some to you." And +Patrick gave to Bishop Olcan this part--_i.e._, Airther-Maighe. Patrick +said to Fergus: "Though thy esteem with thy brothers is not great to-day, +it is thou that shall be king. The kings of this land and of Fortren +shall be from thee for ever"; and this is what was fulfilled in Aedan Mac +Gabhrain, who possessed Alba by force. Patrick left many cells and +establishments in the territory of Dal-Riada. + +He founded Fothraidh, and left two of his people in it--viz., Presbyter +Cathbadh, and the monk Dimman; and he founded Rath-Mudhain, and left +Presbyter Erclach in it; he left Bishop Nem in Telach-Ceniul-Aenghusa; +Dachen-nindan in Domhnach-Cainri, in Cothraighe; Enan in Druim-Indich; +and Bishop Fiachra in Cuil-Echirainn. And Patrick blessed Dun-Sobhairce; +and Patrick's well is there, and he left a blessing upon it. + +He went afterwards to Dal-Araidhe. He found Caelbadh's twelve sons +before him. He proposed to found a place where Cill-glas is. He was +repelled from it; and it belongs to him yet; and he left two of his +people there--viz., Glaisiuc and Presbyter Libur. And he determined that +he would found a place where Lathrach-Patraic is. It is there Daniel, +Patrick's angel and dwarf, is. It is there Patrick's well is--_Slan_ is +its name--which Patrick discovered there. Saran, the son of Caelbad, +seized his hand to expel him; and Patrick took heaven and land from him. +Connia, the son of Caelbadh, however, received Patrick with humility, and +gave him Domhnach-Combair; and Patrick blessed him, and declared that +kings and chieftains should be of his race for ever. And he founded many +churches in Dal-Araidhe--viz., Domhnach-mor of Magh-Damhairne, and +Rath-Sithe (and he left two of his people there), and Telach-Conadain, +and Gluaire in Latharna (and Mac Laisre is in it). He founded +Glenn-indechta, and Imlech-[c]luana, in Semhne (where Caemhan was left), +and Rath-Escuip-Indich, in the territory of Ui-Erca-chein. + +After some time the aforesaid Saran bore off some men in captivity from +the district of Dal-Riada. Bishop Olcan met him, and the poor people +were grievously complaining to him. Olcan interceded, but it was of no +avail, unless he would assure heaven to Saran. "I cannot do so, indeed," +said he, "for Patrick has deprived thee of it." "I will kill thy people +about thee but thee alone," said he, "and I will slay all these captives; +and wherever I shall find a priest (tailcend), I shall bring him under +the edge of the sword." + +Whereupon Bishop Olcan promised him heaven. He came afterwards from the +north to offer submission to Patrick. It was reported to Patrick that +Bishop Olcan had promised baptism and heaven to the person to whom he had +denied them. They met to the north of Cluain-Fiachna, on the way, going +different directions. "The chariot over him," said Patrick. "It is not +allowable," said the charioteer, "that it should go over a bishop." He +told him (Bishop Olcan) that his establishment on earth would not be +high, and that it would be thrice destroyed; as was afterwards fulfilled, +for it was ruined by Scandal, King of Dal-Araidhe, and by Cucuaran, and +by fire also. "Laech-dich, son of Bresal, and his land, shall belong to +the young boy bearing the satchel," said Patrick, "one of thy own +people--_i.e._, Mac Nisse of Condere--and to one not born yet--_i.e._, +Senan of Inis-Altich. Thy merit in heaven will be illustrious." + +Saran's guilt it was that was here laid upon Bishop Olcan. Saran's +brother, Nadsluagh, was submissive to Patrick; and he was in captivity +on Patrick's arrival. "You shall have from me," said he, "the site of +your _regles_." "Where will you give it me?" asked Patrick. "On the +brink of the Bann, in the west," said Nadsluagh, "where the boys are +burning the _ratha_ (ferns)." "It shall be mine, truly," said Patrick; +"a descendant of mine and thine shall be there"--_i.e._, Bishop Coirpre, +son of Deggell, son of Nadsluagh; it is he that is in Cul-rathain, +on the eastern brink of the Bann. Bishop Brugach, who is in +Ratha-Maighe-Aenaigh, in Crich-Conaill, it was that conferred orders on +Bishop Coirpre. Patrick, also, it was that conferred orders on Bishop +Brugach; so that he (Bishop Coirpre) is a descendant of Patrick in this +wise. Patrick gave no malediction to any of the twelve sons of Caelbad, +except to the king alone--_i.e._, Saran. It was he that had acted +disobediently to him. It was on this occasion that Patrick brought with +him Bishop Guasacht, son of Milchu, from the territory of Dal-Araidhe; it +was he whom Patrick left in Granard, and the two Emirs also, Milchu's two +daughters; it is they that are in Cluam-Bronaigh, ut diximus. + +The way Patrick went was into the territory of Dal-Araidhe, across +Fertais-Tuama, to Ui-Tuirtre. He was forty nights in Finnobair, and +determined to build a city there for its suitability--Loch-Nechach being +on one side of it, and Sliabh-Calland on the other. Cairthen Mor, king +of the country, went to him, and ordered him off. He (Patrick) deprived +him and his children of the sovereignty. Patrick afterwards gave the +sovereignty to Cairthend Beg, who was in exile from his brother; and +Patrick baptized him, and blessed his wife and the being that was in her +womb. "My _debroth_," said Patrick, "the being that is in thy womb shall +be full of the grace of God; and it is I that twill bless a veil upon her +head." The woman was Mogan, daughter of Fergus Mor Mac Nissi, King of +Dal-Riada; and Trea, daughter of Cairthend, was the daughter who was in +her womb; and it was Patrick who blessed a veil on her head, as he +prophesied. The angels, moreover, that brought the veil from heaven, and +placed it on her head, down over her eyes; and Patrick began to raise it +up. "Why is it not good to leave it as it was placed?" asked Trea. "It +is good indeed," answered Patrick. She never saw anything during her +life except what she saw through that veil. + +Patrick had seven Domhnachs in Ui-Tuirtre--viz., Domhnach-Fainre, +Domhnach-Riascad, Domhnach-Fothirbe, Domhnach-Righduinn, Domhnach-Brain, +Domhnach-Maelain, Domhnach-Libuir. + +Where Patrick went afterwards was to Feara-Gabrae, and they were not +obedient to him. Patrick said that they would go afterwards with tribute +to his church in winter-time, and that extern tribes would get their +country; _quod impletum est_. Patrick went afterwards to Fera-Imchlair, +and he baptized and blessed them; and he left with them Cruimther Colum, +and Patrick's book of orations, and his bell therewith; they are +miraculous things unto this day. + +When Patrick concluded his triumphant career in the present life, as the +Apostle Paul said, "I have fought the good fight; I have finished my +course; I have kept the faith; as to the rest, there is laid up for me a +crown of justice, which the Lord the just judge will render to me in that +day," he received communion and sacrifice from Bishop Tassach. His +remains and relics are here regarded with honor and veneration by the +earthly church. Though great his honor and veneration on the earth, +greater still will they be in the Day of Judgment, when the fruit of his +preaching will be committed to him as to each other high apostle, with +the apostles and disciples of Jesus, in the union of the nine choirs of +angels, in the union of the Divinity and the Humanity of the Son of God, +in the unity which is nobler than all unity--in the unity of the Holy +Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I beseech mercy through the +intercession of Patrick. We ask that we may all ourselves obtain this +union _in soecula soeculorum_. Amen. + +[It should be observed that, at the commencement of each of the three +parts of the Tripartite Life, there are several pages of Latin, which +were intended by the author as a sort of introduction or preface to what +follows in each part. They are made up principally of Scriptural +quotations strung loosely together. These quotations have general +reference to the establishment of Christ's kingdom upon earth, and are +obviously intended to bear upon the happy introduction of Christianity +into Ireland through the labors of our glorious apostle. At the end of +each of the parts, in like manner, are some paragraphs, by way of +peroration, devoted chiefly to the praises of the great saint, who +dedicated the greater part of an unusually long life to the service of +God, by the regeneration of our pagan ancestors. The language of both +prefaces and perorations, whether corrupted by the copyists in +transcription, or originally so written, is a most barbarous Latin. For +the reasons indicated it has been deemed better to omit the pages alluded +to, merely giving a few words of the commencement of each. In the Irish +original, also, as was usual in early Irish manuscripts, there are a +considerable number of Latin quotations or sentences, which in some cases +have been translated, and in others given as they stood, without any +attempt to correct the style.] + + +PART III. + +Mirabilis Deus in sanctis suis. Spiritus Sanctus, à quo omne donum, et +gratiarum charismata utrique, et novi et veteris Testamenti Ecclesias, +data, haec protulit per os Regii Psalmistae Davidis filii, etc. + +Patrick left Presbyter Conaedh in Domnach-Airther-Maighe, in the +territory of Hy-Briuin of the north. He rested there on Sunday, and then +went after Patrick from that place as far eastwards as the wood. "What +brought you?" asked Patrick. "I cannot bear your absence, holy man," +said he. "No wonder," observed Patrick; "the place around thee is not +the place of a son of life, but a place for pig-eaters; the soil of the +place shall never be reddened" (which we have proved when Connacan, son +of Colman, son of Niall Frossach, went into the district with an army, +nine men moved off from a tree which Artifex, a pilgrim, selected. He +was beheaded; eight were liberated, however, in his land). + +Patrick went afterwards to Telach-Maine, and received a welcome from +Maine, son of Conlaedh, who humbled himself to him; and Patrick blessed +him, and blessed his wife, so that she was fruitful, and brought forth +two daughters. Patrick baptized them, and blessed veils on their heads, +and left a senior with them to instruct them. + +Patrick did not visit Ard-Macha on that occasion, but went into the +territory of Hy-Cremthand, where he founded churches and residences. One +time, as Patrick was coming from Clochar, from the north, his strong +man--_i.e._, Bishop Mac Carthend--carried him across a difficult place; +and after lifting up Patrick, he said: "Uch, uch." "My _debroth_," said +Patrick, "you were not accustomed to say that word." "I am old and +infirm," said Bishop Mac Carthend, "and you have left all my early +companions in churches, whilst I am still on the road." "I will leave +thee in a church," said Patrick, "that shall not be too near us for +familiarity, that shall not be too distant for intercourse between us." +And Patrick afterwards left Bishop Mac Carthend in Clochar, and the +Domhnach-Airgid with him, which was sent to Patrick from heaven when he +was on the sea coming to Erinn. + +Patrick went after that to Lemhuin. Finnabhair is the name of the hill +on which Patrick preached. Three days and three nights was he at the +preaching, and each day did not seem to them longer than one hour. Then +it was that Brigid slept at the preaching, and Patrick did not allow her +to be awakened. Patrick asked her afterwards what she had seen. She +said: "I saw fair synods and white oxen and fair cornfields; behind them +spotted oxen, and black oxen after these. I afterwards saw sheep and +pigs, and dogs and wolves, fighting amongst themselves. I saw +subsequently two stones, one little and the other big. A drop was shed +on each of them. The little stone increased at the 'drop,' and silvery +sparks burst from it. The large stone withered, moreover." "They were +the two sons of Eochaidh, son of Crimthann," said Patrick. Cairpre +Damhairgit believed, and Patrick blessed him, and blessed his seed. +Bresal, moreover, refused, and Patrick cursed him. Patrick also +explained the whole vision of Brigid in an admirable manner. + +He resuscitated Eochaidh, son of Crimthann, from death. Eochaidh +possessed a daughter--_i.e._, Cinnu--whom her father wished to marry to a +man of noble family--_i.e._, to the son of Cormac, son of Cairpre Mac +Neill; she, walking along, met Patrick with his companions on the way. +Patrick preached to her that she unite herself to the spiritual prophet; +and she believed, and Patrick instructed her, and baptized her, +afterwards. When her father was subsequently seeking for her, to give +her to her man, she and Patrick went to converse with him. Patrick +requested that he would permit her to wed the Eternal Spouse; Eochaidh +agreed to this, if heaven would be given to him therefor, and he himself +not be compelled to be baptized. Patrick then promised these two +conditions, though he thought it hard. The king afterwards consented +that his daughter--_i.e._, Cinnu--should be united to Christ, and Patrick +made her a female disciple to him, and commanded a certain virgin to +instruct her _i.e._, Cechtumbar of Druim-Dubhain, in which place both +virgins rest. + +After many years, moreover, the aforesaid Eochaidh reached the end of his +life; and when his friends would remain by him, he said: "Let me not be +buried," said he, "until Patrick comes." And when Eochaidh finished +these words, his spirit departed. Patrick, moreover, was at this time in +Ulster, at Sabhall-Patrick; and the death of Eochaidh was manifested to +him, and he decided on going to Clochar-mac-Daimhin, where he found +Eochaidh, who had been inanimate twenty-four hours. When Patrick went +into the house where the body was, he sent out the persons who were about +the body. He bent his knees to the Lord, and shed tears; and he prayed, +and said in a clear voice: "Rise, O King Eochaidh! in the name of +Almighty God"; and immediately, at the voice of the servant of God, he +arose. When he had composed himself, he spoke, and the grief and +lamentations of the people were changed to joy. And forthwith Patrick +instructed the king in the rule of faith, and baptized him. He also +commanded him, before the people, that he would describe the pains of the +impious and the joy of the saints, and that he would speak to the people, +that they might believe all that is said of the pains of hell and the +joys of the blest to be true. And he spoke of these things, as he was +commanded. And Patrick offered him a choice--_i.e._ fifteen years in +the chief kingship of his country, if he would live piously and +truthfully, or to go to heaven, if he preferred it. But the king said: +"Though the sovereignty of the entire globe were given to me, and though +I might live for many years, I would count it all as nothing in +comparison with the good shown to me. Hence it is that I pray more and +more that I may be freed from the miseries of the present life, and sent +to the eternal joys exhibited to me." To whom Patrick said, "Go in +peace, and journey to the Lord." Echu (or Eochaidh) gave thanks to God +in the presence of his people, and he commended his soul to the Lord and +Patrick, and his spirit departed to heaven. + +Where Patrick went afterwards was to the territory of Ui-Meith-Tire, to +Tech-Thalain; and he left Bishop Cilline there, and other holy men of his +people, and the relics of saints which he brought with him across the sea +from the east. Then it was that three robbers of Ui-Meith-Tire carried +off the second goat that was wont to be bringing water, and they came to +swear falsely to Patrick respecting him, but the goat cried from the +bodies of the three who had acted treacherously. "My _debroth_," said +Patrick, "the goat himself announces you as thieves. From this day forth +goats shall stick to your children and kindred"; which has been fulfilled. + +Eoghan, son of Brian, son of Muiredach, son of Imchadh, son of +Colla-fo-Crich, was King of Ui-Meith when the people believed, and he +(Patrick) blessed them. Eoghan besought Patrick to resuscitate his +grandfather, _i.e._, Muiredach. Patrick afterwards resuscitated him, and +buried him again in the Erende, on the borders of Mughorna and Ui-Meith; +but the place belongs to Mughorna. Then Patrick went into the district +of Mughorna, to Domhnach-Maighen especially. When Victor, who was in +that place, heard that Patrick had come to it, Victor went, to avoid +Patrick, from the residence to a thorny brake at the side of the town. +God performed a prodigy for Patrick. He lighted up the brake in the dark +night, so that everything therein was visible. Victor went afterwards to +Patrick, and gave him his submission; and Patrick gave him the church, +and imposed the degree of bishop on Victor, and left him in +Domhnach-Maighen. And Patrick blessed Mudhorna, and said that the most +illustrious of laics and clerics should be of them. And he bade farewell +to them, and left a blessing with them. Afterwards Patrick went to +Fera-Ros, to Enach-Conglais, where he remained a Sunday. There it was +that the Ui-Lilaigh gave the poison to Patrick in the lumps of curds. +Patrick blessed the pieces, and made stones of them. + +When Patrick went on Monday across the ford southwards, the Ui-Lilaigh +went with fifty horsemen upon the ford after him to slay him. Patrick +turned towards them upon the bank to the south of the ford, and he raised +his left hand, and said: "You shall neither come out of the ford here nor +go the other way; but you shall be in that water for ever." The water +immediately went over them. Ath-O'Lilaigh is the name of the ford for +ever, and the stone lumps are at Enach-Conglaise, in commemoration of the +miracle, to this present day. + +He afterwards went to Rath-Cuile, where he blessed the +Fera-Cuile--_i.e._, the Ui-Seghain. He went to Bile-Tortan after that, +and constructed a church for Presbyter Justin near Bile-Tortan, which is +near the community of Ard-Breccan. When Patrick was journeying to the +territory of Leinster from Domhnach-Tortan, he remained a night at +Drum-Urchaille. Patrick went afterwards to Naas. The site of his tent +is in the green of the fort, to the east of the road, and his well is to +the north of the fort (_dún_), where he baptized Dunlaing's two sons, +Ailill and Illann, and where he baptized Ailill's two daughters, Moghain +and Feidelm. And their father dedicated them to God and Patrick, from +their consecrated virginity, and he (Patrick) blessed the veil on their +heads. + +Messengers went from Patrick to call the steward of the fort of +Naas--_i.e._, Fallen. He avoided Patrick; and he pretended to be asleep, +through enmity and ridicule of Patrick. And Patrick was told that the +steward was asleep. "My _debroth_," said Patrick, "I should not be +surprised if it were his last sleep." His people went to awake him, and +they found him dead, through the disobedience he showed to Patrick. And +hence is the proverb amongst the Irish: "Fallen's sleep in the fort of +Naas." + +Dricriu was the King of Ui-Garchon at Patrick's coming, and the daughter +of Laeghaire Mac Neill was his wife. And he refused Patrick regarding +his feast at Rath-Inbhir, on Laeghaire's account. But Cilline gave him +welcome, and killed his own cow for him, and gave to Patrick the quantity +of flour that he brought for his support from the king's house, whereupon +he (Patrick) prophesied that Cilline's son should be king of Ui-Garchon. + +He went afterwards to Magh-Life, and founded cells and houses there; and +he left Usail in Cill-Usaille, and Iserninus and Mac Tail in +Cella-Cuilinn, and other saints. On his going into Western Life, the +sons of Laighis prepared water-pits in the way before him, and a covering +over them. "For God's sake," said the little boys, "drive on your +horses." "Drive on, then, for God's sake, your horses," said Patrick. +But no injury was done to them; and he cursed Laighis (_i.e._, Laighis, +son of Find) where Moin-Choluim is to-day; and Patrick said that there +would be neither a king nor a bishop from them, and that a foreign lord +should be over them for ever. + +Brig, the daughter of Fergnad, son of Cobtach, of the Ui-Ercain, went to +report to Patrick the enmity that was in store for him. Patrick blessed +her, and her father, and her brothers, and the Ui-Ercain altogether, and +he said that they would never be without distinguished laics and clerics +of them. + +Then Patrick alighted on the hillock which was then called +Bile-Mac-Cruaich; to-day, however, it is called Forrach-Patrick; and he +said that there would never be a foreign king or steward over them; and +when the King of Leinster would be distributing the feast in his royal +house, he would have one shin (of beef), and the King of Ui-Ercan the +other; they should have Patrick's respect, Patrick's _forrach_ (seat), +the dignity of laics and clerics, wealth, and immortality. Eight princes +they had up to the reign of Conchobhar, son of Donnchadh, in Tara. +Laighis, moreover, was the tribe-name of the youths who committed the +misdeed; and neither king nor bishop shall be from them, but strange +lords shall govern them, and they shall never have rest from persecution +and complaints. + +Patrick went from Tara until he met Dubhtach Mac Ui-Lugair at +Domhnach-mór of Magh-Criathar, in Ui-Cinnse-laigh, who believed for +Patrick. Patrick requested from him a handsome youth who would not be of +low family--a man of one wife, for whom but one son was born. "Hem," +said Dubhtach, "that is Fiacc, son of Ere, I am afraid--the man of those +qualities, who went from me to the territory of Connacht with poems for +the kings." At these words he (Fiacc) came. "What are you considering?" +asked Fiacc. "Dubhtach for the crozier," said Patrick. "That will be a +blemish to many, indeed," said Fiacc; "why should not I be taken in place +of him?" "You will be received, indeed," said Patrick. He was tonsured, +baptized, an alphabet was written for him, and he read his psalms in one +day, as has been related to me. He was ordained in the grade of bishop, +and the bishopric of Leinster was given to him by Patrick; and his only +son, Fiachra, was also ordained. This Fiacc was, therefore, the first +bishop ordained in Leinster. Patrick gave Fiacc a case--viz., a bell, a +reliquary, a crozier, and a book-satchel; and he left seven of his people +with him--viz., Mochatoc of Inis-Fail, Augustin of Inis-Bec, Tecan, and +Diarmait, and Nainnid, Paul, and Fedilmidh. + +He (Fiacc) afterwards resided in Domnach-Feic, and he was there until +threescore of his people died with him. Then the angel went to him, and +said to him: "It is on the west of the river (Barrow) thy (place of) +resurrection is, in Cul-maighe"; and he said that where they would meet a +boar, there they should build their refectory; but where they would meet +a hind, there they should place the church. Fiacc said to the angel that +he would not go until Patrick would come to mark out the boundary of his +place, and to consecrate it, and that he might get the place from him. +Patrick went then to Fiacc, and marked out his place with him, and fixed +his site. And Crimthan presented that place to Patrick, for it was +Patrick that baptized him; and it is in Sleibhte he is buried. It was +there, afterwards, Fiacc was ordained. + +They (the Ui-Ercan) were at that time persecuted by the King of Leinster, +Crimthann, son of Enna Ceinnselach, so that they went into exile. Of +them are the _manachs_ in Hy-Crimthann, and the _manachs_ in Ulster, and +Cenel-Enna in Munster. Of them is Fiacc, of whom we have spoken before. +Fiacc, Aengus, Ailill Mar, Conall, and Etirscel were five brothers. +Their father was the son of Ere. + +Through the action of Patrick, the king granted him (Fiacc) land, the +fifth part of his father's possessions, and thereon it was that he built +Sleibhte. + +The Aengus in question afterwards killed the king, Crimthann, son of Enna +Ceinnselach, to avenge his exile. In thirties and forties are the +churches which he gave to Patrick in the east of Leinster, and in +Ui-Cennselaigh, including Domnach-mor of Magh-Criathar and Inis-Fail, +where Mochonoc and Mochatoc are, and Erdit and Augustin in the smaller +island (but their shrines are in Sleibhte, since the place was occupied +by Gentiles); Domnach-mór of Magh-Reta. Patrick was a Sunday here +(_i.e._, in Domnach-mór of Magh-Reta), and they were on that Sunday +building Rath-Baccain, the royal fort of the district. Patrick sent to +prevent this, but no notice was taken thereof. Patrick said, "Its +building shall be troublesome, unless 'offering' is done there every +day." He also said that the fort would not be inhabited until the wind +(_gaeth_) would come from the lower part of hell. This was Gaithini, son +of Cinaed, who rebuilt the fort in the time of Fedhlimidh, and of +Conchobhar in Tara. + +After that Patrick had founded churches and establishments in Leinster, +moreover, he left a blessing upon Ui-Cennselaigh, and upon the +Leinstermen all; and he afterwards ordained Fiacc Find in Sleibhte, as +bishop of the province. + +He then went along Bealach-Gabhran, into the district of Ossory, and +founded churches and establishments there; and he said that distinguished +laics and clerics should be of them, and that no province should have +command over them, whilst they remained obedient to Patrick. Patrick +took leave of them afterwards, and he left the relics of holy men with +them, and some of his people, in the place where Martar-tech is this day +in Magh-Roighne. At Druim-Conchind, in Mairge, the cross-beam of +Patrick's chariot broke when he was going to Munster. He made another of +the wood of the _druim_. It broke immediately. He made one again, and +it broke also. Patrick said that there should never be any implement +made of the timber of that wood, which has been fulfilled, for even a pin +is not made of it. Patrick's Disert is there, but it is waste. + +Patrick went afterwards to the territory of Munster, to Cashel of the +Kings. When Aengus, son of Nadfraech, got up in the morning, all their +idols were prostrate; and Patrick and his people came to the side of the +fort, and he (Aengus) bade them welcome, and took them into the fort to +the place where Lee-Patrick is to-day. And Patrick after that baptized +the sons of Nedfraech, and the men of Munster besides, and left a +blessing and prosperity upon them. And he blessed the fort--_i.e._, +Cashel--and said that only one race should be there for ever. And he was +seven years in Munster. The learned calculate that he made an offering +on every seventh ridge that he traversed in Munster. + +When Patrick was baptizing Aengus, the point of the crozier went through +Aengus's foot. Patrick asked, "Why was it that you did not tell me?" +"Because," said he, "I thought it was the rule of the faith." "You shall +have its reward," said Patrick; "your successors from this day forth +shall not die of wounds." No one is King of Cashel until Patrick's +comarb ordains him and imposes the grade on him. Patrick said: + + "The sons of Nadfraech, of sounding fame, + Of them shall be kings and chieftains; + Aengus, from the lands of Feimhen, + And Ailill, his brother." + +And twenty-eight kings, of the race of Ailill and Aengus, reigned in +Cashel, ordained with the crozier, until the time of Cenngegan. + +Patrick went after this to Muscraidhe-Breogain, and founded churches and +establishments there. + +One day he was washing his hands at a ford there, when a tooth fell out +of his mouth into the ford. Patrick went upon the hillock to the north +of the ford; and persons went from him to look for the tooth, and +forthwith the tooth glistened in the ford like a sun; and Ath-fiaclai is +the name of the ford, and Cill-fiacia is the name of the church where +Patrick left the tooth and four of his people--viz., Cuircthe and Loscan, +Cailech and Bedan. He bade them (_i.e._, the Muscraidhe) farewell, and +left them a blessing. + +He went afterwards to Aradha-Cliach until he was in Iochtar-Cuillenn in +Ui-Cuanach; and Ailill, son of Cathbadh, son of Lughaidh, of the +Eoghanacht of Airther-Cliach, met him. His wife went on the hillock +where they (the clerics) were, and said: "The pigs have eaten our son +Ailill through savageness," said she. And Ailill said: "I will believe +if you resuscitate my son for me." Patrick commanded the boy's bones to +be collected, and he directed a Céle-Dé of his people--_i.e._, Malach +Britt--to resuscitate him. "I will not offend the Lord," said he. (He +was seized with doubt.) Patrick said: "That is pitiful, O Malach! thy +house on earth shall not be high; thy house shall be the house of one +man." His house is in the northeastern angle of the southern Deise; its +name is Cill-Malaich. Five persons can never be supported there. + +Patrick afterwards commanded Bishops Ibar and Ailbhe to resuscitate the +boy; and he prayed the Lord with them. The boy was afterwards +resuscitated through Patrick's prayers. The boy subsequently preached to +the hosts and multitudes in Patrick's presence. Ailill and his wife +thereupon believed; and all the Ui-Cuanach believed, and were baptized in +that place. And the seat of the four--_i.e._, of Patrick, Ailbhe, Bishop +Ibar, and the young boy--is in the place where the boy was resuscitated. +His father said: "God cures by the hand of the physician." Four persons +stole Patrick's horses southwards. Patrick forgave it. One of them was +a leech, whose name was Caencomhrac; another was a carpenter; another was +a bondman; but the fourth was a groom, whose name was Aedh. Patrick +called the latter, and blessed his hands, and told him that his name +should be Lamaedh from that day; and from him are the Lamhraighe. + +It was then that disease seized Ailill's wife, who was _enciente_, so +that death was nigh unto her. Patrick asked what was the matter. The +woman answered: "An herb I saw in the air, and I saw not the like of it +on the earth; and I shall die, or the being in my womb shall die, or we +shall both die, unless I taste that herb." Patrick asked her of what +kind was the herb. "Like rushes," said the woman. Patrick thereupon +blessed rushes, so that they were apparently the same. The woman then +ate them, and was forthwith whole; and after some time she gave birth to +a son, and blessed Patrick; and it is reported that Patrick said that all +women who should eat of this herb would be healed. + +He desired to remain by the side of Clar, at the fort of Coirpre and +Brocan, but he was not permitted; and Patrick said that there never would +be a king or bishop of the race of Colman, who opposed him. He also said +that the place would belong to himself afterwards, and left a man of his +people there, after a long period--_i.e._, Caemhan of Cill-Rath. + +Ibar then selected a place of residence in Grian, in Aradha-Cliach. Dola +opposed him. Patrick said that there would not be a house of his +(Dola's) there, or, if there should be, it would be only for (the lives +of) two or three. This was fulfilled. They (Dola's descendants) removed +to Airther-Cliach, and Dal-Modola is their name until this day. + +Nena went to him (Patrick), who refused to receive him, and said that he +would not be prosperous. No successors of his occupied the place there +since, but they are enslaved by Muscraighe-Mittine. "Menraighe" they are +called. + +As Patrick was leaving this place, the women of Grian came to bewail his +departure from them. Patrick blessed them, and said that the children +they would bear to extern tribes would be illustrious. + +Patrick was in Aradha-Cliach, at Tedil (the name of a hill). When he was +bidding farewell, two of his people remained behind. They were sent for, +and found asleep under a bush there. This was told to Patrick. "Here +their resurrection will be," said he; which is true. Muin and Lomchu +[who are] in Cill-Tidil [were left there] by Patrick. + +He went after this to Hy-Fidhgente, where Lonan, son of Mac Eire, +provided a banquet for him. Mullach-Cae, over against Carn-Feradhaigh on +the south; and a man of Patrick's people was preparing the banquet along +with the king--_i.e._, Deacon Mantan. A band of artists came up to +Patrick to solicit food, and would have no excuse. "Go to Lonan and to +Deacon Mantan, that they may relieve me," said Patrick. Who answered, +"No, until our banquet is blessed." Then Patrick said: + + "The youth who comes from the north, + To him is vouchsafed the triumph; + To Cothraige he comes, + With his little wether on his back." + + +At that very time came another youth, attended by his mother, carrying on +her back a cooked wether to the king's supper. Patrick begged of him to +give him the wether to save his honor. The son at once gave it +cheerfully, though the mother was unwilling to do so, through fear of the +king. Patrick gave the food to the players; and immediately the earth +swallowed them. Derc, son of Scirire, of the southern Desi, was their +chief; and Patrick said there would not be a king, or heir apparent, or +bishop of his family of Lonan for ever; and he assured Mantan, the +deacon, that his church would not be exalted on earth, but should be the +abode of the dregs of the people, and that swine and sheep would trample +on his own remains; but to Nessan, who had saved his honor, he promised +that he should be honored among the nations. And he baptized him, +ordained him deacon, and founded for him a church--_i.e._, Mungarit. His +mother excused herself, and he said she should not be buried in her son's +church. This came to pass, for her grave is to the west of Mungarit, and +the bell of the great church is not heard in that place; they are almost +together, only separated by a wall. + +The men of North Munster, to the north of Luimnech, went in fleets of +boats to meet Patrick southwards as far as Domhnach-mor of +Magh-Aine--_i.e._, to Dun-Nocfene, then and now so called; and he +baptized them in Tir-glass, to the southeast of it. He afterwards went +to Finnine, to the northwest of Domhnach-mor, a hill from which he could +see the country to the north of Luimnech, when he gave a blessing to the +men of North Munster, who had gone with a profusion of gifts to meet +Patrick. + +Cairthend, son of Blat, the senior of the Clann-Toirdhelb-haigh, believed +in the Lord, and Patrick baptized him at Sangul (_i.e._, a different +angel that went to converse with him that day, and not Victor). No +children were born to Cairthenn, except deformities, up to that time. It +was then that Eochu Ballderg was born to Cairthenn. Patrick that +procured this; and he formed a clot of gore, which was on his (Eochu's) +body, as a sign of that miracle. Patrick himself did not go into the +country, but he saw from him about Luimnech to the west and to the north; +and he blessed the district and its islands, and prophesied of the saints +who would appear in them, of their names, and the time in which they +would come. "The green island in the west," said Patrick, "in the mouth +of the sea; the lamp of the people of God shall come into it, who will be +the head of counsel to this district--_i.e._, Senan of Inis-Cathaigh--six +score years from this." (Senan, son of Gerrgenn, son of Dubhthach.) He +did not go across Luachair, indeed, into West Munster. He prophesied of +Brenainn, son of Ua-Altae, who was to be born 120 years after, which was +fulfilled. + +Patrick then went into the southern Desi, and set about building a church +in Ard Patrick; and Lec-Patrick (Patrick's flag) is there, and the limits +of his church. Derball, son of Aedh, opposed him. Derball said to +Patrick: "If you would remove that mountain there, so that I could see +Loch-Lunga across it to the south, in Fera-Maighe-Feine, I would +believe." Cenn-Abhrat is the name of the mountain, and Belach-Legtha +(melted pass) is the name of the pass which was melted there. When the +mountain began to dissolve, Derball said that whatever he (Patrick) did +would be of no use. Patrick said to Derball: "There shall be no king nor +bishop of your family, and it will be allowable to the men of Munster to +plunder you all every seventh year for ever as bare as a leek." + +As Patrick was in the district of the Desi, awaiting the king of the +country--_i.e._, Fergair, son of Rossa--Patrick said to him, after his +arrival: "How slowly you come!" "The country is rough" [said he]. "True +indeed," said Patrick. "There shall be no king from you for ever. What +delayed you to-day?" asked Patrick. "The rain delayed us," said the +king. "Your meetings shall be showery for ever," said Patrick. +Patrick's well is there, and also the church of Mac Clairidh, one of +Patrick's people. And assemblies are not held by the Desi except at +night, because Patrick left that sentence upon them, for it was towards +night they went to him. Patrick then cursed the streams of that place, +because his books were drowned in them, and the fishermen gave his people +a refusal. Patrick said that they would not be fruitful, and that there +would never be any mills upon them, except the mills of strangers, +notwithstanding their great profusion up to that time. He blessed the +Suir, moreover, and the country around; and it is fruitful in fish, +except the places where those streams (_glaise_) flow into it. + +Patrick went into Muscraighe-thire, and to preach and plant the faith +there. He met three brothers of that nation, men of power--Furic and +Muinnech and Mechar, the sons of Forat, son of Conla. Muinnech believed +at once, and Patrick baptized and blessed him, and said that illustrious +heroes and clerics should descend from him for ever; and that the chief +kingship of his country should be [filled up] from him for ever, as the +poet said: + + "Muinnech the Great believes + In Patrick, before all; + That there might be over his country + Chieftains of his race for ever. + + "Mechair believed, + For he was a true, just man. + Patrick gave him a lasting blessing-- + The companionship of a king. + + "Fuirec, the furious man, + Opposed, though he was hoary and old; + His ultimate fate, after this world, + Is not to be deplored. + + "When Cothraige imposed + A tribute (_cain_) upon noble Eri, + On the host of this island + He conferred a lasting blessing. + + "Choice was this blessing + Which he conferred seven-fold + On each one who would observe + His plain rule, his law. + + "Whoever would disobey + The noble, just rule, + Should not see him, he said, + In the region of the saints. + + "Patrick's _cain_ in great Munster + Was imposed on each family, + Until Dungalach violated it, + [Who was] of the race of Failbhe Flann. + + "Dungalach, son of Faelghus, + Grandson of just Nadfraech, + Was the first who transgressed + Patrick's _cain_ from the beginning. + + "It is related in histories, + All ages know it, + That his successorship is not found + In Cashel of the Kings. + + "There is not of his progeny + (Though he won battles) + A noble bishop or herenagh, + A prince or a sage. + + "Saergus the Young, also-- + * * * * * + Violated the _cain_ he had adopted, + For the vehement Dungalach. + + "It is seen that illustrious men + Are not of his wondrous family; + If there are now, they will not + Be found till judgment comes." + + +Now, after that Patrick had founded cells and churches in Munster, and +had ordained persons for every grade, and healed all sick persons, and +resuscitated the dead, he bade them farewell, and left his blessing with +them. He then went to Brosnacha, and the men of Munster followed after +him, as if with one accord; and their households (hillocks? _telcha_) +followed them, to go after Patrick. Patrick thereupon blessed the +households (hillocks?), and they remained in their places. + +Where the men of Munster overtook Patrick, men, youths, and women, was at +Brosnacha, when they raised great shouts of joy at seeing him; hence it +is called Brosnacha. It was here Patrick resuscitated Fot, son of Derad, +a Munsterman, who had been twenty-seven years dead. It was here, too, he +blessed the banquet of the youth at Craibhecha, with Bishop Trian, a +pilgrim of the Romans, by which the men of Munster were satisfied, and +the saints of Eri besides. He again bade farewell to the men of Munster, +and gave them his blessing, saying: + + "A blessing on the men of Munaani + Men, sons, women. + A blessing on the land + That gives them food. + A blessing on all treasures + Produced upon the plains. + A blessing upon Munster. + A blessing on their woods + And on their sloping plains. + A blessing on their glens. + A blessing on their hills. + As the sands of the seas under ships-- + So numerous be their homesteads, + In slopes, in plains, + In mountains, in peaks, + A blessing." + + +Patrick afterwards went to the territory of Hy-Failge, and Foilge Berrad +boasted that, if he met Patrick, he would kill him, in revenge of the +idol Cenn Cruach; for it was this that was a god to Foilge. This boast +of Foilge was kept back from Patrick by his people. One day Odran, his +charioteer, said to Patrick: "Since I have been a long time driving for +you, O Patrick! let me take the chief seat for this day. Be you the +charioteer, O father!" Patrick did so. After this Foilge came, who +dealt a thrust through Odran, in the guise of Patrick. "My curse," said +Patrick. "Upon the tree of Bridam," said Odran. "Be it so," replied +Patrick. Foilge died at once, and went to hell. As to Foilge Ross, +indeed, it is his children who are in the district at this day; and +Patrick blessed him, and from him is the sovereignty of the district +filled for ever. + +On one occasion, as Patrick was going the way of Midluachair, in order to +come to Uladh, he met carpenters cutting down trunks of yew. Patrick saw +their blood ooze from their palms in the operation. "Whence are ye?" +said Patrick. "We are slaves belonging to Trian, son of Fiac, son of +Amalgad--_i.e._, brother to Trichem--who are in subjection and +affliction, so much so that we are not allowed to sharpen our axes +(irons), in order that our work may be the heavier and more difficult, so +that blood flows from our hands." Patrick blessed the irons, so that +they could easily cut with them; and he went to the king, to Trian's +fort. Patrick fasts on him. He disobeyed. He returns on the morrow +from the fort. He spat on the rock which was there on his way, so that +it broke into three pieces; one third part was cast to a distance of one +thousand paces. Patrick said: "Two-thirds of the fast on the rock, +another third on the fort and king, and on the district. There will not +be a king nor _roydamhna_ of the children of Trian. He shall die +prematurely himself, and shall go down to a bitter hell." The wife of +the king came, following Patrick. She performed penance, and knelt. +Patrick blessed her womb and the beings in it--_i.e._, Setna, son of +Trian, and Iarlaid, son of Trian. Sechnall that baptized Setna, Patrick +that baptized Iarlaid, and Patrick said that he would be his successor +afterwards. Trian himself proceeded to bind and maltreat the slaves who +reported him. His horses bore him off in the chariot, and his driver, so +that they went into the lake. Loch-Trena is its name. This was his last +fall. He will not arise out of the lake till the vespers of judgment; +and it will not be to happiness even then. There was a certain wicked +man in the country of Uladh--_i.e._, Magh-Inis--at that time, an impious +man, and a son of death--_i.e._, Mac Cuill--who was plundering and +killing the people. On one occasion Patrick and his companions passed by +him a certain day, and he desired to kill Patrick. This is what he (Mac +Cuill) said to his followers: "Behold the _tailcenn_ and false prophet, +who is deceiving every one; let us arise and make an attack on him, to +see if perhaps his God will assist him." This is what they planned +afterwards: to bring one of their people on a bier, as if dead, to be +resuscitated by Patrick, and to deceive Patrick; and they threw a cover +over his body and over his face. "Cure," said they to Patrick, "our +companion for us, and beseech your God to awake him from death." "My +_debroth_," said Patrick, "I would not wonder if he were dead." Garban +was the name of the man; and it is of him Patrick said: "The covering of +Garban shall be the covering of a dead body; but I shall tell you more: +it is Garban who will be under it." His friends removed the covering +from his face, so that they found it so. They afterwards became mute, +and then said: "Truly this is a man of God." They all believed at once. +Mac Cuill believed also; and he went on sea in a cot of one hide, by the +command of Patrick. Garban was awakened from death through the prayers +of Patrick. Mac Cuill, however, went that very day on sea, and his right +hand towards Magh-Inis, until he reached Manann; and he found two +venerable persons before him on the island. It was they who preached the +word of God in Manann, and it is through their teaching that the people +of that island were baptized and believed; their names are Coninnri and +Romael. When those men saw Mac Cuill in his cot, they took him off the +sea; they received him kindly; and he learned the divine knowledge with +them, and spent his whole time with them, until he got the episcopacy of +the place after them. This is Mac Cuill, of Mann, famous bishop and +abbot. May his holy favor assist us! + +One time Patrick slept on a Sunday, on a hill over the sea, at Drombo, +when he heard the noise of Gentiles digging a rath on the Sabbath. He +called them, and told them to cease. They heeded him not, but began to +mock him. And Patrick said: "My _debroth_, your labor shall not profit +you." This was fulfilled; for on the following night a great tempest +arose and destroyed their work, according to the word of Patrick. + +Patrick said to Eochaidh, son of Muiredach that there should never be a +king from him, nor enough of his race to constitute an assembly or army +in Ulster, but that his tribe would be scattered and dispersed, that his +own life would be short, and that he would meet a tragic fate. This was +the cause Patrick had against Eochaidh, as the learned say: Two virgins, +who had offered their virginity to the Lord, he bound and sent on the +waves to be drowned, as they refused to adore idols and to marry. When +Patrick heard this, he besought the king regarding them, but in vain. +"Your brother Cairell has got thy luck, since he granted me a good +request," said Patrick, "and you have lost it through your disobedience. +He (Cairell) shall be a king, and there shall be kings and chiefs of his +race over your children and over all Ulster"; so that of him sprang the +race of kings, and of his son Deman, son of Cairell, son of Muiredhach, +according to the words of Patrick. Eochaidh's wife cast herself at the +feet of Patrick. He baptized her, and blessed the child in her +womb--_i.e._, the excellent and illustrious son, Domangart, the son of +Eochaidh. He it was whom Patrick left in his body, and he will be there +for ever. He turned back to the Fera-Ross, and commenced a church in +Druim-Mor, in the territory of Ross, over Cluain-Cain. It was here the +angel went to him and said: "It is not here you have been destined to +stay." "Where shall I go?" said Patrick. "Pass on to Macha northwards," +said the angel. "The _cluain_ below is fairer," replied Patrick. "Be +its name Cluain-Cain" (_fair cluain_), answered the angel. "A pilgrim of +the Britons shall come and occupy there, and it shall be yours +afterwards." "_Deo gratias ago_," said Patrick. Where Patrick went then +was to Ard-Phadraig, on the east of Lughmadh, and he proposed to build an +establishment there. The Dal-Runter went after him to keep him, as one +presented him to another. He blessed them afterwards, and prophesied +that distinguished chiefs and clerics should be of them, and that they +should have possessions outside their territory, because they went forth +out of their own country after him. Patrick used to come every day from +the east, from Ard-Phadraig, and Mochta used to come from the west, from +Lughmadh, that they might converse together every day at Leac-Moctae. +One day the angel placed an epistle between them. Patrick read the +epistle, and what was in it was: "Mochta, the devoted, the believing, let +him be in the place he has taken." Patrick goes, by the order of his +king, to smooth Macha, and he assigned the twelve lepers left in +Ard-Phadraig to Mochta, and their food used to be given to them each +night by Mochta. Patrick went afterwards to the _macha_, by order of the +angel, to a place where Rath-Daire is this day. There was a certain +prosperous and venerable person there. Daire was his name--_i.e._, +Daire, son of Finchad, son of Eogan, son of Niallan. Patrick asked for a +site for his _regles_ from him. Daire answered: "What place do you +desire?" "In this great hillock below," says Patrick, where Ardmacha is +to-day. "I will not give it," said Daire, "but I will give you a site +for your _regles_ in the strong rath below," where the _ferta_ are +to-day. Patrick founded a church there, and remained a long time. One +day two steeds of Daire's were brought to him, to his _regles_, for the +_relig_ was grassy. Patrick became very angry. The horses died at once. +His servant told this to Daire, saying: "That Christian," said he, +"killed your steeds, because they ate the grass that was in his +_regles_." Daire was angry at this, and ordered his servants to plunder +the cleric, and expel him from his place--_i.e._, the _ferta_. A colic +seized on Daire immediately, so that death was near him. His wife +recalled the plunder of Patrick, and told Daire that the cause of his +death was the attack on Patrick. She sent messengers to beg prayer-water +for Daire from Patrick. Patrick said: "Only for what the woman has done, +there would never be any resurrection from death for Daire." Patrick +blessed the water, and gave it to the servants, with orders to have it +sprinkled over the horses and over Daire. They did so, and immediately +they all returned from death. A brazen caldron was brought to Patrick as +an offering from Daire. "_Deo gratias_," said Patrick. Daire asked his +servants what Patrick said. They answered, "_Gratzicum_." "This is +little reward for a good offering and a good caldron," said Daire. He +ordered his cauldron to be brought to him. "_Deo gratias_," said +Patrick. Daire asked what Patrick said when they were bringing the +caldron from him. The servants answered: "It was the same thing he said +when we were bringing it away from him--_Gratzicum_." "This is a good +word with them, this _Gratzicum_," said Daire; "_Gratzicum_ when giving +it to him, and _Gratzicum_ when taking it away from him." Daire and his +wife then went with his submission to Patrick, and gave Patrick the +caldron willingly back again, and the hill which he before asked; and +Patrick accepted and blessed them, and founded a church in that place +called Ard-Macha. Patrick and his divines, and Daire, with the nobles of +Airther besides, came to the hill to mark out its boundaries, and to +bless it, and consecrate it. They found a doe, with its fawn, in the +place where the Sabhall is to-day, and his people went to kill it. +_Prohibuit Patricius, et dixit, "Serviat sibi postea_," and sent it out +of the hill northward, to the place where Telac-na-licce is to-day, _ibi +magna mirabilia fecit_. + +Daire's daughter loved the person Benen; sweet to her was the sound of +his voice in chanting. Disease seized her, so that she died of it. +Benen carried _cretra_ to her from Patrick, and she suddenly afterwards +arose alive, and loved him spiritually. She is Ercnait, the daughter of +Daire, who is in Tamlaght-bo. + +One time there came nine daughters of the King of the Longbards and the +daughter of the King of Britain on a pilgrimage to Patrick; they stopped +at the east side of Ard-Macha, where Coll-na-ningean is to-day. There +came messengers from them to Patrick to know if they should proceed to +him. Patrick said to the messengers that three of the maidens would go +to heaven, and in that place (_i.e._, Coll-na-ningean) their sepulchre +is. "And let the other maidens go to Druim-fenneda, and let one of them +proceed as far as that hill in the east." And so it was done. + +Cruimthir went afterwards, and occupied Cengobd; and Benen used to carry +fragments of food to her every night from Patrick. And Patrick planted +an apple-tree in Achadh-na-elti, which he took from the fort, in the +north of the place--_i.e._, Cengoba; and hence the place is called +Abhall-Patrick, in Cengoba. It was the milk of this doe, moreover, that +used to be given to the lap-dog that was near the maiden--_i.e._, +Cruimthir. + +Another time, when Patrick was at rest in the end of night, at +Tiprad-Cernai, in Tir-Tipraid, the angel went to him and awoke him. +Patrick said to him: "Is there anything in which I have offended God, or +is His anger upon me?" "No," said the angel; "and you are informed from +God," added the angel, "if it is it you desire, that there shall be no +share for any else in Eriu, but for you alone. And the extent of the +termon of your see from God is to Droma-Bregh, and to Sliabh-Mis, and to +Bri-Airghi." Patrick replied: "My _debroth_, truly," said Patrick, "sons +of life will come after me, and I wish they may have honor from God in +the country after me." The angel responded: "That is manifest. And God +gave all Eriu to you," said the angel, "and every noble that will be in +Eriu shall belong to you." "_Deo gratias_," said Patrick. + +Patrick was enraged against his sister--_i.e._, Lupait--for committing +the sin of adultery, so that she was pregnant in consequence. When +Patrick came into the church from the eastern side, Lupait went to meet +him, until she prostrated herself before the chariot, in the place where +the cross is in Both-Archall. "The chariot over her," said Patrick. The +chariot passed over her thrice, for she used still to come in front of +it; so that where she went to heaven was at the Ferta; and she was buried +by Patrick, and her _ecnaire_ (requiem) was sung. Colman, grandson of +Ailill, of the Ui-Bresail, that fixed his attention on Lupait at Imduail. +Aedan, son of Colman, saint of Inis-Lothair, was the son of Lupait and +Colman. Lupait implored of Patrick that he would not take away heaven +from Colman with his progeny. Patrick did not take it away; but he said +they would be sickly. Of the children of this Colman, moreover, are the +Ui-Faelain and Ui-Dubhdara. + +One time Patrick's people were cutting corn in Trian-Conchobhair. They +were seized with great thirst, whereupon a vessel of whey was taken to +them from Patrick, who persuaded them to observe abstinence from tierce +to vesper time. It happened that one of them died; and he was the first +man that was buried by Patrick--_i.e._, Colman Itadach, at the cross by +the door of Patrick's house. What Patrick said when it was told to him +was: "My _debroth_, there will be abundance of food and ale and +prosperity in this city after us." + +Once the angels went, and took from off the road the stone which was +before the chariot, and its name is Lec-na-naingel. It was from that +place--_i.e._, from Druim-Chaile--that Patrick with his two hands blessed +the _macha_. The way in which Patrick measured the rath--_i.e._, the +angel before him, and Patrick behind, with his people, and with the holy +men of Eriu, and the Bachall Isa in Patrick's hand. And he said that +great would be the crime of any one who would transgress in it, as the +reward would be great of such as fulfilled the will of God in it. + +The way in which Patrick measured the _ferta_ was thus, viz., one hundred +and forty feet in the _lis_, and twenty feet in the great house, and +seventeen feet in the kitchen, and seven feet in the chamber; and it was +thus he always constructed the establishment. + +The angel went to Patrick in Ard-Macha. "This day," said he, "the relics +of the apostles are distributed in Rome throughout the four parts of the +globe; and it would be becoming in you that you should go there." And +the angel bore Patrick in the air. At the southern cross, in +Aenach-Macha, it was that four chariots were brought to Patrick; at the +northern cross, moreover, it was that God manifested to him the form he +will have in the Day of Judgment. And he went in one day to +Comur-tri-nuisce. He left Sechnall in the episcopacy with the men of +Eriu until the ship would come which would bear him from the shore of +Letha. + +Patrick went subsequently, and arrived at Rome; and sleep came over the +inhabitants of Rome, so that Patrick brought away a sufficiency of the +relics. These relics were afterwards taken to Ard-Macha with the consent +of God and with the consent of the men of Eriu. + +What was brought were the relics of three hundred and sixty-five martyrs, +and the relics of Peter and Paul, and Lawrence, and Stephen, and of many +more; and a cloth in which was the blood of Christ and the hair of the +Virgin Mary. Patrick left this collection in Armagh, according to the +will of God, of the angel, and of the men of Eriu. + +His relics--the relics of Letha--were stolen from Patrick. Messengers +went from him to the Abbot of Rome. They brought an epistle from him, +directing that they should watch the relics with lamps and torches by +night for ever, and with Mass and psalmody by day, and prayers by night, +and that they should elevate them every year (for multitudes desired to +see them). + +Two brothers of the Ulstermen, Dubhan and Dubhaedh, stole Patrick's two +garrons from the land (_tir_) to the east of the Nemhed +(Tir-suidhe-Patrick is its name). They carried them off into the moor to +the south. Dubhan said; "I will not take what belongs to the +_tailcenn_." "I will take what comes to me," said Dubhaedh. Dubhan went +and did penance. "Your comrade's journey is not a good one," said +Patrick. He got a fall, so that his head was broken, and he died. +Dubhan became a disciple, and was ordained; and Patrick said: "Here thy +resurrection shall be." Another time, in carrying a bag of wheat from +Setna, son of Dallan, to Patrick, the manna which dropped from heaven, in +a desert place, over Druim-mic-Ublae, Patrick's horse [fell] under it. A +grain of the wheat dropped out of the bag, and the horse could not rise +until there came from Patrick. "This is the reason," said Patrick +through prophecy, "a grain of wheat that fell out of the sack, in the +spot where the cross is on the way southwards to the Nemhed." "Nenihed +then will be the name of the place where the horse stopped," said +Patrick; and so it is. + +Another time Sechnall went to Armagh, and Patrick was not there. He saw +before him two of Patrick's horses unyoked, and he said: "It were fitter +to send those horses to the bishop--_i.e._, to Fiacc." When Patrick +returned, this thing was told to him. The chariot was attached to the +horses; and he sent them on without a man with them until they were in +the disert with Mochta. They went right-hand-wise on the morrow to +Domhnach-Sechnaill. They then went eastwardly to Cill-Auxili. They went +afterwards to Cill-monach; then, after that, to Fiacc to Sleibhte. The +reason for giving the chariot to Fiacc was because he used to go every +Whit-Saturday as far as the hill of Druim-Coblai, where he had a cave. +Five cakes with him, as report says. On Easter-Saturday he used to come +to Sleibhte, and used to bring with him a bit of his five cakes. The +cause of giving the chariot to Fiacc was that a chafer had gnawed his +leg, so that death was nigh unto him. + +Sechnall said to Patrick: "When shall I make a hymn of praise for thee?" +"You are not required," observed Patrick. "I have not said to thee, +'Shall it be done?'" said Sechnall, "for it will be done, truly." "My +_debroth_," said Patrick, "it is time it were finished now"; for Patrick +knew that it would not be long until Sechnall's time [arrived], for he +was the first bishop who went under the clay of Eriu. + +When he was composing the hymn, they were holding an assembly near him. +It was commanded to them from him that they should go away from the +place. They began to mock him. He told them that the ground would +swallow them; and it swallowed twelve chariots of them at once. Sechnall +said to Patrick's people at Ferta-Marta: "A good man is Patrick, but for +one thing." When he heard these words with his people, he asked Sechnall +for the previous message, and Sechnall said; "O my lord! the reason I +have said it is because little do you preach of charity." "Young man," +said Patrick, "it is for charity that I preach not charity; for if I did +preach it, I would not leave a stud of two chariot horses to any of the +saints, present or future, in this island; for all belong to me and them." + +Sechnall went with his hymn to Patrick, and Patrick went along +Belach-Midhluachra into the territory of Conaille. He returned along the +mountain westwards. He met Sechnall. They saluted one another. "I +should like that you would hear a [hymn of] praise which I have made for +a certain man of God," said Sechnall. "The praise of the people of God +is welcome," answered Patrick. Sechnall thereupon began "Beata Christi +custodit," fearing that Patrick would prohibit him at once if he heard +his name. When he sang "Maximus namque," Patrick arose. The place where +he sang so far is called Elda. "Wait," said Sechnall, "until we reach a +secret place which is near us; it is there the remainder will be +recited." Patrick enquired on the way how "Maximus in regno coelorum" +could be said of a man. Sechnall replied: "It [_maximus_] is put for the +positive [_magnus_]," or because he excelled the men of his race of the +Britons or Scoti. They came then to a place called Dal-Muine, where he, +Patrick, prayed and sat; and Sechnall afterwards sang the remainder of +the hymn; and Patrick heard his name, and thereupon thanked him. Three +pieces of cheese, and butter, were brought up to him from a religious +couple--viz., Berach and Brig. "Here is for the young men," said the +woman. "Good," said Patrick. A druid came there, whose name was +Gall-drui ("foreign druid"), who said: "I will believe in you if you +convert the pieces of cheese into stones"; which God performed through +Patrick. "Again convert them into cheese"; and he did. "Convert them +into stones again"; and he did. "Convert them again." Patrick said: +"No, but they will be as they are, in commemoration, until the servant of +God, who is Dicuill of the Ernaidhe, shall come here." The druid +(_magus_) believed. + +Patrick flung his little bell under a dense bush there. A birch grew +through its handle. This it was that Dicuill found, the _betechan_, +Patrick's bell--a little iron bell--which is in the Ernaidhe of Dicuill. +And two of the stones made of the cheese are there; the third one was, +moreover, carried by Dicuill to Lughmagh when he was abbot there. It is +to-day in Gort-Conaidh. + +Sechnall asked something for the hymn. "As many as there are hairs in +your _casula_," said Patrick, "if they are pupils of yours, and violate +not rules, shall be saved. The clay of your abode has also been +sanctified by God," said Patrick. "That will be received," said +Sechnall. "Whosoever of the men of Eriu," said Patrick, "shall recite +the three last chapters, or the three last lines, or the three last +words, just before death, with pure mind, his soul will be saved." "_Deo +gratias ago_," said Sechnall. Colman Ela recited it in his refectory +thrice. Patrick stood in the middle of the house, when a certain +plebeian asked, "Have we no other prayer that we could recite except +this?" And Patrick went out afterwards. Cainnech, on the sea, in the +south, saw the black cloud of devils passing over him. "Come here on +your way," said Cainnech. The demons subsequently came, stating, "We +went to meet the soul of a certain rich rustic observing the festival of +Patrick; but his sons and people ate, and he sang two or three chapters +of the hymn of Patrick; and, by your dignity, we thought it more a satire +than praise of Patrick as they sang it; but by it we have been +vanquished." + +The miracles of Patrick are these--viz.: The hound in the territory of +Gailenga, at Telach-Maine; the buck speaking out of the bodies of the +thieves in the territory of Ui-Meith; the travelling of the garron +without any guide to Druimmic-Ublae, when he lay down beside the grain of +wheat; the chariot, without a charioteer, [going] from Armagh to +Sleibhte; the appearance of the King of Britain in the form of a fox in +his country, an ever-living miracle; a part of Aenach-Tailten, from which +nothing dead is taken; the King of Cashel not to be killed by wounding, +provided that he be of the race of Aenghus, son of Nad-fraech; these bare +residences not to lie demolished--viz., Rath-Airthir, and Sen-domhnach of +Magh-Ai ("_Eccor Sen-domhnaigh_" is an old saying); Dun-Sobhairce charmed +to the herenaghs--viz., an altar-sop with the Forbraige; and the +_dominica_ of Naas, and Magh-itir-da-glas in Macha; the navigation from +Bertlach to Bertlach of Calry-Cuile-Cernadha; the streams which the +_gilla_ blessed at Drob-hais; the take [of fish] at Eastern Bann; the +take at Sligo every quarter [of the year]; the Samer, which goes from the +loughs of Erne to the sea--its eastern half, against Cenel-Conaill, is +fruitful; its western part, towards Cenel-Cairbre, is unfruitful, through +Patrick's word; Finn-glas, at the martyr-house of Druim-Cain, and +Druim-Cruachni; the taking of his kingship from Laeghaire, from Cairbre, +from Fiacha, from Maine; the grant of his kingship to Eoghan, to Conall, +to Crimthann, to Conall Erball; the smiths making the bells--_i.e._, Mac +Cecht, and Cuana, and Mac Tail; the artificers making the dishes and +reliquaries and the altar chalices--viz., Tassach, and Essa, and Bitiu; +the nuns making the altar-cloths--viz., Cochnass, and Tigris, and Lupait, +and Darerca. + +After these great miracles, however, the day of Patrick's death and of +his going to heaven approached. What he began to do was to go to Armagh, +that it might be there his resurrection would be. The angel Victor came +to him. What he said to Patrick was: "It is not there thy resurrection +has been decreed; go back to the place from whence you came (_i.e._, to +the Sabhall), for it is there God has decreed that you shall die--not in +Macha. God has granted thee," said the angel, "that thy dignity and +rule, thy devotion and teaching, shall be in Ard-Macha, as if thou +thyself wert alive there." + +The angel left advice with Patrick as to how he would be buried, saying: +"Let two young, active oxen be brought," said he, "of the herds of +Conall, from Finnabndir--_i.e._, from Clochar; and let your body be +placed in a wagon after them; and what way soever these young oxen go by +themselves, and the place where they will stop, let it be there your +interment shall be; and let there be a man's cubit in your grave, that +your remains be not taken out of it." It was so done after his death. +The oxen carried him to the place where to-day is Dun-da-leth-glas; and +he was buried there with all honor and respect. And for a space of +twelve nights--_i.e._, whilst the divines were waking him with hymns and +psalms and canticles--there was no night in Magh-inis, but angelic light +there; and some say there was light in Magh-inis for the space of a year +after Patrick's death, quia nulli adanti viri meritum declarandum +accidisse dubium est, et ita non visa nox in tota ilia regione in tempore +luctus Patricii, qualiter Ezechiae langenti in horologio Achaz +demonstrato sanitatis indicio, sol per xv lineas reversus est, et sic sol +contra Gabon, et luna contra vallem Achilon stetit. + +In the first night the angels of the Lord of the elements were watching +Patrick's body with spiritual chants. The fragrant odors of the divine +grace which issued from the holy body, and the music of the angels, gave +tranquillity and joy to the chief clerics of the men of Erin who were +watching the body on the nights following; so that the blessing of Jacob +to his son was kept regarding him--_i.e._, "Ecce odor filii mei sicut +odor agri pleni, quem benedixit dicens," etc. + +There was, moreover, a great attempt at conflict and battle between the +provinces of Erin--viz., the Ulidians and the Ui-Neill and +Airghialla--contending for Patrick's body. The Airghialla and Ui-Neill +were trying to take it to Ard-Macha; the Ulidians were for keeping it +with themselves. Then the Ui-Neill went to a certain water [river] +there, when the river rose against them through the power of God. When +the flood left the river, the hosts proceeded to quarrel--viz., the +Ui-Neill and the Ulidians. It appeared then to each party of them that +they were bringing the body to their own country, so that God separated +them in this wise through the grace of Patrick. + +The miracles so far shall be unto to-day. They are the miracles which +the divines of Eriu heard, and which they put into order of narration. +Colum-Cille, the son of Fedhlimidh, firstly, narrated and compiled the +miracles of Patrick; Ultan, the descendant of Conchobhar; Adamnan, the +grandson of Atinne; Eleran the wise; Ciaran of Belach-Duin; Bishop +Ermedach of Clogher; Colman Uamach; and Cruimther Collaith of +Druim-Roilgech. + +A just man, indeed, was this man; with purity of nature like the +patriarchs; a true pilgrim like Abraham; gentle and forgiving of heart +like Moses; a praiseworthy psalmist like David; an emulator of wisdom +like Solomon; a chosen vessel for proclaiming truth like the Apostle +Paul. A man full of grace and of the knowledge of the Holy Ghost like +the beloved John. A fair flower-garden to children of grace; a fruitful +vine-branch. A sparkling fire, with force of warmth and heat to the sons +of life, for instituting and illustrating charity. A lion in strength +and power; a dove in gentleness and humility. A serpent in wisdom and +cunning to do good. Gentle, humble, merciful towards sons of life; dark, +ungentle towards sons of death. A servant of labor and service of +Christ. A king in dignity and power for binding and loosening, for +liberating and convicting, for killing and giving life. + +After these great miracles, therefore--_i.e._, after resuscitating the +dead; after healing lepers, and the blind, and the deaf, and the lame, +and all diseases; after ordaining bishops, and priests, and deacons, and +people of all orders in the Church; after teaching the men of Eriu, and +after baptizing them; after founding churches and monasteries; after +destroying idols and images and druidical arts--the hour of death of St. +Patrick approached. He received the Body of Christ from the bishop, from +Tassach, according to the advice of the angel Victor. He resigned his +spirit afterwards to heaven, in the one hundred and twentieth year of his +age. His body is here still in the earth, with honor and reverence. +Though great his honor here, greater honor which will be to him in the +Day of Judgment, when judgment will be given on the fruits of his +teaching, like every great apostle, in the union of the apostles and +disciples of Jesus; in the union of the nine orders of angels, which +cannot be surpassed; in the union of the divinity and humanity of the Son +of God; in the union which is higher than all unions--in the union of the +Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. I beseech mercy through the +intercession of Patrick. May we all arrive at that union; may we enjoy +it for ever and ever. Amen. + +These miracles, then, which we have related, the Lord performed for +Patrick. Though one should attempt to recount them, he could not. +Nevertheless, they are but a few of many related in commemoration; for +there is no one who could remember them all. And there is no writer who +could write all the prodigies and miracles he wrought in the countries he +reached. + +After the foundation, then, of numerous churches; after the consecration +of monasteries; after baptizing the men of Eriu; after great abstinence +and great labor; after destroying idols and images; after degrading +numerous kings who would not obey him, and raising up those who obeyed +him; and after he had three hundred and fifty or three hundred and +seventy bishops; and after ordaining three thousand priests and persons +of all other orders in the Church; after fasting and prayer; after +showing mercy and mildness; after gentleness and sweetness towards sons +of life; after the love of God and his neighbor, he received the body of +Christ from the bishop, from Tassach; and he afterwards resigned his +spirit to heaven. His body, lowever, is here on earth still, with honor +and reverence. And though great his honor here, his honor will be +greater in the Day of Judgment, when he will shine like a sun in heaven, +and when judgment will be given regarding the fruit of his teaching, like +Peter or Paul. He will be afterwards in the union of the patriarchs and +prophets; in the union of the saints and virgins of the world; in the +union of the apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ; in the union of the +Church, both of heaven and earth; in the union of the nine orders of +heaven, which cannot be surpassed; in the union of the divinity and +humanity of the Son of God; in the union which excels every union--in the +union of the Trinity, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, for +ever and ever. Amen. I beseech the mercy of God, through the +intercession of Patrick. May we all reach that union; may we deserve it; +may we inhabit it for ever and ever. + +These are the four-and-twenty who were in orders with Patrick--viz., +Sechnall, his bishop; Mochta, his priest; Bishop Ere, his brehon; Bishop +MacCairthen, his strong man; Benen, his psalmist; Caemhan of Cill-Ruada, +his youth; Sinell, from Cill-Daresis, his bell-ringer; Athgein of +Both-Domhnach, his cook; Cruimther Mescan, from Domhnach-Mescan at +Fochan, his brewer; Cruimther Bescna, from Domhnach-Dala, his +mass-priest; Cruimther Catan and Cruimther Ocan, his two waiters; Odhran, +from Disert-Odhran in Hy-Failghe, his charioteer; Cruimther Manach, his +wood-man; Rodan, his shepherd; his three smiths, MacCecht, Laeban from +Domhnach-Laebhan (who made the Findfaithnech), and Fortchern in +Rath-Adiné. Essa and Bite and Tassach were his three artists. His three +embroiderers were Lupait, and Ere, daughter of Daire, and Cruimthiris in +Cenn-Gobha. And this is the number that were in the company of Joseph; +and it is the number that is allowed at the table of the King of Cashel, +down from the time of Fedhlimidh, son of Crimthann--_i.e._, the king of +the two provinces of Munster, etc. + +The Annals of the Lord Jesus Christ, the year this Life of St. Patrick +was written, 1477; and to-morrow will be Lammas Night. And in +Baile-in-Miónín, in the house of O'Troightigh, this was written by +Domhnall Albanach O'Troightigh; et Deo gratias Jesu. + + + + +THE PROEME OF JOCELIN. + +It has been, from ancient times, the object and the design of most +writers to perpetuate, with a pen worthy of their virtues, the lives of +holy men, that the fervor of sanctity so deserving our veneration might +not be buried in oblivion, but rather that it might shine before all as +in a glass, to the end that posterity might imitate its brightness--as +was commanded from above, that in the breast-plate of the chief priest +the names of the twelve patriarchs, the sons of Israel, should be +engraven on twelve precious stones, so that by the sight thereof the +faithful might be moved to imitate the acts of the holy fathers; for it +is most fitting that of those in whose titles we glory, in whose +praises we delight, by whose patronage we are protected, we should +endeavor to conform to the manners, and be confirmed by the examples; +but since the dearth of literature has so much increased, and the +slothfulness to learning so much abounded, very many, fools and +ignorant persons, have ofttimes, lest they should perish from the +memory of the faithful, written the lives of the saints, certainly with +a pious intent, but in a most unhandsome style. Wherefore, in reading +the lives and acts of the saints composed in a rude manner or barbarous +dialect, disgust is often excited, and not seldom tardiness of belief. +And hence it is that the life of the most glorious priest Patrick, the +patron and apostle of Ireland, so illustrious in signs and miracles, +being frequently written by illiterate persons, through the confusion +and obscurity of the style, is by most people neither liked nor +understood, but is held in weariness and contempt. Charity therefore +urging us, we will endeavor, by reducing them to order, to collect what +are confused, when collected to compose them into a volume, and, when +composed, to season them, if not with all the excellence of our +language, at least with some of its elegance. To this our endeavor the +instruction of the threefold instrument which is described to belong to +the candlestick of the tabernacle giveth aid; for we find therein the +tongs, the extinguisher, and the oil-cruse, which we must properly use, +if, in describing the lives of the saints, who shone in their +conversation and example like the candlestick before the Lord, we +should labor to clear away the superfluous, extinguish the false, and +illuminate the obscure, which, though by the devotion we have toward +St. Patrick we are bound to do, yet are we thereto enjoined by the +commands of the most reverend Thomas, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate +of all Ireland, and of Malachy, the Bishop of Down; and to these are +added the request of John de Courcy, the most illustrious Prince of +Ulidia, who is known to be the most especial admirer and honorer of St. +Patrick, and whom we think it most becoming to obey. But if any snake +in the way, or serpent in the path, watching our steps, shall rashly +accuse us herein of presumption, and shall attack our hand with viper +tooth, yet do we, with the blessed Paul, collect the vine-twigs for the +fire, and cast the viper into the flame. Wherefore, in describing the +saints that sleep, which were the branches of the true vine, so that +the minds of the faithful may be inflamed toward the love and belief of +Christ, we little regard the tongue of the scorner and of the +slanderer; for if we are to be judged of such, with the apostle setting +them at small account, we commit all to the divine judgment. + + +[Illustration: The Saint Patrick of Our Own Century.] + + + + +THE LIFE AND ACTS OF ST. PATRICK. + +BY JOCELIN. + + +CHAPTER I. + +There was once a man named Calphurnius, the son of Potitus, a +presbyter, by nation a Briton, living in the village Taburnia (that is, +the field of the tents, for that the Roman army had there pitched their +tents), near the town of Empthor, and his habitation was nigh unto the +Irish Sea. This man married a French damsel named Conchessa, niece of +the blessed Martin, Archbishop of Tours; and the damsel was elegant in +her form and in her manners, for, having been brought from France with +her elder sister into the northern parts of Britain, and there sold at +the command of her father, Calphurnius, being pleased with her manners, +charmed with her attentions, and attracted with her beauty, very much +loved her, and, from the state of a serving-maid in his household, +raised her to be his companion in wedlock. And her sister, having been +delivered unto another man, lived in the aforementioned town of Empthor. + +And Calphurnius and his wife were both just before God, walking without +offence in the justifications of the Lord; and they were eminent in +their birth, and in their faith, and in their hope, and in their +religion. And though in their outward habit and abiding they seemed to +serve under the yoke of Babylon, yet did they in their acts and in +their conversation show themselves to be citizens of Jerusalem. +Therefore, out of the earth of their flesh, being freed from the tares +of sin and from the noxious weeds of vice by the ploughshare of +evangelic and apostolic learning, and being fruitful in the growth of +all virtues, did they, as the best and richest fruit, bring forth a +son, whom, when he had at the holy font put off the old man, they +caused to be named Patricius, as being the future father and patron of +many nations; of whom, even at his baptism, the God which is three in +one was pleased, by the sign of a threefold miracle, to declare how +pure a vessel of election should he prove, and how devoted a worshipper +of the Holy Trinity. But after a little while, this happy birth being +completed, they vowed themselves by mutual consent unto chastity, and +with an holy end rested in the Lord. But Calphurnius first served God +a long time in the deaconship, and at length closed his days in the +priesthood. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +_How a Fountain burst forth, and how Sight and Learning were given to +the Blind._ + +A certain man named Gormas, who had been blind even from his mother's +womb, heard in a dream a voice commanding him that he should take the +hand of the boy Patrick, then lately baptized, and make on the ground +the sign of the cross--adding that at the touch a new fountain would +burst forth, with the water whereof, if he bathed his eyes, he would +forthwith receive his sight. And the blind man, instructed by the +divine oracle, went to the little boy, made with his right hand on the +ground the sign of salvation, and immediately did a new fountain burst +forth. And his darkened eyes, being bathed with this healing stream, +perceived the day poured in, and the virtue of Siloe renewed; and, +_that the mercies of the Lord might be acknowledged, and the wonders +that he doeth for the children of men_, while the outward blindness of +Gormas was enlightened, his inward sight received the revealing gift of +science; and he who was before unlearned, having experienced the power +of the Lord, read and understood the Scriptures, and as by the outward +mercy from being blind he became able to see, so by the inward grace +from unlearned he became learned. But the fountain flowing forward +with a more abundant stream, even unto this day pouring forth its clear +waters, sweet to the draught and wholesome to the taste, is honored +with the name of Saint Patrick, and, as is said, gives health or relief +to many laboring with divers diseases; and it rises near the seaside, +and over it the devotion of posterity has erected an oratory, with an +altar built in the form of a cross. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +_Of the Stone of Saint Patrick._ + +Near this place is a stone which the inhabitants call Saint Patrick's +Rock; for some believe that he was born thereon, and others that on it +he celebrated Mass. As often as any controversy arises between the +villagers or the neighbors which is thought fit to be determined by an +oath, it is brought to this stone, and there, the sacrament being +taken, the cause is decided. But if any perjurer or false witness laid +his hand thereon, immediately it was wont to pour forth water, and the +holiness of Patrick openly showed unto all how accursed was the crime +of perjury or of false testimony; yet at any other time it did not use +to exude one drop, but always remained in its natural dryness. Which +opinion of the people, however, as to this stone, is the more probable, +we know not, though the latter may seem the nearer unto the truth. Let +it suffice, therefore, to record the miracle which the Bishop Saint Mel +testifies that he had oftentimes beheld. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_Of the Well dried up._ + +As he grew in age, he was seen also to grow in grace, and, as from the +full store of divine ointment flowing within him, he perfumed all +around with the abundance of his manifold miracles. And Patrick, the +child of the Lord, was then nursed in the town of Empthor, in the house +of his mother's sister, with his own sister Lupita. And it came to +pass in the winter season, the ice being thawed, that a well overflowed +and threatened to overturn many houses in the town; and the rising of +the waters filled the mansion wherein Patrick abided, and overturned +all the household stuff, and caused all the vessels to swim. And the +little boy, being an hungered, asked in his infantine manner for bread; +yet found he not any who would break bread for him, but jeeringly was +he answered that he was nearer to being drowned than fed. When the boy +dipped three of his fingers into the swelling water, and, standing on a +dry place, he thrice sprinkled the water in the form of a cross, and in +the name of the Holy Trinity commanded the well that forthwith it +should subside. And behold a miracle! Immediately all the flood +retired with a refluent course, and the dryness returned, nor was there +hurt or damage seen in the vessels or in the furniture of his dwelling. +And they who looked on saw that sparks of fire instead of drops of +water were sprinkled from the fingers of the holy child, and that the +waters were licked up and absorbed thereby; and the Lord, "who collects +the waters as in a heap, and lays up the depths in his treasury," who +had worked such great works through his beloved child Patrick, is +praised of all; and the child also is magnified who was so powerful in +Him, great and worthy of all praise. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +_How he produced Fire from Ice._ + +Though Saint Patrick, in his childish years, sometimes thought as a +child and acted as a child, yet do his illustrious works declare how +precious was he in the eyes of Him who was for us born a child. And on +a certain day, the winter then freezing everything, the boy Patrick, +being engaged in their sports with boys of his own age, gathered many +pieces of ice in his bosom, and bore them home, and cast them down in +the court-yard; but his nurse, seeing this, said to him that it were +better he had collected wood for the hearth than have played with +pieces of ice. And the boy, speaking with the tongue of an aged man, +answered unto her: "It is easy for the Lord, who created all things, +even from these to supply the hearth; and at His nod, so that faith be +not wanting, it is easy for fire to prevail over water; and that thou +mayest know," said he, "how possible are all things to them who +believe, thy faith shall be an eye-witness of that which I say unto +thee." And he heaped together the pieces of ice, like brands for the +fire, and he prayed, and, making the sign of the cross, he breathed on +them, and immediately fire went forth, and, lighting the ice, produced +long streams of flame; yet not only did the hearth give warmth to all +who came near, but it ministered much cause of admiration, for out of +the mouth of the boy Patrick was seen to issue flame instead of breath, +that he might plainly appear to be illuminated within by the infinite +light of the divine grace. Nor does this miracle much fall short of +that ancient miracle which the Scripture records to have been performed +by Nehemias; for when he brought back into the land of Juda the people +of the Hebrews after their long captivity, restored to freedom by +Cyrus, the King of Persia, he commanded the place to be searched out +wherein their fathers had hidden the fire of the sacrifice; in which, +when discovered, the fire was not found, but thick water; the which +Nehemias commanded to be brought, and the sacrifice to be sprinkled +therewith; and immediately a great fire was kindled, and it consumed +the holocaust and burned the hard stones. So was the congealed water +burned up by the power of the same fire which, proceeding from water, +did burn to ashes the sacrifice and the stones of the altar. Therefore +is the strangeness of this miracle to be admired, the holiness of +Patrick to be venerated, and in all these things the power of the +omnipotent God to be adored; and herein by a most evident sign did the +Lord illustrate Saint Patrick, whose preaching afterward inflamed many +that had been frozen in unbelief with the fire of faith and of the +charity of God. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_How the Sister of St. Patrick was healed._ + +On a certain day the sister of Saint Patrick, the aforementioned +Lupita, being then of good stature, had run about the field, at the +command of her aunt, to separate the lambs from the ewes, for it was +then weaning time, when her foot slipped, and she fell down and smote +her head against a sharp flint, and her forehead was struck with a +grievous wound, and she lay even as dead; and many of the household ran +up, and her kindred and her friends gathered together to comfort the +maiden wounded and afflicted; and her brother came with the rest, +compassionating his sister, but confiding in the divine medicine; for, +drawing near, he raised her, and, touching with his spittle the thumb +of his right hand, he imprinted on her forehead, stained with blood, +the sign of the cross, and forthwith he healed her; yet the scar of the +wound remained as a sign, I think, of the miracle that was performed, +and a proof of the holiness of him who, by his faith in the cross of +Christ, had done this thing. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_How he restored to Life his Foster-Father._ + +The husband of Saint Patrick's nurse, who had often-times borne him an +infant in his arms, being seized with a sudden death, expired. And his +wife, with many others of the household, ran thither, and to Patrick, +who was standing nigh, bursting into tears, she thus spake: "Behold, O +Patrick! thy foster-father, the bearer of thine infancy, lieth dead; +show now, therefore, on him thine enlivening virtue, even that which +hath been wont to heal others!" And the boy of holy disposition, +compassionating the tears of his nurse and the miserable state of his +foster-father, approached him lying there lifeless, and he prayed over +him and blessed him, and signed him on his head and on his breast with +the sign of life, and he embraced him, and raised him up, and restored +him unto her alive and safe. And all who beheld this miracle gave +praise to God, who worked such works in Patrick. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_Of the Sheep released from the Wolf._ + +While Saint Patrick was a little boy, his aunt entrusted him with the +care of the sheep, and to these he diligently attended with his +aforementioned sister. For in that age no reproach was attached to +such employments when the sons of the chief men discharged the duties +of a shepherd; as the patriarch Jacob and his sons truly declared +before Pharao, that they, like their forefathers, were keepers of +sheep; and as the lawgiver Moses and the illustrious King David long +time labored in the shepherd's occupation. But as the boy Patrick was +one day in the fields with his flock, a wolf, rushing from the +neighboring wood, caught up a ewe-lamb, and carried it away. Returning +home at evening from the fold, his aunt chided the boy for negligence +or for sloth; yet he, though blushing at the reproof, patiently bore +all her anger, and poured forth his prayers for the restoration of the +ewe-lamb. In the next morning, when he brought the flock to the +pasture, the wolf ran up, carrying the lamb in his mouth, laid it at +Patrick's feet, and instantly returned to the wood. And the boy gave +thanks to the Lord, who, as he preserved Daniel from the hungry lions, +so now for his comfort had saved his lamb uninjured from the jaws of +the wolf. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +_Of the Cow freed from an Evil Spirit, and Five other Cows restored to +Health._ + +The aunt who had nursed Saint Patrick had many cows, one of which was +tormented with an evil spirit; and immediately the cow became mad, and +tore with her feet, and butted with her horns, and wounded five other +cows, and dispersed the rest of the herd. And the owners of the herd +lamented the mishap, and the cattle fled from her fury as from the face +of a lion. But the boy Patrick, being armed with faith, went forward, +and, making the sign of the cross, freed the cow from the vexation of +the evil spirit; then drawing near to the wounded and prostrate cows, +having first prayed, he blessed them and restored them all even to +their former health. And the cow, being released from the evil spirit, +well knowing her deliverer, approached with bended head, licking the +feet and the hands of the boy, and turned every beholder to the praise +of God and the veneration of Patrick. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +_Of the Water turned into Honey, and of his Nurse restored to Health._ + +The nurse of Saint Patrick, being oppressed with illness, longed much +for honey, by the taste whereof she trusted that her health might be +restored. It was sought by all who stood round her, but obtained not; +and when she was told thereof, she longed so much the more earnestly +for that which she could not have, and complained that she was +remembered and assisted of none. But her young charge, the illustrious +boy Patrick, was grieved for her, and, putting his trust in the Lord, +he commanded that a vessel might be filled with fresh water from the +fountain, and brought unto him; and he bended his knees in prayer, and, +rising, blessed it with the sign of the cross, and gave it to the woman +desiring honey. And immediately the water was changed into the best +honey; and the woman tasted, and her soul was satisfied, and she was +relieved from her infirmity. Thus did Patrick change water into honey +in the name of Him who, at Cana in Galilee, changed water into wine. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +_How the Fort was Cleansed._ + +On a certain promontory overhanging the aforementioned town of Empthor +was erected a fort, the ruins of whose walls may yet be traced. And +the governor thereof had reduced the nurse of Saint Patrick under the +yoke of slavery, and compelled her to be a servant unto him. And among +other servile works enjoined to her, he had commanded her to clean with +shovels all the offices within the fort, and to carry forth the soil +from the stables. But the woman, having an ingenuous mind, and +understanding that all power was from God, and that all things were +ordained of God, made of her necessity a virtue, and patiently bore the +servitude imposed on her. Then the boy Patrick, compassionating his +nurse's affliction, besought the Lord that he would vouchsafe to set +her free from the labor of this servile work; and behold, as he prayed, +all the dwelling-places therein were cleansed without an human hand, +and neither within nor without could any remains of the soil be found. +And the governor and all who saw or heard this miracle marvelled; and +the nurse was released from slavery through the merits of her +foster-child. Nor is this miracle beheld only at stated seasons, or +once in every year; for even to this day does it appear to be +continued. And the dwellers and the neighbors bear witness that if +within the precincts of the fort as many cattle as the place could hold +were gathered to abide there together, not even the least portion of +soil could therein be found. And the place, being in the Valley of +Clud, is called in the language of that people Dunbreatan--that is, the +Mountain of the Britons; and the miracle cannot be unknown to those who +desire to be informed thereof, inasmuch as so often it is published +abroad by all the dwellers in that country. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +_Of the Religious Conversation of Saint Patrick._ + +And the boy Patrick grew up precious in the sight of the Lord, in the +old age of wisdom, and in the ripeness of virtue. And the number of +his merits multiplied beyond the number of his years; the affluence of +all holy charities overflowed in the breast of the boy, and all the +virtues met together made their dwelling in his youthful body. +Entering, therefore, and going forward in the slippery paths of youth, +he held his feet from falling, and the garment that nature had woven +for him, unknowing of a stain, he preserved whole, abiding a virgin in +the flesh and in the spirit. And although the divine unction had +taught him above all, the fit time being now come, he was sent from his +parents to be instructed in sacred learning. Therefore he applied his +mind to the study of letters, but chiefly to psalms and to hymns and to +spiritual songs, and retaining them in his memory, and continually +singing them to the Lord; so that even from the flower of his first +youth he was daily wont to sing devoutly unto God the whole psaltery, +and from the vial of his most pure heart to pour forth the odor of many +prayers. Thus wearing out his tender body in fastings, in many +watchings, and in the pious exercise of holy labors, he offered up +himself a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God; and thus +passing his days in the flesh, against the flesh, and above the flesh, +in his conversation he represented an angel. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +_How Saint Patrick was Carried into Ireland._ + +As, according to the testimony of Holy Writ, the furnace tries gold and +the fire of tribulation proves the just, so did the hour of his trial +draw near to Patrick, that he might the more provedly receive the crown +of life. For when the illustrious boy had perlustrated three lustres, +already attaining his sixteenth year, he was, with many of his +countrymen, seized by the pirates who were ravaging those borders, and +was made captive and carried into Ireland, and was there sold as a +slave to a certain pagan prince named Milcho, who reigned in the +northern part of the island, even at the same age in which Joseph is +recorded to have been sold into Egypt. But Joseph, being sold as a +slave, and being after his humiliation exalted, received power and +dominion over all Egypt. Patrick, after his servitude and his +affliction, obtained the primacy of the especial and spiritual dominion +of Ireland. Joseph refreshed with corn the Egyptians oppressed by +famine; Patrick, in process of time, fed with the salutary food of the +Christian faith the Irish perishing under idolatry. To each was +affliction sent for the profit of his soul, as is the flail to the +grain, the furnace to the gold, the file to the iron, the wine-press to +the grape, and the oil-press to the olive. Therefore it was that +Patrick, at the command of the forementioned prince, was appointed to +the care of the swine, and under his care the herd became fruitful and +exceedingly multiplied. From whence it may well be learned that as the +master's substance is often increased and improved by the attention of +a diligent and fortunate servant or steward, so, on the other hand, is +it reduced and injured under an idle or unprosperous hand. But the +holy youth, heartily embracing in his soul the judgments of the Lord, +made of his necessity a virtue, and, having in his office of a +swineherd obtained solitude, worked out his own salvation. For he +abode in the mountains, and in the woods, and in the caves of the +wilderness, and having leisure for prayer, and knowing how kind was the +Lord, freely and more freely did he pour forth the incense of his +supplications in the presence of the Most High; and an hundred times in +the day and an hundred times in the night did he on his bended knees +adore his Creator, and often did he pray for a long time fasting, and, +nourishing himself with the roots of herbs and with the lightest food, +did he mortify his members which were stretched upon the earth. Nor +him could heat, nor cold, nor snow, nor hail, nor ice, nor any other +inclemency of the air compel from his spiritual exercises. Therefore +went he forward daily increasing and confirming himself more strong in +the faith and love of Christ Jesus; and the more weak and infirm he +appeared, so much the steadier and more powerful was he in fulfilling +the commands of the Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +_Of Milcho's Dream, and of its Interpretation._ + +And Milcho beheld a vision in the night; and behold, Patrick entered +his palace as all on fire, and the flames issuing from his mouth, and +from his nose, and from his eyes, and from his ears, seemed to burn +him. But Milcho repelled from himself the flaming hair of the boy, nor +did it prevail to touch him any nearer; but the flame, being spread, +turned aside to the right, and, catching on his two little daughters +who were lying in one bed, burned them even to ashes; then the south +wind, blowing strongly, dispersed their ashes over many parts of +Ireland. And Milcho, awaking, meditated with himself on his couch what +prodigy might this remote vision portend. On the morrow, Patrick being +called before him, he declared unto him his dream, entreating and +abjuring him that if he knew he would unfold its interpretation. And +Patrick, being filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, answered unto +Milcho: "The fire which thou sawest to issue from me is the faith of +the Holy Trinity, with which I am entirely illumined, and which I shall +endeavor to preach unto thee; but my speech will find in thee no place, +for thou wilt, in the blindness of thine heart, repel from thee the +light of the divine grace, and thou wilt die in the darkness of thy +unbelief; but thy daughters shall at my preaching believe in the true +God, and, all the days of their lives serving God in holiness and in +justice, shall, in a pious end, rest in the Lord; and their ashes, that +is, their relics, the Lord revealing them and making of them signs, +shall be carried into many places through Ireland, and shall give the +blessing of health to many who are infirm; and thy dream is true, and +its interpretation is true, and all shall be fulfilled in due time." +Thus having said, Patrick departed to his accustomed labor; and all +these things happened unto Milcho and unto his daughters even as +Patrick had foretold. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +_Of the Angel Victor appearing to Saint Patrick._ + +And six years had now passed when, under the direction of the Lord, he +had thoroughly learned the Irish tongue, and with prayers and with +tears he unceasingly besought of God that he might be released from +slavery and restored to his country. And on a certain day appeared +unto him, while praying, an angel of the Lord, standing on the crag of +an overhanging rock, and announcing that his prayers and his fastings +had ascended as a memorial before God; and the angel added thereto that +he should soon cast from his neck the yoke of servitude, and, after a +prosperous voyage, return to his own parents. And the servant of God +looked on the angel of God, and, conversing with him face to face +familiarly, even as with a friend, asked who he was, and by what name +was he called. And the heavenly messenger answered that he was the +ministering spirit of the Lord, sent into the world to minister unto +them who have the heritage of salvation; that he was called Victor, and +especially deputed to the care of him, and he promised to be his +helpmate and his assistant in doing all things. And although it is not +needful that heavenly spirits should be called by human names, yet the +angel, being beautifully clothed with an human form composed of the +air, called himself Victor, for that he had received from Christ, the +most victorious King, the power of vanquishing and binding the powers +of the air and the princes of darkness; who had also given to his +servants made of the potter's clay the power of treading on serpents +and scorpions, and of vanquishing and bruising Satan. And in their +mutual colloquy the angel showed unto Patrick an opening in the ground +that had been delved up by the swine, and therein he directed him to +look for gold with which he might redeem himself from the hands of his +cruel master; and he added that a ship to carry him over to Britain was +ready in a harbor two hundred miles distant, and which, by the divine +will, could not have a favorable wind until he should arrive. And the +vision of the angel, thus saying, disappeared, and his speech ended; +and, as the inhabitants assert, the marks of his feet appear even to +this day imprinted on the rock in the Mountain Mis, in the borders of +Dalnardia; and an oratory is erected there in honor of St. Patrick, +wherein the devotion of the faithful is wont to watch and pray. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +_How St. Patrick was Redeemed from Slavery._ + +And Patrick went to the place which the angel had pointed out unto him, +and he found therein no small weight of gold. Wherefore he addressed +for his ransom his hard and cruel master, and with the offering of the +yellow metal induced his mind, greedy of gold, to grant unto him his +freedom. Therefore, being by the aid of Mammon solemnly released from +his servitude, he went his way rejoicing, and hastened toward the sea, +desiring to return to his own country. But Milcho repented that he had +dismissed a servant so very necessary unto him, and, falsifying his +agreement, pursued Patrick that he might bring him back and reduce him +to his former slavery, as Pharao pursued the Hebrews. But by the +divine will, wandering both in his mind and in his course, he found not +him whom he sought. Foiled, therefore, in his attempt, he returned +with grief and with shame. And his sorrow was much increased, for that +not only Patrick, having obtained his freedom, had escaped, but the +gold which was the price of his freedom, on returning home, he found +not. And with this the law accords; for to him who has served six +years in slavery, the law directs that in the seventh year shall his +freedom be restored. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +_How he Relieved those who were Perishing of Hunger._ + +And Saint Patrick, guided by his angelic guide, came unto the sea, and +he there found the ship that was to carry him to Britain, and a crew of +heathens who were in the ship freely received him, and, hoisting their +sails with a favorable wind, after three days they made land. And +being come out of the ship, they found a region desert and inhabited of +none, and they began to travel over the whole country for the space of +twenty-four days; and for the want of food in that fearful and wide +solitude were they perishing of hunger. And Patrick, through their +whole journey, was preaching unto those pagans the Word of God, and +disputing with them and persuading them unto the faith of the Holy +Trinity and the kingdom of heaven; but they, even as the deaf adder +that listens not to the voice of the charmer charming wisely, closed +their ears against the Word of God until misery gave them understanding +to hear. For hunger yet more heavily assailing and oppressing them, +the greater part are said to have thus spoken: "Behold, O worshipper of +Christ! how wretched are we with want and misery, and our eyes fail us +for every need; now, therefore, implore for us thy God, whom thou +describes! and exaltest as all-powerful, that His bounty may relieve +us, and we will adore and glorify His greatness." And Saint Patrick +answered unto them: "Believe in and confess the God who giveth food +unto all flesh, and by whom, when He openeth His hand, ye shall be +satisfied from His goodness." And he prayed earnestly, and behold, as +he prayed for them, suddenly an herd of swine appeared, and they saw +wild honey, and therewith they were sufficed even to fulness, nor from +that day through their whole journey did ever a supply of food fail +unto them. And this great miracle being seen, they all gave thanks +unto God and held Saint Patrick in the highest reverence. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +_Of his Fast continued for Twenty Days._ + +And all things succeeding prosperously, and their provision much +abounding, these men soon forgot the Lord who had saved them from the +straitness of hunger, and, ungrateful for the benefits extended unto +them by the divine bounty, they sacrificed of their food to devils, and +not unto God, imitating herein those Samaritans whom the Book of Kings +records to have worshipped God, yet not to have the service of their +idols. Wherefore it seemed good to Saint Patrick to eat no earthly +food for twenty continual days, and, albeit he was much entreated +thereto, he would in no wise join with them in their meals, lest he +should appear to be contaminated with their sacrifices. And the power +to endure this abstinence was given unto Patrick by the Lord, who had +theretofore enabled Elias the prophet to fast forty days. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +_How he Overcame the Temptation of the Enemy._ + +The wonderful Ruler of all things, the more he exalts with signs and +with wonders his elect whom he loveth, the more does he, according to +the Apostle, suffer them to fall into divers temptations, that they may +learn and know how to preserve their strength in God, who is their +maker, and trust to nothing in themselves or of themselves. Wherefore +Patrick, the beloved and the elect of God, is suffered by the divine +will to be grievously tempted of Satan, to increase the confusion of +the tempter and the glory of him who was tempted, and lest he should be +lifted up by the greatness of his miracles or his fastings. For in the +night season the prince of darkness rushed on him, and oppressed him as +with the weight of a huge stone, and, falling on him, the tempter took +from him all sense and motion, causing to him darkness and heaviness, +and for the space of three days ceased not to torment and lash him +beyond human power to endure. But the saint in his tribulation cried +unto the Lord, thrice in His name invoking Elias, the prince of +prophets, unto his aid. And Elias, being sent of the Lord with a great +brightness, freed him from the pressure of the enemy that hemmed him +round, and, wonderfully illumining him both within and without, +refreshed the powers of his limbs and his senses. And the enemy of +mankind, being put to confusion, was compelled to own himself +vanquished by Patrick, and that ever after he could have no power to +prevail against him. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +_How he was again made Captive, and released by the Miracle of the +Kettle._ + +But Patrick, departing from the company of his fellow-travellers that +he might prove how many are the tribulations of the just through which +they must enter into the kingdom of heaven, fell into the hands of +strangers, by whom he was taken and detained; and while his spirit was +afflicted within him, the Father of mercies and God of all consolation +sent the angel Victor in the wonted manner to comfort him, promising +that in a short time he should be released from the hands of his +captors; and how truly was made the angelic promise did its speedy +fulfilment show, which followed even in the space of two months; for +the barbarians sold him to a certain man in the neighborhood for a +kettle--how small a purchase for so precious a merchandise! But when +the vessel that had been bought with such a price was filled with +water, and placed as usual on the hearth to dress their victual, behold +it received no heat; and so much the hotter the fire burned, so much +the colder did it become; and fuel being heaped thereon, the flame +raged without, but the water within was frozen, as if ice had been +placed under instead of fire. And they labored exceedingly thereat; +but their labor was vain, and the rumor went everywhere through the +country; and the purchaser, thinking it to have been done by +enchantment, returned his kettle to the seller, and took Patrick again +into his own power. And the vessel thereon received the heat, and did +its accustomed office even naturally, and showed to all that this +miracle happened because Patrick had been unjustly oppressed; and +forthwith they who had taken him let him go free. Thus, by the +heavenly power being released from the hands of strange children, was +he, after his long captivity, restored to his parents; and they, +beholding him, rejoiced with exceeding great joy, and at the return of +their son did their spirits revive as the spirits of one awakening from +a heavy sleep, and they besought of him, with entreaty of many prayers +and the abundance of many tears, that he would not again bereave them +of his presence. Therefore, that he might show the honor and the +submission due unto his parents, he abided with them certain days. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +_Of Saint Patrick's Vision._ + +And a short space of time being passed, the while he was settled in his +lather's house, he beheld in a vision of the night a man of comely garb +and countenance, bearing many letters as if from Ireland, and holding +out to him one of them for him to read--which taking, he read, and +found therein thus written: "THIS IS THE VOICE OF THE IRISH." But when +he would have continued to read, he seemed in the spirit to hear the +Irish infants which were yet unborn crying unto him with a loud voice, +"O holy youth Patrick! we beseech thee come unto us, and abide with us, +and release us!" And Patrick, being pierced therewith in his heart, +could not finish the letter; but awaking, he gave infinite thanks to +God, for he was assured by the vision that the Lord had set him apart, +even from his mother's womb, had by His grace called him to convert and +to save the Irish nation, which seemed to desire his presence among +them. And on this he consulted the angel of great counsel, and through +the angel Victor he received the divine command that, quitting his +father and his country, he should go unto France, there to learn the +doctrine and the discipline of the Christian faith. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +_How he dwelt with the blessed Germanus, and how he received the Habit +from Saint Martin._ + +Being thus instructed and directed of heaven, though both his parents +resisted and would have detained him, he, with the faithful Abraham, +quitted his country, his kindred, and his father's house, and, passing +through his native Britain, he went into France. And lest his labor +should be fruitless, or that he might not attempt to teach what he had +not thoroughly learned, he attached himself to the blessed Bishop +Germanus, and, for his greater progress in the Christian faith and +learning, abided with him for the space of eighteen years, reading and +imbibing the Holy Scriptures (as in the acts of the blessed Germanus is +recorded). And each had received the divine command--Patrick that he +should abide with Germanus, and the holy bishop that he should retain +and instruct the youth. For he was a prelate, in his descent, in his +nobility, in his life, in his learning, in his office, and in his +miracles most illustrious; and from him the several degrees of the holy +orders, and at length the sacerdotal dignity according to the canons, +did Patrick receive. With the like purpose did he some time abide with +the blessed Martin, Archbishop of Tours, who was the uncle of his +mother, Conquessa. And as this holy luminary of the priesthood was a +monk, he gave to his nephew, Patrick, the monastic habits and rules, +the which he most devoutly assumed, and adorned by his life, and +persevered therein. And bidding farewell, they departed the one from +the other, forasmuch as Martin was enjoined by the angel to go into a +certain island. And Saint Patrick, returning to the blessed Germanus, +remained with him many days. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +_Of the Flesh-meat changed into Fishes._ + +But Patrick, having now become a monk, forgetting all things that were +past, applied to the future, and, as if little accounting his former +conversation, hastened to the height of perfection. For by incredible +abstinence, by his lengthened fasts, and by the exercise of his other +virtues, he afflicted himself, and continually bore in his heart and on +his body the mortification of that cross which his habit displayed. +But the most high Pastor, who intended to raise him to the head of the +holy Church, that he might learn to think humbly of himself, to walk +with the lowly, and to bear with the weak, permitting him to feel his +own inferiority; so that the more deeply he was fixed on the foundation +of true humility, the more firmly he might stand in the height of +perfection. For a desire of eating meat came upon him, until, being +ensnared and carried away by his desire, he obtained swine's flesh, and +concealed it in a certain vessel, thinking rightly that he might thus +satisfy his appetite privily, which should he openly do he would become +to his brethren a stone of offence and a stumbling-block of reproach. +And he had not long quitted the place when, lo! one stood before him +having eyes before and eyes behind, whom when Patrick beheld, having +his eyes so wonderfully, even so monstrously, placed, he marvelled who +he was, and what meant his eyes fixed before and fixed behind, did +earnestly ask; and he answered, I am the servant of God. With the eyes +fixed in my forehead I behold the things that are open to view, and +with the eyes that are fixed in the hinder part of my head I behold a +monk hiding flesh-meat in a vessel, that he may satisfy his appetite +privily. This he said, and immediately disappeared. But Patrick, +striking his breast with many strokes, cast himself to the earth, and +watered it with such a shower of tears as if he had been guilty of all +crimes; and while he thus lay on the ground, mourning and weeping, the +angel Victor, so often before mentioned, appeared to him in his wonted +form, saying, Arise, let thine heart be comforted; for the Lord hath +put away thine offence, and henceforward avoid backsliding. Then St. +Patrick, rising from the earth, utterly renounced and abjured the +eating of flesh-meat, even through the rest of his life; and he humbly +besought the Lord that He would manifest unto him His pardon by some +evident sign. Then the angel bade Patrick to bring forth the hidden +meats, and put them into water; and he did as the angel bade; and the +flesh-meats, being plunged into the water and taken thereout, +immediately became fishes. This miracle did St. Patrick often relate +to his disciples, that they might restrain the desire of their +appetites. But many of the Irish, wrongfully understanding this +miracle, are wont, on St. Patrick's Day, which always falls in the time +of Lent, to plunge flesh-meats into water, when plunged in to take out, +when taken out to dress, when dressed to eat, and call them fishes of +St. Patrick. But hereby every religious man will learn to restrain his +appetite, and not to eat meat at forbidden seasons, little regarding +what ignorant and foolish men are wont to do. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +_How in his Journey to Rome he Found the Staff of Jesus._ + +And being desirous that his journey and all his acts should by the +apostolic authority be sanctioned, he was earnest to travel unto the +city of Saint Peter, and there more thoroughly to learn the canonical +institutes of the holy Roman Church. And when he had unfolded his +purpose unto Germanus, the blessed man approved thereof, and associated +unto him that servant of Christ, Sergecius the presbyter, as the +companion of his journey, the solace of his labor, and the becoming +testimony of his holy conversation. Proceeding, therefore, by the +divine impulse, or by the angelic revelation, he went out of his course +unto a solitary man who lived in an island in the Tuscan Sea; and the +solitary man was pure in his life, and he was of great desert and +esteemed of all, and in his name and in his works he was Just; and +after their holy greetings were passed, this man of God gave unto +Patrick a staff which he declared himself to have received from the +hands of the Lord Jesus. + +And there were in the island certain other solitary men, who lived +apart from him, some of whom appeared to be youths, and others decrepit +old men, with whom when Patrick had conversed, he learned that the +oldest of them were the sons of the youths; and when Saint Patrick, +marvelling, enquired of them the cause of so strange a miracle, they +answered unto him, saying: "We from our childhood were continually +intent on works of charity, and our door was open to every traveller +who asked for victual or for lodging in the name of Christ, when on a +certain night we received a stranger having in his hand a staff; and we +showed unto him so much kindness as we could, and in the morning he +blessed us, and said, I am Jesus Christ, unto whose members ye have +hitherto ministered, and whom ye have last night entertained in His own +person. Then the staff which He bore in His hand gave He unto yonder +man of God, our spiritual father, commanding him that he should +preserve it safely, and deliver it unto a certain stranger named +Patrick, who would, after many days were passed, come unto him. Thus +saying, He ascended into heaven; and ever since we have continued in +the same youthful state, but our sons, who were then infants, have, as +thou seest, become decrepit old men." + +And Patrick, giving thanks unto God, abided with the man of God certain +days, profiting in God by his example yet more and more; at length he +bade him farewell, and went on his way with the staff of Jesus, which +the solitary man had proffered unto him. O excellent gift! descending +from the Father of light, eminent blessing, relief of the sick, worker +of miracles, mercy sent of God, support of the weary, protection of the +traveller! For as the Lord did many miracles by the rod in the hand of +Moses, leading forth the people of the Hebrews out of the land of +Egypt, so by the staff that had been formed for His own hands was He +pleased, through Patrick, to do many and great wonders to the +conversion of many nations. And the staff is held in much veneration +in Ireland, and even unto this day it is called the staff of Jesus. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +_How he Journeyed unto Rome, and was made a Bishop; and of Palladius, +the Legate of Ireland._ + +The God of our salvation having prospered Patrick's journey, he arrive +at the city which is the capital of the world; and often, with due +devotion, visiting the memorials of the apostles and the martyrs, he +obtained the notice and the friendship of the chief Pontiff, and found +favor in his sight. In the apostolic chair then sat Pope Celestine, of +that name the first, but from the blessed Apostle Peter the +forty-third; but he, keeping Saint Patrick with him, and finding him +perfect and approved in faith, in learning, and in holiness, at length +consecrated him a bishop, and determined to send him to the conversion +of the Irish nation. But Celestine had sent before him, for the sake +of preaching in Ireland, another doctor named Palladius, his +archdeacon, to whom, with his coadjutors, he gave many books, the two +Testaments, with the relics of the Apostles Peter and Paul and of +numberless martyrs; and the Irish not listening to, but rather +obstinately opposing, Palladius in his mission, he quitted their +country, and, going towards Rome, died in Britain, near the borders of +the Picts; yet, while in Scotland, converting some to the faith of +Christ, he baptized them and founded three churches built of oak, in +which he left as prelates his disciples Augustine, Benedict, Sylvester, +and Sulomus, with the parchments and the relics of the saints which he +had collected. To him with more profitable labor did Saint Patrick +succeed, as is said in the Irish proverb, "Not to Palladius, but to +Patrick, the Lord vouchsafed the conversion of Ireland." And the Pope, +being certified of Palladius's death, immediately gave to Patrick the +command, which hitherto, keeping more secret counsel, he had delayed, +to proceed on his journey and on the salutary work of his legation. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +_How he Saw and Saluted the Lord._ + +And shortly after he had received the episcopal dignity, the angel +Victor appeared unto him, then abiding in Rome, and commanded him that +he should hasten his journey into Ireland, that he might gain unto +Christ the people of that country, as the Lord had willed. But +Patrick, judging himself to be unequal to such a work and to such a +labor, answered that he could not and would not attempt it unless he +should first behold and salute the Lord. Therefore was he conducted by +the angel unto the mountain Morion, bordering on the Tuscan Sea, nigh +unto the city of Capua; and there, even as Moses, did he merit to +behold and salute the Lord, according to his earnest desire. Who, I +pray you, can estimate in his mind the merit of Patrick? What tongue +can sufficiently praise him to whom, while yet living on earth, it was +given to behold the King of Glory, whom the angels desire to behold +face to face, and who was permitted to declare unto men what he had +been taught from the lips of the Most Highest? And the Lord promised +unto Patrick that He would hear his prayers, and that He would be his +assistant in all his acts to be done by him. Therefore, being by the +vision and by the divine colloquy strengthened unto the ministry +enjoined to him of heaven and confided to him by our lord the Pope, he +vehemently longed to complete the same, and speeded his journey toward +Ireland with twenty men deputed unto his assistance by the Sovereign +Pontiff, and who were renowned for their lives and for their wisdom. +Yet turned he out of his way unto the blessed Germanus, from whom he +received chalices, and priestly vestments, and many books, and other +matters unto the divine worship and ministry pertaining. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +_Of the Miraculous Voyage of the Leper._ + +When the blessed Patrick, speeding his journey toward Ireland; was +about to embark with his disciples at a British port, a certain leper +standing on the shore met the holy man, beseeching in the name of the +Lord Jesus that he would carry him over in his ship. The man of God, +abounding with the bowels of compassion, listened to the prayers of the +poor leper; but the sailors and the others that were of the ship +forbade him, saying that the vessel was already enough loaded, and that +_he_ would be to them all at once an encumbrance and a horror. Then +the saint, confiding in the power of the divine mercy, cast into the +sea an altar of stone that had been consecrated and given to him by the +Pope, and on which he had been wont to celebrate the holy mysteries, +and caused the leper to sit thereon. But the pen trembles to relate +what, through the divine power, happened. The stone thus loaded was +borne upon the waters, guided by Him, the head-stone of the corner, +and, diverse from its nature, floating along with the ship, held +therewith an equal course, and at the same moment touched at the same +shore. All, then, having happily landed, and the altar being found +with its freight, the voice of praise and thanksgiving filled the lips +of the holy prelate, and he reproved his disciples and the sailors for +their unbelief and hardness of heart, endeavoring to soften their stony +hearts into hearts of flesh, even to the exercising the works of +charity. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +_How he beheld Devils._ + +And when the saint with his people drew nigh unto the shore, he beheld +a multitude of devils gathered together in the form of a globe, +surrounding the whole island, and setting themselves against him even +as a wall to defend their own citadel and to oppose his entrance. But +his heart was not moved, nor did he tremble at the presence of these +deformed ones, knowing that there were many with him more powerful than +with them, even unto his triumph and their overthrow. Therefore stood +he fixed in faith as Mount Sion, because mountains of angels were +around him, and the Lord encompassed His servant great and mighty unto +the battle. And the holy prelate, knowing that all those enemies were +to be quelled by him through the virtue of the cross of Christ, raised +his sacred right hand, and made the sign of the cross, and, telling +unto his people what he beheld, and confirming them in the faith, +unhurt and unterrified passed he over. Thus clothed with strength from +on high, mightily did he exercise the armor of the power of God to the +overturning of the powers of the air, who raised themselves against all +height and against the wisdom of the Lord, being always ready to punish +their disobedience and their rebellion, as will more plainly in the +following chapters appear. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +_Of the River sentenced to perpetual Sterility._ + +The man of God landed with the companions of his voyage within the +borders of Leinster, in the port of Innbherde, where a river flowing +into the sea then abounded with many fishes. And the fishermen were +quitting the water, and drawing after them to the bank their loaded +nets, when the servants of the holy prelate, being wearied with their +travel and with hunger, earnestly besought that they would bestow on +them some of their fishes; but they, barbarous, brutal, and inhuman, +answered the entreaty, not only with refusal, but with insult. Whereat +the saint, being displeased, pronounced on them this sentence, even his +malediction: that the river should no longer produce fishes, from the +abundance of which idolaters might send empty away the worshippers of +the true God. From that day, therefore, is the river condemned to +unfruitfulness, so that the sentence uttered by the mouth of Patrick +might be known to proceed from the face of the Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +_How the Dry Land was turned into a Marsh._ + +And going forward, he arrived at a place which was called Aonach +Tailltion, and there he made ready to refresh himself and his people, +and to announce the office of his ministry. But the idolatrous +inhabitants, not enduring the presence of the man of God, gathered +together and violently drove him thence, as the light of the sun is +intolerable to the weak-eyed. Yet the God whom Patrick bore about him, +and glorified in his body, permitted not that an affront offered unto +His servant for the sake of His name should go unpunished; but quickly +did he bring on them his deserved wrath, inasmuch as for the wickedness +of them who dwelt therein the Lord converted their fruitful land into a +salt marsh; and the sea, with the foreflowing of an unwonted tide, +covered it, and, that it might even for ever be unhabitable, changed +the dry land into a plashy lake. Then the saint, going unto a small +island not far from the main shore, abided there certain days, and it +is called unto this time Saint Patrick's Island. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +_Of his coming into Ulidia, and of the Prophecy of the Magicians on his +coming._ + +And the blessed Patrick, embarking with his people, steered toward the +northern parts of the island, that he might overcome the northern +enemy, and expel him from those hearts where he had fixed his seat. +And the north wind fell, and the south wind arose, that he might go +into the quarters of the north, and plant therein the garden of the +Lord, breathing sweet odors; and the desire had come into his mind to +bring unto the knowledge of truth the king, Milcho, who was yet living, +to whom he had formerly been a servant, and to make him a servant of +the true King, whose service is a kingdom. But forasmuch as the ways +of man are not in his own power, but as his steps are directed of the +Lord, he landed on the coast of Ulidia, that the vessels of mercy might +there be gathered together. But Patrick being come forth on the dry +land, a multitude of heathens met him who were waiting and expecting +his coming; for the magicians and soothsayers, either by divination or +by prophecy, had foreknown that the island would be converted by the +preaching of Patrick, and had long before predicted his arrival in +these words: "One shall arrive here, having his head shaven in a +circle, bearing a crooked staff, and his table shall be in the eastern +part of his house, and his people shall stand behind him, and he shall +sing forth from his table wickedness, and all his household shall +answer, So be it! so be it! And this man, when he cometh, shall +destroy our gods, and overturn their temples and their altars, and he +shall subdue unto himself the kings that resist him, or put them unto +death, and his doctrine shall reign for ever and ever." Nor let it +seem strange or incredible that if the Lord inspired or even permitted +the magicians should thus foretell the arrival and the several acts of +Saint Patrick, since the soothsayer Balaam and the King Nabuchodonosor +plainly prophesied the coming of Christ, and since the devils that bore +testimony to the Son of God. But when they said that he should from +his table sing forth wickedness, evidently doth it appear that he who +never stood on the truth, but who from the beginning was a liar and the +father of lies, did in his blasphemy utter these things through their +mouths. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +_How a Fierce Dog was suddenly Tamed; of the Conversion of Dichu; and +how a Fountain rose out of the Earth._ + +But the chief King of Ireland, named Leogaire, the son of Neyll, +recollecting the prophecy, gave command unto his subjects that as soon +as Patrick should land they should forthwith expel him from the +country. And the saint, being then in the harbor called Innbherslan, +went alone out of the ship, and immediately the people, infidel and +dog-like in their manners, excited a very fierce dog to bite him even +unto death. But the dog, being at the sight of the man of God entirely +stiffened like a stone, stood fixed and without motion, plainly showing +that the worshippers of stones were like unto the gods which they +worshipped. The which, when a certain man named Dichu, who was +powerful of strength, gigantic of stature, and savage of mind, beheld, +he brandished his sword to destroy the saint. But the Lord interposed +His protecting arm, and all his strength withered in him, and he +entirely stiffened, so that he could move neither his foot to go +forward nor his hand to strike. And he, experiencing in himself such a +miracle, suddenly is changed into another man, and from proud becoming +humble, mild from fierce, from an infidel a believer, he is, with all +his household, at the preaching of Patrick, baptized in the Christian +faith. Thus he who had been in that country its first and principal +opposer became its first professor, and even to his latest age +continued its most devoted follower. And as his soul was loosed from +the chains of sin, so were his limbs loosed from their heaviness, and +all their strength was restored unto him. Behold, therefore, the +miracle which the Book of Kings relates to have been formerly wrought +on Jeroboam did Patrick more profitably renew on Dichu; for when that +king was sacrificing unto idols, and stretched out his hand to seize on +the prophet who was reproving him, forthwith his arm stiffened, which +on his repentance the prophet healed, yet did not he when healed +forsake his error; but Dichu, for the increase and for the evidence of +his devotion toward his new faith, gave unto Saint Patrick the place +wherein this miracle had been declared, to erect thereon a new church. + +In this place, at the request of Dichu (but for what cause I know not), +did the saint build the church, having its aspect against the north, +and looking toward the southern point. Perchance that by this mystical +structure the worshippers of idols might be persuaded from the northern +coldness of unbelief unto the meridian fervor of the faith and the +charity of Christ--the which to this day is called Sabhall Phadruig, +that is, the Barn of Patrick; for in process of time he builded there a +fair monastery, into which he introduced monks that had passed their +novitiate; and for their use he not long afterward, by his prayers, +produced a fountain out of the earth. Of this monastery did he appoint +his disciple, Saint Dunnius, to be the abbot, wherein when he had +returned from his mission, he abided with him not a few days. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +_Of the Evil-doer Swallowed up by the Earth._ + +And in that church the holy prelate stood before the altar on a certain +day, celebrating the divine mysteries, when an evil-doer, a bondsman of +Satan, thrusting with accursed boldness a rod through the window, +overturned the chalice, and sacrilegiously poured out on the altar the +holy sacrifice. But the Lord instantly and terribly avenged this +fearful wickedness, and in a new and unheard-of manner destroyed the +impious man. For suddenly the earth, opening her mouth (as formerly on +Dathan and Abiron), swallowed up this magician, and he descended alive +into hell. And the earth, thus disjoined and rent asunder, closed on +him again; but to this day a ditch yet remaining declareth the judgment +of the divine wrath. But the holy sacrificer, being struck with +sorrow, mourned with heavy mourning over the chalice that had been +filled; and the chalice, with the divine sacrifice entire therein, +stood erect before him, being raised by the divine Power, nor did any +trace of the offering remain to be seen. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +_Of the Aged Man restored unto his Youth._ + +And Dichu had a brother named Rius, far advanced in years and in +unbelief, the tabernacle of whose body, for very age, was bending unto +the grave; and this man heavily grieved for the death of the magician +and for the conversion of his brother. And his wisdom was wholly of +this world, and he believed in no life but the present life; for he +thought that he had lost his brother, who, believing in Christ, labored +with all his strength after the glory to come, which he had revealed to +his followers. Therefore for many days he opposed and troubled +Patrick, and strove to stop his mouth, lest he should spread abroad the +Word of God, and increase the number of the believers. But the saint, +desiring to gain him unto Christ, met him with true and lively +arguments, persuading him from the very kinds and natures of all +created things to believe that God was the Creator of all; and, that he +might the more thoroughly lead him into the way of truth, he promised +unto him a miracle, saying, "Now that the power of all thy limbs and of +all thy senses fail thee, and are nearly dead, and that thy life is +almost gone from thee, if Christ should restore unto thee the strength +of the grace of thy early youth, wouldst thou not be bound of right to +believe in Him?" And the man answered: "If thou canst through Christ +perform on me such a miracle, forthwith will I believe in him." Then +Saint Patrick prayed, and, laying his hand on him, he blessed him, and +immediately he became beautiful and strong, and flourished again as in +his early youth. And great marvel seized on all who witnessed this +miracle, and their mouths were opened to the praise of Christ and to +the veneration of Saint Patrick. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +_Of the Death of Rius._ + +And Rius, being renewed outwardly in his body and inwardly in his +spirit, brought with him his three brothers, and came with very many to +be purified at the healing font. And after these things, Saint +Patrick, observing him to be thoroughly freed from sin, and knowing how +sin besets the slippery path of human life, inspired of the Holy +Spirit, said unto him: "Choose, now, whether in this valley of tears, +this world of tribulation and sorrow, shall thy years be prolonged, or +whether, the misery of this life being instantly ended, thou wilt be +carried up by the angels of light, and enter into the joy of the Lord +thy God." But he, trusting that he should behold the mercies of the +Lord in the land of eternal life, answered: "I choose, and I desire to +be dissolved, and to be with Christ for ever, rather than to continue +in the habitations of sinners." And he received the sacrament from the +hands of the holy bishop, and, commending his spirit unto the Lord, he +was brought unto eternal rest. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +_Of the Death of Milcho._ + +But Saint Patrick, confiding his affairs to his beloved Dichu, set +forward to visit Milcho, his former master, even his tormentor; for so +had he long intended in his mind, that by his preaching he might truly +convert unto the infancy of the Christian faith him now grown old in +his evil days. And Milcho, this man of envious heart, this minister of +death feared lest the preaching of Patrick should penetrate a breast of +stone, and that by his clear and fiery eloquence, or by some +irresistible miracle, he should be compelled to believe. Therefore +held he it as base and shameful to submit unto the doctrine of one who +had formerly been his servant, and to be bound unto the unused worship +of the Creator rather than his accustomed idolatry. So when he heard +that the priest of the Most High was approaching, this child of +perdition gathered together all his substance, and cast it into the +fire; and then, throwing himself on the flames, made himself an +holocaust for the infernal demons. And the holy prelate, beholding +from a neighboring mountain the deadly end of this wicked prince, saw +his soul, in the form of a fiery serpent, plunged into hell; when, +contemplating the infinite depths of the judgments of God, with heavy +tears and sighs uttered he these words: "Of this king, who, lest he +should believe in the Creator of heaven and earth, hath thus doubly +damned himself, the posterity shall not inherit his kingdom, but shall +be bound in servitude that never may be loosed." And all this came to +pass even according to the word of the man of God, for none of his race +ascended after him to the throne of his kingdom; but in a short time +all his generation quickly perished; from the face of the earth by the +sword or by famine, or by captivity and the lowest servitude. Thus +visiteth the Lord the sins of the fathers on their children; and thus +is put the axe unto the tree of death, lest it should bring forth +branches of iniquity. Yet as God is able of stones to raise up sons +unto Abraham, and to produce from thorns roses, the two daughters of +Milcho were, by the inspiration of the Lord and by the preaching of +Patrick, converted unto the faith. And each, after they were purified +by the healing water, was called Emeria; and they lived a holy and +religious life, and after their deaths they were buried in the place +which is called Cluainbroin, and, as Patrick had long before +prophesied, were celebrated for many miracles. Then the saint returned +unto the house of Dichu, where he abided not a few days, and by +preaching the Christian faith, and by working signs and miracles, he +profited much people. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +_Of the Holy Mochna._ + +And there was a youth of virtuous disposition named Mochna, and he was +a swine-herd whom Saint Patrick had met near the town of Ereattan while +he was preaching in those parts, and to him, the Spirit having revealed +that he was destined to be a vessel of election, did the saint preach +the way of salvation. And the youth, even at his first preaching, +believed; and Patrick, when he had baptized him, taught unto him the +alphabet, and, having blessed him, sent him to be instructed in +learning, and went his way. But the youth, through the divine grace, +learned in one month the whole Psaltery, and, before the year had +ended, arrived he at the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. And after +some time Patrick returned to the aforementioned village, and Mochna +met him there. And while sitting together, they conversed on holy +things; behold, a staff sent from heaven fell between them, and the +head thereof rested on the bosom of Patrick, and the point thereof on +the bosom of Mochna. And the saint, gratulating the youth on the gift +thus miraculously bestowed, said unto him: "Now, my best-beloved son, +shalt thou know by this pastoral staff that the guardianship of souls +will be committed unto thee." But he refusing and alleging his +ignorance and the imperfection of his youth, the saint is reported thus +to have said: "Seek not thou to excuse thyself for that thou art a boy, +since unto all those parts whither the Lord sendeth thee shalt thou go; +and what he commandeth unto thee, that shalt thou speak." Therefore +through the several degrees did Patrick at length consecrate him a +bishop, and placed him over the church of Edrum. And he profited much +the church of God by his conversation and by his example, and, being +renowned in virtues and in miracles, was called to heaven. And he was +buried in that church wherein he had worthily served the Lord, and +wherein, adorned with manifold miracles, he had accustomed himself to +live in Christ. And the staff is in that church still preserved, and +is called by the Irish "the flying staff." And as Saint Patrick had +advanced this man from the care of swine unto the episcopate, a swine +is yearly taken from that territory, and paid unto the church of Down. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +_Of the Hostages of Dichu which were Freed by an Angel._ + +Leogaire, a man of leonine fierceness, with a high and swelling heart, +rose above himself in the pride of his exploits, for that he seemed to +himself to hold the land by the strength of his arm and the firmness of +his valor. And he took hostages of all the provincial chiefs bordering +on his kingdom, and among others he held in his power the sons of +Dichu, lest any of them should raise the head to defend themselves, or +the heel to offend him. For he, being rooted in the errors of +idolatry, strenuously favored the magicians and the soothsayers; and +his neck was stiff and his head was stubborn against the true religion. +But when he understood that Dichu, with all his household and kindred +and people, had turned unto Christ, and renounced the gods of their +country, even the devils, his mind and his eye were inflamed with the +fury of his wrath. Therefore, being moved in his mind, he gave order +that the hostages of Dichu should be punished in a manner mainly +destructive; for he forbade drink to be given to them, to the end that +they might perish of thirst. And the Spirit revealed this unto the +saint, and he disclosed it unto Dichu, and advised him to seek from +Leogaire the respite of at least ten days until Patrick should appear +before him. Yet could he not, as directed by the man of God, obtain +the respite even of one day, but rather did his entreaties more +vehemently blow up the flame, and exasperate the heart of the king with +the fire of fiercer rage, which when the prelate heard he betook +himself to his accustomed arms of prayer; and behold, on the following +night an angel appeared and gave unto them to drink, and satisfied +their thirst. And from that hour not any suffering of thirst came on +them; and when a few days had passed, at the prayers of the saint, the +angel again appeared, and freed them from their prison-house and from +the power of their enemies. And from the place wherein they were +confined he bore them through the air, as was formerly the prophet; and +he left one of them in a place in Down, where is now erected the church +of Saint Patrick, and the other on a neighboring hill surrounded by a +marsh of the sea; and he broke asunder the chains wherewith they were +bound, and each place is even to this day, from the broken chains, +called Dun-daleathglas. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +_Of Saint Benignus, and of the Prophecy which was made of him._ + +And the Passover was nigh, the festival of the Christians, whereon the +Life that died, arising from the dead, became the first-fruits of the +resurrection of the dead. Therefore was it near to the heart of the +holy prelate to solemnize this solemn day, which the Lord had appointed +a day of joyfulness to the dwellers on earth and the dwellers in +heaven, on the fair and spacious plain called Breagh, and there, by +evangelizing the kingdom of God, and baptizing the people of his +conversion, to gather together the elect race unto Christ. And he +embarked in a vessel, and arrived in a harbor nigh unto this plain, +and, committing the care of the vessel unto his nephew, Saint Lumanus, +he there landed, and went to the mansion of a certain venerable man +named Sesgnen, therein to pass the night. And he gladly received the +saint, hoping that salvation would be brought unto his house by such a +guest, nor did his hope fail unto him, for when Patrick preached the +word of salvation he and all his household believed and were baptized. +And the venerable man had a son, whom the saint purified with the +healing water, and, taking the name from the occasion, called Benignus; +and as was his name, so were his life and his manners; and he was +beloved of God and of man, worthy of honor and of glory on earth and in +heaven, and he steadfastly adhered to the holy prelate, nor ever could +be separated from him; for when the saint, being weary, would lie down +to rest, this unspotted youth, flying from his father and from his +mother, would cast himself at the feet of the holy man, and enfold them +in his bosom, and ever and anon would he kiss them, and there would he +abide. But on the morrow, when the saint was arrayed for his journey, +and, with one foot in his sandal, the other on the ground, was +ascending his chariot, the boy caught his foot with fast-closing hands, +and besought and implored that he might not leave him. And when his +parents would have separated him from the saint, and retained him with +themselves, the boy, with wailing and lamentation, cried out, Away, +away, I entreat ye! Release me, that I may go with my spiritual +father. And the saint, observing such devotion in his tender heart and +body, blessed him in the name of the Lord, and, bidding him ascend with +him the chariot, prophesied that he would be, as indeed he was, the +successor of his ministry. And this Benignus succeeded Saint Patrick +in the primacy of all Ireland, and, being illustrious for his virtues +and his miracles, at length he rested in the Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +The Fire that was Lighted by Patrick. + +And the saint, on that most holy Sabbath preceding the Vigil of the +Passover, turned aside to a fit and pleasant place, called Feartfethin, +and there, according to the custom of the holy church, lighted the +lamps at the blessed fire. And it happened on that night that the +idolaters solemnized a certain high festival called Rach, which they, +walking in darkness, were wont to consecrate to the prince of darkness. +And it was their custom that every fire should be extinguished, nor +throughout the province should be relighted until it was first beheld +in the royal palace. But when the monarch, Leogaire, being then with +his attendants at Teomaria, then the chief court of the kingdom of all +Ireland, beheld the fire that was lighted by Saint Patrick, he +marvelled, and was enraged, and enquired who had thus presumed. And a +certain magician, when he looked on the fire, as if prophesying, said +unto the king: "Unless yonder fire be this night extinguished, he who +lighted it will, together with his followers, reign over the whole +island." Which being heard, the monarch, gathering together a +multitude with him, hastened, in the violence of his wrath, to +extinguish the fire. And he brought with him thrice nine chariots, for +the delusion of foolishness had seduced his heart and persuaded him +that with that number he would obtain to himself a complete triumph; +and he turned the face of his men and his cattle toward the left hand +of Saint Patrick, even as his magicians had directed, trusting that his +purpose could not be prevented. But the saint, beholding the multitude +of chariots, began this verse: "Some in chariots, and some on horses; +but we will invoke the name of the Lord." And when the king approached +the place, the magicians advised him not to go near Saint Patrick, lest +he should seem to honor him by his presence, and as if to reverence or +adore him. Therefore the king stayed, and, as these evil-doers +advised, sent messengers unto Patrick, commanding that he should appear +before him; and he forbade all his people that when he came any one +should stand up before him. So the prelate, having finished his holy +duties, appeared; and no one stood up before him, for so had the king +commanded. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +_Of the Holy Man named Hercus._ + +But a certain man named Hercus, the son of Degha, who had heard many +things of Saint Patrick, rose up in the sight of all, and did him +honor. Therefore the prelate blessed him, and promised eternal life +unto him; and he, believing in God, received the grace of baptism, and, +leading his life renowned for virtues and for miracles, after a while +he was made a bishop, and died in the city of Slane. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +_How the Magician was Destroyed._ + +And there was in that place a certain magician named Lochu, who was +highly favored with the king, and he uttered blasphemies against the +Lord and his Christ. For being driven mad by the delusions of devils, +he declared himself to be a god; and the people, being dazzled with his +cheats, and stubbornly adhering to his pernicious doctrine, worshipped +him even as a deity. Therefore he continually blasphemed the ways of +the Lord, and those who were desirous to be converted from idolatry did +he labor to subvert in their faith, and to pervert from Christ. And +almost in the same manner as Simon Magus resisted Saint Peter did he +oppose Saint Patrick. And on a certain time, when he was raised from +the earth by the prince of darkness and the powers of the air, and the +king and the people beheld him as if ascending into the heavens, Saint +Patrick thus prayed unto the Lord: "O omnipotent God! destroy this +blasphemer of Thine holy name, nor let him hinder those who now return +or may hereafter return unto Thee!" And he prayed, and the magician +fell from the air to the earth at the feet of the man of God, and his +head was stricken against a stone, and, bruised and wounded, he +expired, and his spirit descended into hell. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +_Of the Miraculous but Terrible Rescue of Saint Patrick._ + +But the king, being much grieved at the death of the magician, burned +with anger, and, with all the manifold multitude of his people, he +arose to destroy the saint. And he, beholding their violence, and +singing forth with a loud voice, began this verse from the Psalms: "Let +God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let them who hate His +face be put to confusion." Then the Lord, the protector of His chosen +ones in the time of need, saved from this multitude his faithful +servant; for, with a terrible earthquake, and with thundering and the +stroke of the thunderbolt, some he destroyed, some he smote to the +ground, and some he put to flight. Thus, as was said by the prophet, +"The Lord shot forth His arrows, and He scattered them; He poured forth +His lightnings, and He overturned them." For He sent among them, +according to the prophecy of Isaiah, the spirit of giddiness; and He +set the idolaters against the idolaters, like the Egyptians against the +Egyptians; each man rushed on his fellow, and brother fought against +brother, and the chariots and their riders were cast to the ground and +overturned; and forty and nine men were slain, and hardly did the rest +escape. But the king trembled at the rebuke of the Lord, and at the +breath of the spirit of His anger, and ran into a hiding-place with +only four of his people, that he might conceal himself from the terrors +of the face of the Lord. But the queen, entreating for the pardon of +the king, reverently approached, and, bending her knee before Saint +Patrick, promised that her consort should come unto him and should +adore his God. And the king, according to her promise, yet with a +designing heart, bended his knees before the saint, and simulated to +adore the Christ in which he believed not. There, with the tongue of +iniquity and the heart of falsehood, he promised that if on the morrow +he would vouchsafe to visit his palace, he would obey all his precepts. +But the man of God, though the Lord suffered not the wickedness which +this unworthy king had conceived in his heart, confidently trusting in +the protection of the Lord, assented to his entreaty. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +_How the Saint Escaped the Deadly Snares._ + +And the king, bidding farewell to the bishop, returned to his palace, +and in the several places through which the saint was to pass he laid +an ambush; and divers rivers crossed the road, which might in many +parts be forded, nigh unto the shallows whereof he placed nine chariots +with some of his murderous servants, that if the saint should escape +the one he might meet with the other, and so that in no wise could he +pass unharmed. But on the morrow Patrick, with eight persons only and +the boy Benignus, going in a straight road to Teomaria, where the king +then resided, passed through them who had laid snares for his life; and +their eyes were bound, that they could not behold him; but to their +sight appeared eight stags with one hind passing over the mountains; +and thus, the Lord being his protector, did the saint and his +companions escape the contrivers of his destruction. Therefore he came +unto the royal city, and found the king at supper with his companions. +And at his entrance no one arose excepting a certain bard of the king +named Dubhtach, who devoutly saluted the saint, and besought and +obtained of him that he should be made a Christian. And Dubhtach the +first among them all believed in the Lord, and it was remembered to his +justification; for, being baptized and confirmed in the faith of +Christ, the strains that erewhile he had poured forth in the praise of +his false gods, now converting to a better use, he composed more +excellent poems unto the praise of the All-powerful and the honor of +His saints. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + +_Of the Poison mingled in the Wine._ + +But the King Leogaire, fermenting with the gall of wickedness and +deceit, knowing and marvelling how often the saint had escaped his +snares, turned himself to other inventions, and whom he could not slay +with the sword he plotted to destroy with poison. Therefore, by the +hand of a certain evil-doer named Lugaich Mael, he gave his cup unto +Patrick, whereof, that servant of Satan mingling poison with the wine, +did the saint drink. But the man of God, taking the cup and invoking +the name of the Lord, bended it forward, and all that was deadly +therein poured he into the hollow of his hand unmixed with the rest of +the liquor; then making the sign of the cross, what remained he +blessed, and, to the confusion of the poisoner and the admiration of +all who sat around, drinking thereout, he received neither hurt nor +damage. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + +_Of the Fantastic Snow._ + +Then, being utterly covered with shame, did the magician more and more +grieve; and lest he should appear to be vanquished, he challenged +Patrick to bring down signs from heaven. And the saint answered that +he would not tempt the divine will; but the magician by his +enchantments sprinkled all those parts with the coldest snow, and +afflicted all the inhabitants with cold. And the saint urged him, +urging and pressing that he would remove the snow from the earth and +the cold from the inhabitants; and thus compelled, the magician +confessed that by all his enchantments he could not do that thing. +Therefore, O impious man! said the saint, out of thine own mouth will I +judge thee, and prove that thou art the worker of wickedness and +minister of Satan; thou who canst cause evil only, and canst not at all +produce good. Then raising his consecrated hand, blessed he the plain +and all the places around in the name of the Holy Trinity; and +forthwith all the fantastic snow which could not melt in the accustomed +manner vanished. And all around marvelled, confessing the hand of the +Lord working in Patrick, and detesting the deceitful works of the +magician. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + +_How the Darkness was Dispersed._ + +And the magician, beholding how his art was scorned and set at small +account, once again by his enchantments covered the places that had +been whitened with snow, even with a palpable cloud of thick darkness. +And fear and trembling came on all whom it covered, or at least they +experienced how closely it shaded them from the brightness of the true +faith. Nor let it be marvelled that strangers to the darkness of the +true light which illuminates every man entering this world should be +involved in the darkness of magicians, who, with blind and hardened +heart, worshipped the prince of darkness. And Patrick in his wonted +words addressed the magician, that he would make this cloud to pass +away; but the magician answered even as before. Then did the son of +light pour out a prayer unto the Eternal Light, the Sun of Justice, and +immediately the material sun arose and shone forth, and the darkness +was dispersed. And the people which had hitherto sat in darkness, now +beholding the great light, proclaimed their thanks and their praises, +and magnified Patrick, who was the preacher of the Eternal Light. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + +_How the Magician and his Garment were consumed, and Benignus and the +Garment of St. Patrick preserved unhurt._ + +But the magician, loving darkness rather than light, and darkening +himself in the delusions of his darkness, stubbornly persevered in his +malice, and still contentiously affirmed that his wicked and perverse +opinions excelled the doctrines of the saint. And the king feared that +the works of the magician would be overturned, and he proposed a +certain trial to be made between them: "Let your books be plunged into +the water, and he whose writings are blotted or effaced, let his +preaching be disbelieved; but he in whose writings no blemish shall be +found, let his preaching be admitted and confirmed." And Patrick +assented to this decision, but the magician refused; for he affirmed +that Patrick worshipped the element of water for a god, inasmuch as he +baptized with water in the name of his God. Then the king changed the +trial, and appointed that each book should be cast into the fire, and +that of him whose book should remain unhurt the doctrine should be +received of all. And the saint accorded to this sentence, but the +magician, distrusting himself, accorded not; for he said that Patrick +worshipped, in their turn, now the fire, now the water, and that +therefore he held propitious to him either element. And Patrick +replied that he adored no element, but that he worshipped the Creator +of all the elements. While, therefore, the dispute waxed high, and the +people varied from the one side unto the other, the wisdom of the Lord +inspiring them to distinguish the light of the true faith from the +darkness of idolatry, and the soundness of holy doctrine from the +vanity of magical delusion, a new trial by fire is sought out. Then +with the agreement of all, and Patrick and the evil-doer consenting, in +a new manner a new house is builded, whereof the one-half is made of +wood which was green, the other of wood which was dry and eaten of +worms; and the boy Benignus and the magician, each being bound hand and +foot, are placed over against each other, the boy, arrayed in the +magician's garment, is placed in the dry part of the building, and the +magician, clothed in the robe of Saint Patrick, is placed in the green +part, and the fire is put thereto. And behold an event marvellous and +much unwonted! The fire, furiously raging, consumed the magician, even +to ashes, with the green part of the building wherein he stood; and the +robe of the saint wherewith he was clad was neither scorched nor +soiled; but the blessed youth Benignus, standing in the dry part +thereof, the fire touched not, yet reduced to a cinder the garment of +the magician that wrapped him round. Behold, therefore, herein +repeated the miracles which are recorded in the Holy Writ, as when the +three youths were cast into the furnace, the fire burned only their +bonds, and hurted not themselves; so destroyed it the magician, with +the green part of the house, yet hurted not the vest of Patrick, and, +leaving the boy with the dry part of the house uninjured, it consumed +the garment of the evil-doer. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + +_Of Many who were Swallowed up by the Earth, and how the rest were +Converted unto God._ + +But the heart of Leogaire was hardened, as was formerly the heart of +Pharao before Moses against the commands of the Lord. For though so +many miracles had been wrought, he feared not to provoke the high God, +and to offend his servant Patrick. Therefore, showing himself to be a +second Nero, in revenge for the death of the evil-doer, he appointed +several of his people to destroy the saint. And, as is testified by +the Holy Writ, a wicked prince always hath wicked ministers, many of +his servants put themselves forward, voluntary, prompt, and earnest to +so great a sacrilege. But God, the all-powerful protector of His +beloved, armed the zeal of the creature against these senseless +idolaters, and ere they could effect their wickedness he swept them +from the earth and destroyed them. For the earth opened and swallowed +them up, and so many of the people of Teamhrach as were consenting +thereto; and the abyss opened its mouth and devoured them, even alive. +And they who remained, and all the dwellers of that land seeing or +hearing of these things, feared with mighty fear; and, lest they should +be punished with the like punishment, they believed in Christ, and +crowded together unto the font. And the king trembled, and threw +himself at the feet of Patrick, and besought pardon, and promised that +he would thenceforth obey him. And the saint forgave him; yet, though +he a long time instructed him in the faith of the Lord Jesus, in no +wise could he persuade him unto baptism. Therefore he dismissed him, +that, following his free will, he might go on in the inventions of his +own heart, nor seem to be compelled unto the faith; yet, at the +revelation of the Spirit, what he foreknew of the king and his +posterity thus was prophesied by the saint: "Since thou hast always +resisted my doctrine, nor ceased to afflict me beyond measure; +moreover, since thou thoughtest scorn to believe in the Creator of all +things, therefore art thou the child of perdition, and thou, with all +that were partners in thine offence, shouldst justly, even at this +instant, go into eternal punishment; but since thou humbly besought of +me forgiveness, and, like the King Achab, hast humbled thyself before +my God, the Lord will not at this time bring on thee the evil which +thou hast deserved; yet shall none of thy seed sit on thy throne after +thee, but they shall become servants unto thy brother, who will believe +in Christ, and to his posterity for ever and ever." But the queen +believed in Christ, and was baptized and blessed of Patrick, and at +length, with a pious end, rested in the Lord. And he went forward with +his people, baptizing in the name of the Holy Trinity all those who +believed, while the Lord assisted and confirmed his labors with +manifold miracles. + + + + +CHAPTER L. + +_Of the Sisters and the Nephews of St. Patrick._ + +And the saint had three sisters, memorable for their holiness and for +their justice, and they were pleasing unto the Lord; and of these the +names were Lupita, Tygridia, and Darercha. And Tygridia was blessed +with a happy fruitfulness, for she brought forth seventeen sons and +five daughters. And all her sons became most wise and holy monks, and +priests, and prelates; and all her daughters became nuns, and ended +their days as holy virgins; and the names of the bishops were +Brochadius, Broichanus, Mogenochus, and Lumanus, who, with their uncle, +Saint Patrick, going from Britain into Ireland, earnestly laboring +together in the field of the Lord, they collected an abundant harvest +into the granary of heaven. And Darercha, the youngest sister, was the +mother of the pious bishops, Mel, Moch, and Munis, and their father was +named Conis. And these also accompanied Saint Patrick in his preaching +and in his travel, and in divers places obtained the episcopal dignity. +Truly did their generation appear blessed, and the nephews of Saint +Patrick were a holy heritage. + + + + +CHAPTER LI. + +_How Saint Lumanus Sailed against the Wind and the Stream._ + +And Saint Patrick, having sailed over from Ulidia, came unto the +territory of Midia, at the mouth of the river Boinn, among barbarians +and idolaters; and he committed his vessel and its tackle unto his +nephew, Saint Lumanus, enjoining him that he should abide there at the +least forty days, the while he himself would go forward to preach in +the interior parts of the country. But Lumanus, abiding there the +messenger of light, and being made obedient through the hope of +obtaining martyrdom, doubled the space of time that was enjoined unto +him, which no one of his companions, even through the fear of their +lives, dared to do. Yet was not this child of obedience disappointed +of his reward. For while he received the seed of obedience, he brought +forth unto himself the fruit of patience, and deserved to fertilize +strange lands, even with the seed of the divine Word, to the +flourishing of the flowers of faith and the fruits of justice; and the +more devotedly he obeyed his spiritual father, the more marvellously +did the elements obey him. And having fulfilled there twice forty +days, and being wearied with the continual expectation of the saint's +return, on a certain day, the wind blowing strongly against him, he +hoisted the sails, and, trusting in the merits of Saint Patrick, even +by the guidance of the vessel alone passed he over unto the place where +he was appointed to meet him. O miracle till then unheard and unknown! +The ship, without any pilot, sailed against the wind and against the +stream, at the bidding of the man of God, and bore him with a +prosperous course from the mouth of the Boinn even to Athtrym; and He +who formerly turned back the stream of Jordan unto its fountain did, +for the merits of Patrick, guide the vessel against the wind and +against the stream. + + + + +CHAPTER LII. + +_How Forkernus and his Parents were Converted and Baptized._ + +And Saint Lumanus having landed at the aforementioned town of Athtrym, +he converted unto the faith of Christ first Forkernus, the son of a +certain great man who there ruled, then his mother, a Britoness by +nation, and lastly his father, Fethleminus, and in a fountain which by +his prayers he produced out of the earth, even before their eyes, did +he baptize them and many others. And these things being done, the holy +prelate, in the twenty-fifth year before the foundation of Ardmachia, +there builded a church, to the endowment and the enrichment whereof +Fethleminus, that faithful servant of Christ, gave by solemn gift +Athtrym and Midia, with many farms, and then crossing the river, he +builded a habitation for himself and for his people, and there did he +piously finish his days. And Lumanus, being consecrated the bishop of +this church, sent his novice, Forkernus, to be instructed in letters, +and, when he was sufficiently learned, advanced him to the priesthood. +And as the day of his death approached, he went with Forkernus unto his +brother Brocadius, and commanded Forkernus on his obedience that he +should, after his decease, take on himself the government of the church +over which he presided. But he, refusing and protesting that it +accorded neither to reason nor to justice that he should in the church +of his father take on himself the guidance of souls, lest he should +seem to hold in heritage the sanctuary of the Lord, his father and +pastor bound him thereto by his iterated commands. Why need we many +words? Lumanus would not bless him until he had promised to undertake +this office. And at length Lumanus, having departed from this light +unto the mansion of eternal light, Forkernus, as enjoined, took on +himself the care of his church; and after he had presided over it only +three days, he committed it unto a certain stranger, by birth a Briton, +named Cathladius. Thus did the man of God fulfil the command of his +father, and thus he took care that he should not set the example of +selling the rights of the church or the heritage of his parents. But +all the revenues of this church were by Lumanus transferred to Saint +Patrick and his successors, and for ever after given unto the church of +Ardmachia. + + + + +CHAPTER LIII. + +_Of the Prophecy of St. Patrick on Coyrbre, and of the Unfruitfulness +of a River._ + +And Leogaire had two brothers, the elder of whom was named Coyrbre, +like unto him in cruelty and unbelief, if, indeed, any one could in +that country be found like him, who contemned and condemned the law of +the Most High; and the younger was named Conallus, who retained no more +of his birth than does the fish of the sea or the rose of the thorn. +But Patrick having gone to Coyrbre, who then abided in the place called +Tailltion, that he might convert him unto the Christian faith, if in +any wise from that stone could a son be raised up unto Abraham, yet he, +his heart being hardened against belief, intended the death of the +preacher who would have preached life unto him, and even in the middle +of the river he scourged the servants of Patrick; and the saint, +knowing him to be obstinate in his error, and to be abandoned of God, +thus prophesied unto him: "Since thou hast refused to bear the yoke of +Christ, whose service is freedom, no one of thy posterity shall attain +the throne of thy kingdom, but in perpetual servitude shall they serve +the seed of thy younger brother, Conallus. And this shall be to thee a +sign that the Lord will fulfil the word which He has spoken through my +mouth: the river near thy mansion, which, with the abundance of its +fishes, is wont to feed thee and thine household, from henceforward, +even for ever, shall produce no fishes." And the word of the man of +God obtained, for all his posterity became subject unto the posterity +of his brother Conallus, and they came unto the throne of his kingdom; +and the river, which is called Seyle, even to this day beareth no +fishes. + + + + +CHAPTER LIV. + +_Of Conallus, and of the Prophecy of Patrick concerning him._ + +And the saint, leaving those children of darkness in the anger and +blindness of their hearts, and the depth of their error, turned his +steps towards Conallus, who was to be the child of the truth. And he, +rejoicing and giving thanks, received him as the angel of peace and of +delight, and opened the ears of his hearing unto the words of +salvation, and, through the laver of the regeneration and renovation of +the Holy Spirit, deserved he to be incorporated with Christ. Whereby +are we plainly showed that the Heavenly Potter out of the same clay can +form at His will one vessel unto reproof and another unto honor. Then +Conallus, being comforted and confirmed in the Catholic verity, offered +unto the saint his dwelling-house, and his land, and his farm, and +besought of him with many prayers that for the spreading of the +Christian faith he there would build a city for him and for his people; +and he said he would build a habitation for himself on the borders +thereof. And the saint, praising so great charity in his novice, lest +he should seem to reject his entreaty, builded there a city, which is +now called Domnhach Phadruig--that is, the City of Patrick; and +touching it with his staff, he marked out the dwelling-place of +Conallus, which is now called Rathyr-tair. And the saint blessed him +in the name of the Lord; and among other things which were to happen +unto him, thus did he prophesy: "Happy and prosperous shall be this +dwelling-place, and happy shall be they who dwell therein; nor shall +the blood of any man, save only one, be shed in it; and the Lord, +giving His blessing, shall bless thee, and He shall confirm thy throne +and multiply thine empire, and the seed of thy brother shall serve thy +seed for ever and ever." And all these things which the saint +prophesied were not in the event disproved. + + + + +CHAPTER LV. + +_Of the Altar of Saint Patrick._ + +And it was near to the heart of the saint to visit Connactia; and +chiefly for the vision which he had heretofore beheld in his sleep, +wherein he was called by the infants of that country, even in their +mothers' wombs, he desired there to evangelize the kingdom of God. And +he purposed to travel round the whole island, that he might convert it +unto Christ; and the saint, being prepared to his journey, blessed +Conallus, and in memorial of himself he left in the aforementioned city +his altar of stone, for the relieving of the sick and for the working +of miracles; but when he proceeded on his journey, the altar followed, +nor to the eyes of any man was it visible how it was carried; but, as I +account, it was carried along the path of the saint by the power and +the virtue of Him at whose nod the prophet was carried from Judea into +Chaldea. Thus did the Corner-Stone, Christ, that He might show unto +all the holiness of Patrick, cause this holy stone to be moved without +human hand. And the prelate, looking back, beheld the altar thus +marvellously borne after him, and exulted in the Lord, and returned, +and placed it in a fitting place. And from that day did it remain +fixed, yet ceased it not to shine in miracles, as if the virtue of +Patrick had remained in it or flowed from it. + + + + +CHAPTER LVI. + +_Of the Images destroyed from Heaven, and of the Fountain produced from +the Earth._ + +And the King Leogaire, being devoted to the worship of devils, with a +great part of his people who much desired to please him adored a +certain idol magnificently formed of silver and gold, and which was +raised in a field called Maghfleidh. And the idol was named +Ceancroithi--that is, the head of all the gods, for that it was by that +foolish people accounted to utter responses. And around this image +stood twelve inferior gods, made of brass, as if subject unto it. +Therefore Saint Patrick turned toward this place, that he might +overturn the idol, and by his preaching convert its worshippers to the +worship of the Creator. But when he could not prevail, neither could +he recall those idolaters from the folly that was fixed in their minds, +he betook himself to his accustomed arms of prayer. And from a +neighboring hill beholding the idol, he stretched forth in prayer his +spotless hands unto God, and lifted against it the staff of Jesus, when +suddenly, by the power of God, the idol fell on its left side, and all +the silver and the gold poured from it broken and powdered into dust; +but on the hard stone of the image was seen impressed the mark of the +staff, though it had touched it not; and the earth swallowed up the +twelve inferior gods, even to their necks, and their heads continue +above the ground unto this day. Thus what human strength could not +accomplish was done by the divine power; and many beholding it believed +in the true and living God, and being baptized, according to the +apostle, put on Christ, And in that place Saint Patrick by his prayers +produced out of the earth a fountain of the clearest water, wherein +many were afterward baptized. + + + + +CHAPTER LVII. + +_How the Darkness was Dispersed._ + +And the saint, having overturned the idols, held on the way that he +purposed; and the fame of his holiness, going before him, announced his +coming. And when he drew nigh unto Connactia, two magicians, the sons +of Neyll, the one whereof was named Mael, the other Cabhlait, heard of +his approach; and they were both bound in the bonds of Satan, nor were +they less germane in the exercise of their evil deeds than in the germ +of their native generation. These men by their enchantments covered +the whole country with thick darkness for three continual days, whereby +they hoped to prevent the entrance of Patrick into that place. But the +son of light, in whose heart the morning star that never sets +perpetually shone, while he lifted up unto heaven his heart and his +hand and his tongue in prayer, the light-streaming rays of the sun, +shining forth, dispersed the magic darkness; and, finding free entrance +into Connactia, with all his strength he labored to open to those +unworthy enemies of the truth the door of faith. + + + + +CHAPTER LVIII. + +_Of the Virgins who went unto Heaven._ + +And of Leogaire were born two daughters, like roses growing in a +rose-bed. And the one was of a ruddy complexion, and she was called +Ethne; and the other was fair, and she was called Fedella; and they +were educated by these magicians. And early on a certain morning, the +sun having just arisen, they went to bathe in a clear fountain, on the +margin whereof they found the saint sitting with other holy men; and +regarding his countenance and garb, they were struck with wonder, and +enquired of his birth and his residence, taking him for an apparition. +But the saint admonished them rather to believe in his God than to +enquire of his descent or his dwelling-place. Then the damsels, +desiring to know more assuredly of God, earnestly questioned about His +power, and His riches, and His glory. And the Saint instructed them in +the Catholic faith, truly affirming him to be the Creator and Ruler of +the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and of all that is therein; +and that He had one Son, with Himself coeternal, coeval, and +consubstantial--everywhere reigning, governing all things, possessing +all things; and promised he also unto them that they should exchange an +earthly and transitory kingdom for a heavenly and eternal kingdom; for +that if they obeyed his counsel, they should unite with the Celestial +King in pure and indissoluble union. And when he had thus preached +unto them with persuasive eloquence, the damsels believed in Christ, +and he baptized them even in that fountain. Thus being made +Christians, they besought the saint that according to his promise he +would show unto them the face of Christ, their beloved Spouse. And the +saint thus answered: "Ye must first, with the mouth of your heart and +of your body, devoutly receive the flesh and the blood of your Spouse, +so that, being quickened with the living food, and having tasted of +death, ye may pass from this impure world unto the starry +bride-chamber." Then the virgins, believing in the word of the man of +God, devoutly entreated and received the Eucharist, and, immediately +falling asleep in the Lord, they quitted their earthly tabernacles, and +went unto their heavenly Spouse. And their friends and their kindred +gathered together and bewailed them for three days, as was the custom +of the country, and returned their sacred remains unto the womb of the +mother of all human kind. And on that spot was erected a church, which +is now collated to the metropolitan seat of Ardmachia. And the two +magicians, for that they had educated the damsels, were sorely grieved +at their deaths, and reproached the saint with bitter and angry words; +but he, touching the harp of David, and preaching unto them the kingdom +of God, converted them unto the faith, and they were baptized. + + + + +CHAPTER LIX. + +_Of the Magician Struck by Lightning, and of Twelve Thousand Men +Converted unto Christ._ + +And after these things had come to pass, a great and solemn council was +held in a solemn place by the people of that province gathered there +together, whereat the seven sons of Amhlaich, a man eminent for his +birth, his dignity, his riches, and his power, were present with a +numerous train of their followers. Then the saint, that he might gain +many of that multitude unto Christ, threw himself into the midst of the +assembly, and took the spiritual armor of the power of God unto the +extirpation of idolatry. But when this renowned preacher unsheathed +the sword of the Spirit to the destruction of devils and the salvation +of man, a certain magician named Rochait with all his strength +endeavored to slay him. Lest, however, his wicked attempt should +accomplish the yet more wicked deed, the hand of the Almighty, sending +on him fire from above, consumed this child of hell, and smote him with +lightning, even in the presence of all. And beholding this marvellous +and fearful miracle, the seven sons of Amlaich, with twelve thousand of +the people, believed in Christ, and were baptized, and constantly +remained in the Catholic faith which they had taken on them. And the +two daughters of a certain nobleman named Glerannus, who were then +unborn, are said to have invoked the saint, and were with the rest +converted unto Christ, and were baptized even in their mother's womb. +And they afterward, living a holy and religious life, in a pious end +rested in the Lord, and after their deaths proved by many miracles that +they were with the saints in heaven. And Saint Patrick placed over +this newly-converted people a prelate named Mancenus, and he was +learned and religious, and well versed in the Holy Scriptures. + + + + +CHAPTER LX. + +_Of another Magician whom the Earth swallowed up._ + +And the Lord ordained unto Saint Patrick strong and frequent conflicts +with the magicians, that he might conquer and know how prevailing was +the wisdom of Him in whose name all their endeavors were foiled. For +as, according to the apostle, Iannes and Mambres resisted Moses, so did +very many evil-doers resist Patrick. Therefore, on another day, in the +place of the aforementioned council, another but not a different +evil-doer, at the instigation of Satan, arose with the like fury +against the saint, that he might destroy him. But the right hand of +the Lord, which erewhile had smote his enemy with consuming fire, was +magnified in strength, and in His manifold power swept this evil-doer +from the face of the earth. For the earth, cleaving asunder, opened +her mouth and swallowed up the magician who had so often defiled +himself with so many evil deeds, and, closing again, plunged him into +the abyss. + + + + +CHAPTER LXI. + +_How another Magician is Sunken up to the Ears, and again is Raised up._ + +And the deadly end of this evil-doer being discerned by one who was +germane unto him in his flesh and in his mind, and who was not able to +succor his brother when perishing, therefore sought he to avenge his +destruction on Patrick as his destroyer; and being enraged against the +saint, he sought to put him to death. But the Lord fought for Patrick, +and the earth in like manner opened and swallowed up the magician, even +to his ears. Then the man, being almost swallowed up in the earth, +implored pardon of the saint, and promised that he would believe in +Christ, and that he would obey his doctrine. And the saint, being +moved with pity, prayed for him unto the Lord; and immediately the +earth cast him forth, and raised him. And the unmerciful man, being +mercifully saved, gave thanks unto the power that had saved him, and +believed in Christ, and received the grace of baptism. Thus doth the +Lord, distinguishing between the light and darkness, severely condemn +the reprobate and obstinate in evil, and mercifully saveth those who +fly unto his mercy. + + + + +CHAPTER LXII. + +_How a huge Stone was raised by the Saint._ + +And the saint, passing along on a certain day, beheld a multitude of +men gathered together, that they might move from its place a very large +stone; and they had labored a long time, but in vain; for they were +wearied in their strength and fatigued with the unequal attempt, and to +raise the stone they prevailed not. Then the saint approached, even as +a builder of the temple of the living God to be builded in the Lord; +and having prayed and blessed their work, that huge stone, which could +not be stirred by an hundred hands, did he alone remove and raise and +place in its fit place. And the men who stood around marvelled at this +marvellous work, and were converted to believe in the God of Saint +Patrick; and they who hitherto, having stony hearts, worshipped stones, +this stone being raised by the saint, believed in the living Stone, the +precious Stone, the Corner-Stone, the elect Stone, the Stone which is +placed in the foundations of Sion; and this Stone had they long time +rejected; but now becoming themselves living stones, joined together +with the cement of the Christian faith, and following the sacred +doctrine, and being polished and purified in baptism, they grew in the +temple of the Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIII. + +_How the Women were raised from Death._ + +And wheresoever in his preaching went Patrick, the man of God, his lips +diffused the healing knowledge, and the number of the believers was +daily increased. And the Lord assisted his faithful servant with +manifold miracles, and confirmed his doctrine, for that he falsified +not the word of God, but always sought His praise and His glory. And +on a certain day he came to a place called Fearta, where at the side of +a hill two women who had deceased were buried. Then the man of God, +approaching the grave, commanded the earth to be removed, and, having +invoked the name of Christ, he raised them up to life. And the women +thus raised up, even in the presence of all around, proclaimed that +their idols were vain, and that their gods were devils, Christ alone +being the true God; and in His name they besought to be baptized, and +they attained their prayer. And the bystanders glorified God, and +devoutly received his faith and baptism. Thus did the most holy +prelate revive from double death the two women who were dead in the +flesh; and their resurrection from bodily death gave unto many +resurrection from the death of the soul. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIV. + +_Two Women who were pregnant are with their Infants rescued from Death +unto Life._ + +And in these parts was a certain woman named Fidelina, yet knew she not +how to confide in Christ; and she was pregnant, and even at the instant +other travail, for lack of strength, she expired. But as a city +builded on a mountain cannot be hidden, nor a candle placed in a +candlestick, nor the fragrance of a sweet-smelling garden, so, though +ever so much he desired it, could not the virtue of the blessed Patrick +be concealed. For proceeding from him it drew after him many who had +been evil-disposed; and for the odor of his ointments many followed +him, so by the grace thereof the friends of the departed woman, being +attracted, brought her lifeless body unto the saint, and entreated with +lamentable entreaties that he would show now on her the power which +erewhile he had shown on others. And forthwith the man full of God +betook himself unto prayer; and he restored the dead woman unto life; +and afterwards she brought forth a son, and in a convenient season +thereafter, with her child, received baptism; and thus was each from +the death of the body and of the soul revived by Patrick before the +people. And all the multitude who beheld these things believed and +gave praise unto God. And the woman related what during her death she +had seen of the glories of heaven and of the pains of hell; and her +testimony was believed, and converted unto Christ many thousands. And +shortly after this miracle was renewed on another woman, who also died +in travail, and who was in like manner revived by the saint, and with +her child was baptized. + + + + +CHAPTER LXV. + +_How he builded a Church of Clay alone._ + +And Saint Patrick journeyed round Connactia, spreading through all that +region the Word of God; nor ceased he from his preaching nor from his +working of miracles until all the inhabitants thereof were converted +unto the true faith. And in many places builded he churches, and +appointed therein priests and other ecclesiastical ministers unto the +government of souls and the holy ministry. And on a time when the +saint was intent on his wonted work, he came unto a certain plain, +which, by its fair and pleasant site, was fitted unto the building of a +church; but neither wood nor stone could be found therein. For the +forest was a long way distant, and no axe could be found in those +parts, nor even, if found, did any of the inhabitants understand its +use. Therefore did this holy man offer up his prayers, and, being +helped of heaven, he builded there a church of clay alone, and it was +fashioned for that time in very handsome form, and it was endowed with +the divine grace. For well is it known to have suffered naught, +neither from the wind, nor from the snow, nor from the hail, nor from +the rain, nor from any other inclemency of the air; but from thence +even to this day is it seen to continue in its original state. And the +seat of Saint Patrick, wherein sitting he was wont to preach, is still +shown; and manifold and marvellous miracles are reported to have been +done there. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVI. + +_Of the two Rivers, Dubh and Drobhaois._ + +In that country were two rivers, whereof the one was called Dubh, and +the other Drobhaois; and the river Dubh was wont to abound with fishes, +but the other produced them not. And the saint, passing nigh the bank +of the fruitful river, entreated the fishermen that out of a great +draught which they had taken they would bestow their kindness unto him. +But they, wanting charity toward the beloved of the Lord, sent him away +empty, and wholly refused unto him even one fish. Therefore God, the +author and the lover of charity, from these fishermen, narrowed in +their hearts, and frozen with covetousness, withdrew their wonted gain, +and deprived that river of its perpetual abundance of fishes; and the +other river, which was called Drobhaois, did he immediately enrich +therewith. And this river, as being more fruitful, so is it clearer +than all the other rivers in Ireland. From whence a wise man may +understand that we should show charity unto every member of Christ, and +receive the friends of God and relieve them with all kindness. For +whatever honor, whatever kindness, we show unto them, that do we +assuredly show unto Christ; so whatever we unjustly take from or deny +unto them, of that doth God attest us to have defrauded Him. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVII. + +_Of the Voice that issued from the Sepulchre._ + +The holy standard-bearer of the Lord was accustomed to stop at the +head-stone of every Christian who was buried outside of a burial-place, +there to erect a cross; for he knew that in that country, then only +lately converted unto the faith, all the dead, by reason of the fewness +of the churches, could not be buried in consecrated ground; and +therefore the good pastor wished by that blessed token to distinguish +the sheep from the goats--namely, the Christians that were buried from +the pagans. So might the worshippers of Christ, beholding the sign of +life, understand that a servant of the faith of the cross was there +buried, and so might they not delay to offer unto the Creator their +prayers for his soul. Truly, a pious custom, and worthy is it of +general observance that all who were baptized in the death of Christ, +and are dead in his faith, should, when buried, have on them or near +them the ensign of the death of Him. + +And it came to pass that Patrick, in going out of Connactia, beheld +outside of a burying-place which was consecrated to God the graves of +two men who had been lately buried, and he observed that at the head of +the one was a cross erected. And sitting in his chariot, as was then +the custom, he bade his charioteer to stay, and, speaking to the dead +man as to one living, he asked him who and of what religion he had +been? And the voice answered unto him from the grave that he had been +a pagan, altogether ignorant of the Christian faith. "Why, then," said +the saint, "bearest thou the cross of Christ, thou who didst never +worship or acknowledge Him?" And the voice answered: "He who is buried +near me was a Christian; and some one of your faith, coming hither, +placed the cross at my head." Thus the voice spake, and was silent. +Then the saint descended from his chariot, and removed the cross from +that place, and fixed it at the head-stone of him who had been +baptized, and prayed for him, and went his way. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVIII. + +_Of his Journey, and of his manifold Miracles._ + +And going out of Connactia, after having confirmed that country in the +Christian faith, he went toward the northern part of Ireland, which is +called Dalnardia; and the people therein dwelling, by his conversation, +and by his example, and by his miracles, did he convert unto the faith +of Christ and the sacraments of the faith. Then he passed over the +mountain Ficoth, even to the great plain of Bregh, thus traversing +through Midia into Lagenia; and everywhere he preached the kingdom of +God, and certain of his disciples he advanced in fit places unto the +episcopal dignity. But by how many miracles his journey was graced, +how many diseased persons he healed, severally to relate, not even the +pen of the most eloquent could suffice. For divers received health, +not only by his touch or by his prayer, but even by the passing of his +shadow, as were he another Peter. So many as were not purified by the +healing water did he labor to persuade unto baptism; so many as were +already baptized, lest their faith should be perverted by the old enemy +or subverted by heretical doctrines, did he therein confirm. And since +faith, according to the Apostle James, is "dead without works," and +since a dead faith is no faith, this blessed preacher earnestly +persuaded the believers unto a holy and sincere faith by their diligent +working of good works. But they who, proceeding in all wickedness, +condemned his doctrine, and, rebelling against God, obstinately +persevered in the worship of devils, often at his prayer were they by +the suddenness of divine justice destroyed, as our relation has +hitherto declared, and will declare in the following pages. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIX. + +_The Prophecy of the Saint Concerning Dublinia; and the Sick Man cured._ + +And the saint, departing from Midia, directed his course toward +Lagenia, for the purpose of preaching there; and on his journey he +crossed a river named Finglas to a certain hill distant about one mile +from the village Athcliath, the which is now called Dublinia; and +looking on this place and on the country around it, and blessing it, +thus spake he, prophesying: "This village, now so small, in time shall +be renowned, and it shall be increased in riches and in dignity until +it be advanced the royal seat of a kingdom." How truly he spake the +proof of this time manifestly showeth. And he entered the village, and +the dwellers therein, having heard of the miracles which he had wrought +in the Lord, came forth joyfully to meet him; and the son of the lord +of that place, his only son, was even at the point of death, so that +many said he had already expired. Then, at the entreaty of the father +and of the rest who flocked around him, the saint went unto the sick +man's bed, and bended his knees on the earth, and prayed, and blessed +him then dying, and snatched him from the jaws of death, and in the +sight of them all restored him. And they who beheld this miracle +believed in the Author of life, and by the holy prelate were baptized +in His name. + + + + +CHAPTER LXX. + +_A Fountain is produced out of the Earth._ + +And Saint Patrick, while abiding in this village, was entertained at +the house of a woman who often in his presence complained of the want +of fresh water. For the river that ran near it was, by the flowing in +of the tide of the sea, made wholly salt of taste; nor before the +return thereof could any fresh water be obtained, unless drawn at a +great distance. But the saint, who continually thirsted after God, the +living fountain, compassionated the grievance of his hostess and of the +multitude then newly born unto Christ, and, the rather that they might +the more ardently pant toward the fountain of life, thought he fit to +show its virtue. Therefore on the morrow he went unto a certain place, +and in the presence of many standing around he prayed, and touched the +earth with the staff of Jesus, and in the name of the Lord produced +from it a clear fountain. Thus with the staff in the hand of his +preacher Saint Patrick did the Lord renew the miracle which of old time +he had deigned to work by the rod in the hand of Moses striking the +rock; there the rock twice struck flowed forth abundant waters; here +the earth once pierced poured forth a pure fountain. And this is the +fountain of Dublinia, wide in its stream, plenteous in its course, +sweet to the taste, which, as is said, healeth many infirmities, and +even to this day is rightly called the fountain of Saint Patrick. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXI. + +_The Dead are raised up; the King and the People are converted; a +Fountain is produced, and Tribute promised._ + +The divine Providence bestoweth on this transitory world the desire of +letters, to the end that the human race, which when death arrives +cannot long continue in the memory, may through distant ages preserve +the record of great events, and recall them as if passing before their +eyes. Therefore do those things appear to me very worthy of +remembrance which were done by Patrick, the illustrious preacher unto +the Irish nation, the holy prelate, who, by the grace of God, in his +evidences, his miracles, and his virtues, became the conqueror of the +old enemy, even to the gathering together the people of Ireland and her +kings, that they might serve the Lord; and at length he came unto the +noble city which is now called Dublinia. And it was inhabited by the +Norwegians and by the people of the Isles, having been conceded by the +King of Ireland unto the dominion of the queen, who was the daughter of +the King of Norwegia; and in course of time was it one while allied to, +and other while warring against, the kings of Ireland. Hither Saint +Patrick coming, found the city defiled with the abominations of idols, +and unknowing of the true Creator. And He who burst asunder the gates +of death and of hell smoothed the path for his servant; for the king +and the people, who erewhile had said unto the Lord, Depart Thou from +us, we will not the knowledge of Thy ways, so cast down were they, so +saddened with weeping and with lamentation, that all memory of their +wonted fierceness, all their barbarous rudeness, and all the pride of +their idolatry, were utterly subdued. Wretched was the spectacle on +that day! The twin hope of the kingdom, the delight of the city, the +solace of the old, the companion of the young, the son of the King of +Dublinia, lay in his chamber dead; and his sister, who had gone to +bathe in the neighboring river, had that day perished in the +mid-stream. And a tumult arose through the whole city; and the funeral +rites of the king's son being wholly neglected, all ran confusedly to +the shore; some, not even casting off their garments, plunge into the +river, some dive into its lowest depths, and others sail down the +course of the tide, lest haply the body of the royal damsel might +thitherward be hurried down. But they who had gone out to seek beheld +in the water the damsel lying down, even as one sleeping. They delay +not; they raise the royal maiden from the stream; they bear her unto +the chamber of her brother for her obsequies; and, according to the +superstition of the pagans, the tombs are prepared. And a rumor +gathers in the palace that he, Patrick of Ardmachia, who in the name of +the unknown God had already raised many that were even dead, had on +that day arrived in the city. This the king hearing rejoiced mightily; +and he caused him to come where his two children lay, and, being +already full of faith, he promised that if God at the prayers of the +saint would restore the children of his age, he and all his people +would worship him. And all the nobles confirm the promise of the king, +and the whole city yearneth toward the faith, so that the children may +but be revived. Then the saint, beholding the gain of souls which was +there prepared for him, poured forth his prayers, and in the sight of +the king and of the people restored to life the royal children; and +they, being made the assistants unto the faith, rising again in their +bodies, assisted in their father and in the people the resurrection of +souls. And this king was called Alphinus, and his son was called +Cochadh, and his daughter Dublinia, and from her the city received its +name. And he and all his people, rejecting their idols and all the +abominations of the devils, were converted unto Christ, and were +baptized at the fountain of Saint Patrick, at the southern side of the +city, which the saint, striking the earth with the staff of Jesus, had +caused to arise, to the increase of the faith of the believers; +wherefore did the saint offer there the sacrifice unto salvation; and +there, even to this day, is honor and reverence paid Saint Patrick and +his successors, the primates of Ardmachia. And from that time the King +Alphinus and all the citizens of Dublinia vowed themselves and all +their posterity to the service of Saint Patrick and the primates of +Ardmachia, and builded one church near this fountain, and another near +the Church of the Holy Trinity, and in the city westward of the +archbishop's palace. And they appointed a tribute unto Saint Patrick +their patron, which was unto the Archbishop of Ardmachia from every +merchant ship a sufficient cask of wine or of honey, a hook of iron, or +a measure of salt; from every tavern a vessel of mead or of ale; and +from every shop a gift of shoes, or gloves, or knives, or combs, with +many gifts of such kind. And on that day the king and his nobles each +offered unto him a talent of gold; but the people offered even as they +could, the which did Patrick, the poor in Christ, give unto the poor, +having retained a part unto the building of churches. Then blessed he +them with the blessings of Jacob the patriarch, and of Moses the +servant of God, like unto the age and spiritual bearing of whom he +appeared, prophesying, and praying, if their deeds agreed with their +words, that they might be unconquered and fortunate, but weak and +unhappy if ever they falsified their vows. Which plainly was proved +when this people, becoming proud and regardless of the blessing of the +saint, neglected to pay the appointed tribute. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXII. + +_Of the Sentence pronounced on Murinus._ + +And the saint having blessed and bidden farewell unto the inhabitants +of Dublinia, then by the power of his miracles confirmed in the faith, +preparing himself for the like work, set forward on his journey. And +he came unto a neighboring town, which is now called the Castle Cnoc, +where a certain infidel named Murinus governed. Him did the saint +desire to lead into the path of life; but this son of death, hearing +the fame of his virtue and of his wisdom, which he feared no one could +resist, absented himself from the saint, even as from a fierce enemy. +And the saint required him that he would at the least give unto him of +his abundance; but he, concealing himself in an inner chamber, required +him that he would at the least suffer him to sleep. The which commands +being of each oftentimes repeated, the saint, at the inspiration of the +Spirit, understanding him to be a child of perdition, exclaimed: "Let +him sleep, let him sleep; nor until the day of judgment let him awaken +or arise!" Then the saint departed, and the wretched man sank into the +sleep of death. Thus when the sleeper, covered with the darkness of +unbelief, refused to awake at the heavenly voice which called him from +the dead, that he might be illuminated of Christ, he descended into the +dark grave, there to remain for ever covered with the darkness of +death. Therefore, even to this day, it is among the Irish a frequent +imprecation on a feigned sleeper, Mayest thou sleep, as at the word of +Saint Patrick Murinus slept! + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIII. + +_Foylge is punished with a double Death, and the deceiving Fiend is +driven out of his body._ + +And in Lagenia was a certain wicked idolater named Foylge, who was an +eminent adversary of Christ, so far forth as he was able; this child of +Belial frequently sought occasion to lay on Patrick, the anointed of +the Lord, his impious hands, for to him it was very grievous not only +to see but even to hear the saint. To this inveterate malice was he +urged, for that the man of God had destroyed the aforementioned idol +Ceancroythi, unto the abominable worship whereof he was especially +bound. But when he could not effect his wicked purpose, he one day +attacked the charioteer of Saint Patrick, who was named Odranus; for he +seized him sitting in the chariot, and strangled him, so that by the +one act of blood his fury might be the more fiercely excited toward +another. And the saint, wounded in his heart, cast the weapon of his +malediction on this child of hell, who, pierced thereby, even at the +moment breathed out his soul into the infernal regions. Of some it is +said that Odranus, foreknowing the servant of Satan to be intent on the +death of the saint, obtained that in his stead he might on that day +hold the reins. And this he did, earnestly desiring to lay down his +life for the saint, lest, so bright a lamp being extinguished, the +people of Ireland should again walk in darkness. And the saint beheld +his soul borne into heaven by the angels, and placed in the seat of the +martyrs. But the old enemy, entering the dead body, showed to all a +false and feigned Foylge, as if revived unto life, and dwelled therein +as returned to his possessions and to his people. And after some days, +as Patrick was passing nigh unto the dead man's dwelling, he called +unto him certain of the family, and asked where Foylge was; and they +answered that he was then within in the house, when the saint replied: +"The soul of Foylge, for that he unjustly slew my chariot-driver, God +justly judging and vindicating my cause, hath gone cut of his body, and +descended into hell; but Satan, to the delusion and the seduction of +mankind, hath entered into his corpse, and occupieth it as his own +proper vessel." Then the saint forbade Satan that in that vessel he +should longer abide, or deceive mankind with so wicked a phantom. And +forthwith, at the command of the man of God, the deceiving spirit +quitted his habitation of clay; the which, covered with worms, and +raising horror and offence to all, was carried into instant sepulture. +Nor let it be wondered that the devil should show himself in the +visible form of his accustomed instrument, the God permitting whose +judgments are an abyss; but rather let Him be feared who can destroy +both body and soul in hell. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIV. + +_Of the Saint's Prophecy concerning the Kings of Momonia._ + +And the saint, going out of Lagenia, journeyed prosperously forward +into the country of Momonia. And the king thereof, who was named +Oengus, met the holy prelate, rejoicing and giving thanks in the +exultation of his heart, as on that day occasion was ministered unto +him of joy and of belief, for that in the morning, when he entered the +temple to adore his idols, he beheld them all prostrate on the ground. +And so often as he raised them, so often by the divine power were they +cast down; nor could they stand upright, but continually were they +overthrown. And as Dagon could not stand at the approach of the ark of +the testament, so neither could the idols stand at the approach of +Saint Patrick. And he may truly be called the ark of the covenant, who +in his pure heart, as in a golden urn, bore the manna of heavenly +contemplation, the tables of the heavenly law, and the rod of the +heavenly discipline. And the king brought him, with great reverence +and honor, unto his palace in the city of Cassel, because his mind and +his eye had long time longed for him, by reason of the manifold +miracles which he knew had been worked by the saint. And at his +preaching the king believed in the Holy Trinity, in the name of which +he is regenerated in the healing water of baptism. And after he had +blessed the king by touching his head, at his earnest and devout +entreaty the saint pierced his foot with the point of the staff of +Jesus. But the king, receiving his blessing with ardent desire, felt +in his body no pain of the wound, so much did he rejoice in the +salvation of his soul. Then did the saint behold the wounded foot of +the king, and imprinted on it the sign of the cross, and blessed it, +and healed the wound; and, full of the prophetic spirit, thus +prophesied he unto the king: "The blood of any king of thy race who +shall sit on thy throne shall never be shed, save of one alone." And +the inhabitants of this region, assert the prophecy to have been proved +by undeniable truth, inasmuch as history recordeth not one king of all +his posterity, even to the tenth generation, to have been slain, but +only one. And there remained in that place a tablet of stone, whereon +the saint is said to have celebrated the holy mysteries; and it is +called by the Irish Leac Phadruig--that is, the Stone of Saint Patrick; +and on this stone, for reverence of him, the kings of Cassel are wont +to be crowned and to be advanced unto the throne of their kingdom. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXV. + +_How Dercardius and his Companions were destroyed._ + +And thence the saint speeded unto Urmonia, that out of that place he +might pluck the thorns and the branches of error which, being planted +by the craft of the old enemy, had flourished there, and sow in their +stead the spiritual harvest. And a certain man of Comdothan, named +Lonanus, freely received him, and made unto him and the companions of +his journey a great supper. And the saint deemed right to impart the +spiritual and eternal food unto those who had prepared for him the food +which was perishing and earthly. And during supper, while the saint +labored to fill their minds with the word of life, a certain wicked man +named Dercardius approached, and with rude and importunate speech, nay, +even with clamor, wearying the ears of the saint, afflicting his mind, +and stopping his mouth, demanded of him food. The which the saint not +having at hand, blushed, and took unkindly the irreverence that +prevented him from preaching. But a certain man named Nessan, who +beheld how the just man's spirit was vexed, offered unto him a ram, +which the saint bade him give to the bold importuner. This receiving, +Dercardius returned to his companions, boasting that by his importunity +he had penetrated the stony heart of Patrick, even as the continual +dropping of water weareth out a stone. And they slay the ram, and +dress and eat it. And while the meat was yet in their mouths the anger +of God came on them, and suddenly avenged His servant; for the meat +turned to instant poison, and destroyed them all; wherein are we +sufficiently admonished not to offend the servants of God, lest we +offend the Almighty Himself, who will protect and defend them in the +time of their trouble. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVI. + +_Of the Quarrel of the Two Brothers._ + +The blessed Patrick, as the angel of peace, announcing by the blood of +Christ that peace which passeth all understanding, journeyed through +Ciarraghus. And as he journeyed, he beheld two brothers named +Bibradius and Locradius, who, their father having then lately been +buried, were dividing the inheritance; and they at first disputed with +their tongues, and at length they attacked each other very fiercely. +And when each brandished the sword unto the death of the other, the +saint feared exceedingly, lest even in his sight the crime of +fratricide should happen. Therefore unto the pity of these unpitying +men did he address his heart, unto prayer his mouth, unto blessing his +hand; and making their arms immovable as wood or as stone, he stayed +them in the air. And they, beholding themselves thus miraculously +prevented, ceased from the fury of their conceived sin, and, at the +bidding of the saint telling good tidings of peace and preaching +salvation, returned unto the mutual kindness of brotherly love. Then +he, the brothers being appeased, and his blessing being given unto +them, restored the power of their arms; and they offered him for the +building of a church the field wherein was worked this miracle. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVII. + +_Fourteen Thousand Men are miraculously refreshed with the Meat of Five +Animals._ + +And after that Patrick, the illustrious worker of miracles, had +fortified with his most holy admonitions the inhabitants of Momonia, +whom he had already filled with the faith, he turned to visit the +northern part of the island, the territories of the sons of Neyll, that +he might convert or confirm the dwellers therein. And the +aforementioned King Oengus, with twelve of his tributary kings, and +other of the chiefs who were subject unto him, followed the saint with +fourteen thousand men, desiring to be fed with the bread of life and of +understanding. And when they came unto the river Brosnach, where +Triamus the bishop, by birth a Roman, companion unto Saint Patrick in +his journey and his labors, dwelled in a place called Choibeach, he +desired to refresh all this multitude. Therefore he first fed them all +with spiritual food, and then bade them sit down unto supper. And +Triamus had one cow, by the milk of which he was wont to be sustained, +and he caused her to be slain for their repast. But what was this one +among so many? Then Patrick, the beloved of the Lord, addressed a +prayer unto heaven; and behold, two stags issued from one part of the +wood, and two boars issued from another part, and came unto him as +tamed and domestic. And these; giving thanks unto the most high Giver, +he in like manner bade to be killed, and, having blessed, he placed +before the multitude. And all the people ate, and were abundantly +filled; and the remnants, that nothing might be lost, were gathered up; +thus with the flesh of five animals did Patrick most plenteously feed +fourteen thousand men in the name of Him who, with five loaves and two +fishes, did feed four thousand. For he said: "He who believeth in me, +the works that I do, these shall he do, and greater than these," that +the Father may be glorified in the Son. And these miracles differ not, +though they vary in their number, for each was worked of the Lord, this +in Himself, that in His servant. Nevertheless, on the morrow was found +in that field a cow like unto the one that was killed and eaten, and it +was given unto Triamus, that he might be nourished of her milk. And +the rumor went forth among very many, affirming this to have been the +same cow revived by Saint Patrick. We, however, say that nothing is +impossible unto God, but that this was done we neither deny nor assert. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVIII. + +_Nineteen Men are raised by Saint Patrick from the Dead._ + +But to these wonderful acts succeed yet more wonderful, and evidently +show in His saint the wonderful God; for the next miracle deserveth +even higher admiration. And as Patrick was one day preaching eternal +punishment to those who resisted the commands of God, and the reward of +eternal life to those who obeyed, his words were confirmed by the +argument of an unheard miracle. For, lest any scruple of doubt should +arise in their hearts, he revived, in the sight of all, nineteen men +who had been dead and buried in their graves, one of whom, named Fotus, +had lain in his narrow house for the space of ten years. And all these +related the pains which they had suffered, and with one voice declared +that the God whom Patrick preached was the true and the living God. +Then the King Oengus and all his people, beholding these things, +glorified the God who is glorious in His saints, wonderful in His +majesty, and eminent in His miracles, such as are never seen on earth; +and they honored Patrick as the priest of the high God and His peculiar +apostle. And each returned unto his home, saying, This day we have +beheld a miracle. And they who had been revived were by Patrick +baptized, and, professing a penitent life, they took on them the +monastic habit, and, abiding with the blessed Triamus, they remained in +holiness and in faith even to their lives' end. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIX. + +_The King's Daughter becomes a Nun._ + +And Patrick came unto the country of Neyll, wherein reigned a king +named Echu, and he had one beloved daughter named Cynnia, whom he +intended at a fitting time to give in fitting marriage. And the damsel +unfolded to the saint her father's purpose, and he exhorted her to +deserve the reward of virginity even an hundred-fold; therefore, +rejecting worldly nuptials, she determined to offer herself an +undefiled offering unto her celestial Spouse, and to cherish Him in her +heart. And the king, beholding her thus steadily to preserve her +virgin purity, called unto him the saint, and thus he spake: "I had +determined that my daughter should continue unto me a long-descending +progeny for the confirmation of my kingdom and the solace of mine age; +but the succession is cut off, and mine hope is defeated by thee; if, +therefore, thou wilt promise unto me the heavenly kingdom, yet not +compel me unwillingly to receive baptism, my daughter shall become the +servant of thy God, even as thou hast exhorted her; otherwise will I +not be stopped of my desire, nor shall thy preaching prevail." And the +saint, confiding in, and committing all unto, the Lord, faithfully +promised what the king required. Then the damsel, being veiled and +consecrated, and serving the Lord in virginity and in the exercise of +all other virtues, brought by her example many unto His devotion; and +during her life and after her death she was renowned by divers +miracles. And the saint commended her unto the care of the holy virgin +Cethuberis, who first of all the women of Ireland had received from him +the veil, and to whom, being placed over the Monastery of Druimduchan, +with a great multitude of virgins serving Christ, the saint himself +addressed an exhortatory epistle. And in this monastery did Cynnia +abide, until at length with many holy virgins she rested there in the +Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXX. + +_The King Echu is raised from Death._ + +And after some time had passed, the King Echu was reduced to the bed of +sickness, and when he perceived that his strength failed, and the day +of his death approached, he sent a messenger to call Saint Patrick unto +him. And he strictly forbade that his body should be buried until the +arrival of the saint; for that he had promised unto him the heavenly +kingdom, and especially, that the king desired to receive from him the +heavenly baptism. Thus saying, he expired, and his body was kept for +the space of one day and one night unburied, in expectation of the +saint. And he, then abiding in the Monastery of Saballum, which was +distant two days' journey, knew in the spirit of the king's death, and, +ere the messenger could arrive, had made ready for the journey. And +the saint came, and mourned over the king, especially for that he had +died without baptism. Therefore prayed he unto the Lord, and loosed +him from the bonds of double death, and forthwith instructed in the +faith him restored unto life, and baptized him, and bade him that for +the edification of the people and for the proof of his preaching he +should relate what he had seen of the pains of the wicked and of the +joys of the just. And he told unto them many wonders, and there among +that in that heavenly country he had beheld the place which Patrick had +promised unto him; but, because he was not then baptized, he could not +enter therein; and so at the prayers of the saint his body was revived. +Then the saint enquired of him whether would he longer live in this +world, or instantly go into that place which was prepared for him; and +he answered that all the power, all the riches, all the delights of the +whole world, were to him but as the emptiest smoke compared with those +celestial joys which he had proved with the eye of faith. But I +entreat, said he, that I may be loosed from the body of this death, and +delivered instantly from this prison-house; for earnestly I desire to +be dissolved and to be with Christ. Thus having said, he received the +Eucharist, and, falling asleep in the Lord, went unto the place of +immortality. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXI. + +_A Man of Gigantic Stature is revived from Death._ + +And Patrick was journeying on a certain day for the wonted purpose of +his preaching; and he found near the road a sepulchre of wondrous +length. And his brethren who journeyed with him beheld it; but with +their very admiration could they not believe that the body of any man +was buried in such a tomb. But the saint affirmed that God could prove +it by the resurrection of this gigantic man, so that they did not +falter in the faith; for there was then no small doubting of the +general resurrection. Then prayed the saint earnestly that his acts +might be accorded with his words, and that thereby he might remove from +their hearts every scruple of doubt. Wonderful was the event, and to +past ages wholly unknown! The holy prelate, having first prayed, +signed the sepulchre with the staff of Jesus, and awakened from the +dust the buried man. Then stood one before them horrible in stature +and in aspect; and he looked on the saint, and, bitterly weeping, said +unto him: "How great thanks do I give unto thee, O beloved and chosen +of God! who even for one hour hast released me from unspeakable +torments and from the gates of hell!" And he besought the saint that +he might go along with him; but the saint refused, for that no man for +very terror could stand before his countenance. And being asked by +Patrick who he had been, he replied that he was the son of Chaiis, by +name Glarcus, formerly a swineherd of the King Leogaire; and that when +he was an hundred years of age, he was slain in an ambush by a certain +man named Fynnan Mac Con. Then the saint admonished him that he should +believe in the three-in-one God, and in His name receive baptism unto +salvation, so that he might escape that place of torment. And he +answered that he firmly believed in the God, whom he knew to be +almighty, and in his name desired to receive baptism. And he said that +while he had lived he understood of the Creator from the likeness of +the created; and though he knew Him not, yet loved he Him according to +his ability. Therefore he was baptized by Patrick, and forthwith he +expired, and was buried in his former sepulchre; and according to the +word of the saint, he was freed from his punishment. And the saint, +considering and commending the inestimable riches of the goodness of +God, exhorted them all earnestly, faithfully, and continually to love +God, and chiefly those who knew and understood Him, affirming that this +man had obtained so great a mercy through the earnestness of the love +which, though ignorant, he held toward God. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXII. + +_Of Another Man who was Buried and Raised Again._ + +And a certain prince who reigned in Humestia at the preaching of +Patrick believed, and, with all his people, was baptized. But when the +saint would have instructed him as to the general resurrection, he +could not easily bend thereto his faith, for in nowise could he believe +that the body which was once reduced into dust could ever be raised +again in the pristine state of its proper but improved nature. So when +the man of God, that he might reclaim him from his error, showed divers +testimonies of the Holy Writ, examples, signs, and miracles, he is said +to have thus replied; "If, by the virtue of Christ Jesus, thou shall +revive my grandfather, who has now been buried many days, then will I +believe in the resurrection of the dead which thou preachest." Then +the saint, being accompanied of the prince and all his people, went +unto the tomb, and signed it with the staff of Jesus; and he caused the +tomb to be opened, and, having prayed, to the admiration of all +present, and to the confirmation of the Catholic faith, he raised to +life the buried man. And he was of exceeding height and of terrible +countenance, yet much inferior to the aforementioned in his stature. +And him, relating the torments of hell, and devoutly asking baptism in +the name of Christ, did the saint baptize, and, when baptized, gave +unto his entreaty the Holy Eucharist; and placed him again, falling to +sleep, but sleeping in the Lord, in his former sepulchre. Then no one +of those present doubted of the resurrection of the dead, since it was +proved before their eyes by a testimony so credible, a miracle so +apparent. And this and the aforementioned miracle hath the saint +recorded in an epistle, addressed to a certain friend who dwelled in a +country beyond the sea, wherein, among other things, he sayeth: "The +Lord hath given unto me, though humble, the power of working miracles +among a barbarous people, such as are not recorded to have been worked +by the great apostles; inasmuch as in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ +I have raised from the dead bodies that have been buried for many +years; but, I beseech you, let no one believe that for these or the +like works I am to be at all equalled with the Apostles, or with any +perfect man, since I am humble and a sinner, and worthy only to be +despised." Now, let the hearer admire to what a point of perfection +this man had raised his mind, who, working so many and so great works, +yet thought so humbly of himself. And I truly admire in the saint his +extreme humility, beyond even his raising up of the dead. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIII. + +_Of the Boy who was torn in pieces by Swine and restored unto Life._ + +And another prince, named Elelius, strenuously resisted the doctrine of +the saint, nor ever opened his ears unto his preaching until misery +gave him understanding. For on a certain day his best-beloved son was +trampled on by the swine, and torn in pieces and almost devoured. +Which when the father heard, he rent his garments, and cast himself at +Patrick's feet, and, weeping, told unto him what had happened, and +promised him to believe in his God and obey his precepts, if, in His +name, the saint would revive his son. Then the saint commanded one of +his disciples, by name Malachia, by nation a Briton, that he should +restore unto life the dead and mangled youth. But he, disobeying and +disbelieving the word of the saint from the faint-heartedness of his +faith, thus answered: "Who is the man that may replace the bones which +are broken in pieces, renew the nerves, and restore the flesh, recall +the spirit to the body, and the life to the dead corpse? I will not +endeavor it, nor will I with such rashness tempt the Lord, nor essay a +work which I cannot finish." And the saint answered unto him: "Hast +thou not read the promise of the Lord? If ye ask anything from my +Father in my name, He will grant it unto ye: and again, If ye have +faith, though but as a grain of mustard-seed, ye shall say unto this +mountain, Move thou hence, and cast thyself into the sea, and it shall +be done." And he answering that often had he so read, the saint +rejoined: "Since, as much as in thee lieth, thou hast rendered naught +the word of the Lord, I prophesy unto thee that thou shalt possess on +earth but a poor and slender household, and in thy church shall be the +dwelling of one man only." Then commanded he two bishops, his +disciples Elbeus and Hibarus, that they should revive the dead youth, +adding that he would assist them with his prayers. And they obeyed the +commands of their father, and, being aided by his prayers, they +restored the torn and mangled boy not merely unto life, but unto his +former health and unto his beauty and his strength. Therefore the +prince believed, and with all his household and with all his people was +baptized. And in the place where this miracle was worked he builded a +church, and, in memory of Saint Patrick, and of the two bishops, and of +the revived youth, he erected four very huge stones. But what the +saint foretold of his disciple Malachia happened in due time. Why, +however, he did not this miracle himself, but willed it to be done by +his disciples, is, I confess, to me and many such as I, utterly +unknown. Yet by these things a wise man will understand that as Saint +Patrick, in the name of the Lord, raised this dead body and divers +others, so, what is still more excellent, his disciples, when enjoined +by his commands and assisted by his prayers, were enabled to work this +great miracle. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIV. + +_The Prayers of the Saint confer Beauty on an Ugly Man._ + +And among the chief men of Hibernia was one named Eugenius, who had +long resisted the preaching of the saint, but, being at length +compelled by the argument of the living Word, and convinced by +indisputable miracles, he at length believed, and, by the water of the +holy font, was renewed in Christ. And this man was rich and powerful, +but in his countenance and his person he was more deformed than all his +people. And after complaining of his deformity unto the saint, he +besought him to banish by the sending up of his prayers the hideous +ugliness of his face, and thereby show the omnipotence of his God, on +whom all the people believed. At length the saint, being moved with +the entreaties of the man thus ashamed of himself, asked to whose form +he would desire to be likened. Then he, regarding the people placed +around him, preferred the form of Roichus, an ecclesiastic, the keeper +of Saint Patrick's books; and this man was by birth a Briton, by degree +a deacon, a kinsman of the holy prelate, and beautiful in his form +above all men in those countries dwelling. Nevertheless was he a man +of most holy life, so that he might say with the Psalmist, "Lord, by +thy will thou hast added righteousness to my beauty!" But the saint +caused them to sleep in one bed and under one covering; and, standing +over them, he lifted his pure hands in prayer. Wonderful and unwonted +event! When they awaked and arose, not any difference appeared in +their countenance; the tonsure alone distinguished the one from the +other. And all who beheld admired; but more exceedingly joyful was he +who experienced in himself this miracle. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXV. + +_The Stature of the same Man is increased unto a sufficient Height._ + +And since the saint had gratified Eugenius by his form being thus +improved, he, confiding in his prayers, added another entreaty. For he +was of very low stature; and therefore he besought the holy prelate +that, as man can nothing prevail by his own merits, he would, in the +name of his God, add to his stature one cubit. Then Patrick bade him +to show the height which he desired; and he raised himself on tiptoe, +leaning on his erected spear, and stretched the ends of his fingers as +far upward as he could, and desired that his stature might reach unto +the measure of that height; and behold, at the prayers of the saint, +the man, erewhile a dwarf, increased thereto; and, lest the miracle +should be deemed the work of magic or of falsehood, in that stature and +in that form did he continue unto his life's end. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVI. + +_Of Saint Olcanus, the Teacher and Bishop, raised out of the Earth._ + +A certain prince, going on a journey, heard, not without much +amazement, a voice as if the voice of an infant weeping in a sepulchre, +and, staying, he bade his people to open the sepulchre; and within he +found a living boy nigh unto the dead mother. Him, by general advice, +did the prince raise out of the chamber of death, and bear unto Saint +Patrick, who, baptizing the child, named him Olcanus, for that he had +suffered much evil, and in a fit season sent him to be instructed in +letters. And he, being arrived at good stature, and being desirous of +learning, went into Gaul; and having long abided there, and acquired +much learning, he returned to his country; and being so returned, he +instituted schools, and taught many scholars who in after-time were +holy bishops. But this renowned teacher attained the episcopal +dignity, and, at length closing his life in much sanctity, was +illustrious even for many miracles. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVII. + +_How the Tooth of Saint Patrick shone in the River._ + +And on a time the saint, with his holy company, passed over a certain +river named Dabhall; and for that the day declined and the evening came +on, he prepared to pass the night near the bank, and pitched his tent +on a fair plain. And approaching the water, he washed his hands and +his mouth, and with his most pious fingers he rubbed his gums and his +teeth; but through age or infirmity one of his teeth, by chance, or +rather by the divine will, dropped out of his mouth into the water; and +his disciples sought it diligently in the stream, yet with all their +long and careful search found they it not. But in the darkness of the +night the tooth lying in the river shone as a radiant star, and the +brightness thereof attracted all who dwelled near to behold and to +admire. And the tooth so miraculously discovered is brought unto the +saint, and he and all around him offer thanks to the Almighty, who had +brought this thing to pass; and on that spot he builded a church, and +deposited the tooth beneath the altar. The which is famed for divers +miracles, and even to this day is called Cluayn Fiacal--that is, the +Church of the Tooth. And the tooth of Saint Patrick, like a radiant +star, shone by the same divine grace whereby, at the prayer of Samson, +the conqueror of the Philistines, a fountain of water streamed forth +from the jaw-bone of an ass. And this church is distant about five +miles from the metropolitan city of Ardmachia. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVIII. + +_The Saint Prophesieth of the Virgin Treha, and a Veil is placed on her +Head by an Angel._ + +While on a certain time the saint was baptizing in the holy font a +chief named Cartanus, together with his wife, he foretold unto the +woman that she should bring forth a daughter, unto whom he would give +the veil and consecrate a virgin to the heavenly Spouse. And in the +appointed time the woman bore a daughter, who at her baptism was named +Treha; and when her tenth year was completed, the damsel journeyed +toward Saint Patrick for the purpose of her consecration, but a marsh +that crossed the way prevented her. Fatigued, therefore, and anxious, +she sat upon the bank, and beheld afar off, with a longing eye and a +wistful mind, the place where the prelate abided. And he, at the +revelation of the Holy Spirit, knew of the damsel's journey and of her +desire; and he prayed, and removed thence the marsh, and; passing over +with unsoiled feet, he went unto her. And while the saint was +consecrating the virgin Treha, a veil is dropped on her head by the +angel of the Lord, and reaching even unto her lips, covering her eyes; +and the saint stretched forth his hand, willing to remove the veil from +her eyes; but the damsel humbly prevented him, saying, "I beseech thee, +my father, let the veil remain, even as it is placed on the head of +thine handmaid, that mine eyes may no longer behold the vanity of this +world, but rather may, looking inward, contemplate the brightness of +mine heavenly Spouse!" Therefore Patrick, rejoicing at the pious +purpose of the damsel, let fall her veil; and as it was at first placed +on her from heaven, through all her life, covering her eyes like a dove +and her knees like a turtle-dove, it remained as if it were joined to +her face. Thus did the covering of the sacred veil exclude every +alluring object from her eye, lest death should enter therewith. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIX. + +_Saint Patrick Prophesieth of the Sanctity of Saint Columba._ + +A certain prince named Conallus sought and obtained a blessing from the +saint. And with the like purpose came also his younger brother, +Fergus, who was one of the most powerful chiefs of the country. And +him, the holy prelate, having prayed, blessed, and laid his hand upon +his head with much solemnity and with peculiar devotion. But Conallus, +who was elder in birth and in dominion, seeing that the saint had +blessed his brother more earnestly and more devoutly than himself, +wondered and grieved mightily. Therefore Patrick, observing his face +unusually clouded, explained the cause of this so solemn benediction, +and, prophesying, said unto him: "I have blessed thy brother Fergus for +the sake of the blessed child that will be born of his race. For his +son Fedhleminus will beget a son who will be called Columba--a name +well fitted to his birth, since even in his mother's womb will he be +filled with the Holy Spirit. Forasmuch as he will be enriched with the +treasures of the divine wisdom and grace, rightly will he be called the +bright and shining lamp of his generation, and the prophet of the Most +Highest; and from the time that he cometh to the age of understanding +never shall a purposed falsehood issue from his lips." How truly was +this prophecy made of Saint Columba, who is called Coluimcille, and was +the founder of an hundred monasteries, he who would more fully know, +let him read the volume that has been written of the saint's life. + + + + +CHAPTER XC. + +_The River is Divided in Twain, and Blessed._ + +On a certain time Saint Patrick came unto a deep and impassable river +named Boallus; and as neither boat nor vessel was at hand, he prayed +and divided the river in twain, and made unto himself and his followers +a free passage. And raising his right hand, he blessed the river, and +even to this day the eastern part of the stream can be passed by +horsemen and by footmen; yet over the western part cannot any pass +unless in some vessel. And being so blessed, this river abounded in +fishes beyond all others. Then to his disciples marvelling, and +seeking to know the cause of this so great miracle, did the saint +answer: "The yet unborn son of life, who will be named Columba, after +the lapse of many years will live in this place, and the water thus +divided will, for several purposes, be needful unto him and his +fellow-militants in Christ, while its abundance of fishes will minister +food unto his brethren." And Saint Columba being after many years +born, when he became a man builded there a stately monastery, and by +his dwelling and by his works approved the prophecy of Patrick. + + + + +CHAPTER XCI. + +_The Prophecy that Patrick made unto Connedus._ + +And Saint Patrick visited the country of the Turturini, where he abided +for the space of seven weeks; and in that little space builded he seven +churches, one whereof he called the Lord's Church. For this was his +custom: that wheresoever he abided on the Lord's day, if he founded a +church there, he called it Domnhach--that is, belonging to the Lord. +And over one of these seven churches he appointed one of his disciples +named Connedus, a good and holy man, by degree a presbyter, and learned +in the divine law. And he, undertaking the government of this church +rather from obedience than from ambition, abided there only one week, +and then quitting it hastened to Saint Patrick. And the saint +enquiring the cause of his so speedy return, he answered that he could +not patiently endure the absence of his beloved father. "Nor is it to +be wondered," replied the saint, "since in that place there are not +children of life, but men of blood and devourers of cattle, of whose +sword thou standest in dread, and fearest that thy blood will be poured +out. Return, return securely, nor tremble before their face; for the +blood of no man shall in that place be shed, even from generation to +generation." Therefore, receiving this answer of Saint Patrick, the +venerable Connedus returned unto the government of his church; and, as +the dwellers in that country declare, the word of the saint has been +confirmed by many proofs. + + + + +CHAPTER XCII. + +_Of Mannia and the other Islands Converted unto God._ + +The saint, beholding in Hibernia that the harvest was great, but the +laborers few, passed over into Britain to obtain assistance in the +field of the Lord. And forasmuch as the pest of the Pelagian heresy +and the Arian faithlessness had in many places denied that country, he, +by his preaching and working of miracles, recalled the people unto the +way of truth. And many are the places therein which even to this day +bear witness to his miracles and are imbued with his sanctity. And he +brought away with him many learned and religious men, thirty of whom he +afterward advanced unto the episcopal office. Returning to Hibernia, +he touched at the islands of the sea, one whereof, Eubonia--that is, +Mannia--at that time subject unto Britain, he by his miracles and by +his preaching converted unto Christ. And among his miracles very +conspicuous was this: a certain evil-doer named Melinus, like Simon the +magician, asserting himself to be a god, and attempting the air with a +diabolical flight, at the prayers of the saint fell headlong, and was +dashed in pieces, and so perished. And the saint placed as bishop over +the new church of this nation a wise and holy man named Germanus, who +placed his episcopal seat in a certain promontory unto this day called +Saint Patrick's Island, for that the saint had there some time abided. +And the other islands being converted unto the faith, he placed over +them bishops from among his disciples--one over some, many over +others--and then he returned to Hibernia; for the saint was accustomed +to appoint bishops not only in cities, but even in towns and the more +crowded places, lest any who had been baptized should be deprived of +episcopal confirmation. And this did he provide that the faithful +might always have present unto them one who could minister the +episcopal office; while the diocese, being not too extended, needed not +to withdraw from them the presence and the care of their pastor. But +the dwellers in some of these islands, being aliened from the faith, +afterward renounced the law of God which Patrick preached unto them; +and therefore unto this day are they deprived of the special gift of +God which, through the prayers of Patrick, freed from all venomous +animals the islands that persevered in their faith. + + + + +CHAPTER XCIII. + +_Of the Saint's Prophecy concerning Six Priests, and of a Skin which he +bestowed to them._ + +Six priests, who were led by their unanimous desire of learning the +Scripture and of visiting holy places, quitted Hibernia to travel +beyond the sea, when by a happy chance they met the saint returning out +of Britain; and he blessed them with bended knees entreating his +benediction, and foretold that they all would be bishops. And the +saint observing one of them, who appeared elder and stronger than the +rest, carrying in his bosom all their volumes, for that he had nothing +wherein he might bear them in his hand, bade that a seal-skin should be +given unto him on which he was wont to stand while he was celebrating +the Mass, that he might make thereof a satchel. And they, receiving +with manifold thanks the gift of the holy man, prosperously journeyed; +nor from that day forth was there among them any want; but whether in +travelling or abiding in the schools, they always found an honest +sufficiency. Therefore they knew that the saint assisted them with his +prayers, and that the Lord, through his merits, continued unto them His +mercy. But in process of time, having thoroughly acquired all holy +learning, they returned to their own country; and shortly after, +according to the word of the saint, they were all made bishops. And +the names of these holy prelates were Lugacius, Columbanus, Meldanus, +Lugadius, Cassanus, Ceranus; but to mention the names of the bishoprics +we for good reason omit--for in many instances we avoid the names of +places and of persons, that we may not, by their uncouth barbarousness, +occasion disgust or horror to cultivated ears. However, these prelates +profited much the church of God by their conversation and by their +example, and closed their lives in much holiness; for they were wont to +relate many miracles to have been worked by the aforementioned +seal-skin, the which even to this day remaineth entire, and is +preserved as a relic in memory of Saint Patrick. + + + + +CHAPTER XCIV. + +_Saint Patrick Continueth his Preaching Three Days._ + +And Saint Patrick preached to many people gathered together from divers +parts unto a place in Hibernia called Fionnabhair, which, being +interpreted, is the White Field. And for three continual days and +nights he read and explained to them in their order the four holy books +of the evangelists; and all who heard him accounted that not more time +had passed than the space but of one day--so happily were they +deceived, so profitably were they delighted, by the words of grace +which proceeded out of his mouth. O profitable, delightful deception! +whereby falsehood is excluded and truth induced; whereby the time is +beguiled, and the night is stolen away, and one day is made to appear +as three days. Nor let the reader admire for that I call it a +deception when the prophet exclaimeth unto his Creator, "O Lord! Thou +hast deceived me," and when the Apostle Paul sayeth unto certain of his +disciples, "Being crafty, I deceived you with guile." Kind deception +which saveth souls! Blessed seduction which induces unto God! + + + + +CHAPTER XCV. + +_Of the Vision of the Blessed Brigida, and its Explanation._ + +And the blessed Brigida was at these meetings; and at one, having +reclined her head, she slept. And the holy prelate forbade that any +one should arouse the beloved of God until she herself would awaken; so +did it appear how evidently what is said in the Canticles agreed with +her; "I sleep, but mine heart waketh"; for that his heavenly Spouse +revealed unto her all His mysteries. And when the holy virgin awaked, +he enjoined her that she should tell unto them all what she had beheld +in her vision. And she, obeying the command of the saint, said: "I +beheld an assembly of persons clothed in white raiment; and I beheld +ploughs, and oxen, and standing corn, all white, and immediately they +became all spotted, and afterward they became all black; and in the end +I beheld sheep and swine, dogs and wolves, fighting all and contending +together." Then Saint Patrick expounded the vision, and said that the +whiteness pertained unto the state of the world as it then was; for all +the prelates and servants of the church were then fruitful and diligent +in faith and in good works, even according to the evangelic and +apostolic doctrine. And the things which were spotted belonged, as he +said, to the time of the succeeding generation, which would be pure in +faith, but stained with evil works. And the blackness, he said, was +the season of the following generation, when the world would be +profaned, not only with evil works, but with the renunciation of the +Christian faith. And the contest of the sheep and the swine, of the +dogs and the wolves, he pronounced to be the controversy of the pure +and impure prelates, of good and of bad men, which, after the lapse of +many years, would at length come to pass. And having said, he +departed. Now, that the vision of the virgin and the interpretation of +the saint are proved by indisputable truths no one, I think, will doubt. + + + + +CHAPTER XCVI. + +_Of the Angels of God, of the Heavenly Light, and of the Prophecy of +Saint Patrick._ + +The blessed Patrick was accustomed to visit frequently all parts of +Hibernia, and, as opportunity permitted or discretion required, to +abide therein. Wherefore he abided for seven years in Momonia, and as +many in Connactia; but he dwelled a much longer time in Ultonia, +wherein, first announcing the kingdom of God, he had brought its +inhabitants unto the faith of Christ, and whose country he had more +frequently in his perlustrations illustrated with his holy presence. +And whithersoever he went he converted unto the faith or confirmed in +the faith all his hearers. And on a certain time he was journeying +through that part of Ultonia which is called Dalnardia; became unto a +place named Mucoomuir, when his disciple, the aforementioned Benignus, +stayed his steps, and gazed upward, as contemplating something +wonderful in the heavens. For he beheld radiant choirs of angels +surrounding the place with heavenly brightness; and he heard them with +unspeakable melody singing the praises of the Creator. And he, +intently contemplating these wonders, was filled with inward joy; yet +understood he not what meaned the angelic presence, the glittering +light, the celestial psalmody. But after a short season it vanished +from before his eyes, and he, following the holy prelate, hastened his +course, that he might overtake him. And when the saint enquired of his +delay, he related unto him his heavenly vision. Then the saint, +instructed of heaven, expounded this effusion of light and this angelic +choir: "Know ye, beloved children, in that place shall a certain son of +life, named Colmanclus, build a church, and gather together many who +will be the children of light and fellow-citizens of the angels. And +he will become the prelate and the legate of all Hibernia; and being +eminent in his virtues and his miracles, after he shall have closed the +darkness of this life, he will be conveyed by the angels of God unto +eternal light and eternal rest." And in that place, after the process +of time, all those things happened according to the prophecy of the +saint. + + + + +CHAPTER XCVII. + +_The Temptation of the Nun is Subdued._ + +The venerable Benignus, among the other endowments wherewith the divine +grace had endowed him, excelled in the song of a sweet voice, so that +he penetrated the hearts and the ears of all who heard him. But as a +virtue or gift which is given from on high becometh unto many the odor +of life unto life, yet unto others the odor of death unto death, so out +of the melody of his voice did the tempter minister the occasion of +sin. For a certain nun, while she was delighted with the sweet singing +of Benignus, entertained at length a more earnest desire toward the man +of God, who nothing knew of this unhallowed flame, which hardly could +she control in her bosom. And the more vehemently did it burn for that +the strict discipline which was instituted by Saint Patrick, and the +difficulty of the very attempt, prevented the damsel from any secret +conversation with Benignus. Therefore, taught by woman's cunning, +feigned she extreme illness, and withdrew as unto her sick-bed, and +besought that from Benignus she might receive spiritual counsel and the +holy communion. For he had then attained the priesthood, and was held +in great veneration as one who adorned with his holy life the priestly +office. But Saint Patrick, at the revelation of the Spirit, was not +ignorant of what distemper did the nun labor. Whereupon he called unto +him Benignus, and bade him that he should visit the sick damsel and +minister unto her soul's health. And he, obedient unto his spiritual +father, having besought and obtained his blessing, entered the house of +the complaining damsel, and made the sign of the cross, as was Saint +Patrick's custom at entering any house, that so he might overcome the +snares of the enemy of man's salvation. Wonderful was the event, and +marvellous; unwonted, indeed, yet exceedingly profitable. The damsel, +raising her eyes at his entrance, beheld Benignus, very terrible in his +stature, and his face as breathing forth flames; and she beheld herself +bright with fire both within and without, and Saint Patrick standing +nigh, and covering his head with his hands. And from that hour, even +unto the end of her life, was the fire of human love extinguished in +her bosom, as if her body were of stone or wood, and not of flesh. And +afterward she loved Saint Benignus with a pure and a saintly love, and +she confessed that through his merits Saint Patrick had snatched her +from the fire of hell. Now, for me, I do much more admire this +quickening and refreshing of the soul unto life than the raising up of +any man from death. + + + + +CHAPTER XCVIII. + +_Of Saint Comhgallus, and the Monastery foreshowed of Heaven._ + +Oftentimes did Saint Patrick travel through Ultonia, very earnestly +teaching unto its inhabitants the Catholic faith. And not seldom he +turned, for the sake of rest for himself and his holy company, unto a +certain hill situated in a valley where afterward was builded the +Monastery of Beannchor. And sitting there, they beheld the valley +filled with heavenly light and with a multitude of the host of heaven; +and they heard, as chanted forth from the voice of angels, the psalmody +of the celestial choir. Then did all who beheld this wondrous vision +earnestly entreat of Saint Patrick that in that place, consecrated of +heaven, he would build a church. But the saint refused, and prophesied +unto them: "When threescore years have passed away, then shall a son of +life be born, and his name shall be Comhgallus, which is, being +interpreted, the Beautiful Pledge; for he shall be beloved of God and +of man, and beautiful in his manners and in his merits; and he shall +happily go forward, and reign with Christ, and be accounted among His +pledges. And in this place, which is fore-showed by the heavenly +light, shall he build a church, wherein he shall collect innumerable +troops of the children of life, to be bound by the yoke of Christ." +And of all these things which Patrick foretold, not one jot hath passed +unfulfilled. But at the prophesied time Comhgallus was born, and in +the ripeness of his years and of his virtues, even in that place named +Beannchor, he builded a most stately monastery, wherein he brought +forth unto Christ many thousands of holy monks. And this saintly +place, so fruitful of saints, even as a vine increasing the sweetness +of its odor, extended its shoots unto the sea and its branches beyond +the sea; for it filled with monasteries and with pious monks Hibernia, +Scotia, and many islands, and even foreign regions, inasmuch as we +gather from ancient writers that one of the children of Beannchor, +Luanus by name, founded of himself an hundred monasteries. And +another, named Columbanus, a man most holy, and filled with the +abundance of all graces, as having instituted many monasteries, may be +accounted the father of innumerable monks. And he first presided over +the renowned Monastery of Luxovia, in Gaul, and then over that of Bobi, +beyond the Alps, wherein, having shone with many miracles, he now +resteth in peace. Thus is the prophecy of Saint Patrick seen to be +fulfilled. But of the antiquity of the church of Beannchor needless is +it to speak further here, inasmuch as it is most amply described in the +acts of those holy saints, Comhgallus, who was the first abbot of that +place, and Malachia, the bishop, who was the legate in Hibernia of the +apostolic chair. + + + + +CHAPTER XCIX. + +_The Saint Prophesieth of the Obstinate Fergus and of his Children._ + +And the saint came unto Assul, which was within the territories of +Midia, where it seemed good to him in a fitting place to build a +church. But a certain wicked man, named Fergus, who therein dwelled, +was to him an especial hindrance, that he might not accomplish his +purpose. Then the saint, willing to express the hard-heartedness of +this man rather by signs than by words, with the staff of Jesus made +the sign of the cross on a stone there placed, and immediately the +surface of the stone appeared divided into four parts, and showed the +form of the cross thereon portrayed. Yet did this man, stiff-necked, +and of heart more hard than stone, refuse to be melted unto penitence; +but his wife, who was then in travail, entreated pardon of the saint, +and fell at his feet. And the saint, beholding him thus hardened in +perverseness, spake unto him with prophetic voice: "Even thus, had it +so willed, could the power of God have dissolved thee at the word of my +mouth. But since thou canst not, nay, wilt not, believe, though the +long-suffering of God hath led thee unto repentance, shalt thou, +according to thine impenitent heart and the hardness of thine +obstinacy, treasure up stores of wrath which right soon shall come upon +thee. Quickly shall God consume thee from the face of the earth, nor +shall any of thy seed reign ever in this land, nor in any other land +shall they prosper, save only the infant alone which thy wife now +beareth in her womb, for on him shall my blessing come." And all these +things which were prophesied of the lips of the saint unto the father +and unto the offspring did happen. + + + + +CHAPTER C. + +_The Malediction of the Saint is laid upon the Stones of Usniach._ + +And with the like intention of building a church, this servant of +Christ turned unto a certain very renowned place named Usneach. But +two brothers, by name Fiechus and Enda, ruled in those parts; and unto +them and unto their offspring the saint prophesied, if they would so +permit him, many blessings in this world and in the next; yet not only +turned they their ears from his entreaty and from his preaching, but +violently expelled him from the place. Then the saint, more grievously +taking the hindrance of his purpose than his own expulsion, began to +cast on them and on their seed the dart of his malediction. And +Secundinus, his disciple, caught the word of his lip, and, ere he could +finish, entreated and said unto him: "I beseech thee, my father, that +thy malediction be not poured forth on these men, but on the stones of +this place!" And the saint was patient, and he was silent, and he +assented. Wonderful was the event! From that day forth are these +stones found useful unto no building; but if should any one thereunto +dispose them, suddenly would the whole work fall down and tumble into +pieces. And they admit not the heat of any fire, nor, when plunged +into water, do they hiss like other stones; whence it hath become a +proverb in that country, when at any time a stone falleth from a +building, that it is one of the stones of Usneach. But Enda repented +of the injury which he had offered unto the saint, and cast himself at +his feet, and besought his pardon, and obtained and deserved it. And +he had nine sons, the youngest of whom, named Cormacus, he offered unto +Saint Patrick, to be subject to the divine command, together with the +ninth part of all his land; and another brother of his, named Leogerus, +was converted unto the faith, and gave unto the saint, with his nephew, +fifteen villages. And Saint Patrick baptized the boy, and educated and +instructed him; and the boy increased in years, in wisdom, and in +holiness, and at length, being renowned in virtue and in miracles, +rested he in the Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER CI. + +_Of the Woman in Travail, and of her Offspring._ + +A certain prince, named Brendanus, who was then lately baptized, +earnestly besought the saint that he would bless a certain pregnant +woman; for he believed that his blessing would much avail unto her and +her offspring. And the saint, assenting to his petition, raised his +hand; but suddenly, before he had given the word of blessing or had +made the sign of the cross, he drew it back. For, at the revelation of +the Spirit, he knew that her child was conceived of Coirbre, of whom he +had prophesied that not one of his succession should remain. But why +the saint thus did the prince marvelled, and unto him the man of God +delayed not to declare the mystery nor the cause thereof. Then did he +the more earnestly entreat the saint that at least he would in some +other manner vouchsafe to bless the woman and her offspring. And +Patrick, raising his right hand, blessed her, and said: "The infant +which thou bearest in thy womb shall not reign, for the word that in +the name of the Lord I have spoken on Coirbre and on his seed shall +stand fixed; yet shall he be one of the chiefs of the land, and very +needful shall he be unto the king and unto the kingdom." And what the +saint foretold without doubt happened. + + + + +CHAPTER CII. + +_The Bishop Saint Mel catcheth Fishes on the Dry Land._ + +And the aforementioned Mel, a man of exceeding desert, who with his +most holy brothers, Munius and Kiochus, had come from Britannia unto +Hibernia, being promoted by Saint Patrick himself unto the episcopal +degree, became the assistant in the preaching. And he, like the +Apostle Paul, labored to live by the labor of his own hands; and what +was given unto him by the rich bestowed he on the poor. And with this +blessed man, as being her nephew, Lupita, the sister of Saint Patrick, +abided in one house (for such was the custom of the primitive church), +that by his conversation and example she might profit in the exercise +of all holy duties. And after some time had passed, when the pious +prelate, as he was wont, would arise in the middle of the night to +confess unto the Lord, this holy woman would compose herself to sleep +and cover herself with the skins in his bed. And they suspected not +that any evil suspicion would be formed thereof, for they accounted of +the minds of others from the purity of their own conscience. But some +one, holding this her familiarity with the bishop to be naught, +divulged it abroad. And as the tongue of the people is ever open unto +the spreading of scandal, it could not long lie hidden from Saint +Patrick. Then he, desiring to try whether so the matter was, repaired +unto the house of the bishop. But Mel, preferring to prove his +innocence by a token rather than by an oath, ploughed up the earth on a +certain hill, and took by the ploughshare many and large fishes out of +the dry land; and these he offered unto the saint as a miracle, that no +suspicion might continue in the beholders, inasmuch as such a token +could not ever be showed by an impure hand. And the sister of Saint +Patrick, gathering her vest around her bosom, filled it with live +coals; and these she carried a sufficient way, and shook them thereout +before the saint without any mark of a scar or of other hurt, proving +thus her innocence. Then the saint, beholding these evident proofs, +pronounced each to be pure and justified; yet took he care to ordain +what to them and to many others would be right profitable. And first +addressing the bishop, he bade him that he should thenceforth plough on +the land, and fish in the water, lest he should seem to tempt the Lord +his God; then, that he should not presume to glory in any miracle +worked by him through the divine grace; and, lastly, the saint gave +command that the men should be divided from the women, and that +distinct dwellings and oratories should be builded for either sex. +Thus truly, as Saint Patrick said, the name of God would not through +them be dishonored among the nations to whom they preached it; nor +would in such case occasion of scandal be given unto the weak, nor +cause of reproach afforded. And what he ordained and appointed, that +did Saint Patrick make to be observed. + + + + +CHAPTER CIII. + +_The Footprints of Certain Virgins are impressed on a Stone._ + +And on a certain day the saint veiled and consecrated and espoused unto +the heavenly Spouse four virgins standing on one stone. Then did an +event marvellous and unwonted appear. Even unto this day are seen +impressed on the hard stone the footprints of the virgins which were +consecrated unto God, that to all it might be seen how deeply could the +prayer or the preaching of the saint penetrate even stony hearts. And +hereby may we understand that they who, for the love of Christ, contemn +the world, should continue in the hard way, that they might attain Him +unto whom they have approved themselves. And the place wherein these +virgins were consecrated is called Tedna; and for the servants of the +Lord is there builded a church, which at this day pertaineth unto the +metropolitan seat of Ardmachia. + + + + +CHAPTER CIV. + +_The Earth is raised in the midst of the Stream._ + +And Saint Patrick, for the sake of passing thereover, came unto a very +great river named Synnia, between Midia and Connactia, which was +impassable of all, save only by vessels. And he long time sought a +vessel, but found it not. Then prayed he unto the Lord, who erewhile +had made a way through the sea and a path through the deep waters, and +immediately the earth at the divine bidding was raised in the middle of +the stream, and to the saint and his company it afforded a free +passage. And when they had reached the bank, his charioteer dropped +dead; and on that spot was a church builded, which to the church of +Ardmachia now of right belongeth. + + + + +CHAPTER CV. + +_Of the Altar and the Four Chalices discovered under the Earth._ + +In that place where the prayers of Saint Patrick had dispersed the +darkness which had been raised by the magicians, a church was builded, +wherein he promoted one of his disciples, named Ailvius, unto the +priesthood, that he there might minister. And he complained unto the +saint that the matters needful for his ministry were wanting unto him. +Then the saint, instructed of heaven, showed him under ground an altar +of wonderful workmanship, having at its four corners four chalices of +glass, and enjoined him to dig them forth carefully, lest perchance +they should be broken; and the priest did accordingly, and found all +things as the saint had foretold. But by whom this altar was made, or +with the chalices there deposited, to me is yet unknown. Some, +however, think that they were placed there by Palladius or his +associates, being placed there after his departure. + + + + +CHAPTER CVI. + +_A Treasure is Twice discovered in the Earth by Swine._ + +It seemed good unto the saint to build in a certain plain a church, +wherein he might gather together unto God the people of his conversion; +for the which purpose he entreated from the owner of the inheritance +that a place should be prepared, promising unto him the portion of +eternal life. But the man, accustomed to the magicians' arts, held as +naught that portion so worthy to be desired, requiring rather gold, for +the which he cherished an accursed appetite. And the saint replied +that at that season gold had he none, for that he had expended all +which he had possessed in the building of churches and in relieving the +poor. But when he could no otherwise prevail, having first prayed, he +went unto a hole in the earth which had been delved up by swine, and +therein found he as much gold as he required, and gave it in exchange +for the land. And there was another man possessing a neighboring +field, the which the saint earnestly entreated might be given unto the +said church. Wherefore this man answering as even did the other, again +the saint repaired unto the delved hole, and found therein an equal +weight of gold, and gave it to the man for the purchase of his field. +Thus did the Lord thrice show unto Saint Patrick gold in the earth +delved up by swine: once for his own redemption from captivity, twice +in this place for the enrichment and endowment of a church. And the +latter of the two brothers, Ono by name, was touched in his heart, and +not only restored the gold unto the saint, but even gave unto him for +the founding and building of a church his own house, his inheritance, +and all his substance; and the place is called Alfind, wherein to this +day is held the seat of a bishop. + + + + +CHAPTER CVII. + +_Saint Patrick prophesieth of the two Brothers._ + +But what the saint at the revelation of the Spirit foretold of the two +brothers should not be passed over in silence. For to the elder, who +had preferred Mammon and gold before his prayers, he predicted that he +and his seed should in a little time lose the possession of their +inheritance; and to the younger, for the devotion of his soul toward +him, predicted he many good things--that he should in that land be the +coadjutor of kings, and that of his race the holiest priests of the +Lord should be born. And none of those things which the saint foretold +in anywise failed in the event. + + + + +CHAPTER CVIII. + +_The Penitence of Asycus the Bishop._ + +And over this church Saint Patrick placed one of his disciples named +Asycus, who was both in habit and demeanor a monk, the first bishop. +And he, at the advice of the saint, instituted therein a college of +monks, the which he governed with the privileges of an abbot. But this +man, on a certain time, while he ought to have spoken the truth, +backsliding with a slippery tongue, uttered forth a falsehood. And +immediately he set himself against his own face, and in the bitterness +of his sorrow banished he himself, and, flying from human-kind, +remained in solitude, and abided he there seven years beheld of none. +And his monks sought him long time; and at the end of the seventh year +they found him in the depth of a valley, and they strove even by force +to bring him thence unto his church, and to compel him as a bridegroom +unto the bosom of his spouse. But the bishop in nowise yielded unto +them, accounting himself no longer worthy to exercise the priestly +office; since from his mouth had issued a purposed falsehood, the which +the sacred canons define to be sacrilege in the mouth of a priest. +Whereby it is to be considered how deeply should they repent who of +their own fault have fallen into the heaviest offences, when this holy +man so deeply repented of, and so strictly atoned for, one falsehood +alone. Alas! what hearts of clay do they bear unto the resistance of +sin, but what hearts of stone unto repentance! For many men, wicked, +sinful, abandoned in their lives (the which cannot be observed without +grief), take on themselves the cure of souls, and think to wash away +the guilt of others with their own denied hands; who, being themselves +bound with the chain of mortal sin, desire to loose others' bonds, and +thus heap on themselves increased offence. These men, being placed +under the spiritual control, can repent of and atone for their own +guiltiness, but, when seated in the pastoral chair, bound are they to +account for the faith of all those who are entrusted to their charge. +Since, then, the words of a priest must be either a truth or a +sacrilege, terrible is the judgment on those priests whose tongue is +defiled with falsehoods and with perjuries. Thus much let us show, as +speaking by digression, how earnestly not only crimes and evil deeds, +but even falsehoods, are to be avoided by all Christian men, and +especially by the pastors of souls. Now let us return unto the thread +of our sacred story. The aforementioned monks, unwilling to separate +from Saint Asycus, continued with him even unto the end of his life; +and after he was buried, building there a monastery, served they the +Lord in holiness and in truth. + + + + +CHAPTER CIX. + +_The Tempest of the Sea is Composed._ + +While on a certain time Saint Patrick was preaching unto the heathens, +for the sake of instructing and baptizing them, he made in that place a +long stay. But his disciple Benignus was grieved thereat; and the +saint declared that he would not depart until his disciples and pupils +should arrive from foreign regions. And one day he beheld the sky to +grow dark, and the ocean to be perturbed and shaken with a strong wind. +Then the saint, covering his face for very sorrow, showed unto his +attendants his sons which were born unto him in Christ laboring under +grievous peril; and he was sorely afflicted for them, and feared he +chiefly for his young pupil, the son of Erchus; but when every one said +that the vessel could not endure so violent a storm, forthwith the +saint betook himself unto prayer. And after a short space, even in the +hearing of them all, he bade the winds and the waves, in the name of +his God, to rest from their wrath. O wonderful event! and worthy of +admiration. Forthwith the wind surceased, the ocean became silent, the +tempest is appeased, and a great calm is made. And on that day the +aforementioned brothers happily landed, and told unto all around what +they had suffered from the elements which were turned unto their +destruction, but afterward composed by the powerful prayers of the +saint. + + + + +CHAPTER CX. + +_The Miracle of the Waters is Repeated._ + +And at another time the aforementioned brothers, for the purpose of +visiting Saint Patrick, took their way on foot over the sands of the +sea-shore. And as they walked along, communing on the way together, +behold, the flowing-in of the tide surrounded them, and, preventing all +escape, smote them with the fear of death. Then the saint, instructed +of heaven, saw their peril, and, showing it unto his disciples, +professed that he grieved for them. Then, having prayed, he commanded +the tide of the sea, by the powerful virtue of his word, speaking in +the name of the Lord God, that it should instantly retire, and leave +unto his sons who were about to visit him a safe and quiet passage. +And forthwith the sea obeyed the voice of the man of God, and retired; +and this company of brothers, rejoicing and lauding God, came unto +Saint Patrick, and, for so great a miracle, turned the hearts of all +which heard them unto the praise of the God who worked such wonders in +His saints. + + + + +CHAPTER CXI. + +_Of the Cowl of Saint Patrick which remained untouched by the Sea._ + +And on a time, having sailed on a certain way, Saint Patrick landed +with his religious men, and, going out on the dry land, perchance he +left his cowl on the shore. And being landed, they sat together, and +conferred on heavenly things, and refreshed themselves with the comfort +of mutual colloquy. Then the sea, rising as it was wont, covered the +surface of the sands, and was nigh unto bearing with it and carrying +away the cowl of the prelate. And this the saint observing, in the +name of Him who hath power in heaven and on the earth, in the sea and +in all the deeps, enjoined the tide of the sea that it should not touch +his cowl or bear it away. Wonderful was the event! The +flowing-forward of the sea filled the whole accustomed space, save that +spot alone whereon the cowl lay, and that did it leave untouched. And +after the tide had receded, the saint caused the cowl to be brought +unto him; and the miracle excited all who beheld it unto the praise of +God and the veneration of Saint Patrick. And thenceforward were they +all more ready to submit unto Him whose commands the mute element was +thus sent to obey. + + + + +CHAPTER CXII. + +_Of the Veil that was sent from Heaven._ + +And there was a time when Patrick was about to consecrate two virgins +in a field within the territory of Cregrus, and a veil sent from heaven +dropped into the bosom of the saint, the which, devoutly receiving, he +offered unto the virgin so soon as she was consecrated. But she, +deeming herself unworthy of a commendation so holy, said unto him: +"Since this most excellent and powerful gift, descending from the +Father of Light, is not sent unto me a sinner, I account it right that +thou, on whom it has fallen, shouldst keep it or bestow it on another +who is worthier than me." Then the saint, applauding the virgin's +lowliness, placed the veil on her head, enjoining that she should wear +it continually until she should be introduced unto the chamber of her +heavenly Spouse. And the virgin obeyed the command of the saint, and, +living a holy life, at length she rested in the Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER CXIII. + +_Of the Holy Leper, of the New Fountain, of the Angelic Attendance, and +the Prophecy of Patrick thereon._ + +And Saint Patrick, induced by his holy custom, retained with him a +certain leper, unto whom with intent devotion he ministered all things +needful for the sake of Christ. Even with his own hands cleansed he +his sores, and refreshed in him either man with fitting food. For the +leper, the health of his body being almost destroyed, earnestly studied +to preserve the health of his soul, and was continually intent on +prayer and on rendering thanks unto God. But when wasted with his +leprosy, he feared lest he should become an offence unto all, and +privily and humbly he withdrew himself from society, and lived solitary +in a hollow tree that he by chance had found. And while he sat there +alone he beheld a certain man passing by, and he called the man unto +him, and asked him of his religion; whom, answering that he was a +Christian, he besought that for the love of Him in whom he believed he +would not delay to go unto the nearest place which was full of +bulrushes, and, pulling up the bulrushes by the roots, to bring unto +him a bundle thereof. And at his entreaty, or rather, at his +adjuration, the man went unto the place; he pulled up a bulrush, and +immediately a clear fountain burst forth; and he bore the bulrush unto +the leper, and related of the new fountain. Then the leper rejoiced +and gave thanks unto God, and said unto him: "Knowest thou not, most +dear brother, that our Lord Jesus Christ brought thee hither that thou +mayest wash my body in the water of that fountain, and bury me there?" +Thus the leper said, and, raising his eyes and his hands towards +heaven, he expired; and the man washed his body in the fountain, and +beheld no mark of leprosy thereon, and committed it without spot to the +sepulchre, and departed. And after some days Saint Munis, the devout +bearer of many relics of saints, was returning from Rome, and of +necessity abided there for one night. And in the silence of the +night-season he beheld a great light to cover the place, and he heard +angels hymning and watching even until the morn around the tomb of the +buried leper. And all these things reported he unto Saint Patrick, +saying that he wished to remove the body from that desert place. But +Saint Patrick forbade this to be done, foretelling that a certain son +of life, named Keranus, but as yet unborn, should there dwell, who +should fill that place with a worthy company of holy men, and exalt the +body of the saint with much honor. And what Patrick foretold in the +course of time came to pass; the place is between Midia and Connactia, +and therein is situated the city of Cluane, in which even to this day +is an episcopal seat. + + + + +CHAPTER CXIV. + +_Of the Lake which was removed by Saint Patrick._ + +The aforementioned Saint Munis, being returned from Rome, disliking +after so long a journey the fatigue of any further travel, besought +Saint Patrick that as he had provided rest for his brethren who +possessed churches, so he would provide for him a dwelling suited unto +contemplation. Therefore the saint, knowing that although he loved +internal quiet, nevertheless he would be right profitable unto the +salvation of many, offered unto him a fitting place, saying: "Behold a +hill; behold a valley; build and inhabit where it seemeth pleasant unto +thine eyes; yet know thou this: if thou wilt build in the valley, thou +mayest bring many souls unto God; but if thou abidest in the hill, thou +wilt gain not so many, by reason of the vanities and delights which +will attract their eyes, and for very many other causes and reasons." +And Munis, foreadvised and forewarned by the Holy Spirit, answered +thus: "Neither of the hill nor of the valley do I complain, but of the +neighboring lake, nigh unto which is a royal dwelling; for the crowding +thither of courtiers and of other secular persons would unto me be an +exceeding trouble, and a disturbance unto the Sabbath rest of my mind." +Then Saint Patrick, encouraging him, said that God would easily remedy +this trouble, and, retiring a little space, poured he forth powerful +and prevailing prayers in the presence of God. And on the following +night the Lord removed the lake, with all its dwellings and dwellers +thereon, so far distant that his servant sustained thence neither +trouble nor damage. And Saint Munis, abiding there, builded a church, +unto which Saint Patrick bestowed certain relics of the holy Apostles +Peter and Paul, and of very many saints, and other ornaments, the which +were necessary unto its ecclesiastical ministry. And for his +conspicuous virtues he was afterward, although reluctant thereto, +advanced unto the episcopal office, for he was renowned for many +miracles; and at length he rested in the Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER CXV. + +_Patrick understandeth the Conscience of Saint Fiechus, and blesseth +him._ + +There was a certain youth, named Fiechus, a scholar of Dubhtachus the +bard, and he was docile of disposition, subtle of wit, florid of +eloquence, and beauteous of form. And a few years before he espoused a +damsel who then had lately deceased, of whom was born unto him one only +son. Him walking with his aforementioned tutor did the saint meet, +and, the Spirit revealing it unto him, at the moment, even with the +glance of his eye, understood his conscience, and in the presence of +all exclaimed: "Behold the husband of one wife, who, according to the +apostle, may worthily be advanced unto the priesthood, nay, even unto +the episcopate!" Then began he to expound unto Fiechus the doctrines +of the faith, and advised him unto baptism. And the youth marvelled at +the words of grace which proceeded from the lips of Saint Patrick; and +chiefly for that so soon the saint had divined his secret and +understood all the passages of his life. Therefore he believed, and +took on him baptism; and after his tutor had long time withstood, but +at length consented, he devoted himself unto the direction of the holy +bishop. And the holy bishop blessed him, and gave unto him the +alphabet written with his own hand. And being thus blessed, in one day +he learned the whole Psaltery, and in a short time, the spirit of +wisdom and knowledge inspiring him, he sufficiently understood the +Scriptures; for no delay can there be where the Holy Spirit descends to +be the teacher. And Saint Patrick advanced him unto the ecclesiastical +order, and, after he had worthily ministered in each degree, +consecrated him the bishop of the Church of Scleptus. And Fiechus was +eminent in his life, in his learning, and in his miracles; and being +directed by the angelic command, he took on him the habit of a monk, +and builded in his episcopal seat a stately monastery. + + + + +CHAPTER CXVI. + +_The Chariot is, by the Decision of the Angel, sent unto Fiechus._ + +The blessed Patrick gave order that a chariot should be prepared unto +Saint Fiechus, for that he, being weighed down by infirmity, could not +go on foot to visit his diocese and discharge his episcopal duties. +For he was reduced with exceeding abstinence, and moreover he was +afflicted with a disease in his hip. And Saint Secundinus, this +observing, felt in his mind certain worldly feelings, and was +displeased, and insisted that the chariot should rather be given unto +himself than unto Fiechus. And the holy prelate, seeing his +displeasure, sought rather to satisfy him with a sign than by argument, +saying: "Be not displeased, most dear brother, at this little gift +which we have given unto our brother and fellow-bishop, lest occasion +of reproach should be afforded to the evil one; for this our brother, +who is infirm, needeth the chariot more than doth any one among us. +But that I may not seem to err in my judgment, let this matter be left +to the heavenly decision." Then the angel, appearing at the prayer of +the saint, bade the horses to be yoked unto the chariot, and to be sent +forward without a charioteer; and at whichsoever they should stop, to +him should the chariot be given. And it was done as the angel +commanded, and the saint bade the chariot to be yoked; but the horses, +no man guiding them, went through irregular and devious paths, and came +in the evening to the dwelling of Secundinus, and, being unyoked, were +turned there to pasture. And in the morning, no man yoking them, they +were yoked to the chariot, and in like manner going unto the mansion of +a certain other saint, there they stayed the night. And on the third +day they hastened unto Saint Fiechus, and stayed there, and evidently +showed that they were intended for him. Yet would not the saint ascend +the chariot, until the angel had certified him that unto him the gift +was sent. And at another time was this miracle in like manner repeated +of two horses which were by Saint Patrick himself intended for Fiechus, +and to be yoked unto his chariot. + + + + +CHAPTER CXVII. + +_The Several Offices of a certain Monastery are appointed by an Angel._ + +And at another time the angel commanded the aforementioned Fiechus that +he should build a monastery on the other side of the river, assigning +unto all the offices their fit and proper place; that where a boar +should appear unto him, there should he build a refectory, and where a +stag should be seen, an oratory. And the saint replied unto the angel +that he in no wise could undertake such a work, unless Patrick, his +father and pastor, should come and approve thereof. And his words +displeased not the angel; for in them he saw the affection and the +obedience which Fiechus bore in Christ unto the man of God. And after +a few days were past, the angel so advising, Patrick assisted Fiechus, +and in the place which is called Forrach builded they a monastery, even +according to the direction of the angel. And therein Fiechus presided +as abbot; nevertheless throughout his diocese did he fully exercise the +episcopal office. And every year, at the beginning of the fast of the +Lent time, he went alone out of the monastery, with five barley loaves +mixed with ashes for his support, and abided in the wilderness through +all that sacred season. But on the Sabbath day which is called +Palm-Sunday, or sometimes at the Supper of the Lord, he was wont to +return unto his monastery for the discharge of his holy office, always +bringing with him the half of one loaf yet uneaten. And he sent before +him unto God threescore saints, whom when he followed he was buried in +Scleptus. And his son aforementioned imitated his father in wisdom and +holiness; and having in another place attained the episcopal degree, he +rested in the Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER CXVIII. + +_The Prophecy of Saint Patrick concerning the Men of Callria._ + +And while Saint Patrick earnestly pursued his preaching of the divine +Word, certain armed men of Callria met him, and violently expelled this +angel of peace from their borders. But what the man of God beheld of +them in the Spirit, deemed he that should not be concealed in silence. +"Since ye have raised your arms against an unarmed man, and driven from +your borders him announcing unto ye peace and preaching salvation, ye +and your seed shall turn your backs in the day of battle." And they, +hearing this, feared his face mightily, even as a sword, and repenting +their rashness, save only five alone, bended their knees before the +saint with lamentable prayers, and besought forgiveness. Then the +saint awhile deliberated within himself, and once again spoke unto them +with prophetic speech: "The word which, at the inspiration of the Holy +Spirit, hath gone out of my mouth on ye and on your seed shall be +fulfilled; but since ye have repented in your hearts, though ye shall +be turned to flight, shall none of ye, save only five alone, fall in +any conflict of battle." And the people of Hibernia vouch that this +prophecy of the saint hath been evinced by continual proofs. + + + + +CHAPTER CXIX. + +_Certain Cheeses are converted into Stones, and many Wicked Men are +drowned._ + +And certain wicked and envious men, who lived in the country of Ferros, +contriving to destroy the life of the saint, offered unto him poisoned +cheeses, as if for his benediction; the which he blessed, and +immediately converted into stones, to the admiration of many, the honor +of God, the veneration of himself, and the confusion of the poisoners. +And unto this day remain these stones in the place where the miracle +was done, and show the virtue of Patrick, though mute, because they +underwent mutation. Then did these poisoners, seeing that their +machinations redounded to the glory of the saint and to the shame of +themselves, gather together fifty armed men to spill the blood of this +just one. And they, being assembled against him, entered the ford of a +certain river, journeying along the bank whereof the man of God met +them; and when he beheld their countenances, he understood their +thoughts, and raising against them his left hand, with a clear voice he +cried out, "Ye shall not come unto us, nor shall ye return unto your +own people, but in this river shall your bodies remain, even to the day +of judgment." Then, according to the word of the man of God, +immediately they sank as lead in the mighty waters; nor even to this +day were their bodies found, though long and often sought. Thus, at +the divine mandate, did the water punish them who conspired the death +of Saint Patrick, as erewhile the fire from heaven punished them which +were sent by King Achab to the prophet. And the place wherein they +sank in the waters is called even to this day the Ford of the Drowned +Men. + + + + +CHAPTER CXX. + +_Of the Pitfalls passed over without danger, and the Prophecies of the +Saint._ + +And certain other sons of darkness, dwelling in the plain called Liffy, +digged deep pitfalls in many parts of the public pathway, the which +they covered with branches and green sods, that the saint when +journeying might fall unawares therein. But a certain damsel +discovered the contrived snare, and she hastened to show it unto the +man of God, that he might avoid the mischief. Then he, trusting in the +Lord, commanded his people to drive forward the horses, and, having +blessed them, he passed over with unfailing foot. For the soft and +tender herbage supported them like the solid earth, inasmuch as the +holy troop bore in their hearts and on their bodies Him who bore all +things. And the priest of God sent the damsel unto her father, that +she might bring him into his presence to receive the salvation of his +soul. And the damsel did even as he commanded, and brought before him +her father; and at the preaching of the saint the man believed, and +with his ten sons and his three daughters was baptized. Then did +Patrick consecrate the virgins unto God, and gave to them the sacred +veil; and he prophesied that of the sons five should be happy and +prosperous in a secular life, and that the other five should first +enter the clerical order, and at length holily live and die in the +monastic habit; but unto them who had treacherously prepared the pit +for him and for his people he foretold that they and their seed should +pass their life in providing their sustenance and continually digging +in the ground, and that, according to the Scripture, poverty should +come on them like water. And all these things which the saint +prophesied did the event prove. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXI. + +_The Prophecy of the Saint on a Certain Village._ + +And Saint Patrick went unto a certain village, near the island of +Inchenn, and he found therein a place fitting for the erection of a +church; the which when he had begun, a crowd of rustics issued from the +village, and impeded the work. Then the saint, being filled of the +spirit of prophecy, foretold unto them with the voice of truth, "Since +ye have made yourselves a hindrance unto me, that I may not build a +habitation to the Lord my God, never shall the smoke go out of the +houses which ye or your generation shall build in this place." And the +testified proof of the words of the saint even to this day evinceth its +truth, for many have oftentimes begun to build houses there, but for +the rudeness of these men never could they be finished. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXII. + +_The Sentence prophetically declared._ + +A certain man named Dengo, who was wicked and perverse, and powerful in +iniquity, prevented the saint from building a church in a convenient +place; to whom the saint attesting his Judge, nay, prophesying, said, +"In a short time shall thine house be destroyed, and thy substance +wasted away; and thy sons that issue from thine impious loins shall of +the greater part defile themselves by mutual fratricide; while the +remnant of them shall never attain unto dignity or power, but shall be +strangers and wanderers on the earth." And the prophecy of Saint +Patrick was proved by the subsequent misery visited on the man and on +his children. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXIII. + +_The Prophecy of the Saint on a Certain Bishop and on the one who +consecrated him._ + +A certain powerful man had endowed with lands and possessions a church +that he was about to build on his own estate; the which to govern, +Saint Patrick would have appointed one among his disciples who was able +unto the gaining of souls. But the man refused, saying that in his own +family he had a priest whom he willed to place over his own church. +Then the saint, deeming it unworthy to contend for such a matter, +departed from the man. And he on the morrow brought unto the saint his +son, desiring that he might be consecrated unto the bishopric of that +church. And for that the saint apart from his companions pursued in +solitude his studies and his prayers, the man, turning from him, went +unto two of his disciples, who were elsewhere appointed bishops, and +addressed them for the consecration of his son. And one of them denied +his request, saying that he could do no such thing without the consent +and the approbation of the saint; but the other, induced either by +entreaty or reward, presumed to do what the man required. The which +having discovered, Saint Patrick, afflicting the presumer with the +affliction of penance sufficiently severe, foretold that through all +his life he should suffer the want of bread. And he declared that the +bishop so consecrated was worthy of degradation and contempt, and that +his church should be exceeding poor, so that it should not be able to +defend itself even from two men. And that which the saint foretold +unfailingly came to pass--whereby a prudent man may take heed, lest +misled by ambition he should ever attempt the like. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXIV. + +_The Blind Man is restored to Sight; from him who seeeth is Sight +taken; and three are relieved of Lameness._ + +A certain man named Domhhaldus, who was blind even from his birth, +hearing the saint passing by, placed himself in his way; for he trusted +that through him should he receive the light so much desired. But +forasmuch as the darkness was before his steps and the light was +withdrawn from his eyes, while running forward he fell, and when he +would have arisen no one was there who would help him with their hand. +And a certain priest in the company of the saint seeing him to fall, +laughed, and mocked the mischance of the blind man. The which Saint +Patrick observing, was offended, and lest any among his disciples +should so again presume, he checked the foolishness of the scorner with +reproof and with punishment, saying, "Verily I say unto thee, since in +the name of my God the eyes of this man, which are closed in darkness, +shall now be opened, the eyes of thee, which are opened only to evil, +shall now be closed." Thus he said, and making the sign of the cross, +he removed the darkness from the blind man, and the light from the bad +man who saw. And herein was the word of the Saviour, recorded in the +Holy Scriptures, fulfilled: "That they which see not might see, and +that they which see might be blind." And even on the same day healed +he three lame men who besought his aid; and according to the prophet, +he made the lame to leap as a hart, and run on their way rejoicing. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXV. + +_Nine Evil-doers are consumed by Fire from Heaven, and a Fountain is +produced out of the Earth._ + +And nine evil-doers contriving the death of Patrick, the herald of +life, pretended to be monks and ministers of righteousness; and they +put on them white cowls, that the easier might they destroy the saint, +who was clothed in the same habit. And herein did they imitate their +preceptor, Satan, the angel of darkness, who sometimes transfigureth +himself into an angel of light, and unto whom in their arts and in +their acts they paid obedience. But an illustrious man named Enda, the +friend of the holy prelate, observing the treachery of these wicked +men, sent unto them his own son named Conallus, that he might prevent +their endeavor, and repulse their violence from the man of God. And +the son did even as his father commanded, and stood, the son of light, +among these sons of darkness. And Saint Patrick, warned of heaven, +knew these ravens under the wings of the dove, these wolves under the +fleece of the lamb; but well he knew that as the Ethiop cannot change +his skin, no, not though washed with fine linen, so could not these +magicians quit their inborn wickedness, though clothed in white +raiment. Therefore with the sign of the cross he fortified himself, +and opposed it to the enemies of Christ; and fire marvellously +descending from heaven consumed the evil-doers, and left Conallus +standing among them, unhurt of the flame, as he was guiltless of their +sin. Thus was the cross of Christ a protection to the faithful even +for their salvation, and to the idolaters a punishment even for their +perdition. And afterward the saint impressed on the earth the sign of +the cross, and a clear and salubrious fountain issued forth. And on +the spot where this miracle was worked by the cross did he build a +church, which even unto this day is called the Cross of Saint Patrick. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXVI. + +_Another Magician is in like manner Consumed._ + +And at another time another magician, but in wickedness not differing, +bound himself by a sacrilegious oath before the heathens which were +gathered together unto evil deeds, that he would destroy the saint. +But ere the accursed crime could be attempted, the saint, raising his +left hand, imposed in the name of the Lord his malediction on the +malefactor; and he was consumed by fire from heaven, and even like the +other nine he perished. Then the people which were collected to behold +the death of the saint, fearing that a like destruction might descend +on themselves, escaped by flight, or rather by the sufferance of the +divine mercy. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXVII. + +_A Grove is cursed by the Saint._ + +And Patrick was on a certain day speeding his journey for the ministry +of his wonted preaching, when the wheel of the chariot wherein he sat +was broken in twain. And his attendants hastened unto a neighboring +grove, wherein was seen wood that seemed fit unto their purpose; and +the wood is hewed down, and smoothed, and shaped to repair the wheel. +Nevertheless they long time labored with useless toil, for still did +the wheel appear broken as before; and ever and anon as they endeavored +to repair it, yet still, as touched of heaven, again did it fall in +twain. Then the man of God well knowing that this could not uncausedly +happen, enquired of the grove, and unto whom it belonged; and he was +told that it had been consecrated unto the infernal spirits. +Wherefore, knowing the divine will, and agreeing with the sentence of +heaven, he raised his left hand, and cursed the grove. Wonderful was +the event! Forthwith, like the fig-tree in the Gospel, it withered; +nor from that time was it ever fit unto any use, save only to be hewed +down and cast into the fire. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXVIII. + +_The Sentence pronounced by the Saint on his Deceivers._ + +A certain prince and his people, which dwelled in a place called +Nadese, within the country of Momonia, appointed a day and an hour +whereon they might meet in the presence of Saint Patrick to deliberate +concerning the erection of churches. And the saint came at the fixed +time, and he waited during the whole day until the evening, but no man, +at least no man thereunto deputed, came to meet him. And in this +manner did they oftentimes deceive the servant of God. Nevertheless +the Holy Spirit dwelling in Patrick concealed not from these men the +reward of their presumption delivered through his mouth; for when on +another evening they came, he said openly unto them, "Since ye have not +only deceived me, but the Holy Spirit, neither ye nor your children +shall ever in this place finish any your business until the evening." +And according to the common saying, this the sentence of the saint is +continually fulfilled, for if the people of this place begin any +business in the early morning, never can they finish it until the +latest evening. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXIX. + +_A Mountain is swallowed up in the Earth, and again it is raised._ + +And among the chiefs of Momonia was a certain wicked man named +Cearbhallus, and he always hindered Saint Patrick, so that a church +could not be builded in the lands of his inheritance. And not far from +this man's dwelling was a lake which was fair and pleasing to the eye, +but a lofty mountain which stood between intercepted all the delight +from his view. Him did the saint address for the building of a church, +exhorting and entreating; but long time he resisted. And on a certain +day this wicked man, endeavoring with subtle argument to circumvent the +saint, said unto him: "If in the name of the Lord thy God thou wilt +remove yonder mountain, so that mine eyes may be freely satisfied with +this desired lake, then shall thou build a church on my land +wheresoever thou mayest please." This he required, because he deemed +it impossible to be done. Then the saint having prayed raised his eyes +of faith and love unto the prepared Mountain which is exalted on the +top of the mountains; and forthwith the mountain was laid low, and +swallowed in the earth, and permitted unto the man a free view of the +lake. But when Saint Patrick began to build the church, this man of +hardened heart would not suffer it to be finished, for he feared where +no fear was, and dreaded lest thereby he should be deprived of his +inheritance. Then the saint prayed again unto the Lord, and the +mountain was lifted up unto its former height. And he foretold that +the wicked man should in a short space lose the possession of his land, +and that no one of his race should ever be a prince or a bishop. And +the prophecy of the saint was fulfilled, for as his eyes were prevented +from the sight of the lake, so was his life closed by death. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXX. + +_Euchodius is cursed by the Saint, and his Son is blessed._ + +A certain wicked tyrant, named Euchodius, reigned in Ulydia; and he +commanded two holy virgins, for that they rejected wedlock, to be bound +with chains and cast into the water; and he set at naught Saint Patrick +interceding for them. Wherefore the saint punished him with the +sentence of his malediction, and foretold that not one of his seed +should reign after him, but that his kingdom should be transferred to +Kerellus, his younger brother. And his wife, who was then in travail, +earnestly besought the saint that he would bless her and the child +which she carried in her womb. Then the saint blessed them both, and +prophesied that she would bring forth a most holy son, whose death +should be doubtful and unsearchable. And the woman brought forth a +son, who was named Dovengardus; and he was renowned for his sanctity +and his miracles, whereof many and wondrous traditions are told among +that people. And Euchodius in a short time lost both his life and hit +kingdom, and thereto not one of his race succeeded. But his +aforementioned brother and his descendants through many years possessed +the kingdom of Ulydia. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXI. + +_Of Saint Sennachus the Bishop._ + +In the place which is named Achadhfobhair Saint Patrick built and +endowed a church with fair possessions; and thereover he appointed and +consecrated a bishop, Sennachus, who for the innocency of his heart was +called a lamb of God. And he, being so consecrated, entreated of the +saint that with unceasing prayer he would labor with the Lord to shield +him in this his office from the commission of all sin; and furthermore +he suppliantly besought that the church over which he presided might +not be called by his name, as was in many places the custom among the +Irish people. And this did he to preserve his lowliness, and to avoid +vainglory, which is the fretting moth of all virtues. Then Saint +Patrick, understanding the worthiness of Sennachus and the simplicity +of his heart, promised unto him all his desire; and blessing him and +his flock, prophesied that thereout should proceed many holy and +eminent priests. And Sennachus, serving in exceeding holiness the Holy +One of all holies, and being renowned for his miracles and for his +virtues, entered at length into the heavenly sanctuary. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXII. + +_The Miracle which is worked for Certain Hewers of Wood._ + +And Saint Patrick in his journeying passed with his people through a +forest in Midernia, and he met therein certain slaves that were hewing +wood; and these men were under the yoke of a hard and cruel master, +named Tremeus; and they hewed the wood with blunt axes, nor had they +whetstones nor had they any other means whereon to sharpen them. +Wherefore their strength failed, their arms stiffened, and the flesh +fell from their hands, and the naked sinews were seen, and the +miserable men wished rather for death than for life. But when the man +of God beheld their misery, he compassionated them, and he touched +them, and he blessed their hands and their instruments. Then at the +touch and the word of his blessing, all their strength is restored, +their hands are healed, their instruments become sharpened, the hardest +oaks are hewed down without toil, even as the tenderest twigs; and in +these men did the miracle continue until the saint had wondrously +obtained for them their freedom. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXIII. + +_A Hone is divided by Saint Patrick, and the Oppressor is drowned._ + +And Patrick the pious father addressed the master, nay, rather the +tormentor of these slaves, yet found he him stubborn and inexorable. +Wherefore betaking himself unto his accustomed arms, he fasted and +prayed for three days; and once again approaching the man, he humbly +besought their liberation, and once again found he him a new Pharao. +Then the saint spat on a stone by chance before them lying, and for the +softening, the reproving, and the confounding of his hard-heartedness, +the stone immediately splitted in three parts. But Tremeus becoming +the more hardened by that which should have softened him, forthwith +ascended his chariot, and scorning and rejecting the prayer of the +saint, commanded these slaves to be afflicted with yet severer toil. +Wherefore the Lord suffering not that this insult to Patrick, the +second Moses, should go unavenged, now punished the contemner of his +servant, even as formerly he punished Pharao and his host; for the +horses which were yoked to the chariot of Tremeus, rushing forward, +plunged into a neighboring lake, and drowned in its waters the chariot +and him who sat therein. Then, this child of Belial being so +destroyed, Saint Patrick without hindrance freed these afflicted men +brought out of the house of bondage, and gave unto them their +long-desired freedom. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXIV. + +_An Angel foretelleth to Patrick of Saint Moccheus._ + +The blessed Patrick purposed to build a church in a place sufficiently +fair and fitting, which is now called Ludha. But an angel appearing +unto him, enjoined that he should desist therefrom, saying; "Soon shall +a servant of the Lord arrive from Britain, named Moccheus, who for the +sake of God deserting his country and his parents, shall come into +Hibernia; and in this place shall he build and dwell, and finish his +days in piety." Then the saint obeying the angel, turned unto the left +side of the place, and there builded unto the God of Jacob a tabernacle +which is yet known by the name of Saint Patrick. And Moccheus coming +thither, erected an oratory and all places fitting, and lived there a +life abundant in virtue; and often Saint Patrick was wont to visit him, +and confer with him on things pertaining unto God. And on a certain +day, while they were sitting together and communing of God, the angel +appeared and proffered unto them an epistle; the which Saint Patrick +reading, found to be an exhortation, nay, rather a command, unto him +especially directed, that he should absolutely confer on Moccheus the +place which he had builded, with all matters pertaining thereunto, and +that he himself should fix his cathedral seat in Ardmachia. And +Patrick willingly did as the angel, nay, rather as the Lord, had +enjoined and thence retiring, he commended unto Moccheus twelve lepers, +to whom he had ministered in Christ; and Moccheus assumed the care and +the custody of all these matters. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXV. + +_The Sentence pronounced by Patrick on Moccheus._ + +And after some days, while Moccheus heard the Book of Genesis read +before him, wherein he is told that the patriarchs before the Flood +lived for nine hundred years and more, and that after the Flood many +lived for three hundred years, he did not readily believe in the sacred +history; for he said that this tabernacle of clay, the human body, of +flesh so weak, covered with skin, and framed with bones and sinews, +could in no wise so long endure. The which when Saint Patrick +observed, he came unto him, that with true reason he might drive all +such scruples from his mind; for he said that the whole canonical +Scripture was dictated and written by the finger of God, and therefore +should in no wise be derogated or disbelieved; inasmuch as it was not +more difficult for the Creator of all things to extend the life of man +unto a thousand years, if so he willed, than unto one day, as according +to the Psalmist: A thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday, +which is passed. But even on these things Moccheus still doubting, the +saint thus pronounced, or rather prophesied: "Since thou disbelievest +the Holy Scriptures, by thine own experience shalt thou prove the truth +of its records; for even to the length of three hundred years shall thy +life be prolonged, nor until that time is passed shalt thou enter into +the joy of the Lord." And Moccheus afterward repented him of his want +of faith, but the sentence pronounced by the Holy Spirit through the +mouth of Patrick could not be revoked. And he lived for the space of +three hundred years; and then paying the debt of nature, and shining in +virtues and in miracles, at length he passed out of the world unto +Christ. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXVI. + +_The Saint prophesieth of two Brothers, and a Fountain is produced out +of the Earth._ + +And Saint Patrick coming out of Dalnardia, began to build a church in a +place called Elum, where twelve brothers, the sons of Killadius, then +ruled. And one of these, named Seranus, governed there, who preventing +the saint from his purpose, violently drove him away. But the saint, +though patiently would he bear an injury offered to himself, yet +grievously taking the hindrance of his holy work, prophesied what +through God he knew would happen, and said unto him: "Yet a little +while, and thou shalt be driven from this land, and the rule shall be +given to a better than thee." Then Colladius, the younger brother of +this perverse man, gave unto the saint a place which is called +Domhnachcumbuir, and even until the church was builded gave unto him +sufficient aid. And the saint blessed him, prophesying what the Lord +had determined for him, saying; "Unto this land shalt thou succeed, and +from thy loins shall kings proceed, and reign through many +generations." And in that place did the saint by his prayers produce +out of the heart of the earth a pure fountain, which to this day is +called Slan, that is, healing; for that it relieveth many laboring +under multiplied diseases. And for his perverseness Seranus was driven +from that land; and according to the word of the saint, the kingdom was +given to his younger brother, Colladius. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXVII. + +_The Saint Prophesieth of a Certain Youth._ + +Twelve brothers, whose father, a ruler in Dalnardia, was then lately +dead, met together to divide the inheritance; but holding in scorn +their youngest brother, Fergusius, without his portion they turned him +empty away. Therefore the youth addressed Saint Patrick, that by his +prayers he might be admitted unto his share; promising that he would +give unto the building and the maintaining a church the better part +thereof. And the saint prevailing for him, Fergusius receiveth his +share of the inheritance; of the which the larger half he gave to the +holy prelate for the erection of a church; but this, lest he should +seem to have sold his interference, he refused to receive himself, and +bade it be given unto the aforementioned Olcanus. And he builded a +church within that territory, in a place which is called Derkan, and +being there made bishop, continued in justice and in holiness. But +Saint Patrick blessed Fergusius, and prophesying said unto him, "Though +this day thou appeared humble and despised in the sight of thy +brothers, yet in a short time shalt thou be chief over them all; for +from thee shall kings proceed, who not only in this land, but even in +distant regions, shall hold rule." And after a short space, according +to the prophecy of the holy man, did Fergusius obtain the government of +all that country, and his seed ruled therein for many generations. And +thence was born Edan, the son of Gabranus, who reduced Scotia, which is +called Albania, and other islands wherein his posterity yet reigneth. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXVIII. + +_Of Conallus and of his Shield._ + +And Saint Patrick addressed his well-beloved, the Prince Conallus; and +he enquired of him whether would he assume the habit of a monk. And +the prince replied that his heart was prepared to do whatsoever the +saint would command. Then the saint rejoicing at his devotion said +unto him, "For the sign of power and protection, and for the proof of +thy spiritual worth, shall thou bear thy shield and thy sceptre; the +name of a laic shalt thou show; but the mind and the merit of a monk +shall thou possess, inasmuch as many saints shall proceed from thee, +and many nations shall in thy seed be blessed." And he signed his +shield with the sign of the staff of Jesus, declaring that no one of +his progeny who should carry this shield in battle should ever by any +one be vanquished. And the chronicles of Hibernia declare, and her +bards record, that this the saint's prophecy unto Conallus and his seed +duly came to pass. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXIX. + +_A Heavenly Light shineth around Saint Patrick, and Victor is converted +unto the Faith._ + +And Saint Patrick coming into the territory of Mogharnd, went toward +the town of Domnhach Maghin, over which a man named Victor ruled. And +he hearing of the saint's arrival, yet loving darkness rather than +light, concealed himself in the shades of a thick grove, for much he +feared, lest being driven from the darkness of his unbelief, he should +though unwilling be compelled to believe in the true light. But the +shadows of the night season came on, nor yet did Patrick the son of +light therefore delay his journey. And when the curtain of deep night +had covered all things with surrounding darkness, it darkened not the +course of Patrick, who was the precursor of light; for unto him the +night was as day, and the deep shadows were as brightness. And the +light piercing through the darkness poured around the man concealing +himself, nor could he longer hide from before the face of the light. +Then Victor by so signal a sign being vanquished, and being even as +bound with the chains of the fear of the Lord, came unto Saint Patrick, +and devoutly entreated and received from him the holy baptism. And +being with all his household and all his people baptized, he gave unto +the saint his inheritance for the erection of a church, and among his +disciples he abided. And after a while he increased in holiness and in +the knowledge of the divine law, and being at length consecrated by +Saint Patrick, he received in that church the episcopal degree, and for +his virtues and his merits was he very renowned. + + + + +CHAPTER CXL. + +_A Certain Cymbal of Saint Patrick is lost and found again._ + +A certain man of the servants of Saint Patrick carelessly lost a +cymbal; when lost he sought it, when sought he found it not, when found +not he therefore sorely repented. And the saint forgave him, and +directed that no longer he should seek for the cymbal, until in that +place a church should be builded. And after a long time had passed, a +certain religious man named Dicullus builded there a church, and there +found the aforementioned cymbal; and in that church placed he it. And +many who were infirm, drinking out of or being sprinkled with water +from this cymbal, often received instant health; and when this +instrument was tuned, they experienced the holiness of the saint +breathing forth and sounding through its music. + + + + +CHAPTER CXLI. + +_The Obedience of Saint Volchanus._ + +And a certain disciple of Saint Patrick, named Volchanus, was eminent +in faith and in religion, but especially surpassing in the virtue of +obedience; and Saint Patrick willing that this his piety, which was so +well known unto him and unto God, should also be known unto his +fellow-disciples for an example unto them, commanded him that he should +build a church wheresoever God should vouchsafe to direct. And hearing +the word of the saint, he obeyed, and carrying a hatchet on his +shoulder, went forth to seek a fitting place for the erection of a +church. Then the spiritual father observing him to go forth with the +hatchet in his cowl, prophesied unto him with the words of consolation: +"Do not, well-beloved Volchanus, doubt of a fitting place; but +wheresoever thine hatchet shall fall, there securely build and inhabit, +and there shalt thou be among a great nation paying worship unto God!" +Thus having heard, he retired from the presence of his honored father, +knowingly unknowing, and wisely untaught, yet persuaded in his mind to +go whithersoever the most true teacher had directed him. Therefore the +whole day did he go forward, nor did he aught, save to lift up his +hands and his heart in prayer. And as the day declined eveward, the +hatchet fell from his shoulder unexpectedly, yet moved of heaven, in a +place neither intended nor foreseen. Then the man of God understanding +this to be the appointed place, with great labor builded there a +monastery, and gathered together unto one holy society many sons of +God, who were dispersed; and therein dwelling, holily and religiously +finished he his life, and at length, renowned in his virtues and his +miracles, he rested in the Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER CXLII. + +_Of Saint Rodanus, the Herdsman of Patrick._ + +And Saint Patrick had a certain herdsman named Rodanus, and he was +exceeding religious; and this man in his pastoral duty lived a hermit's +life, and often being absorbed in prayer, he pastured the cows and the +young calves together. And at the command of Saint Patrick, the whole +herd was wondrously retained under his control, nor was any disturbance +or confusion there among, for never did the calves approach their +mothers, nor depart from them, other than at the bidding of Rodanus; +and this he did by the authority and the power of his father, Saint +Patrick. And he after a while learning letters, acquired sufficiently +the knowledge thereof, and attaining the episcopal degree, he +flourished during his life and after his death by manifold miracles. + + + + +CHAPTER CXLIII. + +_Of Saint Kertennus, the Bishop of Clochor._ + +And Kertennus, a disciple of Saint Patrick, bore the saint, now worn +with age, on his shoulders, for so necessity required; and by his +panting showed he his weakness or weariness. And the saint said unto +him, "Often hast thou carried me, yet never before have I perceived +thee thus to pant." Then answered Kertennus, "Wonder not, holy father, +for now hath mine age come on me, and my companions whose years are as +mine have from the forecast of thy bounty received the refreshment of a +little rest; and mine head is covered with gray hairs, and I labor with +daily toil, and earnestly do I long for quiet, which above all things +else I need." Therefore Saint Patrick compassionating Kertennus, +promised unto him a place fitted for contemplation, yet not unsuited to +the exercise of pious duties. And as he much desired the presence of +so worthy a disciple, he provided for him a church; yet not too remote +from the archiepiscopal seat, which at the angel's command he had +builded in Ardmachia; nor yet too near, lest by succeeding archbishops +he should be oppressed; thus was it done, that in his frequent visits +to Saint Patrick the man of God should not by the distance be wearied, +nor his church appear contemptible by too close a neighborhood. And +after some days he placed him over the church of Clochor, which the +saint himself then ruled; and when he had thereto consecrated him, he +gave unto him a chrismatory, which he had received from heaven. And +Saint Kertennus there dwelling, and exercising within doors the office +of an abbot, and abroad the office of a bishop, cherished his gray +hairs, and finished his life in holiness. + + + + +CHAPTER CXLIV. + +_Of a Boy who was blessed by Saint Patrick._ + +And a certain woman, who was strong in the faith, brought unto the +saint her little son named Lananus, to be instructed in letters; and +for that she believed his blessing would render the child more docile +and ready unto learning, humbly she besought on her son the benediction +of his grace. Nor was she deceived in her faith, inasmuch as the saint +covered him with the aspiration of his blessing, and assisted him with +the divine favor; and he impressed on the boy the sign of the cross, +and committed him unto Saint Cassanus, that he might be instructed in +virtue and in learning. And the boy thus blessed, in fifteen days +learned the whole Psaltery; and afterwards he became a man of most holy +life, and shining in miracles rested he at length in the Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER CXLV. + +_Of a Woman who was raised from Death._ + +And Ethra, the wife of a noble man named Euchadius, lay dead; and he, +carrying her body placed on a bier, met Saint Patrick near a certain +ford in Connactia. And with many prayers he besought the saint that he +would recall her to life; and promised that he and all his people would +then believe in the Christ whom he preached. And the saint delayed +not, but revived the dead woman, and baptized her husband, who at so +wonderful a miracle thoroughly believed. And from the revived woman is +it called unto this day the Ford of Ethna; and the fluid element +affording a passage unto all travellers, showeth the merit of her +reviver. And often the saint visited Connactia and Momonia, working +miracles in each; and in each he dwelled for the space of seven years. + + + + +CHAPTER CXLVI. + +_The Testimony of One who was revived from Death._ + +And even unto the evening of his days did the saint continue his wonted +labor and his accustomed work; sowing the field of the Lord with the +seed of the divine word, from the fruit whereof he might gather eternal +life. This the devoted ones of Satan perceiving and envying, they +gnashed with their teeth, and one to the other they said in their +malice: "What shall we do? This man, the destroyer of our gods, the +persecutor, nay the extirpator of our sect, worketh many miracles; if +we let him go thus, all the people of Hibernia through him will believe +in his God, and the Christians will come and they will remove our +laws." Then took they counsel together, how they should destroy him +with their snares, and under the pretence of justice bring him unto the +death. And a certain woman was washing flax nigh unto the place where +the saint was to pass; and her they directed to hide much of the flax +in a hollow tree, and when the saint and his company passed by to +accuse him as of the theft. And the woman did according as she was +induced, nay rather as she was seduced; and loudly crying out, called +these children of Belial, and with wicked tongue accused him thereof. +And they, as before they had contrived, rushed forth from their +hiding-place, and seized the saint and his disciples as robbers, and +exclaimed that they were guilty unto the death. And in the place where +this accursed band were gathered together, was a tomb, and therein a +man was buried. Him did Saint Patrick, having first prayed, awaken +from the sleep of death; and by the virtue of the truth, which is God, +commanded that he should bear true witness of this their accusation. +And the revived man, openly protesting the innocence of the saint and +of his disciples, exposed the deceits of these wicked ones, and showed +in the presence of all where they had concealed the flax. Thus was +Saint Patrick and his people marvellously freed from the hands of the +destroyers, and his blood was in that day preserved, and brought +salvation to many which were evil-doers: for they who had contrived the +death of the herald of life, were by this miracle converted unto God +and obtained his mercy. + + + + +CHAPTER CXLVII. + +_The Cross that was not observed; and the Voice which issued from the +Sepulchre._ + +And Saint Patrick was accustomed, wheresoever in his journeying he +beheld the triumphal sign of the cross, to descend from his chariot, +and to adore it with faithful heart and bended head, to touch it with +his hands, and embrace it with his arms, and to imprint on it the +repeated kiss of devout affection. And on a certain day sitting in his +chariot, most unwontedly he passed by a cross which was erected near +the wayside, unsaluted; for his eyes were held, that he saw it not. +This the charioteer observing, marvelled; but he held his peace, until +they arrived at their dwelling. But when they began to pray, as was +their custom before dinner, then spake he of the cross which he had +seen, and of the place where he beheld it. Then Saint Patrick, the +preacher of the cross, leaving his meal prepared, went forth of his +dwelling, and returned unto the place on the road which he had passed +along. And diligently he sought for the sign of life, and he found +nigh unto it a certain sepulchre. And drawing near, he prayed in the +sight of the Lord, and enquired who therein was sepultured. And a +voice answered from within, that he had been a heathen, and that a +Christian man was buried at his side, whose mother had been absent when +her son died, and when he was returned into the bosom of the common +mother: and that after some days she had come hither to wail, but +knowing not the burial-place of her son, had placed over him the +Christian sign. Therefore the man of God averred that he could not +behold the cross, because it was placed over a heathen who had been an +enemy of the cross of Christ. And removing the cross, he placed it at +the head of the baptized man, and commending his soul to God, he walked +back unto his own dwelling. + + + + +CHAPTER CXLVIII. + +_A Goat bleateth in the Stomach of a Thief._ + +The blessed Patrick had a goat, which carried water for his service; +and to this the animal was taught, not by any artifice but rather by a +miracle. And a certain thief stole the goat, and eat, and swallowed +it. And the author or instigator of the theft is enquired: and one who +by evident tokens had incurred suspicion, is accused; but not only +denieth he the fact, but adding perjury unto theft, endeavoreth he to +acquit himself by an oath. Wondrous was the event to be told, yet more +wonderful to come to pass. The goat which was swallowed in the stomach +of the thief bleated loudly forth, and proclaimed the merit of Saint +Patrick. And to the increase of this miracle it happened, that at the +command, nay rather at the sentence of the Saint, all the posterity of +this man were marked with the beard of a goat. + + + + +CHAPTER CXLIX. + +_Of the Cloaks which fell from Heaven._ + +And that he might the more entirely profit unto God by their +conversation and their example, the saint was used to seek the society +of holy men, and to join himself unto them in the most strict +friendship. For, as Solomon witnesseth, as iron is sharpened by iron, +so are the lives of holy men by conversation and by example enflamed +into a firm faith, and more fervent love of God; the which how +acceptable is it to the Lord, vouchsafed he to show by the token of an +evident miracle. Therefore on a certain day, when Saint Patrick and a +venerable man named Vinnocus sate together, they conferred of God and +of things pertaining unto God; and they spake of garments which by +their works of mercy had been distributed among the poor; when behold, +a cloak sent from Heaven fell among them, even as the present eulogy of +the Divine gift and the promise of future reward. And the saint +rejoiced in the Lord, and what had happened each ascribed to the merit +of the other. And Patrick averred that it was sent unto Vinnocus, who +had for the Lord renounced all the things of this world: and Vinnocus +insisted it to have been sent unto Patrick, who though possessing all +things retained nothing, but clothing many which were poor and naked, +left himself naked for the sake of the Lord. Then from these holy men +thus friendlily disputing, suddenly the cloak disappeared; and in the +stead thereof the Lord sent down by an angel two cloaks, one truly unto +each, that even in charity they might no longer contend. + + + + +CHAPTER CL. + +_A wicked Tyrant is transformed into a Fox._ + +In that part of Britain which is now called Vallia, lived a certain +tyrant named Cereticus; and he was a deceiver, an oppressor, a +blasphemer of the name of the Lord, a persecutor and a cruel destroyer +of Christians. And Patrick hearing of his brutal tyranny, labored to +recall him into the path of salvation, writing unto him a monitory +epistle, for his conversion from so great vices. But he, that more +wicked he might become from day to day, laughed to scorn the monition +of the saint, and waxed stronger in his sins, in his crimes, in his +falsehoods and in his cruelties. The which when Patrick heard, taught +by the Divine Spirit, he knew that the vessel of evil was hardened in +reprobation, prepared in no wise for correction, but rather for +perdition; and thus he prayed unto the Lord: "O Lord God, as thou +knowest this vulpine man to be monstrous in vice, do thou in a +monstrous mode cast him forth from the face of the earth, and appoint +an end unto his offences!" Then the Lord, inclining his ear unto the +voice of his servant, while on a certain time the tyrant stood in the +middle of his court surrounded by many of his people, suddenly +transformed him into a fox; and he, flying from their sight, never more +appeared on the earth. And this no one can reasonably disbelieve, who +hath read of the wife of Lot who was changed into a pillar of salt, or +the history of the King Nabuchodonoser. + + + + +CHAPTER CLI. + +_The wicked Man Machaldus and his Companions are converted unto the +Faith._ + +And in Ulydia was Magiul, a heathen, who was also called Machaldus; and +he was eminent in wickedness and notorious in cruelty; and forasmuch as +like always accordeth with like, he gathered unto himself no small +company, well practised in theft, in rapine, and in blood. And this +man placed on his own head and on his companions' certain diabolical +signs which are called Deberth; that all might behold how devoted was +their brotherhood unto the service of Satan. And it happened on a time +that the blessed Patrick was journeying with his people through the +place where lurked this band of evil-doers, waiting and watching for +any traveller on whom they might rush forth to destroy and to despoil. +And beholding the saint, they thought at first to slay him as the +seducer of their souls and the destroyer of their gods: but suddenly +their purpose being changed by the Divine will, they thought it shame +to shed the blood of a peaceful, weak, and unarmed old man; yet +counselling to prove or rather to mock the power of Christ, and the +holiness of Patrick, they placed one of their companions named Garbanus +on a couch, and though he was in perfect health they feigned him as +dead; and they covered him with a cloak, and with deriding prayers they +besought the man of God that he would provide the funeral rites, or, as +he was wont, restore unto life the dead man. But the saint, at the +revelation of the Spirit, understood what they had done, and pronounced +that these scorners had deceivingly, yet not falsely, declared of their +companion's death. Therefore disregarding their entreaties he prayed +unto God for the soul of the derider, and went on his way. And the +saint had not journeyed far, when they uncovered the cloak from their +companion; and lo! they found him not feignedly but really dead. And +they, affrighted at this fearful chance, and dreading lest the same +should happen unto themselves, followed the saint, and fell at his +feet, and acknowledged their offence, and by their contrition obtained +pardon. And they all believed in the Lord, and in his name were they +baptized. Then did the saint, at their humble entreaty, revive the +dead man; and washing him in the holy font, associated him unto them in +the faith of Christ. + + + + +CHAPTER CLII. + +_The Penitence of Machaldus._ + +And Machaldus their chief falling at Saint Patrick's feet, confessed +his sins and entreated with many tears that a life of penitence might +be appointed unto him, whereby he might attain the life of eternity. +And the saint, inspired of Heaven, enjoined him that he should utterly +renounce his native soil and give all his substance to the poor; and he +clothed Machaldus in a vile and rough garment, and chained him with +chains of iron, and cast the key thereof into the ocean. Likewise he +commanded him to enter, alone, without oars, into a boat made only of +hides, and that on whatsoever country he should land under the guidance +of the Lord there should he serve Him even unto the end of his days. +And the man, truly repenting, did as his pastor enjoined; for he, +alone, chained with iron chains, bearing on his head the tonsure as the +token of penitence, entered the boat; and under the protection of God +he committed himself unto the waves, and was borne by them unto the +Island Eubonia, which is called Mannia. And therein were two bishops, +named Connidrius and Romulus, whom Saint Patrick himself had +consecrated and appointed to rule over the people of that island and to +instruct them in the faith of Christ after the death of Germanus the +first bishop. And they, beholding Machaldus, marvelled much, and they +pitied his misery; and when they understood the cause, received him +kindly and retained him with themselves. And after he had for some +space there abided, a fish was one day taken in the sea and brought +unto their dwelling; and when the fish was opened before them, a key +was found in its belly, and Machaldus being released from his chains, +gave thanks unto God, and went thenceforth free. And he, increasing in +holiness, after the deaths of these holy bishops attained the episcopal +degree; and being eminent in his miracles and in his virtues, there did +he rest. And in that island was a city after him named of no small +extent; the remains of whose walls may yet be seen. And in the +cemetery of its church is a sarcophagus of hollowed stone, whereout a +spring continually exudeth, nay, sufficiently floweth forth; the which +is sweet to the draught, wholesome to the taste, and healeth divers +infirmities, but chiefly the stings of serpents and the deadliness of +poison: for whoso drinketh thereof, either receiveth instant health, or +instantly he dieth. And in that stone are the bones of Saint Machaldus +said to rest, yet therein is nothing found, save only clear water. And +though many have oftentimes endeavored to remove the stone, and +especially the king of the Norici, who subdued the island, that he +might at all times have sweet water, yet have they all failed in their +attempt: for the deeper they have digged to raise up the stone, so much +the more deeply and firmly did they find it fixed in the heart of the +earth. + + + + +CHAPTER CLIII. + +_A Meadow is overflowed by the Sea._ + +At another time the blessed Patrick being fatigued with travel, turned +aside for the sake of a little rest, and for pasturing his horses, into +a grassy meadow near Roscomaira in Connactia. But when he had sate +down and his horses had begun to feed, a certain wicked and perverse +plebeian, the owner of the place, rushed forward in the fury of anger +to expel him forth. And first he attacked the saint with reproachful +words, and at length he cast stones at the horses and drove them from +the field: wherefore the hurt done unto them, increased the injury and +the affront offered unto their master. And as Saint Patrick was one, +and chief among those horses, with which according to the prophet +Habacuc the Lord made his way in the sea, therefore was the Lord wroth +at an injury offered unto him, and therefore at his command the meadow +withered up, and the sea flowing forward covered it, and it remained +unfruitful for ever. Fitting and just was this judgment of God, that +the people which hated him, and refused his servant one blade of grass, +should lose the whole harvest; and that as this man despitefully +entreated Saint Patrick, and drove him from his field, he should +thenceforward lose the place for which so contentiously he had striven. + + + + +CHAPTER CLIV. + +_A Stone is changed into Milk, and Milk is changed into Stones._ + +And one who had long time been a servant unto many evil-doers, hearing +of the virtues and the miracles of Saint Patrick, came unto him, for +the purpose of contending with him in working signs. And many false +signs did he multiply, the which the saint, having prayed and made the +sign of the cross, dispersed. Then the magician seeing all his +inventions to be frustrated, required of Patrick that he should work +signs to evince the power of his God; and the saint delayed not to do +what might prove the virtue of Christ, and instruct in the faith many +Christians: for he changed an hard stone into a soft mass of curdled +milk, and of this milk, in the name of Christ, he changed two soft +pieces into hard stones. But lest these should be accounted false and +like unto the signs of the magicians, the stones continued in the same +hardness whereunto they were transformed. But this which was +corporally done before the eyes of men, doth the divine virtue +spiritually do in the conversion of believers; inasmuch as the +worshippers of stones, men of hardened hearts, become soft unto the +faith and love of Christ, and as if again born infants, they desire the +milk of the apostolic doctrine, that thereby they may grow up unto +salvation. So did it happen unto the magician, who beholding this +miracle believed in the Lord and was baptized. + + + + +CHAPTER CLV. + +_A Wagon laden with Twigs is saved from the Fire._ + +And Saint Patrick requested of a certain man, that he would bring unto +him two wagons laden with twigs, for that such were required for +certain needful uses. And the man fulfilled his request, and brought +the twigs unto the appointed place. But a fire seized the two wagons +and burned one thereof, yet left it the other unharmed of the flame. +And all the beholders marvelled, that the fire should exercise its +natural power over the one wagon, and on the other have no effect; as +of yore it happened unto the three children which were cast into the +fiery furnace, but which were saved from the fire, nor did any hurt +come on them. We however admire in this miracle the merit of the +saint; but in no wise think that the cause thereof needs to be +discussed. + + + + +CHAPTER CLVI. + +_The Saint is preserved untouched from the falling Rain._ + +The man of God was wont to observe with singular devotion the Lord's +day, for the remembrance of that great solemnity, which the life of +death reviving unto resurrection, hath made worthy of rejoicing in +heaven, in earth, and in the grave. Wherefore this holy custom was +fixed in his mind, even as a law, that wheresoever the Sabbath-eve +arrived, he for reverence thereto passed the night and the next holy +day in hymns, and in psalms, and in spiritual songs; and heartily +devoting himself unto divine contemplation, so he continued until the +morning of the succeeding day. And on a time the observance of this +holy custom caused the blessed Patrick to celebrate the vigil under the +open air; and a violent fall of rain inundated all the field around: +but the place whereon the holy watchman, the guardian of the walls of +Jerusalem, stood with his companions, was not wetted even with the +dropping of one drop thereof. Thus was in Patrick repeated the +miracle, which formerly appeared in the fleece of Gideon, when the +whole ground was wet with dew, and the fleece was found dry and +undamped. + + + + +CHAPTER CLVII. + +_The Fingers of Saint Patrick shine with Light._ + +But the brightness of the eternal light, that He might prove with how +radiant a light of His grace the inward vessel of His saint was +illumined, glorified him by another miracle of yet higher marvel. For +on the same night which Patrick had passed under the open air, lauding +and praising God, the field wherein he stood was covered with thickest +darkness. And the chariot-driver of the holy prelate long time sought +for the steeds which he had loosed unto pasture, that he might reyoke +them to the chariot: but when for the darkness he could not find them, +he wailed with much lamentation. Which the saint compassionating, drew +forth his right hand from his sleeve, and raised up his fingers. +Wonderful was the event, and unheard of through ages! Immediately his +fingers shone even as sunbeams, and wonderfully illumining the whole +country, turned darkness into light, and night into day. Then by the +aid of this radiant miracle the chariot-driver found his steeds, and +led them rejoicing to the father, and yoked them unto the chariot. And +he, the bearer and the preacher of the heavenly light, his fingers +ceasing to shine, yet ceasing not to pour forth the purest and freshest +myrrh, ascended the chariot on the morning of the succeeding day, as +was his custom; and hastened on, whithersoever he was called by the +will of Him, who directed him, and dwelled in him. Thus by a very +beautiful but sufficiently convincing miracle his fingers outwardly +shone; so working in them the finger of the God, who so frequently had +healed and saved and protected by his works of light. + + + + +CHAPTER CLVIII. + +_Fire is also seen to issue from his Mouth._ + +And he preached the word of God unto a certain great man, to whom it +seemed that fire issuing from the mouth of the saint entered into his +ears and mouth, and filled him internally with its heat. And this fire +was not consuming, but illumining; not burning, but shining; as he who +so experienced related unto the saint, saying, "I behold a flaming fire +to issue from thy mouth, and penetrate my body and my inmost heart." +Then to him the saint: "Our God is the true light illumining every man +at his entrance into the world; our God, who came to send upon earth +that fire which He desireth should burn in the hearts of the faithful: +for the word of the Lord is bright, and his speech is as fire; whereof +by my preaching hast thou had in thyself the proof." + + + + +CHAPTER CLIX. + +_The holy Virgin Memhessa departeth unto God._ + +There was a noble and beautiful damsel, named Memhessa, the daughter of +a prince who reigned in a certain part of Britain. And she, being +occupied with the grace of the Holy Spirit, through the virtue which is +innate in a good disposition, and from the divers species of all +created creatures, understood the Creator; and Him, being so +understood, she affected with all her heart and with all her soul; for +the love and desire of the which affection she looked down on all the +riches, and all the delights, and all the splendors, and all the charms +of this world's glory, and she despised them in her heart. Yet had she +not been washed in the holy font, though in her manners she represented +the purity of the Christian faith. And her parents being heathens, +mainly endeavored with words and with stripes to frustrate and to shake +her purpose; but the column of her virgin heart being builded on the +rock of Christ, could neither be subverted by their persuasions, nor +shaken by their threats, nor could she by any their evil doings at all +be moved from her fixed firmness. And forasmuch as the spring-time of +her youth made her beautiful, and the elegance of her form made her +right lovely, while in her countenance the lilies and the roses of the +garden were mingled together, very many princes of royal stock desired +her in marriage; however in no wise could she thereunto be persuaded or +compelled. Wherefore having a long time vainly labored, her parents by +general consent brought her unto Saint Patrick, the fame of whose +holiness was proved and published through all that country by many +signs and miracles. Then they unfolded unto the saint the purpose of +the damsel, earnestly entreating him that he would bring her unto the +sight of his God whom she so loved and toward whom her heart yearned. +This the saint hearing, rejoiced in the Lord, giving thanks unto Him, +whose breath doth blow even whither and how he listeth; and who +oftentimes calleth unto himself without any preaching those whom he had +predestinated unto life. Then, having expounded to the damsel the +rules of the Christian faith, he catechised her, and baptized her +confessing her belief, and strengthened her with the sacraments of the +body and blood of Christ. And she, having received the viaticum, fell +to the ground in the midst of her prayers and breathed forth her +spirit: thus ascending from the font spotless and washed of all sin, +and being led by the angels unto the sight of her fair and beautiful +Beloved, went she into his embraces. Then did Patrick, and all who +were present, glorify God; and with honorable sepulture they committed +her holy remains unto the earth. + + + + +CHAPTER CLX. + +_Of the Work which was done in the Lord's Day._ + +And at a certain time Saint Patrick on the Lord's day entered a harbor +on the northern coast of Hibernia, opposite the town of Druimbo; yet +would he not go forth of the ship, but remaining therein he solemnized +the day with his wonted devotion. And now was the mid-hour of the day +passed, when he heard no little noise; whereby he understood that the +heathens were violating the Sabbath with their profane labors (the +which was right contrary to his custom and command); and that they were +then employed in a certain work which is called rayth; that is, a wall. +And thereat being somewhat moved, he ordered that they should be bidden +before him, and imperatively commanded them on that day to surcease +from their labor. But this profane and foolish generation received the +prohibition of the saint not only with contempt, but with scorn and +laughter. Then did he, understanding the perverseness of those +scorners, repeat his prohibition, and thus did he say unto them, +"Though mightily shall ye labor unto your purpose, never shall it come +to any effect, nor ever shall ye derive any profit therefrom." And how +true were his words, the event showed: for on the next night was the +sea wondrously raised with a tempest, and spreading thereover scattered +all the work of the heathens; and lest ever it should be recollected or +rebuilded, dispersed it with irreparable dispersion. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXI. + +_A certain Man is healed, and a Horse revived, in a place which is +called Feart._ + +A certain illustrious man, named Darius, gave unto Saint Patrick at his +request a dwelling-place together with a small field, whither he might +betake himself with the fellowship of his holy brethren. And this was +a small place near Ardmachia, in modern time called the Feast of +Miracles. And after a season, the charioteer of Darius sent his horse +into this field, there to pasture during the night; the which when on +the morrow he would lead forth of the field, found he dead. Which when +Darius heard, he was moved with wrath, and preventing all excuse, all +delay, all revocation, commanded that Patrick should be slain, as the +slayer of his horse. But scarcely had the word issued from his lips, +when lo, suddenly came on him a monitory, nay, a minatory weakness of +death, and cast him on his sickbed; and as suddenly were his feet which +were prompt unto mischief, and his hands which were accustomed unto +evil, recalled from the shedding of innocent blood; for misery alone +gave him understanding. Which things being told unto the saint, he +bade that the steed and the man should be sprinkled with water which +had been blessed of him: and being so sprinkled, each arose; the horse +from death, and Darius from the bed of sickness. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXII. + +_Of the Vessel which was given unto Saint Patrick, and again taken from +him._ + +And Darius being thus healed, sent unto the saint by the hands of his +servants a large brazen vessel, the which contained thrice twelve +gallons, and was most needful unto him and his companions for the +dressing of their food. And he, much requiring such a vessel, kindly +received it; yet said he only: this "I thank him." And the servants, +returning unto their master, when he enquired of the saint's answer, +replied that he said nothing other than, "I thank him." Then Darius +thereat wondering, accused the saint of rashness and of rudeness; yet +desiring to try the virtue of the word, commanded that they should take +the vessel from Patrick and bring it back again. Which when they did, +the saint, as he was thereto accustomed in his words and in works, +said, "I thank him." And again Darius demanded what Patrick had this +time said: and hearing that even then he had only spoken as before, "I +thank him," and admiring and understanding his firmness, pronounced he +the saint to be a man of consummate constancy, and that the word of his +mouth was most excellent. "Truly," said he, "this is a magnanimous man +and of unalterable mind, whose countenance and whose word could not be +changed, whether the vessel be given unto him or taken from him; but +ever do they continue the same." Then did he, following his servants, +salute the saint with appeasing speech, and gave unto him a field near +his dwelling-place, about which dispute might possibly have arisen. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXIII. + +_Ardmachia is given unto Saint Patrick; and a Fountain is produced out +of the Earth._ + +And after a short time the noble Darius, that he might show unto the +saint yet greater favor, brought him out of a low place unto a place +which was high; from a narrow dwelling unto one which was spacious and +fair, which was foreshown unto him by an angelic miracle, at that time +named Druymsaileach, but which is now called Ardmachia. And Saint +Patrick, considering the pleasantness and convenience of the place, and +walking around it, found therein a doe lying down with her fawn, which +they who accompanied the saint willed to slay; but this the pious +father would in no wise suffer to be done. And that he might show the +bowels of pity, which he had unto God's creatures, he bore the fawn in +his own arms, and caressed and cherished it, and carried it unto a park +at the northern side of Ardmachia; and the doe, even as the tamest +sheep, followed the compassionate bearer of her youngling, until he +placed it down at her side. And on that day did the saint, for the +praise of God and for the benefit of the people, bring forth out of the +earth by his prayers, even for the seventh time, a clear fountain. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXIV. + +_The Saint beholdeth a Vision of Angels, and cureth Sixteen Lepers._ + +When the lamp of the daily light was extinguished in the shades of +nocturnal darkness, the man of God beheld in a vision of the night +angels measuring the form and the extent of the city which was to be +builded in that high place, and one of the angels enjoined him, that on +the morrow he should go unto the fountain near Ardmachia, which is now +called Tobar Patraic, that is, the Fountain of Patrick; and there he +should heal in the name of the Lord sixteen lepers, who were come +thither from many places to experience the mercy of the Lord, and to +receive his faith. And Patrick obeyed the voice of the angel; and +early in the morning he found those men, and by his preaching he +converted them unto the faith, and being converted, he baptized them in +that fountain, and when baptized, he purified them from the leprous +taint of either man. And this miracle when published abroad, was +accounted a fair presage and a present sanction of the future city. +And the angel, at the prayers of Patrick, removed far from thence an +exceeding huge stone which lay in the wayside, and which could not be +raised by the labor or the ingenuity of man; lest it should be an +hindrance to passengers approaching the city. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXV. + +_Of the City of Ardmachia, and Twelve of its Citizens._ + +Then Patrick founded, according to the direction of the angels, a city, +fair in its site, its form, and its ambit, and when by the divine +assistance it was completed, he brought to dwell therein twelve +citizens, whom he had from all parts diligently and discreetly chosen: +and these he instructed in the Catholic doctrines of the Christian +faith. And he beautified the city with churches builded after a +becoming and spiritual fashion; and for the observance of divine +worship, for the government of souls, and for the instruction of the +Catholic flock, he appointed therein clerical persons; and he +instituted certain monasteries filled with monks, and others filled +with nuns, and placed them under the regulations of all possible +perfection. And in one of these monasteries was a certain brother, who +would not take either food or drink before the hour appointed by the +saint; and he perished of thirst; and Patrick beheld his soul ascending +into heaven, and placed among the martyrs. And in the convent of the +handmaidens of God, was a certain virgin, the daughter of a British +king, with nine other holy damsels, who had come with her unto Saint +Patrick, and of these, three in his presence went unto heaven. And in +this city placed he an archiepiscopal cathedral; and determined in his +mind that it should be the chief metropolis, and the mistress of all +Hibernia; and that this his purpose might remain fixed and by posterity +unaltered, he resolved to journey unto the apostolic seat, and confirm +it with authentic privileges. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXVI. + +_At the Direction of the Angels Saint Patrick goeth unto Rome._ + +And the angel of the Lord appearing unto Patrick, approved the purpose +of his journey, and showed him that the Pope would bestow and divide +among many churches the relics of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and of +many saints. And as carriages were haply then wanting unto him, the +angels provided him with four chariots, as if sent from heaven, the +which conveyed him and his people unto the sea-side. Then the +glorified prelate Patrick; after that the urgency of his laborious +preaching was finished, and the abundance of so many and so great +miracles had converted the whole island, blessed and bade farewell to +the several bishops and presbyters and other members of the church whom +he had ordained: and with certain of his disciples, led by his angelic +guide, he sailed toward Rome. Whither arriving, while in the presence +of the supreme pontiff he declared the cause of his coming, supreme +favor he found in his eyes; for, embracing and acknowledging him as the +apostle of Hibernia, he decorated the saint with the pall, and +appointing him his legate, by his authority confirmed whatsoever +Patrick had done, appointed or disposed therein. And many parting +presents, and precious gifts, which pertained unto the beauty, nay, +unto the strength of the church, did the Pope bestow on him; +where-among were certain relics of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and of +Stephen the proto-martyr, and of many other martyrs; and moreover, gave +he unto the saint a linen cloth, which was marked with the blood of our +Lord the Saviour Jesus Christ. Gift excelling all other gifts! And +with these most holy honors the saint being returned unto Hibernia, +fortified therewith this metropolitan church of Ardmachia (unto the +salvation of souls and the safety of the whole nation), and reposited +them in a chest behind the great altar. And in that church even from +the time of Saint Patrick the custom obtained that on the days of the +Passover and of the Pentecost these relics should be thereout produced, +and venerated in the presence of the people. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXVII. + +_The Acts of Saint Patrick while returning from Rome._ + +But the miracles which Saint Patrick wrought, when going to Rome, or +returning thence, or after he had returned, are beyond our ability to +relate either one by one or all together. For wheresoever he remained +through the night, or made any abiding, left he behind him the proofs +of his sanctity, in the healing of some diseased person; inasmuch as +churches and oratories which were builded in those places and entitled +after his name are yet to be seen; and which even to this day are +redolent of his holiness, and impart the benefit of his miracles to +many who sought the same with the desert of faith. And in his return +he some time abided in his own country of Britain, and founded there +many monasteries, and rebuilded many others which had been destroyed of +the heathens; and he filled them with convents of holy monks who +assented unto that form of religion which he thereto appointed; many +events also, prosperous and adverse, which were to happen unto Britain, +did he prophesy in the spirit; and especially he foresaw and foretold +the holiness of the blessed David, who was then in his mother's womb. +For there were many country places and towns, the inhabitants whereof +rudely drove away the saint while journeying, lest he should abide the +night among them; and these and their posterity could never prosper or +become rich therein, but strangers and aliens always possessed of them +the wealth and the dominion. But the groves into which the saint was +by those wicked ones driven to pass the night, and which before +produced but few and fruitless copses, were seen, by the blessing of +such a holy guest, to thicken and to flourish with so great abundance +of trees that in no future time could they be entirely destroyed. And +in the rivers, where the deceivers, fraudful both in heart and word, +had shown unto the saint a deep abyss instead of a safe ford, passed he +over safely, having first blessed the passage, and changed the abyss +into a ford; and the ford which before was pervious unto all changed he +unto a deep abyss. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXVIII. + +_The Acts of St. Patrick after he had Returned._ + +And after his long journey was finished, he consoled his people with +his presence; and he appointed unto the Lord's field thirty bishops +which he had chosen and in foreign countries had consecrated, for that +the harvest was many, and the laborers few. Therefore began he the +more frequently to assemble holy synods of bishops, to celebrate solemn +councils, and whatsoever he found contrary to the ecclesiastical +institutes or the Catholic faith, that did he take away and annul; and +whatsoever he found accordant to the Christian law, to justice, or to +the sacred canons, and consonant to good morals, that did he direct and +sanction. And daily he shone with innumerable miracles, and whatsoever +with his lips he appointed or taught, that did he confirm by most +signal miracles; whence it came to pass that all deservedly admired +him, by whose kindness all the inhabitants of that island are through +ages blessed; as in the sequel more fully shall we endeavor to show. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXIX. + +_Of the Threefold Plagues of Hibernia._ + +Even from the time of its original inhabitants, did Hibernia labor +under a threefold plague: a swarm of poisonous creatures, whereof the +number could not be counted; a great concourse of demons visibly +appearing; and a multitude of evil-doers and magicians. And these +venomous and monstrous creatures, rising out of the earth and out of +the sea, so prevailed over the whole island that they not only wounded +men and animals with their deadly sting, but slayed them with cruel +bitings, and not seldom rent and devoured their members. And the +demons, who by the power of idolatry dwelled in superstitious hearts, +showed themselves unto their worshippers in visible forms; often +likewise did they, as if they were offended, injure them with many +hurts; unto whom, being appeased with sacrifices, offerings, or evil +works, they seemed to extend the grace of health or of safety, while +they only ceased from doing harm. And after was beheld such a +multitude of these, flying in the air or walking on the earth, that the +island was deemed incapable of containing so many; and therefore was it +accounted the habitation of demons, and their peculiar possession. +Likewise the crowd of magicians, evil-doers, and soothsayers had +therein so greatly increased as the history of not any other nation +doth instance. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXX. + +_The Threefold Plague is driven out of Hibernia by Saint Patrick._ + +And the most holy Patrick applied all his diligence unto the +extirpation of this threefold plague; and at length by his salutary +doctrine and fervent prayer he relieved Hibernia of the increasing +mischief. Therefore he, the most excellent pastor, bore on his +shoulder the staff of Jesus, and aided of the angelic aid, he by its +comminatory elevation gathered together from all parts of the island +all the poisonous creatures into one place; then compelled he them all +unto a very high promontory, which then was called Cruachan-ailge, but +now Cruachan-Phadruig; and by the power of his word he drove the whole +pestilent swarm from the precipice of the mountain headlong into the +ocean. O eminent sign! O illustrious miracle! even from the beginning +of the world unheard, but now experienced by tribes, by peoples, and by +tongues, known unto all nations, but to the dwellers in Hibernia +especially needful! And at this marvellous yet most profitable sight, +a numerous assembly was present; many of whom had flocked from all +parts to behold miracles, many to receive the word of life. + + +Then turned he his face toward Mannia, and the other islands which he +had imbued and blessed with the faith of Christ and with the holy +sacraments; and by the power of his prayers he freed all these likewise +from the plague of venomous reptiles. But other islands, the which had +not believed at his preaching, still are cursed with the procreation of +those poisonous creatures. And he converted innumerable evil-doers +unto the faith; but many who continued obstinate, and hardened in their +perverseness, he destroyed from the face of the earth (as we have +already recorded); and from the men of Hibernia, whom he made servants +unto the true and living God, prayed he of the Lord that the visions of +the demons and their wonted injuries should be driven away; and he +obtained his prayer. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXI. + +_Without Earthly Food the Saint completeth a Fast of Forty Days._ + +And that in Hibernia or in the other islands which had received his +blessing no poisonous animal should continue or revive, nor the wonted +troop of demons therein abide, the saint completed without earthly food +a fast of forty days. For he desired to imitate in his mystical fast +Moses, who was then bound by the natural law, or rather Elias the +prophet, appointed under the law; but most principally desiring to +please the great Founder of nature, the Giver of the law and of grace, +Jesus Christ, who in Himself had consecrated such a fast. Therefore he +ascended the high mountain in Conactia, called Cruachan-ailge, that he +might there more conveniently pass the Lent season before the Passion; +and that there, desiring and contemplating the Lord, he might offer +unto Him the holocaust of this fast. And he disposed there five +stones, and placed himself in the midst; and therein, as well in the +manner of his sitting as in the mortification of his abstinence, showed +he himself the servant of the cross of Christ. And there he sat +solitary, raising himself above himself; yet gloried he only in the +cross, which constantly he bore in his heart and on his body, and +ceaselessly he panted toward his holy Beloved; and he continued and +hungered in his body, but his inward man was satisfied, and filled, and +wounded with the sweetness of divine contemplation, the comfort of +angelic visitation, and the sword of the love of God: "For the word of +God is quick and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing +even unto the separation of the body and the spirit," wherewith the +saint was wounded, even unto holy love. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXII. + +_He banisheth the Demons forth of the Island._ + +And the demons grieved for their lost dominion, and assailing the saint +they tormented him in his prayers and his fastings; and they fluttered +around him like birds of the blackest hue, fearful in their form, their +hugeness, and their multitude, and striving with horrible chatterings +to prevent his prayer, long time they disturbed the man of God. But +Patrick being armed with His grace, and aided by His protection, made +the sign of the cross, and drove far from him those deadly birds; and +by the continual sounding of his cymbal, utterly banished them forth of +the island. And being so driven away, they fled beyond the sea, and +being divided in troops among the islands which are alien unto the +faith and love of God, there do they abide and practise their +delusions. But from that time forward, even unto this time, all +venomous creatures, all fantasies of demons, have through the merits +and the prayers of the most holy father Patrick entirely ceased in +Hibernia. And the cymbal of the saint, which from his frequent +percussions thereof appeared in one part broken, was afterward repaired +by an angel's hand; and the mark is beheld on it at this day. Likewise +on the summit of this mountain many are wont to watch and to fast, +conceiving that they will never after enter the gates of hell; the +which benefit they account to be obtained to them of God through the +merits and the prayers of Patrick. And some who have thereon passed +the night relate them to have suffered grievous torments, whereby they +think themselves purified of all their sins; and for such cause many +call this place the Purgatory of Saint Patrick. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXIII. + +_Troops of Angels appear unto the Saint._ + +And God, the ruler of all, who after darkness bringeth light, +compassionated his servant; and so soon as the evil spirits were driven +forth, a multitude of angels poured around the place with exceeding +brightness, and with wondrous melody they comforted the saint. And he, +having finished his fast of forty days, offered the sacrifice of praise +and thanksgiving unto God, who had vouchsafed to mortal man the virtue +of so great abstinence, and had bestowed such mercies through the +intercession of Him. And moreover he rejoiced in the angelic +salutation. Then being led by the angels, he descended from the +mountain, and smote his cymbal, the sound whereof the Lord caused to be +heard through all parts of Hibernia. Thence, let none of the faithful +doubt that every man even over the whole world will hear the sound of +the last trumpet. And raising his hands, Saint Patrick blessed the +island and all the dwellers therein, and commended them unto Christ. + + +Now understand ye how it was the custom of Patrick, as of the other +ancient saints who abided in the islands, to have with them cymbals, +for the expulsion of evil spirits, for their own bodily exercise, to +proclaim the hours of the day and night, and for I know not what other +causes. One thing, however, is certain, that many miracles are known +to have been performed by the sound or the touch of these cymbals. +Therefore at the Lord's Supper, the blessed Patrick going forth of his +retirement into public view, rejoiced with his presence the whole +church of the saints who were born of his preaching unto Christ. And +there he discharged his episcopal office, the which he always joined +with those sacred seasons; and thus went he forward in the work of +salvation. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXIV. + +_The Saint titheth Hibernia and the Dwellers therein._ + +Then at the Paschal tide, his accustomed devotions being finished, he +went round the whole island with a holy multitude of his sons whom he +had brought forth unto Christ; and everywhere teaching the way of the +Lord, he converted to, or confirmed in, the faith the dwellers therein. +And all the islanders, unto whom had come even the knowledge of his +name, for this so strange and wondrous miracle surrendered themselves +to him and to his doctrine, as to an angel of light, and devoutly they +obeyed him for their peculiar apostle. Then this most excellent +husbandman, seeing the hardness of the Lord's field to be softened, and +the thorns, the thistles, and the tares rooted forth, labored to +fertilize it so much the more abundantly with the increase of +profitable seed, that it produced good fruit not only to the increase +of thirty or sixty, but even of an hundred-fold. Therefore he caused +the whole island to be divided with a measuring line, and all the +inhabitants, both male and female, to be tithed; and every tenth head, +as well of human kind as of cattle, commanded he to be set apart for +the portion of the Lord. And making all the men monks, and the women +nuns, he builded many monasteries, and assigned unto them for their +support the tithe of the land and of the cattle. Wherefore in a short +space so it was that no desert spot, nor even any corner of the island, +nor any place therein, however remote, was unfilled with perfect monks +and nuns; so that Hibernia was become rightly distinguished by the +especial name of the Island of Saints. And these lived according to +the rule of Saint Patrick, with a contempt of the world, a desire of +heaven, a holy mortification of the flesh, and an abandonment of all +pleasure; equalling the Egyptian monks in their merit and in their +number, so that with their conversation and example they edified far +distant countries. And in the days of Saint Patrick, and for many ages +of his successors, no one was advanced unto the episcopal degree or the +cure of souls, unless by the revelation of the divine Spirit or by some +other evident sign he was proved worthy thereof. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXV. + +_The different States of Hibernia are in a Heavenly Vision shown unto +the Saint._ + +And the man of God anxiously desired and earnestly prayed that he might +be certified of the present and the future state of Hibernia, to the +end that he might be assured of the faith, or of the value that his +labors bore in the sight of God. Then the Lord heard the desire of his +heart, and manifested the same unto him by an evident revelation; for +while he was engaged in prayer, and the heart of his mind was opened, +he beheld the whole island as it were a flaming fire ascending unto +heaven; and he heard the angel of God saying unto him: "Such at this +time is Hibernia in the sight of the Lord." And after a little space +he beheld in all parts of the island even as mountains of fire +stretching unto the skies. And again after a little space he beheld as +it were candles burning, and after a while darkness intervened; and +then he beheld fainter lights, and at length he beheld coals lying +hidden here and there, as reduced unto ashes, yet still burning. And +the angel added: "What thou seest here shown, such shall be the people +of Hibernia." Then the saint, exceedingly weeping, often repeated the +words of the Psalmist, saying: "Whether will God turn himself away for +ever, and will he be no more entreated? Shall his mercy come to an end +from generation to generation? Shall God forget to be merciful, and +shut up his mercy in his displeasure?" And the angel said, "Look +toward the northern side, and on the right hand of a height shalt thou +behold the darkness dispersed from the face of the light which +thenceforth will arise." Then the saint raised his eyes, and behold, +he at first saw a small light arising in Ulydia, the which a long time +contended with the darkness, and at length dispersed it, and illumined +with its rays the whole island. Nor ceased the light to increase and +to prevail, even until it had restored to its former fiery state all +Hibernia. Then was the heart of the saint filled with joy, and his +heart with exultation, giving thanks for all these things which had +been shown unto him: and he understood in the greatness of this fiery +ardor of the Christian faith the devotion and the zeal of religion, +wherewith those islanders burned. By the fiery mountains he understood +the men who would be holy in their miracles and their virtues, eminent +in their preachings and their examples; by the lessening of the light, +the decrease of holiness; by the darkness that covered the land, the +infidelity which would prevail therein; by the intervals of delay, the +distances of the succeeding times. But the people think the period of +darkness was that in which Gurmundus and Turgesius, heathen princes of +Norwegia, conquered and ruled in Hibernia; and in those days, the +saints, like coals covered with ashes, lay hidden in caves and dens +from the face of the wicked, who pursued them like sheep unto the +slaughter. Whence it happened that differing rites and new sacraments, +which were contrary to the ecclesiastical institutes, were introduced +into the church by many prelates who were ignorant of the divine law. +But the light first arising from the north, and after long conflict +exterminating the darkness, those people assert to be Saint Malachy, +who presided first in Dunum, afterward in Ardmachia, and reduced the +island unto the Christian law. On the other hand, the people of +Britain ascribe this light to their coming, for that then the church +seemed under their rule to be advanced unto a better state; and that +then religion seemed to be planted and propagated, and the sacraments +of the church and the institutes of the Christian law to be observed +with more regular observance. But I propose not the end of this +contention, neither do I prevent it, thinking that the discussion and +the decision thereof should be left unto the divine judgment. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXVI. + +_The Answer of Saint Patrick to Secundinus._ + +And oftentimes the Saint Secundinus sat in the assembly of the holy +men, conversing together of the acts and the virtues of Saint Patrick. +And when one of them affirmed that Patrick was the most holy of all +living men, Secundinus answered, "Verily, he would be the most holy, +had he not too little of that brotherly charity which it becometh him +to have." And this saying, uttered in the presence of so many of his +disciples, was not long concealed from the saint. Therefore it came to +pass that when Saint Patrick and Secundinus afterward met together, the +master enquired of his disciple, the metropolitan of his suffragan, why +he had spoken such a word of him, or rather against him. And +Secundinus replied, "So did I say, because thou refusest the gifts +offered unto thee of rich men, and wilt not accept farms and +inheritances, wherewith thou mightest sustain the great multitude of +the saints which are gathered unto thee." Then Saint Patrick answered +and said, "For the increase of charity is it that I do not accept these +works of charity; inasmuch as were I to receive all that are offered +unto me, I should not leave even the pasturage of two horses for the +saints which will come after us." Then Secundinus repenting of the +word which he had spoken, entreated forgiveness of the saint; and he, +with his wonted kindness, accorded it unto his penitence. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXVII. + +_Secundinus composeth a Hymn in Honor of Saint Patrick._ + +And Secundinus, who was exceeding wise and learned, said unto Saint +Patrick that he desired to compose a hymn in honor of a saint who was +yet living. This he said, for that the saint of whom he purposed to +write was Patrick himself; and therefore concealed he the name in +silence. Then answered the saint: "Verily, it is worthy, and fit, and +right, and profitable, that the people should tell the wisdom of the +saints, and that the congregation should speak of their praise; but yet +is it more becoming that the subject of our praise should not be +praised until after his death. Praise thou therefore the clearness of +the day, but not until the evening cometh; the courage of the soldier, +but not until he hath triumphed; the fortune of the sailor, but not +until he hath landed; for the Scripture saith, Thou shalt praise no man +in his lifetime. Nevertheless, if so thy mind is fixed, what thou +proposest to do, that do thou quickly; for death draweth nigh unto +thee, and of all the bishops which are in Hibernia, shalt thou be the +first to die." Therefore Secundinus composed a hymn in honor of Saint +Patrick, and after a few days, according to the word of the saint, he +died; and he was buried in his own church, in a place which he called +Domnhach-Seachlainn, and by manifold miracles showeth himself to live +in Christ. And this hymn are many of the islanders daily wont to sing, +and from its repetition they affirm many and great wonders to have +happened; for divers, while singing this hymn, have passed unseen +through their enemies who were thirsting for their blood, and who were +stricken with that sort of blindness which physicians term acrisia. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXVIII. + +_The Soul of a Certain Sinner is by Saint Patrick freed from Demons._ + +And on a time a certain saint, named Kaennechus, saw in Hibernia troops +of demons passing along, armed with infernal instruments; whom having +adjured in the name of the Holy Trinity, he compelled to declare the +cause of their coming thither. And they, thus adjured, confessed, +though unwillingly, that they came to bear away the soul of a certain +most wicked sinner, who for his sins deserved to be carried into hell. +Then Kaennechus enjoined them in the name of the Lord to return unto +him, and to tell him what they had done. And after some hours had +passed, the demons returned with confusion, and declared that by the +power of Patrick they had lost their expected prey; for that this man +had in every year during his life celebrated with a great feast the +festival of Saint Patrick, and had every day repeated certain chapters +of the hymn which had been composed in his honor; and therefore, they +said, had Saint Patrick snatched him from their hands, as his own +proper right. Thus saying, the demons vanished into thin air; and +Kaennechus rejoiced in these things, and by the relation excited many +unto the frequent repetition of this hymn in honor of Saint Patrick. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXIX. + +_How the Saint appeared unto Colmanus while singing his Hymn._ + +A certain abbot, a disciple of Saint Patrick, named Colmanus, was +accustomed frequently to repeat this hymn; and when he was asked of the +disciples why he would not rather sing the appointed offices and +psalms, inasmuch as once to sing this hymn ought to suffice him, he +continually beheld the face of his beloved father, Patrick, nor could +he ever be satisfied with the contemplation thereof. This, though +happening long after the death of Saint Patrick, we have written and +recorded among his acts; that we may show how this hymn was esteemed +among the people of Hibernia, and how ready was he in the hour of +necessity and tribulation to aid those who honored him, and who +frequently celebrated his memory. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXX. + +_The Admirable Contemplations of the Saint._ + +As Saint Patrick, the preacher of truth, while yet living in the flesh, +recalled and incited by his example and conversation many living men, +who yet were dead, unto the true life, so did he by his prayers bring +many who were buried unto the land of the living. For divers which +were deceased, he by his powerful prayers snatched from the depths of +eternal punishment, and from the roaring lions which were prepared for +their food, and bringing them to the expiatory place, restored them +unto salvation. And he, being often made the contemplator of the +divine mysteries, beheld the heavens opened, and the Lord Jesus +standing in the middle of the multitude of angels; and this, while he +offered the holy immolation of the Son of God, and devoutly sang the +Apocalypse of John, did Patrick merit to behold. For while in his +meditations he admired these admirable visions, unto the sight of their +similitude was he lifted up in the Lord. And the angel Victor, so +often before named, thrice in each week appeared unto him, and +comforted and consoled him with mutual colloquy. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXXI. + +_Saint Patrick beholdeth the Souls of the Rich and of the poor Man sent +unto different Places._ + +Oftentimes did the saint behold the souls of men going forth of their +bodies, some unto places of punishment, others unto places of reward; +one instance whereof we think worthy to record, inasmuch as the saint +was wont to relate it for the purpose of edification. There was a man +who had a great name, according as names are in this world accounted +great; and he had flocks of sheep, and herds of oxen, and his +possessions increased on the earth. And this man died; and a long +assembly of his children and his kindred celebrated his obsequies with +much pomp and honor according to the estimation of men, and so +committed him unto the common mother. And they who account blessed the +man unto whom these things are given, declared him happy, whose life +was so fortunate, and whose death so honorable; and they thought that +he very much had pleased the Lord. But the other man was a beggar, who +having lived all his life in wretchedness and in poverty, went the way +of all flesh. And his body long time lay without the ministry of the +funeral rites, unburied, and mangled by the birds of prey; and at +length was it dragged by the feet into a pit-hole, and covered with +turf; and they who judge according to outward show esteemed this man +most miserable and unfortunate. But the saint pronounced the opinion +of men to differ from the righteousness of Him who searcheth the reins +and the heart, whose judgments are a deep abyss; and he declared that +he saw the soul of that rich man plunged by the demons into hell; but +the spirit of the poor man, whose life was accounted as foolishness, +and his end without honor, was reckoned among the children of God, and +his lot of blessedness was among the saints. "Truly," said he, "the +sons of men are vain, and their judgments are false in the weight; but +the just God loveth justice, and his countenance beholdeth +righteousness; and in the balance of his righteousness weigheth he the +pleasures and the riches of this evil man, and the sins of this poor +man, haply whereby he hath merited the wrath and the misfortunes which +he bore; and the one from his honor and his glory he adjudged unto +present torment; and the other, which had atoned in the furnace of +poverty and of affliction, mercifully sent he unto the heavenly joys." +Nor did the saint behold this of these men only, but often of many +others did he behold and relate such things. Thus what the word of +truth had before told of the rich man clothed in purple and the poor +man covered with sores did this friend of truth declare himself to have +beheld of other. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXXII. + +_Saint Vinvaloeus is miraculously stayed by Saint Patrick from his +purposed Journey._ + +And in Lesser Britain lived a venerable man, named Vinvaloeus, who was +even from his infancy renowned for signs and wonders; for as his acts +are recorded, very many exceeding great miracles are attested to have +been done by him. And he, the south wind so blowing that all his +perfumes breathed forth, heard the holy name of Saint Patrick, and +earnestly desired he to hasten unto the odor of his virtues. And long +time he pondered and desired; and at length determined he to leave his +country and his parents, and to go unto Hibernia to serve Christ under +the discipulate and disciplinate of Saint Patrick; but when the night +came, with the morrow whereof he purposed to begin his journey, he +beheld in a vision that most illustrious man standing before him, +clothed in his pontifical vestments; and then said he unto him: "Know +thou me, beloved Vinvaloeus, to be the Patrick unto whom thou purposest +to travel; yet weary thou not thyself, nor seek thou him whom thou +canst not find; for the hour of my dissolution draweth nigh, when I +shall go the way of all flesh. Therefore it is the will of God that +thou leavest not this place; but by thy conversation and example shalt +thou endeavor to gain over a people acceptable unto him, and which +shall follow good works; forasmuch as the crown of life is yet to be +seen, which he hath promised unto those who love him." Thus saying, +the vision disappeared, and Vinvaloeus did as he was bidden of heaven. +Now let the hearer admire his perfection, who by the spirit which was +in him saw the desire of the holy man dwelling in Armorica, and thus +wondrously changed him from the purpose of his intended journey. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXXIII. + +_The Daily Prayers and Genuflexions of the Saint._ + +And now, the cloud of unbelief, by whose eclipse the people of Hibernia +so long had wanted the warmth and the light of the true sun, being +dispersed, now did the tongue, the life, the virtue of the blessed +Patrick, so long as the breath and the Spirit of God were in his +nostrils, avail unto the things which were begun, continued, and ended +in the Lord; giving the knowledge of salvation, affording the example +of holiness, extending the remedy of all diseases. And verily, this +peculiar habit of life, which he exercised in secret, was daily and +perpetual; inasmuch as every day was he wont diligently to sing the +entire Psaltery, with many songs and hymns, and the Apocalypse of the +Apostle John, and two hundred prayers before God; three hundred times +did he bend his knees in adoration of the Lord; every canonical hour of +the day did he one hundred times sign himself with the sign of the +cross. Nevertheless did he not omit every day worthily and devoutly to +offer up unto the Father the sacrifice of the Son; and never ceased he +to teach the people or instruct his disciples. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXXIV. + +_How he passed the Night Season._ + +And in a wondrous manner dividing the night season, thus did this +wakeful guardian and laborer in the Lord's vineyard distinguish that +also. For in the earliest part thereof having with two hundred +genuflexions and one hundred psalms praised God, then applied he unto +study and in the latter part, he plunged himself into cold water, and +raising his heart, his voice, his eyes, and his hands towards heaven, +offered he one hundred and fifty prayers. Afterward he stretched +himself on a bare stone, and of another stone making a pillow, he +rested his most sanctified body with a short sleep; or, that more +clearly we may speak, he refreshed himself unto the labor of his +continual conflict. With such rest indulging, he girded his loins with +roughest hair-cloth, the which had been dipped in cold water; lest +haply the law of the flesh, warring in his members against the law of +the Spirit, should excite any spark of the old leaven. Thus did Saint +Patrick with spare and meagre food, and with the coarsest clothing, +offer himself a holy and living sacrifice, acceptable unto God; nor +suffered he the enemy to touch in him the walls of Jerusalem, but he +inflicted on his own flesh the penance of perpetual barrenness; and +that he should not bring forth children which might hereafter be worthy +of death, made he his spirit fruitful of abundant fruit. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXXV. + +_The Habit, the Bearing, and the Acts of Saint Patrick._ + +And until the five and fiftieth year of his age, wherein he was +advanced in Hibernia unto the episcopal degree, did he after the manner +of the apostles continually travel on foot; and thenceforth, by reason +of the difficulty of the journey, he used a chariot, according to the +manner of the country. And over his other garments he was clothed with +a white cowl, so that in the form and the candid color of his habit he +showed his profession, and proved himself the candidate of lowliness +and purity. Whence it came to pass that the monks in Hibernia +following his example, for many years were contented with the simple +habit which the wool of the sheep afforded unto them, untinged with any +foreign dye. And he kept his hands clear from any gift, ever +accounting it more blessed to give than to receive; therefore when any +gift was given unto him by any rich man, he hastened so soon as might +be to give it unto the poor, lightening himself thereof as of a heavy +burden. In his countenance, in his speech, in his gait, in all his +members, in his whole body, did he edify the beholders; and his +discourse was well seasoned, and suited unto every age, sex, rank, and +condition. In four languages, the British, the Hibernian, the Gallic, +and the Latin, was he thoroughly skilled; and the Greek language also +did he partly understand. The little Book of Proverbs, which he +composed in the Hibernian tongue, and which is full of edification, +still existeth; and his great volume, called Canoin Phadruig, that is, +the canons of Patrick, suiteth every person, be he secular, be he +ecclesiastic, unto the exercise of justice and the salvation of souls. +Whensoever he was addressed for the exposition of profound questions or +difficult cases, always, according to the custom of his lowliness, did +he answer: "I know not, God knoweth "; but when great necessity +compelled him to certify the word of his mouth, he always confirmed it +by attesting his Judge. So excellent was he in the spirit of prophecy +that he foretold divers future things even as if they were present; +things absent he well knew, and whatsoever fell from his lips, without +even the smallest doubt did that come to pass. So evidently did he +foretell of the saints which for an hundred years thereafter would be +born in Hibernia, but chiefly in Momonia and Conactia; that he showed +even their names, their characters, and the places of their dwelling. +Whomsoever he bound, them did the divine justice bind; whosoever he +loosed, them did the divine justice loose; with his right hand he +blessed, with his left hand he cursed; and whom he blessed, on them +came the blessing of the Lord; whom he cursed, on them came the +heavenly malediction; and the sentence which issued from his lips, +unshaken and fixed did it remain, even as had it gone forth of the +eternal judgment-seat. Whence doth it plainly appear, that this holy +man being faithful unto God, was with Him as one spirit. Yet though in +his manifold virtues he equalled or excelled all other saints, in the +virtue of lowliness did he excel even himself; for in his epistles he +was wont to mention himself as the lowest, the least, and the vilest of +all sinners; and little accounting the signs and the miracles which he +had wrought, he thought himself to be compared not to any perfect man; +and being but of small stature, he used often to call himself a dwarf. +And not seldom, after the manner of the Apostle Paul, he toiled with +manual labor, fishing, and tilling the ground; but chiefly in building +churches, to the which employment he much urged his disciples, both by +exhortation and example. Nevertheless, right earnestly did he apply +himself unto baptizing the people and ordaining the ministers of the +church. Three hundred bishops and fifty did he consecrate with his own +hand; seven hundred churches did he endow; five thousand clerical men +did he advance unto the priestly rank. But of the other ministers whom +he appointed unto the inferior orders, of the monks and the nuns whom +he dedicated unto the divine service, God alone knoweth the number. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXXVI. + +_Of the Sick whom he healed, and the Dead whom he raised; and of his +Disciples who recorded his Acts._ + +Therefore under this most sanctified rule of life did he shine in so +many and so great miracles that he appeared second to no other saint. +For the blind and the lame, the deaf and the dumb, the palsied, the +lunatic, the leprous, the epileptic, all who labored under any disease, +did he in the name of the Holy Trinity restore unto the power of their +limbs and unto entire health; and in these good deeds was he daily +practised. Thirty and three dead men, some of whom had many years been +buried, did this great reviver raise from the dead, as above we have +more fully recorded. And of all those things which so wondrously he +did in the world, sixty and six books are said to have been written, +whereof the greater part perished by fire in the reigns of Gurmundus +and of Turgesius. But four books of his virtues and his miracles yet +remain, written partly in the Hibernian, partly in the Latin language; +and which at different times four of his disciples composed--namely, +his successor, the blessed Benignus; the Bishop Saint Mel; the Bishop +Saint Lumanus, who was his nephew; and his grand-nephew Saint +Patricius, who after the decease of his uncle returned into Britain, +and died in the church of Glascon. Likewise did Saint Evinus collect +into one volume the acts of Saint Patrick, the which is written partly +in the Hibernian and partly in the Latin tongue. From all which, +whatsoever we could meet most worthy of belief, have we deemed right to +transmit in this our work unto after-times. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXXVII. + +_The Angelic Voice showeth unto Saint Patrick of his Death and of the +Place of his Burial._ + +And Patrick, the beloved of the Lord, being full of days and of good +works, and now faithfully finishing the time of his appointed ministry, +saw, as well by the divine revelation as by the dissolution of his +earthly tabernacle, that the evening of his life was drawing near. And +being then nigh unto Ulydia, he hastened his journey toward the +metropolitan seat, Ardmachia; for earnestly he desired to lay in that +place the remains of his sanctified body, and in the sight of his sons +whom he had brought forth unto Christ to be consigned unto the common +mother. But the event changed the purpose of the holy man; that all +might know, according to the testimony of the Scriptures, that the way +of man is not in his own power, but that his steps are directed of God. +For the Angel Victor met him while on his journey, and said unto him: +"Stay thou, O Patrick, thy feet from this thy purpose, since it is not +the divine will that in Ardmachia thy life should be closed or thy body +therein be sepultured; for in Ulydia, the first place of all Hibernia +which thou didst convert, hath the Lord provided that thou shalt die, +and that in the city of Dunum thou shall be honorably buried. And +there shall be thy resurrection; but in Ardmachia, which thou so +lovest, shall be the successive ministry of the grace which hath been +on thee bestowed. Therefore remember thy word, wherewith thou gavest +hope unto thy first converts, the sons of Dichu; when, instructed of +heaven, thou didst foretell unto them that in their land thou wouldest +die and be buried." And at the word of the angel the saint was +grieved; but quickly returning unto himself, embraced he the divine +Providence with much devotion and thanksgiving, and submitting his own +will unto the will of God, he returned into Ulydia. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXXVIII. + +_The Place of his Sepulture is foreshown by a Light from Heaven._ + +And after a few days Patrick, the most holy old man, rested on a place +not far distant from the mother church of the city of Dunum; and with +him was Brigida, the spotless Pearl of Hibernia, and no small assembly +of religious and ecclesiastical persons. And while the saint +discoursed unto them of the glory of the saints, a great light +descended from heaven, and poured round a certain spot on the eastern +side of the cemetery; at the which marvelling, they enquired of the +saint what meant that light, and the holy prelate bade the blessed +Brigida to explain to them the meaning thereof. Then the virgin openly +declared that the so great light denoted and sanctified the +burial-place of a certain saint most illustrious and dear unto God, who +therein would shortly be buried. And the holy woman, Ethembria, who +first of all the nuns in Hibernia had been consecrated by Patrick, +privily enquired of Brigida who was the saint. And she answered that +Saint Patrick himself, the father and apostle of Hibernia, would soon +be buried in that place, but that in process of time he would be +removed from thence; and further she pronounced that she would be happy +if she might enshroud his most holy body in a linen cloth, which she +had made with her own hands and woven for his obsequies. This said she +secretly unto her sister nun, nor deemed she her words overheard of +any. Then the light which appeared from heaven was taken up from their +eyes, and foreshowed the ascension of the saint unto heaven. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXXIX. + +_Saint Brigida bringeth unto Saint Patrick the Garment which was to +enshroud his Body._ + +And Saint Patrick, being instructed of heaven, understood the desire of +the heart of Brigida, and the words of her mouth, and her preparation +of the garment, and that she would enshroud therewith his body, as the +spiritual token of their mutual love in Christ. And he himself +returned unto the monastery of Saballum, which he had filled with a +fair assembly of monks; and there, down lying on the bed of sickness, +awaited he with a happy hope the termination of his life, nay, rather +of his pilgrimage, and his entrance into the life eternal. And the +venerable virgin obeyed the word of her father and bishop; and she went +unto the monastery, and took the garment, and with four virgins in her +train hastened she to return unto the saint; but forasmuch as they were +afflicted with too long abstinence and with the difficulty of the +journey, for very weariness they stayed on their way, nor could they +speed thereon as they had purposed. Yet the saint, while in Saballum, +knew at the revelation of the Spirit the weariness of the virgin; and +he commanded his charioteer to meet them on their way with four +chariots, and the charioteer obeyed, and met them at the place +exceeding wearied, and brought them unto the saint. And they offered +unto him the garment, the which he kindly received; and kissing his +feet and his hands, they obtained his benediction. + + + + +CHAPTER CXC. + +The Death of Saint Patrick. + +Now, the sickness of his body increasing, age pressing on, or rather +the Lord calling him unto his crown, the blessed Patrick perceived he +was hastening unto the tomb; and much he rejoiced to arrive at the port +of death and the portal of life. Therefore, being so admonished by the +angel, his guardian, he fortified himself with the divine mysteries +from the hand of his disciple, the Bishop Saint Thasach, and lifting up +his eyes he beheld the heavens opened, and Jesus standing in the +multitude of angels. Then raising his hands, and blessing his people, +and giving thanks, passed he forth of this world, from the faith unto +the proof, from his pilgrimage unto his country, from transitory pain +unto eternal glory. Oh! how blessed Patrick. Oh! how blessed he, who +beheld God face to face, whose soul is secured in salvation! Happy, I +say, is the man, unto whom the heavens opened, who penetrated into the +sanctuary, who found eternal redemption, whom the blessed Mary with the +spotless choirs of virgins welcomed, whom the bands of angels admitted +into their fellowship! Him the wise assembly of prophets attendeth, +the venerable senate of apostles embraceth, the laurelled army of +martyrs exalteth, the white-robed company of confessors accepteth, and +the innumerable number of the elect receiveth with all honor and with +all glory. Nor wondrous was it, nor undeserved; seeing that he was the +angel of God, though not by his birth, yet by his virtue and by his +office--he, whose lips were the guard of knowledge, and declared unto +the people the law of life which was required of God. Rightly is he +called the prophet of the Most Highest, who knew so many things absent, +who foretold so many and such things future, as seldom have any of the +prophets prophesied! Rightly is he called, and is, the apostle of +Hibernia, seeing that all the people thereof, and the other islanders, +are the signs of his apostolate! Rightly is he called a martyr, who, +bearing continually in his heart and in his body the name of Christ, +showed himself a living sacrifice unto God; who having suffered so many +snares, so many conflicts, from magicians, from idolaters, from rulers, +and from evil spirits, held his heart always prepared to undergo any +and every death! Rightly is he called the confessor of God, who +continually preached the name of Christ, and who by his words, his +examples, and his miracles excited peoples, tribes, and tongues unto +the confession of his name, of human sin, and of divine promise! +Rightly is he called a virgin, who abided a virgin in his body, in his +heart, and in his faith; and by this threefold virginity pleaseth he +the Spouse of virgins and the Virgin of virgins! Rightly is he +numbered among the angelic choirs and the assemblies of all saints, who +was the sharer in all holy acts and all virtues! + + + + +CHAPTER CXCI. + +_The Number of the Years of his Life._ + +On the seventeenth day of March, in the one hundredth and twentieth and +third year of his age, departed he forth of this world; and thus the +years of his life are reckoned. Ere he was carried into Hibernia by +the pirates, he had attained his sixteenth year; oppressed beneath a +most cruel servitude, six years did he feed swine; four years did he +feed with the sweet food of the Gospel those who before were swine, but +who, casting away the filth of their idolatry, became his flock of +unspotted lambs; eighteen years did he study under Saint Germanus, the +Bishop of Auxerres. When he had reached his fiftieth and third year, +he was invested with the episcopal dignity, and returned unto Hibernia, +therein to preach; in the space of thirty and five years converted he +unto Christ all that country and many other islands; and during the +thirty and three years which remained unto him, leading a life of +contemplation, abided he chiefly in Saballum, or in the monastery which +he had founded in Ardmachia. Nor did he willingly leave those holy +places, unless some cause of inevitable urgency called him forth; +nevertheless, once in every year did he celebrate a council, that he +might bring back unto the right rule those things which he knew to need +reformation. + + + + +CHAPTER CXCII. + +_The Funeral Honors which Men and Angels paid unto the Body of the +Saint._ + +And as Saint Patrick expired, the surrounding circle of monks commended +his spirit unto God, and enwrapped his body in the linen cloth which +Saint Brigida had prepared. And the multitude of the people and of the +clergy gathered together, and mourned with tears and with sighs the +dissolution of Patrick, their patron, even as the desolation of their +country, and paid in psalms and in hymns the rites which unto his +funeral were due. But on the following night a light-streaming choir +of angels kept their heavenly watch, and waked around the body; and +illumining the place and all therein with their radiance, delighting +with their odor, charming with the modulation of their soft-flowing +psalmody, poured they all around their spiritual sweetness. Then came +the sleep of the Lord on all who had thither collected, and while the +angelic rites were performed, held them in their slumber even until the +morning. And when the morning came, the company of angels reascended +into heaven, leaving behind them the sweet odor which excelled all +perfumes; the which, when the sleepers awakened, they and all who came +unto the place experienced even for twelve succeeding days. For during +that time was the sanctified body preserved unsepultured, inasmuch as +the controversies of the people with the clergy permitted it not to be +buried in that holy place. + + + + +CHAPTER CXCIII. + +_The Light continueth for Twelve Days._ + +And this was the reason of the controversy. A great and wondrous light +appeared, such as never in any time preceding had been beheld. Over +that whole country the light continued for twelve days, without any +intervention of night; for the night was illuminated, and shone even as +the day. Whereby was it plainly given to be understood that the +darkness of night obscured not Patrick, the son of life, the inhabiter +of eternal brightness, while the night was to him the illumination of +his joys, while he ascended unto the light without spot, the day +without night, the sun without eclipse. And this miracle seemeth like +unto that ancient miracle which was wrought by Joshua in Gibeon, though +much extended in its duration. For the sun, as is written, stood still +over Gibeon, and the moon stood still over the valley of Ajalon, one +day for the space of two days, gave by the divine virtue the victory +unto a faithful people; and by the same power the continued shining of +twelve days' light showed the merit of Patrick, triumphant over this +world and the prince of this world. + + + + +CHAPTER CXCIV. + +_The Miraculous Rising of the Sea between the Contending People._ + +And at the sight of such a miracle, the people could not be restrained +from their contention, for the fury of their wrath and the violence of +their minds which governed them they imputed to their devotion toward +the saint. And on the twelfth day a deadly and perilous contention +arose between the two people of Ulydia and Ardmachia about the sacred +body. And while arrayed in armor they rose unto arms, they heard a +voice from heaven, which seemed as the voice of Saint Patrick, staying +their violence; and the sea, rising above its wonted bounds, reared +itself as a wall, and separated the contending people, so that they +could neither behold nor attack one the other; and thus corporeally +separated, united them unto the concord of mutual peace. Then the +people being restrained from their fury, the waters surceased from +their fury also. + + + + +CHAPTER CXCV. + +_Two Wains appear, the which are sent by a Miracle._ + +Then, the swelling waves of the sea being reduced and returned unto +themselves, two oxen appear, seeming to draw toward Dunum a wain laden +with a noble burden, the holy body; the which the people and clergy of +Ultonia followed with exceeding devotion, with psalms, and hymns, and +spiritual songs. And plainly it showed that vehicle which formerly +bore the ark of the covenant from Acharon unto Getht. But by all these +wonders the fury of the Ardmachians is not appeased; for still is their +hand prepared unto battle, that the body of their prelate, their +primate, their patron, might not be riven from them. Nevertheless, the +divine Providence took heed that occasion of contest should not any +more be ministered; for another wain appearing, drawn by two oxen, went +before the Ardmachians, even like the former wain which had borne the +sacred body unto Dunum; and they stayed not to follow its track, +believing that it carried the precious burden, until it came within the +borders of Ardmachia, unto a certain river which is named Caucune. +Then the visionary wain disappeared; and the people, frustrated of +their hope, unsatisfied and sad, returned unto their dwellings. + + + + +CHAPTER CXCVI. + +_The Sepulture of Saint Patrick in the City of Dunum._ + +And the people of Ultonia, having entered Dunum, celebrated the +solemnities of the Mass, and in the place foreshown by the heavenly +light buried the venerable body with all due veneration, and this +desirable treasure, this most precious jewel, they deposited beneath a +stone, five cubits deep in the heart of the earth, lest haply by +stealth it might be conveyed thence. But by how many and how great +miracles the bones of this most holy saint were graced therein, we find +not recorded; either because the pen of the negligent preserved them +not, or being written, they were destroyed by some of the many heathen +princes who ruled in Hibernia. Now, Saint Patrick died in the four +hundredth and ninetieth and third year of Christ's incarnation, Felix +being then pope, in the first year of the reign of Anastasius the +emperor, Aurelius Ambrosius ruling in Britain, Forchernus in Hibernia, +Jesus Christ reigning in all things and over all things. + +Now unto Him be glory, and praise, and honor, and empire, through +infinite ages, for ever and ever! Amen! + + + + +HERE END THE ACTS OF SAINT PATRICK. + + + + +A CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE + +TO THE + +LIVES OF ST. PATRICK. + + A.D. + +1. St. Patrick was born in North Britain, near the Clyde, . . . 376 + or thereabouts. + +2. In the sixteenth year of his age he and Lupita, his sister, + were made captive by Scotch marauders, and, being led into + Ireland, were sold to Milcho in Dalaradia, now Ulster, . . 392 + +3. After six years' captivity, and being twenty-one years + old, he returns to his home in Britain, . . . . . . . . . . 397 + +4. After three months he went to Aremorica with his parents, + and was taken by the Picts two months into captivity. He + was taken captive a third time, and taken to Bordeaux, + where he was set at liberty, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 398 + +5. Passing thence to Tours, he became a monk in the Monastery + of St. Martin, and after four years of monastic life + returned to the Island of Temar, which is supposed to be + the same as Ireland, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402 + +6. St. Patrick was called by visions into Gaul, and proceeded + into Italy, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403 + +7. According to the customs of monks at that time, he spent + seven years in wanderings over mountains and through + islands, and, obeying the admonition of an angel, was + ordained priest by Bishop S. Senior, . . . . . . . . . . . 410 + +8. Having studied three years, St. Patrick is called by + visions into Ireland to preach the Gospel, . . . . . . . . 413 + +9. St. Patrick, through love of solitude, returns into + Britain to Valle Rosina, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 414 + +10. Being received at Antissiodorum by St. Amator, + A.D. 414, he remains there four years, and passes to + St. Germanus in the forty-second year of his age, . . . . . 418 + +11. Having spent nearly four years with St. Germanus, + St. Patrick departed for the Isle of Lerina, . . . . . . . 421 + +12. St. Patrick spent nine years in the Island of Lerina, + opposite Norbonne, and, knowing that the time for his + mission to Ireland was at hand, returned to Germanus + at Aries, now Orleans, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 430 + +13. Palladius returned from Ireland, his mission having + failed, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 431 + +14. St. Patrick is sent by St. Celestine in Ireland, . . . . . 432 + +15. Being consecrated bishop by the Bishop of Tours, he bids + farewell to St. Germanus in passing through Gaul, and, + having landed on the shore of Leinster, baptizes Sinellum + in the autumn of the same year, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 432 + +16. St. Patrick proceeds to Ulster, preaches the faith to + Milcho, and makes many converts, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 433 + +17. St. Patrick preaches to King Leary at Tara, . . . . . . . . 436 + +18. St. Patrick returned to Rome, and sent St. Kranie and his + five companions to preach the Gospel, . . . . . . . . . . . 445 + +19. St. Patrick gives St. Bridget the veil in the fourteenth + year of her age, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 450 + +20. Armagh is made a metropolitan see, and councils are + celebrated, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 454 + +21. St. Patrick again visits Rome, probably for the confirmation + of his council, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 455 + +22. St. Patrick dies, the eighty-second year of his age, at + Down, attended by St. Bridget, who had, he was conscious, + foreknown the time of his death, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 458 + + Some chronologies extend the life of St. Patrick by forty + or forty-five years. + +23. The Confession of St. Patrick was written, . . . . . . . . 455 + +24. The Epistle to Coroticus, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 456 + +25. The Metrical Life of St. Patrick by St. Fiech, . . . . . . 493 + +26. The Tripartite Life of St. Patrick by St. McEvin, . . . . 510 + +27. The Life of St. Patrick by Jocelyn, . . . . . . . . . . . 1185 + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOST ANCIENT LIVES OF SAINT +PATRICK*** + + +******* This file should be named 18482-8.txt or 18482-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/4/8/18482 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick</p> +<p> Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings</p> +<p>Author: Various</p> +<p>Editor: James O'Leary</p> +<p>Release Date: June 1, 2006 [eBook #18482]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOST ANCIENT LIVES OF SAINT PATRICK***</p> +<br><br><center><h3>E-text prepared by Al Haines</h3></center><br><br> +<hr class="full" noshade> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<A NAME="img-front"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-front.jpg" ALT="Images of Saint Columba, Saint Patrick, and Saint Brigida" BORDER="2" WIDTH="506" HEIGHT="371"> +<H4> +[Frontispiece: Images of Saint Columba, Saint Patrick, and Saint<BR> +Brigida, Taken from the Spicilegium Sanctorum, and engraven at Paris,<BR> +A.D. 1629, by Messingham.] +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +THE MOST ANCIENT +</H2> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +LIVES OF SAINT PATRICK; +</H1> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +INCLUDING +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +THE LIFE BY JOCELIN, +</H2> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED IN AMERICA, +</H4> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +AND +</H4> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +HIS EXTANT WRITINGS. +</H3> + +<BR> +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Illustrated with the Most Ancient Engravings +<BR> +OF OUR GREAT NATIONAL SAINT; +</H3> + +<BR> +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +WITH A PREFACE AND CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +BY +</H4> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +REV. JAMES O'LEARY, D.D. +</H3> + +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +FIFTH EDITION. +</H4> + +<BR> +<BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +NEW YORK: +<BR> +P. J. KENEDY, No. 5 BARCLAY STREET. +<BR> +1880. +</H4> + +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by +<BR> +P. J. KENEDY, +<BR> +In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. +</H5> + +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +TO THE +<BR> +RIGHT REV. T. W. CROKE, D.D., +<BR> +Bishop of Auckland, New Zealand, +<BR> +HOPING THAT HE MAY YET BE SET DOWN AS +<BR> +The St. Patrick of New Zealand, +<BR> +FROM HIS FORMER PUPIL, COLABORER, AND COMPANION, +<BR> +J. O'LEARY. +</H3> + +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +TABLE OF CONTENTS +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#preface"> +Preface +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#chap01"> +The Confession of St. Patrick +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#chap02"> +St. Patrick's Epistle to Coroticus +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#chap03"> +St. Fiech's Metrical Life of St. Patrick +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#chap0401"> +Tripartite Life: Part I +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#chap0402"> +Tripartite Life: Part II +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#chap0403"> +Tripartite Life: Part III +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#chap05"> +The Proeme of Jocelyn +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#chap6001"> +The Life and Acts of St. Patrick by Jocelin +</A> +</H3> + +<CENTER> + +<TABLE WIDTH="100%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%">CHAPTER</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> </TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +I </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6001"> + +</A> +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +II </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6002"> +How a Fountain burst forth, and how Sight and Learning were given to the Blind. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +III </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6003"> +Of the Stone of Saint Patrick. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +IV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6004"> +Of the Well dried up. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +V </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6005"> +How he produced Fire from Ice. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +VI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6006"> +How the Sister of St. Patrick was healed. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +VII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6007"> +How he restored to Life his Foster-Father. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +VIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6008"> +Of the Sheep released from the Wolf. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +IX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6009"> +Of the Cow freed from an Evil Spirit, and Five other Cows restored to Health. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +X </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6010"> +Of the Water turned into Honey, and of his Nurse restored to Health. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6011"> +How the Fort was Cleansed. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6012"> +Of the Religious Conversation of Saint Patrick. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6013"> +How Saint Patrick was Carried into Ireland. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6014"> +Of Milcho's Dream, and of its Interpretation. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6015"> +Of the Angel Victor appearing to Saint Patrick. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6016"> +How St. Patrick was Redeemed from Slavery. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6017"> +How he Relieved those who were Perishing of Hunger. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6018"> +Of his Fast continued for Twenty Days. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6019"> +How he Overcame the Temptation of the Enemy. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6020"> +How he was again made Captive, and released by the Miracle of the Kettle. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XXI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6021"> +Of Saint Patrick's Vision. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XXII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6022"> +How he dwelt with the blessed Germanus, and how he received the Habit from Saint Martin. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XXIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6023"> +Of the Flesh-meat changed into Fishes. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XXIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6024"> +How in his Journey to Rome he Found the Staff of Jesus. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XXV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6025"> +How he Journeyed unto Rome, and was made a Bishop; and of Palladius, the Legate of Ireland. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XXVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6026"> +How he Saw and Saluted the Lord. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XXVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6027"> +Of the Miraculous Voyage of the Leper. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XXVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6028"> +How he beheld Devils. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XXIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6029"> +Of the River sentenced to perpetual Sterility. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XXX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6030"> +How the Dry Land was turned into a Marsh. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XXXI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6031"> +Of his coming into Ulidia, and of the Prophecy of the Magicians on his coming. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XXXII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6032"> +How a Fierce Dog was suddenly Tamed; of the Conversion of Dichu; and how a Fountain rose out of the Earth. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XXXIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6033"> +Of the Evil-doer Swallowed up by the Earth. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XXXIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6034"> +Of the Aged Man restored unto his Youth. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XXXV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6035"> +Of the Death of Rius. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XXXVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6036"> +Of the Death of Milcho. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XXXVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6037"> +Of the Holy Mochna. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XXXVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6038"> +Of the Hostages of Dichu which were Freed by an Angel. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XXXIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6039"> +Of Saint Benignus, and of the Prophecy which was made of him. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XL </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6040"> +The Fire that was Lighted by Patrick. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XLI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6041"> +Of the Holy Man named Hercus. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XLII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6042"> +How the Magician was Destroyed. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XLIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6043"> +Of the Miraculous but Terrible Rescue of Saint Patrick. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XLIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6044"> +How the Saint Escaped the Deadly Snares. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XLV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6045"> +Of the Poison mingled in the Wine. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XLVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6046"> +Of the Fantastic Snow. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XLVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6047"> +How the Darkness was Dispersed. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XLVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6048"> +How the Magician and his Garment were consumed, and Benignus and the Garment of St. Patrick preserved unhurt. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XLIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6049"> +Of Many who were Swallowed up by the Earth, and how the rest were Converted unto God. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +L </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6050"> +Of the Sisters and the Nephews of St. Patrick. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6051"> +How Saint Lumanus Sailed against the Wind and the Stream. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6052"> +How Forkernus and his Parents were Converted and Baptized. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6053"> +Of the Prophecy of St. Patrick on Coyrbre, and of the Unfruitfulness of a River. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6054"> +Of Conallus, and of the Prophecy of Patrick concerning him. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6055"> +Of the Altar of Saint Patrick. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6056"> +Of the Images destroyed from Heaven, and of the Fountain produced from the Earth. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6057"> +How the Darkness was Dispersed. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6058"> +Of the Virgins who went unto Heaven. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6059"> +Of the Magician Struck by Lightning, and of Twelve Thousand Men Converted unto Christ. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6060"> +Of another Magician whom the Earth swallowed up. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6061"> +How another Magician is Sunken up to the Ears, and again is Raised up. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6062"> +How a huge Stone was raised by the Saint. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6063"> +How the Women were raised from Death. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6064"> +Two Women who were pregnant are with their Infants rescued from Death unto Life. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6065"> +How he builded a Church of Clay alone. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6066"> +Of the two Rivers, Dubh and Drobhaois. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6067"> +Of the Voice that issued from the Sepulchre. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6068"> +Of his Journey, and of his manifold Miracles. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6069"> +The Prophecy of the Saint Concerning Dublinia; and the Sick Man cured. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6070"> +A Fountain is produced out of the Earth. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXXI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6071"> +The Dead are raised up; the King and the People are converted; a Fountain is produced, and Tribute promised. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXXII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6072"> +Of the Sentence pronounced on Murinus. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXXIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6073"> +Foylge is punished with a double Death, and the deceiving Fiend is driven out of his body. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXXIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6074"> +Of the Saint's Prophecy concerning the Kings of Momonia. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXXV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6075"> +How Dercardius and his Companions were destroyed. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXXVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6076"> +Of the Quarrel of the Two Brothers. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXXVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6077"> +Fourteen Thousand Men are miraculously refreshed with the Meat of Five Animals. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXXVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6078"> +Nineteen Men are raised by Saint Patrick from the Dead. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXXIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6079"> +The King's Daughter becomes a Nun. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXXX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6080"> +The King Echu is raised from Death. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXXXI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6081"> +A Man of Gigantic Stature is revived from Death. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXXXII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6082"> +Of Another Man who was Buried and Raised Again. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXXXIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6083"> +Of the Boy who was torn in pieces by Swine and restored unto Life. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXXXIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6084"> +The Prayers of the Saint confer Beauty on an Ugly Man. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXXXV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6085"> +The Stature of the same Man is increased unto a sufficient Height. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXXXVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6086"> +Of Saint Olcanus, the Teacher and Bishop, raised out of the Earth. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXXXVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6087"> +How the Tooth of Saint Patrick shone in the River. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXXXVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6088"> +The Saint Prophesieth of the Virgin Treha, and a Veil is placed on her Head by an Angel. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +LXXXIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6089"> +Saint Patrick Prophesieth of the Sanctity of Saint Columba. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XC </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6090"> +The River is Divided in Twain, and Blessed. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XCI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6091"> +The Prophecy that Patrick made unto Connedus. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XCII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6092"> +Of Mannia and the other Islands Converted unto God. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XCIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6093"> +Of the Saint's Prophecy concerning Six Priests, and of a Skin which he bestowed to them. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XCIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6094"> +Saint Patrick Continueth his Preaching Three Days. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XCV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6095"> +Of the Vision of the Blessed Brigida, and its Explanation. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XCVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6096"> +Of the Angels of God, of the Heavenly Light, and of the Prophecy of Saint Patrick. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XCVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6097"> +The Temptation of the Nun is Subdued. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XCVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6098"> +Of Saint Comhgallus, and the Monastery foreshowed of Heaven. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +XCIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6099"> +The Saint Prophesieth of the Obstinate Fergus and of his Children. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +C </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6100"> +The Malediction of the Saint is laid upon the Stones of Usniach. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6101"> +Of the Woman in Travail, and of her Offspring. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6102"> +The Bishop Saint Mel catcheth Fishes on the Dry Land. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6103"> +The Footprints of Certain Virgins are impressed on a Stone. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6104"> +The Earth is raised in the midst of the Stream. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6105"> +Of the Altar and the Four Chalices discovered under the Earth. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6106"> +A Treasure is Twice discovered in the Earth by Swine. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6107"> +Saint Patrick prophesieth of the two Brothers. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6108"> +The Penitence of Asycus the Bishop. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6109"> +The Tempest of the Sea is Composed. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6110"> +The Miracle of the Waters is Repeated. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6111"> +Of the Cowl of Saint Patrick which remained untouched by the Sea. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6112"> +Of the Veil that was sent from Heaven. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6113"> +Of the Holy Leper, of the New Fountain, of the Angelic Attendance, and the Prophecy of Patrick thereon. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6114"> +Of the Lake which was removed by Saint Patrick. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6115"> +Patrick understandeth the Conscience of Saint Fiechus, and blesseth him. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6116"> +The Chariot is, by the Decision of the Angel, sent unto Fiechus. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6117"> +The Several Offices of a certain Monastery are appointed by an Angel. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6118"> +The Prophecy of Saint Patrick concerning the Men of Callria. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6119"> +Certain Cheeses are converted into Stones, and many Wicked Men are drowned. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6120"> +Of the Pitfalls passed over without danger, and the Prophecies of the Saint. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXXI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6121"> +The Prophecy of the Saint on a Certain Village. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXXII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6122"> +The Sentence prophetically declared. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXXIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6123"> +The Prophecy of the Saint on a Certain Bishop and on the one who consecrated him. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXXIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6124"> +The Blind Man is restored to Sight; from him who seeeth is Sight taken; and three are relieved of Lameness. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXXV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6125"> +Nine Evil-doers are consumed by Fire from Heaven, and a Fountain is produced out of the Earth. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXXVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6126"> +Another Magician is in like manner Consumed. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXXVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6127"> +A Grove is cursed by the Saint. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXXVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6128"> +The Sentence pronounced by the Saint on his Deceivers. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXXIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6129"> +A Mountain is swallowed up in the Earth, and again it is raised. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXXX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6130"> +Euchodius is cursed by the Saint, and his Son is blessed. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXXXI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6131"> +Of Saint Sennachus the Bishop. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXXXII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6132"> +The Miracle which is worked for Certain Hewers of Wood. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXXXIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6133"> +A Hone is divided by Saint Patrick, and the Oppressor is drowned. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXXXIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6134"> +An Angel foretelleth to Patrick of Saint Moccheus. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXXXV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6135"> +The Sentence pronounced by Patrick on Moccheus. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXXXVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6136"> +The Saint prophesieth of two Brothers, and a Fountain is produced out of the Earth. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXXXVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6137"> +The Saint Prophesieth of a Certain Youth. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXXXVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6138"> +Of Conallus and of his Shield. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXXXIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6139"> +A Heavenly Light shineth around Saint Patrick, and Victor is converted unto the Faith. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXL </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6140"> +A Certain Cymbal of Saint Patrick is lost and found again. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXLI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6141"> +The Obedience of Saint Volchanus. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXLII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6142"> +Of Saint Rodanus, the Herdsman of Patrick. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXLIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6143"> +Of Saint Kertennus, the Bishop of Clochor. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXLIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6144"> +Of a Boy who was blessed by Saint Patrick. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXLV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6145"> +Of a Woman who was raised from Death. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXLVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6146"> +The Testimony of One who was revived from Death. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXLVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6147"> +The Cross that was not observed; and the Voice which issued from the Sepulchre. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXLVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6148"> +A Goat bleateth in the Stomach of a Thief. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXLIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6149"> +Of the Cloaks which fell from Heaven. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CL </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6150"> +A wicked Tyrant is transformed into a Fox. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6151"> +The wicked Man Machaldus and his Companions are converted unto the Faith. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6152"> +The Penitence of Machaldus. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6153"> +A Meadow is overflowed by the Sea. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6154"> +A Stone is changed into Milk, and Milk is changed into Stones. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6155"> +A Wagon laden with Twigs is saved from the Fire. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6156"> +The Saint is preserved untouched from the falling Rain. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6157"> +The Fingers of Saint Patrick shine with Light. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6158"> +Fire is also seen to issue from his Mouth. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6159"> +The holy Virgin Memhessa departeth unto God. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6160"> +Of the Work which was done in the Lord's Day. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6161"> +A certain Man is healed, and a Horse revived, in a place which is called Feart. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6162"> +Of the Vessel which was given unto Saint Patrick, and again taken from him. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6163"> +Ardmachia is given unto Saint Patrick; and a Fountain is produced out of the Earth. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6164"> +The Saint beholdeth a Vision of Angels, and cureth Sixteen Lepers. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6165"> +Of the City of Ardmachia, and Twelve of its Citizens. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6166"> +At the Direction of the Angels Saint Patrick goeth unto Rome. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6167"> +The Acts of Saint Patrick while returning from Rome. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6168"> +The Acts of St. Patrick after he had Returned. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6169"> +Of the Threefold Plagues of Hibernia. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6170"> +The Threefold Plague is driven out of Hibernia by Saint Patrick. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXXI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6171"> +Without Earthly Food the Saint completeth a Fast of Forty Days. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXXII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6172"> +He banisheth the Demons forth of the Island. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXXIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6173"> +Troops of Angels appear unto the Saint. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXXIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6174"> +The Saint titheth Hibernia and the Dwellers therein. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXXV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6175"> +The different States of Hibernia are in a Heavenly Vision shown unto the Saint. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXXVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6176"> +The Answer of Saint Patrick to Secundinus. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXXVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6177"> +Secundinus composeth a Hymn in Honor of Saint Patrick. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXXVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6178"> +The Soul of a Certain Sinner is by Saint Patrick freed from Demons. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXXIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6179"> +How the Saint appeared unto Colmanus while singing his Hymn. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXXX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6180"> +The Admirable Contemplations of the Saint. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXXXI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6181"> +Saint Patrick beholdeth the Souls of the Rich and of the poor Man sent unto different Places. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXXXII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6182"> +Saint Vinvaloeus is miraculously stayed by Saint Patrick from his purposed Journey. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXXXIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6183"> +The Daily Prayers and Genuflexions of the Saint. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXXXIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6184"> +How he passed the Night Season. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXXXV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6185"> +The Habit, the Bearing, and the Acts of Saint Patrick. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXXXVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6186"> +Of the Sick whom he healed, and the Dead whom he raised; and of his Disciples who recorded his Acts. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXXXVII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6187"> +The Angelic Voice showeth unto Saint Patrick of his Death and of the Place of his Burial. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXXXVIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6188"> +The Place of his Sepulture is foreshown by a Light from Heaven. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CLXXXIX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6189"> +Saint Brigida bringeth unto Saint Patrick the Garment which was to enshroud his Body. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXC </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6190"> +The Death of Saint Patrick. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXCI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6191"> +The Number of the Years of his Life. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXCII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6192"> +The Funeral Honors which Men and Angels paid unto the Body of the Saint. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXCIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6193"> +The Light continueth for Twelve Days. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXCIV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6194"> +The Miraculous Rising of the Sea between the Contending People. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXCV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6195"> +Two Wains appear, the which are sent by a Miracle. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="15%"> +CXCVI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="85%"> +<A HREF="#chap6196"> +The Sepulture of Saint Patrick in the City of Dunum. +</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +</CENTER> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#chap7"> +A Chronological Table to the Lives of St. Patrick +</A> +</H3> + +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +ILLUSTRATIONS +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-front"> +Images of Saint Columba, Saint Patrick, and Saint Brigida,<BR> +Taken from the Spicilegium Sanctorum, and engraven at Paris,<BR> +A.D. 1629, by Messingham. . . . . . . <I>Frontispiece</I> +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-025"> +The Saint Patrick of Ancient Ages +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-033"> +The Saint Patrick of Medieval Times +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-135"> +The Saint Patrick of Our Own Century +</A> +</H3> + +<BR><BR><BR> + + +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> + +<A NAME="preface"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +PREFACE. +</H3> + +<P> +The present volume has three objects in view: first, to present the +life of Saint Patrick without writing a history of the national church +which he founded or introducing irrelevant matter; secondly, to place +his life and character before the reader as they have been handed down +to us in the most ancient extant documents, without overcoating or +withholding anything in the originals; and, thirdly, to deliver to the +public at as low a price as possible the original documents grouped +together. +</P> + +<P> +At first I had intended to present the Seven Lives of St. Patrick as +published by Colgan; but, to my knowledge, there is no copy of the +<I>Acta Triadis Thaumaturgae</I> in this country, and the four lives which I +have omitted—that is, by Benignus, Patrick Junior, Eiselan the Wise, +and Probus—are of little consequence. The metrical life by St. Fiech +is undoubtedly the most ancient and the most removed from saintly +imaginings of miracles. The other two, that by Saint MacEvin and that +by Jocelin, appear to have been elaborate compendiums of stories +written in antecedent ages, and extant in their time, concerning Saint +Patrick. Of the life by Saint Fiech I have made a rude translation +corresponding with the original; of the Tripartite I have given +Professor Hennessy's version; and of the extraordinary biography by +Jocelin I reproduce, for the first time in this country, the rendering +from Colgan by Mr. Swift, as published by the Hibernia Press Company, +at Dublin, in 1809. Colgan's Latin version of the Life of Saint +Patrick by Jocelin is given by the Bollandists, and may be seen in many +libraries in this country; but the original Lives, as published at +Louvain, are at the Irish College in Rome and at Trinity College, +Dublin. A copy may be found elsewhere, but, if so, it is exceedingly +valuable, forasmuch as it is exceedingly rare. The Life of Saint +Patrick by Saint Fiech will convey an estimate of his character about +the time of his death; the Tripartite life by Saint MacEvin will +probably impart the notions of the eighth century; and the life by +Jocelin will communicate the exaggerations of mediaeval times in the +twelfth century. The public will thus have fairly placed before them +the thoughts of ages about Saint Patrick through seven centuries after +his death. I supply the reader with the Confession and Epistle +attributed to Saint Patrick, though I incline to the opinion that they +are the issue of an age subsequent to that of Ireland's Saint. The +Chronotaxis or Chronological Table at the end of the book I have made +out from the work by the Bollandists, which seems to have been prepared +with scholarly and judicious diligence. +</P> + +<P> +Of the illustrations, it is to be stated that the one prefixed to the +life of St. Fiech has been an heirloom in the family of Counsellor +Shechan, of this city, and is taken from an old Irish prayer-book, +supposed to be between three and five hundred years old. The +frontispiece and the illustration fronting the Tripartite Life are +taken from the Spicelegium, were engraved by Messengham, with the +approbation of the French King and the Paris Archbishop, at Paris, in +1629, and were reproduced at Dublin in 1809. They are now re-engraved +for the first time in this country. The illustration prefixed to the +life by Jocelin is of ancient date, and supposed to have been suggested +by the representation of St. Patrick in the Kilkenny Cathedral. +</P> + +<P> +I hold myself responsible in no way whatsoever for the statements of +St. Fiech, St. MacEvin, or Jocelin, but I present to the reader what +they asserted they had received from antiquity. Their narratives may +be pronounced fables, or legends, or inventions, or superstitions, or +histories. On their intrinsic merits I am silent, except inasmuch as +they breathe a firm belief in the omnipresence of God amongst men, +strangely at variance with the lifeless, frosty indifference of our own +day, and are, in addition, savored with a holy heat of charity and a +high moral tone. Without comment, then, from me, I present to you in +America, kind readers, Saint Patrick, the Apostle and Patron of Ireland +and the Irish race, as I received him from my ancestors. I neither +overstate, nor under-estimate, nor withheld anything. Judge for +yourselves. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +REV. JAMES O'LEARY, D.D. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +THE CONFESSION OF ST. PATRICK. +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOKS OF THE BISHOP ST. PATRICK.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +I, Patrick, a sinner, the rudest and least of all the faithful, and +most contemptible to very many, had for my father Calpornius, a deacon, +the son of Potitus, a priest, who lived in Bannaven Taberniae, for he +had a small country-house close by, where I was taken captive when I +was nearly sixteen years of age. I knew not the true God, and I was +brought captive to Ireland with many thousand men, as we deserved; for +we had forsaken God, and had not kept His commandments, and were +disobedient to our priests, who admonished us for our salvation. And +the Lord brought down upon us the anger of His Spirit, and scattered us +among many nations, even to the ends of the earth, where now my +littleness may be seen amongst strangers. And there the Lord showed me +my unbelief, that at length I might remember my iniquities, and +strengthen my whole heart towards the Lord my God, who looked down upon +my humiliation, and had pity upon my youth and ignorance, and kept me +before I knew him, and before I had wisdom or could distinguish between +good and evil, and strengthened and comforted me as a father would his +son. +</P> + +<P> +Therefore I cannot and ought not to be silent concerning the great +benefits and graces which the Lord has bestowed upon me in the land of +my captivity, since the only return we can make for such benefits is, +after God has reproved us, to extol and confess His wonders before +every nation under heaven. +</P> + +<P> +For there is no other God, nor ever was, nor shall be hereafter, except +the Lord, the unbegotten Father, without beginning, by whom all things +have their being, who upholds all things, as we have said; and His Son, +Jesus Christ, whom, together with the Father, we testify to have always +existed before the origin of the world, spiritually with the Father, +ineffably begotten before every beginning; and by Him were the visible +things made—was made man, death being overthrown, in the heavens. And +he hath given Him all power over every name of things in heaven and +earth and hell, that every tongue should confess to Him that Jesus +Christ is Lord, and whose coming we expect ere long to judge the living +and dead; who will render to every one according to his works; who hath +poured forth abundantly on us both the gift of His Spirit and the +pledge of immortality; who makes the faithful and obedient to become +the sons of God and coheirs with Christ; whom we confess and adore one +God in the Trinity of the holy Name. For He Himself has said by the +prophet: "Call upon me in the day of thy trouble: I will deliver thee, +and thou shalt magnify me." And again he says: "It is honorable to +reveal and confess the works of God." +</P> + +<P> +Although I am imperfect in many things, I wish my brothers and +acquaintances to know my dispositions, that they may be able to +understand the desire of my soul. I am not ignorant of the testimony +of my Lord, who declares in the psalm: "Thou wilt destroy all that +speak a lie." And again: "The mouth that belieth, killeth the soul." +And the same Lord: "Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall +render an account for it in the Day of Judgment." Therefore I ought, +with great fear and trembling, to dread this sentence in that day when +no one shall be able to withdraw or hide himself, but all must give an +account, even of the least sins, before the judgment-seat of the Lord +Christ. +</P> + +<P> +Therefore, although I thought of writing long ago, I feared the censure +of men, because I had not learned as the others who studied the sacred +writings in the best way, and have never changed their language since +their childhood, but continually learned it more perfectly, while I +have to translate my words and speech into a foreign tongue; and it can +be easily proved from the style of my writings how I am instructed in +speech and learning, for the Wise Man says: "By the tongue wisdom is +discerned, and understanding and knowledge and learning by the word of +the wise." But what avails an excuse, however true, especially when +accompanied with presumption? For I, in my old age, strive after that +which I was hindered from learning in my youth. But who will believe +me? And if I say what I have said before, that as a mere youth, nay, +almost a boy in words, I was taken captive, before I knew what I ought +to seek and to avoid. Therefore I blush to-day and greatly dread to +expose my ignorance, because I am not able to express myself briefly, +with clear and well-arranged words, as the spirit desires and the mind +and intellect point out. But if it had been given to me as to others, +I would not have been silent for the recompense; and although it may +seem to some who think thus that I put myself forward with my ignorance +and too slow tongue, nevertheless it is written, "The tongues of +stammerers shall speak readily and plain"; how much more ought we to +undertake this who are the epistle of Christ for salvation unto the +ends of the earth, written in pure heart, if not with eloquence, yet +with power and endurance, "not written with ink, but with the Spirit of +the living God"; and again the Spirit testifies, "Husbandry, it was +ordained by the Most High." +</P> + +<P> +Therefore I undertook this work at first, though a rustic and a +fugitive, and not knowing how to provide for the future; but this I +know for certain: that before I was humbled, I was like a stone lying +in deep mire, until He who is powerful came, and in his mercy raised me +up, and indeed again succored and placed me in His part; and therefore +I ought to cry out loudly, and thank the Lord in some degree for all +his benefits, here and after, which the mind of man cannot estimate. +Therefore be amazed, both great and small who fear God; rhetoricians +and ye of the Lord, hear and enquire who aroused me, a fool, from the +midst of those who seem to be wise, and skilled in the law, and +powerful in speech and in all things, and hath inspired me (if indeed I +be such) beyond others, though I am despised by this world, so that, +with fear and reverence and without murmuring, I should faithfully +serve this nation, to whom the charity of Christ hath transferred me, +and given me for my life, if I shall survive; and that at last with +humility and truth I should serve them. +</P> + +<P> +In the measure, therefore, of the faith of the Trinity it behoves me to +distinguish without shrinking from danger, and to make known the gift +of God and everlasting consolation, and, without fear, confidently to +spread abroad the name of God everywhere, so that after my death I may +leave it to my Gallican brethren and to my sons, many thousands of whom +I have baptized in the Lord. And I was neither worthy nor deserving +that the Lord should so favor me, his servant, after such afflictions +and great difficulties, after captivity, after many years, as to grant +me such grace for this nation—a thing which, still in my youth, I had +neither hoped for nor thought of. +</P> + +<P> +But after I had come to Ireland, I was daily tending sheep, and I +prayed frequently during the day, and the love of God, and His faith +and fear, increased in me more and more, and the spirit was stirred; so +that in a single day I have said as many as a hundred prayers, and in +the night nearly the same; so that I remained in the woods, and on the +mountain, even before the dawn, I was roused to prayer, in snow, and +ice, and rain, and I felt no injury from it, nor was there any +slothfulness in me, as I see now, because the spirit was then fervent +in me. And there one night I heard a voice, while I slept, saying to +me: "Thou dost fast well; fasting thou shalt soon go to thy country." +And again, after a very short time, I heard a response, saying to me: +"Behold, thy ship is ready." And the place was not near, but perhaps +about two hundred miles distant, and I had never been there, nor did I +know any one who lived there. +</P> + +<P> +Soon after this, I fled, and left the man with whom I had been six +years, and I came in the strength of the Lord, who directed my way for +good; and I feared nothing until I arrived at that ship. And the day +on which I came the ship had moved out of her place; and I asked to go +and sail with them, but the master was displeased, and replied angrily: +"Do not seek to go with us." And when I heard this, I went from them +to go thither where I had lodged; and I began to pray as I went; but +before I had ended my prayer, I heard one of them calling out loudly +after me, "Come quickly, for these men are calling you"; and I returned +to them immediately, and they began saying to me; "Come, we receive +thee in good faith; make such friendship with us as you wish." And +then that day I disdained to supplicate them, on account of the fear of +God; but I hoped of them that they would come into the faith of Jesus +Christ, for they were Gentiles; and this I obtained from them; and +after three days, we reached land, and for twenty-eight days we +journeyed through a desert, and their provisions failed, and they +suffered greatly from hunger; and one day the master began to say to +me: "What sayest thou, O Christian? Your God is great and +all-powerful; why canst thou not, then, pray for us, since we are +perishing with hunger, and may never see the face of man again?" And I +said to them plainly: "Turn sincerely to the Lord my God, to whom +nothing is impossible, that He may send us food on your way until ye +are satisfied, for it abounds everywhere for Him." And with God's help +it was so done; for, lo! a flock of swine appeared in the way before +our eyes, and they killed many of them, and remained there two nights, +much refreshed and filled with their flesh; for many of them had been +left exhausted by the wayside. After this, they gave the greatest +thanks to God, and I was honored in their eyes. +</P> + +<P> +They also found wild honey, and offered me some of it, and one of them +said: "This is offered in sacrifice, thanks be to God"; after this, I +tasted no more. But the same night, while I was sleeping, I was +strongly tempted by Satan (of which I shall be mindful as long as I +shall be in this body), and there fell, as it were, a great stone upon +me, and there was no strength in my limbs. And then it came into my +mind, I know not bow, to call upon Elias, and at the same moment I saw +the sun rising in the heavens; and while I cried out Elias with all my +might, behold! the splendor of the sun was shed upon me, and +immediately shook from me all heaviness. And I believe that Christ my +Lord cried out for me; and I hope that it will be so in the day of my +adversity, as the Lord testifies in the Gospel: "It is not you that +speak," etc. +</P> + +<P> +Some time after, I was taken captive; and on the first night I remained +with them I heard a divine response, saying: "You shall be two months +with them"; and so it was. On the sixtieth night the Lord delivered me +out of their hands, and on the road He provided for us food, and fire, +and dry weather daily, until on the fourteenth day we all came. As I +have above mentioned, we journeyed twenty-eight days through a desert, +and on the night of our arrival we had no provisions left. +</P> + +<P> +And again, after a few years, I was with my relations in Britain, who +received me as a son, and earnestly besought me that then, at least, +after I had gone through so many tribulations, I would go nowhere from +them. And there I saw, in the midst of the night, a man who appeared +to come from Ireland, whose name was Victorious, and he had innumerable +letters with him, one of which he gave to me; and I read the +commencement of the epistle containing "The Voice of the Irish"; and as +I read aloud the beginning of the letter, I thought I heard in my mind +the voice of those who were near the wood of Focluti, which is near the +western sea; and they cried out: "We entreat thee, holy youth, to come +and walk still amongst us." And my heart was greatly touched, so that +I could not read any more, and so I awoke. Thanks be to God that, +after very many years, the Lord hath granted them their desire! +</P> + +<P> +And on another night, whether in me or near me God knows, I heard +eloquent words which I could not understand until the end of the +speech, when it was said: "He who gave His life for thee is He who +speaks in thee"; and so I awoke full of joy. And again, I saw one +praying within me, and I was, as it were, within my body, and I heard, +that is, above the inner man, and there he prayed earnestly with +groans. And I was amazed at this, and marvelled, and considered who +this could be who prayed in me. But at the end of the prayer it came +to pass that it was a bishop, and I awoke and remembered that the +apostle said: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity, for we +know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself +asketh for us with unspeakable groanings." And again: "The Lord is our +advocate, who also maketh intercession for us." [And when I was tried +by some of my elders, who came and spoke of my sins as an objection to +my laborious episcopate, I was on that day sometimes strongly driven to +fall away here and for ever. But the Lord spared a proselyte and a +stranger for His name's sake, and mercifully assisted me greatly in +that affliction, because I was not entirely deserving of reproach. I +pray God that they may not be found guilty of giving an occasion of +sin; they found me after thirty years, and brought against me words +that I had confessed before I was a deacon; from anxiety, with sorrow +of mind, I told my dearest friend what I had done in my youth, in one +day, nay, rather in one hour, because I was not then able to overcome. +I know not, God knows, if I was then fifteen years of age, and from my +childhood I did not believe in the living God, but remained in death +and unbelief until I was severely chastised, and, in truth, I have been +humbled by hunger and nakedness; and even now I did not come to Ireland +of my own will until I was nearly worn out. But this proved a blessing +to me, for I was thus corrected by the Lord, and he made me fit to be +to-day that which was once far from my thoughts, so that I should care +for the salvation of others, for at that time I had no thought even for +myself. +</P> + +<P> +And in the night of the day in which I was reproved for the things +above mentioned, I saw in the night.] I saw in a vision of the night a +writing without honor before me. And then I heard an answer saying to +me, "We have heard with displeasure the face of the elect without a +name." He did not say, "Thou hast badly seen," but "We have badly +seen," as if he had there joined himself to me, as he said: "He that +touches you is as he who toucheth the apple of my eye." Therefore I +give thanks to Him who comforted me in all things that He did not +hinder me from the journey which I had proposed, and also as regards my +work which I had learned of Christ. But from this thing I felt no +little strength, and my faith was approved before God and man. +</P> + +<P> +Therefore I dare to say that my conscience does not reproach me now or +for the future. I have the testimony of God now that I have not lied +in the words I have told you. [But I feel the more grieved that my +dearest friend, to whom I would have trusted even my life, should have +occasioned this. And I learned from certain brethren that, before this +defence, when I was not present, nor even in Britain, and with which I +had nothing to do, that he defended me in my absence. He had even said +to me with his own lips: "Thou art going to be given the rank of +bishop," though I was not worthy of it. How, then, did it happen to +him that afterwards, before all persons, good and bad, he should +detract me publicly, when he had before this freely and gladly praised +me? And the Lord, who is greater than all? I have said enough. +Still, I ought not to hide the gift of God which he gave me in the land +of my captivity, for I sought him earnestly then, and found him there, +and He preserved me from all iniquity, I believe, through the +indwelling of His Spirit, which worketh within me unto this day more +and more. But God knows, if it were man who spoke this to me, I would +perhaps be silent for the love of Christ. +</P> + +<P> +Therefore I give unceasing thanks to my God, who preserved me faithful +in the day of my temptation, so that I can to-day offer him sacrifice +confidently—the living sacrifice of my soul to Christ my Lord, who +preserved me from all my troubles, so that I may say to Him: "Who am I, +O Lord! or what is my calling, that divine grace should have so wrought +with me, so that to-day I can so rejoice amongst the nations, and +magnify Thy name, wherever I am, not only in prosperity, but also in +adversity?" and I ought to receive equally whatever happens to me, +whether good or evil, giving God thanks in all things, who hath shown +me that I should, undoubtingly, without ceasing, believe in Him who +hath heard me though I am ignorant, and that I should undertake, in +those days, so holy and wonderful a work, and imitate those of whom our +Lord predicted of old that they should preach His Gospel to all nations +for a testimony before the end of the world; which has been +accomplished, as we have seen. Behold, we are witnesses that the +Gospel has been preached to the limits of human habitation.] +</P> + +<P> +But it is too long to detail my labors particularly, or even partially. +I will briefly say how the good God often delivered me from slavery and +from twelve dangers by which my soul was threatened, besides many +snares, and what in words I cannot express, and with which I will not +trouble my readers. But God knows all things, even before they come to +pass [as he does me, a poor creature. Therefore the divine voice very +often admonished me to consider whence came this wisdom, which was not +in me, who neither knew God nor the number of my days. Whence did I +obtain afterwards the great and salutary gift to know or love God, and +to leave my country and my relations, although many gifts were offered +to me with sorrow and tears. And I offended many of my seniors then +against my will. But, guided by God, I yielded in no way to them—not +to me, but to God be the glory, who conquered in me, and resisted them +all; so that I came to the Irish people to preach the Gospel, and bear +with the injuries of the unbelieving, and listen to the reproach of +being a stranger, and endure many persecutions, even to chains, and to +give up my freedom for the benefit of others. And if I be worthy, I am +ready to give up my life unhesitatingly and most cheerfully for His +name, and thus, if the Lord permit, I desire to spend it even until my +death.] +</P> + +<P> +For I am truly a debtor to God, who has given me so much grace that +many people should be born again to God through me, and that for them +everywhere should be ordained priests for this people, newly come to +the faith, which the Lord took from the ends of the earth, as He +promised formerly by His prophets: "Our fathers falsely prepared idols, +and there is no profit in them, to thee the Gentiles come and will +say." And again: "I have set thee to be the light of the Gentiles, +that thou mayest be for salvation unto the utmost parts of the earth." +And thus I wait the promise of Him who never fails, as He promises in +the Gospel: "They shall come from the east and the west [from the north +and from the south], and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and +Jacob." So we believe that the faithful shall come from all parts of +the world. +</P> + +<P> +Therefore we ought to fish well and diligently; as the Lord taught and +said: "Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men." And +again: "Behold, saith the Lord, I send many fishers and many hunters," +etc. Therefore we should, by all means, set our nets in such a manner +that a great multitude and a crowd may be caught therein for God, and +that everywhere there may be priests who shall baptize and exhort a +people who so need it and desire it; as the Lord teaches and admonishes +in the Gospel, saying: "Going, therefore, teach ye all nations, +baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy +Ghost, even to the consummation of the world." And again: "Go ye into +the whole world, and preach the Gospel to every creature; he that +believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not +shall be condemned." The rest are examples. [And again: "This Gospel +of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony to +all nations, and then shall the consummation come." And again, the +Lord, speaking by the prophet, says: "And it shall come to pass in the +last days, saith the Lord, that I will pour out my spirit upon all +flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men +shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Moreover, +upon my servants and handmaids in those days I will pour forth my +spirit, and they shall prophesy." And Osee saith: "And I will say to +that which was not my people: Thou art my people: and to her who hath +not found mercy; and they shall say; Thou art my God. And in the place +where I said to them, You are not my people, it shall be said to them, +Ye are the sons of the living God."] +</P> + +<P> +Wherefore behold how in Ireland they who never had the knowledge <I>of +God</I>, and hitherto only worshipped unclean idols, have lately become +the people of the Lord, and are called the sons of God. The sons of +the Scoti and the daughters of princes are seen to be monks and virgins +of Christ. [And there was one blessed Irish maiden, of adult age, +noble and very beautiful, whom I baptized, and after a few days she +came to us for a reason, and gave us to understand that she had +received a command from God, and was informed that she was to become a +virgin of Christ, and to draw near to God. Thanks be to God, six days +after this she most excellently and eagerly entered on this state of +life, which all the virgins of God now adopt, even against the will of +their parents, even enduring reproaches and persecution from them, and +notwithstanding they increase in number; and as for those who are born +again in this way, we know not their number, except the widows and +those who observe continency. But those who are in slavery are most +severely persecuted, yet they persevere in spite of terrors and +threats. But the Lord has given grace to many of my handmaids, for +they zealously imitate him as far as they are able. +</P> + +<P> +Therefore, though I could have wished to leave them, and had been ready +and very desirous to go to Britannia, as if to my country and parents, +and not that alone, but to go even to Gallia, to visit my brethren, and +to see the face of my Lord's saints; and God knows that I desired it +greatly. But I am bound in the spirit, and he who witnesseth will +account me guilty if I do it, and I fear to lose the labor which I have +commenced—and not I, but the Lord Christ, who commanded me to come and +be with them for the rest of my life; if the Lord grants it, and keeps +me from every evil way, that I should not sin before him. But I hope +that which I am bound to do, but I trust not myself as long as I am in +this body of death, for he is strong who daily tries to turn me from +the faith, and from the sincere religious chastity to Christ my Lord, +to which I have dedicated myself to the end of my life, but the flesh, +which is in enmity, always draws me to death—that is, to unlawful +desires, that must be unlawfully gratified—and I know in part that I +have not led a perfect life like other believers. But I confess to my +Lord, and do not blush before him, because I tell the truth, that from +the time I knew him in my youth the love of God and his fear increased +within me, and until now, by the favor of the Lord, I have kept the +faith. +</P> + +<P> +Let him who pleases insult and laugh at me; I will not be silent, +neither do I conceal the signs and wonders that the Lord hath shown to +me many years before they took place, as he who knew all things even +before the world began. Therefore I ought to give thanks to God +without ceasing, who often pardoned my uncalled-for folly and +negligence, who did not let his anger turn fiercely against me, who +allowed me to work with him, though I did not promptly follow what was +shown me and what the Spirit suggested; and the Lord had compassion on +me among thousands and thousands, because he saw my good-will; but then +I knew not what to do, because many were hindering my mission, and were +talking behind my back, and saying: "Why does he run into danger among +enemies who know not God?" This was not said with malice, but because +they did not approve of it, but, as I now testify, because of my +rusticity, you understand; and I did not at once recognize the grace +which was then in me, but now <I>I know I should have known before</I>. +</P> + +<P> +Therefore I have simply related to my brethren and fellow-servants who +have believed me why I have preached and still preach to strengthen and +confirm your faith. Would that you also might aim at higher things and +succeed better. This shall be my glory, because a wise son is the +glory of his father. You know and God knows how I have lived among you +from my youth up, both faithful in truth and sincere in heart; also, I +have given the faith to the people among whom I dwell, and I will +continue to do so. God knows I have not overreached any of them, nor +do I think of it, because of God and his Church, lest I should excite +persecution for them and all of us, and lest the name of the Lord +should be blasphemed through me; for it is written, "Woe to the man +through whom the name of the Lord is blasphemed." For though I am +unskilled in names, I have endeavored to be careful even with my +Christian brethren, and the virgins of Christ, and devout women, who +freely gave me gifts, and cast of their ornaments upon the altar; but I +returned them, though they were offended with me because I did so. But +I, for the hope of immortality, guarded myself cautiously in all +things, so that they could not find me unfaithful, even in the smallest +matter, so that unbelievers could not defame or detract from my +ministry in the least. +</P> + +<P> +But when it happened that I baptized so many thousand men, did I expect +even half a "screpall" from them? Tell me, and I will return it to +you. Or when the Lord ordained clergy through my humility and +ministry, did I confer the grace gratuitously? If I asked of any of +them even the value of my shoe, tell me, and I will repay you more. I +rather spent for you as far as I was able; and among you and everywhere +for you I endured many perils in distant places, where none had been +further or had ever come to baptize, or ordain the clergy, or confirm +the people. By the grace of the Lord I labored freely and diligently +in all things for your salvation. At this time also I used to give +rewards to kings, whose sons I hired, who travelled with me, and who +understood nothing but [to protect] me and my companions. And on one +day they wished to kill me; but the time had not come yet; but they put +me in irons, and carried off all we possessed. But on the fourteenth +day the Lord released me from their power, and what was ours was +restored to us through God and through the friends we had before +secured. +</P> + +<P> +You know how much I expended on the judges in the districts which I +visited most frequently. For I think I paid them not less than the +hire of fifteen men, that you might have the benefit of my presence, +and that I might always enjoy you in the Lord. I do not regret it, nor +is it sufficient for me. I still spend, and will still spend, for your +souls.] Behold, I call God to witness on my soul that I do not lie, +neither that you may have occasion, nor that I hope for honor from any +of you; sufficient for me is the honor of truth. But I see that now in +the present world I am greatly exalted by the Lord; and I was not +worthy nor fit to be thus exalted, for I know that poverty and calamity +are more suitable for me than riches and luxury. But even Christ the +Lord was poor for us. +</P> + +<P> +Truly, I, a poor and miserable creature, even if I wished for wealth, +have it not; neither do I judge myself, because I daily expect either +death, or treachery, or slavery, or an occasion of some kind or +another. [But I fear none of these things, relying on the heavenly +promise; for I have cast myself into the hands of the omnipotent God, +who rules everywhere; as the prophet says: "Cast thy care upon the +Lord, and He shall sustain thee." +</P> + +<P> +Behold, now I commend my soul to my most faithful God, whose mission I +perform, notwithstanding my unworthiness; but because He does not +accept persons, and has chosen me for this office, to be one of the +least of His ministers. "What shall I render to Him for all the things +that He hath rendered to me?" But what shall I say or promise to my +Lord? For I see nothing unless He gives Himself to me; but He searches +the heart and reins, because I ardently desire and am ready that He +should give me to drink His cup, as He has permitted others to do who +have loved Him. Wherefore may my Lord never permit me to lose His +people whom He has gained in the ends of the earth. I pray God, +therefore, that He may give me perseverance, and that He may vouchsafe +to permit me to give Him faithful testimony for my God until my death. +And if I have done anything good for my God, whom I love, I beseech Him +to grant to me that with those proselytes and captives I may pour out +my blood for His name, even if my body should be denied burial, and be +miserably torn limb from limb by dogs or fierce beasts, or that the +birds of heaven should devour it. I believe most certainly that if +this should happen to me, I have gained both soul and body; for it is +certain that we shall rise one day in the brightness of the sun—that +is, the glory of Christ Jesus our Redeemer—as sons of God but as joint +heirs with Christ, and to become conformable to His image. +</P> + +<P> +For that sun which we see rises daily for us; but it will not rule or +continue in its splendor for ever, and all who adore it shall suffer +very miserably. But we who believe in and adore the true sun, Christ, +who will never perish, neither he who shall do His will, but even as +Christ shall abide for ever, who reigns with God the Father Almighty, +and with the Holy Spirit, before the ages, and now, and for ever and +ever. Amen. +</P> + +<P> +Behold, again and again, I shall briefly declare the words of my +confession. I testify in truth and in joy of heart, before God and His +holy angels, that I never had any occasion, except the Gospel and its +promises, for returning to that people from whom I had before with +difficulty escaped.] +</P> + +<P> +But I beseech those who believe in and fear God, whoever may condescend +to look into or receive this writing, which Patrick, the ignorant +sinner, has written in Ireland, that no one may ever say, if I have +ever done or demonstrated anything, however little, that it was my +ignorance. But do you judge, and let it be believed firmly, that it +was the gift of God. And this is my confession before I die. +</P> + +<P> +Thus far is what Patrick wrote with his own hand; he was translated to +heaven on the seventeenth of March. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ST. PATRICK'S EPISTLE TO COROTICUS. +</H3> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>ST. PATRICK'S EPISTLE TO THE CHRISTIAN SUBJECTS<BR> +OF THE TYRANT COROTICUS.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +I, Patrick, a sinner and unlearned, have been appointed a bishop in +Ireland, and I accept from God what I am. I dwell amongst barbarians +as a proselyte and a fugitive for the love of God. He will testify +that it is so. It is not my wish to pour forth so many harsh and +severe things; but I am forced by zeal for God and the truth of Christ, +who raised me up for my neighbors and sons, for whom I have forsaken my +country and parents, and would give up even life itself, if I were +worthy. I have vowed to my God to teach these people, though I should +be despised by them, to whom I have written with my own hand to be +given to the soldiers to be sent to Coroticus—I do not say to my +fellow-citizens, nor to the fellow-citizens of pious Romans, but to the +fellow-citizens of the devil, through their evil deeds and hostile +practices. They live in death, companions of the apostate Scots and +Picts, blood-thirsty men, ever ready to redden themselves with the +blood of innocent Christians, numbers of whom I have begotten to God +and confirmed in Christ. +</P> + +<P> +On the day following that in which they were clothed in white and +received the chrism of neophytes, they were cruelly cut up and slain +with the sword by the above mentioned; and I sent a letter by a holy +priest, whom I have taught from his infancy, with some clerics, begging +that they would restore some of the plunder or the baptized captives; +but they laughed at them. Therefore I know not whether I should grieve +most for those who were slain, or for those whom the devil insnared +into the eternal pains of hell, where they will be chained like him. +For whoever commits sin is the slave of sin, and is called the son of +the devil. +</P> + +<P> +Wherefore let every man know who fears God that they are estranged from +me, and from Christ my God, whose ambassador I am—these patricides, +fratricides, and ravening wolves, who devour the people of the Lord as +if they were bread; as it is said: "The wicked have dissipated thy +law," wherein in these latter times Ireland has been well and +prosperously planted and instructed. Thanks be to God, I usurp +nothing; I share with these whom He hath called and predestinated to +preach the Gospel in much persecution, even to the ends of the earth. +But the enemy hath acted invidiously towards me through the tyrant +Coroticus, who fears neither God nor His priests whom He hath chosen, +and committed to them the high, divine power: "Whomsoever they shall +bind on earth shall be bound in heaven." +</P> + +<P> +I beseech you, therefore, who are the holy ones of God and humble of +heart, that you will not be flattered by them, and that you will +neither eat nor drink with them, nor receive their alms, until they do +penance with many tears, and liberate the servants of God and the +baptized hand-maids of Christ, for whom he was crucified and died. "He +that offereth sacrifice of the goods of the poor, is as one that +sacrificeth the son in the presence of the father." "Riches, he saith, +which the unjust accumulate shall be vomited forth from his belly, the +angel of death shall drag him away, he shall be punished with the fury +of dragons, the tongue of the adder shall slay him, inextinguishable +fire shall consume him." Hence, "Woe to those who fill themselves with +things which are not their own." And "what doth it profit a man if he +gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul?" It were too +long to discuss one by one, or to select from the law, testimonies +against such cupidity. Avarice is a mortal sin. "Thou shall not covet +thy neighbor's goods." "Thou shall not kill." The homicide cannot +dwell with Christ. "He who hateth his brother is a murderer," and "and +he who loveth not his brother abideth in death." How much more guilty +is he who hath defiled his hands with the blood of the sons of God, +whom He hath recently acquired in the ends of the earth by our humble +exhortations! +</P> + +<P> +Did I come to Ireland according to God or according to the flesh? Who +compelled me? I was led by the Spirit, that I should see my relatives +no more. Have I not a pious mercy towards that nation which formerly +took me captive? According to the flesh, I am of noble birth, my +father being a Decurio. I do not regret or blush for having bartered +my nobility for the good of others. I am a servant in Christ unto a +foreign people for the ineffable glory of eternal life, which is in +Christ Jesus my Lord; though my own people do not acknowledge me: "A +prophet is without honor in his own country." Are we not from one +stock, and have we not one God for our Father? As He has said: "He +that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me +scattereth." Is it not agreed that one pulleth down and another +buildeth? I seek not my own. +</P> + +<P> +Not to me be praise, but to God, who hath put into my heart this desire +that I should be one of the hunters and fishers whom, of old, God hath +announced should appear in the last days. I am reviled—what shall I +do, O Lord? I am greatly despised. Lo! thy sheep are torn around me, +and plundered by the above-mentioned robbers, aided by the soldiers of +Coroticus: the betrayers of Christians into the hands of the Picts and +Scots are far from the charity of God. Ravening wolves have scattered +the flock of the Lord, which, with the greatest diligence, was +increasing in Ireland; the sons of the Irish and the daughters of kings +who are monks and virgins of Christ are too many to enumerate. +Therefore the oppression of the great is not pleasing to thee now, and +never shall be. +</P> + +<P> +Who of the saints would not dread to share in the feasts or amusements +of such persons? They fill their houses with the spoils of the +Christian dead, they live by rapine, they know not the poison, the +deadly food, which they present to their friends and children; as Eve +did not understand that she offered death to her husband, so are all +those who work evil: they labor to work out death and eternal +punishment. +</P> + +<P> +It is the custom of the Christians of Rome and Gaul to send holy men to +the Franks and other nations, with many thousand solidi, to redeem +baptized captives. You who slay them, and sell them to foreign nations +ignorant of God, deliver the members of Christ, as it were, into a den +of wolves. What hope have you in God? Whoever agrees with you, or +commands you, God will judge him. I know not what I can say, or what I +can speak more of the departed sons of God slain cruelly by the sword. +It is written: "Weep with them that weep." And again: "If any member +suffers anything, all the members suffer with it." Therefore the +Church laments and bewails her sons and daughters, not slain by the +sword, but sent away to distant countries, where sin is more shameless +and abounds. There free-born Christian men are sold and enslaved +amongst the wicked, abandoned, and apostate Picts. +</P> + +<P> +Therefore I cry out with grief and sorrow. O beautiful and +well-beloved brethren and children! whom I have brought forth in Christ +in such multitudes, what shall I do for you? I am not worthy before +God or man to come to your assistance. The wicked have prevailed over +us. We have become outcasts. It would seem that they do not think we +have one baptism and one Father, God. They think it an indignity that +we have been born in Ireland; as He said: "Have ye not one God? Why do +ye each forsake his neighbor?" Therefore I grieve for you—I grieve, O +my beloved ones! But, on the other hand, I congratulate myself I have +not labored for nothing—my journey has not been in vain. This +horrible and amazing crime has been permitted to take place. Thanks be +to God, ye who have believed and have been baptized have gone from +earth to paradise. Certainly, ye have begun to migrate where there is +no night or death or sorrow; but ye shall exult like young bulls loosed +from their bonds and tread down the wicked under your feet as dust. +</P> + +<P> +Truly, you shall reign with the apostles and prophets and martyrs, and +obtain the eternal kingdom, as He hath testified, saying: "They shall +come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham and +Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven." Without are dogs, and +sorcerers, and murderers, and liars, and perjurers, and they shall have +their part in the everlasting lake of fire. Nor does the apostle say +without reason: "If the just are scarcely saved, where shall the +sinner, the impious, and the transgressor of the law appear?" Where +will Coroticus and his wicked rebels against Christ find themselves +when they shall see rewards distributed amongst the baptized women? +What will he think of his miserable kingdom, which shall pass away in a +moment, like clouds or smoke, which are dispersed by the wind? So +shall deceitful sinners perish before the face of the Lord, and the +just shall feast with great confidence with Christ, and judge the +nations, and rule over unjust kings, for ever and ever. Amen. +</P> + +<P> +I testify before God and His angels that it shall be so, as He hath +intimated to my ignorance. These are not my words that I have set +forth in Latin, but those of God and the prophets and apostles, who +never lied: "He that believeth shall be saved, but he that believeth +not shall be condemned." +</P> + +<P> +God hath said it. I entreat whosoever is a servant of God that he be a +willing bearer of this letter, that he be not drawn aside by any one, +but that he shall see it read before all the people in the presence of +Coroticus himself, that, if God inspire them, they may some time return +to God, and repent, though late; that they may liberate the baptized +captives, and repent for their homicides of the Lord's brethren; so +that they may deserve of God to live and to be whole here and +hereafter. The peace of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy +Ghost. Amen. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-025"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-025.jpg" ALT="The Saint Patrick of Ancient Ages." BORDER="2" WIDTH="360" HEIGHT="508"> +<H4> +[Illustration: The Saint Patrick of Ancient Ages.] +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ST. FIECH'S METRICAL LIFE OF ST. PATRICK. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Written in the Irish Language about 1,400 years ago</I>. +</H3> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +I +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +At Nemthur Saint Patrick was born,<BR> + As history handed it down;<BR> +And when but sixteen years of age,<BR> + A captive was led from that town.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +II. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Siccoth was Saint Patrick's first name;<BR> + His father Calphurn without miss;<BR> +His grandfather Otide was styled;<BR> + He was nephew of Deacon Odisse.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +III. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Six years did he live in dark bonds,<BR> + And the food of the Gentile ate not;<BR> +And Cathraige by men he was called,<BR> + Since to work for four homes was his lot.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +IV. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +To the servant of Milcho 'twas said<BR> + To pass o'er the seas and the plain;<BR> +Then stood angel Victor on rock,<BR> + And his footprints to this day remain.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +V. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Departed Saint Patrick o'er Alps--<BR> + On his way all successful he hies;<BR> +And with German remained in the South<BR> + 'Neath Letavia's wide-spreading skies.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +VI. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +In the isles of the Tyrrhenian sea<BR> + Saint Patrick some period awaits,<BR> +And as canon with German he reads,<BR> + As his history still to us states<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +VII. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +To Hibernia Saint Patrick returned,<BR> + By visions from angels induced;<BR> +For visions to him appeared oft,<BR> + And his mind to subjection reduced.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +VIII. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Soul-saving was Patrick's intent,<BR> + For 'twas to far Foclut's dark flood;<BR> +He had heard the entreaty and wail<BR> + Of children in Foclut's far woods.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +IX. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +For asked they the saint to make haste<BR> + And Letavia's wide lands desert,<BR> +That from error's dark ways Eire's men<BR> + He might in life's pathways direct.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +X. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Foretold Eire's seers years of peace,<BR> + Which were to remain through all time;<BR> +But the grandeurs of Tara the proud<BR> + Were to vanish in dust, as earth's slime.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XI. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +To Leary, the monarch, Druids told<BR> + Of the advent of Patrick the saint;<BR> +And their visions were true, as we know<BR> + From the facts which his histories paint.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XII. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Renowned was Saint Patrick through life,<BR> + And of error he was a dire foe;<BR> +Hence for ever his name shall be grand<BR> + Among the nations, as ages shall flow.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XIII. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +The Apocalypse sang he, and hymns,<BR> + And three fifty full psalms, day by day;<BR> +He instructed and praised and baptized,<BR> + And all time he continued to pray.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XIV. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Nor could any cold e'er prevent<BR> + That he stayed in the water o'er nights;<BR> +And to gain the grand kingdom of heaven,<BR> + Through the day he used preach on the heights.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XV. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +By the far-famous fount of the North,<BR> + Benibarka! thy waters sha'n't cease;<BR> +For a hundred full psalms he used sing<BR> + Each night the Lord's praise to increase.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XVI. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Then he slept on a cold bed of stone,<BR> + And with a wet cover was dressed;<BR> +A stone was his pillow each night--<BR> + Such, such was the saint's nightly rest.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XVII. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +To the people the Gospel was preached,<BR> + With power and with miracles signed;<BR> +The blind and the lepers were cured,<BR> + And Death his dead subjects resigned.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XVIII. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Saint Patrick did preach to the Scots,<BR> + And in Letavia much he endured,<BR> +That whom he had won to the Lord<BR> + In Judgment's dread day be secured.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XIX. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Emir's and proud Erimon's sons<BR> + A demon contrived to ensnare;<BR> +And them did dread Satan engulf<BR> + In the dark, fearful depths of his lair,<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XX. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Until our apostle arrived,<BR> + Who rescued and set them all free,<BR> +Through sixty long years of his life<BR> + To Christ's cross the brave Fenians flee.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XXI. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Great darkness o'er Eire was spread,<BR> + And its people their idols adored,<BR> +Nor in the true Godhead believed,<BR> + Nor the Trinity, too, of the Lord.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XXII. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +At Armagh the realm's throne has been placed,<BR> + To Emania a glory to be;<BR> +And far-famed is Dundalethglas church,<BR> + Nor let fame from Temoria flee.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XXIII. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +To Armagh, in his infirm old age,<BR> + Saint Patrick desired much to go;<BR> +But God's angel at noon met the saint,<BR> + And induced him his wish to forego.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XXIV. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Southward to the angel he came<BR> + (For Victor had been his good guide),<BR> +And the bush in which Victor appeared<BR> + Burned bright, and a voice from it cried:<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XXV. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"At Armagh let the government be,<BR> + And to Christ let all glory be brought;<BR> +Indeed, thou shalt come unto heaven;<BR> + Thou obtainedst, because thou hadst sought.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XXVI. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"A hymn which you sing while alive<BR> + Shall to Celts a proud armament be;<BR> +And at judgment the Irish surround<BR> + Their father, their patron, in thee."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XXVII. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +After Patrick, good Tassach remained;<BR> + When Patrick to Tassach Christ gave,<BR> +Tassach said: "He from me shall receive";<BR> + And the prediction of Tassach was grave.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XXVIII. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +For the night was installed a bright day,<BR> + And that day for one year did remain;<BR> +So that over all Eire the fair<BR> + Light's brilliance and brightness did reign.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XXIX. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Bethoron a battle beheld<BR> + Of great Nun against Chanaan's sons,<BR> +In which Gabaon saw the sun stand,<BR> + As the Scriptural narrative runs.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XXX. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +For brave Josue stood the bright sun<BR> + To witness the wicked all slain;<BR> +Why not for Saint Patrick thrice more<BR> + To illumine Hibernia's plain?<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XXXI. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +For all Eire's good clergy were come<BR> + To bury Saint Patrick with pride;<BR> +And the sounds of the singing from heaven<BR> + Cast them sleeping all round, far and wide.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XXXII. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Saint Patrick's pure soul fled his frame<BR> + (His works immortality make);<BR> +And on the first night after death,<BR> + The angels of God watched his wake.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XXXIII. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +And when Patrick departed from life,<BR> + To the other Saint Patrick came he;<BR> +And to Jesus, of Mary the Son,<BR> + The two passed, bright and pure, great and free.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XXXIV. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +In Patrick pride's stain was not found;<BR> + And great were the works that adorn<BR> +This good son of Christ, Mary's Son!<BR> + With God's blessing Saint Patrick was born.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<A NAME="img-033"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-033.jpg" ALT="The Saint Patrick of Medieval Times." BORDER="2" WIDTH="288" HEIGHT="447"> +<H4> +[Illustration: The Saint Patrick of Medieval Times.] +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap0401"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +TRIPARTITE LIFE. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +PART I. +</H3> + + +<P> +The people who sat in darkness saw a great light, and they who were in +the land and in the shadow of death received light by which came their +illumination. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick, then, was of the Britons of Alcluaid by origin. Calpurnn was +his father's name. He was a noble priest. Potid was his grandfather's +name, whose title was a deacon. Conceis was his mother's name. She +was of the Franks, and a sister to Martin. In Nemtur, moreover, the +man St. Patrick was born; and the flag (stone) on which St. Patrick was +born would give forth water when any one swore a false oath upon it, as +if it were lamenting the false testimony. If the oath was true, +however, the stone would continue in its natural condition. +</P> + +<P> +When the man St. Patrick was born, he was taken to a blind, flat-faced +man to be baptized. Gornias was the priest's name; and he had no water +out of which he could perform the baptism until he made the sign of the +cross over the ground with the infant's hand, when a fountain of water +burst forth. Gornias washed his face, and his eyes were opened to him; +and he, who had learned no letter, read the baptism. God wrought three +miracles through Patrick in this place—viz., the fountain of water +through the ground, his eyesight to the blind man, and his reading the +<I>ordo</I> of the baptism without knowing a letter up to that time. And +Patrick was subsequently baptized. A church was founded, moreover, +over this well in which Patrick was baptized; and the well is at the +altar, and it has the form of the cross, as the learned report. +</P> + +<P> +Many prodigies and miracles were wrought through Patrick in his youth, +but we shall only relate a few out of many of them. One time Patrick +was in his nurse's house, in winter time, when a great flood and rain +filled his nurse's residence, so that the vessels and furniture of the +house were floating about, and the fire was extinguished. Patrick then +cried to his nurse, as usual with children when desiring food. Then +his nurse said to him: "That is not what troubles us; there is +something else we would rather do than to prepare food for thee; even +the fire is extinguished." When Patrick heard these words, truly, he +sought a certain spot in the house to which the water had not reached; +and he dipped his hand in the water, and five drops fell from Patrick's +fingers, and they were suddenly changed into five sparks, and the fire +glowed, and the water rose not. The names of God and of Patrick were +magnified thereby. Another time, as Patrick was playing amongst his +companions, in the time of winter and cold in particular, he collected +his armful of pieces of ice, which he brought home to his nurse. Then +his nurse said: "It would be better for you to bring us withered +brambles to warm ourselves with than what you have brought." Thereupon +he said to his nurse: +</P> + +<P> +"Believe thou, because God is powerful thereto, that even the sheets of +ice will burn like faggots." And no sooner were the pieces of ice +placed on the fire, and he had breathed on them, than they burned like +faggots. The names of God and Patrick were magnified through this +miracle. +</P> + +<P> +One time, when Patrick and his sister (<I>i.e.</I>, Lupait) were herding +sheep, the lambs came suddenly to their dams, as is customary with +them, to drink milk. When Patrick and his sister saw this, they ran +quickly to prevent them. The girl fell, and her head struck against a +stone, so that death was nigh unto her. As soon as Patrick perceived +that his sister was lying down, and that death was nigh unto her, he +wept loudly; and he raised her up immediately, and made the sign of the +cross over the wound, and it healed without any illness. +(Nevertheless, the signs of the "white wound" would appear there.) And +they came home as if no evil had happened to them. Another time, +Patrick was with the sheep, when a wolf took away a sheep from him. +His nurse reproved him greatly therefor. The wolf brought the sheep +whole to the same place on the morrow; and the restoration in this way +was wonderful—viz., the wolf's dislike regarding the habitual food. +</P> + +<P> +When Patrick's nurse, therefore, saw him magnified by God in prodigies +and miracles, she used to love him very much, and would not wish to go +anywhere without him. One time his nurse went to milk the cow. He +went with her to get a drink of new milk. The cow [became mad] in the +<I>booley</I>, and killed five other cows. The nurse was much grieved, and +asked him to resuscitate the cows. He resuscitated the cows, then, so +that they were quite well, and he cured the mad cow; and the names of +God and Patrick were magnified through this miracle. +</P> + +<P> +There was a great assembly held by the Britons. He went to the +assembly with his nurse and his guardian. It happened that his +guardian died in the assembly. All were hushed into silence thereat; +and his relatives cried, and his friends wept, and they said, "Why, +thou <I>gilla</I>, didst thou let the man who was carrying thee die?" As +regards the <I>gilla</I> moreover, he ran to his guardian, and placed his +hands about his neck, and said to him, "Arise, and let us go home." He +arose forthwith at Patrick's word, and they went home safe afterwards. +</P> + +<P> +The boys of the place in which Patrick was nursed were wont to bring +honey to their mothers from the bees' nests. Then his nurse said to +Patrick: "Although every other boy brings honey to his nurse, you bring +none to me." Patrick afterwards carried off a bucket to the water, and +filled it, and blessed the water, so that it changed into honey; and it +healed every disease and ailment to which it was applied. +</P> + +<P> +One time the King of Britain's steward went to command Patrick and his +nurse to go and clean the hearth of the royal house in Al-Cluaid. +Patrick and his nurse went. Then it was that the angel came, and said +to Patrick: "Pray, and it will not be necessary for you to perform that +work." Patrick prayed. The angel afterwards cleaned the hearth. Then +Patrick said: "Though all the firewood in Britain were burned in that +fireplace, there would be no ashes of it on the morrow." And this, +indeed, is fulfilled yet. Another time, the King of Britain's steward +went to demand tribute of curds and butter from Patrick's nurse; and +she had nothing that she would give for the rent. Then it was that +Patrick made curds and butter of the snow, and they were taken to the +king; and the moment they were exhibited to the king, afterwards they +changed into the nature of snow again. The king thereupon forgave the +rent to Patrick for ever. +</P> + +<P> +The cause of Patrick's coming to Erinn was as follows: The seven sons +of Fechtmad—viz., the seven sons of the King of Britain—were on a +naval expedition, and they went to plunder in Armoric-Letha; and a +number of the Britons of Srath-Cluaidh were on a visit with their +kinsmen, the Britons of Armoric-Letha, and Calpurn, son of Potit, +Patrick's father, and his mother—<I>i.e.</I>, Conches, daughter of Ocbas of +the Galls—<I>i.e.</I>, of the Franks—were killed in the slaughter in +Armorica. Patrick and his two sisters—viz., Lupait and Tigris—were +taken prisoners, moreover, in that slaughter. The seven sons of +Fechtmad went afterwards on the sea, having with them Patrick and his +two sisters in captivity. The way they went was around Erinn, +northwards, until they landed in the north; and they sold Patrick to +Miliuc, son of Buan—<I>i.e.</I>, to the King of Dal-Araidhe. They sold his +sisters in Conaille-Muirthemhne. And they did not know this. Four +persons, truly, that purchased him. One of them was Miliuc. It was +from this that he received the name that is Cothraige, for the reason +that he served four families. He had, indeed, four names. . . +</P> + +<P> +[Here a leaf is missing from both the Bodleian and British Museum MSS. +of the Tripartite Life, the contents of which would fill eight pages of +similar size to the foregoing.] +</P> + +<P> +When Patrick had completed his sixtieth year, and had learned +knowledge, his auxiliary angel, Victor (for he was of assistance to him +when he [Patrick] was in bondage with Miliuc, and regarding everything +besides which he might wish), went to him, and said to him: "You are +commanded from God to go to Erinn, to strengthen faith and belief, that +you may bring the people, by the net of the Gospel, to the harbor of +life; for all the men of Erinn call out your name, and they think it +seasonable and fit that you should come." Patrick afterwards bade +farewell to Germanus, and gave him a blessing; and a trusted senior +went with him from Germanus, to guard him and testify for him; his name +was Segetius, and he was by grade a priest, and he it was who usually +kept the <I>Ordo</I> of the church besides Germanus. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick went subsequently on the sea, his company being nine. Then he +went upon an island, where he saw a withered old woman on her hands at +the door of a house. "Whence is the hag?" asked Patrick; "great is her +infirmity." A young man answered, and said: "She is a descendant of +mine," said the young man; "if you could see the mother of this girl, O +cleric! she is more infirm still." "In what way did this happen?" +enquired Patrick. "Not difficult to tell," said the young man. "We +are here since the time of Christ. He came to visit us when He was on +earth amongst men; and we made a feast for him, and he blessed our +house and blessed ourselves; but this blessing reached not our +children; and we shall be here without age or decay for ever. And it +is long since thy coming was foretold to us," said the young man; "and +God 'left it with us' [<I>i.e.</I>, prophesied to us] that thou wouldst come +to preach to the Gaeidhel; and He left a token with us, <I>i.e.</I>, His +<I>bachall</I> (crozier), to be given to thee." "I will not take it," said +Patrick, "until He Himself gives me His <I>bachall</I>." Patrick remained +three days and three nights with them; and he went afterwards into +Sliabh-Hermoin, near the island, where the Lord appeared unto him, and +commanded him to go and preach to the Gaeidliel; and He gave him the +Bachall-Isa, and said that it would be of assistance to him in every +danger and every difficulty in which he would be. And Patrick besought +three requests of him—viz., (1) to be at His right hand in the kingdom +of heaven; (2) that he (Patrick) might be the judge of the Gaeidhel on +the Day of Judgment; and (3) as much as the nine companions could carry +of gold and silver to give to the Gaeidhel for believing. +</P> + +<P> +The Airchinnech that was in Rome at that time was Celestinus, the +forty-second man from Peter. He sent Palladius, a high deacon, with +twelve men, to instruct the Gaeidhel (for to the comarb of Peter +belongs the instruction of Europe), in the same way as Barnabas went +from Peter to instruct the Romans, etc. When Palladius arrived in the +territory of Leinster—<I>i.e.</I>, at Inbher-Dea—Nathi, son of Garchu, +opposed him, and expelled him. And Palladius baptized a few there, and +founded three churches—viz., Cill-fine (in which he left his books, +and the casket with the relics of Paul and Peter, and the tablet in +which he used to write), and Tech-na-Roman, and Doinhnach-Airte, in +which Silvester and Solonius are. On turning back afterwards, sickness +seized him in the country of the Cruithne, and he died of it. +</P> + +<P> +When Patrick heard this thing, and knew that it was for him God +designed the apostleship of Erinn, he went subsequently to Rome to +receive grade; and it was Celestinus, Abbot of Rome, who read <I>grada</I> +(orders, degrees) over him; Germanus and Amatho, King of the Romans, +being present with them. +</P> + +<P> +When Patrick came from Rome, where he arrived was at Inbher-Dea, in +Leinster. Nathi, son of Garchu, came also against him. Patrick cursed +him. Sinell, moreover, the son of Finnchadh, was the first who +believed in Erinn through Patrick's teaching. Hence it was that +Patrick blessed him and his seed. On the same day Auxilius and +Eserninus, and others of Patrick's people, were ordained; and it was +then, also, that the name Patricius—<I>i.e.</I>, a name of power with the +Romans—was given to him; <I>i.e.</I>, a hostage-liberating man. It was he, +moreover, who loosened the hostageship and bondage of the Gaeidhel to +the devil. And when they were reading the <I>grada</I> (orders, degrees), +the three choirs responded—viz., the choir of the men of heaven, and +the choir of the Romans, and the choir of the children from the woods +of Fochlud—all whom cried out, "Hibernienses omnes," etc. In illis +diebus autem gesta sunt in predictis ita. In that time there was a +fierce pagan king in Erinn—<I>i.e.</I>, Laeghaire Mac Neill—and his seat +and royal hold was in Tara. In the fifth year of the reign of +Laeghaire Mac Neill Patrick came to Erinn. The eighth year of the +reign of Lughaidh he died. The eighth year of the reign of Theodosius, +the forty-fifth man from Augustus, Patrick came; eight years Celestine +was then prince, as Gelasius said. +</P> + +<P> +This valiant king, then—<I>i.e.</I>, Laeghaire Mac Neill—possessed druids +and enchanters, who used to foretell through their druidism and through +their paganism what was in the future for them. Lochru and Luchat Mael +were their chiefs; and these two were authors of that art of +pseudo-prophecy. They prophesied, then, that a mighty, unprecedented +prophet would come across the sea, with an unknown code of +instructions, with a few companions, whom multitudes would obey, and +who would obtain dignity and reverence from the men of Erinn; and that +he would expel kings and princes from their governments, and would +destroy all the idolatrous images; and that the faith which would +arrive would live for ever in Erin. Two years, or three, before the +arrival of Patrick, what they used to prophesy was [as follows]; +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"A <I>Tailcend</I> (<I>i.e.</I>, Patrick) shall come across the stormy sea.<BR> +His garment head-pierced, his staff head-bent,<BR> +His <I>mias</I> (<I>i.e.</I>, altar) in the east of his house;<BR> +His people all shall answer, Amen, amen."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Baile-Cuinn (the Ecstasy of Conn, a rhapsody so called) dixit: "A +<I>Tailcend</I> shall come who will found cemeteries, make cells new, and +pointed music-houses, with conical caps [bencopar], and have princes +bearing croziers." "When these signs shall come," said they, "our +adoration and our <I>gentility</I> (paganism) will vanish, and faith and +belief will be magnified." As it was foretold then and represented, so +it happened and was fulfilled. +</P> + +<P> +When Patrick completed his voyage, and his ship entered the harbor at +Inbher-Dea, in the territory of Leinster, he brought his ships to the +shore. Then it was that he decided to go to instruct Miliuc. He +thought fit as he labored at first for his body, that he should labor +for his soul. He then put stick to shore, and proceeded on a +prosperous voyage, past the coast of Erinn, eastwards, until he stopped +in Inbher-Domnand. He found no fish there, and cursed it. He went to +Inis-Patrick: and he sent to Inbher-Nainge, where nothing was found for +him. He cursed this also, and both are unfruitful. Then it was that +Benen came into his company. Soon after, Patrick slept awhile, and all +the odoriferous flowers that the youth could find, he would put them +into the cleric's bosom. Patrick's people said to Benen: "Stop doing +that, lest thou shouldst awake Patrick." Patrick said: "He will be the +heir of my kingdom." He went to Inbher-Boindi, where he found fish. +He blessed it, and the <I>Inbher</I> is fruitful. He found druids in that +place who denied the virginity of Mary. Patrick blessed the ground, +and it swallowed the druids. Patrick went afterwards from +Inis-Patrick, past Conaille, and past the coast of Ulster, until he +stopped at Inbher-Brena. He went afterwards to Inbher-Slani, where the +clerics hid their ships; and they went ashore to put off their fatigue, +and to rest; so that there it was the swine-herd of Dichu, son of +Trichim, found them, where Sabhall-Patrick is to-day. When he saw the +divines and the clerics, he thought they were robbers or thieves, and +he went to tell his lord; whereupon Dichu came, and set his dog at the +clerics. Then it was that Patrick uttered the prophetic verse, "Ne +tradas bestis, etc., et canis obmutuit." When Dichu saw Patrick, he +became gentle, and he believed, and Patrick baptized him; so that he +was the first in Ulster who received faith and baptism from Patrick. +Then it was that Dichu presented the Sabhall to Patrick. Patrick said: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"The blessing of God on Dichu,<BR> +Who gave to me the Sabhall;<BR> +May he be hereafter<BR> +Heavenly, joyous, glorious.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"The blessing of God on <I>Dichu</I>--<BR> +Dichu with full folds (flocks);<BR> +No one of his sept or kindred<BR> +Shall die, except after a long life."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Patrick went to preach to Miliuc, as we have said, and took gold with +him to prevail on him to believe; for he knew that he (Miliuc) was +covetous regarding gold. But when Miliuc heard that Patrick had +arrived, he wished not to believe for him, and to abandon the pagan +religion. He thought it unbecoming to believe for his servant, and to +submit to him. The counsel that a demon taught him was this: He went +into his royal house with his gold and silver; and he set the house on +fire, and was burned with all his treasures, and his soul went to hell. +Then it was that Patrick proceeded past the northern side of Sliabh-Mis +(there is a cross in that place), and he saw the fire afar off. He +remained silent for the space of two or three hours, thinking what it +could be, and he said, "That is the fire of Miliuc's house," said +Patrick, "after his burning himself in the middle of his house, that he +might not believe in God in the end of his life. As regards the man +who persuaded him thereto," added he, "there shall not be a king or +righdamhna of his family, and his seed and race shall be 'in service' +for ever, and his soul shall not return from hell to the judgment, nor +after judgment." After he had said these words, he turned <I>deisel</I> +(right-hand-wise) and went back again into the territory of Uladh, +until he arrived at Magh-inis, to Dichu, son of Trichim, and he +remained there a long time disseminating faith, so that he brought all +the Ulidians, with the net of the Gospel, to the harbor of life. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick went subsequently from Sabhall southwards, that he might preach +to Ros, son of Trichim. He it was that resided in Derlus, to the south +of Dun-leth-glaise (Downpatrick). There is a small city (cathair, +<I>i.e.</I>, civitas, but also meaning a bishop's <I>see</I>) there this +day—<I>i.e.</I>, Brettain, ubi est Episcopus Loarn qui ausus est increpare +Patricium tenentem manum pueri ludentis justa Ecclesiam suam. As +Patrick was then on his way, he saw a tender youth herding pigs. +Mochae his name. Patrick preached to him, and baptized him, and cut +his hair, and gave him a copy of the gospels and a reliquary. And he +gave him also, another time, a <I>bachall</I> which had been given them from +God—viz., its head into Patrick's bosom, and its end in Mochae's +bosom; and this is the Detech-Mochae of Noendruim; and Mochae promised +Patrick a shorn pig every year. And this, indeed, is still given. +</P> + +<P> +When the solemnity of Easter approached, Patrick considered that there +was no place more suitable to celebrate the high solemnity of the +year—<I>i.e.</I>, the Easter—than in Magh-Bregh, the place where the head +of the idolatry and druidism of Erinn was—viz., in Temhair. They +afterwards bade farewell to Dichu, son of Trichim, and put their +vessels on the sea; and they proceeded until they anchored in +Inbher-Colptha. They left their vessels in the Inbher, and went by +land until they reached Ferta-fer-féc, and Patrick's tent was fixed in +this place, and he cut the Easter fire. It happened, however, that +this was the time in which the great festival of the Gentiles—<I>i.e.</I>, +the <I>Fes of Tara</I>—was usually celebrated. The kings and princes and +chieftains were wont to come to Laeghaire Mac Neill to Tara, to +celebrate this festival. The druids and the magicians were also wont +to come to prophesy to them. The fire of every hearth in Erinn was +usually extinguished on that night, and it was commanded by the king +that no fire should be lighted in Erinn before the fire of Tara, and +neither gold nor silver would be accepted from any one who would light +it, but he should suffer death for it. Patrick knew not this thing; +and if he knew it, it would not prevent him. +</P> + +<P> +As the people of Tara were thus, they saw the consecrated Easter fire +at a distance which Patrick had lighted. It illuminated all +Magh-Bregh. Then the king said: "That is a violation of my prohibition +and law; and do you ascertain who did it." "We see the fire," said the +druids, "and we know the night in which it is made. If it is not +extinguished before morning," added they, "it will never be +extinguished. The man who lighted it will surpass the kings and +princes, unless he is prevented." When the king heard this thing, he +was much infuriated. Then the king said: "That is not how it shall be; +but we will go," said he, "until we slay the man who lighted the fire." +His chariot and horses were yoked for the king, and they went, in the +end of the night, to Ferta-fer-féc. "You must take care," said the +druids, "that you go not to the place where the fire was made, lest you +worship the man who lighted it; but stay outside, and let him be called +out to you, that he may know you to be a king, and himself a subject; +and we will argue in your presence." "It is good counsel," said the +king; "it shall be done as you say." They proceeded afterwards until +they unyoked their horses and chariots in front of the <I>Ferta</I>. +Patrick was "whispered" out to them; and it was commanded by them that +no one should rise up before him, lest he should believe in him. +Patrick rose and went out; and when he saw the chariots and horses +unyoked, he sang the prophetic stanza: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Hi in curribus et hi in eorus (equis),<BR> +Nos autem, in nomine Domini Dei nostri ma."<BR> +</P> + +<P> +They were then before him, and the rims of their shields against their +chins; and none of them rose up before him, except one man alone, in +whom was a figure from God—<I>i.e.</I>, Ere, son of Dega. He is the Bishop +Ere who is [commemorated] in Slaine of Magh-Bregh to-day. Patrick +blessed him, and he believed in God, and confessed the Catholic faith, +and was baptized; and Patrick said to him: "Your seat (<I>cathair</I>, chair +or city) on earth shall be noble"; and Patrick's (<I>comarb</I>) successor +is bound to bend the knee before his <I>comarb</I> in consideration of his +submission. +</P> + +<P> +Each then questioned the other—viz., Patrick and Laeghaire. Lochru +went fiercely, enviously, with contention and questions, against +Patrick; and then he began to denounce the Trinity and the Catholic +faith. Patrick looked severely at him, and cried out to God with a +loud voice, and he said: "Domine qui omnia potes et in tua potestate +consistit quidquid est, quique nos misisti huc ad nomen tuum gentibus +praedicandum hic impius qui blasphemat nomen tuum, elevatur nunc foras, +et cito moriatur. Et his dictis elevatus est magus in aëra et iterum +desuper cito dejectus sparso ad lapidem cerebro comminutus et mortus +fuerat coram eis." The pagans became afraid at this. But the king was +much infuriated against Patrick, and he determined to kill him. He +told his people to slay the cleric. When Patrick observed this +thing—the rising up against him of the pagans—he cried out with a +loud voice, and said: "Et exurget Deus et dissipentur inimici ejus, et +fugiant qui oderunt eum a facie ejus, sicut defecit fumus deficit sic +deficiant sicut fluit caera a facie ignis; sic pereint peccatorus facie +Domini." Immediately darkness went over the sun, and great shaking and +trembling of the earth occurred. They thought it was heaven that fell +upon the earth; and the horses started off, frightened, and the wind +blew the chariots across the plains, and all rose against each other in +the assembly; and they were all attacking each other, so that fifty men +of them fell in this commotion through Patrick's malediction. The +Gentiles fled in all directions, so that only three remained—viz., +Laeghaire, and his queen, and a man of his people; et timuerunt valde, +veniensque regina ad Patricium (<I>i.e.</I>, Angass, daughter of Tassagh, +son of Liathan), dixit: "Ei homo juste et potens ne perdas regem. The +king will go to thee, and will submit to thee, and will kneel, and will +believe in God." Laeghaire went then, and knelt before Patrick, and +gave him a "<I>false peace</I>." Not long after this, the king beckoned +Patrick aside, and what he meditated was to kill him; but this happened +not, because God had manifested this intention to Patrick. Laeghaire +said to Patrick, "Come after me, O cleric! to Tara, that I may believe +in thee before the men of Erinn"; and he then placed men in ambush +before Patrick in every pass from Ferta-fer-féc to Tara, that they +might kill him. But God did not permit it. Patrick went, accompanied +by eight young clerics (maccleirech), and Benen as a <I>gilla</I>, along +with them; and Patrick blessed them before going, and a <I>dicheltair</I> +(garment of invisibility) went over them, so that not one of them was +seen. The Gentiles who were in the ambuscades, however, saw eight wild +deer going past them along the mountain, and a young fawn after them, +and a pouch on his shoulder—viz., Patrick, and his eight [clerics], +and Benen after them, and his (Patrick's) <I>polaire</I> (satchel, or +epistolary) on his back. +</P> + +<P> +Laeghaire went afterwards, about twilight, to Tara, in sorrow and +shame, with the few persons who escaped in his company. On the day +succeeding Easter Sunday the men of Erinn went to Tara to drink the +feast; for the <I>Fes</I> of Tara was a principal day with them. When they +were banqueting, and thinking of the conflict they waged the day +before, they saw Patrick, who arrived in the middle of Tara, januis +clausis ut Christus in cennaculum; because Patrick meditated: "I will +go," said he, "so that my readiness may be manifested before the men of +Erinn. I shall not make a candle under a bushel of myself. I will +see," said he, "who will believe me, and who will not believe me." No +one rose up before him inside but <I>Dubhtach</I> Mac Ua Lugair alone, the +king's royal poet, and a tender youth of his people (viz., his name was +Fiacc; it is he who is [commemorated] in Slebhte to-day). This +Dubhtach, truly, was the first man who believed that day in Tara. +Patrick blessed him and his seed. Patrick was then called to the +king's bed, that he might eat food, and to prove him in prophecy +(<I>i.e.</I>, in Venturis rebus). Patrick did not refuse this, because he +knew what would come of it. The druid Luchat Mael went to drink with +him, for he wished to revenge on Patrick what he had done to his (the +druid's) companion the day before. The druid Luchat Mael put a drop of +poison into the goblet which was beside Patrick, that he might see what +Patrick would do in regard to it. Patrick observed this act, and he +blessed the goblet, and the ale adhered to it, and he turned the goblet +upside-down afterwards, and the poison which the druid put into it fell +out of it. Patrick blessed the goblet again, and the ale changed into +its natural state. The names of God and Patrick were magnified +thereby. The hosts then went and took up their station outside Tara. +"Let us work miracles," said Luchat Mael, "before the multitude in this +great plain." Patrick asked; "What are they?" The druid said: "Let us +bring snow upon the plain, so that the plain may be white before us." +Patrick said to him: "I do not wish to go against the will of God." +The druid said: "I will bring the snow upon the plain, though you like +it not." He then began the druidic poetry and the demoniacal arts +until the snow fell so that it would reach the girdles of men; and all +saw and wondered greatly. Patrick said: "We see this; send it away, if +you can." The druid answered: "I cannot do that thing until this time +to-morrow." "By my <I>debhro</I>," said Patrick, "in evil is thy power, and +not in good." Patrick blessed the plain before him, towards the four +points, and the snow immediately disappeared, without rain, without +sun, without wind, at Patrick's word. Darkness afterwards went over +the face of the earth, through the incantations of the druid. The +multitudes cried out thereat. Patrick said: "Expelli tenebras." The +druid answered: "I am not able to-day." Patrick prayed the Lord, and +blessed the plain, and the darkness was expelled, and the sun shone +out, and all gave thanks. They were for a long time contending thus +before the king—<I>i.e.</I>, as Nero said to Simon and Peter—et ait rex ad +illos, "Libros vestros in aqua mittite, et ilium cujus libri illesi +evaserint adorabimus." Respondit Patricius: "Faciam ego"; et dixit +magus: "Nolo ego ad judicium ire aquae cum ipso; aquam etiam Deum +habet"; because he heard that it was through water Patrick used to +baptize. Et respondit rex: "Mittite igitur in igne"; et ait Patricius: +"Promptus sum;" at magus nolens dixit; "Hic homo versa vice in alternos +annos nunc aquam nunc ignem deum veneratur." "It is not this that +shall be done," said Patrick; "for since you say that it is the fire I +adore, go you, if you wish, into a house apart, and well closed, and a +student of my people along with you, and let my <I>casula</I> be about you, +and your druidic tunic about my student (<I>mac cleirech</I>); and fire will +be applied to the house, that God may decide between you there." This +counsel was agreed to by the men of Erinn, including Laeghaire. The +house was then made, one-half of dry faggots, and the other half of +fresh materials. The druid was put into the fresh part, and Patrick's +<I>casula</I> about him. Benen, however, was put into the dry part, with +the druid's tunic about him. The house was afterwards closed and +fastened on the outside, before the multitude, and fire was applied to +it. A great prodigy occurred there through Patrick's prayers. The +fresh part of the house was burned, as well as the druid under the +casula, and not a bit of the <I>casula</I> was destroyed. The dry portion, +in which was Benen, however, was not burned, and God preserved Benen +under the druid's tunic, and the tunic was burned, so that it was +reduced to ashes. The king was greatly enraged against Patrick for the +killing of his druid. He arose, and would like to slay Patrick; but +God did not permit it, through the intercession of Patrick. The anger +of God fell afterwards on the impious multitude, so that great numbers +of them died—viz., twelve thousand in one day. Patrick said to +Laeghaire: "If you do not believe now, you shall die quickly; for the +anger of God will come upon your head." When the king heard these +words, he was seized with great fear. The king went into a house +afterwards to take counsel with his people. "It is better for me," +said he, "to believe in God than [to suffer] what is threatened to +me—my death." It was after this that Laeghaire knelt to Patrick, and +believed in God, and many thousands believed in that day. +</P> + +<P> +Then it was that Patrick said to Laeghaire: "Since you have believed in +God, and have submitted to me, length of life in thy sovereignty will +be given thee. As a reward for thy disobedience some time ago, +however, there will be no king nor roydamhna from thee for ever, except +Lughaidh," the son of Laeghaire; for his mother implored Patrick that +he would not curse the infant that was in her womb, when Patrick said: +"I will not, until he comes against me." Lughaidh then assumed the +sovereignty; and he went to Achadh-farcha. There he said: "Is not that +the church of the cleric who said that there would be neither king nor +roydamhna from Laeghaire?" After this, darts of lightning descended +from the heavens on his head, which killed him, and hence is [the name] +Achadh-farcha. These miracles live to this day. These are the +miracles the divines of Erinn knew, and through which they put a thread +of narration. Columcille, son of Fedhlidhmidh, Ultan, the grand-son of +Conchobhar, Adamnan, the grandson of Tinne, Eleran the Wise, Ciaran of +Belach-duin, Cruimther Collait from Druim-Railgech, knew Patrick's +miracles in the first place, and composed them. +</P> + +<P> +A man of truth, indeed, was this man, with purity of mind like the +Patriarchs; a true pilgrim like Abraham; gentle and forgiving of heart +like Moses; a praise-singing psalmist like David; a shrine of wisdom +like Solomon; a chosen vessel for proclaiming truth like Paul the +Apostle; a man full of grace and knowledge of the Holy Ghost like John; +the root of a holy herb-garden towards the children of faith; a vine +branch with fruitfulness; a sparkling fire, with power to heat and warm +the sons of life, in founding and dispensing charity. A lion in +strength and might; a dove in gentleness and humility. A serpent in +wisdom and cunning in regard to good; gentle, humble, mild, towards +sons of life; dark, ungentle, towards sons of death. A slave in work +and labor for Christ; a king in dignity and power, for binding and +releasing, for enslaving and freeing, for killing and reviving. +Appropinquante autem hora obitus sui, sacrificium ab Episcopo Tassach +sumpsit quod viaticum vitae aeternae ex consilio Victoris acceperat, et +deinceps post mortuos suscitatos, post multum populum ad Deum +conversum, et post Episcopos et presbyteros in ecclesiis ordinatos, et +</P> + +<BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap0402"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +PART II. +</H3> + +<P> +Euntes ergo docete omnes gentes baptizantes eos in nomine Patris, et +Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, docentes eos observare omnia quaecumque +mandavi vobis, etc. +</P> + +<P> +When Patrick came with his fleet to Erinn, to preach to the Gaeidhel, and +went to Tara, he left Lomman in Inbher-Boinne, to take care of his ships, +during the forty nights of the Lent. Patrick commanded him to row his +vessel against the [current of the] Boyne, until he would arrive at the +place were to-day Ath-Truim [Trim] is—at that time the <I>dún</I> of +Fedhlimidh, where he (Lomman) found the son of Laeghaire +MacNeill—<I>i.e.</I>, at Ath-Truim. And in the morning, Fortchern, +Fedhlimidh's son, went and found Lomman, and his gospels before him. He +wondered at the precepts he heard. He believed, and was baptized by +Lomman. And Fortchern was listening to the instruction, until his mother +went to seek him. She welcomed the clerics, for she was of the Britons, +viz.: Scoth, daughter of the king of Britain. Fedhlimidh himself came to +converse with Lomman; and he believed, and presented Ath-Truim to God and +Patrick, and to Lomman, and to Fortchern. Patrick himself went and +founded Ath-Truim [Trim], twenty-five years before the foundation of +Ard-Macha. Of the Britons, moreover, was the origin of Lomman, and his +mother was the sister of Patrick. +</P> + +<P> +Lomman's brethren were, moreover, Bishop Munis in Forgnidhe in +Cuircne—<I>i.e.</I>, in the north of Meath, to the south of the Ethne (Inny); +Broccaidh in Imlech-Achaidh, in Ciarraighe of Connacht; Broccan in +Brechmagh, in Ui-Dorthain; Mughenoc in Cill-Dumagloin, in the south of +Bregia. They were the relatives, moreover, who were dear to Patrick by +consanguinity, and faith, and baptism, and instruction; and they +presented to Patrick whatever they possessed, land and churches, for +ever. But, after some time, when Lomman's death drew nigh, Lomman and +his foster-son, <I>i.e.</I>, Fortchern, went to converse with his brother, +<I>i.e.</I>, Broccaid, and he committed his church to Patrick and Fortchern; +and Fortchern opposed it, that he might not inherit his father's +possessions, who gave the place to God and Patrick. But Lomman said, +"You shall not receive my benediction unless you assume the abbacy of my +church." Fortchern took upon him the abbacy after the death of Lomman, +for three days, when he went to Trim; and afterwards gave his church to +Cathlai, a pilgrim. These are the offerings of Fedhlimidh, son of +Laeghaire, to St. Patrick, and to Lomman, and to Fortchern, viz., +Ath-Truim, in the territory of Laeghaire of Bregia, and Imghae, in the +territory of Laeghaire of Meath. The way in which all these offerings +were presented to Patrick, and to Lomman, and to Fortchernd, per (<I>sic</I>) +omnibus regibus majoribus et minoribus usque indiem judicii. Prima feria +venit Patricius ad Taltenam, where the regal assembly was, to Cairpre, +the son of Niall. It was he who desired the murder of Patrick, and who +drove Patrick's people into the river Sele, wherefore Patrick called him +the enemy of God, and said to him, "Thy seed shall serve thy brother's +seed," and there shall not be salmon in that river, through Patrick's +malediction. Patrick went afterwards to Conall, the son of Niall, whose +residence was where Donagh-Patrick is this day, who received him with +great joy; and Patrick baptized him, and confirmed his royal seat for +ever. And Patrick said to him: "Thy brother's seed shall serve thy seed +for ever; and strive to exercise charity towards my successors after me, +and the sons of thy sons, that they may be perpetual subjects to my sons +of faith." Then it was that Conall measured a church for God and +Patrick, sixty feet in extent; and Patrick said: "Whichsoever of your +race diminishes this church shall not have a long reign, and he shall not +be prosperous." They went early on Sunday morning to Rath-Airthir, +Cinaed and Dubhdaleithe, the two sons of Cerbhall, son of Maelodhra, son +of Aedh-Slaine, when they saw a young man lying down—<I>i.e.</I>, the son of +Bresal. One of them plunged a sword into him, and then throttled him. +The murderer then went past Tailten, up, on his straight road, and the +other went to Domnach-Patrick. It was then that Patrick blessed that +part of the plain of Tailte, so that dead bodies are never borne off from +it. +</P> + +<P> + [A few lines of the MS. at this place are damaged.]<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +The Pasch being therefore finished, on the next day Patrick came to +<I>vadum duarum forcarum</I> (Ath-da-laarg, near Kells; county Meath), and +founded a church there, and left the three brothers there with their +sister, viz., Cathaceus, and Cathurus, and Catnean; and Catnea, the +sister, who used to milk the deer. He went afterwards to Druim +Corcortri, and founded a church there, and he left in it Diarmaid, son of +Restitutus. +</P> + +<P> +When Patrick was going eastwards to Tara, to Laeghaire (for they had +formed a friendship), from Domhnach-Patrick, he blessed Conall, son of +Niall. When he was going away, he threw his flagstone (<I>lec</I>) behind him +eastwards into the hill, <I>i.e.</I>, where …… +</P> + +<P> + [A folio of the original MS. is missing here.]<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +And Maine knelt to Patrick and performed penance, and Patrick said, "Rex +non erit qui te non habebit; and thy injunctions shall be the longest +that will live in Erinn. The person whom I have blessed also shall be a +king, <I>i.e.</I>, Tuathal [Maelgarbh]." And he [Tuathal] assumed the +sovereignty afterwards, and banished Diarmaid MacCerbhaill, so that he +was on <I>Loch-Ri</I>, and on <I>Derg-Derc</I>, and on <I>Luimnech</I>. +</P> + +<P> +One day as Diarmaid went in his boat past the shore of Cluainmic-Nois, +Ciaran heard the noise and motion of the craft, and called him ashore, +and Ciaran said, "Come to me, for thou art a king's son, and mark out the +Redes [a church] and the Eclais-bec [a little church], and grant the +place to me." He said, "I am not a king." To whom Ciaran said, "You +will be a king to-morrow." In that day, the king, Tuathal, came with +great bands to banish Diarmaid, when Maelmor (of the Conaille), +Diarmaid's foster-brother, killed him; and Maelmor was immediately slain. +Hence the old saying, "the feat of Maelmor." Diarmaid afterwards assumed +the sovereignty of Erinn, through Ciaran's blessing when Diarmaid was +marking the site of Eclais-bec, and bowed down thrice. He went to Tara, +and gave Ciaran an offering for every <I>tairlim</I>, along with Druimraithe. +Ocurrit nobis hic virtus etsi per ancificatione [<I>recte</I> anticipationein]. +</P> + +<P> +Another time Patrick heard, through the malice of the vulgar, that Bishop +Mel had sinned with his sister, for they were wont to be in the same +house, praying to the Lord. When Bishop Mel saw Patrick coming towards +him to Ard-Achadh [Ardagh] to reprove him, Bishop Mel went out to a hill +to fish in the pools and furrows. When it was told to Patrick that he +had caught a salmon in this way, Patrick uttered the famous saying: +"Seorsim viri et seorsim foeminae ne occasionem dare intirmis inveniantur +et ne nomen Domini per nos blasphemetur, quid absit a nobis," for God +does not assist any unjust, false man; <I>i.e.</I>, non temptabis Dominum Deum +tuum. Bishop Mel's sister then went with fire in her <I>casula</I>, Patrick +then knew there was no sin between them, dicens, "Seorsum feminis ne +occasione dare infirmis inveniamur et ne non Domini per nos blasfemaretur +quod absit a nobis, et sic reliquit eos," <I>i.e.</I>, Bri-Leith between them: +she in Druim-Cheu to the west of Bri-Leith; he (Bishop Mel) to the east +of it, in Ard-Achadh. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick went afterwards into northern Tethbha, <I>i.e.</I>, to the territory +of Cairbre, where Granard was presented to him by the sons of Cairbre, +and he left there Bishop Guessacht, son of Milchu, his foster-brother, +and the two sisters Emir, who first put up at Cluain-Bronaigh; and this +is the reason why the sides of the churches are joined to each other; and +it is the airchinnech (superior) of Granard that always ordains the head +nun in Cluain-Bronaigh. The moment that Patrick blessed the veil on the +aforesaid virgins, their four feet sank into the rock, and the traces +exist in it always. Patrick went afterwards across the water to +Magh-Slechta, where the arch-idol of Erinn was, <I>i.e.</I>, Cenn Cruach, made +of gold and silver, surrounded by twelve other idols formed of bronze. +When Patrick saw the idols from the waters called Guthard (<I>i.e.</I>, he +raised his voice—<I>guth</I>, voice; <I>ard</I>, high), and when he approached it, +he lifted his hand to lay the Bachall-Isa on it; but he could not, as the +idol inclined over to its right side (for towards the south its face was +turned), and the mark of the <I>bachall</I> lives yet in its left side, +although the <I>bachall</I> did not leave Patrick's hand. And the ground +swallowed the other twelve idols as far as their heads; and they are in +that condition in commemoration of the prodigy. And he cursed the demon +(idol), and banished him to hell; and he called all the people, with king +Laeghaire, who worshipped the idols; and all saw him (the demon), and +feared death unless Patrick would banish him to hell. His <I>graif</I> +(fibula) fell from Patrick's garment whilst maintaining the conflict and +valor against the idol. He cut away all the heath in the place until he +found his <I>graif</I>, and no heath grows in that place, nor in the plain +besides. And he founded a church in that place, <I>i.e.</I>, +Domhnach-Maighe-Slecht, and left there Mabran Barbarus, Patrick's +relative and prophet, and Patrick's well is there, ubi baptizavit multos. +Patrick went afterwards into the territory of Connacht, over Snamhda-en, +across the Shannon, where he found a ford, viz.: the land (bed of the +river) rose up under Patrick in the ford, and the learned will yet find +that <I>esker</I>. And Patrick landed (<I>i.e.</I>, on the Connacht side of the +Shannon) immediately, and then it was that Buadmael, Patrick's +charioteer, died, and was buried there. Cill-Buaidhmael is the name (of +the church), and it is appropriate to Patrick. When Laeghaire Mac +Neill's druids (<I>i.e.</I>, Mael and Caplait, two brothers, who had fostered +Laeghaire's two daughters, Ethne the Fair, and Feidelm the Red) heard all +that Patrick had done, they brought thick darkness over all Magh-Nai, +through the power of the demon, for the space of three days and three +nights. Patrick thereupon prayed to God, and bent his knees, and blessed +the plain, so that there was darkness for the druids, and light for all +others. And he gave thanks to God, and all the darkness was banished +from Magh-Ai. And they went past the Shannon to Duma-graidh, where he +ordained Ailbhe, a noble priest, who is [commemorated] in Senchua in +Ui-Ailella; and Patrick instructed him regarding a stone altar [which +was] in the mountain of Ui-Ailella, underground, and four glass Chalices +at its four corners: et dixit cavendum ne frangerantur orae fossurae. +Inter nepotes etiam Ailello fuit, et baptizavit Maineum sanctum quem +ordinavit Episcopus Bronus filius Iccni qui est i Caisel-Irra, servus Dei +socius Patricii. Patrick went to Magh-glas, where he founded Cill-mor of +Magh-glas; and he left two of his people there, viz., Conleng and +Ercleng. Deinde venit in fines Corcu-Achland, to the south of +Ui-Ailella, and to the north of Badhghna. There were two brothers there, +viz., Id and Hono, who were druids. Hono asked Patrick, "What will you +give me for this land?" Patrick answered "Eternity." Hono said, "You +possess gold: give it to me for it." Patrick replied, "I have given +much, but God will give more." He afterwards found a mass of gold in the +place where the pigs had been rooting, and Patrick gave the mass of gold +to him (<I>i.e.</I>, to Hono) for his land. Tir-in-brotha is its name now. +Dixit Patricius, "Nec rex eris nec de semine tuo regnabit in aeternum." +Illius vero lacrimis misertus est Patricius, dicens, "Non erit rex quem +tua progenies non jurabit," etc., quod impletur. Cenel Maic Erce is the +strongest and most powerful [sept] in Connacht, but they do not govern +like high-kings. Ona, son of Aengus, son of Ere Derg (Ere the Red), son +of Brian, de quo Ui-Honach, presented his house to Patrick; and +Imlech-Onon was its name at that time: Ailfinn, moreover, [is its name] +this day; from the <I>ail</I> (rock) taken out of the well which was made by +Patrick in the fair green, and which is on the brink of the well, the +place has been named. Et dixit illi Patricius: "Thy seed shall be +blessed, and the palm of laics and clerics shall be of thee for ever, and +the inheritance of this place shall belong to them." Et posuit ibi +Assicum et Bite filium fratris Assicus (Assici?) et Cipiam matrem Bitei. +Episcopus Assicus sanctus episcopus, faber aereus Patricii: and he made +altars, and four-cornered book-cases, and four-cornered dishes, in honor +of Patrick; and a four-cornered dish of them was in Ard-Macha, and +another in Ailfinn, and another in Domnach-mor of Magli-Seola, on the +altar of the holy bishop Felanus in Ui-Briuin-Seola, far westwards from +Ailfinn. Assicus, however, fled northwards to Sliabh-Liag, in +Tir-Boghaine, where he was on an island for seven years. And his monks +sought him, and found him, after much trouble, in the mountain glens; and +they brought him away with them; and Assicus died with them in the +desert, and they buried him in Rath-Cunga, in Seirthe. And the king of +that county gave to him, and to his monks after his death, the pasture of +one hundred cows with their calves, and twenty oxen, as a perpetual +offering; for he said that he would not again go to Magh-Ai, on account +of the falsehood which had been said there of him. His remains are in +Rath-Cunga, and to Patrick belongs the church, upon which the people of +Colum-Cilleand of Ard-Sratha have encroached. Patrick went from Elphin +to Dumacha (the mounds) of Ui-Ailella, and built a church there, <I>i.e.</I>, +Senchell-Dumaighe, and he left Machet in it, and Cetchen, and Rodan, a +noble priest, and Mathona, Benen's sister, who received the veil from +Patrick and from Rodan, and who was a servitor to them. +</P> + +<P> +When Patrick was at Dumha-graidh, ordaining the great multitude, he +smiled. "What is that?" asked Benen. "Bron, and the monk Olcan," said +Patrick, "who came towards me along Traig-Eothaili, and my foster-son, +Mac-Erca, with them; a wave of the sea made a great dash, and tried to +carry off the youth." This was a prophecy. He (Patrick) went through +the territory of Ui-Oilella, and founded the church eastwards in +Tamhnagh, and it was built by God and men: et ipsa fecit amicitiam ad +reliquias Assici Rodani; et successores eorum epulabantur invicem. Post +hoc autem possuerunt episcopum Cairellum juxta sanctam Ecclesiam in +Tamhnagh, quem ordinaverunt Episcopum Patricii, viz., Bronus et Biteus. +Patrick went afterwards to the fountain, <I>i.e.</I>, Clibech, on the slopes +of Cruachan, at sunrise. The clerics sat down at the fountain. +Laeghaire Mac Neill's two daughters, viz., Eithne the Fair, and Feidelm +the Red, went early to the fountain to wash their hands, as they were +wont to do, when they found the synod of clerics at the well, with white +garments, and their books, before them. They wondered at the appearance +of the clerics, and imagined they were <I>fir-sidhe</I>, or phantoms. They +questioned Patrick. "Whence are you, and whither have you come? Is it +from the <I>sidhe</I>? Are you gods?" Patrick said to them, "It would be +better for you to believe in God than to ask regarding our race." The +elder daughter said, "Who is your God, and in what place is he, in heaven +or in earth? is it under the earth, or on the earth, or in seas, or in +streams, or in hills, or in valleys? Has He sons and daughters? has He +gold and silver? Is there a profusion of every good in his kingdom? +Tell us plainly how we shall see Him, and how is He to be loved, and how +is He to be found. Is He young or old? or is He ever-living? Is He +beautiful, or have many fostered His son, or is His daughter handsome, +and dear to men of the world?" St. Patrick, full of the Holy Spirit, +responded, "Our God is the God of all, the God of heaven and earth, the +God of the seas and rivers, the God of the sun and moon, and all the +other planets; the God of the high hills and low valleys; God over +heaven, in heaven, and under heaven; and He has a mansion, <I>i.e.</I>, +heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them. He +inspireth all things. He quickeneth all things. He enkindleth all +things. He giveth light to the sun, and to the moon. He created +fountains in the dry land, and placed dry islands in the sea, and stars +to minister to the greater lights. He hath a Son, coeternal and coequal +with Himself; and the Son is not younger than the Father, nor is the +Father older than the Son. And the Holy Ghost breatheth in them. And +the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are not divided. I desire, +moreover, to unite you to the Son of the heavenly king, for ye are +daughters of an earthly king." And the daughters said, as if with one +mouth and one heart, "How shall we come to believe in that king? Teach +us duly, that we may see the Lord face to face—teach us, and we will do +as you will say to us." Et dixit Patrici: "Do you believe that through +baptism the sin of your mother and of your father shall be put away from +you?" They answered, "We believe." "Do you believe in repentance after +sin?" "Yes." And they were baptized. And Patrick blessed a white veil +upon their heads; and they desired to see Christ face to face. And +Patrick said to them: "You cannot see Christ except that you first taste +death, and unless you receive the body of Christ and His blood." And the +daughters replied, saying: "Give us the Communion, that we may be able to +see the Prophesied One." And they after this received the Communion, and +fell asleep in death, and Patrick placed them under covering, and in one +bed [grave]; and their friends made a great lamentation over them. The +druids then entered into conflict with Patrick, on account of the +daughters having believed, and having gone to heaven, <I>i.e.</I>, Mael and +Caplait. Caplait came crying against Patrick, for it was he [Caplait] +who fostered the second daughter. Patrick preached to him, and he +believed, and he cut off his hair. After this the other druid came, +<I>i.e.</I>, Mael, and said to Patrick: "My brother has believed for thee," +said he; "it shall not serve nor strengthen him," said he; "I will again +lead him into paganism." And he was thus insulting Patrick; but Patrick +preached to him, and the druid believed in God and Patrick. And Patrick +shaved him; and hence "Mael is like Caplait" is a proverb; for it was +together that they believed. And the day of weeping was finished, and +the maidens were interred there; and Sen-Donahnagh of Magh-Ai was +presented to Patrick for ever. And others say the relics of the maidens +were brought to Ard-Macha, where they await the resurrection. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick went afterwards to Tir-Caireda, and he founded a church at +Ard-lice, <I>i.e.</I>, Sen-Domhnach, and he left Deacon Caeman in it. And +Patrick erected Ard-Senlis, ubi posuit Lalloc sanctam et tenuit locum in +Campo Nento; and they went with Bishop Cethech to his country. Of the +race of Ailill was his mother; of Cenel-Sai [nigh] of Cinacht, from +Domhnach-Sairigi at Damhliac-Cianain; and it was Bishop Cethech's custom +to celebrate the great pasch in Domhnach-Sairigi; and in Ath-da-lorg, in +Kells, he celebrated the little pasch, with Comgilla; for Cethech's +people used to say that Comgilla was Cethech's servitor. Patrick went +afterwards to the territory of Ui-Maine, and he left there an arch-priest +(or deacon) of his people, <I>i.e.</I>, Deacon Juis, and he erected Fidharta; +and Patrick left his books of orders and baptism with him; and he +baptized the Ui-Maine; and Deacon Juis, in his old age, baptized Ciaran +mac-int-sair, from Patrick's book, quia cxl anni fuit quando Ciaran +baptizavit, ut aiunt peritissimi. Patrick's Franks, moreover, left him, +viz., fifteen brothers and one sister, viz., Bernicius and Hibernicius, +and Hernicus, etc., and Nitria, the sister. And many places were given +to them. One of these is Imgoe of Baislic, between Hy-Maine and +Magh-Nai. Patrick described to them the likeness of the place with his +finger, from Cill-Garad, quia venerunt ad Patricium ut obteret illis de +locis quos invenerent. Patrick also founded Cill-Garad, where Cethech +[was left], and Ferta-gethich together. Then it was that Patrick made +the well which is called Uaran-garad, and he loved this water very much, +ut ipse dixit: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Uaran-gar--[Uaran-gar]--<BR> +O well! which I have loved, which loved me;<BR> +Alas! my cry, O dear God!<BR> +That my drink is not from the pure well."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Patrick went afterwards to Magh-Selcae, <I>i.e.</I>, to Dumha-Selca, where +there were young men, the six sons of Brian, viz., Bolcderc, Derthacht, +Echen, Cremthann, Caelcharna, Echuid; and Patrick wrote three names there +in three stones, viz., Jesus, Soter, Salvator. Patrick blessed the +Ui-Briuin from Dumha-Selca, and Patrick's seat is there between the +stones in quibus scripsit literas, et nona (<I>sic</I>) episcoporum cum illo +illic fuerunt, viz., Bronus of Caisel-Irra, Sachelus of Baislic-mor in +Ciarraighe, Brocaid of Imlech-ech (brother to Lomman of Ath-truim), +Bronachus, presbyter, Rodan, Cassan, Benen, comarb of Patrick, and Benen, +brother of Cethech, Felartus, bishop, and his sister, a nun there, and +another sister, quae sit insola in mari Conmaicne, <I>i.e.</I>, +Croch-Cuile-Conmaicne. And he founded a church on Loch-Selca, <I>i.e.</I>, +Domhnach-mor of Magh-Selca, in quo baptizavit Ui-Briuin et benedixit. +Patrick went to Gregraidhe of Loch-Techet, and founded a church there in +Drumma, and dug a well thereat, and no stream went into or came out of +it, but it was always full, and its name is Bithlan (<I>i.e.</I>, ever full). +He afterwards founded Cill-Atrachta in Gregraidhe, and [left] Talan's +daughter in it, who received a veil from Patrick's hand. And he left a +<I>teisc</I> and chalice with Atracht, the daughter of Talan, son of Cathbadh, +of the Gregraidhe of Loch-Teched, sister of Caemhan of Airdne-Caemhain. +Patrick blessed a veil on her head. Drummana was the name of the place +in which they were; Machaire is its name to-day. A <I>casula</I> was sent +down from heaven on Patrick's breast. "You shall have this <I>casula</I>, O +nun!" said Patrick. "No," said she, "not to me was it given, but to +thyself." +</P> + +<P> +He then went to the sons of Erc; they carried off Patrick's horses, and +Patrick cursed them, saying: "Your seed shall serve the seed of your +brother for ever." Patrick went into Magh-Airtich, and blessed a +place,;<I>i.e.</I>, Ailech-Airtigh, in Telach-na-cloch. And he went +afterwards into Drummut of Ciarraighe-Airtigh, where he found two +brothers fighting regarding the father's land after his death, <I>viz</I>, +Bibar and Lochru, Tamanchend's two sons. Patrick stretched out his arms, +and their hands became fixed to the swords, so that they were not able to +lift or lower them, "Sit ye," said Patrick; and he blessed them, and made +peace between them. And they gave the land to Patrick, for their +father's soul. And Patrick founded a church there, where Conu the +artifex is, the brother of Bishop Sechnall. Patrick went subsequently to +Ciarraighe-Airne, where he met Ernaisc and his son Loarn under a tree, +and Patrick wrote an alphabet for him, and stayed a week with them, with +his twelve men. And Patrick founded a church there, et tenuit ilium +abbatem (<I>sic</I>), et fuit quidem spiritu sancto plenus. +</P> + +<P> +And Patrick went to Tobar-Mucno, and advanced to Senchill et fuit +Secundinus solus sub ulmo frondosa separatim, et est signum crucis in eo +loco usque in hunc diem. And he afterwards went into the country of +Conmaicne, into Cuil-Tolaigh, and he founded four-cornered churches in +that place. One of these is Ard-Uscon, etc. He went to Magh-Cera, and +stopped at Cuil-Corra, and founded a church in that place, et baptizavit +multos. +</P> + +<P> +Afterwards Patrick proceeded to Magh-Foimsen, where he met two brothers, +viz., Luchtae and Derclam. Derclam sent his servant to kill Patrick, but +Luchtse prevented him, to whom Patrick said: "There shall be priests and +bishops of thy seed, and the race of thy brother shall be cursed, and +shall be few." And he left in that place Cruimther-Conan, and went +afterwards to Tobar-Stringle in the desert, and he was two Sundays +[living] on that well. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick went to the men of Umhall, to Achadh-Fobhair where Bishop Senach +was ordained. The name Patrick conferred on him was "Agnus Dei." And he +it was who asked the three requests of Patrick—viz., that he should not +oppose him as regards orders, that the place should not be called after +him, and that what was wanting to complete his age should be added to the +age of Mac Aenghusa. It was for him (Mac Aenghusa) that Patrick wrote an +alphabet the day that Bishop Senach was ordained. Patrick desired truly +to erect a <I>see</I> at Achadh-Fobhair, when he said: "I would remain here, +on a small plot of land, after circumambulating churches and fastnesses; +for I am infirm, I would not go." The angel said to Patrick: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Everything you select shall be yours--<BR> +Every land, whether plain or rough,<BR> +Both hills and churches,<BR> +Both glens and woods,<BR> +After circumambulating churches and fastnesses<BR> +Though infirm, that you shall select."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Then Patrick left two trout alive in the well, and they will be there for +ever, as he said: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"The two inseparable trout,<BR> +Which would advance against perpetual streams,<BR> +Without obligation, without transgression--<BR> +Angels will be along with them in it."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Patrick went to Cruachan-Aighle on the Saturday of Whitsuntide. The +angel went to converse with him, and said to him: "God will not give thee +what thou demandest; for He thinks the demands weighty and immense and +great." "Is that His decision?" said Patrick. "It is," answered the +angel. "This is my decision, then," said Patrick: "I shall not leave +this Cruachan until I die or all the demands shall be given." Patrick +was afterwards with illness of mind in Cruachan, without drink or food, +from Shrove Saturday to Easter Saturday, just like Moses, son of Amra; +for they were alike in many things. God accosted them both out of the +fire; six score years was the age of each; the place of sepulture of both +is uncertain. At the end of those forty nights and forty days the +mountain around him was filled with black birds, so that he could see +neither heaven nor earth. He sang cursing psalms at them, but they went +not away from him. He then became angry with them; he rang his bell at +them, so that the men of Erinn heard its sound. And he flung it at them, +so that a gap was broken out of it, and that [bell] is Bernan-Brighte. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick afterwards cried until his face and the front of his <I>casula</I> +(cowl) were wet. No demon came after this to Erinn for the space of +seven years, and seven months, and seven days, and seven nights. +</P> + +<P> +The angel subsequently went to protect Patrick, and he cleaned his +<I>casula</I>, and brought white birds about the Cruachan; and they used to +chant sweet melodies for him. "I will bring so many souls from pain," +said the angel, "and as many as would cover as far as your eye could +reach on the sea." "That is no great boon for me," said Patrick; "not +far can my eye reach over the sea." "You shall have between sea and +land, then," added the angel. "Is there anything more granted to me +besides that?" asked Patrick. "There is," said the angel; "you can bring +seven every Saturday from the pains of hell for ever." "If anything be +granted to me," observed Patrick, ["let me have] my twelve men." "You +shall have it," said the angel; "and depart from Cruachan." "I shall not +depart," said Patrick, "because I have been tormented, until I am +recompensed. Is there anything else, then, to be granted to me?" asked +Patrick. "Yes," said the angel; "you shall have seven every Thursday, +and twelve every Saturday, from pains; and depart from Cruachan." "I +will not depart," answered Patrick, "because I have been tormented, until +I am recompensed. Is there anything else granted to me?" asked Patrick. +"There is," answered the angel; "the great sea to come over Erinn seven +years before the Judgment; and depart from the Cruachan." +</P> + +<P> +"I will not depart," said Patrick, "since I have been tormented, until I +am gratified." "Is there anything more you demand?" asked the angel. +"There is," answered Patrick; "that Saxons may not occupy Eriu, by +consent or force, whilst I shall be in heaven." "It shall be granted +thee," said the angel; "and depart from Cruachan." "I will not depart," +said Patrick, "since I have been tormented, until I am gratified. Is +there anything more granted to me?" asked Patrick. "There is," said the +angel; "every one who repeats thy hymn from one day to the other shall +not suffer pains." "The hymn is long and difficult," said Patrick. +"Every one who repeats from <I>Crist illum</I>" (recte <I>Crist lim</I>, "Christ +with me") "to the end, and every one who repeats the name, and every one +who observes penitence in Eriu, their souls shall not go to hell; and +depart from Cruachan" [said the angel]. +</P> + +<P> +"I will not depart," said Patrick, "for I have been tormented, until I am +gratified. Is there anything more?" asked Patrick. "Yes," said the +angel; "you shall have one man for every hair in your <I>casula</I> from pains +on the Day of Judgment." "Which of the other saints who labor for God," +said Patrick, "that would not bring that number to heaven? I shall not +accept that," said Patrick. +</P> + +<P> +"What will you accept, then?" asked the angel. "Here it is," said +Patrick: "that I should bring from hell on the Day of Judgment seven +persons for every hair in this <I>casula</I>." "It shall be granted to you," +said the angel; "and depart from this Cruachan." "I will not depart," +said Patrick, "for I have been tormented, until I am gratified." "Is +there anything else you demand?" asked the angel. "There is," said +Patrick: "the day that the twelve royal seats shall be on the Mount, and +when the four rivers of fire shall be about the Mount, and when the three +peoples shall be there—viz., the people of heaven, the people of earth, +and the people of hell—that I myself may be judge over the men of Eriu +on that day." "This thing cannot be obtained from the Lord," said the +angel. "Unless this is obtained from Him, I will not consent to leave +this Cruachan from this day for ever; and even after my death there shall +be a caretaker from me there," answered Patrick. +</P> + +<P> +The angel went to heaven. Patrick went to his offering. The angel came +in the evening. "How now?" asked Patrick. "Thus," answered the angel: +"all the creatures, visible and invisible, including the twelve apostles, +entreated, and they have obtained. The Lord said that there came not, +and would not come, after the apostles, a man more illustrious, were it +not for the hardness of the request which is granted thee. Strike thy +bell," said the angel; "thou art commanded from heaven to fall on thy +knees, that it may be a blessing to the people of all Eriu, both living +and dead." "A blessing on the bountiful king that gave," said Patrick; +"the Cruachan shall be left." +</P> + +<P> +Patrick proceeded afterwards until he was in Achadhfobhair, where he +celebrated the ordo at Easter. There are, moreover, "keepers" of +Patrick's people in Eriu living still. There is a man from him in +Cruachan-Aigle. The sound of his bell is heard, but it [the bell] is not +found. And there is a man from him in Gulban-Guirt; and the third man +from him is to the east of Cluain-Iraird, together with his wife. Both +entertained Patrick in the reign of Laeghaire Mac Neill, and they are, +and will be for ever, the same age. There is a man from him in +Dromanna-Bregh; there is another man from him in Sliabh-Slainge—<I>i.e.</I>, +Domangart, son of Eochaidh. It is he that will raise Patrick's relics a +little before the Judgment. His cell is Rath-Murbhuilg, at the side of +Sliabh-Slainge; and there is always a shin (of beef), with its +accessories, and a pitcher of ale, before him every Easter, which is +given to Mass people on Easter Monday always. Patrick's charioteer died, +moreover, and was buried between Cruachan and the sea. Patrick went +afterwards into the country of the Corco-Themne, and baptized many +thousand persons there, and he founded four churches there, viz., in the +three Tuagha. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick went then to Tobar-Finnmaighe—<I>i.e.</I>, a well. It was told to +Patrick that the pagans honored this well as a god. The well was +four-cornered, and there was a four-cornered stone over its mouth, and +the foolish people believed that a certain dead prophet made it, +bibliothecam sibi in aqua sub petra ut dealbaret ossa sua semper, quia +timuit ignem, et zelavit Pat. de Deo vivo, dicens non vere dicitis quia +rex aquarum fons erat hoc necnon cum eis habuit rex aquarum, et dixit +Patricius petram elivari et non potuerunt elevavit autem eam petram; +Cainnech, que, baptizavit Patricius, et dixit erit semen tuum benedictum +in secula. Cill-Tog, in the territory of Corco-Themne—it was this +church that Bishop Cainnech, Patrick's monk, founded. One time, as +Patrick was travelling in the plains of Mac-Ercae—<I>i.e.</I>, in Dichuil and +Erchuil—he saw a large sepulchre there, viz., 120 feet in length. The +brothers desiring that the dead man might be resuscitated, Patrick +thereupon "awoke" the dead man who was in the sepulchre, and questioned +him quando, et quomodo, et quo genere, et quo nomine esset. Respondit +sibi, dicens, "Ego sum Cass, filius of Glassi, qui fui subulcus Lugair +Iruatae, and Mac Conn's <I>fiann</I> killed me in the reign of Cairpre Niafer, +in the hundredth year. I am here until to-day." Patrick baptized him, +and he went again into his sepulchre. +</P> + +<P> +Quis comprehendere valet modi (<I>sic</I>) diligentise orationis ejus omnes, +namque psalmos, et ymnos et Apocalipsi, ac omnia cantica spiritualia +scripturarum cotidie (quotidie) decantabat seu in uno loco seu in itinere +gradiens. From vespers on Sunday night until tierce on Monday Patrick +would not come from the place where he might be. +</P> + +<P> +One Sunday Patrick was in a cold, damp place, when great rain fell on the +earth, but it rained not in the spot where Patrick was, sicut in concha +et vellere Gideoni accederat. It was a custom with Patrick to place the +cross of Christ over himself one hundred times each day and night; and he +would go aside from his path, even though the cross were one thousand +paces away, provided that he saw it or knew it to be in his vicinity; +whether he was in a chariot or on a horse, he would proceed to each +cross. One day Patrick omitted to visit a cross which was on his way, +but he knew not that it was there. His charioteer said to him in the +evening: "You left a cross which was on your way to-day without +visiting." Patrick left his guest-house and his dinner, and went back to +the cross. When Patrick was praying at the cross, "This is a sepulchre," +said Patrick; "who was buried here?" A voice answered out of the +sepulchre: "I am a poor pagan," it said, "and I was buried here; whilst +living, I was injuring my soul until I died; and I was buried here +afterwards." "What was the reason," asked Patrick, "that the sign of +Christianity—<I>i.e.</I>, the cross—was placed over thy grave?" "This," +answered the voice: "a certain woman that was in foreign lands, and her +son was buried here in this country in her absence; and she came from +foreign lands, and placed this cross over my grave. She thought it was +over the grave of her son it was placed; for she was not able through +grief to recognize her son's grave." "This is the reason that I missed +the cross," said Patrick—"<I>i.e.</I>, its being over the grave of a pagan." +The cross was afterwards raised by Patrick over the Christian's grave. +</P> + +<P> +One time Patrick's charioteer wanted his horses; he could not find them, +owing to the darkness of the night. Patrick lifted up his hand; his five +fingers illuminated all the place as if they were five torches, and the +horses were immediately found. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick went across the Muaidh to Hy-Amhalghaidh; the twelve sons of +Amhalgaidh, son of Fiachra, son of Eochaidh, came to meet him, viz., +Aengus, Fergus, Fedhlimidh, Enna Crom, Enna Cullom, Connac, Cairbre, +Echui Dianimh, Oena, Eoghan Coir, Dubchonall, Ailill of the rough face. +The sons of Amhalghaidh were disputing about the sovereignty: twenty-four +tribes (<I>i.e.</I>, old tribes) that were in the country; and they objected +that they would not admit any man asking over them with an additional +[nick] name. Aengus then imposed additional names upon his brothers. +This Aengus was the proudest of Amhalghaidh's sons. Laeghaire, son of +Niall, son of Eochaidh, King of Tara, and his brother Eoghan, son of +Niall, decided the dispute. The sons of Amhalghaidh went to Tara in +twelve chariots, sicut in libris Patricii inventus, quod exirent in +judicium tamen vii fratres de eis. They were welcomed by the king at +Tara. Aengus was foster-son to Laeghaire. He got a special welcome +there. Aengus prayed the door-keepers that they would not admit Conall, +the son of his brother—<I>i.e.</I>, the son of Enna Crom—into the fort; for +Aengus feared his wisdom in arguing his right. Aengus obtained this +request from the door-keepers. As Conall was outside the <I>lis</I>, he heard +the sound of Patrick's bell from Tobar-Patrick at the fort. Conall went +to him and saluted him. "O cleric!" said he, "do you know this +expression which I have in commemoration—<I>i.e.</I>, 'Hibernenses omnes +clamant ad te pueri,' etc.—which two girls uttered in their mother's +womb in our country?" "I am he whom that refers to," said Patrick; "and +I heard it when I was in the islands of the Tyrrhene Sea, et nescivi +utrum in meam vel extra locuta sunt verba, et ibo tecum in regionem tuam +baptizare, docere, evangelizare." Interrogat autem Patricius qua causa +venit Conall, and Conall related the reason to Patrick, and he said that +he was not allowed to enter Tara; to whom Patrick said: "Go in now, as +the doors are open; and go to my faithful friend, Eoghan Mac Neill, who +will assist you, if you lay hold, secretly, of the finger next his little +finger, which is always a sign between us." And so it was done. +</P> + +<P> +"Welcome," said Eoghan. "What is Patrick's wish?" Conall said: "That +you assist me." Conall afterwards observed: "If it is according to youth +precedence in a king's house or land is to be given, I am the youngest; +if according to mother's age, Enna Cromm is the oldest." To which +Laeghaire replied: "Honor to the senior, truly," said he, "and converse +with the learned; but if jewels and treasures are given to any one, +however, I will not deprive him of them." They came away, and Patrick +with them, and Patrick gave his chariot to Conall, so that it was the +thirteenth charlot. They went their way afterwards, and there was not +good-will with Aengus for his brother's son and for Patrick. He told his +two brothers—viz., Fergus and Fedhlimidh—to kill Patrick and Conall, as +he had agreed on parting Laeghaire, after Laeghaire had instigated him +thereto. They went northwards towards their country. The place which +Aengus had fixed upon for the fratricide was in Corann. Fergus simulated +sleep. His brothers refused what they had promised. "We will not kill +the innocent," said they, "and will not commit murder upon our brother." +Aengus went towards him (Patrick) to kill him, accompanied by two bands +and two druids—-viz., Reon and Rechred, of the race of Faelan the +warrior. It is not more than a mile from the place whence Patrick saw +the enemies, from the cross to the west of Cross-Patrick, to +Cill-Forclann. Reon said that the ground would swallow Patrick on the +place where he would see him. This was related to Patrick. "It is I who +shall see him first," said Patrick. When Patrick saw him, the ground +swallowed him up. "I will believe," said he, "if I am rescued." The +ground flung him up until he was above the winds, and he fell down half +alive. He believed, and was baptized. Rechred was also lifted up and +let down until his head was broken against the rock, and fire from heaven +burned him. The druid's rock is there. There is a church there. +Cross-Patrick is its name, to the east of Coill-Fochlaidh. +Telach-na-Druadh is the name of the place where the pagans were, to the +west of Cross-Patrick. Glas-Conaigh is between them. Aengus said: "I +will believe if my sister is resuscitated"—<I>i.e.</I>, Feidelm, daughter of +Amhalgaidh, who died long before. +</P> + +<P> +One time a blind man went to meet Patrick; he went in haste with the +desire of being healed. One of Patrick's people laughed at him. "My +<I>debroth</I>," said Patrick, "it would be fit that you were the blind +person." The blind man was healed, and the hale was made blind, quod +utrimque factum est. Mignae is the name of the person who was blinded; +and he is the second man of Patrick's people who remained in +Disert-Patrick, which is near the well at Cross-Patrick, and Donnmall was +the other. Ruan, son of Cucnamha, Amhalgaidh's charioteer, that was +healed there. Roi-Ruain is the name of the place where the blind was +healed, and it belonged to Patrick afterwards. He met two <I>bacachs</I> in +Ochtar-Caerthin. They complained to him of their infirmity, for they +found it difficult to proceed through mountain or plain. What more shall +I say? They were healed. He went to Domhnach-Mor, where Bishop Mucna +is. He went afterwards to Cross-Patrick, where Aedh Fota, son of +Eochaidh, son of Oengus, came to him; and he healed him from lameness at +the fountain to the west of Cross-Patrick; and he (Aedh) presented to him +a plot of land there, where he founded a residence, and he left two of +his family there—viz., Teloc and Nemnall. Enna saw the druids (magi) +wishing to kill Patrick, and he said to his son Conall, "Go and protect +Patrick, that the magi may not kill him." Patrick perceived them, and +ethereal fire burned them, to the number of nine. +</P> + +<P> +He then founded Cill-Alaidh, and he left an illustrious man of his family +there—<I>i.e.</I>, Bishop Muiredhach. Patrick baptized women—viz., Crebriu +and Lesru, the two daughters of Glerann, son of Cummen. It was they that +called upon Patrick from their mother's womb when he was in the islands +of the Tyrrhene Sea. They are patronesses of Cill-Forglainn, in +Hy-Amhalghaidh or Tirawley, to the west of Muaidh. +</P> + +<P> +He went to Forrach-mac-Amalghaidh. Seven sons of Amalgaidh believed, +including Enna and the king. It was then he baptized the pregnant woman +and her offspring, and resuscitated another. Patrick and Conall went to +the grave where the dead pregnant woman was, by the lower road to +Cill-Alaidh. Aengus, however, went by the upper road. They reached the +grave, and Patrick resuscitated the woman, and her son in her womb; and +both were baptized in the well Aen-adharcae (from the little hillock of +land that is near it the well was named). Being resuscitated, she +preached to the multitudes of the pains of hell and the rewards of +heaven, and with tears prayed her brother that he would believe for God +and Patrick, which was done, and he was baptized. And in that day twelve +thousand were baptized in the well of Aen-adharcae, ut dicitur: "On one +day were baptized six great thousands, with the seven sons of Amhalgaidh. +This was the number." Twelve thousand, truly, that believed for Patrick +in Ui-Amhalghadha, and of those of Caille-Fochladh. And Patrick left +Magister Manchen with them. He went southwards to the ford of +Loch-Daela. The place was the property of Aengus. Patrick intended to +found a residence for himself there. Aengus came quickly when he saw him +(Patrick), for it was not from his heart that he believed when he was +baptized and confessed the faith. "My <I>debroth</I>," said Patrick, "'twere +right that thy houses should not be exalted, nor thy descendants after +thee. Thy successors shall be seldom just, and there shall be fratricide +through it." +</P> + +<P> +He went to the east, to Lec-finn, where Patrick made the cross in the +stone over Cill-mor-uachtair-Muaidh, to the west. But Lia-na-manach is +its name at this day—<I>i.e.</I> Cruimther Monach's, or Olcan's church; but +there was no church there at that time. And he baptized Eochaidh, son of +Nathi, son of Fiachra, and resuscitated his wife Echtra, at Ath-Echtra, +the little stream at the very door of Cill-mor. And Echtra's grave is on +the margin of the ford. It is a sign of knowledge with them in their +history to remember this grave. He (Patrick) sent Bishop Olcan to build +where the church is to-day. Thus he came with an axe on his back, and +Patrick told him that he should put up at the place where the axe would +fall off his back; quod factum est where Cill-mor-uachtair-Muaidh is. He +went afterwards to the north, to Lec-Balbeni, where he found and blessed +the sons of Amhalgaidh; and he went out of the country from [the western] +Bertlacha to the eastern Bertlacha, and passed it eastwards to the +estuary of the Muaidh, towards the mouth of the sea. A young woman was +drowned there before him; and he blessed the place, and said that no +person should be drowned there for evermore. Patrick prophesied that the +eastern Bertlacha should be with him, as it is in their history; and in +the day of war the king of that region will be victorious, if true to +Patrick. It was there, at the stream, the Gregraighe flung stones at +Patrick and his people. "My <I>debroth</I>," said Patrick, "you shall be +beaten in every conflict in which you may be; and you shall be subject to +insult and contumely in every assembly in which you may be." "Arise, O +Conall!" said Patrick, "that you may assume the <I>bachall</I>." Conall said, +"If it please thee, I shall do so." "That shall not be," said Patrick; +"but I will support thy valor, and will give comarbs to thy race, and +thou shall be the Conall Sciath-bachall. The palm of laics and clerics +shall be from thee; and every one of thy descendants in whose shield the +sign of my <I>bachall</I> shall be will not be subdued." +</P> + +<P> +All this Patrick did to him. He went eastwards into the territory of +Hy-Fiachrach, by the sea. A water opposed his passage—<I>i.e.</I>, there was +an unusually large rock in it—and he cursed it. On the water there is a +place, Buaile-Patrick is its name—<I>i.e.</I>, a little mound—with a cross +there, where Patrick rested a short time. Then the holy bishop, Bron of +Caisel-Irra, and the holy Mac Rime of Cill-Corcaraidhe; and there he +wrote an alphabet for him; and I have heard from another that in the said +place he gave a tooth from his jaw to Bishop Bron, for he was dear to +Patrick. Immediately on coming from the west, across the Muaidh, into +Gregraighe, he met three virulent druids at Rath-Righbhaird, who were +able to do nothing to him; and he said that there never would be wanting +of this people a man of such magical knowledge. +</P> + +<P> +Mac Erca, the son of Draighen, who is in Cill-roe-mor, in the territory +of Hy-Amhalgadha. Patrick baptized the seven sons of Draighen, and he +selected of them Mac Erca, and gave him to Bishop Bron to be fostered; +for it would not be easy to take him far away, in consequence of the love +of his father for him. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick marked out the site of Caisel-Irra, and the flag on which +Patrick's tooth fell is in the middle of the <I>lis</I>. Bishop Bron founded +the place, and Patrick prophesied that the place would be deserted by +Gentiles, <I>quod factum est</I>. +</P> + +<P> +Then Patrick desired the fishermen to set their nets for him in the +river—<I>i.e.</I>, in Sligech. They said to him, "A salmon is not taken in +this period of the winter; but as you desire it, however," said the +fishermen, "we will do so." They placed their nets, and caught large +salmon; and they gave them to Patrick; and he blessed the river, so that +Sligech is the most fruitful river of Erinn, for fish is caught in it +every quarter (of the year). +</P> + +<P> +Bishop Rodan, the herd—Patrick left him in Muirisk, in +Cill-espuig-Rodain. His calves would only do what he counselled; +wherefore the harpers and musicians had a proverb. The Callraighe of +Cul-Cernadhan were in a secret place before Patrick, and they brought +their spears close to their shields to assault Patrick and his people. +"My <I>debroth</I>," said Patrick, "what you did is not good. Every battle +and every conflict which you wage, and your children after you, will be +gained over you." They forthwith knelt to Patrick, except five. Patrick +said: "In any battle that may be won against you, though all Connacht be +after you, no greater number than five shall fall of you." And so is it +observed. +</P> + +<P> +One time he was after going by Bernas-Ui-Oilella to go to Magh-Luirg, +when he fell into water—<I>i.e.</I>, a river that goes into (<I>recte</I>, from) +Loch-Techet. Ath-carpait is the name of the ford, near to Ess-mic-Eirc. +Patrick cursed the eastern half of the water. "And the half from the +ford westwards, why do you spare it?" asked his people. "A son of life +will come who will set up there hereafter," said Patrick, "who will like +fruitful water at his place"—<I>i.e.</I>, Colum-Cille, son of Fedhlimidh, at +Ess-mic-Eirc. From the ford up to the lake the best fishing in Erinn is +found there by all. From the ford down not much is taken there. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick went afterwards into the territory of Magh-Luirg, when his horses +were carried off by Cenel-Mic-Erca. And Patrick cursed the people of +that country; but Bishop Maine of the Hy-Ailella, who prayed Patrick +regarding forgiveness for his kinsmen, and Patrick modified the +malediction. And Bishop Maine washed Patrick's feet with his hair and +tears, and drove the horses into a meadow, and cleaned their hoofs in +honor of Patrick. And Patrick said, "There shall be weeping, and +wailing, and mourning with the inhabitants of that country; and there +will not be neighborship there <I>in saecula saeculorum"; ut impletur</I>. +And Patrick also said that a great part of that country should afterwards +belong to him; which was fulfilled in the case of Nodain of Loch-Uama. +Bishop Maine is also of Patrick's people, and Geintene in Echainech in +Hy-Ailella. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick went after that into the territory of Callraidhe to Druim-dara, +where Druim-lias is to-day. It was then he baptized Mac Caerthinn; and +that place was presented to Patrick for ever. Patrick afterwards +established himself on the offering in Druim-dara, Druim-lias +to-day—<I>i.e.</I>, from Patrick's seats and from the sheds it was named. +Patrick left his <I>dalta</I> Benen there in abbotship during the space of +twenty years. He journeyed into the glens eastward, where +Cenel-Muinremur is to-day. His two nostrils bled on the way. Patrick's +flag (Lee-Patrick) is there, and Patrick's hazel (Coll-Patrick), a little +distance to the west of the church. He put up there. Srath-Patrick it +is named this day; Domhnach-Patrick was its former name. Patrick +remained there one Sunday; <I>et hoec est una ecclesia illius regionis</I>. +Patrick went afterwards past Druim-cliabh, from Caisel-Irra, by the +Rosses eastwards, along Magh-Eni, and founded Domhnach-mor of Magh-Eni. +Then it was that he cursed the Dubh River for the refusal which the +fishermen gave him. He blessed Drobhais, however, on account of the +kindness which the little boys who were fishing there did to him. +</P> + +<P> +Thrice Patrick went across the Shannon into the land of Connacht. Fifty +bells, and fifty altar chalices, and fifty altar cloths he left in the +land of Connacht, each of them in his church. Seven years was he +preaching to the men of Connacht; and he left them a blessing, and bade +them farewell. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick went to Es-Ruaidh. He desired to establish himself there, where +Disert-Patrick is, and Lec-Patrick. Cairbre opposed him, and sent two of +his people, whose names were Carbacc and Cuangus, to seize his hands. +"Not good is what you do," said Patrick; "if I were permitted to found a +place here, the second to Rome of Letha, with its Tiber running through +it, would be my establishment with its Es-Ruaidh through it; and your +descendants would be comarbs in it." Cairbre declined then, as Patrick +had foretold. Thereupon Cairbre incited a dog to attack Patrick. +Cuangus struck the dog with a rod. Patrick said that Cairbre's race +should not exceed a small band, and that the palm of laics or clerics +would not be from him, <I>quod impletur</I>. But as to Cuangus, since he +agreed to seize Patrick's hands for Cairbre, Patrick said that his race +should not be more numerous than a company, and that illustrious men +would be of them, <I>quod impletum est</I>. Cairbre promised to Cuangus, for +seizing Patrick's hands, as much as he could see to the north of +Sliabh-Cise. When he turned to take a view about him, a dark cloud +closed around Cuangus, so that he only saw to the sea westwards, and to +the <I>ash</I> eastwards. "This river, which God gave you, Cairbre," said +Patrick, "your share of it shall not be fruitful as regards fish" +(<I>i.e.</I>, the northern half of the river in length was Cairbre's +share—<I>i.e.</I>, the half next to Cenel-Conaill—for Crich-Conaill belonged +to Cairbre at that time as far as Rath-Cunga); "but Conall's share (the +southern half) will be fruitful"; <I>sic impletum est</I>, until Murghins, son +of Maelduin, son of Scannal, an illustrious king of Cairbre's race, +presented the unfruitful part to Colum-Cille; and it is now fruitful with +Colum-Cille. +</P> + +<P> +He (Patrick) went afterwards between Es-Ruaidh and the sea into +Crich-Conaill, where Rath-Chunga is at this day. He fixed a stake there, +and said that it would be an abode and establishment for seven bishops; +and there Bite is now, the brother's son of Aisicus from Elphin. +</P> + +<P> +It was then also that he foretold of Domhnall, son of Aedh, son of +Ainmire—viz., he fixed a pole in Ard-fothaidh, and on the morrow it was +bent; and Patrick said that the place would be the seat of a king, which +was fulfilled in Domhnall. On Sith-Aedha Patrick blessed Conall Mac +Neill, when Patrick's hands would fall on the head of Fergus. Conall +wondered at this thing, when Patrick said: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"A youth (<I>i.e.</I>, Colum-Cille) shall be born of his tribe,<BR> +Who will be a sage, a prophet, and poet,<BR> +A glorious, bright, clear light,<BR> +Who will not utter falsehood."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +After Patrick had blessed the Cenel-Conaill, and had left a blessing on +their forts and rivers and churches, he went into the country of Eoghan, +the son of Niall, across Bernas of Tir-Aedha into Magh-Itha, and to +Domhnachmor of Magh-Itha, where he left Dudubae, son of Corcan, of his +people. And Patrick said to his people: "Take care that you meet not +with the lion, Eoghan, son of Niall." Muiredhach, the son of Eoghan, who +was in the front of the youths, met on the way Sechnall, who was in the +rear of the host of clerics. Sechnall said to Muiredhach: "You would +have a reward from me, if you would persuade your father to believe." +"What reward?" asked he. "The sovereignty of thy tribe shall for ever +belong to thy heirs," said Sechnall. "I will," answered Muiredhach. In +Fidhmor it was that Eoghan met with Patrick, where the flag (<I>lec</I>) is. +"If you would believe in your country," said Patrick, "the hostages of +the Gaedhil would come to you." +</P> + +<P> +"I am not good-looking," said Eoghan; "my brother precedes me on account +of my ugliness." "What form do you desire?" asked Patrick. "The form of +the young man who is under (<I>i.e.</I>., <I>who is bearing</I>) your +satchel—<I>i.e.</I>, Rioc of Inis-bo-finde," said Eoghan. Patrick covered +them over with the same garment, the hands of each being clasped round +the other. They slept thus, and afterwards awoke in the same form, with +the difference of the tonsure. "I don't like my height," said Eoghan. +"What size do you desire to be?" asked Patrick. Eoghan reached up his +hand with his sword. "I should like this height," said he; and he +immediately grew to that height. Patrick afterwards blessed Eoghan, with +his sons. "Which of your sons is dearest to you?" asked Patrick. +"Muiredhach," said he. "Sovereignty from him for ever," said Patrick. +"And next to him?" asked Patrick. "Fergus," answered he. "Dignity from +him," said Patrick. "And after him?" asked Patrick. "Eocha Bindech," +said Eoghan. "Warriors from him," said Patrick. "And after him?" asked +Patrick. "They are all alike to me," answered Eoghan. "They shall have +united love," said Patrick. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick went to Ailech of the kings, when he blessed the fort and left +his flag there; and he prophesied that kingship and pre-eminence should +be over Erinn from Ailech. "When you lift your foot out of your bed to +approach it, and your successor after you," said Patrick, "the men of +Erinn shall tremble before you." +</P> + +<P> +He blessed the whole island (Inis-Eoghain) from Belach-ratha; and he gave +a blessing of valor to Eoghan. Then it was that Patrick said: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"My blessing on the <I>tuatha</I> (territories)<BR> +I give from Belach-ratha,<BR> +On you, you descendants of Eoghan,<BR> +Until the day of judgment.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Whilst plains are under crops,<BR> +The palm of battle shall be on their men.<BR> +The armies of Fail (Ireland) shall not be over your plains;<BR> +You shall attack every <I>telach</I> (tribe).<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"The race of Eoghan, son of Niall,<BR> +Bless, O fair Brigid!<BR> +Provided they do good,<BR> +Government shall be from them for ever.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"The blessing of us both<BR> +Upon Eoghan Mac Neill,<BR> +On all who may be born from him,<BR> +Provided they are obedient."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Eochaidh, son of Fiachra, son of Eoghan, was baptized with Eoghan, and +Patrick's covenant was made between them; and whosoever transgresses it +shall not have children born to him, and his body will not rot in the +clay. +</P> + +<P> +Where Patrick went after this was into Daigurt in Magh-Dula. He built +seven Domhnachs (churches) about Fochaine (<I>i.e.</I>, flumen), namely, +Domhnach-Dola, Domhnach-Seinlis, Domhnach-Dara, Domhnach-Senchua, +Domhnach-Minchluane, Domhnach-Catte, Both-Domhnaigh. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick proceeded into Tir-Eoghain of the Islands—namely, into the +territory governed by Fergus—and he took to build a <I>disert</I> at a +certain place; Achadh-Driman was the proper name of the land in which he +built it. But Coelbhadh, son of Eoghan, drove him from thence, and +Patrick said that in consequence thereof his race should never have a +goodly house there. Quod probatum est super by Comman, son of Algasach, +of the race of Coelbhadh, who was at Eas-nac-Eire, who made a house +there, but, before he had the roof on it, it was broken down by a young +cleric of the family of Domhnach-mor-Maighe Tochair. +</P> + +<P> +"Thou shalt receive welcome from me," said Aedh, son of Fergus. There is +neither bank nor wall between him and the aforesaid, and it was there +that he erected Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair, ribi xl, dubas mansit et Mac +Cairthin reliquit. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick proceeded from Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair into Bredach, and +there he met the three Deachans, the sons of Patrick's sister, in the +country of Ailell, son of Eoghan, and he ordained Oengus, the son of +Ailell, in that place, and he remained there on Sunday; Domhnach-Bile is +its name. +</P> + +<P> +When Patrick was at Ailech-Airtich in Sonnacht, in Cinel-Enda, Enda came +to him. "Da mihi hunc locum," said Patrick. "Quasi non babussemus +clericos," said Enda. On the morrow venit Enda et suus filius secum, +Echu Caech. Patrick had turned off to pray, and his people to baptize, +to confer orders, and to propagate the faith. The two Maccairthinns were +there at the time, namely, qui est at Clochar et qui est at +Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair. "Confer ye the degree of bishop upon my +son," said Enda. "Let Patrick be consulted," said Patrick's champion, +Maccairthinn of Clochar. "It is our duty," said the other; "I will +confer the order." When Patrick, he said, "Ye have conferred orders in +my absence on the son of the Wolf; there shall be strife in the church of +the one for ever; there shall be poverty in the church of the other." +Quod impletur: strife at Clochar; Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair, poverty is +there. "The son upon whom the degree was conferred, two persons, after +committing murder, shall profane his relics. One hundred and twenty +years until a son shall be born in the southern parts [who shall +reconsecrate his church], and it shall be restored to me again." Quod +totum impletum est. The first place where his relics were was a high and +beautiful spot, but they were carried thence after a short time to a +lower place; and the first place where they were is deserted, and robbers +and murderers are accustomed to dwell there, through Patrick's curse. +And his church was ceded to Ciaran Mac-an-tsair, but was restored to +Patrick again. This Echu, son of Enda, is at this day called Bishop +Echan. +</P> + +<P> +As Patrick was in Tir-Enda-Airtich at Tulach-liag, in Leitir, he stuck +[wattles for] a church there, which afterwards became a bush. After this +he went to the Lei, on the east of the Bann, ubi non capiebant homines +pieces nisi in nocte usque ad illud tempus. Deinde imperavit eis +Patricius ut in die caperent, et sic erit in finem seculi. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick went afterwards into Dal-Araidhe and Dal-Riada. Then he +proceeded to Ror to Carn-Setna, southwards, where he heard the screams of +an infant from out of the ground. The carn was demolished, the sepulchre +was laid bare, and a smell of wine arose around them out of the +sepulchre. They saw the living child with the dead mother. A woman that +died of ague; she was brought across the sea to Eriu, and the child was +born after death; and seven days, it is said, it lived in the tumulus. +"That is bad (<I>olc</I>)," said the king. "That shall be his name (<I>Olcan</I>)" +said the druid. Patrick baptized him; and he is Bishop Olcan, of the +community of Airther-Maighe, in the district of Dal-Riada. And Mac +Nisse; of Condere, read his psalms with Patrick.… +</P> + +<P> +Patrick received welcome in the district from Erc's twelve sons. And +Fergus Mor Mac Erca said to Patrick: "If I am preferred before my +brothers in the division of our land, I will offer some to you." And +Patrick gave to Bishop Olcan this part—<I>i.e.</I>, Airther-Maighe. Patrick +said to Fergus: "Though thy esteem with thy brothers is not great to-day, +it is thou that shall be king. The kings of this land and of Fortren +shall be from thee for ever"; and this is what was fulfilled in Aedan Mac +Gabhrain, who possessed Alba by force. Patrick left many cells and +establishments in the territory of Dal-Riada. +</P> + +<P> +He founded Fothraidh, and left two of his people in it—viz., Presbyter +Cathbadh, and the monk Dimman; and he founded Rath-Mudhain, and left +Presbyter Erclach in it; he left Bishop Nem in Telach-Ceniul-Aenghusa; +Dachen-nindan in Domhnach-Cainri, in Cothraighe; Enan in Druim-Indich; +and Bishop Fiachra in Cuil-Echirainn. And Patrick blessed Dun-Sobhairce; +and Patrick's well is there, and he left a blessing upon it. +</P> + +<P> +He went afterwards to Dal-Araidhe. He found Caelbadh's twelve sons +before him. He proposed to found a place where Cill-glas is. He was +repelled from it; and it belongs to him yet; and he left two of his +people there—viz., Glaisiuc and Presbyter Libur. And he determined that +he would found a place where Lathrach-Patraic is. It is there Daniel, +Patrick's angel and dwarf, is. It is there Patrick's well is—<I>Slan</I> is +its name—which Patrick discovered there. Saran, the son of Caelbad, +seized his hand to expel him; and Patrick took heaven and land from him. +Connia, the son of Caelbadh, however, received Patrick with humility, and +gave him Domhnach-Combair; and Patrick blessed him, and declared that +kings and chieftains should be of his race for ever. And he founded many +churches in Dal-Araidhe—viz., Domhnach-mor of Magh-Damhairne, and +Rath-Sithe (and he left two of his people there), and Telach-Conadain, +and Gluaire in Latharna (and Mac Laisre is in it). He founded +Glenn-indechta, and Imlech-[c]luana, in Semhne (where Caemhan was left), +and Rath-Escuip-Indich, in the territory of Ui-Erca-chein. +</P> + +<P> +After some time the aforesaid Saran bore off some men in captivity from +the district of Dal-Riada. Bishop Olcan met him, and the poor people +were grievously complaining to him. Olcan interceded, but it was of no +avail, unless he would assure heaven to Saran. "I cannot do so, indeed," +said he, "for Patrick has deprived thee of it." "I will kill thy people +about thee but thee alone," said he, "and I will slay all these captives; +and wherever I shall find a priest (tailcend), I shall bring him under +the edge of the sword." +</P> + +<P> +Whereupon Bishop Olcan promised him heaven. He came afterwards from the +north to offer submission to Patrick. It was reported to Patrick that +Bishop Olcan had promised baptism and heaven to the person to whom he had +denied them. They met to the north of Cluain-Fiachna, on the way, going +different directions. "The chariot over him," said Patrick. "It is not +allowable," said the charioteer, "that it should go over a bishop." He +told him (Bishop Olcan) that his establishment on earth would not be +high, and that it would be thrice destroyed; as was afterwards fulfilled, +for it was ruined by Scandal, King of Dal-Araidhe, and by Cucuaran, and +by fire also. "Laech-dich, son of Bresal, and his land, shall belong to +the young boy bearing the satchel," said Patrick, "one of thy own +people—<I>i.e.</I>, Mac Nisse of Condere—and to one not born yet—<I>i.e.</I>, +Senan of Inis-Altich. Thy merit in heaven will be illustrious." +</P> + +<P> +Saran's guilt it was that was here laid upon Bishop Olcan. Saran's +brother, Nadsluagh, was submissive to Patrick; and he was in captivity on +Patrick's arrival. "You shall have from me," said he, "the site of your +<I>regles</I>." "Where will you give it me?" asked Patrick. "On the brink of +the Bann, in the west," said Nadsluagh, "where the boys are burning the +<I>ratha</I> (ferns)." "It shall be mine, truly," said Patrick; "a descendant +of mine and thine shall be there"—<I>i.e.</I>, Bishop Coirpre, son of +Deggell, son of Nadsluagh; it is he that is in Cul-rathain, on the +eastern brink of the Bann. Bishop Brugach, who is in +Ratha-Maighe-Aenaigh, in Crich-Conaill, it was that conferred orders on +Bishop Coirpre. Patrick, also, it was that conferred orders on Bishop +Brugach; so that he (Bishop Coirpre) is a descendant of Patrick in this +wise. Patrick gave no malediction to any of the twelve sons of Caelbad, +except to the king alone—<I>i.e.</I>, Saran. It was he that had acted +disobediently to him. It was on this occasion that Patrick brought with +him Bishop Guasacht, son of Milchu, from the territory of Dal-Araidhe; it +was he whom Patrick left in Granard, and the two Emirs also, Milchu's two +daughters; it is they that are in Cluam-Bronaigh, ut diximus. +</P> + +<P> +The way Patrick went was into the territory of Dal-Araidhe, across +Fertais-Tuama, to Ui-Tuirtre. He was forty nights in Finnobair, and +determined to build a city there for its suitability—Loch-Nechach being +on one side of it, and Sliabh-Calland on the other. Cairthen Mor, king +of the country, went to him, and ordered him off. He (Patrick) deprived +him and his children of the sovereignty. Patrick afterwards gave the +sovereignty to Cairthend Beg, who was in exile from his brother; and +Patrick baptized him, and blessed his wife and the being that was in her +womb. "My <I>debroth</I>," said Patrick, "the being that is in thy womb shall +be full of the grace of God; and it is I that twill bless a veil upon her +head." The woman was Mogan, daughter of Fergus Mor Mac Nissi, King of +Dal-Riada; and Trea, daughter of Cairthend, was the daughter who was in +her womb; and it was Patrick who blessed a veil on her head, as he +prophesied. The angels, moreover, that brought the veil from heaven, and +placed it on her head, down over her eyes; and Patrick began to raise it +up. "Why is it not good to leave it as it was placed?" asked Trea. "It +is good indeed," answered Patrick. She never saw anything during her +life except what she saw through that veil. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick had seven Domhnachs in Ui-Tuirtre—viz., Domhnach-Fainre, +Domhnach-Riascad, Domhnach-Fothirbe, Domhnach-Righduinn, Domhnach-Brain, +Domhnach-Maelain, Domhnach-Libuir. +</P> + +<P> +Where Patrick went afterwards was to Feara-Gabrae, and they were not +obedient to him. Patrick said that they would go afterwards with tribute +to his church in winter-time, and that extern tribes would get their +country; <I>quod impletum est</I>. Patrick went afterwards to Fera-Imchlair, +and he baptized and blessed them; and he left with them Cruimther Colum, +and Patrick's book of orations, and his bell therewith; they are +miraculous things unto this day. +</P> + +<P> +When Patrick concluded his triumphant career in the present life, as the +Apostle Paul said, "I have fought the good fight; I have finished my +course; I have kept the faith; as to the rest, there is laid up for me a +crown of justice, which the Lord the just judge will render to me in that +day," he received communion and sacrifice from Bishop Tassach. His +remains and relics are here regarded with honor and veneration by the +earthly church. Though great his honor and veneration on the earth, +greater still will they be in the Day of Judgment, when the fruit of his +preaching will be committed to him as to each other high apostle, with +the apostles and disciples of Jesus, in the union of the nine choirs of +angels, in the union of the Divinity and the Humanity of the Son of God, +in the unity which is nobler than all unity—in the unity of the Holy +Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I beseech mercy through the +intercession of Patrick. We ask that we may all ourselves obtain this +union <I>in soecula soeculorum</I>. Amen. +</P> + +<P> +[It should be observed that, at the commencement of each of the three +parts of the Tripartite Life, there are several pages of Latin, which +were intended by the author as a sort of introduction or preface to what +follows in each part. They are made up principally of Scriptural +quotations strung loosely together. These quotations have general +reference to the establishment of Christ's kingdom upon earth, and are +obviously intended to bear upon the happy introduction of Christianity +into Ireland through the labors of our glorious apostle. At the end of +each of the parts, in like manner, are some paragraphs, by way of +peroration, devoted chiefly to the praises of the great saint, who +dedicated the greater part of an unusually long life to the service of +God, by the regeneration of our pagan ancestors. The language of both +prefaces and perorations, whether corrupted by the copyists in +transcription, or originally so written, is a most barbarous Latin. For +the reasons indicated it has been deemed better to omit the pages alluded +to, merely giving a few words of the commencement of each. In the Irish +original, also, as was usual in early Irish manuscripts, there are a +considerable number of Latin quotations or sentences, which in some cases +</P> + +<BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap0403"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +PART III. +</H3> + +<P> +Mirabilis Deus in sanctis suis. Spiritus Sanctus, à quo omne donum, et +gratiarum charismata utrique, et novi et veteris Testamenti Ecclesias, +data, haec protulit per os Regii Psalmistae Davidis filii, etc. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick left Presbyter Conaedh in Domnach-Airther-Maighe, in the +territory of Hy-Briuin of the north. He rested there on Sunday, and then +went after Patrick from that place as far eastwards as the wood. "What +brought you?" asked Patrick. "I cannot bear your absence, holy man," +said he. "No wonder," observed Patrick; "the place around thee is not +the place of a son of life, but a place for pig-eaters; the soil of the +place shall never be reddened" (which we have proved when Connacan, son +of Colman, son of Niall Frossach, went into the district with an army, +nine men moved off from a tree which Artifex, a pilgrim, selected. He +was beheaded; eight were liberated, however, in his land). +</P> + +<P> +Patrick went afterwards to Telach-Maine, and received a welcome from +Maine, son of Conlaedh, who humbled himself to him; and Patrick blessed +him, and blessed his wife, so that she was fruitful, and brought forth +two daughters. Patrick baptized them, and blessed veils on their heads, +and left a senior with them to instruct them. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick did not visit Ard-Macha on that occasion, but went into the +territory of Hy-Cremthand, where he founded churches and residences. One +time, as Patrick was coming from Clochar, from the north, his strong +man—<I>i.e.</I>, Bishop Mac Carthend—carried him across a difficult place; +and after lifting up Patrick, he said: "Uch, uch." "My <I>debroth</I>," said +Patrick, "you were not accustomed to say that word." "I am old and +infirm," said Bishop Mac Carthend, "and you have left all my early +companions in churches, whilst I am still on the road." "I will leave +thee in a church," said Patrick, "that shall not be too near us for +familiarity, that shall not be too distant for intercourse between us." +And Patrick afterwards left Bishop Mac Carthend in Clochar, and the +Domhnach-Airgid with him, which was sent to Patrick from heaven when he +was on the sea coming to Erinn. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick went after that to Lemhuin. Finnabhair is the name of the hill +on which Patrick preached. Three days and three nights was he at the +preaching, and each day did not seem to them longer than one hour. Then +it was that Brigid slept at the preaching, and Patrick did not allow her +to be awakened. Patrick asked her afterwards what she had seen. She +said: "I saw fair synods and white oxen and fair cornfields; behind them +spotted oxen, and black oxen after these. I afterwards saw sheep and +pigs, and dogs and wolves, fighting amongst themselves. I saw +subsequently two stones, one little and the other big. A drop was shed +on each of them. The little stone increased at the 'drop,' and silvery +sparks burst from it. The large stone withered, moreover." "They were +the two sons of Eochaidh, son of Crimthann," said Patrick. Cairpre +Damhairgit believed, and Patrick blessed him, and blessed his seed. +Bresal, moreover, refused, and Patrick cursed him. Patrick also +explained the whole vision of Brigid in an admirable manner. +</P> + +<P> +He resuscitated Eochaidh, son of Crimthann, from death. Eochaidh +possessed a daughter—<I>i.e.</I>, Cinnu—whom her father wished to marry to a +man of noble family—<I>i.e.</I>, to the son of Cormac, son of Cairpre Mac +Neill; she, walking along, met Patrick with his companions on the way. +Patrick preached to her that she unite herself to the spiritual prophet; +and she believed, and Patrick instructed her, and baptized her, +afterwards. When her father was subsequently seeking for her, to give +her to her man, she and Patrick went to converse with him. Patrick +requested that he would permit her to wed the Eternal Spouse; Eochaidh +agreed to this, if heaven would be given to him therefor, and he himself +not be compelled to be baptized. Patrick then promised these two +conditions, though he thought it hard. The king afterwards consented +that his daughter—<I>i.e.</I>, Cinnu—should be united to Christ, and Patrick +made her a female disciple to him, and commanded a certain virgin to +instruct her <I>i.e.</I>, Cechtumbar of Druim-Dubhain, in which place both +virgins rest. +</P> + +<P> +After many years, moreover, the aforesaid Eochaidh reached the end of his +life; and when his friends would remain by him, he said: "Let me not be +buried," said he, "until Patrick comes." And when Eochaidh finished +these words, his spirit departed. Patrick, moreover, was at this time in +Ulster, at Sabhall-Patrick; and the death of Eochaidh was manifested to +him, and he decided on going to Clochar-mac-Daimhin, where he found +Eochaidh, who had been inanimate twenty-four hours. When Patrick went +into the house where the body was, he sent out the persons who were about +the body. He bent his knees to the Lord, and shed tears; and he prayed, +and said in a clear voice: "Rise, O King Eochaidh! in the name of +Almighty God"; and immediately, at the voice of the servant of God, he +arose. When he had composed himself, he spoke, and the grief and +lamentations of the people were changed to joy. And forthwith Patrick +instructed the king in the rule of faith, and baptized him. He also +commanded him, before the people, that he would describe the pains of the +impious and the joy of the saints, and that he would speak to the people, +that they might believe all that is said of the pains of hell and the +joys of the blest to be true. And he spoke of these things, as he was +commanded. And Patrick offered him a choice—<I>i.e.</I> fifteen years in +the chief kingship of his country, if he would live piously and +truthfully, or to go to heaven, if he preferred it. But the king said: +"Though the sovereignty of the entire globe were given to me, and though +I might live for many years, I would count it all as nothing in +comparison with the good shown to me. Hence it is that I pray more and +more that I may be freed from the miseries of the present life, and sent +to the eternal joys exhibited to me." To whom Patrick said, "Go in +peace, and journey to the Lord." Echu (or Eochaidh) gave thanks to God +in the presence of his people, and he commended his soul to the Lord and +Patrick, and his spirit departed to heaven. +</P> + +<P> +Where Patrick went afterwards was to the territory of Ui-Meith-Tire, to +Tech-Thalain; and he left Bishop Cilline there, and other holy men of his +people, and the relics of saints which he brought with him across the sea +from the east. Then it was that three robbers of Ui-Meith-Tire carried +off the second goat that was wont to be bringing water, and they came to +swear falsely to Patrick respecting him, but the goat cried from the +bodies of the three who had acted treacherously. "My <I>debroth</I>," said +Patrick, "the goat himself announces you as thieves. From this day forth +goats shall stick to your children and kindred"; which has been fulfilled. +</P> + +<P> +Eoghan, son of Brian, son of Muiredach, son of Imchadh, son of +Colla-fo-Crich, was King of Ui-Meith when the people believed, and he +(Patrick) blessed them. Eoghan besought Patrick to resuscitate his +grandfather, <I>i.e.</I>, Muiredach. Patrick afterwards resuscitated him, and +buried him again in the Erende, on the borders of Mughorna and Ui-Meith; +but the place belongs to Mughorna. Then Patrick went into the district +of Mughorna, to Domhnach-Maighen especially. When Victor, who was in +that place, heard that Patrick had come to it, Victor went, to avoid +Patrick, from the residence to a thorny brake at the side of the town. +God performed a prodigy for Patrick. He lighted up the brake in the dark +night, so that everything therein was visible. Victor went afterwards to +Patrick, and gave him his submission; and Patrick gave him the church, +and imposed the degree of bishop on Victor, and left him in +Domhnach-Maighen. And Patrick blessed Mudhorna, and said that the most +illustrious of laics and clerics should be of them. And he bade farewell +to them, and left a blessing with them. Afterwards Patrick went to +Fera-Ros, to Enach-Conglais, where he remained a Sunday. There it was +that the Ui-Lilaigh gave the poison to Patrick in the lumps of curds. +Patrick blessed the pieces, and made stones of them. +</P> + +<P> +When Patrick went on Monday across the ford southwards, the Ui-Lilaigh +went with fifty horsemen upon the ford after him to slay him. Patrick +turned towards them upon the bank to the south of the ford, and he raised +his left hand, and said: "You shall neither come out of the ford here nor +go the other way; but you shall be in that water for ever." The water +immediately went over them. Ath-O'Lilaigh is the name of the ford for +ever, and the stone lumps are at Enach-Conglaise, in commemoration of the +miracle, to this present day. +</P> + +<P> +He afterwards went to Rath-Cuile, where he blessed the +Fera-Cuile—<I>i.e.</I>, the Ui-Seghain. He went to Bile-Tortan after that, +and constructed a church for Presbyter Justin near Bile-Tortan, which is +near the community of Ard-Breccan. When Patrick was journeying to the +territory of Leinster from Domhnach-Tortan, he remained a night at +Drum-Urchaille. Patrick went afterwards to Naas. The site of his tent +is in the green of the fort, to the east of the road, and his well is to +the north of the fort (<I>dún</I>), where he baptized Dunlaing's two sons, +Ailill and Illann, and where he baptized Ailill's two daughters, Moghain +and Feidelm. And their father dedicated them to God and Patrick, from +their consecrated virginity, and he (Patrick) blessed the veil on their +heads. +</P> + +<P> +Messengers went from Patrick to call the steward of the fort of +Naas—<I>i.e.</I>, Fallen. He avoided Patrick; and he pretended to be asleep, +through enmity and ridicule of Patrick. And Patrick was told that the +steward was asleep. "My <I>debroth</I>," said Patrick, "I should not be +surprised if it were his last sleep." His people went to awake him, and +they found him dead, through the disobedience he showed to Patrick. And +hence is the proverb amongst the Irish: "Fallen's sleep in the fort of +Naas." +</P> + +<P> +Dricriu was the King of Ui-Garchon at Patrick's coming, and the daughter +of Laeghaire Mac Neill was his wife. And he refused Patrick regarding +his feast at Rath-Inbhir, on Laeghaire's account. But Cilline gave him +welcome, and killed his own cow for him, and gave to Patrick the quantity +of flour that he brought for his support from the king's house, whereupon +he (Patrick) prophesied that Cilline's son should be king of Ui-Garchon. +</P> + +<P> +He went afterwards to Magh-Life, and founded cells and houses there; and +he left Usail in Cill-Usaille, and Iserninus and Mac Tail in +Cella-Cuilinn, and other saints. On his going into Western Life, the +sons of Laighis prepared water-pits in the way before him, and a covering +over them. "For God's sake," said the little boys, "drive on your +horses." "Drive on, then, for God's sake, your horses," said Patrick. +But no injury was done to them; and he cursed Laighis (<I>i.e.</I>, Laighis, +son of Find) where Moin-Choluim is to-day; and Patrick said that there +would be neither a king nor a bishop from them, and that a foreign lord +should be over them for ever. +</P> + +<P> +Brig, the daughter of Fergnad, son of Cobtach, of the Ui-Ercain, went to +report to Patrick the enmity that was in store for him. Patrick blessed +her, and her father, and her brothers, and the Ui-Ercain altogether, and +he said that they would never be without distinguished laics and clerics +of them. +</P> + +<P> +Then Patrick alighted on the hillock which was then called +Bile-Mac-Cruaich; to-day, however, it is called Forrach-Patrick; and he +said that there would never be a foreign king or steward over them; and +when the King of Leinster would be distributing the feast in his royal +house, he would have one shin (of beef), and the King of Ui-Ercan the +other; they should have Patrick's respect, Patrick's <I>forrach</I> (seat), +the dignity of laics and clerics, wealth, and immortality. Eight princes +they had up to the reign of Conchobhar, son of Donnchadh, in Tara. +Laighis, moreover, was the tribe-name of the youths who committed the +misdeed; and neither king nor bishop shall be from them, but strange +lords shall govern them, and they shall never have rest from persecution +and complaints. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick went from Tara until he met Dubhtach Mac Ui-Lugair at +Domhnach-mór of Magh-Criathar, in Ui-Cinnse-laigh, who believed for +Patrick. Patrick requested from him a handsome youth who would not be of +low family—a man of one wife, for whom but one son was born. "Hem," +said Dubhtach, "that is Fiacc, son of Ere, I am afraid—the man of those +qualities, who went from me to the territory of Connacht with poems for +the kings." At these words he (Fiacc) came. "What are you considering?" +asked Fiacc. "Dubhtach for the crozier," said Patrick. "That will be a +blemish to many, indeed," said Fiacc; "why should not I be taken in place +of him?" "You will be received, indeed," said Patrick. He was tonsured, +baptized, an alphabet was written for him, and he read his psalms in one +day, as has been related to me. He was ordained in the grade of bishop, +and the bishopric of Leinster was given to him by Patrick; and his only +son, Fiachra, was also ordained. This Fiacc was, therefore, the first +bishop ordained in Leinster. Patrick gave Fiacc a case—viz., a bell, a +reliquary, a crozier, and a book-satchel; and he left seven of his people +with him—viz., Mochatoc of Inis-Fail, Augustin of Inis-Bec, Tecan, and +Diarmait, and Nainnid, Paul, and Fedilmidh. +</P> + +<P> +He (Fiacc) afterwards resided in Domnach-Feic, and he was there until +threescore of his people died with him. Then the angel went to him, and +said to him: "It is on the west of the river (Barrow) thy (place of) +resurrection is, in Cul-maighe"; and he said that where they would meet a +boar, there they should build their refectory; but where they would meet +a hind, there they should place the church. Fiacc said to the angel that +he would not go until Patrick would come to mark out the boundary of his +place, and to consecrate it, and that he might get the place from him. +Patrick went then to Fiacc, and marked out his place with him, and fixed +his site. And Crimthan presented that place to Patrick, for it was +Patrick that baptized him; and it is in Sleibhte he is buried. It was +there, afterwards, Fiacc was ordained. +</P> + +<P> +They (the Ui-Ercan) were at that time persecuted by the King of Leinster, +Crimthann, son of Enna Ceinnselach, so that they went into exile. Of +them are the <I>manachs</I> in Hy-Crimthann, and the <I>manachs</I> in Ulster, and +Cenel-Enna in Munster. Of them is Fiacc, of whom we have spoken before. +Fiacc, Aengus, Ailill Mar, Conall, and Etirscel were five brothers. +Their father was the son of Ere. +</P> + +<P> +Through the action of Patrick, the king granted him (Fiacc) land, the +fifth part of his father's possessions, and thereon it was that he built +Sleibhte. +</P> + +<P> +The Aengus in question afterwards killed the king, Crimthann, son of Enna +Ceinnselach, to avenge his exile. In thirties and forties are the +churches which he gave to Patrick in the east of Leinster, and in +Ui-Cennselaigh, including Domnach-mor of Magh-Criathar and Inis-Fail, +where Mochonoc and Mochatoc are, and Erdit and Augustin in the smaller +island (but their shrines are in Sleibhte, since the place was occupied +by Gentiles); Domnach-mór of Magh-Reta. Patrick was a Sunday here +(<I>i.e.</I>, in Domnach-mór of Magh-Reta), and they were on that Sunday +building Rath-Baccain, the royal fort of the district. Patrick sent to +prevent this, but no notice was taken thereof. Patrick said, "Its +building shall be troublesome, unless 'offering' is done there every +day." He also said that the fort would not be inhabited until the wind +(<I>gaeth</I>) would come from the lower part of hell. This was Gaithini, son +of Cinaed, who rebuilt the fort in the time of Fedhlimidh, and of +Conchobhar in Tara. +</P> + +<P> +After that Patrick had founded churches and establishments in Leinster, +moreover, he left a blessing upon Ui-Cennselaigh, and upon the +Leinstermen all; and he afterwards ordained Fiacc Find in Sleibhte, as +bishop of the province. +</P> + +<P> +He then went along Bealach-Gabhran, into the district of Ossory, and +founded churches and establishments there; and he said that distinguished +laics and clerics should be of them, and that no province should have +command over them, whilst they remained obedient to Patrick. Patrick +took leave of them afterwards, and he left the relics of holy men with +them, and some of his people, in the place where Martar-tech is this day +in Magh-Roighne. At Druim-Conchind, in Mairge, the cross-beam of +Patrick's chariot broke when he was going to Munster. He made another of +the wood of the <I>druim</I>. It broke immediately. He made one again, and +it broke also. Patrick said that there should never be any implement +made of the timber of that wood, which has been fulfilled, for even a pin +is not made of it. Patrick's Disert is there, but it is waste. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick went afterwards to the territory of Munster, to Cashel of the +Kings. When Aengus, son of Nadfraech, got up in the morning, all their +idols were prostrate; and Patrick and his people came to the side of the +fort, and he (Aengus) bade them welcome, and took them into the fort to +the place where Lee-Patrick is to-day. And Patrick after that baptized +the sons of Nedfraech, and the men of Munster besides, and left a +blessing and prosperity upon them. And he blessed the fort—<I>i.e.</I>, +Cashel—and said that only one race should be there for ever. And he was +seven years in Munster. The learned calculate that he made an offering +on every seventh ridge that he traversed in Munster. +</P> + +<P> +When Patrick was baptizing Aengus, the point of the crozier went through +Aengus's foot. Patrick asked, "Why was it that you did not tell me?" +"Because," said he, "I thought it was the rule of the faith." "You shall +have its reward," said Patrick; "your successors from this day forth +shall not die of wounds." No one is King of Cashel until Patrick's +comarb ordains him and imposes the grade on him. Patrick said: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"The sons of Nadfraech, of sounding fame,<BR> +Of them shall be kings and chieftains;<BR> +Aengus, from the lands of Feimhen,<BR> +And Ailill, his brother."<BR> +</P> + +<P> +And twenty-eight kings, of the race of Ailill and Aengus, reigned in +Cashel, ordained with the crozier, until the time of Cenngegan. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick went after this to Muscraidhe-Breogain, and founded churches and +establishments there. +</P> + +<P> +One day he was washing his hands at a ford there, when a tooth fell out +of his mouth into the ford. Patrick went upon the hillock to the north +of the ford; and persons went from him to look for the tooth, and +forthwith the tooth glistened in the ford like a sun; and Ath-fiaclai is +the name of the ford, and Cill-fiacia is the name of the church where +Patrick left the tooth and four of his people—viz., Cuircthe and Loscan, +Cailech and Bedan. He bade them (<I>i.e.</I>, the Muscraidhe) farewell, and +left them a blessing. +</P> + +<P> +He went afterwards to Aradha-Cliach until he was in Iochtar-Cuillenn in +Ui-Cuanach; and Ailill, son of Cathbadh, son of Lughaidh, of the +Eoghanacht of Airther-Cliach, met him. His wife went on the hillock +where they (the clerics) were, and said: "The pigs have eaten our son +Ailill through savageness," said she. And Ailill said: "I will believe +if you resuscitate my son for me." Patrick commanded the boy's bones to +be collected, and he directed a Céle-Dé of his people—<I>i.e.</I>, Malach +Britt—to resuscitate him. "I will not offend the Lord," said he. (He +was seized with doubt.) Patrick said: "That is pitiful, O Malach! thy +house on earth shall not be high; thy house shall be the house of one +man." His house is in the northeastern angle of the southern Deise; its +name is Cill-Malaich. Five persons can never be supported there. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick afterwards commanded Bishops Ibar and Ailbhe to resuscitate the +boy; and he prayed the Lord with them. The boy was afterwards +resuscitated through Patrick's prayers. The boy subsequently preached to +the hosts and multitudes in Patrick's presence. Ailill and his wife +thereupon believed; and all the Ui-Cuanach believed, and were baptized in +that place. And the seat of the four—<I>i.e.</I>, of Patrick, Ailbhe, Bishop +Ibar, and the young boy—is in the place where the boy was resuscitated. +His father said: "God cures by the hand of the physician." Four persons +stole Patrick's horses southwards. Patrick forgave it. One of them was +a leech, whose name was Caencomhrac; another was a carpenter; another was +a bondman; but the fourth was a groom, whose name was Aedh. Patrick +called the latter, and blessed his hands, and told him that his name +should be Lamaedh from that day; and from him are the Lamhraighe. +</P> + +<P> +It was then that disease seized Ailill's wife, who was <I>enciente</I>, so +that death was nigh unto her. Patrick asked what was the matter. The +woman answered: "An herb I saw in the air, and I saw not the like of it +on the earth; and I shall die, or the being in my womb shall die, or we +shall both die, unless I taste that herb." Patrick asked her of what +kind was the herb. "Like rushes," said the woman. Patrick thereupon +blessed rushes, so that they were apparently the same. The woman then +ate them, and was forthwith whole; and after some time she gave birth to +a son, and blessed Patrick; and it is reported that Patrick said that all +women who should eat of this herb would be healed. +</P> + +<P> +He desired to remain by the side of Clar, at the fort of Coirpre and +Brocan, but he was not permitted; and Patrick said that there never would +be a king or bishop of the race of Colman, who opposed him. He also said +that the place would belong to himself afterwards, and left a man of his +people there, after a long period—<I>i.e.</I>, Caemhan of Cill-Rath. +</P> + +<P> +Ibar then selected a place of residence in Grian, in Aradha-Cliach. Dola +opposed him. Patrick said that there would not be a house of his +(Dola's) there, or, if there should be, it would be only for (the lives +of) two or three. This was fulfilled. They (Dola's descendants) removed +to Airther-Cliach, and Dal-Modola is their name until this day. +</P> + +<P> +Nena went to him (Patrick), who refused to receive him, and said that he +would not be prosperous. No successors of his occupied the place there +since, but they are enslaved by Muscraighe-Mittine. "Menraighe" they are +called. +</P> + +<P> +As Patrick was leaving this place, the women of Grian came to bewail his +departure from them. Patrick blessed them, and said that the children +they would bear to extern tribes would be illustrious. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick was in Aradha-Cliach, at Tedil (the name of a hill). When he was +bidding farewell, two of his people remained behind. They were sent for, +and found asleep under a bush there. This was told to Patrick. "Here +their resurrection will be," said he; which is true. Muin and Lomchu +[who are] in Cill-Tidil [were left there] by Patrick. +</P> + +<P> +He went after this to Hy-Fidhgente, where Lonan, son of Mac Eire, +provided a banquet for him. Mullach-Cae, over against Carn-Feradhaigh on +the south; and a man of Patrick's people was preparing the banquet along +with the king—<I>i.e.</I>, Deacon Mantan. A band of artists came up to +Patrick to solicit food, and would have no excuse. "Go to Lonan and to +Deacon Mantan, that they may relieve me," said Patrick. Who answered, +"No, until our banquet is blessed." Then Patrick said: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"The youth who comes from the north,<BR> +To him is vouchsafed the triumph;<BR> +To Cothraige he comes,<BR> +With his little wether on his back."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +At that very time came another youth, attended by his mother, carrying on +her back a cooked wether to the king's supper. Patrick begged of him to +give him the wether to save his honor. The son at once gave it +cheerfully, though the mother was unwilling to do so, through fear of the +king. Patrick gave the food to the players; and immediately the earth +swallowed them. Derc, son of Scirire, of the southern Desi, was their +chief; and Patrick said there would not be a king, or heir apparent, or +bishop of his family of Lonan for ever; and he assured Mantan, the +deacon, that his church would not be exalted on earth, but should be the +abode of the dregs of the people, and that swine and sheep would trample +on his own remains; but to Nessan, who had saved his honor, he promised +that he should be honored among the nations. And he baptized him, +ordained him deacon, and founded for him a church—<I>i.e.</I>, Mungarit. His +mother excused herself, and he said she should not be buried in her son's +church. This came to pass, for her grave is to the west of Mungarit, and +the bell of the great church is not heard in that place; they are almost +together, only separated by a wall. +</P> + +<P> +The men of North Munster, to the north of Luimnech, went in fleets of +boats to meet Patrick southwards as far as Domhnach-mor of +Magh-Aine—<I>i.e.</I>, to Dun-Nocfene, then and now so called; and he +baptized them in Tir-glass, to the southeast of it. He afterwards went +to Finnine, to the northwest of Domhnach-mor, a hill from which he could +see the country to the north of Luimnech, when he gave a blessing to the +men of North Munster, who had gone with a profusion of gifts to meet +Patrick. +</P> + +<P> +Cairthend, son of Blat, the senior of the Clann-Toirdhelb-haigh, believed +in the Lord, and Patrick baptized him at Sangul (<I>i.e.</I>, a different +angel that went to converse with him that day, and not Victor). No +children were born to Cairthenn, except deformities, up to that time. It +was then that Eochu Ballderg was born to Cairthenn. Patrick that +procured this; and he formed a clot of gore, which was on his (Eochu's) +body, as a sign of that miracle. Patrick himself did not go into the +country, but he saw from him about Luimnech to the west and to the north; +and he blessed the district and its islands, and prophesied of the saints +who would appear in them, of their names, and the time in which they +would come. "The green island in the west," said Patrick, "in the mouth +of the sea; the lamp of the people of God shall come into it, who will be +the head of counsel to this district—<I>i.e.</I>, Senan of Inis-Cathaigh—six +score years from this." (Senan, son of Gerrgenn, son of Dubhthach.) He +did not go across Luachair, indeed, into West Munster. He prophesied of +Brenainn, son of Ua-Altae, who was to be born 120 years after, which was +fulfilled. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick then went into the southern Desi, and set about building a church +in Ard Patrick; and Lec-Patrick (Patrick's flag) is there, and the limits +of his church. Derball, son of Aedh, opposed him. Derball said to +Patrick: "If you would remove that mountain there, so that I could see +Loch-Lunga across it to the south, in Fera-Maighe-Feine, I would +believe." Cenn-Abhrat is the name of the mountain, and Belach-Legtha +(melted pass) is the name of the pass which was melted there. When the +mountain began to dissolve, Derball said that whatever he (Patrick) did +would be of no use. Patrick said to Derball: "There shall be no king nor +bishop of your family, and it will be allowable to the men of Munster to +plunder you all every seventh year for ever as bare as a leek." +</P> + +<P> +As Patrick was in the district of the Desi, awaiting the king of the +country—<I>i.e.</I>, Fergair, son of Rossa—Patrick said to him, after his +arrival: "How slowly you come!" "The country is rough" [said he]. "True +indeed," said Patrick. "There shall be no king from you for ever. What +delayed you to-day?" asked Patrick. "The rain delayed us," said the +king. "Your meetings shall be showery for ever," said Patrick. +Patrick's well is there, and also the church of Mac Clairidh, one of +Patrick's people. And assemblies are not held by the Desi except at +night, because Patrick left that sentence upon them, for it was towards +night they went to him. Patrick then cursed the streams of that place, +because his books were drowned in them, and the fishermen gave his people +a refusal. Patrick said that they would not be fruitful, and that there +would never be any mills upon them, except the mills of strangers, +notwithstanding their great profusion up to that time. He blessed the +Suir, moreover, and the country around; and it is fruitful in fish, +except the places where those streams (<I>glaise</I>) flow into it. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick went into Muscraighe-thire, and to preach and plant the faith +there. He met three brothers of that nation, men of power—Furic and +Muinnech and Mechar, the sons of Forat, son of Conla. Muinnech believed +at once, and Patrick baptized and blessed him, and said that illustrious +heroes and clerics should descend from him for ever; and that the chief +kingship of his country should be [filled up] from him for ever, as the +poet said: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Muinnech the Great believes<BR> +In Patrick, before all;<BR> +That there might be over his country<BR> +Chieftains of his race for ever.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Mechair believed,<BR> +For he was a true, just man.<BR> +Patrick gave him a lasting blessing--<BR> +The companionship of a king.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Fuirec, the furious man,<BR> +Opposed, though he was hoary and old;<BR> +His ultimate fate, after this world,<BR> +Is not to be deplored.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"When Cothraige imposed<BR> +A tribute (<I>cain</I>) upon noble Eri,<BR> +On the host of this island<BR> +He conferred a lasting blessing.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Choice was this blessing<BR> +Which he conferred seven-fold<BR> +On each one who would observe<BR> +His plain rule, his law.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Whoever would disobey<BR> +The noble, just rule,<BR> +Should not see him, he said,<BR> +In the region of the saints.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Patrick's <I>cain</I> in great Munster<BR> +Was imposed on each family,<BR> +Until Dungalach violated it,<BR> +[Who was] of the race of Failbhe Flann.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Dungalach, son of Faelghus,<BR> +Grandson of just Nadfraech,<BR> +Was the first who transgressed<BR> +Patrick's <I>cain</I> from the beginning.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"It is related in histories,<BR> +All ages know it,<BR> +That his successorship is not found<BR> +In Cashel of the Kings.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"There is not of his progeny<BR> +(Though he won battles)<BR> +A noble bishop or herenagh,<BR> +A prince or a sage.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Saergus the Young, also--<BR> +* * * * *<BR> +Violated the <I>cain</I> he had adopted,<BR> +For the vehement Dungalach.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"It is seen that illustrious men<BR> +Are not of his wondrous family;<BR> +If there are now, they will not<BR> +Be found till judgment comes."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Now, after that Patrick had founded cells and churches in Munster, and +had ordained persons for every grade, and healed all sick persons, and +resuscitated the dead, he bade them farewell, and left his blessing with +them. He then went to Brosnacha, and the men of Munster followed after +him, as if with one accord; and their households (hillocks? <I>telcha</I>) +followed them, to go after Patrick. Patrick thereupon blessed the +households (hillocks?), and they remained in their places. +</P> + +<P> +Where the men of Munster overtook Patrick, men, youths, and women, was at +Brosnacha, when they raised great shouts of joy at seeing him; hence it +is called Brosnacha. It was here Patrick resuscitated Fot, son of Derad, +a Munsterman, who had been twenty-seven years dead. It was here, too, he +blessed the banquet of the youth at Craibhecha, with Bishop Trian, a +pilgrim of the Romans, by which the men of Munster were satisfied, and +the saints of Eri besides. He again bade farewell to the men of Munster, +and gave them his blessing, saying: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"A blessing on the men of Munaani<BR> +Men, sons, women.<BR> +A blessing on the land<BR> +That gives them food.<BR> +A blessing on all treasures<BR> +Produced upon the plains.<BR> +A blessing upon Munster.<BR> +A blessing on their woods<BR> +And on their sloping plains.<BR> +A blessing on their glens.<BR> +A blessing on their hills.<BR> +As the sands of the seas under ships--<BR> +So numerous be their homesteads,<BR> +In slopes, in plains,<BR> +In mountains, in peaks,<BR> + A blessing."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Patrick afterwards went to the territory of Hy-Failge, and Foilge Berrad +boasted that, if he met Patrick, he would kill him, in revenge of the +idol Cenn Cruach; for it was this that was a god to Foilge. This boast +of Foilge was kept back from Patrick by his people. One day Odran, his +charioteer, said to Patrick: "Since I have been a long time driving for +you, O Patrick! let me take the chief seat for this day. Be you the +charioteer, O father!" Patrick did so. After this Foilge came, who +dealt a thrust through Odran, in the guise of Patrick. "My curse," said +Patrick. "Upon the tree of Bridam," said Odran. "Be it so," replied +Patrick. Foilge died at once, and went to hell. As to Foilge Ross, +indeed, it is his children who are in the district at this day; and +Patrick blessed him, and from him is the sovereignty of the district +filled for ever. +</P> + +<P> +On one occasion, as Patrick was going the way of Midluachair, in order to +come to Uladh, he met carpenters cutting down trunks of yew. Patrick saw +their blood ooze from their palms in the operation. "Whence are ye?" +said Patrick. "We are slaves belonging to Trian, son of Fiac, son of +Amalgad—<I>i.e.</I>, brother to Trichem—who are in subjection and +affliction, so much so that we are not allowed to sharpen our axes +(irons), in order that our work may be the heavier and more difficult, so +that blood flows from our hands." Patrick blessed the irons, so that +they could easily cut with them; and he went to the king, to Trian's +fort. Patrick fasts on him. He disobeyed. He returns on the morrow +from the fort. He spat on the rock which was there on his way, so that +it broke into three pieces; one third part was cast to a distance of one +thousand paces. Patrick said: "Two-thirds of the fast on the rock, +another third on the fort and king, and on the district. There will not +be a king nor <I>roydamhna</I> of the children of Trian. He shall die +prematurely himself, and shall go down to a bitter hell." The wife of +the king came, following Patrick. She performed penance, and knelt. +Patrick blessed her womb and the beings in it—<I>i.e.</I>, Setna, son of +Trian, and Iarlaid, son of Trian. Sechnall that baptized Setna, Patrick +that baptized Iarlaid, and Patrick said that he would be his successor +afterwards. Trian himself proceeded to bind and maltreat the slaves who +reported him. His horses bore him off in the chariot, and his driver, so +that they went into the lake. Loch-Trena is its name. This was his last +fall. He will not arise out of the lake till the vespers of judgment; +and it will not be to happiness even then. There was a certain wicked +man in the country of Uladh—<I>i.e.</I>, Magh-Inis—at that time, an impious +man, and a son of death—<I>i.e.</I>, Mac Cuill—who was plundering and +killing the people. On one occasion Patrick and his companions passed by +him a certain day, and he desired to kill Patrick. This is what he (Mac +Cuill) said to his followers: "Behold the <I>tailcenn</I> and false prophet, +who is deceiving every one; let us arise and make an attack on him, to +see if perhaps his God will assist him." This is what they planned +afterwards: to bring one of their people on a bier, as if dead, to be +resuscitated by Patrick, and to deceive Patrick; and they threw a cover +over his body and over his face. "Cure," said they to Patrick, "our +companion for us, and beseech your God to awake him from death." "My +<I>debroth</I>," said Patrick, "I would not wonder if he were dead." Garban +was the name of the man; and it is of him Patrick said: "The covering of +Garban shall be the covering of a dead body; but I shall tell you more: +it is Garban who will be under it." His friends removed the covering +from his face, so that they found it so. They afterwards became mute, +and then said: "Truly this is a man of God." They all believed at once. +Mac Cuill believed also; and he went on sea in a cot of one hide, by the +command of Patrick. Garban was awakened from death through the prayers +of Patrick. Mac Cuill, however, went that very day on sea, and his right +hand towards Magh-Inis, until he reached Manann; and he found two +venerable persons before him on the island. It was they who preached the +word of God in Manann, and it is through their teaching that the people +of that island were baptized and believed; their names are Coninnri and +Romael. When those men saw Mac Cuill in his cot, they took him off the +sea; they received him kindly; and he learned the divine knowledge with +them, and spent his whole time with them, until he got the episcopacy of +the place after them. This is Mac Cuill, of Mann, famous bishop and +abbot. May his holy favor assist us! +</P> + +<P> +One time Patrick slept on a Sunday, on a hill over the sea, at Drombo, +when he heard the noise of Gentiles digging a rath on the Sabbath. He +called them, and told them to cease. They heeded him not, but began to +mock him. And Patrick said: "My <I>debroth</I>, your labor shall not profit +you." This was fulfilled; for on the following night a great tempest +arose and destroyed their work, according to the word of Patrick. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick said to Eochaidh, son of Muiredach that there should never be a +king from him, nor enough of his race to constitute an assembly or army +in Ulster, but that his tribe would be scattered and dispersed, that his +own life would be short, and that he would meet a tragic fate. This was +the cause Patrick had against Eochaidh, as the learned say: Two virgins, +who had offered their virginity to the Lord, he bound and sent on the +waves to be drowned, as they refused to adore idols and to marry. When +Patrick heard this, he besought the king regarding them, but in vain. +"Your brother Cairell has got thy luck, since he granted me a good +request," said Patrick, "and you have lost it through your disobedience. +He (Cairell) shall be a king, and there shall be kings and chiefs of his +race over your children and over all Ulster"; so that of him sprang the +race of kings, and of his son Deman, son of Cairell, son of Muiredhach, +according to the words of Patrick. Eochaidh's wife cast herself at the +feet of Patrick. He baptized her, and blessed the child in her +womb—<I>i.e.</I>, the excellent and illustrious son, Domangart, the son of +Eochaidh. He it was whom Patrick left in his body, and he will be there +for ever. He turned back to the Fera-Ross, and commenced a church in +Druim-Mor, in the territory of Ross, over Cluain-Cain. It was here the +angel went to him and said: "It is not here you have been destined to +stay." "Where shall I go?" said Patrick. "Pass on to Macha northwards," +said the angel. "The <I>cluain</I> below is fairer," replied Patrick. "Be +its name Cluain-Cain" (<I>fair cluain</I>), answered the angel. "A pilgrim of +the Britons shall come and occupy there, and it shall be yours +afterwards." "<I>Deo gratias ago</I>," said Patrick. Where Patrick went then +was to Ard-Phadraig, on the east of Lughmadh, and he proposed to build an +establishment there. The Dal-Runter went after him to keep him, as one +presented him to another. He blessed them afterwards, and prophesied +that distinguished chiefs and clerics should be of them, and that they +should have possessions outside their territory, because they went forth +out of their own country after him. Patrick used to come every day from +the east, from Ard-Phadraig, and Mochta used to come from the west, from +Lughmadh, that they might converse together every day at Leac-Moctae. +One day the angel placed an epistle between them. Patrick read the +epistle, and what was in it was: "Mochta, the devoted, the believing, let +him be in the place he has taken." Patrick goes, by the order of his +king, to smooth Macha, and he assigned the twelve lepers left in +Ard-Phadraig to Mochta, and their food used to be given to them each +night by Mochta. Patrick went afterwards to the <I>macha</I>, by order of the +angel, to a place where Rath-Daire is this day. There was a certain +prosperous and venerable person there. Daire was his name—<I>i.e.</I>, +Daire, son of Finchad, son of Eogan, son of Niallan. Patrick asked for a +site for his <I>regles</I> from him. Daire answered: "What place do you +desire?" "In this great hillock below," says Patrick, where Ardmacha is +to-day. "I will not give it," said Daire, "but I will give you a site +for your <I>regles</I> in the strong rath below," where the <I>ferta</I> are +to-day. Patrick founded a church there, and remained a long time. One +day two steeds of Daire's were brought to him, to his <I>regles</I>, for the +<I>relig</I> was grassy. Patrick became very angry. The horses died at once. +His servant told this to Daire, saying: "That Christian," said he, +"killed your steeds, because they ate the grass that was in his +<I>regles</I>." Daire was angry at this, and ordered his servants to plunder +the cleric, and expel him from his place—<I>i.e.</I>, the <I>ferta</I>. A colic +seized on Daire immediately, so that death was near him. His wife +recalled the plunder of Patrick, and told Daire that the cause of his +death was the attack on Patrick. She sent messengers to beg prayer-water +for Daire from Patrick. Patrick said: "Only for what the woman has done, +there would never be any resurrection from death for Daire." Patrick +blessed the water, and gave it to the servants, with orders to have it +sprinkled over the horses and over Daire. They did so, and immediately +they all returned from death. A brazen caldron was brought to Patrick as +an offering from Daire. "<I>Deo gratias</I>," said Patrick. Daire asked his +servants what Patrick said. They answered, "<I>Gratzicum</I>." "This is +little reward for a good offering and a good caldron," said Daire. He +ordered his cauldron to be brought to him. "<I>Deo gratias</I>," said +Patrick. Daire asked what Patrick said when they were bringing the +caldron from him. The servants answered: "It was the same thing he said +when we were bringing it away from him—<I>Gratzicum</I>." "This is a good +word with them, this <I>Gratzicum</I>," said Daire; "<I>Gratzicum</I> when giving +it to him, and <I>Gratzicum</I> when taking it away from him." Daire and his +wife then went with his submission to Patrick, and gave Patrick the +caldron willingly back again, and the hill which he before asked; and +Patrick accepted and blessed them, and founded a church in that place +called Ard-Macha. Patrick and his divines, and Daire, with the nobles of +Airther besides, came to the hill to mark out its boundaries, and to +bless it, and consecrate it. They found a doe, with its fawn, in the +place where the Sabhall is to-day, and his people went to kill it. +<I>Prohibuit Patricius, et dixit, "Serviat sibi postea</I>," and sent it out +of the hill northward, to the place where Telac-na-licce is to-day, <I>ibi +magna mirabilia fecit</I>. +</P> + +<P> +Daire's daughter loved the person Benen; sweet to her was the sound of +his voice in chanting. Disease seized her, so that she died of it. +Benen carried <I>cretra</I> to her from Patrick, and she suddenly afterwards +arose alive, and loved him spiritually. She is Ercnait, the daughter of +Daire, who is in Tamlaght-bo. +</P> + +<P> +One time there came nine daughters of the King of the Longbards and the +daughter of the King of Britain on a pilgrimage to Patrick; they stopped +at the east side of Ard-Macha, where Coll-na-ningean is to-day. There +came messengers from them to Patrick to know if they should proceed to +him. Patrick said to the messengers that three of the maidens would go +to heaven, and in that place (<I>i.e.</I>, Coll-na-ningean) their sepulchre +is. "And let the other maidens go to Druim-fenneda, and let one of them +proceed as far as that hill in the east." And so it was done. +</P> + +<P> +Cruimthir went afterwards, and occupied Cengobd; and Benen used to carry +fragments of food to her every night from Patrick. And Patrick planted +an apple-tree in Achadh-na-elti, which he took from the fort, in the +north of the place—<I>i.e.</I>, Cengoba; and hence the place is called +Abhall-Patrick, in Cengoba. It was the milk of this doe, moreover, that +used to be given to the lap-dog that was near the maiden—<I>i.e.</I>, +Cruimthir. +</P> + +<P> +Another time, when Patrick was at rest in the end of night, at +Tiprad-Cernai, in Tir-Tipraid, the angel went to him and awoke him. +Patrick said to him: "Is there anything in which I have offended God, or +is His anger upon me?" "No," said the angel; "and you are informed from +God," added the angel, "if it is it you desire, that there shall be no +share for any else in Eriu, but for you alone. And the extent of the +termon of your see from God is to Droma-Bregh, and to Sliabh-Mis, and to +Bri-Airghi." Patrick replied: "My <I>debroth</I>, truly," said Patrick, "sons +of life will come after me, and I wish they may have honor from God in +the country after me." The angel responded: "That is manifest. And God +gave all Eriu to you," said the angel, "and every noble that will be in +Eriu shall belong to you." "<I>Deo gratias</I>," said Patrick. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick was enraged against his sister—<I>i.e.</I>, Lupait—for committing +the sin of adultery, so that she was pregnant in consequence. When +Patrick came into the church from the eastern side, Lupait went to meet +him, until she prostrated herself before the chariot, in the place where +the cross is in Both-Archall. "The chariot over her," said Patrick. The +chariot passed over her thrice, for she used still to come in front of +it; so that where she went to heaven was at the Ferta; and she was buried +by Patrick, and her <I>ecnaire</I> (requiem) was sung. Colman, grandson of +Ailill, of the Ui-Bresail, that fixed his attention on Lupait at Imduail. +Aedan, son of Colman, saint of Inis-Lothair, was the son of Lupait and +Colman. Lupait implored of Patrick that he would not take away heaven +from Colman with his progeny. Patrick did not take it away; but he said +they would be sickly. Of the children of this Colman, moreover, are the +Ui-Faelain and Ui-Dubhdara. +</P> + +<P> +One time Patrick's people were cutting corn in Trian-Conchobhair. They +were seized with great thirst, whereupon a vessel of whey was taken to +them from Patrick, who persuaded them to observe abstinence from tierce +to vesper time. It happened that one of them died; and he was the first +man that was buried by Patrick—<I>i.e.</I>, Colman Itadach, at the cross by +the door of Patrick's house. What Patrick said when it was told to him +was: "My <I>debroth</I>, there will be abundance of food and ale and +prosperity in this city after us." +</P> + +<P> +Once the angels went, and took from off the road the stone which was +before the chariot, and its name is Lec-na-naingel. It was from that +place—<I>i.e.</I>, from Druim-Chaile—that Patrick with his two hands blessed +the <I>macha</I>. The way in which Patrick measured the rath—<I>i.e.</I>, the +angel before him, and Patrick behind, with his people, and with the holy +men of Eriu, and the Bachall Isa in Patrick's hand. And he said that +great would be the crime of any one who would transgress in it, as the +reward would be great of such as fulfilled the will of God in it. +</P> + +<P> +The way in which Patrick measured the <I>ferta</I> was thus, viz., one hundred +and forty feet in the <I>lis</I>, and twenty feet in the great house, and +seventeen feet in the kitchen, and seven feet in the chamber; and it was +thus he always constructed the establishment. +</P> + +<P> +The angel went to Patrick in Ard-Macha. "This day," said he, "the relics +of the apostles are distributed in Rome throughout the four parts of the +globe; and it would be becoming in you that you should go there." And +the angel bore Patrick in the air. At the southern cross, in +Aenach-Macha, it was that four chariots were brought to Patrick; at the +northern cross, moreover, it was that God manifested to him the form he +will have in the Day of Judgment. And he went in one day to +Comur-tri-nuisce. He left Sechnall in the episcopacy with the men of +Eriu until the ship would come which would bear him from the shore of +Letha. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick went subsequently, and arrived at Rome; and sleep came over the +inhabitants of Rome, so that Patrick brought away a sufficiency of the +relics. These relics were afterwards taken to Ard-Macha with the consent +of God and with the consent of the men of Eriu. +</P> + +<P> +What was brought were the relics of three hundred and sixty-five martyrs, +and the relics of Peter and Paul, and Lawrence, and Stephen, and of many +more; and a cloth in which was the blood of Christ and the hair of the +Virgin Mary. Patrick left this collection in Armagh, according to the +will of God, of the angel, and of the men of Eriu. +</P> + +<P> +His relics—the relics of Letha—were stolen from Patrick. Messengers +went from him to the Abbot of Rome. They brought an epistle from him, +directing that they should watch the relics with lamps and torches by +night for ever, and with Mass and psalmody by day, and prayers by night, +and that they should elevate them every year (for multitudes desired to +see them). +</P> + +<P> +Two brothers of the Ulstermen, Dubhan and Dubhaedh, stole Patrick's two +garrons from the land (<I>tir</I>) to the east of the Nemhed +(Tir-suidhe-Patrick is its name). They carried them off into the moor to +the south. Dubhan said; "I will not take what belongs to the +<I>tailcenn</I>." "I will take what comes to me," said Dubhaedh. Dubhan went +and did penance. "Your comrade's journey is not a good one," said +Patrick. He got a fall, so that his head was broken, and he died. +Dubhan became a disciple, and was ordained; and Patrick said: "Here thy +resurrection shall be." Another time, in carrying a bag of wheat from +Setna, son of Dallan, to Patrick, the manna which dropped from heaven, in +a desert place, over Druim-mic-Ublae, Patrick's horse [fell] under it. A +grain of the wheat dropped out of the bag, and the horse could not rise +until there came from Patrick. "This is the reason," said Patrick +through prophecy, "a grain of wheat that fell out of the sack, in the +spot where the cross is on the way southwards to the Nemhed." "Nenihed +then will be the name of the place where the horse stopped," said +Patrick; and so it is. +</P> + +<P> +Another time Sechnall went to Armagh, and Patrick was not there. He saw +before him two of Patrick's horses unyoked, and he said: "It were fitter +to send those horses to the bishop—<I>i.e.</I>, to Fiacc." When Patrick +returned, this thing was told to him. The chariot was attached to the +horses; and he sent them on without a man with them until they were in +the disert with Mochta. They went right-hand-wise on the morrow to +Domhnach-Sechnaill. They then went eastwardly to Cill-Auxili. They went +afterwards to Cill-monach; then, after that, to Fiacc to Sleibhte. The +reason for giving the chariot to Fiacc was because he used to go every +Whit-Saturday as far as the hill of Druim-Coblai, where he had a cave. +Five cakes with him, as report says. On Easter-Saturday he used to come +to Sleibhte, and used to bring with him a bit of his five cakes. The +cause of giving the chariot to Fiacc was that a chafer had gnawed his +leg, so that death was nigh unto him. +</P> + +<P> +Sechnall said to Patrick: "When shall I make a hymn of praise for thee?" +"You are not required," observed Patrick. "I have not said to thee, +'Shall it be done?'" said Sechnall, "for it will be done, truly." "My +<I>debroth</I>," said Patrick, "it is time it were finished now"; for Patrick +knew that it would not be long until Sechnall's time [arrived], for he +was the first bishop who went under the clay of Eriu. +</P> + +<P> +When he was composing the hymn, they were holding an assembly near him. +It was commanded to them from him that they should go away from the +place. They began to mock him. He told them that the ground would +swallow them; and it swallowed twelve chariots of them at once. Sechnall +said to Patrick's people at Ferta-Marta: "A good man is Patrick, but for +one thing." When he heard these words with his people, he asked Sechnall +for the previous message, and Sechnall said; "O my lord! the reason I +have said it is because little do you preach of charity." "Young man," +said Patrick, "it is for charity that I preach not charity; for if I did +preach it, I would not leave a stud of two chariot horses to any of the +saints, present or future, in this island; for all belong to me and them." +</P> + +<P> +Sechnall went with his hymn to Patrick, and Patrick went along +Belach-Midhluachra into the territory of Conaille. He returned along the +mountain westwards. He met Sechnall. They saluted one another. "I +should like that you would hear a [hymn of] praise which I have made for +a certain man of God," said Sechnall. "The praise of the people of God +is welcome," answered Patrick. Sechnall thereupon began "Beata Christi +custodit," fearing that Patrick would prohibit him at once if he heard +his name. When he sang "Maximus namque," Patrick arose. The place where +he sang so far is called Elda. "Wait," said Sechnall, "until we reach a +secret place which is near us; it is there the remainder will be +recited." Patrick enquired on the way how "Maximus in regno coelorum" +could be said of a man. Sechnall replied: "It [<I>maximus</I>] is put for the +positive [<I>magnus</I>]," or because he excelled the men of his race of the +Britons or Scoti. They came then to a place called Dal-Muine, where he, +Patrick, prayed and sat; and Sechnall afterwards sang the remainder of +the hymn; and Patrick heard his name, and thereupon thanked him. Three +pieces of cheese, and butter, were brought up to him from a religious +couple—viz., Berach and Brig. "Here is for the young men," said the +woman. "Good," said Patrick. A druid came there, whose name was +Gall-drui ("foreign druid"), who said: "I will believe in you if you +convert the pieces of cheese into stones"; which God performed through +Patrick. "Again convert them into cheese"; and he did. "Convert them +into stones again"; and he did. "Convert them again." Patrick said: +"No, but they will be as they are, in commemoration, until the servant of +God, who is Dicuill of the Ernaidhe, shall come here." The druid +(<I>magus</I>) believed. +</P> + +<P> +Patrick flung his little bell under a dense bush there. A birch grew +through its handle. This it was that Dicuill found, the <I>betechan</I>, +Patrick's bell—a little iron bell—which is in the Ernaidhe of Dicuill. +And two of the stones made of the cheese are there; the third one was, +moreover, carried by Dicuill to Lughmagh when he was abbot there. It is +to-day in Gort-Conaidh. +</P> + +<P> +Sechnall asked something for the hymn. "As many as there are hairs in +your <I>casula</I>," said Patrick, "if they are pupils of yours, and violate +not rules, shall be saved. The clay of your abode has also been +sanctified by God," said Patrick. "That will be received," said +Sechnall. "Whosoever of the men of Eriu," said Patrick, "shall recite +the three last chapters, or the three last lines, or the three last +words, just before death, with pure mind, his soul will be saved." "<I>Deo +gratias ago</I>," said Sechnall. Colman Ela recited it in his refectory +thrice. Patrick stood in the middle of the house, when a certain +plebeian asked, "Have we no other prayer that we could recite except +this?" And Patrick went out afterwards. Cainnech, on the sea, in the +south, saw the black cloud of devils passing over him. "Come here on +your way," said Cainnech. The demons subsequently came, stating, "We +went to meet the soul of a certain rich rustic observing the festival of +Patrick; but his sons and people ate, and he sang two or three chapters +of the hymn of Patrick; and, by your dignity, we thought it more a satire +than praise of Patrick as they sang it; but by it we have been +vanquished." +</P> + +<P> +The miracles of Patrick are these—viz.: The hound in the territory of +Gailenga, at Telach-Maine; the buck speaking out of the bodies of the +thieves in the territory of Ui-Meith; the travelling of the garron +without any guide to Druimmic-Ublae, when he lay down beside the grain of +wheat; the chariot, without a charioteer, [going] from Armagh to +Sleibhte; the appearance of the King of Britain in the form of a fox in +his country, an ever-living miracle; a part of Aenach-Tailten, from which +nothing dead is taken; the King of Cashel not to be killed by wounding, +provided that he be of the race of Aenghus, son of Nad-fraech; these bare +residences not to lie demolished—viz., Rath-Airthir, and Sen-domhnach of +Magh-Ai ("<I>Eccor Sen-domhnaigh</I>" is an old saying); Dun-Sobhairce charmed +to the herenaghs—viz., an altar-sop with the Forbraige; and the +<I>dominica</I> of Naas, and Magh-itir-da-glas in Macha; the navigation from +Bertlach to Bertlach of Calry-Cuile-Cernadha; the streams which the +<I>gilla</I> blessed at Drob-hais; the take [of fish] at Eastern Bann; the +take at Sligo every quarter [of the year]; the Samer, which goes from the +loughs of Erne to the sea—its eastern half, against Cenel-Conaill, is +fruitful; its western part, towards Cenel-Cairbre, is unfruitful, through +Patrick's word; Finn-glas, at the martyr-house of Druim-Cain, and +Druim-Cruachni; the taking of his kingship from Laeghaire, from Cairbre, +from Fiacha, from Maine; the grant of his kingship to Eoghan, to Conall, +to Crimthann, to Conall Erball; the smiths making the bells—<I>i.e.</I>, Mac +Cecht, and Cuana, and Mac Tail; the artificers making the dishes and +reliquaries and the altar chalices—viz., Tassach, and Essa, and Bitiu; +the nuns making the altar-cloths—viz., Cochnass, and Tigris, and Lupait, +and Darerca. +</P> + +<P> +After these great miracles, however, the day of Patrick's death and of +his going to heaven approached. What he began to do was to go to Armagh, +that it might be there his resurrection would be. The angel Victor came +to him. What he said to Patrick was: "It is not there thy resurrection +has been decreed; go back to the place from whence you came (<I>i.e.</I>, to +the Sabhall), for it is there God has decreed that you shall die—not in +Macha. God has granted thee," said the angel, "that thy dignity and +rule, thy devotion and teaching, shall be in Ard-Macha, as if thou +thyself wert alive there." +</P> + +<P> +The angel left advice with Patrick as to how he would be buried, saying: +"Let two young, active oxen be brought," said he, "of the herds of +Conall, from Finnabndir—<I>i.e.</I>, from Clochar; and let your body be +placed in a wagon after them; and what way soever these young oxen go by +themselves, and the place where they will stop, let it be there your +interment shall be; and let there be a man's cubit in your grave, that +your remains be not taken out of it." It was so done after his death. +The oxen carried him to the place where to-day is Dun-da-leth-glas; and +he was buried there with all honor and respect. And for a space of +twelve nights—<I>i.e.</I>, whilst the divines were waking him with hymns and +psalms and canticles—there was no night in Magh-inis, but angelic light +there; and some say there was light in Magh-inis for the space of a year +after Patrick's death, quia nulli adanti viri meritum declarandum +accidisse dubium est, et ita non visa nox in tota ilia regione in tempore +luctus Patricii, qualiter Ezechiae langenti in horologio Achaz +demonstrato sanitatis indicio, sol per xv lineas reversus est, et sic sol +contra Gabon, et luna contra vallem Achilon stetit. +</P> + +<P> +In the first night the angels of the Lord of the elements were watching +Patrick's body with spiritual chants. The fragrant odors of the divine +grace which issued from the holy body, and the music of the angels, gave +tranquillity and joy to the chief clerics of the men of Erin who were +watching the body on the nights following; so that the blessing of Jacob +to his son was kept regarding him—<I>i.e.</I>, "Ecce odor filii mei sicut +odor agri pleni, quem benedixit dicens," etc. +</P> + +<P> +There was, moreover, a great attempt at conflict and battle between the +provinces of Erin—viz., the Ulidians and the Ui-Neill and +Airghialla—contending for Patrick's body. The Airghialla and Ui-Neill +were trying to take it to Ard-Macha; the Ulidians were for keeping it +with themselves. Then the Ui-Neill went to a certain water [river] +there, when the river rose against them through the power of God. When +the flood left the river, the hosts proceeded to quarrel—viz., the +Ui-Neill and the Ulidians. It appeared then to each party of them that +they were bringing the body to their own country, so that God separated +them in this wise through the grace of Patrick. +</P> + +<P> +The miracles so far shall be unto to-day. They are the miracles which +the divines of Eriu heard, and which they put into order of narration. +Colum-Cille, the son of Fedhlimidh, firstly, narrated and compiled the +miracles of Patrick; Ultan, the descendant of Conchobhar; Adamnan, the +grandson of Atinne; Eleran the wise; Ciaran of Belach-Duin; Bishop +Ermedach of Clogher; Colman Uamach; and Cruimther Collaith of +Druim-Roilgech. +</P> + +<P> +A just man, indeed, was this man; with purity of nature like the +patriarchs; a true pilgrim like Abraham; gentle and forgiving of heart +like Moses; a praiseworthy psalmist like David; an emulator of wisdom +like Solomon; a chosen vessel for proclaiming truth like the Apostle +Paul. A man full of grace and of the knowledge of the Holy Ghost like +the beloved John. A fair flower-garden to children of grace; a fruitful +vine-branch. A sparkling fire, with force of warmth and heat to the sons +of life, for instituting and illustrating charity. A lion in strength +and power; a dove in gentleness and humility. A serpent in wisdom and +cunning to do good. Gentle, humble, merciful towards sons of life; dark, +ungentle towards sons of death. A servant of labor and service of +Christ. A king in dignity and power for binding and loosening, for +liberating and convicting, for killing and giving life. +</P> + +<P> +After these great miracles, therefore—<I>i.e.</I>, after resuscitating the +dead; after healing lepers, and the blind, and the deaf, and the lame, +and all diseases; after ordaining bishops, and priests, and deacons, and +people of all orders in the Church; after teaching the men of Eriu, and +after baptizing them; after founding churches and monasteries; after +destroying idols and images and druidical arts—the hour of death of St. +Patrick approached. He received the Body of Christ from the bishop, from +Tassach, according to the advice of the angel Victor. He resigned his +spirit afterwards to heaven, in the one hundred and twentieth year of his +age. His body is here still in the earth, with honor and reverence. +Though great his honor here, greater honor which will be to him in the +Day of Judgment, when judgment will be given on the fruits of his +teaching, like every great apostle, in the union of the apostles and +disciples of Jesus; in the union of the nine orders of angels, which +cannot be surpassed; in the union of the divinity and humanity of the Son +of God; in the union which is higher than all unions—in the union of the +Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. I beseech mercy through the +intercession of Patrick. May we all arrive at that union; may we enjoy +it for ever and ever. Amen. +</P> + +<P> +These miracles, then, which we have related, the Lord performed for +Patrick. Though one should attempt to recount them, he could not. +Nevertheless, they are but a few of many related in commemoration; for +there is no one who could remember them all. And there is no writer who +could write all the prodigies and miracles he wrought in the countries he +reached. +</P> + +<P> +After the foundation, then, of numerous churches; after the consecration +of monasteries; after baptizing the men of Eriu; after great abstinence +and great labor; after destroying idols and images; after degrading +numerous kings who would not obey him, and raising up those who obeyed +him; and after he had three hundred and fifty or three hundred and +seventy bishops; and after ordaining three thousand priests and persons +of all other orders in the Church; after fasting and prayer; after +showing mercy and mildness; after gentleness and sweetness towards sons +of life; after the love of God and his neighbor, he received the body of +Christ from the bishop, from Tassach; and he afterwards resigned his +spirit to heaven. His body, lowever, is here on earth still, with honor +and reverence. And though great his honor here, his honor will be +greater in the Day of Judgment, when he will shine like a sun in heaven, +and when judgment will be given regarding the fruit of his teaching, like +Peter or Paul. He will be afterwards in the union of the patriarchs and +prophets; in the union of the saints and virgins of the world; in the +union of the apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ; in the union of the +Church, both of heaven and earth; in the union of the nine orders of +heaven, which cannot be surpassed; in the union of the divinity and +humanity of the Son of God; in the union which excels every union—in the +union of the Trinity, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, for +ever and ever. Amen. I beseech the mercy of God, through the +intercession of Patrick. May we all reach that union; may we deserve it; +may we inhabit it for ever and ever. +</P> + +<P> +These are the four-and-twenty who were in orders with Patrick—viz., +Sechnall, his bishop; Mochta, his priest; Bishop Ere, his brehon; Bishop +MacCairthen, his strong man; Benen, his psalmist; Caemhan of Cill-Ruada, +his youth; Sinell, from Cill-Daresis, his bell-ringer; Athgein of +Both-Domhnach, his cook; Cruimther Mescan, from Domhnach-Mescan at +Fochan, his brewer; Cruimther Bescna, from Domhnach-Dala, his +mass-priest; Cruimther Catan and Cruimther Ocan, his two waiters; Odhran, +from Disert-Odhran in Hy-Failghe, his charioteer; Cruimther Manach, his +wood-man; Rodan, his shepherd; his three smiths, MacCecht, Laeban from +Domhnach-Laebhan (who made the Findfaithnech), and Fortchern in +Rath-Adiné. Essa and Bite and Tassach were his three artists. His three +embroiderers were Lupait, and Ere, daughter of Daire, and Cruimthiris in +Cenn-Gobha. And this is the number that were in the company of Joseph; +and it is the number that is allowed at the table of the King of Cashel, +down from the time of Fedhlimidh, son of Crimthann—<I>i.e.</I>, the king of +the two provinces of Munster, etc. +</P> + +<P> +The Annals of the Lord Jesus Christ, the year this Life of St. Patrick +was written, 1477; and to-morrow will be Lammas Night. And in +Baile-in-Miónín, in the house of O'Troightigh, this was written by +Domhnall Albanach O'Troightigh; et Deo gratias Jesu. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE PROEME OF JOCELIN. +</H3> + +<P> +It has been, from ancient times, the object and the design of most +writers to perpetuate, with a pen worthy of their virtues, the lives of +holy men, that the fervor of sanctity so deserving our veneration might +not be buried in oblivion, but rather that it might shine before all as +in a glass, to the end that posterity might imitate its brightness—as +was commanded from above, that in the breast-plate of the chief priest +the names of the twelve patriarchs, the sons of Israel, should be +engraven on twelve precious stones, so that by the sight thereof the +faithful might be moved to imitate the acts of the holy fathers; for it +is most fitting that of those in whose titles we glory, in whose +praises we delight, by whose patronage we are protected, we should +endeavor to conform to the manners, and be confirmed by the examples; +but since the dearth of literature has so much increased, and the +slothfulness to learning so much abounded, very many, fools and +ignorant persons, have ofttimes, lest they should perish from the +memory of the faithful, written the lives of the saints, certainly with +a pious intent, but in a most unhandsome style. Wherefore, in reading +the lives and acts of the saints composed in a rude manner or barbarous +dialect, disgust is often excited, and not seldom tardiness of belief. +And hence it is that the life of the most glorious priest Patrick, the +patron and apostle of Ireland, so illustrious in signs and miracles, +being frequently written by illiterate persons, through the confusion +and obscurity of the style, is by most people neither liked nor +understood, but is held in weariness and contempt. Charity therefore +urging us, we will endeavor, by reducing them to order, to collect what +are confused, when collected to compose them into a volume, and, when +composed, to season them, if not with all the excellence of our +language, at least with some of its elegance. To this our endeavor the +instruction of the threefold instrument which is described to belong to +the candlestick of the tabernacle giveth aid; for we find therein the +tongs, the extinguisher, and the oil-cruse, which we must properly use, +if, in describing the lives of the saints, who shone in their +conversation and example like the candlestick before the Lord, we +should labor to clear away the superfluous, extinguish the false, and +illuminate the obscure, which, though by the devotion we have toward +St. Patrick we are bound to do, yet are we thereto enjoined by the +commands of the most reverend Thomas, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate +of all Ireland, and of Malachy, the Bishop of Down; and to these are +added the request of John de Courcy, the most illustrious Prince of +Ulidia, who is known to be the most especial admirer and honorer of St. +Patrick, and whom we think it most becoming to obey. But if any snake +in the way, or serpent in the path, watching our steps, shall rashly +accuse us herein of presumption, and shall attack our hand with viper +tooth, yet do we, with the blessed Paul, collect the vine-twigs for the +fire, and cast the viper into the flame. Wherefore, in describing the +saints that sleep, which were the branches of the true vine, so that +the minds of the faithful may be inflamed toward the love and belief of +Christ, we little regard the tongue of the scorner and of the +slanderer; for if we are to be judged of such, with the apostle setting +them at small account, we commit all to the divine judgment. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-135"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG SRC="images/img-135.jpg" ALT="The Saint Patrick of Our Own Century." BORDER="2" WIDTH="360" HEIGHT="500"> +<H4> +[Illustration: The Saint Patrick of Our Own Century.] +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6001"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE LIFE AND ACTS OF ST. PATRICK. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BY JOCELIN. +</H3> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I. +</H3> + +<P> +There was once a man named Calphurnius, the son of Potitus, a +presbyter, by nation a Briton, living in the village Taburnia (that is, +the field of the tents, for that the Roman army had there pitched their +tents), near the town of Empthor, and his habitation was nigh unto the +Irish Sea. This man married a French damsel named Conchessa, niece of +the blessed Martin, Archbishop of Tours; and the damsel was elegant in +her form and in her manners, for, having been brought from France with +her elder sister into the northern parts of Britain, and there sold at +the command of her father, Calphurnius, being pleased with her manners, +charmed with her attentions, and attracted with her beauty, very much +loved her, and, from the state of a serving-maid in his household, +raised her to be his companion in wedlock. And her sister, having been +delivered unto another man, lived in the aforementioned town of Empthor. +</P> + +<P> +And Calphurnius and his wife were both just before God, walking without +offence in the justifications of the Lord; and they were eminent in +their birth, and in their faith, and in their hope, and in their +religion. And though in their outward habit and abiding they seemed to +serve under the yoke of Babylon, yet did they in their acts and in +their conversation show themselves to be citizens of Jerusalem. +Therefore, out of the earth of their flesh, being freed from the tares +of sin and from the noxious weeds of vice by the ploughshare of +evangelic and apostolic learning, and being fruitful in the growth of +all virtues, did they, as the best and richest fruit, bring forth a +son, whom, when he had at the holy font put off the old man, they +caused to be named Patricius, as being the future father and patron of +many nations; of whom, even at his baptism, the God which is three in +one was pleased, by the sign of a threefold miracle, to declare how +pure a vessel of election should he prove, and how devoted a worshipper +of the Holy Trinity. But after a little while, this happy birth being +completed, they vowed themselves by mutual consent unto chastity, and +with an holy end rested in the Lord. But Calphurnius first served God +a long time in the deaconship, and at length closed his days in the +priesthood. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6002"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How a Fountain burst forth, and how Sight and Learning <BR> +were given to the Blind.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +A certain man named Gormas, who had been blind even from his mother's +womb, heard in a dream a voice commanding him that he should take the +hand of the boy Patrick, then lately baptized, and make on the ground +the sign of the cross—adding that at the touch a new fountain would +burst forth, with the water whereof, if he bathed his eyes, he would +forthwith receive his sight. And the blind man, instructed by the +divine oracle, went to the little boy, made with his right hand on the +ground the sign of salvation, and immediately did a new fountain burst +forth. And his darkened eyes, being bathed with this healing stream, +perceived the day poured in, and the virtue of Siloe renewed; and, +<I>that the mercies of the Lord might be acknowledged, and the wonders +that he doeth for the children of men</I>, while the outward blindness of +Gormas was enlightened, his inward sight received the revealing gift of +science; and he who was before unlearned, having experienced the power +of the Lord, read and understood the Scriptures, and as by the outward +mercy from being blind he became able to see, so by the inward grace +from unlearned he became learned. But the fountain flowing forward +with a more abundant stream, even unto this day pouring forth its clear +waters, sweet to the draught and wholesome to the taste, is honored +with the name of Saint Patrick, and, as is said, gives health or relief +to many laboring with divers diseases; and it rises near the seaside, +and over it the devotion of posterity has erected an oratory, with an +altar built in the form of a cross. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6003"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Stone of Saint Patrick.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +Near this place is a stone which the inhabitants call Saint Patrick's +Rock; for some believe that he was born thereon, and others that on it +he celebrated Mass. As often as any controversy arises between the +villagers or the neighbors which is thought fit to be determined by an +oath, it is brought to this stone, and there, the sacrament being +taken, the cause is decided. But if any perjurer or false witness laid +his hand thereon, immediately it was wont to pour forth water, and the +holiness of Patrick openly showed unto all how accursed was the crime +of perjury or of false testimony; yet at any other time it did not use +to exude one drop, but always remained in its natural dryness. Which +opinion of the people, however, as to this stone, is the more probable, +we know not, though the latter may seem the nearer unto the truth. Let +it suffice, therefore, to record the miracle which the Bishop Saint Mel +testifies that he had oftentimes beheld. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6004"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Well dried up.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +As he grew in age, he was seen also to grow in grace, and, as from the +full store of divine ointment flowing within him, he perfumed all +around with the abundance of his manifold miracles. And Patrick, the +child of the Lord, was then nursed in the town of Empthor, in the house +of his mother's sister, with his own sister Lupita. And it came to +pass in the winter season, the ice being thawed, that a well overflowed +and threatened to overturn many houses in the town; and the rising of +the waters filled the mansion wherein Patrick abided, and overturned +all the household stuff, and caused all the vessels to swim. And the +little boy, being an hungered, asked in his infantine manner for bread; +yet found he not any who would break bread for him, but jeeringly was +he answered that he was nearer to being drowned than fed. When the boy +dipped three of his fingers into the swelling water, and, standing on a +dry place, he thrice sprinkled the water in the form of a cross, and in +the name of the Holy Trinity commanded the well that forthwith it +should subside. And behold a miracle! Immediately all the flood +retired with a refluent course, and the dryness returned, nor was there +hurt or damage seen in the vessels or in the furniture of his dwelling. +And they who looked on saw that sparks of fire instead of drops of +water were sprinkled from the fingers of the holy child, and that the +waters were licked up and absorbed thereby; and the Lord, "who collects +the waters as in a heap, and lays up the depths in his treasury," who +had worked such great works through his beloved child Patrick, is +praised of all; and the child also is magnified who was so powerful in +Him, great and worthy of all praise. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6005"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How he produced Fire from Ice.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +Though Saint Patrick, in his childish years, sometimes thought as a +child and acted as a child, yet do his illustrious works declare how +precious was he in the eyes of Him who was for us born a child. And on +a certain day, the winter then freezing everything, the boy Patrick, +being engaged in their sports with boys of his own age, gathered many +pieces of ice in his bosom, and bore them home, and cast them down in +the court-yard; but his nurse, seeing this, said to him that it were +better he had collected wood for the hearth than have played with +pieces of ice. And the boy, speaking with the tongue of an aged man, +answered unto her: "It is easy for the Lord, who created all things, +even from these to supply the hearth; and at His nod, so that faith be +not wanting, it is easy for fire to prevail over water; and that thou +mayest know," said he, "how possible are all things to them who +believe, thy faith shall be an eye-witness of that which I say unto +thee." And he heaped together the pieces of ice, like brands for the +fire, and he prayed, and, making the sign of the cross, he breathed on +them, and immediately fire went forth, and, lighting the ice, produced +long streams of flame; yet not only did the hearth give warmth to all +who came near, but it ministered much cause of admiration, for out of +the mouth of the boy Patrick was seen to issue flame instead of breath, +that he might plainly appear to be illuminated within by the infinite +light of the divine grace. Nor does this miracle much fall short of +that ancient miracle which the Scripture records to have been performed +by Nehemias; for when he brought back into the land of Juda the people +of the Hebrews after their long captivity, restored to freedom by +Cyrus, the King of Persia, he commanded the place to be searched out +wherein their fathers had hidden the fire of the sacrifice; in which, +when discovered, the fire was not found, but thick water; the which +Nehemias commanded to be brought, and the sacrifice to be sprinkled +therewith; and immediately a great fire was kindled, and it consumed +the holocaust and burned the hard stones. So was the congealed water +burned up by the power of the same fire which, proceeding from water, +did burn to ashes the sacrifice and the stones of the altar. Therefore +is the strangeness of this miracle to be admired, the holiness of +Patrick to be venerated, and in all these things the power of the +omnipotent God to be adored; and herein by a most evident sign did the +Lord illustrate Saint Patrick, whose preaching afterward inflamed many +that had been frozen in unbelief with the fire of faith and of the +charity of God. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6006"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How the Sister of St. Patrick was healed.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +On a certain day the sister of Saint Patrick, the aforementioned +Lupita, being then of good stature, had run about the field, at the +command of her aunt, to separate the lambs from the ewes, for it was +then weaning time, when her foot slipped, and she fell down and smote +her head against a sharp flint, and her forehead was struck with a +grievous wound, and she lay even as dead; and many of the household ran +up, and her kindred and her friends gathered together to comfort the +maiden wounded and afflicted; and her brother came with the rest, +compassionating his sister, but confiding in the divine medicine; for, +drawing near, he raised her, and, touching with his spittle the thumb +of his right hand, he imprinted on her forehead, stained with blood, +the sign of the cross, and forthwith he healed her; yet the scar of the +wound remained as a sign, I think, of the miracle that was performed, +and a proof of the holiness of him who, by his faith in the cross of +Christ, had done this thing. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6007"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How he restored to Life his Foster-Father.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +The husband of Saint Patrick's nurse, who had often-times borne him an +infant in his arms, being seized with a sudden death, expired. And his +wife, with many others of the household, ran thither, and to Patrick, +who was standing nigh, bursting into tears, she thus spake: "Behold, O +Patrick! thy foster-father, the bearer of thine infancy, lieth dead; +show now, therefore, on him thine enlivening virtue, even that which +hath been wont to heal others!" And the boy of holy disposition, +compassionating the tears of his nurse and the miserable state of his +foster-father, approached him lying there lifeless, and he prayed over +him and blessed him, and signed him on his head and on his breast with +the sign of life, and he embraced him, and raised him up, and restored +him unto her alive and safe. And all who beheld this miracle gave +praise to God, who worked such works in Patrick. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6008"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Sheep released from the Wolf.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +While Saint Patrick was a little boy, his aunt entrusted him with the +care of the sheep, and to these he diligently attended with his +aforementioned sister. For in that age no reproach was attached to +such employments when the sons of the chief men discharged the duties +of a shepherd; as the patriarch Jacob and his sons truly declared +before Pharao, that they, like their forefathers, were keepers of +sheep; and as the lawgiver Moses and the illustrious King David long +time labored in the shepherd's occupation. But as the boy Patrick was +one day in the fields with his flock, a wolf, rushing from the +neighboring wood, caught up a ewe-lamb, and carried it away. Returning +home at evening from the fold, his aunt chided the boy for negligence +or for sloth; yet he, though blushing at the reproof, patiently bore +all her anger, and poured forth his prayers for the restoration of the +ewe-lamb. In the next morning, when he brought the flock to the +pasture, the wolf ran up, carrying the lamb in his mouth, laid it at +Patrick's feet, and instantly returned to the wood. And the boy gave +thanks to the Lord, who, as he preserved Daniel from the hungry lions, +so now for his comfort had saved his lamb uninjured from the jaws of +the wolf. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6009"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Cow freed from an Evil Spirit, and Five other Cows <BR> +restored to Health.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +The aunt who had nursed Saint Patrick had many cows, one of which was +tormented with an evil spirit; and immediately the cow became mad, and +tore with her feet, and butted with her horns, and wounded five other +cows, and dispersed the rest of the herd. And the owners of the herd +lamented the mishap, and the cattle fled from her fury as from the face +of a lion. But the boy Patrick, being armed with faith, went forward, +and, making the sign of the cross, freed the cow from the vexation of +the evil spirit; then drawing near to the wounded and prostrate cows, +having first prayed, he blessed them and restored them all even to +their former health. And the cow, being released from the evil spirit, +well knowing her deliverer, approached with bended head, licking the +feet and the hands of the boy, and turned every beholder to the praise +of God and the veneration of Patrick. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6010"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Water turned into Honey, and of his Nurse restored to Health.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +The nurse of Saint Patrick, being oppressed with illness, longed much +for honey, by the taste whereof she trusted that her health might be +restored. It was sought by all who stood round her, but obtained not; +and when she was told thereof, she longed so much the more earnestly +for that which she could not have, and complained that she was +remembered and assisted of none. But her young charge, the illustrious +boy Patrick, was grieved for her, and, putting his trust in the Lord, +he commanded that a vessel might be filled with fresh water from the +fountain, and brought unto him; and he bended his knees in prayer, and, +rising, blessed it with the sign of the cross, and gave it to the woman +desiring honey. And immediately the water was changed into the best +honey; and the woman tasted, and her soul was satisfied, and she was +relieved from her infirmity. Thus did Patrick change water into honey +in the name of Him who, at Cana in Galilee, changed water into wine. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6011"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How the Fort was Cleansed.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +On a certain promontory overhanging the aforementioned town of Empthor +was erected a fort, the ruins of whose walls may yet be traced. And +the governor thereof had reduced the nurse of Saint Patrick under the +yoke of slavery, and compelled her to be a servant unto him. And among +other servile works enjoined to her, he had commanded her to clean with +shovels all the offices within the fort, and to carry forth the soil +from the stables. But the woman, having an ingenuous mind, and +understanding that all power was from God, and that all things were +ordained of God, made of her necessity a virtue, and patiently bore the +servitude imposed on her. Then the boy Patrick, compassionating his +nurse's affliction, besought the Lord that he would vouchsafe to set +her free from the labor of this servile work; and behold, as he prayed, +all the dwelling-places therein were cleansed without an human hand, +and neither within nor without could any remains of the soil be found. +And the governor and all who saw or heard this miracle marvelled; and +the nurse was released from slavery through the merits of her +foster-child. Nor is this miracle beheld only at stated seasons, or +once in every year; for even to this day does it appear to be +continued. And the dwellers and the neighbors bear witness that if +within the precincts of the fort as many cattle as the place could hold +were gathered to abide there together, not even the least portion of +soil could therein be found. And the place, being in the Valley of +Clud, is called in the language of that people Dunbreatan—that is, the +Mountain of the Britons; and the miracle cannot be unknown to those who +desire to be informed thereof, inasmuch as so often it is published +abroad by all the dwellers in that country. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6012"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Religious Conversation of Saint Patrick.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And the boy Patrick grew up precious in the sight of the Lord, in the +old age of wisdom, and in the ripeness of virtue. And the number of +his merits multiplied beyond the number of his years; the affluence of +all holy charities overflowed in the breast of the boy, and all the +virtues met together made their dwelling in his youthful body. +Entering, therefore, and going forward in the slippery paths of youth, +he held his feet from falling, and the garment that nature had woven +for him, unknowing of a stain, he preserved whole, abiding a virgin in +the flesh and in the spirit. And although the divine unction had +taught him above all, the fit time being now come, he was sent from his +parents to be instructed in sacred learning. Therefore he applied his +mind to the study of letters, but chiefly to psalms and to hymns and to +spiritual songs, and retaining them in his memory, and continually +singing them to the Lord; so that even from the flower of his first +youth he was daily wont to sing devoutly unto God the whole psaltery, +and from the vial of his most pure heart to pour forth the odor of many +prayers. Thus wearing out his tender body in fastings, in many +watchings, and in the pious exercise of holy labors, he offered up +himself a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God; and thus +passing his days in the flesh, against the flesh, and above the flesh, +in his conversation he represented an angel. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6013"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How Saint Patrick was Carried into Ireland.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +As, according to the testimony of Holy Writ, the furnace tries gold and +the fire of tribulation proves the just, so did the hour of his trial +draw near to Patrick, that he might the more provedly receive the crown +of life. For when the illustrious boy had perlustrated three lustres, +already attaining his sixteenth year, he was, with many of his +countrymen, seized by the pirates who were ravaging those borders, and +was made captive and carried into Ireland, and was there sold as a +slave to a certain pagan prince named Milcho, who reigned in the +northern part of the island, even at the same age in which Joseph is +recorded to have been sold into Egypt. But Joseph, being sold as a +slave, and being after his humiliation exalted, received power and +dominion over all Egypt. Patrick, after his servitude and his +affliction, obtained the primacy of the especial and spiritual dominion +of Ireland. Joseph refreshed with corn the Egyptians oppressed by +famine; Patrick, in process of time, fed with the salutary food of the +Christian faith the Irish perishing under idolatry. To each was +affliction sent for the profit of his soul, as is the flail to the +grain, the furnace to the gold, the file to the iron, the wine-press to +the grape, and the oil-press to the olive. Therefore it was that +Patrick, at the command of the forementioned prince, was appointed to +the care of the swine, and under his care the herd became fruitful and +exceedingly multiplied. From whence it may well be learned that as the +master's substance is often increased and improved by the attention of +a diligent and fortunate servant or steward, so, on the other hand, is +it reduced and injured under an idle or unprosperous hand. But the +holy youth, heartily embracing in his soul the judgments of the Lord, +made of his necessity a virtue, and, having in his office of a +swineherd obtained solitude, worked out his own salvation. For he +abode in the mountains, and in the woods, and in the caves of the +wilderness, and having leisure for prayer, and knowing how kind was the +Lord, freely and more freely did he pour forth the incense of his +supplications in the presence of the Most High; and an hundred times in +the day and an hundred times in the night did he on his bended knees +adore his Creator, and often did he pray for a long time fasting, and, +nourishing himself with the roots of herbs and with the lightest food, +did he mortify his members which were stretched upon the earth. Nor +him could heat, nor cold, nor snow, nor hail, nor ice, nor any other +inclemency of the air compel from his spiritual exercises. Therefore +went he forward daily increasing and confirming himself more strong in +the faith and love of Christ Jesus; and the more weak and infirm he +appeared, so much the steadier and more powerful was he in fulfilling +the commands of the Lord. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6014"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of Milcho's Dream, and of its Interpretation.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Milcho beheld a vision in the night; and behold, Patrick entered +his palace as all on fire, and the flames issuing from his mouth, and +from his nose, and from his eyes, and from his ears, seemed to burn +him. But Milcho repelled from himself the flaming hair of the boy, nor +did it prevail to touch him any nearer; but the flame, being spread, +turned aside to the right, and, catching on his two little daughters +who were lying in one bed, burned them even to ashes; then the south +wind, blowing strongly, dispersed their ashes over many parts of +Ireland. And Milcho, awaking, meditated with himself on his couch what +prodigy might this remote vision portend. On the morrow, Patrick being +called before him, he declared unto him his dream, entreating and +abjuring him that if he knew he would unfold its interpretation. And +Patrick, being filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, answered unto +Milcho: "The fire which thou sawest to issue from me is the faith of +the Holy Trinity, with which I am entirely illumined, and which I shall +endeavor to preach unto thee; but my speech will find in thee no place, +for thou wilt, in the blindness of thine heart, repel from thee the +light of the divine grace, and thou wilt die in the darkness of thy +unbelief; but thy daughters shall at my preaching believe in the true +God, and, all the days of their lives serving God in holiness and in +justice, shall, in a pious end, rest in the Lord; and their ashes, that +is, their relics, the Lord revealing them and making of them signs, +shall be carried into many places through Ireland, and shall give the +blessing of health to many who are infirm; and thy dream is true, and +its interpretation is true, and all shall be fulfilled in due time." +Thus having said, Patrick departed to his accustomed labor; and all +these things happened unto Milcho and unto his daughters even as +Patrick had foretold. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6015"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Angel Victor appearing to Saint Patrick.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And six years had now passed when, under the direction of the Lord, he +had thoroughly learned the Irish tongue, and with prayers and with +tears he unceasingly besought of God that he might be released from +slavery and restored to his country. And on a certain day appeared +unto him, while praying, an angel of the Lord, standing on the crag of +an overhanging rock, and announcing that his prayers and his fastings +had ascended as a memorial before God; and the angel added thereto that +he should soon cast from his neck the yoke of servitude, and, after a +prosperous voyage, return to his own parents. And the servant of God +looked on the angel of God, and, conversing with him face to face +familiarly, even as with a friend, asked who he was, and by what name +was he called. And the heavenly messenger answered that he was the +ministering spirit of the Lord, sent into the world to minister unto +them who have the heritage of salvation; that he was called Victor, and +especially deputed to the care of him, and he promised to be his +helpmate and his assistant in doing all things. And although it is not +needful that heavenly spirits should be called by human names, yet the +angel, being beautifully clothed with an human form composed of the +air, called himself Victor, for that he had received from Christ, the +most victorious King, the power of vanquishing and binding the powers +of the air and the princes of darkness; who had also given to his +servants made of the potter's clay the power of treading on serpents +and scorpions, and of vanquishing and bruising Satan. And in their +mutual colloquy the angel showed unto Patrick an opening in the ground +that had been delved up by the swine, and therein he directed him to +look for gold with which he might redeem himself from the hands of his +cruel master; and he added that a ship to carry him over to Britain was +ready in a harbor two hundred miles distant, and which, by the divine +will, could not have a favorable wind until he should arrive. And the +vision of the angel, thus saying, disappeared, and his speech ended; +and, as the inhabitants assert, the marks of his feet appear even to +this day imprinted on the rock in the Mountain Mis, in the borders of +Dalnardia; and an oratory is erected there in honor of St. Patrick, +wherein the devotion of the faithful is wont to watch and pray. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6016"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How St. Patrick was Redeemed from Slavery.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Patrick went to the place which the angel had pointed out unto him, +and he found therein no small weight of gold. Wherefore he addressed +for his ransom his hard and cruel master, and with the offering of the +yellow metal induced his mind, greedy of gold, to grant unto him his +freedom. Therefore, being by the aid of Mammon solemnly released from +his servitude, he went his way rejoicing, and hastened toward the sea, +desiring to return to his own country. But Milcho repented that he had +dismissed a servant so very necessary unto him, and, falsifying his +agreement, pursued Patrick that he might bring him back and reduce him +to his former slavery, as Pharao pursued the Hebrews. But by the +divine will, wandering both in his mind and in his course, he found not +him whom he sought. Foiled, therefore, in his attempt, he returned +with grief and with shame. And his sorrow was much increased, for that +not only Patrick, having obtained his freedom, had escaped, but the +gold which was the price of his freedom, on returning home, he found +not. And with this the law accords; for to him who has served six +years in slavery, the law directs that in the seventh year shall his +freedom be restored. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6017"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How he Relieved those who were Perishing of Hunger.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Saint Patrick, guided by his angelic guide, came unto the sea, and +he there found the ship that was to carry him to Britain, and a crew of +heathens who were in the ship freely received him, and, hoisting their +sails with a favorable wind, after three days they made land. And +being come out of the ship, they found a region desert and inhabited of +none, and they began to travel over the whole country for the space of +twenty-four days; and for the want of food in that fearful and wide +solitude were they perishing of hunger. And Patrick, through their +whole journey, was preaching unto those pagans the Word of God, and +disputing with them and persuading them unto the faith of the Holy +Trinity and the kingdom of heaven; but they, even as the deaf adder +that listens not to the voice of the charmer charming wisely, closed +their ears against the Word of God until misery gave them understanding +to hear. For hunger yet more heavily assailing and oppressing them, +the greater part are said to have thus spoken: "Behold, O worshipper of +Christ! how wretched are we with want and misery, and our eyes fail us +for every need; now, therefore, implore for us thy God, whom thou +describes! and exaltest as all-powerful, that His bounty may relieve +us, and we will adore and glorify His greatness." And Saint Patrick +answered unto them: "Believe in and confess the God who giveth food +unto all flesh, and by whom, when He openeth His hand, ye shall be +satisfied from His goodness." And he prayed earnestly, and behold, as +he prayed for them, suddenly an herd of swine appeared, and they saw +wild honey, and therewith they were sufficed even to fulness, nor from +that day through their whole journey did ever a supply of food fail +unto them. And this great miracle being seen, they all gave thanks +unto God and held Saint Patrick in the highest reverence. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6018"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of his Fast continued for Twenty Days.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And all things succeeding prosperously, and their provision much +abounding, these men soon forgot the Lord who had saved them from the +straitness of hunger, and, ungrateful for the benefits extended unto +them by the divine bounty, they sacrificed of their food to devils, and +not unto God, imitating herein those Samaritans whom the Book of Kings +records to have worshipped God, yet not to have the service of their +idols. Wherefore it seemed good to Saint Patrick to eat no earthly +food for twenty continual days, and, albeit he was much entreated +thereto, he would in no wise join with them in their meals, lest he +should appear to be contaminated with their sacrifices. And the power +to endure this abstinence was given unto Patrick by the Lord, who had +theretofore enabled Elias the prophet to fast forty days. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6019"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How he Overcame the Temptation of the Enemy.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +The wonderful Ruler of all things, the more he exalts with signs and +with wonders his elect whom he loveth, the more does he, according to +the Apostle, suffer them to fall into divers temptations, that they may +learn and know how to preserve their strength in God, who is their +maker, and trust to nothing in themselves or of themselves. Wherefore +Patrick, the beloved and the elect of God, is suffered by the divine +will to be grievously tempted of Satan, to increase the confusion of +the tempter and the glory of him who was tempted, and lest he should be +lifted up by the greatness of his miracles or his fastings. For in the +night season the prince of darkness rushed on him, and oppressed him as +with the weight of a huge stone, and, falling on him, the tempter took +from him all sense and motion, causing to him darkness and heaviness, +and for the space of three days ceased not to torment and lash him +beyond human power to endure. But the saint in his tribulation cried +unto the Lord, thrice in His name invoking Elias, the prince of +prophets, unto his aid. And Elias, being sent of the Lord with a great +brightness, freed him from the pressure of the enemy that hemmed him +round, and, wonderfully illumining him both within and without, +refreshed the powers of his limbs and his senses. And the enemy of +mankind, being put to confusion, was compelled to own himself +vanquished by Patrick, and that ever after he could have no power to +prevail against him. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6020"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How he was again made Captive, and released <BR> +by the Miracle of the Kettle.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +But Patrick, departing from the company of his fellow-travellers that +he might prove how many are the tribulations of the just through which +they must enter into the kingdom of heaven, fell into the hands of +strangers, by whom he was taken and detained; and while his spirit was +afflicted within him, the Father of mercies and God of all consolation +sent the angel Victor in the wonted manner to comfort him, promising +that in a short time he should be released from the hands of his +captors; and how truly was made the angelic promise did its speedy +fulfilment show, which followed even in the space of two months; for +the barbarians sold him to a certain man in the neighborhood for a +kettle—how small a purchase for so precious a merchandise! But when +the vessel that had been bought with such a price was filled with +water, and placed as usual on the hearth to dress their victual, behold +it received no heat; and so much the hotter the fire burned, so much +the colder did it become; and fuel being heaped thereon, the flame +raged without, but the water within was frozen, as if ice had been +placed under instead of fire. And they labored exceedingly thereat; +but their labor was vain, and the rumor went everywhere through the +country; and the purchaser, thinking it to have been done by +enchantment, returned his kettle to the seller, and took Patrick again +into his own power. And the vessel thereon received the heat, and did +its accustomed office even naturally, and showed to all that this +miracle happened because Patrick had been unjustly oppressed; and +forthwith they who had taken him let him go free. Thus, by the +heavenly power being released from the hands of strange children, was +he, after his long captivity, restored to his parents; and they, +beholding him, rejoiced with exceeding great joy, and at the return of +their son did their spirits revive as the spirits of one awakening from +a heavy sleep, and they besought of him, with entreaty of many prayers +and the abundance of many tears, that he would not again bereave them +of his presence. Therefore, that he might show the honor and the +submission due unto his parents, he abided with them certain days. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6021"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of Saint Patrick's Vision.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And a short space of time being passed, the while he was settled in his +lather's house, he beheld in a vision of the night a man of comely garb +and countenance, bearing many letters as if from Ireland, and holding +out to him one of them for him to read—which taking, he read, and +found therein thus written: "THIS IS THE VOICE OF THE IRISH." But when +he would have continued to read, he seemed in the spirit to hear the +Irish infants which were yet unborn crying unto him with a loud voice, +"O holy youth Patrick! we beseech thee come unto us, and abide with us, +and release us!" And Patrick, being pierced therewith in his heart, +could not finish the letter; but awaking, he gave infinite thanks to +God, for he was assured by the vision that the Lord had set him apart, +even from his mother's womb, had by His grace called him to convert and +to save the Irish nation, which seemed to desire his presence among +them. And on this he consulted the angel of great counsel, and through +the angel Victor he received the divine command that, quitting his +father and his country, he should go unto France, there to learn the +doctrine and the discipline of the Christian faith. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6022"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How he dwelt with the blessed Germanus, and how he <BR> +received the Habit from Saint Martin.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +Being thus instructed and directed of heaven, though both his parents +resisted and would have detained him, he, with the faithful Abraham, +quitted his country, his kindred, and his father's house, and, passing +through his native Britain, he went into France. And lest his labor +should be fruitless, or that he might not attempt to teach what he had +not thoroughly learned, he attached himself to the blessed Bishop +Germanus, and, for his greater progress in the Christian faith and +learning, abided with him for the space of eighteen years, reading and +imbibing the Holy Scriptures (as in the acts of the blessed Germanus is +recorded). And each had received the divine command—Patrick that he +should abide with Germanus, and the holy bishop that he should retain +and instruct the youth. For he was a prelate, in his descent, in his +nobility, in his life, in his learning, in his office, and in his +miracles most illustrious; and from him the several degrees of the holy +orders, and at length the sacerdotal dignity according to the canons, +did Patrick receive. With the like purpose did he some time abide with +the blessed Martin, Archbishop of Tours, who was the uncle of his +mother, Conquessa. And as this holy luminary of the priesthood was a +monk, he gave to his nephew, Patrick, the monastic habits and rules, +the which he most devoutly assumed, and adorned by his life, and +persevered therein. And bidding farewell, they departed the one from +the other, forasmuch as Martin was enjoined by the angel to go into a +certain island. And Saint Patrick, returning to the blessed Germanus, +remained with him many days. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6023"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Flesh-meat changed into Fishes.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +But Patrick, having now become a monk, forgetting all things that were +past, applied to the future, and, as if little accounting his former +conversation, hastened to the height of perfection. For by incredible +abstinence, by his lengthened fasts, and by the exercise of his other +virtues, he afflicted himself, and continually bore in his heart and on +his body the mortification of that cross which his habit displayed. +But the most high Pastor, who intended to raise him to the head of the +holy Church, that he might learn to think humbly of himself, to walk +with the lowly, and to bear with the weak, permitting him to feel his +own inferiority; so that the more deeply he was fixed on the foundation +of true humility, the more firmly he might stand in the height of +perfection. For a desire of eating meat came upon him, until, being +ensnared and carried away by his desire, he obtained swine's flesh, and +concealed it in a certain vessel, thinking rightly that he might thus +satisfy his appetite privily, which should he openly do he would become +to his brethren a stone of offence and a stumbling-block of reproach. +And he had not long quitted the place when, lo! one stood before him +having eyes before and eyes behind, whom when Patrick beheld, having +his eyes so wonderfully, even so monstrously, placed, he marvelled who +he was, and what meant his eyes fixed before and fixed behind, did +earnestly ask; and he answered, I am the servant of God. With the eyes +fixed in my forehead I behold the things that are open to view, and +with the eyes that are fixed in the hinder part of my head I behold a +monk hiding flesh-meat in a vessel, that he may satisfy his appetite +privily. This he said, and immediately disappeared. But Patrick, +striking his breast with many strokes, cast himself to the earth, and +watered it with such a shower of tears as if he had been guilty of all +crimes; and while he thus lay on the ground, mourning and weeping, the +angel Victor, so often before mentioned, appeared to him in his wonted +form, saying, Arise, let thine heart be comforted; for the Lord hath +put away thine offence, and henceforward avoid backsliding. Then St. +Patrick, rising from the earth, utterly renounced and abjured the +eating of flesh-meat, even through the rest of his life; and he humbly +besought the Lord that He would manifest unto him His pardon by some +evident sign. Then the angel bade Patrick to bring forth the hidden +meats, and put them into water; and he did as the angel bade; and the +flesh-meats, being plunged into the water and taken thereout, +immediately became fishes. This miracle did St. Patrick often relate +to his disciples, that they might restrain the desire of their +appetites. But many of the Irish, wrongfully understanding this +miracle, are wont, on St. Patrick's Day, which always falls in the time +of Lent, to plunge flesh-meats into water, when plunged in to take out, +when taken out to dress, when dressed to eat, and call them fishes of +St. Patrick. But hereby every religious man will learn to restrain his +appetite, and not to eat meat at forbidden seasons, little regarding +what ignorant and foolish men are wont to do. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6024"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How in his Journey to Rome he Found the Staff of Jesus.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And being desirous that his journey and all his acts should by the +apostolic authority be sanctioned, he was earnest to travel unto the +city of Saint Peter, and there more thoroughly to learn the canonical +institutes of the holy Roman Church. And when he had unfolded his +purpose unto Germanus, the blessed man approved thereof, and associated +unto him that servant of Christ, Sergecius the presbyter, as the +companion of his journey, the solace of his labor, and the becoming +testimony of his holy conversation. Proceeding, therefore, by the +divine impulse, or by the angelic revelation, he went out of his course +unto a solitary man who lived in an island in the Tuscan Sea; and the +solitary man was pure in his life, and he was of great desert and +esteemed of all, and in his name and in his works he was Just; and +after their holy greetings were passed, this man of God gave unto +Patrick a staff which he declared himself to have received from the +hands of the Lord Jesus. +</P> + +<P> +And there were in the island certain other solitary men, who lived +apart from him, some of whom appeared to be youths, and others decrepit +old men, with whom when Patrick had conversed, he learned that the +oldest of them were the sons of the youths; and when Saint Patrick, +marvelling, enquired of them the cause of so strange a miracle, they +answered unto him, saying: "We from our childhood were continually +intent on works of charity, and our door was open to every traveller +who asked for victual or for lodging in the name of Christ, when on a +certain night we received a stranger having in his hand a staff; and we +showed unto him so much kindness as we could, and in the morning he +blessed us, and said, I am Jesus Christ, unto whose members ye have +hitherto ministered, and whom ye have last night entertained in His own +person. Then the staff which He bore in His hand gave He unto yonder +man of God, our spiritual father, commanding him that he should +preserve it safely, and deliver it unto a certain stranger named +Patrick, who would, after many days were passed, come unto him. Thus +saying, He ascended into heaven; and ever since we have continued in +the same youthful state, but our sons, who were then infants, have, as +thou seest, become decrepit old men." +</P> + +<P> +And Patrick, giving thanks unto God, abided with the man of God certain +days, profiting in God by his example yet more and more; at length he +bade him farewell, and went on his way with the staff of Jesus, which +the solitary man had proffered unto him. O excellent gift! descending +from the Father of light, eminent blessing, relief of the sick, worker +of miracles, mercy sent of God, support of the weary, protection of the +traveller! For as the Lord did many miracles by the rod in the hand of +Moses, leading forth the people of the Hebrews out of the land of +Egypt, so by the staff that had been formed for His own hands was He +pleased, through Patrick, to do many and great wonders to the +conversion of many nations. And the staff is held in much veneration +in Ireland, and even unto this day it is called the staff of Jesus. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6025"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How he Journeyed unto Rome, and was made a Bishop; <BR> +and of Palladius, the Legate of Ireland.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +The God of our salvation having prospered Patrick's journey, he arrive +at the city which is the capital of the world; and often, with due +devotion, visiting the memorials of the apostles and the martyrs, he +obtained the notice and the friendship of the chief Pontiff, and found +favor in his sight. In the apostolic chair then sat Pope Celestine, of +that name the first, but from the blessed Apostle Peter the +forty-third; but he, keeping Saint Patrick with him, and finding him +perfect and approved in faith, in learning, and in holiness, at length +consecrated him a bishop, and determined to send him to the conversion +of the Irish nation. But Celestine had sent before him, for the sake +of preaching in Ireland, another doctor named Palladius, his +archdeacon, to whom, with his coadjutors, he gave many books, the two +Testaments, with the relics of the Apostles Peter and Paul and of +numberless martyrs; and the Irish not listening to, but rather +obstinately opposing, Palladius in his mission, he quitted their +country, and, going towards Rome, died in Britain, near the borders of +the Picts; yet, while in Scotland, converting some to the faith of +Christ, he baptized them and founded three churches built of oak, in +which he left as prelates his disciples Augustine, Benedict, Sylvester, +and Sulomus, with the parchments and the relics of the saints which he +had collected. To him with more profitable labor did Saint Patrick +succeed, as is said in the Irish proverb, "Not to Palladius, but to +Patrick, the Lord vouchsafed the conversion of Ireland." And the Pope, +being certified of Palladius's death, immediately gave to Patrick the +command, which hitherto, keeping more secret counsel, he had delayed, +to proceed on his journey and on the salutary work of his legation. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6026"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXVI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How he Saw and Saluted the Lord.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And shortly after he had received the episcopal dignity, the angel +Victor appeared unto him, then abiding in Rome, and commanded him that +he should hasten his journey into Ireland, that he might gain unto +Christ the people of that country, as the Lord had willed. But +Patrick, judging himself to be unequal to such a work and to such a +labor, answered that he could not and would not attempt it unless he +should first behold and salute the Lord. Therefore was he conducted by +the angel unto the mountain Morion, bordering on the Tuscan Sea, nigh +unto the city of Capua; and there, even as Moses, did he merit to +behold and salute the Lord, according to his earnest desire. Who, I +pray you, can estimate in his mind the merit of Patrick? What tongue +can sufficiently praise him to whom, while yet living on earth, it was +given to behold the King of Glory, whom the angels desire to behold +face to face, and who was permitted to declare unto men what he had +been taught from the lips of the Most Highest? And the Lord promised +unto Patrick that He would hear his prayers, and that He would be his +assistant in all his acts to be done by him. Therefore, being by the +vision and by the divine colloquy strengthened unto the ministry +enjoined to him of heaven and confided to him by our lord the Pope, he +vehemently longed to complete the same, and speeded his journey toward +Ireland with twenty men deputed unto his assistance by the Sovereign +Pontiff, and who were renowned for their lives and for their wisdom. +Yet turned he out of his way unto the blessed Germanus, from whom he +received chalices, and priestly vestments, and many books, and other +matters unto the divine worship and ministry pertaining. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6027"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXVII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Miraculous Voyage of the Leper.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +When the blessed Patrick, speeding his journey toward Ireland; was +about to embark with his disciples at a British port, a certain leper +standing on the shore met the holy man, beseeching in the name of the +Lord Jesus that he would carry him over in his ship. The man of God, +abounding with the bowels of compassion, listened to the prayers of the +poor leper; but the sailors and the others that were of the ship +forbade him, saying that the vessel was already enough loaded, and that +<I>he</I> would be to them all at once an encumbrance and a horror. Then +the saint, confiding in the power of the divine mercy, cast into the +sea an altar of stone that had been consecrated and given to him by the +Pope, and on which he had been wont to celebrate the holy mysteries, +and caused the leper to sit thereon. But the pen trembles to relate +what, through the divine power, happened. The stone thus loaded was +borne upon the waters, guided by Him, the head-stone of the corner, +and, diverse from its nature, floating along with the ship, held +therewith an equal course, and at the same moment touched at the same +shore. All, then, having happily landed, and the altar being found +with its freight, the voice of praise and thanksgiving filled the lips +of the holy prelate, and he reproved his disciples and the sailors for +their unbelief and hardness of heart, endeavoring to soften their stony +hearts into hearts of flesh, even to the exercising the works of +charity. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6028"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXVIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How he beheld Devils.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And when the saint with his people drew nigh unto the shore, he beheld +a multitude of devils gathered together in the form of a globe, +surrounding the whole island, and setting themselves against him even +as a wall to defend their own citadel and to oppose his entrance. But +his heart was not moved, nor did he tremble at the presence of these +deformed ones, knowing that there were many with him more powerful than +with them, even unto his triumph and their overthrow. Therefore stood +he fixed in faith as Mount Sion, because mountains of angels were +around him, and the Lord encompassed His servant great and mighty unto +the battle. And the holy prelate, knowing that all those enemies were +to be quelled by him through the virtue of the cross of Christ, raised +his sacred right hand, and made the sign of the cross, and, telling +unto his people what he beheld, and confirming them in the faith, +unhurt and unterrified passed he over. Thus clothed with strength from +on high, mightily did he exercise the armor of the power of God to the +overturning of the powers of the air, who raised themselves against all +height and against the wisdom of the Lord, being always ready to punish +their disobedience and their rebellion, as will more plainly in the +following chapters appear. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6029"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the River sentenced to perpetual Sterility.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +The man of God landed with the companions of his voyage within the +borders of Leinster, in the port of Innbherde, where a river flowing +into the sea then abounded with many fishes. And the fishermen were +quitting the water, and drawing after them to the bank their loaded +nets, when the servants of the holy prelate, being wearied with their +travel and with hunger, earnestly besought that they would bestow on +them some of their fishes; but they, barbarous, brutal, and inhuman, +answered the entreaty, not only with refusal, but with insult. Whereat +the saint, being displeased, pronounced on them this sentence, even his +malediction: that the river should no longer produce fishes, from the +abundance of which idolaters might send empty away the worshippers of +the true God. From that day, therefore, is the river condemned to +unfruitfulness, so that the sentence uttered by the mouth of Patrick +might be known to proceed from the face of the Lord. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6030"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How the Dry Land was turned into a Marsh.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And going forward, he arrived at a place which was called Aonach +Tailltion, and there he made ready to refresh himself and his people, +and to announce the office of his ministry. But the idolatrous +inhabitants, not enduring the presence of the man of God, gathered +together and violently drove him thence, as the light of the sun is +intolerable to the weak-eyed. Yet the God whom Patrick bore about him, +and glorified in his body, permitted not that an affront offered unto +His servant for the sake of His name should go unpunished; but quickly +did he bring on them his deserved wrath, inasmuch as for the wickedness +of them who dwelt therein the Lord converted their fruitful land into a +salt marsh; and the sea, with the foreflowing of an unwonted tide, +covered it, and, that it might even for ever be unhabitable, changed +the dry land into a plashy lake. Then the saint, going unto a small +island not far from the main shore, abided there certain days, and it +is called unto this time Saint Patrick's Island. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6031"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXXI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of his coming into Ulidia, and of the Prophecy <BR> +of the Magicians on his coming.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And the blessed Patrick, embarking with his people, steered toward the +northern parts of the island, that he might overcome the northern +enemy, and expel him from those hearts where he had fixed his seat. +And the north wind fell, and the south wind arose, that he might go +into the quarters of the north, and plant therein the garden of the +Lord, breathing sweet odors; and the desire had come into his mind to +bring unto the knowledge of truth the king, Milcho, who was yet living, +to whom he had formerly been a servant, and to make him a servant of +the true King, whose service is a kingdom. But forasmuch as the ways +of man are not in his own power, but as his steps are directed of the +Lord, he landed on the coast of Ulidia, that the vessels of mercy might +there be gathered together. But Patrick being come forth on the dry +land, a multitude of heathens met him who were waiting and expecting +his coming; for the magicians and soothsayers, either by divination or +by prophecy, had foreknown that the island would be converted by the +preaching of Patrick, and had long before predicted his arrival in +these words: "One shall arrive here, having his head shaven in a +circle, bearing a crooked staff, and his table shall be in the eastern +part of his house, and his people shall stand behind him, and he shall +sing forth from his table wickedness, and all his household shall +answer, So be it! so be it! And this man, when he cometh, shall +destroy our gods, and overturn their temples and their altars, and he +shall subdue unto himself the kings that resist him, or put them unto +death, and his doctrine shall reign for ever and ever." Nor let it +seem strange or incredible that if the Lord inspired or even permitted +the magicians should thus foretell the arrival and the several acts of +Saint Patrick, since the soothsayer Balaam and the King Nabuchodonosor +plainly prophesied the coming of Christ, and since the devils that bore +testimony to the Son of God. But when they said that he should from +his table sing forth wickedness, evidently doth it appear that he who +never stood on the truth, but who from the beginning was a liar and the +father of lies, did in his blasphemy utter these things through their +mouths. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6032"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXXII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How a Fierce Dog was suddenly Tamed; of the Conversion <BR> +of Dichu; and how a Fountain rose out of the Earth.</I> +</H3> + + + + +<P> +But the chief King of Ireland, named Leogaire, the son of Neyll, +recollecting the prophecy, gave command unto his subjects that as soon +as Patrick should land they should forthwith expel him from the +country. And the saint, being then in the harbor called Innbherslan, +went alone out of the ship, and immediately the people, infidel and +dog-like in their manners, excited a very fierce dog to bite him even +unto death. But the dog, being at the sight of the man of God entirely +stiffened like a stone, stood fixed and without motion, plainly showing +that the worshippers of stones were like unto the gods which they +worshipped. The which, when a certain man named Dichu, who was +powerful of strength, gigantic of stature, and savage of mind, beheld, +he brandished his sword to destroy the saint. But the Lord interposed +His protecting arm, and all his strength withered in him, and he +entirely stiffened, so that he could move neither his foot to go +forward nor his hand to strike. And he, experiencing in himself such a +miracle, suddenly is changed into another man, and from proud becoming +humble, mild from fierce, from an infidel a believer, he is, with all +his household, at the preaching of Patrick, baptized in the Christian +faith. Thus he who had been in that country its first and principal +opposer became its first professor, and even to his latest age +continued its most devoted follower. And as his soul was loosed from +the chains of sin, so were his limbs loosed from their heaviness, and +all their strength was restored unto him. Behold, therefore, the +miracle which the Book of Kings relates to have been formerly wrought +on Jeroboam did Patrick more profitably renew on Dichu; for when that +king was sacrificing unto idols, and stretched out his hand to seize on +the prophet who was reproving him, forthwith his arm stiffened, which +on his repentance the prophet healed, yet did not he when healed +forsake his error; but Dichu, for the increase and for the evidence of +his devotion toward his new faith, gave unto Saint Patrick the place +wherein this miracle had been declared, to erect thereon a new church. +</P> + +<P> +In this place, at the request of Dichu (but for what cause I know not), +did the saint build the church, having its aspect against the north, +and looking toward the southern point. Perchance that by this mystical +structure the worshippers of idols might be persuaded from the northern +coldness of unbelief unto the meridian fervor of the faith and the +charity of Christ—the which to this day is called Sabhall Phadruig, +that is, the Barn of Patrick; for in process of time he builded there a +fair monastery, into which he introduced monks that had passed their +novitiate; and for their use he not long afterward, by his prayers, +produced a fountain out of the earth. Of this monastery did he appoint +his disciple, Saint Dunnius, to be the abbot, wherein when he had +returned from his mission, he abided with him not a few days. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6033"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXXIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Evil-doer Swallowed up by the Earth.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And in that church the holy prelate stood before the altar on a certain +day, celebrating the divine mysteries, when an evil-doer, a bondsman of +Satan, thrusting with accursed boldness a rod through the window, +overturned the chalice, and sacrilegiously poured out on the altar the +holy sacrifice. But the Lord instantly and terribly avenged this +fearful wickedness, and in a new and unheard-of manner destroyed the +impious man. For suddenly the earth, opening her mouth (as formerly on +Dathan and Abiron), swallowed up this magician, and he descended alive +into hell. And the earth, thus disjoined and rent asunder, closed on +him again; but to this day a ditch yet remaining declareth the judgment +of the divine wrath. But the holy sacrificer, being struck with +sorrow, mourned with heavy mourning over the chalice that had been +filled; and the chalice, with the divine sacrifice entire therein, +stood erect before him, being raised by the divine Power, nor did any +trace of the offering remain to be seen. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6034"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXXIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Aged Man restored unto his Youth.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Dichu had a brother named Rius, far advanced in years and in +unbelief, the tabernacle of whose body, for very age, was bending unto +the grave; and this man heavily grieved for the death of the magician +and for the conversion of his brother. And his wisdom was wholly of +this world, and he believed in no life but the present life; for he +thought that he had lost his brother, who, believing in Christ, labored +with all his strength after the glory to come, which he had revealed to +his followers. Therefore for many days he opposed and troubled +Patrick, and strove to stop his mouth, lest he should spread abroad the +Word of God, and increase the number of the believers. But the saint, +desiring to gain him unto Christ, met him with true and lively +arguments, persuading him from the very kinds and natures of all +created things to believe that God was the Creator of all; and, that he +might the more thoroughly lead him into the way of truth, he promised +unto him a miracle, saying, "Now that the power of all thy limbs and of +all thy senses fail thee, and are nearly dead, and that thy life is +almost gone from thee, if Christ should restore unto thee the strength +of the grace of thy early youth, wouldst thou not be bound of right to +believe in Him?" And the man answered: "If thou canst through Christ +perform on me such a miracle, forthwith will I believe in him." Then +Saint Patrick prayed, and, laying his hand on him, he blessed him, and +immediately he became beautiful and strong, and flourished again as in +his early youth. And great marvel seized on all who witnessed this +miracle, and their mouths were opened to the praise of Christ and to +the veneration of Saint Patrick. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6035"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXXV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Death of Rius.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Rius, being renewed outwardly in his body and inwardly in his +spirit, brought with him his three brothers, and came with very many to +be purified at the healing font. And after these things, Saint +Patrick, observing him to be thoroughly freed from sin, and knowing how +sin besets the slippery path of human life, inspired of the Holy +Spirit, said unto him: "Choose, now, whether in this valley of tears, +this world of tribulation and sorrow, shall thy years be prolonged, or +whether, the misery of this life being instantly ended, thou wilt be +carried up by the angels of light, and enter into the joy of the Lord +thy God." But he, trusting that he should behold the mercies of the +Lord in the land of eternal life, answered: "I choose, and I desire to +be dissolved, and to be with Christ for ever, rather than to continue +in the habitations of sinners." And he received the sacrament from the +hands of the holy bishop, and, commending his spirit unto the Lord, he +was brought unto eternal rest. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6036"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXXVI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Death of Milcho.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +But Saint Patrick, confiding his affairs to his beloved Dichu, set +forward to visit Milcho, his former master, even his tormentor; for so +had he long intended in his mind, that by his preaching he might truly +convert unto the infancy of the Christian faith him now grown old in +his evil days. And Milcho, this man of envious heart, this minister of +death feared lest the preaching of Patrick should penetrate a breast of +stone, and that by his clear and fiery eloquence, or by some +irresistible miracle, he should be compelled to believe. Therefore +held he it as base and shameful to submit unto the doctrine of one who +had formerly been his servant, and to be bound unto the unused worship +of the Creator rather than his accustomed idolatry. So when he heard +that the priest of the Most High was approaching, this child of +perdition gathered together all his substance, and cast it into the +fire; and then, throwing himself on the flames, made himself an +holocaust for the infernal demons. And the holy prelate, beholding +from a neighboring mountain the deadly end of this wicked prince, saw +his soul, in the form of a fiery serpent, plunged into hell; when, +contemplating the infinite depths of the judgments of God, with heavy +tears and sighs uttered he these words: "Of this king, who, lest he +should believe in the Creator of heaven and earth, hath thus doubly +damned himself, the posterity shall not inherit his kingdom, but shall +be bound in servitude that never may be loosed." And all this came to +pass even according to the word of the man of God, for none of his race +ascended after him to the throne of his kingdom; but in a short time +all his generation quickly perished; from the face of the earth by the +sword or by famine, or by captivity and the lowest servitude. Thus +visiteth the Lord the sins of the fathers on their children; and thus +is put the axe unto the tree of death, lest it should bring forth +branches of iniquity. Yet as God is able of stones to raise up sons +unto Abraham, and to produce from thorns roses, the two daughters of +Milcho were, by the inspiration of the Lord and by the preaching of +Patrick, converted unto the faith. And each, after they were purified +by the healing water, was called Emeria; and they lived a holy and +religious life, and after their deaths they were buried in the place +which is called Cluainbroin, and, as Patrick had long before +prophesied, were celebrated for many miracles. Then the saint returned +unto the house of Dichu, where he abided not a few days, and by +preaching the Christian faith, and by working signs and miracles, he +profited much people. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6037"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXXVII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Holy Mochna.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And there was a youth of virtuous disposition named Mochna, and he was +a swine-herd whom Saint Patrick had met near the town of Ereattan while +he was preaching in those parts, and to him, the Spirit having revealed +that he was destined to be a vessel of election, did the saint preach +the way of salvation. And the youth, even at his first preaching, +believed; and Patrick, when he had baptized him, taught unto him the +alphabet, and, having blessed him, sent him to be instructed in +learning, and went his way. But the youth, through the divine grace, +learned in one month the whole Psaltery, and, before the year had +ended, arrived he at the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. And after +some time Patrick returned to the aforementioned village, and Mochna +met him there. And while sitting together, they conversed on holy +things; behold, a staff sent from heaven fell between them, and the +head thereof rested on the bosom of Patrick, and the point thereof on +the bosom of Mochna. And the saint, gratulating the youth on the gift +thus miraculously bestowed, said unto him: "Now, my best-beloved son, +shalt thou know by this pastoral staff that the guardianship of souls +will be committed unto thee." But he refusing and alleging his +ignorance and the imperfection of his youth, the saint is reported thus +to have said: "Seek not thou to excuse thyself for that thou art a boy, +since unto all those parts whither the Lord sendeth thee shalt thou go; +and what he commandeth unto thee, that shalt thou speak." Therefore +through the several degrees did Patrick at length consecrate him a +bishop, and placed him over the church of Edrum. And he profited much +the church of God by his conversation and by his example, and, being +renowned in virtues and in miracles, was called to heaven. And he was +buried in that church wherein he had worthily served the Lord, and +wherein, adorned with manifold miracles, he had accustomed himself to +live in Christ. And the staff is in that church still preserved, and +is called by the Irish "the flying staff." And as Saint Patrick had +advanced this man from the care of swine unto the episcopate, a swine +is yearly taken from that territory, and paid unto the church of Down. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6038"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXXVIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Hostages of Dichu which were Freed by an Angel.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +Leogaire, a man of leonine fierceness, with a high and swelling heart, +rose above himself in the pride of his exploits, for that he seemed to +himself to hold the land by the strength of his arm and the firmness of +his valor. And he took hostages of all the provincial chiefs bordering +on his kingdom, and among others he held in his power the sons of +Dichu, lest any of them should raise the head to defend themselves, or +the heel to offend him. For he, being rooted in the errors of +idolatry, strenuously favored the magicians and the soothsayers; and +his neck was stiff and his head was stubborn against the true religion. +But when he understood that Dichu, with all his household and kindred +and people, had turned unto Christ, and renounced the gods of their +country, even the devils, his mind and his eye were inflamed with the +fury of his wrath. Therefore, being moved in his mind, he gave order +that the hostages of Dichu should be punished in a manner mainly +destructive; for he forbade drink to be given to them, to the end that +they might perish of thirst. And the Spirit revealed this unto the +saint, and he disclosed it unto Dichu, and advised him to seek from +Leogaire the respite of at least ten days until Patrick should appear +before him. Yet could he not, as directed by the man of God, obtain +the respite even of one day, but rather did his entreaties more +vehemently blow up the flame, and exasperate the heart of the king with +the fire of fiercer rage, which when the prelate heard he betook +himself to his accustomed arms of prayer; and behold, on the following +night an angel appeared and gave unto them to drink, and satisfied +their thirst. And from that hour not any suffering of thirst came on +them; and when a few days had passed, at the prayers of the saint, the +angel again appeared, and freed them from their prison-house and from +the power of their enemies. And from the place wherein they were +confined he bore them through the air, as was formerly the prophet; and +he left one of them in a place in Down, where is now erected the church +of Saint Patrick, and the other on a neighboring hill surrounded by a +marsh of the sea; and he broke asunder the chains wherewith they were +bound, and each place is even to this day, from the broken chains, +called Dun-daleathglas. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6039"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXXIX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of Saint Benignus, and of the Prophecy which was made of him.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And the Passover was nigh, the festival of the Christians, whereon the +Life that died, arising from the dead, became the first-fruits of the +resurrection of the dead. Therefore was it near to the heart of the +holy prelate to solemnize this solemn day, which the Lord had appointed +a day of joyfulness to the dwellers on earth and the dwellers in +heaven, on the fair and spacious plain called Breagh, and there, by +evangelizing the kingdom of God, and baptizing the people of his +conversion, to gather together the elect race unto Christ. And he +embarked in a vessel, and arrived in a harbor nigh unto this plain, +and, committing the care of the vessel unto his nephew, Saint Lumanus, +he there landed, and went to the mansion of a certain venerable man +named Sesgnen, therein to pass the night. And he gladly received the +saint, hoping that salvation would be brought unto his house by such a +guest, nor did his hope fail unto him, for when Patrick preached the +word of salvation he and all his household believed and were baptized. +And the venerable man had a son, whom the saint purified with the +healing water, and, taking the name from the occasion, called Benignus; +and as was his name, so were his life and his manners; and he was +beloved of God and of man, worthy of honor and of glory on earth and in +heaven, and he steadfastly adhered to the holy prelate, nor ever could +be separated from him; for when the saint, being weary, would lie down +to rest, this unspotted youth, flying from his father and from his +mother, would cast himself at the feet of the holy man, and enfold them +in his bosom, and ever and anon would he kiss them, and there would he +abide. But on the morrow, when the saint was arrayed for his journey, +and, with one foot in his sandal, the other on the ground, was +ascending his chariot, the boy caught his foot with fast-closing hands, +and besought and implored that he might not leave him. And when his +parents would have separated him from the saint, and retained him with +themselves, the boy, with wailing and lamentation, cried out, Away, +away, I entreat ye! Release me, that I may go with my spiritual +father. And the saint, observing such devotion in his tender heart and +body, blessed him in the name of the Lord, and, bidding him ascend with +him the chariot, prophesied that he would be, as indeed he was, the +successor of his ministry. And this Benignus succeeded Saint Patrick +in the primacy of all Ireland, and, being illustrious for his virtues +and his miracles, at length he rested in the Lord. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6040"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XL. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Fire that was Lighted by Patrick. +</H3> + + +<P> +And the saint, on that most holy Sabbath preceding the Vigil of the +Passover, turned aside to a fit and pleasant place, called Feartfethin, +and there, according to the custom of the holy church, lighted the +lamps at the blessed fire. And it happened on that night that the +idolaters solemnized a certain high festival called Rach, which they, +walking in darkness, were wont to consecrate to the prince of darkness. +And it was their custom that every fire should be extinguished, nor +throughout the province should be relighted until it was first beheld +in the royal palace. But when the monarch, Leogaire, being then with +his attendants at Teomaria, then the chief court of the kingdom of all +Ireland, beheld the fire that was lighted by Saint Patrick, he +marvelled, and was enraged, and enquired who had thus presumed. And a +certain magician, when he looked on the fire, as if prophesying, said +unto the king: "Unless yonder fire be this night extinguished, he who +lighted it will, together with his followers, reign over the whole +island." Which being heard, the monarch, gathering together a +multitude with him, hastened, in the violence of his wrath, to +extinguish the fire. And he brought with him thrice nine chariots, for +the delusion of foolishness had seduced his heart and persuaded him +that with that number he would obtain to himself a complete triumph; +and he turned the face of his men and his cattle toward the left hand +of Saint Patrick, even as his magicians had directed, trusting that his +purpose could not be prevented. But the saint, beholding the multitude +of chariots, began this verse: "Some in chariots, and some on horses; +but we will invoke the name of the Lord." And when the king approached +the place, the magicians advised him not to go near Saint Patrick, lest +he should seem to honor him by his presence, and as if to reverence or +adore him. Therefore the king stayed, and, as these evil-doers +advised, sent messengers unto Patrick, commanding that he should appear +before him; and he forbade all his people that when he came any one +should stand up before him. So the prelate, having finished his holy +duties, appeared; and no one stood up before him, for so had the king +commanded. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6041"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XLI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Holy Man named Hercus.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +But a certain man named Hercus, the son of Degha, who had heard many +things of Saint Patrick, rose up in the sight of all, and did him +honor. Therefore the prelate blessed him, and promised eternal life +unto him; and he, believing in God, received the grace of baptism, and, +leading his life renowned for virtues and for miracles, after a while +he was made a bishop, and died in the city of Slane. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6042"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XLII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How the Magician was Destroyed.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And there was in that place a certain magician named Lochu, who was +highly favored with the king, and he uttered blasphemies against the +Lord and his Christ. For being driven mad by the delusions of devils, +he declared himself to be a god; and the people, being dazzled with his +cheats, and stubbornly adhering to his pernicious doctrine, worshipped +him even as a deity. Therefore he continually blasphemed the ways of +the Lord, and those who were desirous to be converted from idolatry did +he labor to subvert in their faith, and to pervert from Christ. And +almost in the same manner as Simon Magus resisted Saint Peter did he +oppose Saint Patrick. And on a certain time, when he was raised from +the earth by the prince of darkness and the powers of the air, and the +king and the people beheld him as if ascending into the heavens, Saint +Patrick thus prayed unto the Lord: "O omnipotent God! destroy this +blasphemer of Thine holy name, nor let him hinder those who now return +or may hereafter return unto Thee!" And he prayed, and the magician +fell from the air to the earth at the feet of the man of God, and his +head was stricken against a stone, and, bruised and wounded, he +expired, and his spirit descended into hell. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6043"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XLIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Miraculous but Terrible Rescue of Saint Patrick.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +But the king, being much grieved at the death of the magician, burned +with anger, and, with all the manifold multitude of his people, he +arose to destroy the saint. And he, beholding their violence, and +singing forth with a loud voice, began this verse from the Psalms: "Let +God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let them who hate His +face be put to confusion." Then the Lord, the protector of His chosen +ones in the time of need, saved from this multitude his faithful +servant; for, with a terrible earthquake, and with thundering and the +stroke of the thunderbolt, some he destroyed, some he smote to the +ground, and some he put to flight. Thus, as was said by the prophet, +"The Lord shot forth His arrows, and He scattered them; He poured forth +His lightnings, and He overturned them." For He sent among them, +according to the prophecy of Isaiah, the spirit of giddiness; and He +set the idolaters against the idolaters, like the Egyptians against the +Egyptians; each man rushed on his fellow, and brother fought against +brother, and the chariots and their riders were cast to the ground and +overturned; and forty and nine men were slain, and hardly did the rest +escape. But the king trembled at the rebuke of the Lord, and at the +breath of the spirit of His anger, and ran into a hiding-place with +only four of his people, that he might conceal himself from the terrors +of the face of the Lord. But the queen, entreating for the pardon of +the king, reverently approached, and, bending her knee before Saint +Patrick, promised that her consort should come unto him and should +adore his God. And the king, according to her promise, yet with a +designing heart, bended his knees before the saint, and simulated to +adore the Christ in which he believed not. There, with the tongue of +iniquity and the heart of falsehood, he promised that if on the morrow +he would vouchsafe to visit his palace, he would obey all his precepts. +But the man of God, though the Lord suffered not the wickedness which +this unworthy king had conceived in his heart, confidently trusting in +the protection of the Lord, assented to his entreaty. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6044"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XLIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How the Saint Escaped the Deadly Snares.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And the king, bidding farewell to the bishop, returned to his palace, +and in the several places through which the saint was to pass he laid +an ambush; and divers rivers crossed the road, which might in many +parts be forded, nigh unto the shallows whereof he placed nine chariots +with some of his murderous servants, that if the saint should escape +the one he might meet with the other, and so that in no wise could he +pass unharmed. But on the morrow Patrick, with eight persons only and +the boy Benignus, going in a straight road to Teomaria, where the king +then resided, passed through them who had laid snares for his life; and +their eyes were bound, that they could not behold him; but to their +sight appeared eight stags with one hind passing over the mountains; +and thus, the Lord being his protector, did the saint and his +companions escape the contrivers of his destruction. Therefore he came +unto the royal city, and found the king at supper with his companions. +And at his entrance no one arose excepting a certain bard of the king +named Dubhtach, who devoutly saluted the saint, and besought and +obtained of him that he should be made a Christian. And Dubhtach the +first among them all believed in the Lord, and it was remembered to his +justification; for, being baptized and confirmed in the faith of +Christ, the strains that erewhile he had poured forth in the praise of +his false gods, now converting to a better use, he composed more +excellent poems unto the praise of the All-powerful and the honor of +His saints. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6045"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XLV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Poison mingled in the Wine.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +But the King Leogaire, fermenting with the gall of wickedness and +deceit, knowing and marvelling how often the saint had escaped his +snares, turned himself to other inventions, and whom he could not slay +with the sword he plotted to destroy with poison. Therefore, by the +hand of a certain evil-doer named Lugaich Mael, he gave his cup unto +Patrick, whereof, that servant of Satan mingling poison with the wine, +did the saint drink. But the man of God, taking the cup and invoking +the name of the Lord, bended it forward, and all that was deadly +therein poured he into the hollow of his hand unmixed with the rest of +the liquor; then making the sign of the cross, what remained he +blessed, and, to the confusion of the poisoner and the admiration of +all who sat around, drinking thereout, he received neither hurt nor +damage. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6046"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XLVI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Fantastic Snow.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +Then, being utterly covered with shame, did the magician more and more +grieve; and lest he should appear to be vanquished, he challenged +Patrick to bring down signs from heaven. And the saint answered that +he would not tempt the divine will; but the magician by his +enchantments sprinkled all those parts with the coldest snow, and +afflicted all the inhabitants with cold. And the saint urged him, +urging and pressing that he would remove the snow from the earth and +the cold from the inhabitants; and thus compelled, the magician +confessed that by all his enchantments he could not do that thing. +Therefore, O impious man! said the saint, out of thine own mouth will I +judge thee, and prove that thou art the worker of wickedness and +minister of Satan; thou who canst cause evil only, and canst not at all +produce good. Then raising his consecrated hand, blessed he the plain +and all the places around in the name of the Holy Trinity; and +forthwith all the fantastic snow which could not melt in the accustomed +manner vanished. And all around marvelled, confessing the hand of the +Lord working in Patrick, and detesting the deceitful works of the +magician. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6047"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XLVII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How the Darkness was Dispersed.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And the magician, beholding how his art was scorned and set at small +account, once again by his enchantments covered the places that had +been whitened with snow, even with a palpable cloud of thick darkness. +And fear and trembling came on all whom it covered, or at least they +experienced how closely it shaded them from the brightness of the true +faith. Nor let it be marvelled that strangers to the darkness of the +true light which illuminates every man entering this world should be +involved in the darkness of magicians, who, with blind and hardened +heart, worshipped the prince of darkness. And Patrick in his wonted +words addressed the magician, that he would make this cloud to pass +away; but the magician answered even as before. Then did the son of +light pour out a prayer unto the Eternal Light, the Sun of Justice, and +immediately the material sun arose and shone forth, and the darkness +was dispersed. And the people which had hitherto sat in darkness, now +beholding the great light, proclaimed their thanks and their praises, +and magnified Patrick, who was the preacher of the Eternal Light. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6048"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XLVIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How the Magician and his Garment were consumed, and Benignus <BR> +and the Garment of St. Patrick preserved unhurt.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +But the magician, loving darkness rather than light, and darkening +himself in the delusions of his darkness, stubbornly persevered in his +malice, and still contentiously affirmed that his wicked and perverse +opinions excelled the doctrines of the saint. And the king feared that +the works of the magician would be overturned, and he proposed a +certain trial to be made between them: "Let your books be plunged into +the water, and he whose writings are blotted or effaced, let his +preaching be disbelieved; but he in whose writings no blemish shall be +found, let his preaching be admitted and confirmed." And Patrick +assented to this decision, but the magician refused; for he affirmed +that Patrick worshipped the element of water for a god, inasmuch as he +baptized with water in the name of his God. Then the king changed the +trial, and appointed that each book should be cast into the fire, and +that of him whose book should remain unhurt the doctrine should be +received of all. And the saint accorded to this sentence, but the +magician, distrusting himself, accorded not; for he said that Patrick +worshipped, in their turn, now the fire, now the water, and that +therefore he held propitious to him either element. And Patrick +replied that he adored no element, but that he worshipped the Creator +of all the elements. While, therefore, the dispute waxed high, and the +people varied from the one side unto the other, the wisdom of the Lord +inspiring them to distinguish the light of the true faith from the +darkness of idolatry, and the soundness of holy doctrine from the +vanity of magical delusion, a new trial by fire is sought out. Then +with the agreement of all, and Patrick and the evil-doer consenting, in +a new manner a new house is builded, whereof the one-half is made of +wood which was green, the other of wood which was dry and eaten of +worms; and the boy Benignus and the magician, each being bound hand and +foot, are placed over against each other, the boy, arrayed in the +magician's garment, is placed in the dry part of the building, and the +magician, clothed in the robe of Saint Patrick, is placed in the green +part, and the fire is put thereto. And behold an event marvellous and +much unwonted! The fire, furiously raging, consumed the magician, even +to ashes, with the green part of the building wherein he stood; and the +robe of the saint wherewith he was clad was neither scorched nor +soiled; but the blessed youth Benignus, standing in the dry part +thereof, the fire touched not, yet reduced to a cinder the garment of +the magician that wrapped him round. Behold, therefore, herein +repeated the miracles which are recorded in the Holy Writ, as when the +three youths were cast into the furnace, the fire burned only their +bonds, and hurted not themselves; so destroyed it the magician, with +the green part of the house, yet hurted not the vest of Patrick, and, +leaving the boy with the dry part of the house uninjured, it consumed +the garment of the evil-doer. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6049"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XLIX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of Many who were Swallowed up by the Earth, <BR> +and how the rest were Converted unto God.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +But the heart of Leogaire was hardened, as was formerly the heart of +Pharao before Moses against the commands of the Lord. For though so +many miracles had been wrought, he feared not to provoke the high God, +and to offend his servant Patrick. Therefore, showing himself to be a +second Nero, in revenge for the death of the evil-doer, he appointed +several of his people to destroy the saint. And, as is testified by +the Holy Writ, a wicked prince always hath wicked ministers, many of +his servants put themselves forward, voluntary, prompt, and earnest to +so great a sacrilege. But God, the all-powerful protector of His +beloved, armed the zeal of the creature against these senseless +idolaters, and ere they could effect their wickedness he swept them +from the earth and destroyed them. For the earth opened and swallowed +them up, and so many of the people of Teamhrach as were consenting +thereto; and the abyss opened its mouth and devoured them, even alive. +And they who remained, and all the dwellers of that land seeing or +hearing of these things, feared with mighty fear; and, lest they should +be punished with the like punishment, they believed in Christ, and +crowded together unto the font. And the king trembled, and threw +himself at the feet of Patrick, and besought pardon, and promised that +he would thenceforth obey him. And the saint forgave him; yet, though +he a long time instructed him in the faith of the Lord Jesus, in no +wise could he persuade him unto baptism. Therefore he dismissed him, +that, following his free will, he might go on in the inventions of his +own heart, nor seem to be compelled unto the faith; yet, at the +revelation of the Spirit, what he foreknew of the king and his +posterity thus was prophesied by the saint: "Since thou hast always +resisted my doctrine, nor ceased to afflict me beyond measure; +moreover, since thou thoughtest scorn to believe in the Creator of all +things, therefore art thou the child of perdition, and thou, with all +that were partners in thine offence, shouldst justly, even at this +instant, go into eternal punishment; but since thou humbly besought of +me forgiveness, and, like the King Achab, hast humbled thyself before +my God, the Lord will not at this time bring on thee the evil which +thou hast deserved; yet shall none of thy seed sit on thy throne after +thee, but they shall become servants unto thy brother, who will believe +in Christ, and to his posterity for ever and ever." But the queen +believed in Christ, and was baptized and blessed of Patrick, and at +length, with a pious end, rested in the Lord. And he went forward with +his people, baptizing in the name of the Holy Trinity all those who +believed, while the Lord assisted and confirmed his labors with +manifold miracles. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6050"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER L. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Sisters and the Nephews of St. Patrick.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And the saint had three sisters, memorable for their holiness and for +their justice, and they were pleasing unto the Lord; and of these the +names were Lupita, Tygridia, and Darercha. And Tygridia was blessed +with a happy fruitfulness, for she brought forth seventeen sons and +five daughters. And all her sons became most wise and holy monks, and +priests, and prelates; and all her daughters became nuns, and ended +their days as holy virgins; and the names of the bishops were +Brochadius, Broichanus, Mogenochus, and Lumanus, who, with their uncle, +Saint Patrick, going from Britain into Ireland, earnestly laboring +together in the field of the Lord, they collected an abundant harvest +into the granary of heaven. And Darercha, the youngest sister, was the +mother of the pious bishops, Mel, Moch, and Munis, and their father was +named Conis. And these also accompanied Saint Patrick in his preaching +and in his travel, and in divers places obtained the episcopal dignity. +Truly did their generation appear blessed, and the nephews of Saint +Patrick were a holy heritage. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6051"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How Saint Lumanus Sailed against the Wind and the Stream.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Saint Patrick, having sailed over from Ulidia, came unto the +territory of Midia, at the mouth of the river Boinn, among barbarians +and idolaters; and he committed his vessel and its tackle unto his +nephew, Saint Lumanus, enjoining him that he should abide there at the +least forty days, the while he himself would go forward to preach in +the interior parts of the country. But Lumanus, abiding there the +messenger of light, and being made obedient through the hope of +obtaining martyrdom, doubled the space of time that was enjoined unto +him, which no one of his companions, even through the fear of their +lives, dared to do. Yet was not this child of obedience disappointed +of his reward. For while he received the seed of obedience, he brought +forth unto himself the fruit of patience, and deserved to fertilize +strange lands, even with the seed of the divine Word, to the +flourishing of the flowers of faith and the fruits of justice; and the +more devotedly he obeyed his spiritual father, the more marvellously +did the elements obey him. And having fulfilled there twice forty +days, and being wearied with the continual expectation of the saint's +return, on a certain day, the wind blowing strongly against him, he +hoisted the sails, and, trusting in the merits of Saint Patrick, even +by the guidance of the vessel alone passed he over unto the place where +he was appointed to meet him. O miracle till then unheard and unknown! +The ship, without any pilot, sailed against the wind and against the +stream, at the bidding of the man of God, and bore him with a +prosperous course from the mouth of the Boinn even to Athtrym; and He +who formerly turned back the stream of Jordan unto its fountain did, +for the merits of Patrick, guide the vessel against the wind and +against the stream. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6052"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How Forkernus and his Parents were Converted and Baptized.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Saint Lumanus having landed at the aforementioned town of Athtrym, +he converted unto the faith of Christ first Forkernus, the son of a +certain great man who there ruled, then his mother, a Britoness by +nation, and lastly his father, Fethleminus, and in a fountain which by +his prayers he produced out of the earth, even before their eyes, did +he baptize them and many others. And these things being done, the holy +prelate, in the twenty-fifth year before the foundation of Ardmachia, +there builded a church, to the endowment and the enrichment whereof +Fethleminus, that faithful servant of Christ, gave by solemn gift +Athtrym and Midia, with many farms, and then crossing the river, he +builded a habitation for himself and for his people, and there did he +piously finish his days. And Lumanus, being consecrated the bishop of +this church, sent his novice, Forkernus, to be instructed in letters, +and, when he was sufficiently learned, advanced him to the priesthood. +And as the day of his death approached, he went with Forkernus unto his +brother Brocadius, and commanded Forkernus on his obedience that he +should, after his decease, take on himself the government of the church +over which he presided. But he, refusing and protesting that it +accorded neither to reason nor to justice that he should in the church +of his father take on himself the guidance of souls, lest he should +seem to hold in heritage the sanctuary of the Lord, his father and +pastor bound him thereto by his iterated commands. Why need we many +words? Lumanus would not bless him until he had promised to undertake +this office. And at length Lumanus, having departed from this light +unto the mansion of eternal light, Forkernus, as enjoined, took on +himself the care of his church; and after he had presided over it only +three days, he committed it unto a certain stranger, by birth a Briton, +named Cathladius. Thus did the man of God fulfil the command of his +father, and thus he took care that he should not set the example of +selling the rights of the church or the heritage of his parents. But +all the revenues of this church were by Lumanus transferred to Saint +Patrick and his successors, and for ever after given unto the church of +Ardmachia. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6053"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Prophecy of St. Patrick on Coyrbre, <BR> +and of the Unfruitfulness of a River.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And Leogaire had two brothers, the elder of whom was named Coyrbre, +like unto him in cruelty and unbelief, if, indeed, any one could in +that country be found like him, who contemned and condemned the law of +the Most High; and the younger was named Conallus, who retained no more +of his birth than does the fish of the sea or the rose of the thorn. +But Patrick having gone to Coyrbre, who then abided in the place called +Tailltion, that he might convert him unto the Christian faith, if in +any wise from that stone could a son be raised up unto Abraham, yet he, +his heart being hardened against belief, intended the death of the +preacher who would have preached life unto him, and even in the middle +of the river he scourged the servants of Patrick; and the saint, +knowing him to be obstinate in his error, and to be abandoned of God, +thus prophesied unto him: "Since thou hast refused to bear the yoke of +Christ, whose service is freedom, no one of thy posterity shall attain +the throne of thy kingdom, but in perpetual servitude shall they serve +the seed of thy younger brother, Conallus. And this shall be to thee a +sign that the Lord will fulfil the word which He has spoken through my +mouth: the river near thy mansion, which, with the abundance of its +fishes, is wont to feed thee and thine household, from henceforward, +even for ever, shall produce no fishes." And the word of the man of +God obtained, for all his posterity became subject unto the posterity +of his brother Conallus, and they came unto the throne of his kingdom; +and the river, which is called Seyle, even to this day beareth no +fishes. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6054"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of Conallus, and of the Prophecy of Patrick concerning him.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And the saint, leaving those children of darkness in the anger and +blindness of their hearts, and the depth of their error, turned his +steps towards Conallus, who was to be the child of the truth. And he, +rejoicing and giving thanks, received him as the angel of peace and of +delight, and opened the ears of his hearing unto the words of +salvation, and, through the laver of the regeneration and renovation of +the Holy Spirit, deserved he to be incorporated with Christ. Whereby +are we plainly showed that the Heavenly Potter out of the same clay can +form at His will one vessel unto reproof and another unto honor. Then +Conallus, being comforted and confirmed in the Catholic verity, offered +unto the saint his dwelling-house, and his land, and his farm, and +besought of him with many prayers that for the spreading of the +Christian faith he there would build a city for him and for his people; +and he said he would build a habitation for himself on the borders +thereof. And the saint, praising so great charity in his novice, lest +he should seem to reject his entreaty, builded there a city, which is +now called Domnhach Phadruig—that is, the City of Patrick; and +touching it with his staff, he marked out the dwelling-place of +Conallus, which is now called Rathyr-tair. And the saint blessed him +in the name of the Lord; and among other things which were to happen +unto him, thus did he prophesy: "Happy and prosperous shall be this +dwelling-place, and happy shall be they who dwell therein; nor shall +the blood of any man, save only one, be shed in it; and the Lord, +giving His blessing, shall bless thee, and He shall confirm thy throne +and multiply thine empire, and the seed of thy brother shall serve thy +seed for ever and ever." And all these things which the saint +prophesied were not in the event disproved. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6055"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Altar of Saint Patrick.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And it was near to the heart of the saint to visit Connactia; and +chiefly for the vision which he had heretofore beheld in his sleep, +wherein he was called by the infants of that country, even in their +mothers' wombs, he desired there to evangelize the kingdom of God. And +he purposed to travel round the whole island, that he might convert it +unto Christ; and the saint, being prepared to his journey, blessed +Conallus, and in memorial of himself he left in the aforementioned city +his altar of stone, for the relieving of the sick and for the working +of miracles; but when he proceeded on his journey, the altar followed, +nor to the eyes of any man was it visible how it was carried; but, as I +account, it was carried along the path of the saint by the power and +the virtue of Him at whose nod the prophet was carried from Judea into +Chaldea. Thus did the Corner-Stone, Christ, that He might show unto +all the holiness of Patrick, cause this holy stone to be moved without +human hand. And the prelate, looking back, beheld the altar thus +marvellously borne after him, and exulted in the Lord, and returned, +and placed it in a fitting place. And from that day did it remain +fixed, yet ceased it not to shine in miracles, as if the virtue of +Patrick had remained in it or flowed from it. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6056"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LVI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Images destroyed from Heaven, and <BR> +of the Fountain produced from the Earth.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And the King Leogaire, being devoted to the worship of devils, with a +great part of his people who much desired to please him adored a +certain idol magnificently formed of silver and gold, and which was +raised in a field called Maghfleidh. And the idol was named +Ceancroithi—that is, the head of all the gods, for that it was by that +foolish people accounted to utter responses. And around this image +stood twelve inferior gods, made of brass, as if subject unto it. +Therefore Saint Patrick turned toward this place, that he might +overturn the idol, and by his preaching convert its worshippers to the +worship of the Creator. But when he could not prevail, neither could +he recall those idolaters from the folly that was fixed in their minds, +he betook himself to his accustomed arms of prayer. And from a +neighboring hill beholding the idol, he stretched forth in prayer his +spotless hands unto God, and lifted against it the staff of Jesus, when +suddenly, by the power of God, the idol fell on its left side, and all +the silver and the gold poured from it broken and powdered into dust; +but on the hard stone of the image was seen impressed the mark of the +staff, though it had touched it not; and the earth swallowed up the +twelve inferior gods, even to their necks, and their heads continue +above the ground unto this day. Thus what human strength could not +accomplish was done by the divine power; and many beholding it believed +in the true and living God, and being baptized, according to the +apostle, put on Christ, And in that place Saint Patrick by his prayers +produced out of the earth a fountain of the clearest water, wherein +many were afterward baptized. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6057"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LVII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How the Darkness was Dispersed.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And the saint, having overturned the idols, held on the way that he +purposed; and the fame of his holiness, going before him, announced his +coming. And when he drew nigh unto Connactia, two magicians, the sons +of Neyll, the one whereof was named Mael, the other Cabhlait, heard of +his approach; and they were both bound in the bonds of Satan, nor were +they less germane in the exercise of their evil deeds than in the germ +of their native generation. These men by their enchantments covered +the whole country with thick darkness for three continual days, whereby +they hoped to prevent the entrance of Patrick into that place. But the +son of light, in whose heart the morning star that never sets +perpetually shone, while he lifted up unto heaven his heart and his +hand and his tongue in prayer, the light-streaming rays of the sun, +shining forth, dispersed the magic darkness; and, finding free entrance +into Connactia, with all his strength he labored to open to those +unworthy enemies of the truth the door of faith. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6058"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LVIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Virgins who went unto Heaven.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And of Leogaire were born two daughters, like roses growing in a +rose-bed. And the one was of a ruddy complexion, and she was called +Ethne; and the other was fair, and she was called Fedella; and they +were educated by these magicians. And early on a certain morning, the +sun having just arisen, they went to bathe in a clear fountain, on the +margin whereof they found the saint sitting with other holy men; and +regarding his countenance and garb, they were struck with wonder, and +enquired of his birth and his residence, taking him for an apparition. +But the saint admonished them rather to believe in his God than to +enquire of his descent or his dwelling-place. Then the damsels, +desiring to know more assuredly of God, earnestly questioned about His +power, and His riches, and His glory. And the Saint instructed them in +the Catholic faith, truly affirming him to be the Creator and Ruler of +the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and of all that is therein; +and that He had one Son, with Himself coeternal, coeval, and +consubstantial—everywhere reigning, governing all things, possessing +all things; and promised he also unto them that they should exchange an +earthly and transitory kingdom for a heavenly and eternal kingdom; for +that if they obeyed his counsel, they should unite with the Celestial +King in pure and indissoluble union. And when he had thus preached +unto them with persuasive eloquence, the damsels believed in Christ, +and he baptized them even in that fountain. Thus being made +Christians, they besought the saint that according to his promise he +would show unto them the face of Christ, their beloved Spouse. And the +saint thus answered: "Ye must first, with the mouth of your heart and +of your body, devoutly receive the flesh and the blood of your Spouse, +so that, being quickened with the living food, and having tasted of +death, ye may pass from this impure world unto the starry +bride-chamber." Then the virgins, believing in the word of the man of +God, devoutly entreated and received the Eucharist, and, immediately +falling asleep in the Lord, they quitted their earthly tabernacles, and +went unto their heavenly Spouse. And their friends and their kindred +gathered together and bewailed them for three days, as was the custom +of the country, and returned their sacred remains unto the womb of the +mother of all human kind. And on that spot was erected a church, which +is now collated to the metropolitan seat of Ardmachia. And the two +magicians, for that they had educated the damsels, were sorely grieved +at their deaths, and reproached the saint with bitter and angry words; +but he, touching the harp of David, and preaching unto them the kingdom +of God, converted them unto the faith, and they were baptized. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6059"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LIX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Magician Struck by Lightning, and of<BR> +Twelve Thousand Men Converted unto Christ.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And after these things had come to pass, a great and solemn council was +held in a solemn place by the people of that province gathered there +together, whereat the seven sons of Amhlaich, a man eminent for his +birth, his dignity, his riches, and his power, were present with a +numerous train of their followers. Then the saint, that he might gain +many of that multitude unto Christ, threw himself into the midst of the +assembly, and took the spiritual armor of the power of God unto the +extirpation of idolatry. But when this renowned preacher unsheathed +the sword of the Spirit to the destruction of devils and the salvation +of man, a certain magician named Rochait with all his strength +endeavored to slay him. Lest, however, his wicked attempt should +accomplish the yet more wicked deed, the hand of the Almighty, sending +on him fire from above, consumed this child of hell, and smote him with +lightning, even in the presence of all. And beholding this marvellous +and fearful miracle, the seven sons of Amlaich, with twelve thousand of +the people, believed in Christ, and were baptized, and constantly +remained in the Catholic faith which they had taken on them. And the +two daughters of a certain nobleman named Glerannus, who were then +unborn, are said to have invoked the saint, and were with the rest +converted unto Christ, and were baptized even in their mother's womb. +And they afterward, living a holy and religious life, in a pious end +rested in the Lord, and after their deaths proved by many miracles that +they were with the saints in heaven. And Saint Patrick placed over +this newly-converted people a prelate named Mancenus, and he was +learned and religious, and well versed in the Holy Scriptures. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6060"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of another Magician whom the Earth swallowed up.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And the Lord ordained unto Saint Patrick strong and frequent conflicts +with the magicians, that he might conquer and know how prevailing was +the wisdom of Him in whose name all their endeavors were foiled. For +as, according to the apostle, Iannes and Mambres resisted Moses, so did +very many evil-doers resist Patrick. Therefore, on another day, in the +place of the aforementioned council, another but not a different +evil-doer, at the instigation of Satan, arose with the like fury +against the saint, that he might destroy him. But the right hand of +the Lord, which erewhile had smote his enemy with consuming fire, was +magnified in strength, and in His manifold power swept this evil-doer +from the face of the earth. For the earth, cleaving asunder, opened +her mouth and swallowed up the magician who had so often defiled +himself with so many evil deeds, and, closing again, plunged him into +the abyss. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6061"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How another Magician is Sunken up to the Ears, and again is Raised up.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And the deadly end of this evil-doer being discerned by one who was +germane unto him in his flesh and in his mind, and who was not able to +succor his brother when perishing, therefore sought he to avenge his +destruction on Patrick as his destroyer; and being enraged against the +saint, he sought to put him to death. But the Lord fought for Patrick, +and the earth in like manner opened and swallowed up the magician, even +to his ears. Then the man, being almost swallowed up in the earth, +implored pardon of the saint, and promised that he would believe in +Christ, and that he would obey his doctrine. And the saint, being +moved with pity, prayed for him unto the Lord; and immediately the +earth cast him forth, and raised him. And the unmerciful man, being +mercifully saved, gave thanks unto the power that had saved him, and +believed in Christ, and received the grace of baptism. Thus doth the +Lord, distinguishing between the light and darkness, severely condemn +the reprobate and obstinate in evil, and mercifully saveth those who +fly unto his mercy. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6062"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How a huge Stone was raised by the Saint.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And the saint, passing along on a certain day, beheld a multitude of +men gathered together, that they might move from its place a very large +stone; and they had labored a long time, but in vain; for they were +wearied in their strength and fatigued with the unequal attempt, and to +raise the stone they prevailed not. Then the saint approached, even as +a builder of the temple of the living God to be builded in the Lord; +and having prayed and blessed their work, that huge stone, which could +not be stirred by an hundred hands, did he alone remove and raise and +place in its fit place. And the men who stood around marvelled at this +marvellous work, and were converted to believe in the God of Saint +Patrick; and they who hitherto, having stony hearts, worshipped stones, +this stone being raised by the saint, believed in the living Stone, the +precious Stone, the Corner-Stone, the elect Stone, the Stone which is +placed in the foundations of Sion; and this Stone had they long time +rejected; but now becoming themselves living stones, joined together +with the cement of the Christian faith, and following the sacred +doctrine, and being polished and purified in baptism, they grew in the +temple of the Lord. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6063"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How the Women were raised from Death.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And wheresoever in his preaching went Patrick, the man of God, his lips +diffused the healing knowledge, and the number of the believers was +daily increased. And the Lord assisted his faithful servant with +manifold miracles, and confirmed his doctrine, for that he falsified +not the word of God, but always sought His praise and His glory. And +on a certain day he came to a place called Fearta, where at the side of +a hill two women who had deceased were buried. Then the man of God, +approaching the grave, commanded the earth to be removed, and, having +invoked the name of Christ, he raised them up to life. And the women +thus raised up, even in the presence of all around, proclaimed that +their idols were vain, and that their gods were devils, Christ alone +being the true God; and in His name they besought to be baptized, and +they attained their prayer. And the bystanders glorified God, and +devoutly received his faith and baptism. Thus did the most holy +prelate revive from double death the two women who were dead in the +flesh; and their resurrection from bodily death gave unto many +resurrection from the death of the soul. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6064"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Two Women who were pregnant are with their Infants <BR> +rescued from Death unto Life.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And in these parts was a certain woman named Fidelina, yet knew she not +how to confide in Christ; and she was pregnant, and even at the instant +other travail, for lack of strength, she expired. But as a city +builded on a mountain cannot be hidden, nor a candle placed in a +candlestick, nor the fragrance of a sweet-smelling garden, so, though +ever so much he desired it, could not the virtue of the blessed Patrick +be concealed. For proceeding from him it drew after him many who had +been evil-disposed; and for the odor of his ointments many followed +him, so by the grace thereof the friends of the departed woman, being +attracted, brought her lifeless body unto the saint, and entreated with +lamentable entreaties that he would show now on her the power which +erewhile he had shown on others. And forthwith the man full of God +betook himself unto prayer; and he restored the dead woman unto life; +and afterwards she brought forth a son, and in a convenient season +thereafter, with her child, received baptism; and thus was each from +the death of the body and of the soul revived by Patrick before the +people. And all the multitude who beheld these things believed and +gave praise unto God. And the woman related what during her death she +had seen of the glories of heaven and of the pains of hell; and her +testimony was believed, and converted unto Christ many thousands. And +shortly after this miracle was renewed on another woman, who also died +in travail, and who was in like manner revived by the saint, and with +her child was baptized. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6065"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How he builded a Church of Clay alone.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Saint Patrick journeyed round Connactia, spreading through all that +region the Word of God; nor ceased he from his preaching nor from his +working of miracles until all the inhabitants thereof were converted +unto the true faith. And in many places builded he churches, and +appointed therein priests and other ecclesiastical ministers unto the +government of souls and the holy ministry. And on a time when the +saint was intent on his wonted work, he came unto a certain plain, +which, by its fair and pleasant site, was fitted unto the building of a +church; but neither wood nor stone could be found therein. For the +forest was a long way distant, and no axe could be found in those +parts, nor even, if found, did any of the inhabitants understand its +use. Therefore did this holy man offer up his prayers, and, being +helped of heaven, he builded there a church of clay alone, and it was +fashioned for that time in very handsome form, and it was endowed with +the divine grace. For well is it known to have suffered naught, +neither from the wind, nor from the snow, nor from the hail, nor from +the rain, nor from any other inclemency of the air; but from thence +even to this day is it seen to continue in its original state. And the +seat of Saint Patrick, wherein sitting he was wont to preach, is still +shown; and manifold and marvellous miracles are reported to have been +done there. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6066"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXVI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the two Rivers, Dubh and Drobhaois.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +In that country were two rivers, whereof the one was called Dubh, and +the other Drobhaois; and the river Dubh was wont to abound with fishes, +but the other produced them not. And the saint, passing nigh the bank +of the fruitful river, entreated the fishermen that out of a great +draught which they had taken they would bestow their kindness unto him. +But they, wanting charity toward the beloved of the Lord, sent him away +empty, and wholly refused unto him even one fish. Therefore God, the +author and the lover of charity, from these fishermen, narrowed in +their hearts, and frozen with covetousness, withdrew their wonted gain, +and deprived that river of its perpetual abundance of fishes; and the +other river, which was called Drobhaois, did he immediately enrich +therewith. And this river, as being more fruitful, so is it clearer +than all the other rivers in Ireland. From whence a wise man may +understand that we should show charity unto every member of Christ, and +receive the friends of God and relieve them with all kindness. For +whatever honor, whatever kindness, we show unto them, that do we +assuredly show unto Christ; so whatever we unjustly take from or deny +unto them, of that doth God attest us to have defrauded Him. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6067"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXVII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Voice that issued from the Sepulchre.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +The holy standard-bearer of the Lord was accustomed to stop at the +head-stone of every Christian who was buried outside of a burial-place, +there to erect a cross; for he knew that in that country, then only +lately converted unto the faith, all the dead, by reason of the fewness +of the churches, could not be buried in consecrated ground; and +therefore the good pastor wished by that blessed token to distinguish +the sheep from the goats—namely, the Christians that were buried from +the pagans. So might the worshippers of Christ, beholding the sign of +life, understand that a servant of the faith of the cross was there +buried, and so might they not delay to offer unto the Creator their +prayers for his soul. Truly, a pious custom, and worthy is it of +general observance that all who were baptized in the death of Christ, +and are dead in his faith, should, when buried, have on them or near +them the ensign of the death of Him. +</P> + +<P> +And it came to pass that Patrick, in going out of Connactia, beheld +outside of a burying-place which was consecrated to God the graves of +two men who had been lately buried, and he observed that at the head of +the one was a cross erected. And sitting in his chariot, as was then +the custom, he bade his charioteer to stay, and, speaking to the dead +man as to one living, he asked him who and of what religion he had +been? And the voice answered unto him from the grave that he had been +a pagan, altogether ignorant of the Christian faith. "Why, then," said +the saint, "bearest thou the cross of Christ, thou who didst never +worship or acknowledge Him?" And the voice answered: "He who is buried +near me was a Christian; and some one of your faith, coming hither, +placed the cross at my head." Thus the voice spake, and was silent. +Then the saint descended from his chariot, and removed the cross from +that place, and fixed it at the head-stone of him who had been +baptized, and prayed for him, and went his way. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6068"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXVIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of his Journey, and of his manifold Miracles.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And going out of Connactia, after having confirmed that country in the +Christian faith, he went toward the northern part of Ireland, which is +called Dalnardia; and the people therein dwelling, by his conversation, +and by his example, and by his miracles, did he convert unto the faith +of Christ and the sacraments of the faith. Then he passed over the +mountain Ficoth, even to the great plain of Bregh, thus traversing +through Midia into Lagenia; and everywhere he preached the kingdom of +God, and certain of his disciples he advanced in fit places unto the +episcopal dignity. But by how many miracles his journey was graced, +how many diseased persons he healed, severally to relate, not even the +pen of the most eloquent could suffice. For divers received health, +not only by his touch or by his prayer, but even by the passing of his +shadow, as were he another Peter. So many as were not purified by the +healing water did he labor to persuade unto baptism; so many as were +already baptized, lest their faith should be perverted by the old enemy +or subverted by heretical doctrines, did he therein confirm. And since +faith, according to the Apostle James, is "dead without works," and +since a dead faith is no faith, this blessed preacher earnestly +persuaded the believers unto a holy and sincere faith by their diligent +working of good works. But they who, proceeding in all wickedness, +condemned his doctrine, and, rebelling against God, obstinately +persevered in the worship of devils, often at his prayer were they by +the suddenness of divine justice destroyed, as our relation has +hitherto declared, and will declare in the following pages. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6069"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXIX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Prophecy of the Saint Concerning Dublinia; and the Sick Man cured.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And the saint, departing from Midia, directed his course toward +Lagenia, for the purpose of preaching there; and on his journey he +crossed a river named Finglas to a certain hill distant about one mile +from the village Athcliath, the which is now called Dublinia; and +looking on this place and on the country around it, and blessing it, +thus spake he, prophesying: "This village, now so small, in time shall +be renowned, and it shall be increased in riches and in dignity until +it be advanced the royal seat of a kingdom." How truly he spake the +proof of this time manifestly showeth. And he entered the village, and +the dwellers therein, having heard of the miracles which he had wrought +in the Lord, came forth joyfully to meet him; and the son of the lord +of that place, his only son, was even at the point of death, so that +many said he had already expired. Then, at the entreaty of the father +and of the rest who flocked around him, the saint went unto the sick +man's bed, and bended his knees on the earth, and prayed, and blessed +him then dying, and snatched him from the jaws of death, and in the +sight of them all restored him. And they who beheld this miracle +believed in the Author of life, and by the holy prelate were baptized +in His name. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6070"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>A Fountain is produced out of the Earth.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Saint Patrick, while abiding in this village, was entertained at +the house of a woman who often in his presence complained of the want +of fresh water. For the river that ran near it was, by the flowing in +of the tide of the sea, made wholly salt of taste; nor before the +return thereof could any fresh water be obtained, unless drawn at a +great distance. But the saint, who continually thirsted after God, the +living fountain, compassionated the grievance of his hostess and of the +multitude then newly born unto Christ, and, the rather that they might +the more ardently pant toward the fountain of life, thought he fit to +show its virtue. Therefore on the morrow he went unto a certain place, +and in the presence of many standing around he prayed, and touched the +earth with the staff of Jesus, and in the name of the Lord produced +from it a clear fountain. Thus with the staff in the hand of his +preacher Saint Patrick did the Lord renew the miracle which of old time +he had deigned to work by the rod in the hand of Moses striking the +rock; there the rock twice struck flowed forth abundant waters; here +the earth once pierced poured forth a pure fountain. And this is the +fountain of Dublinia, wide in its stream, plenteous in its course, +sweet to the taste, which, as is said, healeth many infirmities, and +even to this day is rightly called the fountain of Saint Patrick. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6071"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXXI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Dead are raised up; the King and the People are converted; <BR> +a Fountain is produced, and Tribute promised.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +The divine Providence bestoweth on this transitory world the desire of +letters, to the end that the human race, which when death arrives +cannot long continue in the memory, may through distant ages preserve +the record of great events, and recall them as if passing before their +eyes. Therefore do those things appear to me very worthy of +remembrance which were done by Patrick, the illustrious preacher unto +the Irish nation, the holy prelate, who, by the grace of God, in his +evidences, his miracles, and his virtues, became the conqueror of the +old enemy, even to the gathering together the people of Ireland and her +kings, that they might serve the Lord; and at length he came unto the +noble city which is now called Dublinia. And it was inhabited by the +Norwegians and by the people of the Isles, having been conceded by the +King of Ireland unto the dominion of the queen, who was the daughter of +the King of Norwegia; and in course of time was it one while allied to, +and other while warring against, the kings of Ireland. Hither Saint +Patrick coming, found the city defiled with the abominations of idols, +and unknowing of the true Creator. And He who burst asunder the gates +of death and of hell smoothed the path for his servant; for the king +and the people, who erewhile had said unto the Lord, Depart Thou from +us, we will not the knowledge of Thy ways, so cast down were they, so +saddened with weeping and with lamentation, that all memory of their +wonted fierceness, all their barbarous rudeness, and all the pride of +their idolatry, were utterly subdued. Wretched was the spectacle on +that day! The twin hope of the kingdom, the delight of the city, the +solace of the old, the companion of the young, the son of the King of +Dublinia, lay in his chamber dead; and his sister, who had gone to +bathe in the neighboring river, had that day perished in the +mid-stream. And a tumult arose through the whole city; and the funeral +rites of the king's son being wholly neglected, all ran confusedly to +the shore; some, not even casting off their garments, plunge into the +river, some dive into its lowest depths, and others sail down the +course of the tide, lest haply the body of the royal damsel might +thitherward be hurried down. But they who had gone out to seek beheld +in the water the damsel lying down, even as one sleeping. They delay +not; they raise the royal maiden from the stream; they bear her unto +the chamber of her brother for her obsequies; and, according to the +superstition of the pagans, the tombs are prepared. And a rumor +gathers in the palace that he, Patrick of Ardmachia, who in the name of +the unknown God had already raised many that were even dead, had on +that day arrived in the city. This the king hearing rejoiced mightily; +and he caused him to come where his two children lay, and, being +already full of faith, he promised that if God at the prayers of the +saint would restore the children of his age, he and all his people +would worship him. And all the nobles confirm the promise of the king, +and the whole city yearneth toward the faith, so that the children may +but be revived. Then the saint, beholding the gain of souls which was +there prepared for him, poured forth his prayers, and in the sight of +the king and of the people restored to life the royal children; and +they, being made the assistants unto the faith, rising again in their +bodies, assisted in their father and in the people the resurrection of +souls. And this king was called Alphinus, and his son was called +Cochadh, and his daughter Dublinia, and from her the city received its +name. And he and all his people, rejecting their idols and all the +abominations of the devils, were converted unto Christ, and were +baptized at the fountain of Saint Patrick, at the southern side of the +city, which the saint, striking the earth with the staff of Jesus, had +caused to arise, to the increase of the faith of the believers; +wherefore did the saint offer there the sacrifice unto salvation; and +there, even to this day, is honor and reverence paid Saint Patrick and +his successors, the primates of Ardmachia. And from that time the King +Alphinus and all the citizens of Dublinia vowed themselves and all +their posterity to the service of Saint Patrick and the primates of +Ardmachia, and builded one church near this fountain, and another near +the Church of the Holy Trinity, and in the city westward of the +archbishop's palace. And they appointed a tribute unto Saint Patrick +their patron, which was unto the Archbishop of Ardmachia from every +merchant ship a sufficient cask of wine or of honey, a hook of iron, or +a measure of salt; from every tavern a vessel of mead or of ale; and +from every shop a gift of shoes, or gloves, or knives, or combs, with +many gifts of such kind. And on that day the king and his nobles each +offered unto him a talent of gold; but the people offered even as they +could, the which did Patrick, the poor in Christ, give unto the poor, +having retained a part unto the building of churches. Then blessed he +them with the blessings of Jacob the patriarch, and of Moses the +servant of God, like unto the age and spiritual bearing of whom he +appeared, prophesying, and praying, if their deeds agreed with their +words, that they might be unconquered and fortunate, but weak and +unhappy if ever they falsified their vows. Which plainly was proved +when this people, becoming proud and regardless of the blessing of the +saint, neglected to pay the appointed tribute. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6072"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXXII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Sentence pronounced on Murinus.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And the saint having blessed and bidden farewell unto the inhabitants +of Dublinia, then by the power of his miracles confirmed in the faith, +preparing himself for the like work, set forward on his journey. And +he came unto a neighboring town, which is now called the Castle Cnoc, +where a certain infidel named Murinus governed. Him did the saint +desire to lead into the path of life; but this son of death, hearing +the fame of his virtue and of his wisdom, which he feared no one could +resist, absented himself from the saint, even as from a fierce enemy. +And the saint required him that he would at the least give unto him of +his abundance; but he, concealing himself in an inner chamber, required +him that he would at the least suffer him to sleep. The which commands +being of each oftentimes repeated, the saint, at the inspiration of the +Spirit, understanding him to be a child of perdition, exclaimed: "Let +him sleep, let him sleep; nor until the day of judgment let him awaken +or arise!" Then the saint departed, and the wretched man sank into the +sleep of death. Thus when the sleeper, covered with the darkness of +unbelief, refused to awake at the heavenly voice which called him from +the dead, that he might be illuminated of Christ, he descended into the +dark grave, there to remain for ever covered with the darkness of +death. Therefore, even to this day, it is among the Irish a frequent +imprecation on a feigned sleeper, Mayest thou sleep, as at the word of +Saint Patrick Murinus slept! +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6073"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXXIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Foylge is punished with a double Death, and the <BR> +deceiving Fiend is driven out of his body.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And in Lagenia was a certain wicked idolater named Foylge, who was an +eminent adversary of Christ, so far forth as he was able; this child of +Belial frequently sought occasion to lay on Patrick, the anointed of +the Lord, his impious hands, for to him it was very grievous not only +to see but even to hear the saint. To this inveterate malice was he +urged, for that the man of God had destroyed the aforementioned idol +Ceancroythi, unto the abominable worship whereof he was especially +bound. But when he could not effect his wicked purpose, he one day +attacked the charioteer of Saint Patrick, who was named Odranus; for he +seized him sitting in the chariot, and strangled him, so that by the +one act of blood his fury might be the more fiercely excited toward +another. And the saint, wounded in his heart, cast the weapon of his +malediction on this child of hell, who, pierced thereby, even at the +moment breathed out his soul into the infernal regions. Of some it is +said that Odranus, foreknowing the servant of Satan to be intent on the +death of the saint, obtained that in his stead he might on that day +hold the reins. And this he did, earnestly desiring to lay down his +life for the saint, lest, so bright a lamp being extinguished, the +people of Ireland should again walk in darkness. And the saint beheld +his soul borne into heaven by the angels, and placed in the seat of the +martyrs. But the old enemy, entering the dead body, showed to all a +false and feigned Foylge, as if revived unto life, and dwelled therein +as returned to his possessions and to his people. And after some days, +as Patrick was passing nigh unto the dead man's dwelling, he called +unto him certain of the family, and asked where Foylge was; and they +answered that he was then within in the house, when the saint replied: +"The soul of Foylge, for that he unjustly slew my chariot-driver, God +justly judging and vindicating my cause, hath gone cut of his body, and +descended into hell; but Satan, to the delusion and the seduction of +mankind, hath entered into his corpse, and occupieth it as his own +proper vessel." Then the saint forbade Satan that in that vessel he +should longer abide, or deceive mankind with so wicked a phantom. And +forthwith, at the command of the man of God, the deceiving spirit +quitted his habitation of clay; the which, covered with worms, and +raising horror and offence to all, was carried into instant sepulture. +Nor let it be wondered that the devil should show himself in the +visible form of his accustomed instrument, the God permitting whose +judgments are an abyss; but rather let Him be feared who can destroy +both body and soul in hell. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6074"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXXIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Saint's Prophecy concerning the Kings of Momonia.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And the saint, going out of Lagenia, journeyed prosperously forward +into the country of Momonia. And the king thereof, who was named +Oengus, met the holy prelate, rejoicing and giving thanks in the +exultation of his heart, as on that day occasion was ministered unto +him of joy and of belief, for that in the morning, when he entered the +temple to adore his idols, he beheld them all prostrate on the ground. +And so often as he raised them, so often by the divine power were they +cast down; nor could they stand upright, but continually were they +overthrown. And as Dagon could not stand at the approach of the ark of +the testament, so neither could the idols stand at the approach of +Saint Patrick. And he may truly be called the ark of the covenant, who +in his pure heart, as in a golden urn, bore the manna of heavenly +contemplation, the tables of the heavenly law, and the rod of the +heavenly discipline. And the king brought him, with great reverence +and honor, unto his palace in the city of Cassel, because his mind and +his eye had long time longed for him, by reason of the manifold +miracles which he knew had been worked by the saint. And at his +preaching the king believed in the Holy Trinity, in the name of which +he is regenerated in the healing water of baptism. And after he had +blessed the king by touching his head, at his earnest and devout +entreaty the saint pierced his foot with the point of the staff of +Jesus. But the king, receiving his blessing with ardent desire, felt +in his body no pain of the wound, so much did he rejoice in the +salvation of his soul. Then did the saint behold the wounded foot of +the king, and imprinted on it the sign of the cross, and blessed it, +and healed the wound; and, full of the prophetic spirit, thus +prophesied he unto the king: "The blood of any king of thy race who +shall sit on thy throne shall never be shed, save of one alone." And +the inhabitants of this region, assert the prophecy to have been proved +by undeniable truth, inasmuch as history recordeth not one king of all +his posterity, even to the tenth generation, to have been slain, but +only one. And there remained in that place a tablet of stone, whereon +the saint is said to have celebrated the holy mysteries; and it is +called by the Irish Leac Phadruig—that is, the Stone of Saint Patrick; +and on this stone, for reverence of him, the kings of Cassel are wont +to be crowned and to be advanced unto the throne of their kingdom. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6075"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXXV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How Dercardius and his Companions were destroyed.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And thence the saint speeded unto Urmonia, that out of that place he +might pluck the thorns and the branches of error which, being planted +by the craft of the old enemy, had flourished there, and sow in their +stead the spiritual harvest. And a certain man of Comdothan, named +Lonanus, freely received him, and made unto him and the companions of +his journey a great supper. And the saint deemed right to impart the +spiritual and eternal food unto those who had prepared for him the food +which was perishing and earthly. And during supper, while the saint +labored to fill their minds with the word of life, a certain wicked man +named Dercardius approached, and with rude and importunate speech, nay, +even with clamor, wearying the ears of the saint, afflicting his mind, +and stopping his mouth, demanded of him food. The which the saint not +having at hand, blushed, and took unkindly the irreverence that +prevented him from preaching. But a certain man named Nessan, who +beheld how the just man's spirit was vexed, offered unto him a ram, +which the saint bade him give to the bold importuner. This receiving, +Dercardius returned to his companions, boasting that by his importunity +he had penetrated the stony heart of Patrick, even as the continual +dropping of water weareth out a stone. And they slay the ram, and +dress and eat it. And while the meat was yet in their mouths the anger +of God came on them, and suddenly avenged His servant; for the meat +turned to instant poison, and destroyed them all; wherein are we +sufficiently admonished not to offend the servants of God, lest we +offend the Almighty Himself, who will protect and defend them in the +time of their trouble. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6076"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXXVI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Quarrel of the Two Brothers.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +The blessed Patrick, as the angel of peace, announcing by the blood of +Christ that peace which passeth all understanding, journeyed through +Ciarraghus. And as he journeyed, he beheld two brothers named +Bibradius and Locradius, who, their father having then lately been +buried, were dividing the inheritance; and they at first disputed with +their tongues, and at length they attacked each other very fiercely. +And when each brandished the sword unto the death of the other, the +saint feared exceedingly, lest even in his sight the crime of +fratricide should happen. Therefore unto the pity of these unpitying +men did he address his heart, unto prayer his mouth, unto blessing his +hand; and making their arms immovable as wood or as stone, he stayed +them in the air. And they, beholding themselves thus miraculously +prevented, ceased from the fury of their conceived sin, and, at the +bidding of the saint telling good tidings of peace and preaching +salvation, returned unto the mutual kindness of brotherly love. Then +he, the brothers being appeased, and his blessing being given unto +them, restored the power of their arms; and they offered him for the +building of a church the field wherein was worked this miracle. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6077"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXXVII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Fourteen Thousand Men are miraculously refreshed <BR> +with the Meat of Five Animals.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And after that Patrick, the illustrious worker of miracles, had +fortified with his most holy admonitions the inhabitants of Momonia, +whom he had already filled with the faith, he turned to visit the +northern part of the island, the territories of the sons of Neyll, that +he might convert or confirm the dwellers therein. And the +aforementioned King Oengus, with twelve of his tributary kings, and +other of the chiefs who were subject unto him, followed the saint with +fourteen thousand men, desiring to be fed with the bread of life and of +understanding. And when they came unto the river Brosnach, where +Triamus the bishop, by birth a Roman, companion unto Saint Patrick in +his journey and his labors, dwelled in a place called Choibeach, he +desired to refresh all this multitude. Therefore he first fed them all +with spiritual food, and then bade them sit down unto supper. And +Triamus had one cow, by the milk of which he was wont to be sustained, +and he caused her to be slain for their repast. But what was this one +among so many? Then Patrick, the beloved of the Lord, addressed a +prayer unto heaven; and behold, two stags issued from one part of the +wood, and two boars issued from another part, and came unto him as +tamed and domestic. And these; giving thanks unto the most high Giver, +he in like manner bade to be killed, and, having blessed, he placed +before the multitude. And all the people ate, and were abundantly +filled; and the remnants, that nothing might be lost, were gathered up; +thus with the flesh of five animals did Patrick most plenteously feed +fourteen thousand men in the name of Him who, with five loaves and two +fishes, did feed four thousand. For he said: "He who believeth in me, +the works that I do, these shall he do, and greater than these," that +the Father may be glorified in the Son. And these miracles differ not, +though they vary in their number, for each was worked of the Lord, this +in Himself, that in His servant. Nevertheless, on the morrow was found +in that field a cow like unto the one that was killed and eaten, and it +was given unto Triamus, that he might be nourished of her milk. And +the rumor went forth among very many, affirming this to have been the +same cow revived by Saint Patrick. We, however, say that nothing is +impossible unto God, but that this was done we neither deny nor assert. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6078"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXXVIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Nineteen Men are raised by Saint Patrick from the Dead.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +But to these wonderful acts succeed yet more wonderful, and evidently +show in His saint the wonderful God; for the next miracle deserveth +even higher admiration. And as Patrick was one day preaching eternal +punishment to those who resisted the commands of God, and the reward of +eternal life to those who obeyed, his words were confirmed by the +argument of an unheard miracle. For, lest any scruple of doubt should +arise in their hearts, he revived, in the sight of all, nineteen men +who had been dead and buried in their graves, one of whom, named Fotus, +had lain in his narrow house for the space of ten years. And all these +related the pains which they had suffered, and with one voice declared +that the God whom Patrick preached was the true and the living God. +Then the King Oengus and all his people, beholding these things, +glorified the God who is glorious in His saints, wonderful in His +majesty, and eminent in His miracles, such as are never seen on earth; +and they honored Patrick as the priest of the high God and His peculiar +apostle. And each returned unto his home, saying, This day we have +beheld a miracle. And they who had been revived were by Patrick +baptized, and, professing a penitent life, they took on them the +monastic habit, and, abiding with the blessed Triamus, they remained in +holiness and in faith even to their lives' end. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6079"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXXIX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The King's Daughter becomes a Nun.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Patrick came unto the country of Neyll, wherein reigned a king +named Echu, and he had one beloved daughter named Cynnia, whom he +intended at a fitting time to give in fitting marriage. And the damsel +unfolded to the saint her father's purpose, and he exhorted her to +deserve the reward of virginity even an hundred-fold; therefore, +rejecting worldly nuptials, she determined to offer herself an +undefiled offering unto her celestial Spouse, and to cherish Him in her +heart. And the king, beholding her thus steadily to preserve her +virgin purity, called unto him the saint, and thus he spake: "I had +determined that my daughter should continue unto me a long-descending +progeny for the confirmation of my kingdom and the solace of mine age; +but the succession is cut off, and mine hope is defeated by thee; if, +therefore, thou wilt promise unto me the heavenly kingdom, yet not +compel me unwillingly to receive baptism, my daughter shall become the +servant of thy God, even as thou hast exhorted her; otherwise will I +not be stopped of my desire, nor shall thy preaching prevail." And the +saint, confiding in, and committing all unto, the Lord, faithfully +promised what the king required. Then the damsel, being veiled and +consecrated, and serving the Lord in virginity and in the exercise of +all other virtues, brought by her example many unto His devotion; and +during her life and after her death she was renowned by divers +miracles. And the saint commended her unto the care of the holy virgin +Cethuberis, who first of all the women of Ireland had received from him +the veil, and to whom, being placed over the Monastery of Druimduchan, +with a great multitude of virgins serving Christ, the saint himself +addressed an exhortatory epistle. And in this monastery did Cynnia +abide, until at length with many holy virgins she rested there in the +Lord. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6080"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXXX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The King Echu is raised from Death.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And after some time had passed, the King Echu was reduced to the bed of +sickness, and when he perceived that his strength failed, and the day +of his death approached, he sent a messenger to call Saint Patrick unto +him. And he strictly forbade that his body should be buried until the +arrival of the saint; for that he had promised unto him the heavenly +kingdom, and especially, that the king desired to receive from him the +heavenly baptism. Thus saying, he expired, and his body was kept for +the space of one day and one night unburied, in expectation of the +saint. And he, then abiding in the Monastery of Saballum, which was +distant two days' journey, knew in the spirit of the king's death, and, +ere the messenger could arrive, had made ready for the journey. And +the saint came, and mourned over the king, especially for that he had +died without baptism. Therefore prayed he unto the Lord, and loosed +him from the bonds of double death, and forthwith instructed in the +faith him restored unto life, and baptized him, and bade him that for +the edification of the people and for the proof of his preaching he +should relate what he had seen of the pains of the wicked and of the +joys of the just. And he told unto them many wonders, and there among +that in that heavenly country he had beheld the place which Patrick had +promised unto him; but, because he was not then baptized, he could not +enter therein; and so at the prayers of the saint his body was revived. +Then the saint enquired of him whether would he longer live in this +world, or instantly go into that place which was prepared for him; and +he answered that all the power, all the riches, all the delights of the +whole world, were to him but as the emptiest smoke compared with those +celestial joys which he had proved with the eye of faith. But I +entreat, said he, that I may be loosed from the body of this death, and +delivered instantly from this prison-house; for earnestly I desire to +be dissolved and to be with Christ. Thus having said, he received the +Eucharist, and, falling asleep in the Lord, went unto the place of +immortality. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6081"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXXXI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>A Man of Gigantic Stature is revived from Death.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Patrick was journeying on a certain day for the wonted purpose of +his preaching; and he found near the road a sepulchre of wondrous +length. And his brethren who journeyed with him beheld it; but with +their very admiration could they not believe that the body of any man +was buried in such a tomb. But the saint affirmed that God could prove +it by the resurrection of this gigantic man, so that they did not +falter in the faith; for there was then no small doubting of the +general resurrection. Then prayed the saint earnestly that his acts +might be accorded with his words, and that thereby he might remove from +their hearts every scruple of doubt. Wonderful was the event, and to +past ages wholly unknown! The holy prelate, having first prayed, +signed the sepulchre with the staff of Jesus, and awakened from the +dust the buried man. Then stood one before them horrible in stature +and in aspect; and he looked on the saint, and, bitterly weeping, said +unto him: "How great thanks do I give unto thee, O beloved and chosen +of God! who even for one hour hast released me from unspeakable +torments and from the gates of hell!" And he besought the saint that +he might go along with him; but the saint refused, for that no man for +very terror could stand before his countenance. And being asked by +Patrick who he had been, he replied that he was the son of Chaiis, by +name Glarcus, formerly a swineherd of the King Leogaire; and that when +he was an hundred years of age, he was slain in an ambush by a certain +man named Fynnan Mac Con. Then the saint admonished him that he should +believe in the three-in-one God, and in His name receive baptism unto +salvation, so that he might escape that place of torment. And he +answered that he firmly believed in the God, whom he knew to be +almighty, and in his name desired to receive baptism. And he said that +while he had lived he understood of the Creator from the likeness of +the created; and though he knew Him not, yet loved he Him according to +his ability. Therefore he was baptized by Patrick, and forthwith he +expired, and was buried in his former sepulchre; and according to the +word of the saint, he was freed from his punishment. And the saint, +considering and commending the inestimable riches of the goodness of +God, exhorted them all earnestly, faithfully, and continually to love +God, and chiefly those who knew and understood Him, affirming that this +man had obtained so great a mercy through the earnestness of the love +which, though ignorant, he held toward God. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6082"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXXXII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of Another Man who was Buried and Raised Again.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And a certain prince who reigned in Humestia at the preaching of +Patrick believed, and, with all his people, was baptized. But when the +saint would have instructed him as to the general resurrection, he +could not easily bend thereto his faith, for in nowise could he believe +that the body which was once reduced into dust could ever be raised +again in the pristine state of its proper but improved nature. So when +the man of God, that he might reclaim him from his error, showed divers +testimonies of the Holy Writ, examples, signs, and miracles, he is said +to have thus replied; "If, by the virtue of Christ Jesus, thou shall +revive my grandfather, who has now been buried many days, then will I +believe in the resurrection of the dead which thou preachest." Then +the saint, being accompanied of the prince and all his people, went +unto the tomb, and signed it with the staff of Jesus; and he caused the +tomb to be opened, and, having prayed, to the admiration of all +present, and to the confirmation of the Catholic faith, he raised to +life the buried man. And he was of exceeding height and of terrible +countenance, yet much inferior to the aforementioned in his stature. +And him, relating the torments of hell, and devoutly asking baptism in +the name of Christ, did the saint baptize, and, when baptized, gave +unto his entreaty the Holy Eucharist; and placed him again, falling to +sleep, but sleeping in the Lord, in his former sepulchre. Then no one +of those present doubted of the resurrection of the dead, since it was +proved before their eyes by a testimony so credible, a miracle so +apparent. And this and the aforementioned miracle hath the saint +recorded in an epistle, addressed to a certain friend who dwelled in a +country beyond the sea, wherein, among other things, he sayeth: "The +Lord hath given unto me, though humble, the power of working miracles +among a barbarous people, such as are not recorded to have been worked +by the great apostles; inasmuch as in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ +I have raised from the dead bodies that have been buried for many +years; but, I beseech you, let no one believe that for these or the +like works I am to be at all equalled with the Apostles, or with any +perfect man, since I am humble and a sinner, and worthy only to be +despised." Now, let the hearer admire to what a point of perfection +this man had raised his mind, who, working so many and so great works, +yet thought so humbly of himself. And I truly admire in the saint his +extreme humility, beyond even his raising up of the dead. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6083"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXXXIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Boy who was torn in pieces by Swine and restored unto Life.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And another prince, named Elelius, strenuously resisted the doctrine of +the saint, nor ever opened his ears unto his preaching until misery +gave him understanding. For on a certain day his best-beloved son was +trampled on by the swine, and torn in pieces and almost devoured. +Which when the father heard, he rent his garments, and cast himself at +Patrick's feet, and, weeping, told unto him what had happened, and +promised him to believe in his God and obey his precepts, if, in His +name, the saint would revive his son. Then the saint commanded one of +his disciples, by name Malachia, by nation a Briton, that he should +restore unto life the dead and mangled youth. But he, disobeying and +disbelieving the word of the saint from the faint-heartedness of his +faith, thus answered: "Who is the man that may replace the bones which +are broken in pieces, renew the nerves, and restore the flesh, recall +the spirit to the body, and the life to the dead corpse? I will not +endeavor it, nor will I with such rashness tempt the Lord, nor essay a +work which I cannot finish." And the saint answered unto him: "Hast +thou not read the promise of the Lord? If ye ask anything from my +Father in my name, He will grant it unto ye: and again, If ye have +faith, though but as a grain of mustard-seed, ye shall say unto this +mountain, Move thou hence, and cast thyself into the sea, and it shall +be done." And he answering that often had he so read, the saint +rejoined: "Since, as much as in thee lieth, thou hast rendered naught +the word of the Lord, I prophesy unto thee that thou shalt possess on +earth but a poor and slender household, and in thy church shall be the +dwelling of one man only." Then commanded he two bishops, his +disciples Elbeus and Hibarus, that they should revive the dead youth, +adding that he would assist them with his prayers. And they obeyed the +commands of their father, and, being aided by his prayers, they +restored the torn and mangled boy not merely unto life, but unto his +former health and unto his beauty and his strength. Therefore the +prince believed, and with all his household and with all his people was +baptized. And in the place where this miracle was worked he builded a +church, and, in memory of Saint Patrick, and of the two bishops, and of +the revived youth, he erected four very huge stones. But what the +saint foretold of his disciple Malachia happened in due time. Why, +however, he did not this miracle himself, but willed it to be done by +his disciples, is, I confess, to me and many such as I, utterly +unknown. Yet by these things a wise man will understand that as Saint +Patrick, in the name of the Lord, raised this dead body and divers +others, so, what is still more excellent, his disciples, when enjoined +by his commands and assisted by his prayers, were enabled to work this +great miracle. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6084"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXXXIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Prayers of the Saint confer Beauty on an Ugly Man.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And among the chief men of Hibernia was one named Eugenius, who had +long resisted the preaching of the saint, but, being at length +compelled by the argument of the living Word, and convinced by +indisputable miracles, he at length believed, and, by the water of the +holy font, was renewed in Christ. And this man was rich and powerful, +but in his countenance and his person he was more deformed than all his +people. And after complaining of his deformity unto the saint, he +besought him to banish by the sending up of his prayers the hideous +ugliness of his face, and thereby show the omnipotence of his God, on +whom all the people believed. At length the saint, being moved with +the entreaties of the man thus ashamed of himself, asked to whose form +he would desire to be likened. Then he, regarding the people placed +around him, preferred the form of Roichus, an ecclesiastic, the keeper +of Saint Patrick's books; and this man was by birth a Briton, by degree +a deacon, a kinsman of the holy prelate, and beautiful in his form +above all men in those countries dwelling. Nevertheless was he a man +of most holy life, so that he might say with the Psalmist, "Lord, by +thy will thou hast added righteousness to my beauty!" But the saint +caused them to sleep in one bed and under one covering; and, standing +over them, he lifted his pure hands in prayer. Wonderful and unwonted +event! When they awaked and arose, not any difference appeared in +their countenance; the tonsure alone distinguished the one from the +other. And all who beheld admired; but more exceedingly joyful was he +who experienced in himself this miracle. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6085"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXXXV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Stature of the same Man is increased unto a sufficient Height.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And since the saint had gratified Eugenius by his form being thus +improved, he, confiding in his prayers, added another entreaty. For he +was of very low stature; and therefore he besought the holy prelate +that, as man can nothing prevail by his own merits, he would, in the +name of his God, add to his stature one cubit. Then Patrick bade him +to show the height which he desired; and he raised himself on tiptoe, +leaning on his erected spear, and stretched the ends of his fingers as +far upward as he could, and desired that his stature might reach unto +the measure of that height; and behold, at the prayers of the saint, +the man, erewhile a dwarf, increased thereto; and, lest the miracle +should be deemed the work of magic or of falsehood, in that stature and +in that form did he continue unto his life's end. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6086"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXXXVI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of Saint Olcanus, the Teacher and Bishop, raised out of the Earth.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +A certain prince, going on a journey, heard, not without much +amazement, a voice as if the voice of an infant weeping in a sepulchre, +and, staying, he bade his people to open the sepulchre; and within he +found a living boy nigh unto the dead mother. Him, by general advice, +did the prince raise out of the chamber of death, and bear unto Saint +Patrick, who, baptizing the child, named him Olcanus, for that he had +suffered much evil, and in a fit season sent him to be instructed in +letters. And he, being arrived at good stature, and being desirous of +learning, went into Gaul; and having long abided there, and acquired +much learning, he returned to his country; and being so returned, he +instituted schools, and taught many scholars who in after-time were +holy bishops. But this renowned teacher attained the episcopal +dignity, and, at length closing his life in much sanctity, was +illustrious even for many miracles. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6087"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXXXVII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How the Tooth of Saint Patrick shone in the River.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And on a time the saint, with his holy company, passed over a certain +river named Dabhall; and for that the day declined and the evening came +on, he prepared to pass the night near the bank, and pitched his tent +on a fair plain. And approaching the water, he washed his hands and +his mouth, and with his most pious fingers he rubbed his gums and his +teeth; but through age or infirmity one of his teeth, by chance, or +rather by the divine will, dropped out of his mouth into the water; and +his disciples sought it diligently in the stream, yet with all their +long and careful search found they it not. But in the darkness of the +night the tooth lying in the river shone as a radiant star, and the +brightness thereof attracted all who dwelled near to behold and to +admire. And the tooth so miraculously discovered is brought unto the +saint, and he and all around him offer thanks to the Almighty, who had +brought this thing to pass; and on that spot he builded a church, and +deposited the tooth beneath the altar. The which is famed for divers +miracles, and even to this day is called Cluayn Fiacal—that is, the +Church of the Tooth. And the tooth of Saint Patrick, like a radiant +star, shone by the same divine grace whereby, at the prayer of Samson, +the conqueror of the Philistines, a fountain of water streamed forth +from the jaw-bone of an ass. And this church is distant about five +miles from the metropolitan city of Ardmachia. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6088"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXXXVIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Saint Prophesieth of the Virgin Treha, and a Veil <BR> +is placed on her Head by an Angel.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +While on a certain time the saint was baptizing in the holy font a +chief named Cartanus, together with his wife, he foretold unto the +woman that she should bring forth a daughter, unto whom he would give +the veil and consecrate a virgin to the heavenly Spouse. And in the +appointed time the woman bore a daughter, who at her baptism was named +Treha; and when her tenth year was completed, the damsel journeyed +toward Saint Patrick for the purpose of her consecration, but a marsh +that crossed the way prevented her. Fatigued, therefore, and anxious, +she sat upon the bank, and beheld afar off, with a longing eye and a +wistful mind, the place where the prelate abided. And he, at the +revelation of the Holy Spirit, knew of the damsel's journey and of her +desire; and he prayed, and removed thence the marsh, and; passing over +with unsoiled feet, he went unto her. And while the saint was +consecrating the virgin Treha, a veil is dropped on her head by the +angel of the Lord, and reaching even unto her lips, covering her eyes; +and the saint stretched forth his hand, willing to remove the veil from +her eyes; but the damsel humbly prevented him, saying, "I beseech thee, +my father, let the veil remain, even as it is placed on the head of +thine handmaid, that mine eyes may no longer behold the vanity of this +world, but rather may, looking inward, contemplate the brightness of +mine heavenly Spouse!" Therefore Patrick, rejoicing at the pious +purpose of the damsel, let fall her veil; and as it was at first placed +on her from heaven, through all her life, covering her eyes like a dove +and her knees like a turtle-dove, it remained as if it were joined to +her face. Thus did the covering of the sacred veil exclude every +alluring object from her eye, lest death should enter therewith. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6089"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER LXXXIX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Saint Patrick Prophesieth of the Sanctity of Saint Columba.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +A certain prince named Conallus sought and obtained a blessing from the +saint. And with the like purpose came also his younger brother, +Fergus, who was one of the most powerful chiefs of the country. And +him, the holy prelate, having prayed, blessed, and laid his hand upon +his head with much solemnity and with peculiar devotion. But Conallus, +who was elder in birth and in dominion, seeing that the saint had +blessed his brother more earnestly and more devoutly than himself, +wondered and grieved mightily. Therefore Patrick, observing his face +unusually clouded, explained the cause of this so solemn benediction, +and, prophesying, said unto him: "I have blessed thy brother Fergus for +the sake of the blessed child that will be born of his race. For his +son Fedhleminus will beget a son who will be called Columba—a name +well fitted to his birth, since even in his mother's womb will he be +filled with the Holy Spirit. Forasmuch as he will be enriched with the +treasures of the divine wisdom and grace, rightly will he be called the +bright and shining lamp of his generation, and the prophet of the Most +Highest; and from the time that he cometh to the age of understanding +never shall a purposed falsehood issue from his lips." How truly was +this prophecy made of Saint Columba, who is called Coluimcille, and was +the founder of an hundred monasteries, he who would more fully know, +let him read the volume that has been written of the saint's life. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6090"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XC. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The River is Divided in Twain, and Blessed.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +On a certain time Saint Patrick came unto a deep and impassable river +named Boallus; and as neither boat nor vessel was at hand, he prayed +and divided the river in twain, and made unto himself and his followers +a free passage. And raising his right hand, he blessed the river, and +even to this day the eastern part of the stream can be passed by +horsemen and by footmen; yet over the western part cannot any pass +unless in some vessel. And being so blessed, this river abounded in +fishes beyond all others. Then to his disciples marvelling, and +seeking to know the cause of this so great miracle, did the saint +answer: "The yet unborn son of life, who will be named Columba, after +the lapse of many years will live in this place, and the water thus +divided will, for several purposes, be needful unto him and his +fellow-militants in Christ, while its abundance of fishes will minister +food unto his brethren." And Saint Columba being after many years +born, when he became a man builded there a stately monastery, and by +his dwelling and by his works approved the prophecy of Patrick. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6091"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XCI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Prophecy that Patrick made unto Connedus.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Saint Patrick visited the country of the Turturini, where he abided +for the space of seven weeks; and in that little space builded he seven +churches, one whereof he called the Lord's Church. For this was his +custom: that wheresoever he abided on the Lord's day, if he founded a +church there, he called it Domnhach—that is, belonging to the Lord. +And over one of these seven churches he appointed one of his disciples +named Connedus, a good and holy man, by degree a presbyter, and learned +in the divine law. And he, undertaking the government of this church +rather from obedience than from ambition, abided there only one week, +and then quitting it hastened to Saint Patrick. And the saint +enquiring the cause of his so speedy return, he answered that he could +not patiently endure the absence of his beloved father. "Nor is it to +be wondered," replied the saint, "since in that place there are not +children of life, but men of blood and devourers of cattle, of whose +sword thou standest in dread, and fearest that thy blood will be poured +out. Return, return securely, nor tremble before their face; for the +blood of no man shall in that place be shed, even from generation to +generation." Therefore, receiving this answer of Saint Patrick, the +venerable Connedus returned unto the government of his church; and, as +the dwellers in that country declare, the word of the saint has been +confirmed by many proofs. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6092"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XCII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of Mannia and the other Islands Converted unto God.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +The saint, beholding in Hibernia that the harvest was great, but the +laborers few, passed over into Britain to obtain assistance in the +field of the Lord. And forasmuch as the pest of the Pelagian heresy +and the Arian faithlessness had in many places denied that country, he, +by his preaching and working of miracles, recalled the people unto the +way of truth. And many are the places therein which even to this day +bear witness to his miracles and are imbued with his sanctity. And he +brought away with him many learned and religious men, thirty of whom he +afterward advanced unto the episcopal office. Returning to Hibernia, +he touched at the islands of the sea, one whereof, Eubonia—that is, +Mannia—at that time subject unto Britain, he by his miracles and by +his preaching converted unto Christ. And among his miracles very +conspicuous was this: a certain evil-doer named Melinus, like Simon the +magician, asserting himself to be a god, and attempting the air with a +diabolical flight, at the prayers of the saint fell headlong, and was +dashed in pieces, and so perished. And the saint placed as bishop over +the new church of this nation a wise and holy man named Germanus, who +placed his episcopal seat in a certain promontory unto this day called +Saint Patrick's Island, for that the saint had there some time abided. +And the other islands being converted unto the faith, he placed over +them bishops from among his disciples—one over some, many over +others—and then he returned to Hibernia; for the saint was accustomed +to appoint bishops not only in cities, but even in towns and the more +crowded places, lest any who had been baptized should be deprived of +episcopal confirmation. And this did he provide that the faithful +might always have present unto them one who could minister the +episcopal office; while the diocese, being not too extended, needed not +to withdraw from them the presence and the care of their pastor. But +the dwellers in some of these islands, being aliened from the faith, +afterward renounced the law of God which Patrick preached unto them; +and therefore unto this day are they deprived of the special gift of +God which, through the prayers of Patrick, freed from all venomous +animals the islands that persevered in their faith. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6093"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XCIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Saint's Prophecy concerning Six Priests, <BR> +and of a Skin which he bestowed to them.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +Six priests, who were led by their unanimous desire of learning the +Scripture and of visiting holy places, quitted Hibernia to travel +beyond the sea, when by a happy chance they met the saint returning out +of Britain; and he blessed them with bended knees entreating his +benediction, and foretold that they all would be bishops. And the +saint observing one of them, who appeared elder and stronger than the +rest, carrying in his bosom all their volumes, for that he had nothing +wherein he might bear them in his hand, bade that a seal-skin should be +given unto him on which he was wont to stand while he was celebrating +the Mass, that he might make thereof a satchel. And they, receiving +with manifold thanks the gift of the holy man, prosperously journeyed; +nor from that day forth was there among them any want; but whether in +travelling or abiding in the schools, they always found an honest +sufficiency. Therefore they knew that the saint assisted them with his +prayers, and that the Lord, through his merits, continued unto them His +mercy. But in process of time, having thoroughly acquired all holy +learning, they returned to their own country; and shortly after, +according to the word of the saint, they were all made bishops. And +the names of these holy prelates were Lugacius, Columbanus, Meldanus, +Lugadius, Cassanus, Ceranus; but to mention the names of the bishoprics +we for good reason omit—for in many instances we avoid the names of +places and of persons, that we may not, by their uncouth barbarousness, +occasion disgust or horror to cultivated ears. However, these prelates +profited much the church of God by their conversation and by their +example, and closed their lives in much holiness; for they were wont to +relate many miracles to have been worked by the aforementioned +seal-skin, the which even to this day remaineth entire, and is +preserved as a relic in memory of Saint Patrick. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6094"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XCIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Saint Patrick Continueth his Preaching Three Days.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Saint Patrick preached to many people gathered together from divers +parts unto a place in Hibernia called Fionnabhair, which, being +interpreted, is the White Field. And for three continual days and +nights he read and explained to them in their order the four holy books +of the evangelists; and all who heard him accounted that not more time +had passed than the space but of one day—so happily were they +deceived, so profitably were they delighted, by the words of grace +which proceeded out of his mouth. O profitable, delightful deception! +whereby falsehood is excluded and truth induced; whereby the time is +beguiled, and the night is stolen away, and one day is made to appear +as three days. Nor let the reader admire for that I call it a +deception when the prophet exclaimeth unto his Creator, "O Lord! Thou +hast deceived me," and when the Apostle Paul sayeth unto certain of his +disciples, "Being crafty, I deceived you with guile." Kind deception +which saveth souls! Blessed seduction which induces unto God! +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6095"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XCV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Vision of the Blessed Brigida, and its Explanation.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And the blessed Brigida was at these meetings; and at one, having +reclined her head, she slept. And the holy prelate forbade that any +one should arouse the beloved of God until she herself would awaken; so +did it appear how evidently what is said in the Canticles agreed with +her; "I sleep, but mine heart waketh"; for that his heavenly Spouse +revealed unto her all His mysteries. And when the holy virgin awaked, +he enjoined her that she should tell unto them all what she had beheld +in her vision. And she, obeying the command of the saint, said: "I +beheld an assembly of persons clothed in white raiment; and I beheld +ploughs, and oxen, and standing corn, all white, and immediately they +became all spotted, and afterward they became all black; and in the end +I beheld sheep and swine, dogs and wolves, fighting all and contending +together." Then Saint Patrick expounded the vision, and said that the +whiteness pertained unto the state of the world as it then was; for all +the prelates and servants of the church were then fruitful and diligent +in faith and in good works, even according to the evangelic and +apostolic doctrine. And the things which were spotted belonged, as he +said, to the time of the succeeding generation, which would be pure in +faith, but stained with evil works. And the blackness, he said, was +the season of the following generation, when the world would be +profaned, not only with evil works, but with the renunciation of the +Christian faith. And the contest of the sheep and the swine, of the +dogs and the wolves, he pronounced to be the controversy of the pure +and impure prelates, of good and of bad men, which, after the lapse of +many years, would at length come to pass. And having said, he +departed. Now, that the vision of the virgin and the interpretation of +the saint are proved by indisputable truths no one, I think, will doubt. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6096"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XCVI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Angels of God, of the Heavenly Light, <BR> +and of the Prophecy of Saint Patrick.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +The blessed Patrick was accustomed to visit frequently all parts of +Hibernia, and, as opportunity permitted or discretion required, to +abide therein. Wherefore he abided for seven years in Momonia, and as +many in Connactia; but he dwelled a much longer time in Ultonia, +wherein, first announcing the kingdom of God, he had brought its +inhabitants unto the faith of Christ, and whose country he had more +frequently in his perlustrations illustrated with his holy presence. +And whithersoever he went he converted unto the faith or confirmed in +the faith all his hearers. And on a certain time he was journeying +through that part of Ultonia which is called Dalnardia; became unto a +place named Mucoomuir, when his disciple, the aforementioned Benignus, +stayed his steps, and gazed upward, as contemplating something +wonderful in the heavens. For he beheld radiant choirs of angels +surrounding the place with heavenly brightness; and he heard them with +unspeakable melody singing the praises of the Creator. And he, +intently contemplating these wonders, was filled with inward joy; yet +understood he not what meaned the angelic presence, the glittering +light, the celestial psalmody. But after a short season it vanished +from before his eyes, and he, following the holy prelate, hastened his +course, that he might overtake him. And when the saint enquired of his +delay, he related unto him his heavenly vision. Then the saint, +instructed of heaven, expounded this effusion of light and this angelic +choir: "Know ye, beloved children, in that place shall a certain son of +life, named Colmanclus, build a church, and gather together many who +will be the children of light and fellow-citizens of the angels. And +he will become the prelate and the legate of all Hibernia; and being +eminent in his virtues and his miracles, after he shall have closed the +darkness of this life, he will be conveyed by the angels of God unto +eternal light and eternal rest." And in that place, after the process +of time, all those things happened according to the prophecy of the +saint. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6097"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XCVII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Temptation of the Nun is Subdued.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +The venerable Benignus, among the other endowments wherewith the divine +grace had endowed him, excelled in the song of a sweet voice, so that +he penetrated the hearts and the ears of all who heard him. But as a +virtue or gift which is given from on high becometh unto many the odor +of life unto life, yet unto others the odor of death unto death, so out +of the melody of his voice did the tempter minister the occasion of +sin. For a certain nun, while she was delighted with the sweet singing +of Benignus, entertained at length a more earnest desire toward the man +of God, who nothing knew of this unhallowed flame, which hardly could +she control in her bosom. And the more vehemently did it burn for that +the strict discipline which was instituted by Saint Patrick, and the +difficulty of the very attempt, prevented the damsel from any secret +conversation with Benignus. Therefore, taught by woman's cunning, +feigned she extreme illness, and withdrew as unto her sick-bed, and +besought that from Benignus she might receive spiritual counsel and the +holy communion. For he had then attained the priesthood, and was held +in great veneration as one who adorned with his holy life the priestly +office. But Saint Patrick, at the revelation of the Spirit, was not +ignorant of what distemper did the nun labor. Whereupon he called unto +him Benignus, and bade him that he should visit the sick damsel and +minister unto her soul's health. And he, obedient unto his spiritual +father, having besought and obtained his blessing, entered the house of +the complaining damsel, and made the sign of the cross, as was Saint +Patrick's custom at entering any house, that so he might overcome the +snares of the enemy of man's salvation. Wonderful was the event, and +marvellous; unwonted, indeed, yet exceedingly profitable. The damsel, +raising her eyes at his entrance, beheld Benignus, very terrible in his +stature, and his face as breathing forth flames; and she beheld herself +bright with fire both within and without, and Saint Patrick standing +nigh, and covering his head with his hands. And from that hour, even +unto the end of her life, was the fire of human love extinguished in +her bosom, as if her body were of stone or wood, and not of flesh. And +afterward she loved Saint Benignus with a pure and a saintly love, and +she confessed that through his merits Saint Patrick had snatched her +from the fire of hell. Now, for me, I do much more admire this +quickening and refreshing of the soul unto life than the raising up of +any man from death. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6098"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XCVIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of Saint Comhgallus, and the Monastery foreshowed of Heaven.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +Oftentimes did Saint Patrick travel through Ultonia, very earnestly +teaching unto its inhabitants the Catholic faith. And not seldom he +turned, for the sake of rest for himself and his holy company, unto a +certain hill situated in a valley where afterward was builded the +Monastery of Beannchor. And sitting there, they beheld the valley +filled with heavenly light and with a multitude of the host of heaven; +and they heard, as chanted forth from the voice of angels, the psalmody +of the celestial choir. Then did all who beheld this wondrous vision +earnestly entreat of Saint Patrick that in that place, consecrated of +heaven, he would build a church. But the saint refused, and prophesied +unto them: "When threescore years have passed away, then shall a son of +life be born, and his name shall be Comhgallus, which is, being +interpreted, the Beautiful Pledge; for he shall be beloved of God and +of man, and beautiful in his manners and in his merits; and he shall +happily go forward, and reign with Christ, and be accounted among His +pledges. And in this place, which is fore-showed by the heavenly +light, shall he build a church, wherein he shall collect innumerable +troops of the children of life, to be bound by the yoke of Christ." +And of all these things which Patrick foretold, not one jot hath passed +unfulfilled. But at the prophesied time Comhgallus was born, and in +the ripeness of his years and of his virtues, even in that place named +Beannchor, he builded a most stately monastery, wherein he brought +forth unto Christ many thousands of holy monks. And this saintly +place, so fruitful of saints, even as a vine increasing the sweetness +of its odor, extended its shoots unto the sea and its branches beyond +the sea; for it filled with monasteries and with pious monks Hibernia, +Scotia, and many islands, and even foreign regions, inasmuch as we +gather from ancient writers that one of the children of Beannchor, +Luanus by name, founded of himself an hundred monasteries. And +another, named Columbanus, a man most holy, and filled with the +abundance of all graces, as having instituted many monasteries, may be +accounted the father of innumerable monks. And he first presided over +the renowned Monastery of Luxovia, in Gaul, and then over that of Bobi, +beyond the Alps, wherein, having shone with many miracles, he now +resteth in peace. Thus is the prophecy of Saint Patrick seen to be +fulfilled. But of the antiquity of the church of Beannchor needless is +it to speak further here, inasmuch as it is most amply described in the +acts of those holy saints, Comhgallus, who was the first abbot of that +place, and Malachia, the bishop, who was the legate in Hibernia of the +apostolic chair. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6099"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XCIX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Saint Prophesieth of the Obstinate Fergus and of his Children.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And the saint came unto Assul, which was within the territories of +Midia, where it seemed good to him in a fitting place to build a +church. But a certain wicked man, named Fergus, who therein dwelled, +was to him an especial hindrance, that he might not accomplish his +purpose. Then the saint, willing to express the hard-heartedness of +this man rather by signs than by words, with the staff of Jesus made +the sign of the cross on a stone there placed, and immediately the +surface of the stone appeared divided into four parts, and showed the +form of the cross thereon portrayed. Yet did this man, stiff-necked, +and of heart more hard than stone, refuse to be melted unto penitence; +but his wife, who was then in travail, entreated pardon of the saint, +and fell at his feet. And the saint, beholding him thus hardened in +perverseness, spake unto him with prophetic voice: "Even thus, had it +so willed, could the power of God have dissolved thee at the word of my +mouth. But since thou canst not, nay, wilt not, believe, though the +long-suffering of God hath led thee unto repentance, shalt thou, +according to thine impenitent heart and the hardness of thine +obstinacy, treasure up stores of wrath which right soon shall come upon +thee. Quickly shall God consume thee from the face of the earth, nor +shall any of thy seed reign ever in this land, nor in any other land +shall they prosper, save only the infant alone which thy wife now +beareth in her womb, for on him shall my blessing come." And all these +things which were prophesied of the lips of the saint unto the father +and unto the offspring did happen. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6100"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER C. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Malediction of the Saint is laid upon the Stones of Usniach.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And with the like intention of building a church, this servant of +Christ turned unto a certain very renowned place named Usneach. But +two brothers, by name Fiechus and Enda, ruled in those parts; and unto +them and unto their offspring the saint prophesied, if they would so +permit him, many blessings in this world and in the next; yet not only +turned they their ears from his entreaty and from his preaching, but +violently expelled him from the place. Then the saint, more grievously +taking the hindrance of his purpose than his own expulsion, began to +cast on them and on their seed the dart of his malediction. And +Secundinus, his disciple, caught the word of his lip, and, ere he could +finish, entreated and said unto him: "I beseech thee, my father, that +thy malediction be not poured forth on these men, but on the stones of +this place!" And the saint was patient, and he was silent, and he +assented. Wonderful was the event! From that day forth are these +stones found useful unto no building; but if should any one thereunto +dispose them, suddenly would the whole work fall down and tumble into +pieces. And they admit not the heat of any fire, nor, when plunged +into water, do they hiss like other stones; whence it hath become a +proverb in that country, when at any time a stone falleth from a +building, that it is one of the stones of Usneach. But Enda repented +of the injury which he had offered unto the saint, and cast himself at +his feet, and besought his pardon, and obtained and deserved it. And +he had nine sons, the youngest of whom, named Cormacus, he offered unto +Saint Patrick, to be subject to the divine command, together with the +ninth part of all his land; and another brother of his, named Leogerus, +was converted unto the faith, and gave unto the saint, with his nephew, +fifteen villages. And Saint Patrick baptized the boy, and educated and +instructed him; and the boy increased in years, in wisdom, and in +holiness, and at length, being renowned in virtue and in miracles, +rested he in the Lord. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6101"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Woman in Travail, and of her Offspring.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +A certain prince, named Brendanus, who was then lately baptized, +earnestly besought the saint that he would bless a certain pregnant +woman; for he believed that his blessing would much avail unto her and +her offspring. And the saint, assenting to his petition, raised his +hand; but suddenly, before he had given the word of blessing or had +made the sign of the cross, he drew it back. For, at the revelation of +the Spirit, he knew that her child was conceived of Coirbre, of whom he +had prophesied that not one of his succession should remain. But why +the saint thus did the prince marvelled, and unto him the man of God +delayed not to declare the mystery nor the cause thereof. Then did he +the more earnestly entreat the saint that at least he would in some +other manner vouchsafe to bless the woman and her offspring. And +Patrick, raising his right hand, blessed her, and said: "The infant +which thou bearest in thy womb shall not reign, for the word that in +the name of the Lord I have spoken on Coirbre and on his seed shall +stand fixed; yet shall he be one of the chiefs of the land, and very +needful shall he be unto the king and unto the kingdom." And what the +saint foretold without doubt happened. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6102"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Bishop Saint Mel catcheth Fishes on the Dry Land.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And the aforementioned Mel, a man of exceeding desert, who with his +most holy brothers, Munius and Kiochus, had come from Britannia unto +Hibernia, being promoted by Saint Patrick himself unto the episcopal +degree, became the assistant in the preaching. And he, like the +Apostle Paul, labored to live by the labor of his own hands; and what +was given unto him by the rich bestowed he on the poor. And with this +blessed man, as being her nephew, Lupita, the sister of Saint Patrick, +abided in one house (for such was the custom of the primitive church), +that by his conversation and example she might profit in the exercise +of all holy duties. And after some time had passed, when the pious +prelate, as he was wont, would arise in the middle of the night to +confess unto the Lord, this holy woman would compose herself to sleep +and cover herself with the skins in his bed. And they suspected not +that any evil suspicion would be formed thereof, for they accounted of +the minds of others from the purity of their own conscience. But some +one, holding this her familiarity with the bishop to be naught, +divulged it abroad. And as the tongue of the people is ever open unto +the spreading of scandal, it could not long lie hidden from Saint +Patrick. Then he, desiring to try whether so the matter was, repaired +unto the house of the bishop. But Mel, preferring to prove his +innocence by a token rather than by an oath, ploughed up the earth on a +certain hill, and took by the ploughshare many and large fishes out of +the dry land; and these he offered unto the saint as a miracle, that no +suspicion might continue in the beholders, inasmuch as such a token +could not ever be showed by an impure hand. And the sister of Saint +Patrick, gathering her vest around her bosom, filled it with live +coals; and these she carried a sufficient way, and shook them thereout +before the saint without any mark of a scar or of other hurt, proving +thus her innocence. Then the saint, beholding these evident proofs, +pronounced each to be pure and justified; yet took he care to ordain +what to them and to many others would be right profitable. And first +addressing the bishop, he bade him that he should thenceforth plough on +the land, and fish in the water, lest he should seem to tempt the Lord +his God; then, that he should not presume to glory in any miracle +worked by him through the divine grace; and, lastly, the saint gave +command that the men should be divided from the women, and that +distinct dwellings and oratories should be builded for either sex. +Thus truly, as Saint Patrick said, the name of God would not through +them be dishonored among the nations to whom they preached it; nor +would in such case occasion of scandal be given unto the weak, nor +cause of reproach afforded. And what he ordained and appointed, that +did Saint Patrick make to be observed. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6103"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Footprints of Certain Virgins are impressed on a Stone.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And on a certain day the saint veiled and consecrated and espoused unto +the heavenly Spouse four virgins standing on one stone. Then did an +event marvellous and unwonted appear. Even unto this day are seen +impressed on the hard stone the footprints of the virgins which were +consecrated unto God, that to all it might be seen how deeply could the +prayer or the preaching of the saint penetrate even stony hearts. And +hereby may we understand that they who, for the love of Christ, contemn +the world, should continue in the hard way, that they might attain Him +unto whom they have approved themselves. And the place wherein these +virgins were consecrated is called Tedna; and for the servants of the +Lord is there builded a church, which at this day pertaineth unto the +metropolitan seat of Ardmachia. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6104"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Earth is raised in the midst of the Stream.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Saint Patrick, for the sake of passing thereover, came unto a very +great river named Synnia, between Midia and Connactia, which was +impassable of all, save only by vessels. And he long time sought a +vessel, but found it not. Then prayed he unto the Lord, who erewhile +had made a way through the sea and a path through the deep waters, and +immediately the earth at the divine bidding was raised in the middle of +the stream, and to the saint and his company it afforded a free +passage. And when they had reached the bank, his charioteer dropped +dead; and on that spot was a church builded, which to the church of +Ardmachia now of right belongeth. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6105"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Altar and the Four Chalices discovered under the Earth.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +In that place where the prayers of Saint Patrick had dispersed the +darkness which had been raised by the magicians, a church was builded, +wherein he promoted one of his disciples, named Ailvius, unto the +priesthood, that he there might minister. And he complained unto the +saint that the matters needful for his ministry were wanting unto him. +Then the saint, instructed of heaven, showed him under ground an altar +of wonderful workmanship, having at its four corners four chalices of +glass, and enjoined him to dig them forth carefully, lest perchance +they should be broken; and the priest did accordingly, and found all +things as the saint had foretold. But by whom this altar was made, or +with the chalices there deposited, to me is yet unknown. Some, +however, think that they were placed there by Palladius or his +associates, being placed there after his departure. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6106"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CVI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>A Treasure is Twice discovered in the Earth by Swine.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +It seemed good unto the saint to build in a certain plain a church, +wherein he might gather together unto God the people of his conversion; +for the which purpose he entreated from the owner of the inheritance +that a place should be prepared, promising unto him the portion of +eternal life. But the man, accustomed to the magicians' arts, held as +naught that portion so worthy to be desired, requiring rather gold, for +the which he cherished an accursed appetite. And the saint replied +that at that season gold had he none, for that he had expended all +which he had possessed in the building of churches and in relieving the +poor. But when he could no otherwise prevail, having first prayed, he +went unto a hole in the earth which had been delved up by swine, and +therein found he as much gold as he required, and gave it in exchange +for the land. And there was another man possessing a neighboring +field, the which the saint earnestly entreated might be given unto the +said church. Wherefore this man answering as even did the other, again +the saint repaired unto the delved hole, and found therein an equal +weight of gold, and gave it to the man for the purchase of his field. +Thus did the Lord thrice show unto Saint Patrick gold in the earth +delved up by swine: once for his own redemption from captivity, twice +in this place for the enrichment and endowment of a church. And the +latter of the two brothers, Ono by name, was touched in his heart, and +not only restored the gold unto the saint, but even gave unto him for +the founding and building of a church his own house, his inheritance, +and all his substance; and the place is called Alfind, wherein to this +day is held the seat of a bishop. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6107"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CVII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Saint Patrick prophesieth of the two Brothers.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +But what the saint at the revelation of the Spirit foretold of the two +brothers should not be passed over in silence. For to the elder, who +had preferred Mammon and gold before his prayers, he predicted that he +and his seed should in a little time lose the possession of their +inheritance; and to the younger, for the devotion of his soul toward +him, predicted he many good things—that he should in that land be the +coadjutor of kings, and that of his race the holiest priests of the +Lord should be born. And none of those things which the saint foretold +in anywise failed in the event. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6108"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CVIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Penitence of Asycus the Bishop.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And over this church Saint Patrick placed one of his disciples named +Asycus, who was both in habit and demeanor a monk, the first bishop. +And he, at the advice of the saint, instituted therein a college of +monks, the which he governed with the privileges of an abbot. But this +man, on a certain time, while he ought to have spoken the truth, +backsliding with a slippery tongue, uttered forth a falsehood. And +immediately he set himself against his own face, and in the bitterness +of his sorrow banished he himself, and, flying from human-kind, +remained in solitude, and abided he there seven years beheld of none. +And his monks sought him long time; and at the end of the seventh year +they found him in the depth of a valley, and they strove even by force +to bring him thence unto his church, and to compel him as a bridegroom +unto the bosom of his spouse. But the bishop in nowise yielded unto +them, accounting himself no longer worthy to exercise the priestly +office; since from his mouth had issued a purposed falsehood, the which +the sacred canons define to be sacrilege in the mouth of a priest. +Whereby it is to be considered how deeply should they repent who of +their own fault have fallen into the heaviest offences, when this holy +man so deeply repented of, and so strictly atoned for, one falsehood +alone. Alas! what hearts of clay do they bear unto the resistance of +sin, but what hearts of stone unto repentance! For many men, wicked, +sinful, abandoned in their lives (the which cannot be observed without +grief), take on themselves the cure of souls, and think to wash away +the guilt of others with their own denied hands; who, being themselves +bound with the chain of mortal sin, desire to loose others' bonds, and +thus heap on themselves increased offence. These men, being placed +under the spiritual control, can repent of and atone for their own +guiltiness, but, when seated in the pastoral chair, bound are they to +account for the faith of all those who are entrusted to their charge. +Since, then, the words of a priest must be either a truth or a +sacrilege, terrible is the judgment on those priests whose tongue is +defiled with falsehoods and with perjuries. Thus much let us show, as +speaking by digression, how earnestly not only crimes and evil deeds, +but even falsehoods, are to be avoided by all Christian men, and +especially by the pastors of souls. Now let us return unto the thread +of our sacred story. The aforementioned monks, unwilling to separate +from Saint Asycus, continued with him even unto the end of his life; +and after he was buried, building there a monastery, served they the +Lord in holiness and in truth. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6109"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CIX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Tempest of the Sea is Composed.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +While on a certain time Saint Patrick was preaching unto the heathens, +for the sake of instructing and baptizing them, he made in that place a +long stay. But his disciple Benignus was grieved thereat; and the +saint declared that he would not depart until his disciples and pupils +should arrive from foreign regions. And one day he beheld the sky to +grow dark, and the ocean to be perturbed and shaken with a strong wind. +Then the saint, covering his face for very sorrow, showed unto his +attendants his sons which were born unto him in Christ laboring under +grievous peril; and he was sorely afflicted for them, and feared he +chiefly for his young pupil, the son of Erchus; but when every one said +that the vessel could not endure so violent a storm, forthwith the +saint betook himself unto prayer. And after a short space, even in the +hearing of them all, he bade the winds and the waves, in the name of +his God, to rest from their wrath. O wonderful event! and worthy of +admiration. Forthwith the wind surceased, the ocean became silent, the +tempest is appeased, and a great calm is made. And on that day the +aforementioned brothers happily landed, and told unto all around what +they had suffered from the elements which were turned unto their +destruction, but afterward composed by the powerful prayers of the +saint. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6110"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Miracle of the Waters is Repeated.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And at another time the aforementioned brothers, for the purpose of +visiting Saint Patrick, took their way on foot over the sands of the +sea-shore. And as they walked along, communing on the way together, +behold, the flowing-in of the tide surrounded them, and, preventing all +escape, smote them with the fear of death. Then the saint, instructed +of heaven, saw their peril, and, showing it unto his disciples, +professed that he grieved for them. Then, having prayed, he commanded +the tide of the sea, by the powerful virtue of his word, speaking in +the name of the Lord God, that it should instantly retire, and leave +unto his sons who were about to visit him a safe and quiet passage. +And forthwith the sea obeyed the voice of the man of God, and retired; +and this company of brothers, rejoicing and lauding God, came unto +Saint Patrick, and, for so great a miracle, turned the hearts of all +which heard them unto the praise of the God who worked such wonders in +His saints. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6111"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Cowl of Saint Patrick which remained untouched by the Sea.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And on a time, having sailed on a certain way, Saint Patrick landed +with his religious men, and, going out on the dry land, perchance he +left his cowl on the shore. And being landed, they sat together, and +conferred on heavenly things, and refreshed themselves with the comfort +of mutual colloquy. Then the sea, rising as it was wont, covered the +surface of the sands, and was nigh unto bearing with it and carrying +away the cowl of the prelate. And this the saint observing, in the +name of Him who hath power in heaven and on the earth, in the sea and +in all the deeps, enjoined the tide of the sea that it should not touch +his cowl or bear it away. Wonderful was the event! The +flowing-forward of the sea filled the whole accustomed space, save that +spot alone whereon the cowl lay, and that did it leave untouched. And +after the tide had receded, the saint caused the cowl to be brought +unto him; and the miracle excited all who beheld it unto the praise of +God and the veneration of Saint Patrick. And thenceforward were they +all more ready to submit unto Him whose commands the mute element was +thus sent to obey. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6112"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Veil that was sent from Heaven.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And there was a time when Patrick was about to consecrate two virgins +in a field within the territory of Cregrus, and a veil sent from heaven +dropped into the bosom of the saint, the which, devoutly receiving, he +offered unto the virgin so soon as she was consecrated. But she, +deeming herself unworthy of a commendation so holy, said unto him: +"Since this most excellent and powerful gift, descending from the +Father of Light, is not sent unto me a sinner, I account it right that +thou, on whom it has fallen, shouldst keep it or bestow it on another +who is worthier than me." Then the saint, applauding the virgin's +lowliness, placed the veil on her head, enjoining that she should wear +it continually until she should be introduced unto the chamber of her +heavenly Spouse. And the virgin obeyed the command of the saint, and, +living a holy life, at length she rested in the Lord. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6113"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Holy Leper, of the New Fountain, of the Angelic Attendance, <BR> +and the Prophecy of Patrick thereon.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And Saint Patrick, induced by his holy custom, retained with him a +certain leper, unto whom with intent devotion he ministered all things +needful for the sake of Christ. Even with his own hands cleansed he +his sores, and refreshed in him either man with fitting food. For the +leper, the health of his body being almost destroyed, earnestly studied +to preserve the health of his soul, and was continually intent on +prayer and on rendering thanks unto God. But when wasted with his +leprosy, he feared lest he should become an offence unto all, and +privily and humbly he withdrew himself from society, and lived solitary +in a hollow tree that he by chance had found. And while he sat there +alone he beheld a certain man passing by, and he called the man unto +him, and asked him of his religion; whom, answering that he was a +Christian, he besought that for the love of Him in whom he believed he +would not delay to go unto the nearest place which was full of +bulrushes, and, pulling up the bulrushes by the roots, to bring unto +him a bundle thereof. And at his entreaty, or rather, at his +adjuration, the man went unto the place; he pulled up a bulrush, and +immediately a clear fountain burst forth; and he bore the bulrush unto +the leper, and related of the new fountain. Then the leper rejoiced +and gave thanks unto God, and said unto him: "Knowest thou not, most +dear brother, that our Lord Jesus Christ brought thee hither that thou +mayest wash my body in the water of that fountain, and bury me there?" +Thus the leper said, and, raising his eyes and his hands towards +heaven, he expired; and the man washed his body in the fountain, and +beheld no mark of leprosy thereon, and committed it without spot to the +sepulchre, and departed. And after some days Saint Munis, the devout +bearer of many relics of saints, was returning from Rome, and of +necessity abided there for one night. And in the silence of the +night-season he beheld a great light to cover the place, and he heard +angels hymning and watching even until the morn around the tomb of the +buried leper. And all these things reported he unto Saint Patrick, +saying that he wished to remove the body from that desert place. But +Saint Patrick forbade this to be done, foretelling that a certain son +of life, named Keranus, but as yet unborn, should there dwell, who +should fill that place with a worthy company of holy men, and exalt the +body of the saint with much honor. And what Patrick foretold in the +course of time came to pass; the place is between Midia and Connactia, +and therein is situated the city of Cluane, in which even to this day +is an episcopal seat. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6114"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Lake which was removed by Saint Patrick.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +The aforementioned Saint Munis, being returned from Rome, disliking +after so long a journey the fatigue of any further travel, besought +Saint Patrick that as he had provided rest for his brethren who +possessed churches, so he would provide for him a dwelling suited unto +contemplation. Therefore the saint, knowing that although he loved +internal quiet, nevertheless he would be right profitable unto the +salvation of many, offered unto him a fitting place, saying: "Behold a +hill; behold a valley; build and inhabit where it seemeth pleasant unto +thine eyes; yet know thou this: if thou wilt build in the valley, thou +mayest bring many souls unto God; but if thou abidest in the hill, thou +wilt gain not so many, by reason of the vanities and delights which +will attract their eyes, and for very many other causes and reasons." +And Munis, foreadvised and forewarned by the Holy Spirit, answered +thus: "Neither of the hill nor of the valley do I complain, but of the +neighboring lake, nigh unto which is a royal dwelling; for the crowding +thither of courtiers and of other secular persons would unto me be an +exceeding trouble, and a disturbance unto the Sabbath rest of my mind." +Then Saint Patrick, encouraging him, said that God would easily remedy +this trouble, and, retiring a little space, poured he forth powerful +and prevailing prayers in the presence of God. And on the following +night the Lord removed the lake, with all its dwellings and dwellers +thereon, so far distant that his servant sustained thence neither +trouble nor damage. And Saint Munis, abiding there, builded a church, +unto which Saint Patrick bestowed certain relics of the holy Apostles +Peter and Paul, and of very many saints, and other ornaments, the which +were necessary unto its ecclesiastical ministry. And for his +conspicuous virtues he was afterward, although reluctant thereto, +advanced unto the episcopal office, for he was renowned for many +miracles; and at length he rested in the Lord. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6115"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Patrick understandeth the Conscience of Saint Fiechus, <BR> +and blesseth him.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +There was a certain youth, named Fiechus, a scholar of Dubhtachus the +bard, and he was docile of disposition, subtle of wit, florid of +eloquence, and beauteous of form. And a few years before he espoused a +damsel who then had lately deceased, of whom was born unto him one only +son. Him walking with his aforementioned tutor did the saint meet, +and, the Spirit revealing it unto him, at the moment, even with the +glance of his eye, understood his conscience, and in the presence of +all exclaimed: "Behold the husband of one wife, who, according to the +apostle, may worthily be advanced unto the priesthood, nay, even unto +the episcopate!" Then began he to expound unto Fiechus the doctrines +of the faith, and advised him unto baptism. And the youth marvelled at +the words of grace which proceeded from the lips of Saint Patrick; and +chiefly for that so soon the saint had divined his secret and +understood all the passages of his life. Therefore he believed, and +took on him baptism; and after his tutor had long time withstood, but +at length consented, he devoted himself unto the direction of the holy +bishop. And the holy bishop blessed him, and gave unto him the +alphabet written with his own hand. And being thus blessed, in one day +he learned the whole Psaltery, and in a short time, the spirit of +wisdom and knowledge inspiring him, he sufficiently understood the +Scriptures; for no delay can there be where the Holy Spirit descends to +be the teacher. And Saint Patrick advanced him unto the ecclesiastical +order, and, after he had worthily ministered in each degree, +consecrated him the bishop of the Church of Scleptus. And Fiechus was +eminent in his life, in his learning, and in his miracles; and being +directed by the angelic command, he took on him the habit of a monk, +and builded in his episcopal seat a stately monastery. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6116"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXVI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Chariot is, by the Decision of the Angel, sent unto Fiechus.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +The blessed Patrick gave order that a chariot should be prepared unto +Saint Fiechus, for that he, being weighed down by infirmity, could not +go on foot to visit his diocese and discharge his episcopal duties. +For he was reduced with exceeding abstinence, and moreover he was +afflicted with a disease in his hip. And Saint Secundinus, this +observing, felt in his mind certain worldly feelings, and was +displeased, and insisted that the chariot should rather be given unto +himself than unto Fiechus. And the holy prelate, seeing his +displeasure, sought rather to satisfy him with a sign than by argument, +saying: "Be not displeased, most dear brother, at this little gift +which we have given unto our brother and fellow-bishop, lest occasion +of reproach should be afforded to the evil one; for this our brother, +who is infirm, needeth the chariot more than doth any one among us. +But that I may not seem to err in my judgment, let this matter be left +to the heavenly decision." Then the angel, appearing at the prayer of +the saint, bade the horses to be yoked unto the chariot, and to be sent +forward without a charioteer; and at whichsoever they should stop, to +him should the chariot be given. And it was done as the angel +commanded, and the saint bade the chariot to be yoked; but the horses, +no man guiding them, went through irregular and devious paths, and came +in the evening to the dwelling of Secundinus, and, being unyoked, were +turned there to pasture. And in the morning, no man yoking them, they +were yoked to the chariot, and in like manner going unto the mansion of +a certain other saint, there they stayed the night. And on the third +day they hastened unto Saint Fiechus, and stayed there, and evidently +showed that they were intended for him. Yet would not the saint ascend +the chariot, until the angel had certified him that unto him the gift +was sent. And at another time was this miracle in like manner repeated +of two horses which were by Saint Patrick himself intended for Fiechus, +and to be yoked unto his chariot. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6117"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXVII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Several Offices of a certain Monastery are appointed by an Angel.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And at another time the angel commanded the aforementioned Fiechus that +he should build a monastery on the other side of the river, assigning +unto all the offices their fit and proper place; that where a boar +should appear unto him, there should he build a refectory, and where a +stag should be seen, an oratory. And the saint replied unto the angel +that he in no wise could undertake such a work, unless Patrick, his +father and pastor, should come and approve thereof. And his words +displeased not the angel; for in them he saw the affection and the +obedience which Fiechus bore in Christ unto the man of God. And after +a few days were past, the angel so advising, Patrick assisted Fiechus, +and in the place which is called Forrach builded they a monastery, even +according to the direction of the angel. And therein Fiechus presided +as abbot; nevertheless throughout his diocese did he fully exercise the +episcopal office. And every year, at the beginning of the fast of the +Lent time, he went alone out of the monastery, with five barley loaves +mixed with ashes for his support, and abided in the wilderness through +all that sacred season. But on the Sabbath day which is called +Palm-Sunday, or sometimes at the Supper of the Lord, he was wont to +return unto his monastery for the discharge of his holy office, always +bringing with him the half of one loaf yet uneaten. And he sent before +him unto God threescore saints, whom when he followed he was buried in +Scleptus. And his son aforementioned imitated his father in wisdom and +holiness; and having in another place attained the episcopal degree, he +rested in the Lord. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6118"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXVIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Prophecy of Saint Patrick concerning the Men of Callria.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And while Saint Patrick earnestly pursued his preaching of the divine +Word, certain armed men of Callria met him, and violently expelled this +angel of peace from their borders. But what the man of God beheld of +them in the Spirit, deemed he that should not be concealed in silence. +"Since ye have raised your arms against an unarmed man, and driven from +your borders him announcing unto ye peace and preaching salvation, ye +and your seed shall turn your backs in the day of battle." And they, +hearing this, feared his face mightily, even as a sword, and repenting +their rashness, save only five alone, bended their knees before the +saint with lamentable prayers, and besought forgiveness. Then the +saint awhile deliberated within himself, and once again spoke unto them +with prophetic speech: "The word which, at the inspiration of the Holy +Spirit, hath gone out of my mouth on ye and on your seed shall be +fulfilled; but since ye have repented in your hearts, though ye shall +be turned to flight, shall none of ye, save only five alone, fall in +any conflict of battle." And the people of Hibernia vouch that this +prophecy of the saint hath been evinced by continual proofs. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6119"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXIX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Certain Cheeses are converted into Stones, <BR> +and many Wicked Men are drowned.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And certain wicked and envious men, who lived in the country of Ferros, +contriving to destroy the life of the saint, offered unto him poisoned +cheeses, as if for his benediction; the which he blessed, and +immediately converted into stones, to the admiration of many, the honor +of God, the veneration of himself, and the confusion of the poisoners. +And unto this day remain these stones in the place where the miracle +was done, and show the virtue of Patrick, though mute, because they +underwent mutation. Then did these poisoners, seeing that their +machinations redounded to the glory of the saint and to the shame of +themselves, gather together fifty armed men to spill the blood of this +just one. And they, being assembled against him, entered the ford of a +certain river, journeying along the bank whereof the man of God met +them; and when he beheld their countenances, he understood their +thoughts, and raising against them his left hand, with a clear voice he +cried out, "Ye shall not come unto us, nor shall ye return unto your +own people, but in this river shall your bodies remain, even to the day +of judgment." Then, according to the word of the man of God, +immediately they sank as lead in the mighty waters; nor even to this +day were their bodies found, though long and often sought. Thus, at +the divine mandate, did the water punish them who conspired the death +of Saint Patrick, as erewhile the fire from heaven punished them which +were sent by King Achab to the prophet. And the place wherein they +sank in the waters is called even to this day the Ford of the Drowned +Men. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6120"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Pitfalls passed over without danger, <BR> +and the Prophecies of the Saint.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And certain other sons of darkness, dwelling in the plain called Liffy, +digged deep pitfalls in many parts of the public pathway, the which +they covered with branches and green sods, that the saint when +journeying might fall unawares therein. But a certain damsel +discovered the contrived snare, and she hastened to show it unto the +man of God, that he might avoid the mischief. Then he, trusting in the +Lord, commanded his people to drive forward the horses, and, having +blessed them, he passed over with unfailing foot. For the soft and +tender herbage supported them like the solid earth, inasmuch as the +holy troop bore in their hearts and on their bodies Him who bore all +things. And the priest of God sent the damsel unto her father, that +she might bring him into his presence to receive the salvation of his +soul. And the damsel did even as he commanded, and brought before him +her father; and at the preaching of the saint the man believed, and +with his ten sons and his three daughters was baptized. Then did +Patrick consecrate the virgins unto God, and gave to them the sacred +veil; and he prophesied that of the sons five should be happy and +prosperous in a secular life, and that the other five should first +enter the clerical order, and at length holily live and die in the +monastic habit; but unto them who had treacherously prepared the pit +for him and for his people he foretold that they and their seed should +pass their life in providing their sustenance and continually digging +in the ground, and that, according to the Scripture, poverty should +come on them like water. And all these things which the saint +prophesied did the event prove. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6121"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXXI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Prophecy of the Saint on a Certain Village.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Saint Patrick went unto a certain village, near the island of +Inchenn, and he found therein a place fitting for the erection of a +church; the which when he had begun, a crowd of rustics issued from the +village, and impeded the work. Then the saint, being filled of the +spirit of prophecy, foretold unto them with the voice of truth, "Since +ye have made yourselves a hindrance unto me, that I may not build a +habitation to the Lord my God, never shall the smoke go out of the +houses which ye or your generation shall build in this place." And the +testified proof of the words of the saint even to this day evinceth its +truth, for many have oftentimes begun to build houses there, but for +the rudeness of these men never could they be finished. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6122"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXXII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Sentence prophetically declared.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +A certain man named Dengo, who was wicked and perverse, and powerful in +iniquity, prevented the saint from building a church in a convenient +place; to whom the saint attesting his Judge, nay, prophesying, said, +"In a short time shall thine house be destroyed, and thy substance +wasted away; and thy sons that issue from thine impious loins shall of +the greater part defile themselves by mutual fratricide; while the +remnant of them shall never attain unto dignity or power, but shall be +strangers and wanderers on the earth." And the prophecy of Saint +Patrick was proved by the subsequent misery visited on the man and on +his children. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6123"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXXIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Prophecy of the Saint on a Certain Bishop <BR> +and on the one who consecrated him.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +A certain powerful man had endowed with lands and possessions a church +that he was about to build on his own estate; the which to govern, +Saint Patrick would have appointed one among his disciples who was able +unto the gaining of souls. But the man refused, saying that in his own +family he had a priest whom he willed to place over his own church. +Then the saint, deeming it unworthy to contend for such a matter, +departed from the man. And he on the morrow brought unto the saint his +son, desiring that he might be consecrated unto the bishopric of that +church. And for that the saint apart from his companions pursued in +solitude his studies and his prayers, the man, turning from him, went +unto two of his disciples, who were elsewhere appointed bishops, and +addressed them for the consecration of his son. And one of them denied +his request, saying that he could do no such thing without the consent +and the approbation of the saint; but the other, induced either by +entreaty or reward, presumed to do what the man required. The which +having discovered, Saint Patrick, afflicting the presumer with the +affliction of penance sufficiently severe, foretold that through all +his life he should suffer the want of bread. And he declared that the +bishop so consecrated was worthy of degradation and contempt, and that +his church should be exceeding poor, so that it should not be able to +defend itself even from two men. And that which the saint foretold +unfailingly came to pass—whereby a prudent man may take heed, lest +misled by ambition he should ever attempt the like. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6124"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXXIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Blind Man is restored to Sight; from him who seeeth is Sight<BR> +taken; and three are relieved of Lameness.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +A certain man named Domhhaldus, who was blind even from his birth, +hearing the saint passing by, placed himself in his way; for he trusted +that through him should he receive the light so much desired. But +forasmuch as the darkness was before his steps and the light was +withdrawn from his eyes, while running forward he fell, and when he +would have arisen no one was there who would help him with their hand. +And a certain priest in the company of the saint seeing him to fall, +laughed, and mocked the mischance of the blind man. The which Saint +Patrick observing, was offended, and lest any among his disciples +should so again presume, he checked the foolishness of the scorner with +reproof and with punishment, saying, "Verily I say unto thee, since in +the name of my God the eyes of this man, which are closed in darkness, +shall now be opened, the eyes of thee, which are opened only to evil, +shall now be closed." Thus he said, and making the sign of the cross, +he removed the darkness from the blind man, and the light from the bad +man who saw. And herein was the word of the Saviour, recorded in the +Holy Scriptures, fulfilled: "That they which see not might see, and +that they which see might be blind." And even on the same day healed +he three lame men who besought his aid; and according to the prophet, +he made the lame to leap as a hart, and run on their way rejoicing. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6125"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXXV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Nine Evil-doers are consumed by Fire from Heaven, <BR> +and a Fountain is produced out of the Earth.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And nine evil-doers contriving the death of Patrick, the herald of +life, pretended to be monks and ministers of righteousness; and they +put on them white cowls, that the easier might they destroy the saint, +who was clothed in the same habit. And herein did they imitate their +preceptor, Satan, the angel of darkness, who sometimes transfigureth +himself into an angel of light, and unto whom in their arts and in +their acts they paid obedience. But an illustrious man named Enda, the +friend of the holy prelate, observing the treachery of these wicked +men, sent unto them his own son named Conallus, that he might prevent +their endeavor, and repulse their violence from the man of God. And +the son did even as his father commanded, and stood, the son of light, +among these sons of darkness. And Saint Patrick, warned of heaven, +knew these ravens under the wings of the dove, these wolves under the +fleece of the lamb; but well he knew that as the Ethiop cannot change +his skin, no, not though washed with fine linen, so could not these +magicians quit their inborn wickedness, though clothed in white +raiment. Therefore with the sign of the cross he fortified himself, +and opposed it to the enemies of Christ; and fire marvellously +descending from heaven consumed the evil-doers, and left Conallus +standing among them, unhurt of the flame, as he was guiltless of their +sin. Thus was the cross of Christ a protection to the faithful even +for their salvation, and to the idolaters a punishment even for their +perdition. And afterward the saint impressed on the earth the sign of +the cross, and a clear and salubrious fountain issued forth. And on +the spot where this miracle was worked by the cross did he build a +church, which even unto this day is called the Cross of Saint Patrick. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6126"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXXVI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Another Magician is in like manner Consumed.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And at another time another magician, but in wickedness not differing, +bound himself by a sacrilegious oath before the heathens which were +gathered together unto evil deeds, that he would destroy the saint. +But ere the accursed crime could be attempted, the saint, raising his +left hand, imposed in the name of the Lord his malediction on the +malefactor; and he was consumed by fire from heaven, and even like the +other nine he perished. Then the people which were collected to behold +the death of the saint, fearing that a like destruction might descend +on themselves, escaped by flight, or rather by the sufferance of the +divine mercy. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6127"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXXVII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>A Grove is cursed by the Saint.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Patrick was on a certain day speeding his journey for the ministry +of his wonted preaching, when the wheel of the chariot wherein he sat +was broken in twain. And his attendants hastened unto a neighboring +grove, wherein was seen wood that seemed fit unto their purpose; and +the wood is hewed down, and smoothed, and shaped to repair the wheel. +Nevertheless they long time labored with useless toil, for still did +the wheel appear broken as before; and ever and anon as they endeavored +to repair it, yet still, as touched of heaven, again did it fall in +twain. Then the man of God well knowing that this could not uncausedly +happen, enquired of the grove, and unto whom it belonged; and he was +told that it had been consecrated unto the infernal spirits. +Wherefore, knowing the divine will, and agreeing with the sentence of +heaven, he raised his left hand, and cursed the grove. Wonderful was +the event! Forthwith, like the fig-tree in the Gospel, it withered; +nor from that time was it ever fit unto any use, save only to be hewed +down and cast into the fire. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6128"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXXVIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Sentence pronounced by the Saint on his Deceivers.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +A certain prince and his people, which dwelled in a place called +Nadese, within the country of Momonia, appointed a day and an hour +whereon they might meet in the presence of Saint Patrick to deliberate +concerning the erection of churches. And the saint came at the fixed +time, and he waited during the whole day until the evening, but no man, +at least no man thereunto deputed, came to meet him. And in this +manner did they oftentimes deceive the servant of God. Nevertheless +the Holy Spirit dwelling in Patrick concealed not from these men the +reward of their presumption delivered through his mouth; for when on +another evening they came, he said openly unto them, "Since ye have not +only deceived me, but the Holy Spirit, neither ye nor your children +shall ever in this place finish any your business until the evening." +And according to the common saying, this the sentence of the saint is +continually fulfilled, for if the people of this place begin any +business in the early morning, never can they finish it until the +latest evening. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6129"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXXIX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>A Mountain is swallowed up in the Earth, and again it is raised.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And among the chiefs of Momonia was a certain wicked man named +Cearbhallus, and he always hindered Saint Patrick, so that a church +could not be builded in the lands of his inheritance. And not far from +this man's dwelling was a lake which was fair and pleasing to the eye, +but a lofty mountain which stood between intercepted all the delight +from his view. Him did the saint address for the building of a church, +exhorting and entreating; but long time he resisted. And on a certain +day this wicked man, endeavoring with subtle argument to circumvent the +saint, said unto him: "If in the name of the Lord thy God thou wilt +remove yonder mountain, so that mine eyes may be freely satisfied with +this desired lake, then shall thou build a church on my land +wheresoever thou mayest please." This he required, because he deemed +it impossible to be done. Then the saint having prayed raised his eyes +of faith and love unto the prepared Mountain which is exalted on the +top of the mountains; and forthwith the mountain was laid low, and +swallowed in the earth, and permitted unto the man a free view of the +lake. But when Saint Patrick began to build the church, this man of +hardened heart would not suffer it to be finished, for he feared where +no fear was, and dreaded lest thereby he should be deprived of his +inheritance. Then the saint prayed again unto the Lord, and the +mountain was lifted up unto its former height. And he foretold that +the wicked man should in a short space lose the possession of his land, +and that no one of his race should ever be a prince or a bishop. And +the prophecy of the saint was fulfilled, for as his eyes were prevented +from the sight of the lake, so was his life closed by death. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6130"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXXX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Euchodius is cursed by the Saint, and his Son is blessed.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +A certain wicked tyrant, named Euchodius, reigned in Ulydia; and he +commanded two holy virgins, for that they rejected wedlock, to be bound +with chains and cast into the water; and he set at naught Saint Patrick +interceding for them. Wherefore the saint punished him with the +sentence of his malediction, and foretold that not one of his seed +should reign after him, but that his kingdom should be transferred to +Kerellus, his younger brother. And his wife, who was then in travail, +earnestly besought the saint that he would bless her and the child +which she carried in her womb. Then the saint blessed them both, and +prophesied that she would bring forth a most holy son, whose death +should be doubtful and unsearchable. And the woman brought forth a +son, who was named Dovengardus; and he was renowned for his sanctity +and his miracles, whereof many and wondrous traditions are told among +that people. And Euchodius in a short time lost both his life and hit +kingdom, and thereto not one of his race succeeded. But his +aforementioned brother and his descendants through many years possessed +the kingdom of Ulydia. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6131"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXXXI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of Saint Sennachus the Bishop.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +In the place which is named Achadhfobhair Saint Patrick built and +endowed a church with fair possessions; and thereover he appointed and +consecrated a bishop, Sennachus, who for the innocency of his heart was +called a lamb of God. And he, being so consecrated, entreated of the +saint that with unceasing prayer he would labor with the Lord to shield +him in this his office from the commission of all sin; and furthermore +he suppliantly besought that the church over which he presided might +not be called by his name, as was in many places the custom among the +Irish people. And this did he to preserve his lowliness, and to avoid +vainglory, which is the fretting moth of all virtues. Then Saint +Patrick, understanding the worthiness of Sennachus and the simplicity +of his heart, promised unto him all his desire; and blessing him and +his flock, prophesied that thereout should proceed many holy and +eminent priests. And Sennachus, serving in exceeding holiness the Holy +One of all holies, and being renowned for his miracles and for his +virtues, entered at length into the heavenly sanctuary. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6132"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXXXII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Miracle which is worked for Certain Hewers of Wood.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Saint Patrick in his journeying passed with his people through a +forest in Midernia, and he met therein certain slaves that were hewing +wood; and these men were under the yoke of a hard and cruel master, +named Tremeus; and they hewed the wood with blunt axes, nor had they +whetstones nor had they any other means whereon to sharpen them. +Wherefore their strength failed, their arms stiffened, and the flesh +fell from their hands, and the naked sinews were seen, and the +miserable men wished rather for death than for life. But when the man +of God beheld their misery, he compassionated them, and he touched +them, and he blessed their hands and their instruments. Then at the +touch and the word of his blessing, all their strength is restored, +their hands are healed, their instruments become sharpened, the hardest +oaks are hewed down without toil, even as the tenderest twigs; and in +these men did the miracle continue until the saint had wondrously +obtained for them their freedom. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6133"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXXXIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>A Hone is divided by Saint Patrick, and the Oppressor is drowned.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Patrick the pious father addressed the master, nay, rather the +tormentor of these slaves, yet found he him stubborn and inexorable. +Wherefore betaking himself unto his accustomed arms, he fasted and +prayed for three days; and once again approaching the man, he humbly +besought their liberation, and once again found he him a new Pharao. +Then the saint spat on a stone by chance before them lying, and for the +softening, the reproving, and the confounding of his hard-heartedness, +the stone immediately splitted in three parts. But Tremeus becoming +the more hardened by that which should have softened him, forthwith +ascended his chariot, and scorning and rejecting the prayer of the +saint, commanded these slaves to be afflicted with yet severer toil. +Wherefore the Lord suffering not that this insult to Patrick, the +second Moses, should go unavenged, now punished the contemner of his +servant, even as formerly he punished Pharao and his host; for the +horses which were yoked to the chariot of Tremeus, rushing forward, +plunged into a neighboring lake, and drowned in its waters the chariot +and him who sat therein. Then, this child of Belial being so +destroyed, Saint Patrick without hindrance freed these afflicted men +brought out of the house of bondage, and gave unto them their +long-desired freedom. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6134"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXXXIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>An Angel foretelleth to Patrick of Saint Moccheus.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +The blessed Patrick purposed to build a church in a place sufficiently +fair and fitting, which is now called Ludha. But an angel appearing +unto him, enjoined that he should desist therefrom, saying; "Soon shall +a servant of the Lord arrive from Britain, named Moccheus, who for the +sake of God deserting his country and his parents, shall come into +Hibernia; and in this place shall he build and dwell, and finish his +days in piety." Then the saint obeying the angel, turned unto the left +side of the place, and there builded unto the God of Jacob a tabernacle +which is yet known by the name of Saint Patrick. And Moccheus coming +thither, erected an oratory and all places fitting, and lived there a +life abundant in virtue; and often Saint Patrick was wont to visit him, +and confer with him on things pertaining unto God. And on a certain +day, while they were sitting together and communing of God, the angel +appeared and proffered unto them an epistle; the which Saint Patrick +reading, found to be an exhortation, nay, rather a command, unto him +especially directed, that he should absolutely confer on Moccheus the +place which he had builded, with all matters pertaining thereunto, and +that he himself should fix his cathedral seat in Ardmachia. And +Patrick willingly did as the angel, nay, rather as the Lord, had +enjoined and thence retiring, he commended unto Moccheus twelve lepers, +to whom he had ministered in Christ; and Moccheus assumed the care and +the custody of all these matters. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6135"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXXXV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Sentence pronounced by Patrick on Moccheus.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And after some days, while Moccheus heard the Book of Genesis read +before him, wherein he is told that the patriarchs before the Flood +lived for nine hundred years and more, and that after the Flood many +lived for three hundred years, he did not readily believe in the sacred +history; for he said that this tabernacle of clay, the human body, of +flesh so weak, covered with skin, and framed with bones and sinews, +could in no wise so long endure. The which when Saint Patrick +observed, he came unto him, that with true reason he might drive all +such scruples from his mind; for he said that the whole canonical +Scripture was dictated and written by the finger of God, and therefore +should in no wise be derogated or disbelieved; inasmuch as it was not +more difficult for the Creator of all things to extend the life of man +unto a thousand years, if so he willed, than unto one day, as according +to the Psalmist: A thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday, +which is passed. But even on these things Moccheus still doubting, the +saint thus pronounced, or rather prophesied: "Since thou disbelievest +the Holy Scriptures, by thine own experience shalt thou prove the truth +of its records; for even to the length of three hundred years shall thy +life be prolonged, nor until that time is passed shalt thou enter into +the joy of the Lord." And Moccheus afterward repented him of his want +of faith, but the sentence pronounced by the Holy Spirit through the +mouth of Patrick could not be revoked. And he lived for the space of +three hundred years; and then paying the debt of nature, and shining in +virtues and in miracles, at length he passed out of the world unto +Christ. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6136"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXXXVI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Saint prophesieth of two Brothers, and a Fountain <BR> +is produced out of the Earth.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And Saint Patrick coming out of Dalnardia, began to build a church in a +place called Elum, where twelve brothers, the sons of Killadius, then +ruled. And one of these, named Seranus, governed there, who preventing +the saint from his purpose, violently drove him away. But the saint, +though patiently would he bear an injury offered to himself, yet +grievously taking the hindrance of his holy work, prophesied what +through God he knew would happen, and said unto him: "Yet a little +while, and thou shalt be driven from this land, and the rule shall be +given to a better than thee." Then Colladius, the younger brother of +this perverse man, gave unto the saint a place which is called +Domhnachcumbuir, and even until the church was builded gave unto him +sufficient aid. And the saint blessed him, prophesying what the Lord +had determined for him, saying; "Unto this land shalt thou succeed, and +from thy loins shall kings proceed, and reign through many +generations." And in that place did the saint by his prayers produce +out of the heart of the earth a pure fountain, which to this day is +called Slan, that is, healing; for that it relieveth many laboring +under multiplied diseases. And for his perverseness Seranus was driven +from that land; and according to the word of the saint, the kingdom was +given to his younger brother, Colladius. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6137"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXXXVII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Saint Prophesieth of a Certain Youth.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +Twelve brothers, whose father, a ruler in Dalnardia, was then lately +dead, met together to divide the inheritance; but holding in scorn +their youngest brother, Fergusius, without his portion they turned him +empty away. Therefore the youth addressed Saint Patrick, that by his +prayers he might be admitted unto his share; promising that he would +give unto the building and the maintaining a church the better part +thereof. And the saint prevailing for him, Fergusius receiveth his +share of the inheritance; of the which the larger half he gave to the +holy prelate for the erection of a church; but this, lest he should +seem to have sold his interference, he refused to receive himself, and +bade it be given unto the aforementioned Olcanus. And he builded a +church within that territory, in a place which is called Derkan, and +being there made bishop, continued in justice and in holiness. But +Saint Patrick blessed Fergusius, and prophesying said unto him, "Though +this day thou appeared humble and despised in the sight of thy +brothers, yet in a short time shalt thou be chief over them all; for +from thee shall kings proceed, who not only in this land, but even in +distant regions, shall hold rule." And after a short space, according +to the prophecy of the holy man, did Fergusius obtain the government of +all that country, and his seed ruled therein for many generations. And +thence was born Edan, the son of Gabranus, who reduced Scotia, which is +called Albania, and other islands wherein his posterity yet reigneth. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6138"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXXXVIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of Conallus and of his Shield.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Saint Patrick addressed his well-beloved, the Prince Conallus; and +he enquired of him whether would he assume the habit of a monk. And +the prince replied that his heart was prepared to do whatsoever the +saint would command. Then the saint rejoicing at his devotion said +unto him, "For the sign of power and protection, and for the proof of +thy spiritual worth, shall thou bear thy shield and thy sceptre; the +name of a laic shalt thou show; but the mind and the merit of a monk +shall thou possess, inasmuch as many saints shall proceed from thee, +and many nations shall in thy seed be blessed." And he signed his +shield with the sign of the staff of Jesus, declaring that no one of +his progeny who should carry this shield in battle should ever by any +one be vanquished. And the chronicles of Hibernia declare, and her +bards record, that this the saint's prophecy unto Conallus and his seed +duly came to pass. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6139"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXXXIX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>A Heavenly Light shineth around Saint Patrick, <BR> +and Victor is converted unto the Faith.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And Saint Patrick coming into the territory of Mogharnd, went toward +the town of Domnhach Maghin, over which a man named Victor ruled. And +he hearing of the saint's arrival, yet loving darkness rather than +light, concealed himself in the shades of a thick grove, for much he +feared, lest being driven from the darkness of his unbelief, he should +though unwilling be compelled to believe in the true light. But the +shadows of the night season came on, nor yet did Patrick the son of +light therefore delay his journey. And when the curtain of deep night +had covered all things with surrounding darkness, it darkened not the +course of Patrick, who was the precursor of light; for unto him the +night was as day, and the deep shadows were as brightness. And the +light piercing through the darkness poured around the man concealing +himself, nor could he longer hide from before the face of the light. +Then Victor by so signal a sign being vanquished, and being even as +bound with the chains of the fear of the Lord, came unto Saint Patrick, +and devoutly entreated and received from him the holy baptism. And +being with all his household and all his people baptized, he gave unto +the saint his inheritance for the erection of a church, and among his +disciples he abided. And after a while he increased in holiness and in +the knowledge of the divine law, and being at length consecrated by +Saint Patrick, he received in that church the episcopal degree, and for +his virtues and his merits was he very renowned. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6140"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXL. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>A Certain Cymbal of Saint Patrick is lost and found again.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +A certain man of the servants of Saint Patrick carelessly lost a +cymbal; when lost he sought it, when sought he found it not, when found +not he therefore sorely repented. And the saint forgave him, and +directed that no longer he should seek for the cymbal, until in that +place a church should be builded. And after a long time had passed, a +certain religious man named Dicullus builded there a church, and there +found the aforementioned cymbal; and in that church placed he it. And +many who were infirm, drinking out of or being sprinkled with water +from this cymbal, often received instant health; and when this +instrument was tuned, they experienced the holiness of the saint +breathing forth and sounding through its music. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6141"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXLI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Obedience of Saint Volchanus.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And a certain disciple of Saint Patrick, named Volchanus, was eminent +in faith and in religion, but especially surpassing in the virtue of +obedience; and Saint Patrick willing that this his piety, which was so +well known unto him and unto God, should also be known unto his +fellow-disciples for an example unto them, commanded him that he should +build a church wheresoever God should vouchsafe to direct. And hearing +the word of the saint, he obeyed, and carrying a hatchet on his +shoulder, went forth to seek a fitting place for the erection of a +church. Then the spiritual father observing him to go forth with the +hatchet in his cowl, prophesied unto him with the words of consolation: +"Do not, well-beloved Volchanus, doubt of a fitting place; but +wheresoever thine hatchet shall fall, there securely build and inhabit, +and there shalt thou be among a great nation paying worship unto God!" +Thus having heard, he retired from the presence of his honored father, +knowingly unknowing, and wisely untaught, yet persuaded in his mind to +go whithersoever the most true teacher had directed him. Therefore the +whole day did he go forward, nor did he aught, save to lift up his +hands and his heart in prayer. And as the day declined eveward, the +hatchet fell from his shoulder unexpectedly, yet moved of heaven, in a +place neither intended nor foreseen. Then the man of God understanding +this to be the appointed place, with great labor builded there a +monastery, and gathered together unto one holy society many sons of +God, who were dispersed; and therein dwelling, holily and religiously +finished he his life, and at length, renowned in his virtues and his +miracles, he rested in the Lord. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6142"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXLII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of Saint Rodanus, the Herdsman of Patrick.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Saint Patrick had a certain herdsman named Rodanus, and he was +exceeding religious; and this man in his pastoral duty lived a hermit's +life, and often being absorbed in prayer, he pastured the cows and the +young calves together. And at the command of Saint Patrick, the whole +herd was wondrously retained under his control, nor was any disturbance +or confusion there among, for never did the calves approach their +mothers, nor depart from them, other than at the bidding of Rodanus; +and this he did by the authority and the power of his father, Saint +Patrick. And he after a while learning letters, acquired sufficiently +the knowledge thereof, and attaining the episcopal degree, he +flourished during his life and after his death by manifold miracles. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6143"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXLIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of Saint Kertennus, the Bishop of Clochor.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Kertennus, a disciple of Saint Patrick, bore the saint, now worn +with age, on his shoulders, for so necessity required; and by his +panting showed he his weakness or weariness. And the saint said unto +him, "Often hast thou carried me, yet never before have I perceived +thee thus to pant." Then answered Kertennus, "Wonder not, holy father, +for now hath mine age come on me, and my companions whose years are as +mine have from the forecast of thy bounty received the refreshment of a +little rest; and mine head is covered with gray hairs, and I labor with +daily toil, and earnestly do I long for quiet, which above all things +else I need." Therefore Saint Patrick compassionating Kertennus, +promised unto him a place fitted for contemplation, yet not unsuited to +the exercise of pious duties. And as he much desired the presence of +so worthy a disciple, he provided for him a church; yet not too remote +from the archiepiscopal seat, which at the angel's command he had +builded in Ardmachia; nor yet too near, lest by succeeding archbishops +he should be oppressed; thus was it done, that in his frequent visits +to Saint Patrick the man of God should not by the distance be wearied, +nor his church appear contemptible by too close a neighborhood. And +after some days he placed him over the church of Clochor, which the +saint himself then ruled; and when he had thereto consecrated him, he +gave unto him a chrismatory, which he had received from heaven. And +Saint Kertennus there dwelling, and exercising within doors the office +of an abbot, and abroad the office of a bishop, cherished his gray +hairs, and finished his life in holiness. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6144"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXLIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of a Boy who was blessed by Saint Patrick.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And a certain woman, who was strong in the faith, brought unto the +saint her little son named Lananus, to be instructed in letters; and +for that she believed his blessing would render the child more docile +and ready unto learning, humbly she besought on her son the benediction +of his grace. Nor was she deceived in her faith, inasmuch as the saint +covered him with the aspiration of his blessing, and assisted him with +the divine favor; and he impressed on the boy the sign of the cross, +and committed him unto Saint Cassanus, that he might be instructed in +virtue and in learning. And the boy thus blessed, in fifteen days +learned the whole Psaltery; and afterwards he became a man of most holy +life, and shining in miracles rested he at length in the Lord. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6145"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXLV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of a Woman who was raised from Death.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Ethra, the wife of a noble man named Euchadius, lay dead; and he, +carrying her body placed on a bier, met Saint Patrick near a certain +ford in Connactia. And with many prayers he besought the saint that he +would recall her to life; and promised that he and all his people would +then believe in the Christ whom he preached. And the saint delayed +not, but revived the dead woman, and baptized her husband, who at so +wonderful a miracle thoroughly believed. And from the revived woman is +it called unto this day the Ford of Ethna; and the fluid element +affording a passage unto all travellers, showeth the merit of her +reviver. And often the saint visited Connactia and Momonia, working +miracles in each; and in each he dwelled for the space of seven years. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6146"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXLVI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Testimony of One who was revived from Death.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And even unto the evening of his days did the saint continue his wonted +labor and his accustomed work; sowing the field of the Lord with the +seed of the divine word, from the fruit whereof he might gather eternal +life. This the devoted ones of Satan perceiving and envying, they +gnashed with their teeth, and one to the other they said in their +malice: "What shall we do? This man, the destroyer of our gods, the +persecutor, nay the extirpator of our sect, worketh many miracles; if +we let him go thus, all the people of Hibernia through him will believe +in his God, and the Christians will come and they will remove our +laws." Then took they counsel together, how they should destroy him +with their snares, and under the pretence of justice bring him unto the +death. And a certain woman was washing flax nigh unto the place where +the saint was to pass; and her they directed to hide much of the flax +in a hollow tree, and when the saint and his company passed by to +accuse him as of the theft. And the woman did according as she was +induced, nay rather as she was seduced; and loudly crying out, called +these children of Belial, and with wicked tongue accused him thereof. +And they, as before they had contrived, rushed forth from their +hiding-place, and seized the saint and his disciples as robbers, and +exclaimed that they were guilty unto the death. And in the place where +this accursed band were gathered together, was a tomb, and therein a +man was buried. Him did Saint Patrick, having first prayed, awaken +from the sleep of death; and by the virtue of the truth, which is God, +commanded that he should bear true witness of this their accusation. +And the revived man, openly protesting the innocence of the saint and +of his disciples, exposed the deceits of these wicked ones, and showed +in the presence of all where they had concealed the flax. Thus was +Saint Patrick and his people marvellously freed from the hands of the +destroyers, and his blood was in that day preserved, and brought +salvation to many which were evil-doers: for they who had contrived the +death of the herald of life, were by this miracle converted unto God +and obtained his mercy. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6147"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXLVII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Cross that was not observed; and the Voice <BR> +which issued from the Sepulchre.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And Saint Patrick was accustomed, wheresoever in his journeying he +beheld the triumphal sign of the cross, to descend from his chariot, +and to adore it with faithful heart and bended head, to touch it with +his hands, and embrace it with his arms, and to imprint on it the +repeated kiss of devout affection. And on a certain day sitting in his +chariot, most unwontedly he passed by a cross which was erected near +the wayside, unsaluted; for his eyes were held, that he saw it not. +This the charioteer observing, marvelled; but he held his peace, until +they arrived at their dwelling. But when they began to pray, as was +their custom before dinner, then spake he of the cross which he had +seen, and of the place where he beheld it. Then Saint Patrick, the +preacher of the cross, leaving his meal prepared, went forth of his +dwelling, and returned unto the place on the road which he had passed +along. And diligently he sought for the sign of life, and he found +nigh unto it a certain sepulchre. And drawing near, he prayed in the +sight of the Lord, and enquired who therein was sepultured. And a +voice answered from within, that he had been a heathen, and that a +Christian man was buried at his side, whose mother had been absent when +her son died, and when he was returned into the bosom of the common +mother: and that after some days she had come hither to wail, but +knowing not the burial-place of her son, had placed over him the +Christian sign. Therefore the man of God averred that he could not +behold the cross, because it was placed over a heathen who had been an +enemy of the cross of Christ. And removing the cross, he placed it at +the head of the baptized man, and commending his soul to God, he walked +back unto his own dwelling. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6148"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXLVIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>A Goat bleateth in the Stomach of a Thief.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +The blessed Patrick had a goat, which carried water for his service; +and to this the animal was taught, not by any artifice but rather by a +miracle. And a certain thief stole the goat, and eat, and swallowed +it. And the author or instigator of the theft is enquired: and one who +by evident tokens had incurred suspicion, is accused; but not only +denieth he the fact, but adding perjury unto theft, endeavoreth he to +acquit himself by an oath. Wondrous was the event to be told, yet more +wonderful to come to pass. The goat which was swallowed in the stomach +of the thief bleated loudly forth, and proclaimed the merit of Saint +Patrick. And to the increase of this miracle it happened, that at the +command, nay rather at the sentence of the Saint, all the posterity of +this man were marked with the beard of a goat. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6149"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXLIX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Cloaks which fell from Heaven.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And that he might the more entirely profit unto God by their +conversation and their example, the saint was used to seek the society +of holy men, and to join himself unto them in the most strict +friendship. For, as Solomon witnesseth, as iron is sharpened by iron, +so are the lives of holy men by conversation and by example enflamed +into a firm faith, and more fervent love of God; the which how +acceptable is it to the Lord, vouchsafed he to show by the token of an +evident miracle. Therefore on a certain day, when Saint Patrick and a +venerable man named Vinnocus sate together, they conferred of God and +of things pertaining unto God; and they spake of garments which by +their works of mercy had been distributed among the poor; when behold, +a cloak sent from Heaven fell among them, even as the present eulogy of +the Divine gift and the promise of future reward. And the saint +rejoiced in the Lord, and what had happened each ascribed to the merit +of the other. And Patrick averred that it was sent unto Vinnocus, who +had for the Lord renounced all the things of this world: and Vinnocus +insisted it to have been sent unto Patrick, who though possessing all +things retained nothing, but clothing many which were poor and naked, +left himself naked for the sake of the Lord. Then from these holy men +thus friendlily disputing, suddenly the cloak disappeared; and in the +stead thereof the Lord sent down by an angel two cloaks, one truly unto +each, that even in charity they might no longer contend. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6150"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CL. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>A wicked Tyrant is transformed into a Fox.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +In that part of Britain which is now called Vallia, lived a certain +tyrant named Cereticus; and he was a deceiver, an oppressor, a +blasphemer of the name of the Lord, a persecutor and a cruel destroyer +of Christians. And Patrick hearing of his brutal tyranny, labored to +recall him into the path of salvation, writing unto him a monitory +epistle, for his conversion from so great vices. But he, that more +wicked he might become from day to day, laughed to scorn the monition +of the saint, and waxed stronger in his sins, in his crimes, in his +falsehoods and in his cruelties. The which when Patrick heard, taught +by the Divine Spirit, he knew that the vessel of evil was hardened in +reprobation, prepared in no wise for correction, but rather for +perdition; and thus he prayed unto the Lord: "O Lord God, as thou +knowest this vulpine man to be monstrous in vice, do thou in a +monstrous mode cast him forth from the face of the earth, and appoint +an end unto his offences!" Then the Lord, inclining his ear unto the +voice of his servant, while on a certain time the tyrant stood in the +middle of his court surrounded by many of his people, suddenly +transformed him into a fox; and he, flying from their sight, never more +appeared on the earth. And this no one can reasonably disbelieve, who +hath read of the wife of Lot who was changed into a pillar of salt, or +the history of the King Nabuchodonoser. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6151"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The wicked Man Machaldus and his Companions <BR> +are converted unto the Faith.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And in Ulydia was Magiul, a heathen, who was also called Machaldus; and +he was eminent in wickedness and notorious in cruelty; and forasmuch as +like always accordeth with like, he gathered unto himself no small +company, well practised in theft, in rapine, and in blood. And this +man placed on his own head and on his companions' certain diabolical +signs which are called Deberth; that all might behold how devoted was +their brotherhood unto the service of Satan. And it happened on a time +that the blessed Patrick was journeying with his people through the +place where lurked this band of evil-doers, waiting and watching for +any traveller on whom they might rush forth to destroy and to despoil. +And beholding the saint, they thought at first to slay him as the +seducer of their souls and the destroyer of their gods: but suddenly +their purpose being changed by the Divine will, they thought it shame +to shed the blood of a peaceful, weak, and unarmed old man; yet +counselling to prove or rather to mock the power of Christ, and the +holiness of Patrick, they placed one of their companions named Garbanus +on a couch, and though he was in perfect health they feigned him as +dead; and they covered him with a cloak, and with deriding prayers they +besought the man of God that he would provide the funeral rites, or, as +he was wont, restore unto life the dead man. But the saint, at the +revelation of the Spirit, understood what they had done, and pronounced +that these scorners had deceivingly, yet not falsely, declared of their +companion's death. Therefore disregarding their entreaties he prayed +unto God for the soul of the derider, and went on his way. And the +saint had not journeyed far, when they uncovered the cloak from their +companion; and lo! they found him not feignedly but really dead. And +they, affrighted at this fearful chance, and dreading lest the same +should happen unto themselves, followed the saint, and fell at his +feet, and acknowledged their offence, and by their contrition obtained +pardon. And they all believed in the Lord, and in his name were they +baptized. Then did the saint, at their humble entreaty, revive the +dead man; and washing him in the holy font, associated him unto them in +the faith of Christ. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6152"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Penitence of Machaldus.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Machaldus their chief falling at Saint Patrick's feet, confessed +his sins and entreated with many tears that a life of penitence might +be appointed unto him, whereby he might attain the life of eternity. +And the saint, inspired of Heaven, enjoined him that he should utterly +renounce his native soil and give all his substance to the poor; and he +clothed Machaldus in a vile and rough garment, and chained him with +chains of iron, and cast the key thereof into the ocean. Likewise he +commanded him to enter, alone, without oars, into a boat made only of +hides, and that on whatsoever country he should land under the guidance +of the Lord there should he serve Him even unto the end of his days. +And the man, truly repenting, did as his pastor enjoined; for he, +alone, chained with iron chains, bearing on his head the tonsure as the +token of penitence, entered the boat; and under the protection of God +he committed himself unto the waves, and was borne by them unto the +Island Eubonia, which is called Mannia. And therein were two bishops, +named Connidrius and Romulus, whom Saint Patrick himself had +consecrated and appointed to rule over the people of that island and to +instruct them in the faith of Christ after the death of Germanus the +first bishop. And they, beholding Machaldus, marvelled much, and they +pitied his misery; and when they understood the cause, received him +kindly and retained him with themselves. And after he had for some +space there abided, a fish was one day taken in the sea and brought +unto their dwelling; and when the fish was opened before them, a key +was found in its belly, and Machaldus being released from his chains, +gave thanks unto God, and went thenceforth free. And he, increasing in +holiness, after the deaths of these holy bishops attained the episcopal +degree; and being eminent in his miracles and in his virtues, there did +he rest. And in that island was a city after him named of no small +extent; the remains of whose walls may yet be seen. And in the +cemetery of its church is a sarcophagus of hollowed stone, whereout a +spring continually exudeth, nay, sufficiently floweth forth; the which +is sweet to the draught, wholesome to the taste, and healeth divers +infirmities, but chiefly the stings of serpents and the deadliness of +poison: for whoso drinketh thereof, either receiveth instant health, or +instantly he dieth. And in that stone are the bones of Saint Machaldus +said to rest, yet therein is nothing found, save only clear water. And +though many have oftentimes endeavored to remove the stone, and +especially the king of the Norici, who subdued the island, that he +might at all times have sweet water, yet have they all failed in their +attempt: for the deeper they have digged to raise up the stone, so much +the more deeply and firmly did they find it fixed in the heart of the +earth. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6153"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>A Meadow is overflowed by the Sea.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +At another time the blessed Patrick being fatigued with travel, turned +aside for the sake of a little rest, and for pasturing his horses, into +a grassy meadow near Roscomaira in Connactia. But when he had sate +down and his horses had begun to feed, a certain wicked and perverse +plebeian, the owner of the place, rushed forward in the fury of anger +to expel him forth. And first he attacked the saint with reproachful +words, and at length he cast stones at the horses and drove them from +the field: wherefore the hurt done unto them, increased the injury and +the affront offered unto their master. And as Saint Patrick was one, +and chief among those horses, with which according to the prophet +Habacuc the Lord made his way in the sea, therefore was the Lord wroth +at an injury offered unto him, and therefore at his command the meadow +withered up, and the sea flowing forward covered it, and it remained +unfruitful for ever. Fitting and just was this judgment of God, that +the people which hated him, and refused his servant one blade of grass, +should lose the whole harvest; and that as this man despitefully +entreated Saint Patrick, and drove him from his field, he should +thenceforward lose the place for which so contentiously he had striven. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6154"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>A Stone is changed into Milk, and Milk is changed into Stones.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And one who had long time been a servant unto many evil-doers, hearing +of the virtues and the miracles of Saint Patrick, came unto him, for +the purpose of contending with him in working signs. And many false +signs did he multiply, the which the saint, having prayed and made the +sign of the cross, dispersed. Then the magician seeing all his +inventions to be frustrated, required of Patrick that he should work +signs to evince the power of his God; and the saint delayed not to do +what might prove the virtue of Christ, and instruct in the faith many +Christians: for he changed an hard stone into a soft mass of curdled +milk, and of this milk, in the name of Christ, he changed two soft +pieces into hard stones. But lest these should be accounted false and +like unto the signs of the magicians, the stones continued in the same +hardness whereunto they were transformed. But this which was +corporally done before the eyes of men, doth the divine virtue +spiritually do in the conversion of believers; inasmuch as the +worshippers of stones, men of hardened hearts, become soft unto the +faith and love of Christ, and as if again born infants, they desire the +milk of the apostolic doctrine, that thereby they may grow up unto +salvation. So did it happen unto the magician, who beholding this +miracle believed in the Lord and was baptized. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6155"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>A Wagon laden with Twigs is saved from the Fire.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Saint Patrick requested of a certain man, that he would bring unto +him two wagons laden with twigs, for that such were required for +certain needful uses. And the man fulfilled his request, and brought +the twigs unto the appointed place. But a fire seized the two wagons +and burned one thereof, yet left it the other unharmed of the flame. +And all the beholders marvelled, that the fire should exercise its +natural power over the one wagon, and on the other have no effect; as +of yore it happened unto the three children which were cast into the +fiery furnace, but which were saved from the fire, nor did any hurt +come on them. We however admire in this miracle the merit of the +saint; but in no wise think that the cause thereof needs to be +discussed. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6156"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLVI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Saint is preserved untouched from the falling Rain.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +The man of God was wont to observe with singular devotion the Lord's +day, for the remembrance of that great solemnity, which the life of +death reviving unto resurrection, hath made worthy of rejoicing in +heaven, in earth, and in the grave. Wherefore this holy custom was +fixed in his mind, even as a law, that wheresoever the Sabbath-eve +arrived, he for reverence thereto passed the night and the next holy +day in hymns, and in psalms, and in spiritual songs; and heartily +devoting himself unto divine contemplation, so he continued until the +morning of the succeeding day. And on a time the observance of this +holy custom caused the blessed Patrick to celebrate the vigil under the +open air; and a violent fall of rain inundated all the field around: +but the place whereon the holy watchman, the guardian of the walls of +Jerusalem, stood with his companions, was not wetted even with the +dropping of one drop thereof. Thus was in Patrick repeated the +miracle, which formerly appeared in the fleece of Gideon, when the +whole ground was wet with dew, and the fleece was found dry and +undamped. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6157"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLVII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Fingers of Saint Patrick shine with Light.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +But the brightness of the eternal light, that He might prove with how +radiant a light of His grace the inward vessel of His saint was +illumined, glorified him by another miracle of yet higher marvel. For +on the same night which Patrick had passed under the open air, lauding +and praising God, the field wherein he stood was covered with thickest +darkness. And the chariot-driver of the holy prelate long time sought +for the steeds which he had loosed unto pasture, that he might reyoke +them to the chariot: but when for the darkness he could not find them, +he wailed with much lamentation. Which the saint compassionating, drew +forth his right hand from his sleeve, and raised up his fingers. +Wonderful was the event, and unheard of through ages! Immediately his +fingers shone even as sunbeams, and wonderfully illumining the whole +country, turned darkness into light, and night into day. Then by the +aid of this radiant miracle the chariot-driver found his steeds, and +led them rejoicing to the father, and yoked them unto the chariot. And +he, the bearer and the preacher of the heavenly light, his fingers +ceasing to shine, yet ceasing not to pour forth the purest and freshest +myrrh, ascended the chariot on the morning of the succeeding day, as +was his custom; and hastened on, whithersoever he was called by the +will of Him, who directed him, and dwelled in him. Thus by a very +beautiful but sufficiently convincing miracle his fingers outwardly +shone; so working in them the finger of the God, who so frequently had +healed and saved and protected by his works of light. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6158"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLVIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Fire is also seen to issue from his Mouth.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And he preached the word of God unto a certain great man, to whom it +seemed that fire issuing from the mouth of the saint entered into his +ears and mouth, and filled him internally with its heat. And this fire +was not consuming, but illumining; not burning, but shining; as he who +so experienced related unto the saint, saying, "I behold a flaming fire +to issue from thy mouth, and penetrate my body and my inmost heart." +Then to him the saint: "Our God is the true light illumining every man +at his entrance into the world; our God, who came to send upon earth +that fire which He desireth should burn in the hearts of the faithful: +for the word of the Lord is bright, and his speech is as fire; whereof +by my preaching hast thou had in thyself the proof." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6159"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLIX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The holy Virgin Memhessa departeth unto God.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +There was a noble and beautiful damsel, named Memhessa, the daughter of +a prince who reigned in a certain part of Britain. And she, being +occupied with the grace of the Holy Spirit, through the virtue which is +innate in a good disposition, and from the divers species of all +created creatures, understood the Creator; and Him, being so +understood, she affected with all her heart and with all her soul; for +the love and desire of the which affection she looked down on all the +riches, and all the delights, and all the splendors, and all the charms +of this world's glory, and she despised them in her heart. Yet had she +not been washed in the holy font, though in her manners she represented +the purity of the Christian faith. And her parents being heathens, +mainly endeavored with words and with stripes to frustrate and to shake +her purpose; but the column of her virgin heart being builded on the +rock of Christ, could neither be subverted by their persuasions, nor +shaken by their threats, nor could she by any their evil doings at all +be moved from her fixed firmness. And forasmuch as the spring-time of +her youth made her beautiful, and the elegance of her form made her +right lovely, while in her countenance the lilies and the roses of the +garden were mingled together, very many princes of royal stock desired +her in marriage; however in no wise could she thereunto be persuaded or +compelled. Wherefore having a long time vainly labored, her parents by +general consent brought her unto Saint Patrick, the fame of whose +holiness was proved and published through all that country by many +signs and miracles. Then they unfolded unto the saint the purpose of +the damsel, earnestly entreating him that he would bring her unto the +sight of his God whom she so loved and toward whom her heart yearned. +This the saint hearing, rejoiced in the Lord, giving thanks unto Him, +whose breath doth blow even whither and how he listeth; and who +oftentimes calleth unto himself without any preaching those whom he had +predestinated unto life. Then, having expounded to the damsel the +rules of the Christian faith, he catechised her, and baptized her +confessing her belief, and strengthened her with the sacraments of the +body and blood of Christ. And she, having received the viaticum, fell +to the ground in the midst of her prayers and breathed forth her +spirit: thus ascending from the font spotless and washed of all sin, +and being led by the angels unto the sight of her fair and beautiful +Beloved, went she into his embraces. Then did Patrick, and all who +were present, glorify God; and with honorable sepulture they committed +her holy remains unto the earth. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6160"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Work which was done in the Lord's Day.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And at a certain time Saint Patrick on the Lord's day entered a harbor +on the northern coast of Hibernia, opposite the town of Druimbo; yet +would he not go forth of the ship, but remaining therein he solemnized +the day with his wonted devotion. And now was the mid-hour of the day +passed, when he heard no little noise; whereby he understood that the +heathens were violating the Sabbath with their profane labors (the +which was right contrary to his custom and command); and that they were +then employed in a certain work which is called rayth; that is, a wall. +And thereat being somewhat moved, he ordered that they should be bidden +before him, and imperatively commanded them on that day to surcease +from their labor. But this profane and foolish generation received the +prohibition of the saint not only with contempt, but with scorn and +laughter. Then did he, understanding the perverseness of those +scorners, repeat his prohibition, and thus did he say unto them, +"Though mightily shall ye labor unto your purpose, never shall it come +to any effect, nor ever shall ye derive any profit therefrom." And how +true were his words, the event showed: for on the next night was the +sea wondrously raised with a tempest, and spreading thereover scattered +all the work of the heathens; and lest ever it should be recollected or +rebuilded, dispersed it with irreparable dispersion. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6161"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>A certain Man is healed, and a Horse revived, <BR> +in a place which is called Feart.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +A certain illustrious man, named Darius, gave unto Saint Patrick at his +request a dwelling-place together with a small field, whither he might +betake himself with the fellowship of his holy brethren. And this was +a small place near Ardmachia, in modern time called the Feast of +Miracles. And after a season, the charioteer of Darius sent his horse +into this field, there to pasture during the night; the which when on +the morrow he would lead forth of the field, found he dead. Which when +Darius heard, he was moved with wrath, and preventing all excuse, all +delay, all revocation, commanded that Patrick should be slain, as the +slayer of his horse. But scarcely had the word issued from his lips, +when lo, suddenly came on him a monitory, nay, a minatory weakness of +death, and cast him on his sickbed; and as suddenly were his feet which +were prompt unto mischief, and his hands which were accustomed unto +evil, recalled from the shedding of innocent blood; for misery alone +gave him understanding. Which things being told unto the saint, he +bade that the steed and the man should be sprinkled with water which +had been blessed of him: and being so sprinkled, each arose; the horse +from death, and Darius from the bed of sickness. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6162"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Vessel which was given unto Saint Patrick, <BR> +and again taken from him.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And Darius being thus healed, sent unto the saint by the hands of his +servants a large brazen vessel, the which contained thrice twelve +gallons, and was most needful unto him and his companions for the +dressing of their food. And he, much requiring such a vessel, kindly +received it; yet said he only: this "I thank him." And the servants, +returning unto their master, when he enquired of the saint's answer, +replied that he said nothing other than, "I thank him." Then Darius +thereat wondering, accused the saint of rashness and of rudeness; yet +desiring to try the virtue of the word, commanded that they should take +the vessel from Patrick and bring it back again. Which when they did, +the saint, as he was thereto accustomed in his words and in works, +said, "I thank him." And again Darius demanded what Patrick had this +time said: and hearing that even then he had only spoken as before, "I +thank him," and admiring and understanding his firmness, pronounced he +the saint to be a man of consummate constancy, and that the word of his +mouth was most excellent. "Truly," said he, "this is a magnanimous man +and of unalterable mind, whose countenance and whose word could not be +changed, whether the vessel be given unto him or taken from him; but +ever do they continue the same." Then did he, following his servants, +salute the saint with appeasing speech, and gave unto him a field near +his dwelling-place, about which dispute might possibly have arisen. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6163"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Ardmachia is given unto Saint Patrick; and a Fountain <BR> +is produced out of the Earth.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And after a short time the noble Darius, that he might show unto the +saint yet greater favor, brought him out of a low place unto a place +which was high; from a narrow dwelling unto one which was spacious and +fair, which was foreshown unto him by an angelic miracle, at that time +named Druymsaileach, but which is now called Ardmachia. And Saint +Patrick, considering the pleasantness and convenience of the place, and +walking around it, found therein a doe lying down with her fawn, which +they who accompanied the saint willed to slay; but this the pious +father would in no wise suffer to be done. And that he might show the +bowels of pity, which he had unto God's creatures, he bore the fawn in +his own arms, and caressed and cherished it, and carried it unto a park +at the northern side of Ardmachia; and the doe, even as the tamest +sheep, followed the compassionate bearer of her youngling, until he +placed it down at her side. And on that day did the saint, for the +praise of God and for the benefit of the people, bring forth out of the +earth by his prayers, even for the seventh time, a clear fountain. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6164"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Saint beholdeth a Vision of Angels, and cureth Sixteen Lepers.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +When the lamp of the daily light was extinguished in the shades of +nocturnal darkness, the man of God beheld in a vision of the night +angels measuring the form and the extent of the city which was to be +builded in that high place, and one of the angels enjoined him, that on +the morrow he should go unto the fountain near Ardmachia, which is now +called Tobar Patraic, that is, the Fountain of Patrick; and there he +should heal in the name of the Lord sixteen lepers, who were come +thither from many places to experience the mercy of the Lord, and to +receive his faith. And Patrick obeyed the voice of the angel; and +early in the morning he found those men, and by his preaching he +converted them unto the faith, and being converted, he baptized them in +that fountain, and when baptized, he purified them from the leprous +taint of either man. And this miracle when published abroad, was +accounted a fair presage and a present sanction of the future city. +And the angel, at the prayers of Patrick, removed far from thence an +exceeding huge stone which lay in the wayside, and which could not be +raised by the labor or the ingenuity of man; lest it should be an +hindrance to passengers approaching the city. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6165"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the City of Ardmachia, and Twelve of its Citizens.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +Then Patrick founded, according to the direction of the angels, a city, +fair in its site, its form, and its ambit, and when by the divine +assistance it was completed, he brought to dwell therein twelve +citizens, whom he had from all parts diligently and discreetly chosen: +and these he instructed in the Catholic doctrines of the Christian +faith. And he beautified the city with churches builded after a +becoming and spiritual fashion; and for the observance of divine +worship, for the government of souls, and for the instruction of the +Catholic flock, he appointed therein clerical persons; and he +instituted certain monasteries filled with monks, and others filled +with nuns, and placed them under the regulations of all possible +perfection. And in one of these monasteries was a certain brother, who +would not take either food or drink before the hour appointed by the +saint; and he perished of thirst; and Patrick beheld his soul ascending +into heaven, and placed among the martyrs. And in the convent of the +handmaidens of God, was a certain virgin, the daughter of a British +king, with nine other holy damsels, who had come with her unto Saint +Patrick, and of these, three in his presence went unto heaven. And in +this city placed he an archiepiscopal cathedral; and determined in his +mind that it should be the chief metropolis, and the mistress of all +Hibernia; and that this his purpose might remain fixed and by posterity +unaltered, he resolved to journey unto the apostolic seat, and confirm +it with authentic privileges. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6166"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXVI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>At the Direction of the Angels Saint Patrick goeth unto Rome.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And the angel of the Lord appearing unto Patrick, approved the purpose +of his journey, and showed him that the Pope would bestow and divide +among many churches the relics of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and of +many saints. And as carriages were haply then wanting unto him, the +angels provided him with four chariots, as if sent from heaven, the +which conveyed him and his people unto the sea-side. Then the +glorified prelate Patrick; after that the urgency of his laborious +preaching was finished, and the abundance of so many and so great +miracles had converted the whole island, blessed and bade farewell to +the several bishops and presbyters and other members of the church whom +he had ordained: and with certain of his disciples, led by his angelic +guide, he sailed toward Rome. Whither arriving, while in the presence +of the supreme pontiff he declared the cause of his coming, supreme +favor he found in his eyes; for, embracing and acknowledging him as the +apostle of Hibernia, he decorated the saint with the pall, and +appointing him his legate, by his authority confirmed whatsoever +Patrick had done, appointed or disposed therein. And many parting +presents, and precious gifts, which pertained unto the beauty, nay, +unto the strength of the church, did the Pope bestow on him; +where-among were certain relics of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and of +Stephen the proto-martyr, and of many other martyrs; and moreover, gave +he unto the saint a linen cloth, which was marked with the blood of our +Lord the Saviour Jesus Christ. Gift excelling all other gifts! And +with these most holy honors the saint being returned unto Hibernia, +fortified therewith this metropolitan church of Ardmachia (unto the +salvation of souls and the safety of the whole nation), and reposited +them in a chest behind the great altar. And in that church even from +the time of Saint Patrick the custom obtained that on the days of the +Passover and of the Pentecost these relics should be thereout produced, +and venerated in the presence of the people. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6167"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXVII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Acts of Saint Patrick while returning from Rome.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +But the miracles which Saint Patrick wrought, when going to Rome, or +returning thence, or after he had returned, are beyond our ability to +relate either one by one or all together. For wheresoever he remained +through the night, or made any abiding, left he behind him the proofs +of his sanctity, in the healing of some diseased person; inasmuch as +churches and oratories which were builded in those places and entitled +after his name are yet to be seen; and which even to this day are +redolent of his holiness, and impart the benefit of his miracles to +many who sought the same with the desert of faith. And in his return +he some time abided in his own country of Britain, and founded there +many monasteries, and rebuilded many others which had been destroyed of +the heathens; and he filled them with convents of holy monks who +assented unto that form of religion which he thereto appointed; many +events also, prosperous and adverse, which were to happen unto Britain, +did he prophesy in the spirit; and especially he foresaw and foretold +the holiness of the blessed David, who was then in his mother's womb. +For there were many country places and towns, the inhabitants whereof +rudely drove away the saint while journeying, lest he should abide the +night among them; and these and their posterity could never prosper or +become rich therein, but strangers and aliens always possessed of them +the wealth and the dominion. But the groves into which the saint was +by those wicked ones driven to pass the night, and which before +produced but few and fruitless copses, were seen, by the blessing of +such a holy guest, to thicken and to flourish with so great abundance +of trees that in no future time could they be entirely destroyed. And +in the rivers, where the deceivers, fraudful both in heart and word, +had shown unto the saint a deep abyss instead of a safe ford, passed he +over safely, having first blessed the passage, and changed the abyss +into a ford; and the ford which before was pervious unto all changed he +unto a deep abyss. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6168"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXVIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Acts of St. Patrick after he had Returned.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And after his long journey was finished, he consoled his people with +his presence; and he appointed unto the Lord's field thirty bishops +which he had chosen and in foreign countries had consecrated, for that +the harvest was many, and the laborers few. Therefore began he the +more frequently to assemble holy synods of bishops, to celebrate solemn +councils, and whatsoever he found contrary to the ecclesiastical +institutes or the Catholic faith, that did he take away and annul; and +whatsoever he found accordant to the Christian law, to justice, or to +the sacred canons, and consonant to good morals, that did he direct and +sanction. And daily he shone with innumerable miracles, and whatsoever +with his lips he appointed or taught, that did he confirm by most +signal miracles; whence it came to pass that all deservedly admired +him, by whose kindness all the inhabitants of that island are through +ages blessed; as in the sequel more fully shall we endeavor to show. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6169"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXIX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Threefold Plagues of Hibernia.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +Even from the time of its original inhabitants, did Hibernia labor +under a threefold plague: a swarm of poisonous creatures, whereof the +number could not be counted; a great concourse of demons visibly +appearing; and a multitude of evil-doers and magicians. And these +venomous and monstrous creatures, rising out of the earth and out of +the sea, so prevailed over the whole island that they not only wounded +men and animals with their deadly sting, but slayed them with cruel +bitings, and not seldom rent and devoured their members. And the +demons, who by the power of idolatry dwelled in superstitious hearts, +showed themselves unto their worshippers in visible forms; often +likewise did they, as if they were offended, injure them with many +hurts; unto whom, being appeased with sacrifices, offerings, or evil +works, they seemed to extend the grace of health or of safety, while +they only ceased from doing harm. And after was beheld such a +multitude of these, flying in the air or walking on the earth, that the +island was deemed incapable of containing so many; and therefore was it +accounted the habitation of demons, and their peculiar possession. +Likewise the crowd of magicians, evil-doers, and soothsayers had +therein so greatly increased as the history of not any other nation +doth instance. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6170"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Threefold Plague is driven out of Hibernia by Saint Patrick.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And the most holy Patrick applied all his diligence unto the +extirpation of this threefold plague; and at length by his salutary +doctrine and fervent prayer he relieved Hibernia of the increasing +mischief. Therefore he, the most excellent pastor, bore on his +shoulder the staff of Jesus, and aided of the angelic aid, he by its +comminatory elevation gathered together from all parts of the island +all the poisonous creatures into one place; then compelled he them all +unto a very high promontory, which then was called Cruachan-ailge, but +now Cruachan-Phadruig; and by the power of his word he drove the whole +pestilent swarm from the precipice of the mountain headlong into the +ocean. O eminent sign! O illustrious miracle! even from the beginning +of the world unheard, but now experienced by tribes, by peoples, and by +tongues, known unto all nations, but to the dwellers in Hibernia +especially needful! And at this marvellous yet most profitable sight, +a numerous assembly was present; many of whom had flocked from all +parts to behold miracles, many to receive the word of life. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Then turned he his face toward Mannia, and the other islands which he +had imbued and blessed with the faith of Christ and with the holy +sacraments; and by the power of his prayers he freed all these likewise +from the plague of venomous reptiles. But other islands, the which had +not believed at his preaching, still are cursed with the procreation of +those poisonous creatures. And he converted innumerable evil-doers +unto the faith; but many who continued obstinate, and hardened in their +perverseness, he destroyed from the face of the earth (as we have +already recorded); and from the men of Hibernia, whom he made servants +unto the true and living God, prayed he of the Lord that the visions of +the demons and their wonted injuries should be driven away; and he +obtained his prayer. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6171"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXXI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Without Earthly Food the Saint completeth a Fast of Forty Days.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And that in Hibernia or in the other islands which had received his +blessing no poisonous animal should continue or revive, nor the wonted +troop of demons therein abide, the saint completed without earthly food +a fast of forty days. For he desired to imitate in his mystical fast +Moses, who was then bound by the natural law, or rather Elias the +prophet, appointed under the law; but most principally desiring to +please the great Founder of nature, the Giver of the law and of grace, +Jesus Christ, who in Himself had consecrated such a fast. Therefore he +ascended the high mountain in Conactia, called Cruachan-ailge, that he +might there more conveniently pass the Lent season before the Passion; +and that there, desiring and contemplating the Lord, he might offer +unto Him the holocaust of this fast. And he disposed there five +stones, and placed himself in the midst; and therein, as well in the +manner of his sitting as in the mortification of his abstinence, showed +he himself the servant of the cross of Christ. And there he sat +solitary, raising himself above himself; yet gloried he only in the +cross, which constantly he bore in his heart and on his body, and +ceaselessly he panted toward his holy Beloved; and he continued and +hungered in his body, but his inward man was satisfied, and filled, and +wounded with the sweetness of divine contemplation, the comfort of +angelic visitation, and the sword of the love of God: "For the word of +God is quick and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing +even unto the separation of the body and the spirit," wherewith the +saint was wounded, even unto holy love. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6172"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXXII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>He banisheth the Demons forth of the Island.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And the demons grieved for their lost dominion, and assailing the saint +they tormented him in his prayers and his fastings; and they fluttered +around him like birds of the blackest hue, fearful in their form, their +hugeness, and their multitude, and striving with horrible chatterings +to prevent his prayer, long time they disturbed the man of God. But +Patrick being armed with His grace, and aided by His protection, made +the sign of the cross, and drove far from him those deadly birds; and +by the continual sounding of his cymbal, utterly banished them forth of +the island. And being so driven away, they fled beyond the sea, and +being divided in troops among the islands which are alien unto the +faith and love of God, there do they abide and practise their +delusions. But from that time forward, even unto this time, all +venomous creatures, all fantasies of demons, have through the merits +and the prayers of the most holy father Patrick entirely ceased in +Hibernia. And the cymbal of the saint, which from his frequent +percussions thereof appeared in one part broken, was afterward repaired +by an angel's hand; and the mark is beheld on it at this day. Likewise +on the summit of this mountain many are wont to watch and to fast, +conceiving that they will never after enter the gates of hell; the +which benefit they account to be obtained to them of God through the +merits and the prayers of Patrick. And some who have thereon passed +the night relate them to have suffered grievous torments, whereby they +think themselves purified of all their sins; and for such cause many +call this place the Purgatory of Saint Patrick. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6173"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXXIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Troops of Angels appear unto the Saint.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And God, the ruler of all, who after darkness bringeth light, +compassionated his servant; and so soon as the evil spirits were driven +forth, a multitude of angels poured around the place with exceeding +brightness, and with wondrous melody they comforted the saint. And he, +having finished his fast of forty days, offered the sacrifice of praise +and thanksgiving unto God, who had vouchsafed to mortal man the virtue +of so great abstinence, and had bestowed such mercies through the +intercession of Him. And moreover he rejoiced in the angelic +salutation. Then being led by the angels, he descended from the +mountain, and smote his cymbal, the sound whereof the Lord caused to be +heard through all parts of Hibernia. Thence, let none of the faithful +doubt that every man even over the whole world will hear the sound of +the last trumpet. And raising his hands, Saint Patrick blessed the +island and all the dwellers therein, and commended them unto Christ. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Now understand ye how it was the custom of Patrick, as of the other +ancient saints who abided in the islands, to have with them cymbals, +for the expulsion of evil spirits, for their own bodily exercise, to +proclaim the hours of the day and night, and for I know not what other +causes. One thing, however, is certain, that many miracles are known +to have been performed by the sound or the touch of these cymbals. +Therefore at the Lord's Supper, the blessed Patrick going forth of his +retirement into public view, rejoiced with his presence the whole +church of the saints who were born of his preaching unto Christ. And +there he discharged his episcopal office, the which he always joined +with those sacred seasons; and thus went he forward in the work of +salvation. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6174"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXXIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Saint titheth Hibernia and the Dwellers therein.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +Then at the Paschal tide, his accustomed devotions being finished, he +went round the whole island with a holy multitude of his sons whom he +had brought forth unto Christ; and everywhere teaching the way of the +Lord, he converted to, or confirmed in, the faith the dwellers therein. +And all the islanders, unto whom had come even the knowledge of his +name, for this so strange and wondrous miracle surrendered themselves +to him and to his doctrine, as to an angel of light, and devoutly they +obeyed him for their peculiar apostle. Then this most excellent +husbandman, seeing the hardness of the Lord's field to be softened, and +the thorns, the thistles, and the tares rooted forth, labored to +fertilize it so much the more abundantly with the increase of +profitable seed, that it produced good fruit not only to the increase +of thirty or sixty, but even of an hundred-fold. Therefore he caused +the whole island to be divided with a measuring line, and all the +inhabitants, both male and female, to be tithed; and every tenth head, +as well of human kind as of cattle, commanded he to be set apart for +the portion of the Lord. And making all the men monks, and the women +nuns, he builded many monasteries, and assigned unto them for their +support the tithe of the land and of the cattle. Wherefore in a short +space so it was that no desert spot, nor even any corner of the island, +nor any place therein, however remote, was unfilled with perfect monks +and nuns; so that Hibernia was become rightly distinguished by the +especial name of the Island of Saints. And these lived according to +the rule of Saint Patrick, with a contempt of the world, a desire of +heaven, a holy mortification of the flesh, and an abandonment of all +pleasure; equalling the Egyptian monks in their merit and in their +number, so that with their conversation and example they edified far +distant countries. And in the days of Saint Patrick, and for many ages +of his successors, no one was advanced unto the episcopal degree or the +cure of souls, unless by the revelation of the divine Spirit or by some +other evident sign he was proved worthy thereof. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6175"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXXV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The different States of Hibernia are in a Heavenly Vision <BR> +shown unto the Saint.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And the man of God anxiously desired and earnestly prayed that he might +be certified of the present and the future state of Hibernia, to the +end that he might be assured of the faith, or of the value that his +labors bore in the sight of God. Then the Lord heard the desire of his +heart, and manifested the same unto him by an evident revelation; for +while he was engaged in prayer, and the heart of his mind was opened, +he beheld the whole island as it were a flaming fire ascending unto +heaven; and he heard the angel of God saying unto him: "Such at this +time is Hibernia in the sight of the Lord." And after a little space +he beheld in all parts of the island even as mountains of fire +stretching unto the skies. And again after a little space he beheld as +it were candles burning, and after a while darkness intervened; and +then he beheld fainter lights, and at length he beheld coals lying +hidden here and there, as reduced unto ashes, yet still burning. And +the angel added: "What thou seest here shown, such shall be the people +of Hibernia." Then the saint, exceedingly weeping, often repeated the +words of the Psalmist, saying: "Whether will God turn himself away for +ever, and will he be no more entreated? Shall his mercy come to an end +from generation to generation? Shall God forget to be merciful, and +shut up his mercy in his displeasure?" And the angel said, "Look +toward the northern side, and on the right hand of a height shalt thou +behold the darkness dispersed from the face of the light which +thenceforth will arise." Then the saint raised his eyes, and behold, +he at first saw a small light arising in Ulydia, the which a long time +contended with the darkness, and at length dispersed it, and illumined +with its rays the whole island. Nor ceased the light to increase and +to prevail, even until it had restored to its former fiery state all +Hibernia. Then was the heart of the saint filled with joy, and his +heart with exultation, giving thanks for all these things which had +been shown unto him: and he understood in the greatness of this fiery +ardor of the Christian faith the devotion and the zeal of religion, +wherewith those islanders burned. By the fiery mountains he understood +the men who would be holy in their miracles and their virtues, eminent +in their preachings and their examples; by the lessening of the light, +the decrease of holiness; by the darkness that covered the land, the +infidelity which would prevail therein; by the intervals of delay, the +distances of the succeeding times. But the people think the period of +darkness was that in which Gurmundus and Turgesius, heathen princes of +Norwegia, conquered and ruled in Hibernia; and in those days, the +saints, like coals covered with ashes, lay hidden in caves and dens +from the face of the wicked, who pursued them like sheep unto the +slaughter. Whence it happened that differing rites and new sacraments, +which were contrary to the ecclesiastical institutes, were introduced +into the church by many prelates who were ignorant of the divine law. +But the light first arising from the north, and after long conflict +exterminating the darkness, those people assert to be Saint Malachy, +who presided first in Dunum, afterward in Ardmachia, and reduced the +island unto the Christian law. On the other hand, the people of +Britain ascribe this light to their coming, for that then the church +seemed under their rule to be advanced unto a better state; and that +then religion seemed to be planted and propagated, and the sacraments +of the church and the institutes of the Christian law to be observed +with more regular observance. But I propose not the end of this +contention, neither do I prevent it, thinking that the discussion and +the decision thereof should be left unto the divine judgment. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6176"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXXVI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Answer of Saint Patrick to Secundinus.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And oftentimes the Saint Secundinus sat in the assembly of the holy +men, conversing together of the acts and the virtues of Saint Patrick. +And when one of them affirmed that Patrick was the most holy of all +living men, Secundinus answered, "Verily, he would be the most holy, +had he not too little of that brotherly charity which it becometh him +to have." And this saying, uttered in the presence of so many of his +disciples, was not long concealed from the saint. Therefore it came to +pass that when Saint Patrick and Secundinus afterward met together, the +master enquired of his disciple, the metropolitan of his suffragan, why +he had spoken such a word of him, or rather against him. And +Secundinus replied, "So did I say, because thou refusest the gifts +offered unto thee of rich men, and wilt not accept farms and +inheritances, wherewith thou mightest sustain the great multitude of +the saints which are gathered unto thee." Then Saint Patrick answered +and said, "For the increase of charity is it that I do not accept these +works of charity; inasmuch as were I to receive all that are offered +unto me, I should not leave even the pasturage of two horses for the +saints which will come after us." Then Secundinus repenting of the +word which he had spoken, entreated forgiveness of the saint; and he, +with his wonted kindness, accorded it unto his penitence. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6177"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXXVII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Secundinus composeth a Hymn in Honor of Saint Patrick.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And Secundinus, who was exceeding wise and learned, said unto Saint +Patrick that he desired to compose a hymn in honor of a saint who was +yet living. This he said, for that the saint of whom he purposed to +write was Patrick himself; and therefore concealed he the name in +silence. Then answered the saint: "Verily, it is worthy, and fit, and +right, and profitable, that the people should tell the wisdom of the +saints, and that the congregation should speak of their praise; but yet +is it more becoming that the subject of our praise should not be +praised until after his death. Praise thou therefore the clearness of +the day, but not until the evening cometh; the courage of the soldier, +but not until he hath triumphed; the fortune of the sailor, but not +until he hath landed; for the Scripture saith, Thou shalt praise no man +in his lifetime. Nevertheless, if so thy mind is fixed, what thou +proposest to do, that do thou quickly; for death draweth nigh unto +thee, and of all the bishops which are in Hibernia, shalt thou be the +first to die." Therefore Secundinus composed a hymn in honor of Saint +Patrick, and after a few days, according to the word of the saint, he +died; and he was buried in his own church, in a place which he called +Domnhach-Seachlainn, and by manifold miracles showeth himself to live +in Christ. And this hymn are many of the islanders daily wont to sing, +and from its repetition they affirm many and great wonders to have +happened; for divers, while singing this hymn, have passed unseen +through their enemies who were thirsting for their blood, and who were +stricken with that sort of blindness which physicians term acrisia. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6178"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXXVIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Soul of a Certain Sinner is by Saint Patrick freed from Demons.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And on a time a certain saint, named Kaennechus, saw in Hibernia troops +of demons passing along, armed with infernal instruments; whom having +adjured in the name of the Holy Trinity, he compelled to declare the +cause of their coming thither. And they, thus adjured, confessed, +though unwillingly, that they came to bear away the soul of a certain +most wicked sinner, who for his sins deserved to be carried into hell. +Then Kaennechus enjoined them in the name of the Lord to return unto +him, and to tell him what they had done. And after some hours had +passed, the demons returned with confusion, and declared that by the +power of Patrick they had lost their expected prey; for that this man +had in every year during his life celebrated with a great feast the +festival of Saint Patrick, and had every day repeated certain chapters +of the hymn which had been composed in his honor; and therefore, they +said, had Saint Patrick snatched him from their hands, as his own +proper right. Thus saying, the demons vanished into thin air; and +Kaennechus rejoiced in these things, and by the relation excited many +unto the frequent repetition of this hymn in honor of Saint Patrick. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6179"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXXIX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How the Saint appeared unto Colmanus while singing his Hymn.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +A certain abbot, a disciple of Saint Patrick, named Colmanus, was +accustomed frequently to repeat this hymn; and when he was asked of the +disciples why he would not rather sing the appointed offices and +psalms, inasmuch as once to sing this hymn ought to suffice him, he +continually beheld the face of his beloved father, Patrick, nor could +he ever be satisfied with the contemplation thereof. This, though +happening long after the death of Saint Patrick, we have written and +recorded among his acts; that we may show how this hymn was esteemed +among the people of Hibernia, and how ready was he in the hour of +necessity and tribulation to aid those who honored him, and who +frequently celebrated his memory. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6180"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXXX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Admirable Contemplations of the Saint.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +As Saint Patrick, the preacher of truth, while yet living in the flesh, +recalled and incited by his example and conversation many living men, +who yet were dead, unto the true life, so did he by his prayers bring +many who were buried unto the land of the living. For divers which +were deceased, he by his powerful prayers snatched from the depths of +eternal punishment, and from the roaring lions which were prepared for +their food, and bringing them to the expiatory place, restored them +unto salvation. And he, being often made the contemplator of the +divine mysteries, beheld the heavens opened, and the Lord Jesus +standing in the middle of the multitude of angels; and this, while he +offered the holy immolation of the Son of God, and devoutly sang the +Apocalypse of John, did Patrick merit to behold. For while in his +meditations he admired these admirable visions, unto the sight of their +similitude was he lifted up in the Lord. And the angel Victor, so +often before named, thrice in each week appeared unto him, and +comforted and consoled him with mutual colloquy. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6181"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXXXI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Saint Patrick beholdeth the Souls of the Rich <BR> +and of the poor Man sent unto different Places.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +Oftentimes did the saint behold the souls of men going forth of their +bodies, some unto places of punishment, others unto places of reward; +one instance whereof we think worthy to record, inasmuch as the saint +was wont to relate it for the purpose of edification. There was a man +who had a great name, according as names are in this world accounted +great; and he had flocks of sheep, and herds of oxen, and his +possessions increased on the earth. And this man died; and a long +assembly of his children and his kindred celebrated his obsequies with +much pomp and honor according to the estimation of men, and so +committed him unto the common mother. And they who account blessed the +man unto whom these things are given, declared him happy, whose life +was so fortunate, and whose death so honorable; and they thought that +he very much had pleased the Lord. But the other man was a beggar, who +having lived all his life in wretchedness and in poverty, went the way +of all flesh. And his body long time lay without the ministry of the +funeral rites, unburied, and mangled by the birds of prey; and at +length was it dragged by the feet into a pit-hole, and covered with +turf; and they who judge according to outward show esteemed this man +most miserable and unfortunate. But the saint pronounced the opinion +of men to differ from the righteousness of Him who searcheth the reins +and the heart, whose judgments are a deep abyss; and he declared that +he saw the soul of that rich man plunged by the demons into hell; but +the spirit of the poor man, whose life was accounted as foolishness, +and his end without honor, was reckoned among the children of God, and +his lot of blessedness was among the saints. "Truly," said he, "the +sons of men are vain, and their judgments are false in the weight; but +the just God loveth justice, and his countenance beholdeth +righteousness; and in the balance of his righteousness weigheth he the +pleasures and the riches of this evil man, and the sins of this poor +man, haply whereby he hath merited the wrath and the misfortunes which +he bore; and the one from his honor and his glory he adjudged unto +present torment; and the other, which had atoned in the furnace of +poverty and of affliction, mercifully sent he unto the heavenly joys." +Nor did the saint behold this of these men only, but often of many +others did he behold and relate such things. Thus what the word of +truth had before told of the rich man clothed in purple and the poor +man covered with sores did this friend of truth declare himself to have +beheld of other. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6182"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXXXII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Saint Vinvaloeus is miraculously stayed by Saint Patrick <BR> +from his purposed Journey.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And in Lesser Britain lived a venerable man, named Vinvaloeus, who was +even from his infancy renowned for signs and wonders; for as his acts +are recorded, very many exceeding great miracles are attested to have +been done by him. And he, the south wind so blowing that all his +perfumes breathed forth, heard the holy name of Saint Patrick, and +earnestly desired he to hasten unto the odor of his virtues. And long +time he pondered and desired; and at length determined he to leave his +country and his parents, and to go unto Hibernia to serve Christ under +the discipulate and disciplinate of Saint Patrick; but when the night +came, with the morrow whereof he purposed to begin his journey, he +beheld in a vision that most illustrious man standing before him, +clothed in his pontifical vestments; and then said he unto him: "Know +thou me, beloved Vinvaloeus, to be the Patrick unto whom thou purposest +to travel; yet weary thou not thyself, nor seek thou him whom thou +canst not find; for the hour of my dissolution draweth nigh, when I +shall go the way of all flesh. Therefore it is the will of God that +thou leavest not this place; but by thy conversation and example shalt +thou endeavor to gain over a people acceptable unto him, and which +shall follow good works; forasmuch as the crown of life is yet to be +seen, which he hath promised unto those who love him." Thus saying, +the vision disappeared, and Vinvaloeus did as he was bidden of heaven. +Now let the hearer admire his perfection, who by the spirit which was +in him saw the desire of the holy man dwelling in Armorica, and thus +wondrously changed him from the purpose of his intended journey. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6183"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXXXIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Daily Prayers and Genuflexions of the Saint.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And now, the cloud of unbelief, by whose eclipse the people of Hibernia +so long had wanted the warmth and the light of the true sun, being +dispersed, now did the tongue, the life, the virtue of the blessed +Patrick, so long as the breath and the Spirit of God were in his +nostrils, avail unto the things which were begun, continued, and ended +in the Lord; giving the knowledge of salvation, affording the example +of holiness, extending the remedy of all diseases. And verily, this +peculiar habit of life, which he exercised in secret, was daily and +perpetual; inasmuch as every day was he wont diligently to sing the +entire Psaltery, with many songs and hymns, and the Apocalypse of the +Apostle John, and two hundred prayers before God; three hundred times +did he bend his knees in adoration of the Lord; every canonical hour of +the day did he one hundred times sign himself with the sign of the +cross. Nevertheless did he not omit every day worthily and devoutly to +offer up unto the Father the sacrifice of the Son; and never ceased he +to teach the people or instruct his disciples. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6184"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXXXIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>How he passed the Night Season.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And in a wondrous manner dividing the night season, thus did this +wakeful guardian and laborer in the Lord's vineyard distinguish that +also. For in the earliest part thereof having with two hundred +genuflexions and one hundred psalms praised God, then applied he unto +study and in the latter part, he plunged himself into cold water, and +raising his heart, his voice, his eyes, and his hands towards heaven, +offered he one hundred and fifty prayers. Afterward he stretched +himself on a bare stone, and of another stone making a pillow, he +rested his most sanctified body with a short sleep; or, that more +clearly we may speak, he refreshed himself unto the labor of his +continual conflict. With such rest indulging, he girded his loins with +roughest hair-cloth, the which had been dipped in cold water; lest +haply the law of the flesh, warring in his members against the law of +the Spirit, should excite any spark of the old leaven. Thus did Saint +Patrick with spare and meagre food, and with the coarsest clothing, +offer himself a holy and living sacrifice, acceptable unto God; nor +suffered he the enemy to touch in him the walls of Jerusalem, but he +inflicted on his own flesh the penance of perpetual barrenness; and +that he should not bring forth children which might hereafter be worthy +of death, made he his spirit fruitful of abundant fruit. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6185"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXXXV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Habit, the Bearing, and the Acts of Saint Patrick.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And until the five and fiftieth year of his age, wherein he was +advanced in Hibernia unto the episcopal degree, did he after the manner +of the apostles continually travel on foot; and thenceforth, by reason +of the difficulty of the journey, he used a chariot, according to the +manner of the country. And over his other garments he was clothed with +a white cowl, so that in the form and the candid color of his habit he +showed his profession, and proved himself the candidate of lowliness +and purity. Whence it came to pass that the monks in Hibernia +following his example, for many years were contented with the simple +habit which the wool of the sheep afforded unto them, untinged with any +foreign dye. And he kept his hands clear from any gift, ever +accounting it more blessed to give than to receive; therefore when any +gift was given unto him by any rich man, he hastened so soon as might +be to give it unto the poor, lightening himself thereof as of a heavy +burden. In his countenance, in his speech, in his gait, in all his +members, in his whole body, did he edify the beholders; and his +discourse was well seasoned, and suited unto every age, sex, rank, and +condition. In four languages, the British, the Hibernian, the Gallic, +and the Latin, was he thoroughly skilled; and the Greek language also +did he partly understand. The little Book of Proverbs, which he +composed in the Hibernian tongue, and which is full of edification, +still existeth; and his great volume, called Canoin Phadruig, that is, +the canons of Patrick, suiteth every person, be he secular, be he +ecclesiastic, unto the exercise of justice and the salvation of souls. +Whensoever he was addressed for the exposition of profound questions or +difficult cases, always, according to the custom of his lowliness, did +he answer: "I know not, God knoweth "; but when great necessity +compelled him to certify the word of his mouth, he always confirmed it +by attesting his Judge. So excellent was he in the spirit of prophecy +that he foretold divers future things even as if they were present; +things absent he well knew, and whatsoever fell from his lips, without +even the smallest doubt did that come to pass. So evidently did he +foretell of the saints which for an hundred years thereafter would be +born in Hibernia, but chiefly in Momonia and Conactia; that he showed +even their names, their characters, and the places of their dwelling. +Whomsoever he bound, them did the divine justice bind; whosoever he +loosed, them did the divine justice loose; with his right hand he +blessed, with his left hand he cursed; and whom he blessed, on them +came the blessing of the Lord; whom he cursed, on them came the +heavenly malediction; and the sentence which issued from his lips, +unshaken and fixed did it remain, even as had it gone forth of the +eternal judgment-seat. Whence doth it plainly appear, that this holy +man being faithful unto God, was with Him as one spirit. Yet though in +his manifold virtues he equalled or excelled all other saints, in the +virtue of lowliness did he excel even himself; for in his epistles he +was wont to mention himself as the lowest, the least, and the vilest of +all sinners; and little accounting the signs and the miracles which he +had wrought, he thought himself to be compared not to any perfect man; +and being but of small stature, he used often to call himself a dwarf. +And not seldom, after the manner of the Apostle Paul, he toiled with +manual labor, fishing, and tilling the ground; but chiefly in building +churches, to the which employment he much urged his disciples, both by +exhortation and example. Nevertheless, right earnestly did he apply +himself unto baptizing the people and ordaining the ministers of the +church. Three hundred bishops and fifty did he consecrate with his own +hand; seven hundred churches did he endow; five thousand clerical men +did he advance unto the priestly rank. But of the other ministers whom +he appointed unto the inferior orders, of the monks and the nuns whom +he dedicated unto the divine service, God alone knoweth the number. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6186"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXXXVI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Of the Sick whom he healed, and the Dead whom he raised; <BR> +and of his Disciples who recorded his Acts.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +Therefore under this most sanctified rule of life did he shine in so +many and so great miracles that he appeared second to no other saint. +For the blind and the lame, the deaf and the dumb, the palsied, the +lunatic, the leprous, the epileptic, all who labored under any disease, +did he in the name of the Holy Trinity restore unto the power of their +limbs and unto entire health; and in these good deeds was he daily +practised. Thirty and three dead men, some of whom had many years been +buried, did this great reviver raise from the dead, as above we have +more fully recorded. And of all those things which so wondrously he +did in the world, sixty and six books are said to have been written, +whereof the greater part perished by fire in the reigns of Gurmundus +and of Turgesius. But four books of his virtues and his miracles yet +remain, written partly in the Hibernian, partly in the Latin language; +and which at different times four of his disciples composed—namely, +his successor, the blessed Benignus; the Bishop Saint Mel; the Bishop +Saint Lumanus, who was his nephew; and his grand-nephew Saint +Patricius, who after the decease of his uncle returned into Britain, +and died in the church of Glascon. Likewise did Saint Evinus collect +into one volume the acts of Saint Patrick, the which is written partly +in the Hibernian and partly in the Latin tongue. From all which, +whatsoever we could meet most worthy of belief, have we deemed right to +transmit in this our work unto after-times. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6187"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXXXVII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Angelic Voice showeth unto Saint Patrick of his Death <BR> +and of the Place of his Burial.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And Patrick, the beloved of the Lord, being full of days and of good +works, and now faithfully finishing the time of his appointed ministry, +saw, as well by the divine revelation as by the dissolution of his +earthly tabernacle, that the evening of his life was drawing near. And +being then nigh unto Ulydia, he hastened his journey toward the +metropolitan seat, Ardmachia; for earnestly he desired to lay in that +place the remains of his sanctified body, and in the sight of his sons +whom he had brought forth unto Christ to be consigned unto the common +mother. But the event changed the purpose of the holy man; that all +might know, according to the testimony of the Scriptures, that the way +of man is not in his own power, but that his steps are directed of God. +For the Angel Victor met him while on his journey, and said unto him: +"Stay thou, O Patrick, thy feet from this thy purpose, since it is not +the divine will that in Ardmachia thy life should be closed or thy body +therein be sepultured; for in Ulydia, the first place of all Hibernia +which thou didst convert, hath the Lord provided that thou shalt die, +and that in the city of Dunum thou shall be honorably buried. And +there shall be thy resurrection; but in Ardmachia, which thou so +lovest, shall be the successive ministry of the grace which hath been +on thee bestowed. Therefore remember thy word, wherewith thou gavest +hope unto thy first converts, the sons of Dichu; when, instructed of +heaven, thou didst foretell unto them that in their land thou wouldest +die and be buried." And at the word of the angel the saint was +grieved; but quickly returning unto himself, embraced he the divine +Providence with much devotion and thanksgiving, and submitting his own +will unto the will of God, he returned into Ulydia. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6188"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXXXVIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Place of his Sepulture is foreshown by a Light from Heaven.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And after a few days Patrick, the most holy old man, rested on a place +not far distant from the mother church of the city of Dunum; and with +him was Brigida, the spotless Pearl of Hibernia, and no small assembly +of religious and ecclesiastical persons. And while the saint +discoursed unto them of the glory of the saints, a great light +descended from heaven, and poured round a certain spot on the eastern +side of the cemetery; at the which marvelling, they enquired of the +saint what meant that light, and the holy prelate bade the blessed +Brigida to explain to them the meaning thereof. Then the virgin openly +declared that the so great light denoted and sanctified the +burial-place of a certain saint most illustrious and dear unto God, who +therein would shortly be buried. And the holy woman, Ethembria, who +first of all the nuns in Hibernia had been consecrated by Patrick, +privily enquired of Brigida who was the saint. And she answered that +Saint Patrick himself, the father and apostle of Hibernia, would soon +be buried in that place, but that in process of time he would be +removed from thence; and further she pronounced that she would be happy +if she might enshroud his most holy body in a linen cloth, which she +had made with her own hands and woven for his obsequies. This said she +secretly unto her sister nun, nor deemed she her words overheard of +any. Then the light which appeared from heaven was taken up from their +eyes, and foreshowed the ascension of the saint unto heaven. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6189"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CLXXXIX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Saint Brigida bringeth unto Saint Patrick the Garment <BR> +which was to enshroud his Body.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And Saint Patrick, being instructed of heaven, understood the desire of +the heart of Brigida, and the words of her mouth, and her preparation +of the garment, and that she would enshroud therewith his body, as the +spiritual token of their mutual love in Christ. And he himself +returned unto the monastery of Saballum, which he had filled with a +fair assembly of monks; and there, down lying on the bed of sickness, +awaited he with a happy hope the termination of his life, nay, rather +of his pilgrimage, and his entrance into the life eternal. And the +venerable virgin obeyed the word of her father and bishop; and she went +unto the monastery, and took the garment, and with four virgins in her +train hastened she to return unto the saint; but forasmuch as they were +afflicted with too long abstinence and with the difficulty of the +journey, for very weariness they stayed on their way, nor could they +speed thereon as they had purposed. Yet the saint, while in Saballum, +knew at the revelation of the Spirit the weariness of the virgin; and +he commanded his charioteer to meet them on their way with four +chariots, and the charioteer obeyed, and met them at the place +exceeding wearied, and brought them unto the saint. And they offered +unto him the garment, the which he kindly received; and kissing his +feet and his hands, they obtained his benediction. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6190"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXC. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Death of Saint Patrick. +</H3> + + +<P> +Now, the sickness of his body increasing, age pressing on, or rather +the Lord calling him unto his crown, the blessed Patrick perceived he +was hastening unto the tomb; and much he rejoiced to arrive at the port +of death and the portal of life. Therefore, being so admonished by the +angel, his guardian, he fortified himself with the divine mysteries +from the hand of his disciple, the Bishop Saint Thasach, and lifting up +his eyes he beheld the heavens opened, and Jesus standing in the +multitude of angels. Then raising his hands, and blessing his people, +and giving thanks, passed he forth of this world, from the faith unto +the proof, from his pilgrimage unto his country, from transitory pain +unto eternal glory. Oh! how blessed Patrick. Oh! how blessed he, who +beheld God face to face, whose soul is secured in salvation! Happy, I +say, is the man, unto whom the heavens opened, who penetrated into the +sanctuary, who found eternal redemption, whom the blessed Mary with the +spotless choirs of virgins welcomed, whom the bands of angels admitted +into their fellowship! Him the wise assembly of prophets attendeth, +the venerable senate of apostles embraceth, the laurelled army of +martyrs exalteth, the white-robed company of confessors accepteth, and +the innumerable number of the elect receiveth with all honor and with +all glory. Nor wondrous was it, nor undeserved; seeing that he was the +angel of God, though not by his birth, yet by his virtue and by his +office—he, whose lips were the guard of knowledge, and declared unto +the people the law of life which was required of God. Rightly is he +called the prophet of the Most Highest, who knew so many things absent, +who foretold so many and such things future, as seldom have any of the +prophets prophesied! Rightly is he called, and is, the apostle of +Hibernia, seeing that all the people thereof, and the other islanders, +are the signs of his apostolate! Rightly is he called a martyr, who, +bearing continually in his heart and in his body the name of Christ, +showed himself a living sacrifice unto God; who having suffered so many +snares, so many conflicts, from magicians, from idolaters, from rulers, +and from evil spirits, held his heart always prepared to undergo any +and every death! Rightly is he called the confessor of God, who +continually preached the name of Christ, and who by his words, his +examples, and his miracles excited peoples, tribes, and tongues unto +the confession of his name, of human sin, and of divine promise! +Rightly is he called a virgin, who abided a virgin in his body, in his +heart, and in his faith; and by this threefold virginity pleaseth he +the Spouse of virgins and the Virgin of virgins! Rightly is he +numbered among the angelic choirs and the assemblies of all saints, who +was the sharer in all holy acts and all virtues! +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6191"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXCI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Number of the Years of his Life.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +On the seventeenth day of March, in the one hundredth and twentieth and +third year of his age, departed he forth of this world; and thus the +years of his life are reckoned. Ere he was carried into Hibernia by +the pirates, he had attained his sixteenth year; oppressed beneath a +most cruel servitude, six years did he feed swine; four years did he +feed with the sweet food of the Gospel those who before were swine, but +who, casting away the filth of their idolatry, became his flock of +unspotted lambs; eighteen years did he study under Saint Germanus, the +Bishop of Auxerres. When he had reached his fiftieth and third year, +he was invested with the episcopal dignity, and returned unto Hibernia, +therein to preach; in the space of thirty and five years converted he +unto Christ all that country and many other islands; and during the +thirty and three years which remained unto him, leading a life of +contemplation, abided he chiefly in Saballum, or in the monastery which +he had founded in Ardmachia. Nor did he willingly leave those holy +places, unless some cause of inevitable urgency called him forth; +nevertheless, once in every year did he celebrate a council, that he +might bring back unto the right rule those things which he knew to need +reformation. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6192"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXCII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Funeral Honors which Men and Angels paid <BR> +unto the Body of the Saint.</I> +</H3> + +<P> +And as Saint Patrick expired, the surrounding circle of monks commended +his spirit unto God, and enwrapped his body in the linen cloth which +Saint Brigida had prepared. And the multitude of the people and of the +clergy gathered together, and mourned with tears and with sighs the +dissolution of Patrick, their patron, even as the desolation of their +country, and paid in psalms and in hymns the rites which unto his +funeral were due. But on the following night a light-streaming choir +of angels kept their heavenly watch, and waked around the body; and +illumining the place and all therein with their radiance, delighting +with their odor, charming with the modulation of their soft-flowing +psalmody, poured they all around their spiritual sweetness. Then came +the sleep of the Lord on all who had thither collected, and while the +angelic rites were performed, held them in their slumber even until the +morning. And when the morning came, the company of angels reascended +into heaven, leaving behind them the sweet odor which excelled all +perfumes; the which, when the sleepers awakened, they and all who came +unto the place experienced even for twelve succeeding days. For during +that time was the sanctified body preserved unsepultured, inasmuch as +the controversies of the people with the clergy permitted it not to be +buried in that holy place. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6193"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXCIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Light continueth for Twelve Days.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And this was the reason of the controversy. A great and wondrous light +appeared, such as never in any time preceding had been beheld. Over +that whole country the light continued for twelve days, without any +intervention of night; for the night was illuminated, and shone even as +the day. Whereby was it plainly given to be understood that the +darkness of night obscured not Patrick, the son of life, the inhabiter +of eternal brightness, while the night was to him the illumination of +his joys, while he ascended unto the light without spot, the day +without night, the sun without eclipse. And this miracle seemeth like +unto that ancient miracle which was wrought by Joshua in Gibeon, though +much extended in its duration. For the sun, as is written, stood still +over Gibeon, and the moon stood still over the valley of Ajalon, one +day for the space of two days, gave by the divine virtue the victory +unto a faithful people; and by the same power the continued shining of +twelve days' light showed the merit of Patrick, triumphant over this +world and the prince of this world. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6194"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXCIV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Miraculous Rising of the Sea between the Contending People.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And at the sight of such a miracle, the people could not be restrained +from their contention, for the fury of their wrath and the violence of +their minds which governed them they imputed to their devotion toward +the saint. And on the twelfth day a deadly and perilous contention +arose between the two people of Ulydia and Ardmachia about the sacred +body. And while arrayed in armor they rose unto arms, they heard a +voice from heaven, which seemed as the voice of Saint Patrick, staying +their violence; and the sea, rising above its wonted bounds, reared +itself as a wall, and separated the contending people, so that they +could neither behold nor attack one the other; and thus corporeally +separated, united them unto the concord of mutual peace. Then the +people being restrained from their fury, the waters surceased from +their fury also. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6195"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXCV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>Two Wains appear, the which are sent by a Miracle.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +Then, the swelling waves of the sea being reduced and returned unto +themselves, two oxen appear, seeming to draw toward Dunum a wain laden +with a noble burden, the holy body; the which the people and clergy of +Ultonia followed with exceeding devotion, with psalms, and hymns, and +spiritual songs. And plainly it showed that vehicle which formerly +bore the ark of the covenant from Acharon unto Getht. But by all these +wonders the fury of the Ardmachians is not appeased; for still is their +hand prepared unto battle, that the body of their prelate, their +primate, their patron, might not be riven from them. Nevertheless, the +divine Providence took heed that occasion of contest should not any +more be ministered; for another wain appearing, drawn by two oxen, went +before the Ardmachians, even like the former wain which had borne the +sacred body unto Dunum; and they stayed not to follow its track, +believing that it carried the precious burden, until it came within the +borders of Ardmachia, unto a certain river which is named Caucune. +Then the visionary wain disappeared; and the people, frustrated of +their hope, unsatisfied and sad, returned unto their dwellings. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap6196"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER CXCVI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>The Sepulture of Saint Patrick in the City of Dunum.</I> +</H3> + + +<P> +And the people of Ultonia, having entered Dunum, celebrated the +solemnities of the Mass, and in the place foreshown by the heavenly +light buried the venerable body with all due veneration, and this +desirable treasure, this most precious jewel, they deposited beneath a +stone, five cubits deep in the heart of the earth, lest haply by +stealth it might be conveyed thence. But by how many and how great +miracles the bones of this most holy saint were graced therein, we find +not recorded; either because the pen of the negligent preserved them +not, or being written, they were destroyed by some of the many heathen +princes who ruled in Hibernia. Now, Saint Patrick died in the four +hundredth and ninetieth and third year of Christ's incarnation, Felix +being then pope, in the first year of the reign of Anastasius the +emperor, Aurelius Ambrosius ruling in Britain, Forchernus in Hibernia, +Jesus Christ reigning in all things and over all things. +</P> + +<P> +Now unto Him be glory, and praise, and honor, and empire, through +infinite ages, for ever and ever! Amen! +</P> + +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> + +<CENTER> +<P> +HERE END THE ACTS OF SAINT PATRICK. +</P> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap7"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE +</H3> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +TO THE +</H4> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +LIVES OF ST. PATRICK. +</H3> + +<TABLE WIDTH="100%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> + +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> + +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="25%"> +A.D. +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +1. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +St. Patrick was born in North Britain, near the Clyde, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="25%"> +376 or<BR> +thereabouts. +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +2. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +In the sixteenth year of his age he and Lupita, his sister, +were made captive by Scotch marauders, and, being led into +Ireland, were sold to Milcho in Dalaradia, now Ulster, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> +392 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +3. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +After six years' captivity, and being twenty-one years +old, he returns to his home in Britain, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> +397 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +4. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +After three months he went to Aremorica with his parents, +and was taken by the Picts two months into captivity. He +was taken captive a third time, and taken to Bordeaux, +where he was set at liberty, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> + 398 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +5. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +Passing thence to Tours, he became a monk in the Monastery +of St. Martin, and after four years of monastic life +returned to the Island of Temar, which is supposed to be +the same as Ireland, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> + 402 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +6. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +St. Patrick was called by visions into Gaul, and proceeded +into Italy, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> + 403 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +7. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +According to the customs of monks at that time, he spent +seven years in wanderings over mountains and through +islands, and, obeying the admonition of an angel, was +ordained priest by Bishop S. Senior, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> + 410 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +8. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +Having studied three years, St. Patrick is called by +visions into Ireland to preach the Gospel, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> + 413 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +9. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +St. Patrick, through love of solitude, returns into +Britain to Valle Rosina, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> + 414 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +10. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +Being received at Antissiodorum by St. Amator, +A.D. 414, he remains there four years, and passes to +St. Germanus in the forty-second year of his age, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> + 418 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +11. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +Having spent nearly four years with St. Germanus, +St. Patrick departed for the Isle of Lerina, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> + 421 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +12. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +St. Patrick spent nine years in the Island of Lerina, +opposite Norbonne, and, knowing that the time for his +mission to Ireland was at hand, returned to Germanus +at Aries, now Orleans, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> + 430 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +13. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +Palladius returned from Ireland, his mission having +failed, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> + 431 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +14. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +St. Patrick is sent by St. Celestine in Ireland, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> +432 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +15. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +Being consecrated bishop by the Bishop of Tours, he bids +farewell to St. Germanus in passing through Gaul, and, +having landed on the shore of Leinster, baptizes Sinellum +in the autumn of the same year, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> + 432 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +16. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +St. Patrick proceeds to Ulster, preaches the faith to +Milcho, and makes many converts, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> + 433 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +17. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +St. Patrick preaches to King Leary at Tara, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> +436 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +18. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +St. Patrick returned to Rome, and sent St. Kranie and his +five companions to preach the Gospel, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> +445 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +19. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +St. Patrick gives St. Bridget the veil in the fourteenth +year of her age, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> + 450 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +20. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +Armagh is made a metropolitan see, and councils are +celebrated, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> + 454 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +21. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +St. Patrick again visits Rome, probably for the confirmation +of his council, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> + 455 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +22. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +St. Patrick dies, the eighty-second year of his age, at +Down, attended by St. Bridget, who had, he was conscious, +foreknown the time of his death, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> + 458 +</TD> +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> + +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +Some chronologies extend the life of St. Patrick by forty +or forty-five years. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="25%"> + +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +23. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +The Confession of St. Patrick was written, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> + 455 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +24. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +The Epistle to Coroticus, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> +456 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +25. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +The Metrical Life of St. Patrick by St. Fiech, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> +493 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +26. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +The Tripartite Life of St. Patrick by St. McEvin, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> + 510 +</TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="5%"> +27. +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="80%"> +The Life of St. Patrick by Jocelyn, +</TD> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="25%"> + 1185 +</TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + +<hr class="full" noshade> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOST ANCIENT LIVES OF SAINT PATRICK***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 18482-h.txt or 18482-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick + Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings + + +Author: Various + +Editor: James O'Leary + +Release Date: June 1, 2006 [eBook #18482] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOST ANCIENT LIVES OF SAINT +PATRICK*** + + +E-text prepared by Al Haines + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 18482-h.htm or 18482-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/4/8/18482/18482-h/18482-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/4/8/18482/18482-h.zip) + + + + + +THE MOST ANCIENT LIVES OF SAINT PATRICK; + +Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, +and His Extant Writings. + +Illustrated with the Most Ancient Engravings +of Our Great National Saint; + +With a Preface and Chronological Table. +by +Rev. James O'Leary, D.D. + +Fifth Edition. + + + + + + + +[Frontispiece: Images of Saint Columba, Saint Patrick, and Saint +Brigida, Taken from the Spicilegium Sanctorum, and engraven at Paris, +A.D. 1629, by Messingham.] + + + + +New York: +P. J. Kenedy, No. 5 Barclay Street. +1880. +Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by +P. J. Kenedy, +In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. + + + + +TO THE + +RIGHT REV. T. W. CROKE, D.D., + +Bishop of Auckland, New Zealand, + +HOPING THAT HE MAY YET BE SET DOWN AS + +The St. Patrick of New Zealand, + +FROM HIS FORMER PUPIL, COLABORER, AND COMPANION, + +J. O'LEARY. + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS + +Preface + +The Confession of St. Patrick + +St. Patrick's Epistle to Coroticus + +St. Fiech's Metrical Life of St. Patrick + +Tripartite Life: Part I + +Tripartite Life: Part II + +Tripartite Life: Part III + +The Proeme of Jocelyn + +The Life and Acts of St. Patrick by Jocelin + + CHAPTER + + I + II How a Fountain burst forth, and how Sight + and Learning were given to the Blind. + III Of the Stone of Saint Patrick. + IV Of the Well dried up. + V How he produced Fire from Ice. + VI How the Sister of St. Patrick was healed. + VII How he restored to Life his Foster-Father. + VIII Of the Sheep released from the Wolf. + IX Of the Cow freed from an Evil Spirit, + and Five other Cows restored to Health. + X Of the Water turned into Honey, and of his Nurse + restored to Health. + XI How the Fort was Cleansed. + XII Of the Religious Conversation of Saint Patrick. + XIII How Saint Patrick was Carried into Ireland. + XIV Of Milcho's Dream, and of its Interpretation. + XV Of the Angel Victor appearing to Saint Patrick. + XVI How St. Patrick was Redeemed from Slavery. + XVII How he Relieved those who were Perishing of Hunger. + XVIII Of his Fast continued for Twenty Days. + XIX How he Overcame the Temptation of the Enemy. + XX How he was again made Captive, and released + by the Miracle of the Kettle. + XXI Of Saint Patrick's Vision. + XXII How he dwelt with the blessed Germanus, and how + he received the Habit from Saint Martin. + XXIII Of the Flesh-meat changed into Fishes. + XXIV How in his Journey to Rome he Found the Staff of Jesus. + XXV How he Journeyed unto Rome, and was made a Bishop; + and of Palladius, the Legate of Ireland. + XXVI How he Saw and Saluted the Lord. + XXVII Of the Miraculous Voyage of the Leper. + XXVIII How he beheld Devils. + XXIX Of the River sentenced to perpetual Sterility. + XXX How the Dry Land was turned into a Marsh. + XXXI Of his coming into Ulidia, and of the Prophecy + of the Magicians on his coming. + XXXII How a Fierce Dog was suddenly Tamed; + of the Conversion of Dichu; and how a Fountain + rose out of the Earth. + XXXIII Of the Evil-doer Swallowed up by the Earth. + XXXIV Of the Aged Man restored unto his Youth. + XXXV Of the Death of Rius. + XXXVI Of the Death of Milcho. + XXXVII Of the Holy Mochna. + XXXVIII Of the Hostages of Dichu which were Freed by an Angel. + XXXIX Of Saint Benignus, and of the Prophecy which was made of him. + XL The Fire that was Lighted by Patrick. + XLI Of the Holy Man named Hercus. + XLII How the Magician was Destroyed. + XLIII Of the Miraculous but Terrible Rescue of Saint Patrick. + XLIV How the Saint Escaped the Deadly Snares. + XLV Of the Poison mingled in the Wine. + XLVI Of the Fantastic Snow. + XLVII How the Darkness was Dispersed. + XLVIII How the Magician and his Garment were consumed, and + Benignus and the Garment of St. Patrick preserved unhurt. + XLIX Of Many who were Swallowed up by the Earth, and how + the rest were Converted unto God. + L Of the Sisters and the Nephews of St. Patrick. + LI How Saint Lumanus Sailed against the Wind and the Stream. + LII How Forkernus and his Parents were Converted and Baptized. + LIII Of the Prophecy of St. Patrick on Coyrbre, + and of the Unfruitfulness of a River. + LIV Of Conallus, and of the Prophecy of Patrick concerning him. + LV Of the Altar of Saint Patrick. + LVI Of the Images destroyed from Heaven, and + of the Fountain produced from the Earth. + LVII How the Darkness was Dispersed. + LVIII Of the Virgins who went unto Heaven. + LIX Of the Magician Struck by Lightning, + and of Twelve Thousand Men Converted unto Christ. + LX Of another Magician whom the Earth swallowed up. + LXI How another Magician is Sunken up to the Ears, + and again is Raised up. + LXII How a huge Stone was raised by the Saint. + LXIII How the Women were raised from Death. + LXIV Two Women who were pregnant are with their Infants + rescued from Death unto Life. + LXV How he builded a Church of Clay alone. + LXVI Of the two Rivers, Dubh and Drobhaois. + LXVII Of the Voice that issued from the Sepulchre. + LXVIII Of his Journey, and of his manifold Miracles. + LXIX The Prophecy of the Saint Concerning Dublinia; + and the Sick Man cured. + LXX A Fountain is produced out of the Earth. + LXXI The Dead are raised up; the King and the People are + converted; a Fountain is produced, and Tribute promised. + LXXII Of the Sentence pronounced on Murinus. + LXXIII Foylge is punished with a double Death, and the + deceiving Fiend is driven out of his body. + LXXIV Of the Saint's Prophecy concerning the Kings of Momonia. + LXXV How Dercardius and his Companions were destroyed. + LXXVI Of the Quarrel of the Two Brothers. + LXXVII Fourteen Thousand Men are miraculously refreshed + with the Meat of Five Animals. + LXXVIII Nineteen Men are raised by Saint Patrick from the Dead. + LXXIX The King's Daughter becomes a Nun. + LXXX The King Echu is raised from Death. + LXXXI A Man of Gigantic Stature is revived from Death. + LXXXII Of Another Man who was Buried and Raised Again. + LXXXIII Of the Boy who was torn in pieces by Swine + and restored unto Life. + LXXXIV The Prayers of the Saint confer Beauty on an Ugly Man. + LXXXV The Stature of the same Man is increased unto + a sufficient Height. + LXXXVI Of Saint Olcanus, the Teacher and Bishop, + raised out of the Earth. + LXXXVII How the Tooth of Saint Patrick shone in the River. + LXXXVIII The Saint Prophesieth of the Virgin Treha, + and a Veil is placed on her Head by an Angel. + LXXXIX Saint Patrick Prophesieth of the Sanctity + of Saint Columba. + XC The River is Divided in Twain, and Blessed. + XCI The Prophecy that Patrick made unto Connedus. + XCII Of Mannia and the other Islands Converted unto God. + XCIII Of the Saint's Prophecy concerning Six Priests, + and of a Skin which he bestowed to them. + XCIV Saint Patrick Continueth his Preaching Three Days. + XCV Of the Vision of the Blessed Brigida, + and its Explanation. + XCVI Of the Angels of God, of the Heavenly Light, + and of the Prophecy of Saint Patrick. + XCVII The Temptation of the Nun is Subdued. + XCVIII Of Saint Comhgallus, and the Monastery foreshowed + of Heaven. + XCIX The Saint Prophesieth of the Obstinate Fergus + and of his Children. + C The Malediction of the Saint is laid upon the Stones + of Usniach. + CI Of the Woman in Travail, and of her Offspring. + CII The Bishop Saint Mel catcheth Fishes on the Dry Land. + CIII The Footprints of Certain Virgins are impressed on a Stone. + CIV The Earth is raised in the midst of the Stream. + CV Of the Altar and the Four Chalices discovered under + the Earth. + CVI A Treasure is Twice discovered in the Earth by Swine. + CVII Saint Patrick prophesieth of the two Brothers. + CVIII The Penitence of Asycus the Bishop. + CIX The Tempest of the Sea is Composed. + CX The Miracle of the Waters is Repeated. + CXI Of the Cowl of Saint Patrick which remained untouched + by the Sea. + CXII Of the Veil that was sent from Heaven. + CXIII Of the Holy Leper, of the New Fountain, + of the Angelic Attendance, and the Prophecy + of Patrick thereon. + CXIV Of the Lake which was removed by Saint Patrick. + CXV Patrick understandeth the Conscience + of Saint Fiechus, and blesseth him. + CXVI The Chariot is, by the Decision of the Angel, + sent unto Fiechus. + CXVII The Several Offices of a certain Monastery are + appointed by an Angel. + CXVIII The Prophecy of Saint Patrick concerning the + Men of Callria. + CXIX Certain Cheeses are converted into Stones, + and many Wicked Men are drowned. + CXX Of the Pitfalls passed over without danger, + and the Prophecies of the Saint. + CXXI The Prophecy of the Saint on a Certain Village. + CXXII The Sentence prophetically declared. + CXXIII The Prophecy of the Saint on a Certain Bishop + and on the one who consecrated him. + CXXIV The Blind Man is restored to Sight; from him + who seeeth is Sight taken; and three are relieved + of Lameness. + CXXV Nine Evil-doers are consumed by Fire from Heaven, + and a Fountain is produced out of the Earth. + CXXVI Another Magician is in like manner Consumed. + CXXVII A Grove is cursed by the Saint. + CXXVIII The Sentence pronounced by the Saint on his Deceivers. + CXXIX A Mountain is swallowed up in the Earth, + and again it is raised. + CXXX Euchodius is cursed by the Saint, and his Son is blessed. + CXXXI Of Saint Sennachus the Bishop. + CXXXII The Miracle which is worked for Certain Hewers of Wood. + CXXXIII A Hone is divided by Saint Patrick, and the Oppressor + is drowned. + CXXXIV An Angel foretelleth to Patrick of Saint Moccheus. + CXXXV The Sentence pronounced by Patrick on Moccheus. + CXXXVI The Saint prophesieth of two Brothers, + and a Fountain is produced out of the Earth. + CXXXVII The Saint Prophesieth of a Certain Youth. + CXXXVIII Of Conallus and of his Shield. + CXXXIX A Heavenly Light shineth around Saint Patrick, + and Victor is converted unto the Faith. + CXL A Certain Cymbal of Saint Patrick is lost and + found again. + CXLI The Obedience of Saint Volchanus. + CXLII Of Saint Rodanus, the Herdsman of Patrick. + CXLIII Of Saint Kertennus, the Bishop of Clochor. + CXLIV Of a Boy who was blessed by Saint Patrick. + CXLV Of a Woman who was raised from Death. + CXLVI The Testimony of One who was revived from Death. + CXLVII The Cross that was not observed; and the Voice + which issued from the Sepulchre. + CXLVIII A Goat bleateth in the Stomach of a Thief. + CXLIX Of the Cloaks which fell from Heaven. + CL A wicked Tyrant is transformed into a Fox. + CLI The wicked Man Machaldus and his Companions + are converted unto the Faith. + CLII The Penitence of Machaldus. + CLIII A Meadow is overflowed by the Sea. + CLIV A Stone is changed into Milk, and Milk is changed + into Stones. + CLV A Wagon laden with Twigs is saved from the Fire. + CLVI The Saint is preserved untouched from the falling Rain. + CLVII The Fingers of Saint Patrick shine with Light. + CLVIII Fire is also seen to issue from his Mouth. + CLIX The holy Virgin Memhessa departeth unto God. + CLX Of the Work which was done in the Lord's Day. + CLXI A certain Man is healed, and a Horse revived, + in a place which is called Feart. + CLXII Of the Vessel which was given unto Saint Patrick, + and again taken from him. + CLXIII Ardmachia is given unto Saint Patrick; and a Fountain + is produced out of the Earth. + CLXIV The Saint beholdeth a Vision of Angels, and cureth + Sixteen Lepers. + CLXV Of the City of Ardmachia, and Twelve of its Citizens. + CLXVI At the Direction of the Angels Saint Patrick goeth + unto Rome. + CLXVII The Acts of Saint Patrick while returning from Rome. + CLXVIII The Acts of St. Patrick after he had Returned. + CLXIX Of the Threefold Plagues of Hibernia. + CLXX The Threefold Plague is driven out of Hibernia + by Saint Patrick. + CLXXI Without Earthly Food the Saint completeth a Fast + of Forty Days. + CLXXII He banisheth the Demons forth of the Island. + CLXXIII Troops of Angels appear unto the Saint. + CLXXIV The Saint titheth Hibernia and the Dwellers therein. + CLXXV The different States of Hibernia are in a Heavenly + Vision shown unto the Saint. + CLXXVI The Answer of Saint Patrick to Secundinus. + CLXXVII Secundinus composeth a Hymn in Honor of Saint Patrick. + CLXXVIII The Soul of a Certain Sinner is by Saint Patrick + freed from Demons. + CLXXIX How the Saint appeared unto Colmanus while singing + his Hymn. + CLXXX The Admirable Contemplations of the Saint. + CLXXXI Saint Patrick beholdeth the Souls of the Rich and + of the poor Man sent unto different Places. + CLXXXII Saint Vinvaloeus is miraculously stayed by Saint + Patrick from his purposed Journey. + CLXXXIII The Daily Prayers and Genuflexions of the Saint. + CLXXXIV How he passed the Night Season. + CLXXXV The Habit, the Bearing, and the Acts of Saint Patrick. + CLXXXVI Of the Sick whom he healed, and the Dead whom he + raised; and of his Disciples who recorded his Acts. + CLXXXVII The Angelic Voice showeth unto Saint Patrick of his + Death and of the Place of his Burial. + CLXXXVIII The Place of his Sepulture is foreshown by a Light + from Heaven. + CLXXXIX Saint Brigida bringeth unto Saint Patrick the Garment + which was to enshroud his Body. + CXC The Death of Saint Patrick. + CXCI The Number of the Years of his Life. + CXCII The Funeral Honors which Men and Angels paid unto + the Body of the Saint. + CXCIII The Light continueth for Twelve Days. + CXCIV The Miraculous Rising of the Sea between + the Contending People. + CXCV Two Wains appear, the which are sent by a Miracle. + CXCVI The Sepulture of Saint Patrick in the City of Dunum. + +A Chronological Table to the Lives of St. Patrick + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + +Images of Saint Columba, Saint Patrick, and Saint Brigida, + Taken from the Spicilegium Sanctorum, and engraven at Paris, + A.D. 1629, by Messingham. . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ + +The Saint Patrick of Ancient Ages + +The Saint Patrick of Medieval Times + +The Saint Patrick of Our Own Century + + + + +PREFACE. + +The present volume has three objects in view: first, to present the +life of Saint Patrick without writing a history of the national church +which he founded or introducing irrelevant matter; secondly, to place +his life and character before the reader as they have been handed down +to us in the most ancient extant documents, without overcoating or +withholding anything in the originals; and, thirdly, to deliver to the +public at as low a price as possible the original documents grouped +together. + +At first I had intended to present the Seven Lives of St. Patrick as +published by Colgan; but, to my knowledge, there is no copy of the +_Acta Triadis Thaumaturgae_ in this country, and the four lives which I +have omitted--that is, by Benignus, Patrick Junior, Eiselan the Wise, +and Probus--are of little consequence. The metrical life by St. Fiech +is undoubtedly the most ancient and the most removed from saintly +imaginings of miracles. The other two, that by Saint MacEvin and that +by Jocelin, appear to have been elaborate compendiums of stories +written in antecedent ages, and extant in their time, concerning Saint +Patrick. Of the life by Saint Fiech I have made a rude translation +corresponding with the original; of the Tripartite I have given +Professor Hennessy's version; and of the extraordinary biography by +Jocelin I reproduce, for the first time in this country, the rendering +from Colgan by Mr. Swift, as published by the Hibernia Press Company, +at Dublin, in 1809. Colgan's Latin version of the Life of Saint +Patrick by Jocelin is given by the Bollandists, and may be seen in many +libraries in this country; but the original Lives, as published at +Louvain, are at the Irish College in Rome and at Trinity College, +Dublin. A copy may be found elsewhere, but, if so, it is exceedingly +valuable, forasmuch as it is exceedingly rare. The Life of Saint +Patrick by Saint Fiech will convey an estimate of his character about +the time of his death; the Tripartite life by Saint MacEvin will +probably impart the notions of the eighth century; and the life by +Jocelin will communicate the exaggerations of mediaeval times in the +twelfth century. The public will thus have fairly placed before them +the thoughts of ages about Saint Patrick through seven centuries after +his death. I supply the reader with the Confession and Epistle +attributed to Saint Patrick, though I incline to the opinion that they +are the issue of an age subsequent to that of Ireland's Saint. The +Chronotaxis or Chronological Table at the end of the book I have made +out from the work by the Bollandists, which seems to have been prepared +with scholarly and judicious diligence. + +Of the illustrations, it is to be stated that the one prefixed to the +life of St. Fiech has been an heirloom in the family of Counsellor +Shechan, of this city, and is taken from an old Irish prayer-book, +supposed to be between three and five hundred years old. The +frontispiece and the illustration fronting the Tripartite Life are +taken from the Spicelegium, were engraved by Messengham, with the +approbation of the French King and the Paris Archbishop, at Paris, in +1629, and were reproduced at Dublin in 1809. They are now re-engraved +for the first time in this country. The illustration prefixed to the +life by Jocelin is of ancient date, and supposed to have been suggested +by the representation of St. Patrick in the Kilkenny Cathedral. + +I hold myself responsible in no way whatsoever for the statements of +St. Fiech, St. MacEvin, or Jocelin, but I present to the reader what +they asserted they had received from antiquity. Their narratives may +be pronounced fables, or legends, or inventions, or superstitions, or +histories. On their intrinsic merits I am silent, except inasmuch as +they breathe a firm belief in the omnipresence of God amongst men, +strangely at variance with the lifeless, frosty indifference of our own +day, and are, in addition, savored with a holy heat of charity and a +high moral tone. Without comment, then, from me, I present to you in +America, kind readers, Saint Patrick, the Apostle and Patron of Ireland +and the Irish race, as I received him from my ancestors. I neither +overstate, nor under-estimate, nor withheld anything. Judge for +yourselves. + +REV. JAMES O'LEARY, D.D. + + + + +THE CONFESSION OF ST. PATRICK. + + +_THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOKS OF THE BISHOP ST. PATRICK._ + +I, Patrick, a sinner, the rudest and least of all the faithful, and +most contemptible to very many, had for my father Calpornius, a deacon, +the son of Potitus, a priest, who lived in Bannaven Taberniae, for he +had a small country-house close by, where I was taken captive when I +was nearly sixteen years of age. I knew not the true God, and I was +brought captive to Ireland with many thousand men, as we deserved; for +we had forsaken God, and had not kept His commandments, and were +disobedient to our priests, who admonished us for our salvation. And +the Lord brought down upon us the anger of His Spirit, and scattered us +among many nations, even to the ends of the earth, where now my +littleness may be seen amongst strangers. And there the Lord showed me +my unbelief, that at length I might remember my iniquities, and +strengthen my whole heart towards the Lord my God, who looked down upon +my humiliation, and had pity upon my youth and ignorance, and kept me +before I knew him, and before I had wisdom or could distinguish between +good and evil, and strengthened and comforted me as a father would his +son. + +Therefore I cannot and ought not to be silent concerning the great +benefits and graces which the Lord has bestowed upon me in the land of +my captivity, since the only return we can make for such benefits is, +after God has reproved us, to extol and confess His wonders before +every nation under heaven. + +For there is no other God, nor ever was, nor shall be hereafter, except +the Lord, the unbegotten Father, without beginning, by whom all things +have their being, who upholds all things, as we have said; and His Son, +Jesus Christ, whom, together with the Father, we testify to have always +existed before the origin of the world, spiritually with the Father, +ineffably begotten before every beginning; and by Him were the visible +things made--was made man, death being overthrown, in the heavens. And +he hath given Him all power over every name of things in heaven and +earth and hell, that every tongue should confess to Him that Jesus +Christ is Lord, and whose coming we expect ere long to judge the living +and dead; who will render to every one according to his works; who hath +poured forth abundantly on us both the gift of His Spirit and the +pledge of immortality; who makes the faithful and obedient to become +the sons of God and coheirs with Christ; whom we confess and adore one +God in the Trinity of the holy Name. For He Himself has said by the +prophet: "Call upon me in the day of thy trouble: I will deliver thee, +and thou shalt magnify me." And again he says: "It is honorable to +reveal and confess the works of God." + +Although I am imperfect in many things, I wish my brothers and +acquaintances to know my dispositions, that they may be able to +understand the desire of my soul. I am not ignorant of the testimony +of my Lord, who declares in the psalm: "Thou wilt destroy all that +speak a lie." And again: "The mouth that belieth, killeth the soul." +And the same Lord: "Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall +render an account for it in the Day of Judgment." Therefore I ought, +with great fear and trembling, to dread this sentence in that day when +no one shall be able to withdraw or hide himself, but all must give an +account, even of the least sins, before the judgment-seat of the Lord +Christ. + +Therefore, although I thought of writing long ago, I feared the censure +of men, because I had not learned as the others who studied the sacred +writings in the best way, and have never changed their language since +their childhood, but continually learned it more perfectly, while I +have to translate my words and speech into a foreign tongue; and it can +be easily proved from the style of my writings how I am instructed in +speech and learning, for the Wise Man says: "By the tongue wisdom is +discerned, and understanding and knowledge and learning by the word of +the wise." But what avails an excuse, however true, especially when +accompanied with presumption? For I, in my old age, strive after that +which I was hindered from learning in my youth. But who will believe +me? And if I say what I have said before, that as a mere youth, nay, +almost a boy in words, I was taken captive, before I knew what I ought +to seek and to avoid. Therefore I blush to-day and greatly dread to +expose my ignorance, because I am not able to express myself briefly, +with clear and well-arranged words, as the spirit desires and the mind +and intellect point out. But if it had been given to me as to others, +I would not have been silent for the recompense; and although it may +seem to some who think thus that I put myself forward with my ignorance +and too slow tongue, nevertheless it is written, "The tongues of +stammerers shall speak readily and plain"; how much more ought we to +undertake this who are the epistle of Christ for salvation unto the +ends of the earth, written in pure heart, if not with eloquence, yet +with power and endurance, "not written with ink, but with the Spirit of +the living God"; and again the Spirit testifies, "Husbandry, it was +ordained by the Most High." + +Therefore I undertook this work at first, though a rustic and a +fugitive, and not knowing how to provide for the future; but this I +know for certain: that before I was humbled, I was like a stone lying +in deep mire, until He who is powerful came, and in his mercy raised me +up, and indeed again succored and placed me in His part; and therefore +I ought to cry out loudly, and thank the Lord in some degree for all +his benefits, here and after, which the mind of man cannot estimate. +Therefore be amazed, both great and small who fear God; rhetoricians +and ye of the Lord, hear and enquire who aroused me, a fool, from the +midst of those who seem to be wise, and skilled in the law, and +powerful in speech and in all things, and hath inspired me (if indeed I +be such) beyond others, though I am despised by this world, so that, +with fear and reverence and without murmuring, I should faithfully +serve this nation, to whom the charity of Christ hath transferred me, +and given me for my life, if I shall survive; and that at last with +humility and truth I should serve them. + +In the measure, therefore, of the faith of the Trinity it behoves me to +distinguish without shrinking from danger, and to make known the gift +of God and everlasting consolation, and, without fear, confidently to +spread abroad the name of God everywhere, so that after my death I may +leave it to my Gallican brethren and to my sons, many thousands of whom +I have baptized in the Lord. And I was neither worthy nor deserving +that the Lord should so favor me, his servant, after such afflictions +and great difficulties, after captivity, after many years, as to grant +me such grace for this nation--a thing which, still in my youth, I had +neither hoped for nor thought of. + +But after I had come to Ireland, I was daily tending sheep, and I +prayed frequently during the day, and the love of God, and His faith +and fear, increased in me more and more, and the spirit was stirred; so +that in a single day I have said as many as a hundred prayers, and in +the night nearly the same; so that I remained in the woods, and on the +mountain, even before the dawn, I was roused to prayer, in snow, and +ice, and rain, and I felt no injury from it, nor was there any +slothfulness in me, as I see now, because the spirit was then fervent +in me. And there one night I heard a voice, while I slept, saying to +me: "Thou dost fast well; fasting thou shalt soon go to thy country." +And again, after a very short time, I heard a response, saying to me: +"Behold, thy ship is ready." And the place was not near, but perhaps +about two hundred miles distant, and I had never been there, nor did I +know any one who lived there. + +Soon after this, I fled, and left the man with whom I had been six +years, and I came in the strength of the Lord, who directed my way for +good; and I feared nothing until I arrived at that ship. And the day +on which I came the ship had moved out of her place; and I asked to go +and sail with them, but the master was displeased, and replied angrily: +"Do not seek to go with us." And when I heard this, I went from them +to go thither where I had lodged; and I began to pray as I went; but +before I had ended my prayer, I heard one of them calling out loudly +after me, "Come quickly, for these men are calling you"; and I returned +to them immediately, and they began saying to me; "Come, we receive +thee in good faith; make such friendship with us as you wish." And +then that day I disdained to supplicate them, on account of the fear of +God; but I hoped of them that they would come into the faith of Jesus +Christ, for they were Gentiles; and this I obtained from them; and +after three days, we reached land, and for twenty-eight days we +journeyed through a desert, and their provisions failed, and they +suffered greatly from hunger; and one day the master began to say to +me: "What sayest thou, O Christian? Your God is great and +all-powerful; why canst thou not, then, pray for us, since we are +perishing with hunger, and may never see the face of man again?" And I +said to them plainly: "Turn sincerely to the Lord my God, to whom +nothing is impossible, that He may send us food on your way until ye +are satisfied, for it abounds everywhere for Him." And with God's help +it was so done; for, lo! a flock of swine appeared in the way before +our eyes, and they killed many of them, and remained there two nights, +much refreshed and filled with their flesh; for many of them had been +left exhausted by the wayside. After this, they gave the greatest +thanks to God, and I was honored in their eyes. + +They also found wild honey, and offered me some of it, and one of them +said: "This is offered in sacrifice, thanks be to God"; after this, I +tasted no more. But the same night, while I was sleeping, I was +strongly tempted by Satan (of which I shall be mindful as long as I +shall be in this body), and there fell, as it were, a great stone upon +me, and there was no strength in my limbs. And then it came into my +mind, I know not bow, to call upon Elias, and at the same moment I saw +the sun rising in the heavens; and while I cried out Elias with all my +might, behold! the splendor of the sun was shed upon me, and +immediately shook from me all heaviness. And I believe that Christ my +Lord cried out for me; and I hope that it will be so in the day of my +adversity, as the Lord testifies in the Gospel: "It is not you that +speak," etc. + +Some time after, I was taken captive; and on the first night I remained +with them I heard a divine response, saying: "You shall be two months +with them"; and so it was. On the sixtieth night the Lord delivered me +out of their hands, and on the road He provided for us food, and fire, +and dry weather daily, until on the fourteenth day we all came. As I +have above mentioned, we journeyed twenty-eight days through a desert, +and on the night of our arrival we had no provisions left. + +And again, after a few years, I was with my relations in Britain, who +received me as a son, and earnestly besought me that then, at least, +after I had gone through so many tribulations, I would go nowhere from +them. And there I saw, in the midst of the night, a man who appeared +to come from Ireland, whose name was Victorious, and he had innumerable +letters with him, one of which he gave to me; and I read the +commencement of the epistle containing "The Voice of the Irish"; and as +I read aloud the beginning of the letter, I thought I heard in my mind +the voice of those who were near the wood of Focluti, which is near the +western sea; and they cried out: "We entreat thee, holy youth, to come +and walk still amongst us." And my heart was greatly touched, so that +I could not read any more, and so I awoke. Thanks be to God that, +after very many years, the Lord hath granted them their desire! + +And on another night, whether in me or near me God knows, I heard +eloquent words which I could not understand until the end of the +speech, when it was said: "He who gave His life for thee is He who +speaks in thee"; and so I awoke full of joy. And again, I saw one +praying within me, and I was, as it were, within my body, and I heard, +that is, above the inner man, and there he prayed earnestly with +groans. And I was amazed at this, and marvelled, and considered who +this could be who prayed in me. But at the end of the prayer it came +to pass that it was a bishop, and I awoke and remembered that the +apostle said: "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity, for we +know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself +asketh for us with unspeakable groanings." And again: "The Lord is our +advocate, who also maketh intercession for us." [And when I was tried +by some of my elders, who came and spoke of my sins as an objection to +my laborious episcopate, I was on that day sometimes strongly driven to +fall away here and for ever. But the Lord spared a proselyte and a +stranger for His name's sake, and mercifully assisted me greatly in +that affliction, because I was not entirely deserving of reproach. I +pray God that they may not be found guilty of giving an occasion of +sin; they found me after thirty years, and brought against me words +that I had confessed before I was a deacon; from anxiety, with sorrow +of mind, I told my dearest friend what I had done in my youth, in one +day, nay, rather in one hour, because I was not then able to overcome. +I know not, God knows, if I was then fifteen years of age, and from my +childhood I did not believe in the living God, but remained in death +and unbelief until I was severely chastised, and, in truth, I have been +humbled by hunger and nakedness; and even now I did not come to Ireland +of my own will until I was nearly worn out. But this proved a blessing +to me, for I was thus corrected by the Lord, and he made me fit to be +to-day that which was once far from my thoughts, so that I should care +for the salvation of others, for at that time I had no thought even for +myself. + +And in the night of the day in which I was reproved for the things +above mentioned, I saw in the night.] I saw in a vision of the night a +writing without honor before me. And then I heard an answer saying to +me, "We have heard with displeasure the face of the elect without a +name." He did not say, "Thou hast badly seen," but "We have badly +seen," as if he had there joined himself to me, as he said: "He that +touches you is as he who toucheth the apple of my eye." Therefore I +give thanks to Him who comforted me in all things that He did not +hinder me from the journey which I had proposed, and also as regards my +work which I had learned of Christ. But from this thing I felt no +little strength, and my faith was approved before God and man. + +Therefore I dare to say that my conscience does not reproach me now or +for the future. I have the testimony of God now that I have not lied +in the words I have told you. [But I feel the more grieved that my +dearest friend, to whom I would have trusted even my life, should have +occasioned this. And I learned from certain brethren that, before this +defence, when I was not present, nor even in Britain, and with which I +had nothing to do, that he defended me in my absence. He had even said +to me with his own lips: "Thou art going to be given the rank of +bishop," though I was not worthy of it. How, then, did it happen to +him that afterwards, before all persons, good and bad, he should +detract me publicly, when he had before this freely and gladly praised +me? And the Lord, who is greater than all? I have said enough. +Still, I ought not to hide the gift of God which he gave me in the land +of my captivity, for I sought him earnestly then, and found him there, +and He preserved me from all iniquity, I believe, through the +indwelling of His Spirit, which worketh within me unto this day more +and more. But God knows, if it were man who spoke this to me, I would +perhaps be silent for the love of Christ. + +Therefore I give unceasing thanks to my God, who preserved me faithful +in the day of my temptation, so that I can to-day offer him sacrifice +confidently--the living sacrifice of my soul to Christ my Lord, who +preserved me from all my troubles, so that I may say to Him: "Who am I, +O Lord! or what is my calling, that divine grace should have so wrought +with me, so that to-day I can so rejoice amongst the nations, and +magnify Thy name, wherever I am, not only in prosperity, but also in +adversity?" and I ought to receive equally whatever happens to me, +whether good or evil, giving God thanks in all things, who hath shown +me that I should, undoubtingly, without ceasing, believe in Him who +hath heard me though I am ignorant, and that I should undertake, in +those days, so holy and wonderful a work, and imitate those of whom our +Lord predicted of old that they should preach His Gospel to all nations +for a testimony before the end of the world; which has been +accomplished, as we have seen. Behold, we are witnesses that the +Gospel has been preached to the limits of human habitation.] + +But it is too long to detail my labors particularly, or even partially. +I will briefly say how the good God often delivered me from slavery and +from twelve dangers by which my soul was threatened, besides many +snares, and what in words I cannot express, and with which I will not +trouble my readers. But God knows all things, even before they come to +pass [as he does me, a poor creature. Therefore the divine voice very +often admonished me to consider whence came this wisdom, which was not +in me, who neither knew God nor the number of my days. Whence did I +obtain afterwards the great and salutary gift to know or love God, and +to leave my country and my relations, although many gifts were offered +to me with sorrow and tears. And I offended many of my seniors then +against my will. But, guided by God, I yielded in no way to them--not +to me, but to God be the glory, who conquered in me, and resisted them +all; so that I came to the Irish people to preach the Gospel, and bear +with the injuries of the unbelieving, and listen to the reproach of +being a stranger, and endure many persecutions, even to chains, and to +give up my freedom for the benefit of others. And if I be worthy, I am +ready to give up my life unhesitatingly and most cheerfully for His +name, and thus, if the Lord permit, I desire to spend it even until my +death.] + +For I am truly a debtor to God, who has given me so much grace that +many people should be born again to God through me, and that for them +everywhere should be ordained priests for this people, newly come to +the faith, which the Lord took from the ends of the earth, as He +promised formerly by His prophets: "Our fathers falsely prepared idols, +and there is no profit in them, to thee the Gentiles come and will +say." And again: "I have set thee to be the light of the Gentiles, +that thou mayest be for salvation unto the utmost parts of the earth." +And thus I wait the promise of Him who never fails, as He promises in +the Gospel: "They shall come from the east and the west [from the north +and from the south], and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and +Jacob." So we believe that the faithful shall come from all parts of +the world. + +Therefore we ought to fish well and diligently; as the Lord taught and +said: "Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men." And +again: "Behold, saith the Lord, I send many fishers and many hunters," +etc. Therefore we should, by all means, set our nets in such a manner +that a great multitude and a crowd may be caught therein for God, and +that everywhere there may be priests who shall baptize and exhort a +people who so need it and desire it; as the Lord teaches and admonishes +in the Gospel, saying: "Going, therefore, teach ye all nations, +baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy +Ghost, even to the consummation of the world." And again: "Go ye into +the whole world, and preach the Gospel to every creature; he that +believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not +shall be condemned." The rest are examples. [And again: "This Gospel +of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony to +all nations, and then shall the consummation come." And again, the +Lord, speaking by the prophet, says: "And it shall come to pass in the +last days, saith the Lord, that I will pour out my spirit upon all +flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men +shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Moreover, +upon my servants and handmaids in those days I will pour forth my +spirit, and they shall prophesy." And Osee saith: "And I will say to +that which was not my people: Thou art my people: and to her who hath +not found mercy; and they shall say; Thou art my God. And in the place +where I said to them, You are not my people, it shall be said to them, +Ye are the sons of the living God."] + +Wherefore behold how in Ireland they who never had the knowledge _of +God_, and hitherto only worshipped unclean idols, have lately become +the people of the Lord, and are called the sons of God. The sons of +the Scoti and the daughters of princes are seen to be monks and virgins +of Christ. [And there was one blessed Irish maiden, of adult age, +noble and very beautiful, whom I baptized, and after a few days she +came to us for a reason, and gave us to understand that she had +received a command from God, and was informed that she was to become a +virgin of Christ, and to draw near to God. Thanks be to God, six days +after this she most excellently and eagerly entered on this state of +life, which all the virgins of God now adopt, even against the will of +their parents, even enduring reproaches and persecution from them, and +notwithstanding they increase in number; and as for those who are born +again in this way, we know not their number, except the widows and +those who observe continency. But those who are in slavery are most +severely persecuted, yet they persevere in spite of terrors and +threats. But the Lord has given grace to many of my handmaids, for +they zealously imitate him as far as they are able. + +Therefore, though I could have wished to leave them, and had been ready +and very desirous to go to Britannia, as if to my country and parents, +and not that alone, but to go even to Gallia, to visit my brethren, and +to see the face of my Lord's saints; and God knows that I desired it +greatly. But I am bound in the spirit, and he who witnesseth will +account me guilty if I do it, and I fear to lose the labor which I have +commenced--and not I, but the Lord Christ, who commanded me to come and +be with them for the rest of my life; if the Lord grants it, and keeps +me from every evil way, that I should not sin before him. But I hope +that which I am bound to do, but I trust not myself as long as I am in +this body of death, for he is strong who daily tries to turn me from +the faith, and from the sincere religious chastity to Christ my Lord, +to which I have dedicated myself to the end of my life, but the flesh, +which is in enmity, always draws me to death--that is, to unlawful +desires, that must be unlawfully gratified--and I know in part that I +have not led a perfect life like other believers. But I confess to my +Lord, and do not blush before him, because I tell the truth, that from +the time I knew him in my youth the love of God and his fear increased +within me, and until now, by the favor of the Lord, I have kept the +faith. + +Let him who pleases insult and laugh at me; I will not be silent, +neither do I conceal the signs and wonders that the Lord hath shown to +me many years before they took place, as he who knew all things even +before the world began. Therefore I ought to give thanks to God +without ceasing, who often pardoned my uncalled-for folly and +negligence, who did not let his anger turn fiercely against me, who +allowed me to work with him, though I did not promptly follow what was +shown me and what the Spirit suggested; and the Lord had compassion on +me among thousands and thousands, because he saw my good-will; but then +I knew not what to do, because many were hindering my mission, and were +talking behind my back, and saying: "Why does he run into danger among +enemies who know not God?" This was not said with malice, but because +they did not approve of it, but, as I now testify, because of my +rusticity, you understand; and I did not at once recognize the grace +which was then in me, but now _I know I should have known before_. + +Therefore I have simply related to my brethren and fellow-servants who +have believed me why I have preached and still preach to strengthen and +confirm your faith. Would that you also might aim at higher things and +succeed better. This shall be my glory, because a wise son is the +glory of his father. You know and God knows how I have lived among you +from my youth up, both faithful in truth and sincere in heart; also, I +have given the faith to the people among whom I dwell, and I will +continue to do so. God knows I have not overreached any of them, nor +do I think of it, because of God and his Church, lest I should excite +persecution for them and all of us, and lest the name of the Lord +should be blasphemed through me; for it is written, "Woe to the man +through whom the name of the Lord is blasphemed." For though I am +unskilled in names, I have endeavored to be careful even with my +Christian brethren, and the virgins of Christ, and devout women, who +freely gave me gifts, and cast of their ornaments upon the altar; but I +returned them, though they were offended with me because I did so. But +I, for the hope of immortality, guarded myself cautiously in all +things, so that they could not find me unfaithful, even in the smallest +matter, so that unbelievers could not defame or detract from my +ministry in the least. + +But when it happened that I baptized so many thousand men, did I expect +even half a "screpall" from them? Tell me, and I will return it to +you. Or when the Lord ordained clergy through my humility and +ministry, did I confer the grace gratuitously? If I asked of any of +them even the value of my shoe, tell me, and I will repay you more. I +rather spent for you as far as I was able; and among you and everywhere +for you I endured many perils in distant places, where none had been +further or had ever come to baptize, or ordain the clergy, or confirm +the people. By the grace of the Lord I labored freely and diligently +in all things for your salvation. At this time also I used to give +rewards to kings, whose sons I hired, who travelled with me, and who +understood nothing but [to protect] me and my companions. And on one +day they wished to kill me; but the time had not come yet; but they put +me in irons, and carried off all we possessed. But on the fourteenth +day the Lord released me from their power, and what was ours was +restored to us through God and through the friends we had before +secured. + +You know how much I expended on the judges in the districts which I +visited most frequently. For I think I paid them not less than the +hire of fifteen men, that you might have the benefit of my presence, +and that I might always enjoy you in the Lord. I do not regret it, nor +is it sufficient for me. I still spend, and will still spend, for your +souls.] Behold, I call God to witness on my soul that I do not lie, +neither that you may have occasion, nor that I hope for honor from any +of you; sufficient for me is the honor of truth. But I see that now in +the present world I am greatly exalted by the Lord; and I was not +worthy nor fit to be thus exalted, for I know that poverty and calamity +are more suitable for me than riches and luxury. But even Christ the +Lord was poor for us. + +Truly, I, a poor and miserable creature, even if I wished for wealth, +have it not; neither do I judge myself, because I daily expect either +death, or treachery, or slavery, or an occasion of some kind or +another. [But I fear none of these things, relying on the heavenly +promise; for I have cast myself into the hands of the omnipotent God, +who rules everywhere; as the prophet says: "Cast thy care upon the +Lord, and He shall sustain thee." + +Behold, now I commend my soul to my most faithful God, whose mission I +perform, notwithstanding my unworthiness; but because He does not +accept persons, and has chosen me for this office, to be one of the +least of His ministers. "What shall I render to Him for all the things +that He hath rendered to me?" But what shall I say or promise to my +Lord? For I see nothing unless He gives Himself to me; but He searches +the heart and reins, because I ardently desire and am ready that He +should give me to drink His cup, as He has permitted others to do who +have loved Him. Wherefore may my Lord never permit me to lose His +people whom He has gained in the ends of the earth. I pray God, +therefore, that He may give me perseverance, and that He may vouchsafe +to permit me to give Him faithful testimony for my God until my death. +And if I have done anything good for my God, whom I love, I beseech Him +to grant to me that with those proselytes and captives I may pour out +my blood for His name, even if my body should be denied burial, and be +miserably torn limb from limb by dogs or fierce beasts, or that the +birds of heaven should devour it. I believe most certainly that if +this should happen to me, I have gained both soul and body; for it is +certain that we shall rise one day in the brightness of the sun--that +is, the glory of Christ Jesus our Redeemer--as sons of God but as joint +heirs with Christ, and to become conformable to His image. + +For that sun which we see rises daily for us; but it will not rule or +continue in its splendor for ever, and all who adore it shall suffer +very miserably. But we who believe in and adore the true sun, Christ, +who will never perish, neither he who shall do His will, but even as +Christ shall abide for ever, who reigns with God the Father Almighty, +and with the Holy Spirit, before the ages, and now, and for ever and +ever. Amen. + +Behold, again and again, I shall briefly declare the words of my +confession. I testify in truth and in joy of heart, before God and His +holy angels, that I never had any occasion, except the Gospel and its +promises, for returning to that people from whom I had before with +difficulty escaped.] + +But I beseech those who believe in and fear God, whoever may condescend +to look into or receive this writing, which Patrick, the ignorant +sinner, has written in Ireland, that no one may ever say, if I have +ever done or demonstrated anything, however little, that it was my +ignorance. But do you judge, and let it be believed firmly, that it +was the gift of God. And this is my confession before I die. + +Thus far is what Patrick wrote with his own hand; he was translated to +heaven on the seventeenth of March. + + + + +ST. PATRICK'S EPISTLE TO COROTICUS. + + +_ST. PATRICK'S EPISTLE TO THE CHRISTIAN SUBJECTS OF THE TYRANT +COROTICUS._ + +I, Patrick, a sinner and unlearned, have been appointed a bishop in +Ireland, and I accept from God what I am. I dwell amongst barbarians +as a proselyte and a fugitive for the love of God. He will testify +that it is so. It is not my wish to pour forth so many harsh and +severe things; but I am forced by zeal for God and the truth of Christ, +who raised me up for my neighbors and sons, for whom I have forsaken my +country and parents, and would give up even life itself, if I were +worthy. I have vowed to my God to teach these people, though I should +be despised by them, to whom I have written with my own hand to be +given to the soldiers to be sent to Coroticus--I do not say to my +fellow-citizens, nor to the fellow-citizens of pious Romans, but to the +fellow-citizens of the devil, through their evil deeds and hostile +practices. They live in death, companions of the apostate Scots and +Picts, blood-thirsty men, ever ready to redden themselves with the +blood of innocent Christians, numbers of whom I have begotten to God +and confirmed in Christ. + +On the day following that in which they were clothed in white and +received the chrism of neophytes, they were cruelly cut up and slain +with the sword by the above mentioned; and I sent a letter by a holy +priest, whom I have taught from his infancy, with some clerics, begging +that they would restore some of the plunder or the baptized captives; +but they laughed at them. Therefore I know not whether I should grieve +most for those who were slain, or for those whom the devil insnared +into the eternal pains of hell, where they will be chained like him. +For whoever commits sin is the slave of sin, and is called the son of +the devil. + +Wherefore let every man know who fears God that they are estranged from +me, and from Christ my God, whose ambassador I am--these patricides, +fratricides, and ravening wolves, who devour the people of the Lord as +if they were bread; as it is said: "The wicked have dissipated thy +law," wherein in these latter times Ireland has been well and +prosperously planted and instructed. Thanks be to God, I usurp +nothing; I share with these whom He hath called and predestinated to +preach the Gospel in much persecution, even to the ends of the earth. +But the enemy hath acted invidiously towards me through the tyrant +Coroticus, who fears neither God nor His priests whom He hath chosen, +and committed to them the high, divine power: "Whomsoever they shall +bind on earth shall be bound in heaven." + +I beseech you, therefore, who are the holy ones of God and humble of +heart, that you will not be flattered by them, and that you will +neither eat nor drink with them, nor receive their alms, until they do +penance with many tears, and liberate the servants of God and the +baptized hand-maids of Christ, for whom he was crucified and died. "He +that offereth sacrifice of the goods of the poor, is as one that +sacrificeth the son in the presence of the father." "Riches, he saith, +which the unjust accumulate shall be vomited forth from his belly, the +angel of death shall drag him away, he shall be punished with the fury +of dragons, the tongue of the adder shall slay him, inextinguishable +fire shall consume him." Hence, "Woe to those who fill themselves with +things which are not their own." And "what doth it profit a man if he +gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul?" It were too +long to discuss one by one, or to select from the law, testimonies +against such cupidity. Avarice is a mortal sin. "Thou shall not covet +thy neighbor's goods." "Thou shall not kill." The homicide cannot +dwell with Christ. "He who hateth his brother is a murderer," and "and +he who loveth not his brother abideth in death." How much more guilty +is he who hath defiled his hands with the blood of the sons of God, +whom He hath recently acquired in the ends of the earth by our humble +exhortations! + +Did I come to Ireland according to God or according to the flesh? Who +compelled me? I was led by the Spirit, that I should see my relatives +no more. Have I not a pious mercy towards that nation which formerly +took me captive? According to the flesh, I am of noble birth, my +father being a Decurio. I do not regret or blush for having bartered +my nobility for the good of others. I am a servant in Christ unto a +foreign people for the ineffable glory of eternal life, which is in +Christ Jesus my Lord; though my own people do not acknowledge me: "A +prophet is without honor in his own country." Are we not from one +stock, and have we not one God for our Father? As He has said: "He +that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me +scattereth." Is it not agreed that one pulleth down and another +buildeth? I seek not my own. + +Not to me be praise, but to God, who hath put into my heart this desire +that I should be one of the hunters and fishers whom, of old, God hath +announced should appear in the last days. I am reviled--what shall I +do, O Lord? I am greatly despised. Lo! thy sheep are torn around me, +and plundered by the above-mentioned robbers, aided by the soldiers of +Coroticus: the betrayers of Christians into the hands of the Picts and +Scots are far from the charity of God. Ravening wolves have scattered +the flock of the Lord, which, with the greatest diligence, was +increasing in Ireland; the sons of the Irish and the daughters of kings +who are monks and virgins of Christ are too many to enumerate. +Therefore the oppression of the great is not pleasing to thee now, and +never shall be. + +Who of the saints would not dread to share in the feasts or amusements +of such persons? They fill their houses with the spoils of the +Christian dead, they live by rapine, they know not the poison, the +deadly food, which they present to their friends and children; as Eve +did not understand that she offered death to her husband, so are all +those who work evil: they labor to work out death and eternal +punishment. + +It is the custom of the Christians of Rome and Gaul to send holy men to +the Franks and other nations, with many thousand solidi, to redeem +baptized captives. You who slay them, and sell them to foreign nations +ignorant of God, deliver the members of Christ, as it were, into a den +of wolves. What hope have you in God? Whoever agrees with you, or +commands you, God will judge him. I know not what I can say, or what I +can speak more of the departed sons of God slain cruelly by the sword. +It is written: "Weep with them that weep." And again: "If any member +suffers anything, all the members suffer with it." Therefore the +Church laments and bewails her sons and daughters, not slain by the +sword, but sent away to distant countries, where sin is more shameless +and abounds. There free-born Christian men are sold and enslaved +amongst the wicked, abandoned, and apostate Picts. + +Therefore I cry out with grief and sorrow. O beautiful and +well-beloved brethren and children! whom I have brought forth in Christ +in such multitudes, what shall I do for you? I am not worthy before +God or man to come to your assistance. The wicked have prevailed over +us. We have become outcasts. It would seem that they do not think we +have one baptism and one Father, God. They think it an indignity that +we have been born in Ireland; as He said: "Have ye not one God? Why do +ye each forsake his neighbor?" Therefore I grieve for you--I grieve, O +my beloved ones! But, on the other hand, I congratulate myself I have +not labored for nothing--my journey has not been in vain. This +horrible and amazing crime has been permitted to take place. Thanks be +to God, ye who have believed and have been baptized have gone from +earth to paradise. Certainly, ye have begun to migrate where there is +no night or death or sorrow; but ye shall exult like young bulls loosed +from their bonds and tread down the wicked under your feet as dust. + +Truly, you shall reign with the apostles and prophets and martyrs, and +obtain the eternal kingdom, as He hath testified, saying: "They shall +come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham and +Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven." Without are dogs, and +sorcerers, and murderers, and liars, and perjurers, and they shall have +their part in the everlasting lake of fire. Nor does the apostle say +without reason: "If the just are scarcely saved, where shall the +sinner, the impious, and the transgressor of the law appear?" Where +will Coroticus and his wicked rebels against Christ find themselves +when they shall see rewards distributed amongst the baptized women? +What will he think of his miserable kingdom, which shall pass away in a +moment, like clouds or smoke, which are dispersed by the wind? So +shall deceitful sinners perish before the face of the Lord, and the +just shall feast with great confidence with Christ, and judge the +nations, and rule over unjust kings, for ever and ever. Amen. + +I testify before God and His angels that it shall be so, as He hath +intimated to my ignorance. These are not my words that I have set +forth in Latin, but those of God and the prophets and apostles, who +never lied: "He that believeth shall be saved, but he that believeth +not shall be condemned." + +God hath said it. I entreat whosoever is a servant of God that he be a +willing bearer of this letter, that he be not drawn aside by any one, +but that he shall see it read before all the people in the presence of +Coroticus himself, that, if God inspire them, they may some time return +to God, and repent, though late; that they may liberate the baptized +captives, and repent for their homicides of the Lord's brethren; so +that they may deserve of God to live and to be whole here and +hereafter. The peace of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy +Ghost. Amen. + + +[Illustration: The Saint Patrick of Ancient Ages.] + + + + +ST. FIECH'S METRICAL LIFE OF ST. PATRICK. + +_Written in the Irish Language about 1,400 years ago_. + + + I + + At Nemthur Saint Patrick was born, + As history handed it down; + And when but sixteen years of age, + A captive was led from that town. + + + II. + + Siccoth was Saint Patrick's first name; + His father Calphurn without miss; + His grandfather Otide was styled; + He was nephew of Deacon Odisse. + + + III. + + Six years did he live in dark bonds, + And the food of the Gentile ate not; + And Cathraige by men he was called, + Since to work for four homes was his lot. + + + IV. + + To the servant of Milcho 'twas said + To pass o'er the seas and the plain; + Then stood angel Victor on rock, + And his footprints to this day remain. + + + V. + + Departed Saint Patrick o'er Alps-- + On his way all successful he hies; + And with German remained in the South + 'Neath Letavia's wide-spreading skies. + + + VI. + + In the isles of the Tyrrhenian sea + Saint Patrick some period awaits, + And as canon with German he reads, + As his history still to us states + + + VII. + + To Hibernia Saint Patrick returned, + By visions from angels induced; + For visions to him appeared oft, + And his mind to subjection reduced. + + + VIII. + + Soul-saving was Patrick's intent, + For 'twas to far Foclut's dark flood; + He had heard the entreaty and wail + Of children in Foclut's far woods. + + + IX. + + For asked they the saint to make haste + And Letavia's wide lands desert, + That from error's dark ways Eire's men + He might in life's pathways direct. + + + X. + + Foretold Eire's seers years of peace, + Which were to remain through all time; + But the grandeurs of Tara the proud + Were to vanish in dust, as earth's slime. + + + XI. + + To Leary, the monarch, Druids told + Of the advent of Patrick the saint; + And their visions were true, as we know + From the facts which his histories paint. + + + XII. + + Renowned was Saint Patrick through life, + And of error he was a dire foe; + Hence for ever his name shall be grand + Among the nations, as ages shall flow. + + + XIII. + + The Apocalypse sang he, and hymns, + And three fifty full psalms, day by day; + He instructed and praised and baptized, + And all time he continued to pray. + + + XIV. + + Nor could any cold e'er prevent + That he stayed in the water o'er nights; + And to gain the grand kingdom of heaven, + Through the day he used preach on the heights. + + + XV. + + By the far-famous fount of the North, + Benibarka! thy waters sha'n't cease; + For a hundred full psalms he used sing + Each night the Lord's praise to increase. + + + XVI. + + Then he slept on a cold bed of stone, + And with a wet cover was dressed; + A stone was his pillow each night-- + Such, such was the saint's nightly rest. + + + XVII. + + To the people the Gospel was preached, + With power and with miracles signed; + The blind and the lepers were cured, + And Death his dead subjects resigned. + + + XVIII. + + Saint Patrick did preach to the Scots, + And in Letavia much he endured, + That whom he had won to the Lord + In Judgment's dread day be secured. + + + XIX. + + Emir's and proud Erimon's sons + A demon contrived to ensnare; + And them did dread Satan engulf + In the dark, fearful depths of his lair, + + + XX. + + Until our apostle arrived, + Who rescued and set them all free, + Through sixty long years of his life + To Christ's cross the brave Fenians flee. + + + XXI. + + Great darkness o'er Eire was spread, + And its people their idols adored, + Nor in the true Godhead believed, + Nor the Trinity, too, of the Lord. + + + XXII. + + At Armagh the realm's throne has been placed, + To Emania a glory to be; + And far-famed is Dundalethglas church, + Nor let fame from Temoria flee. + + + XXIII. + + To Armagh, in his infirm old age, + Saint Patrick desired much to go; + But God's angel at noon met the saint, + And induced him his wish to forego. + + + XXIV. + + Southward to the angel he came + (For Victor had been his good guide), + And the bush in which Victor appeared + Burned bright, and a voice from it cried: + + + XXV. + + "At Armagh let the government be, + And to Christ let all glory be brought; + Indeed, thou shalt come unto heaven; + Thou obtainedst, because thou hadst sought. + + + XXVI. + + "A hymn which you sing while alive + Shall to Celts a proud armament be; + And at judgment the Irish surround + Their father, their patron, in thee." + + + XXVII. + + After Patrick, good Tassach remained; + When Patrick to Tassach Christ gave, + Tassach said: "He from me shall receive"; + And the prediction of Tassach was grave. + + + XXVIII. + + For the night was installed a bright day, + And that day for one year did remain; + So that over all Eire the fair + Light's brilliance and brightness did reign. + + + XXIX. + + Bethoron a battle beheld + Of great Nun against Chanaan's sons, + In which Gabaon saw the sun stand, + As the Scriptural narrative runs. + + + XXX. + + For brave Josue stood the bright sun + To witness the wicked all slain; + Why not for Saint Patrick thrice more + To illumine Hibernia's plain? + + + XXXI. + + For all Eire's good clergy were come + To bury Saint Patrick with pride; + And the sounds of the singing from heaven + Cast them sleeping all round, far and wide. + + + XXXII. + + Saint Patrick's pure soul fled his frame + (His works immortality make); + And on the first night after death, + The angels of God watched his wake. + + + XXXIII. + + And when Patrick departed from life, + To the other Saint Patrick came he; + And to Jesus, of Mary the Son, + The two passed, bright and pure, great and free. + + + XXXIV. + + In Patrick pride's stain was not found; + And great were the works that adorn + This good son of Christ, Mary's Son! + With God's blessing Saint Patrick was born. + + +[Illustration: The Saint Patrick of Medieval Times.] + + + + +TRIPARTITE LIFE. + +PART I. + +The people who sat in darkness saw a great light, and they who were in +the land and in the shadow of death received light by which came their +illumination. + +Patrick, then, was of the Britons of Alcluaid by origin. Calpurnn was +his father's name. He was a noble priest. Potid was his grandfather's +name, whose title was a deacon. Conceis was his mother's name. She +was of the Franks, and a sister to Martin. In Nemtur, moreover, the +man St. Patrick was born; and the flag (stone) on which St. Patrick was +born would give forth water when any one swore a false oath upon it, as +if it were lamenting the false testimony. If the oath was true, +however, the stone would continue in its natural condition. + +When the man St. Patrick was born, he was taken to a blind, flat-faced +man to be baptized. Gornias was the priest's name; and he had no water +out of which he could perform the baptism until he made the sign of the +cross over the ground with the infant's hand, when a fountain of water +burst forth. Gornias washed his face, and his eyes were opened to him; +and he, who had learned no letter, read the baptism. God wrought three +miracles through Patrick in this place--viz., the fountain of water +through the ground, his eyesight to the blind man, and his reading the +_ordo_ of the baptism without knowing a letter up to that time. And +Patrick was subsequently baptized. A church was founded, moreover, +over this well in which Patrick was baptized; and the well is at the +altar, and it has the form of the cross, as the learned report. + +Many prodigies and miracles were wrought through Patrick in his youth, +but we shall only relate a few out of many of them. One time Patrick +was in his nurse's house, in winter time, when a great flood and rain +filled his nurse's residence, so that the vessels and furniture of the +house were floating about, and the fire was extinguished. Patrick then +cried to his nurse, as usual with children when desiring food. Then +his nurse said to him: "That is not what troubles us; there is +something else we would rather do than to prepare food for thee; even +the fire is extinguished." When Patrick heard these words, truly, he +sought a certain spot in the house to which the water had not reached; +and he dipped his hand in the water, and five drops fell from Patrick's +fingers, and they were suddenly changed into five sparks, and the fire +glowed, and the water rose not. The names of God and of Patrick were +magnified thereby. Another time, as Patrick was playing amongst his +companions, in the time of winter and cold in particular, he collected +his armful of pieces of ice, which he brought home to his nurse. Then +his nurse said: "It would be better for you to bring us withered +brambles to warm ourselves with than what you have brought." Thereupon +he said to his nurse: + +"Believe thou, because God is powerful thereto, that even the sheets of +ice will burn like faggots." And no sooner were the pieces of ice +placed on the fire, and he had breathed on them, than they burned like +faggots. The names of God and Patrick were magnified through this +miracle. + +One time, when Patrick and his sister (_i.e._, Lupait) were herding +sheep, the lambs came suddenly to their dams, as is customary with +them, to drink milk. When Patrick and his sister saw this, they ran +quickly to prevent them. The girl fell, and her head struck against a +stone, so that death was nigh unto her. As soon as Patrick perceived +that his sister was lying down, and that death was nigh unto her, he +wept loudly; and he raised her up immediately, and made the sign of the +cross over the wound, and it healed without any illness. +(Nevertheless, the signs of the "white wound" would appear there.) And +they came home as if no evil had happened to them. Another time, +Patrick was with the sheep, when a wolf took away a sheep from him. +His nurse reproved him greatly therefor. The wolf brought the sheep +whole to the same place on the morrow; and the restoration in this way +was wonderful--viz., the wolf's dislike regarding the habitual food. + +When Patrick's nurse, therefore, saw him magnified by God in prodigies +and miracles, she used to love him very much, and would not wish to go +anywhere without him. One time his nurse went to milk the cow. He +went with her to get a drink of new milk. The cow [became mad] in the +_booley_, and killed five other cows. The nurse was much grieved, and +asked him to resuscitate the cows. He resuscitated the cows, then, so +that they were quite well, and he cured the mad cow; and the names of +God and Patrick were magnified through this miracle. + +There was a great assembly held by the Britons. He went to the +assembly with his nurse and his guardian. It happened that his +guardian died in the assembly. All were hushed into silence thereat; +and his relatives cried, and his friends wept, and they said, "Why, +thou _gilla_, didst thou let the man who was carrying thee die?" As +regards the _gilla_ moreover, he ran to his guardian, and placed his +hands about his neck, and said to him, "Arise, and let us go home." He +arose forthwith at Patrick's word, and they went home safe afterwards. + +The boys of the place in which Patrick was nursed were wont to bring +honey to their mothers from the bees' nests. Then his nurse said to +Patrick: "Although every other boy brings honey to his nurse, you bring +none to me." Patrick afterwards carried off a bucket to the water, and +filled it, and blessed the water, so that it changed into honey; and it +healed every disease and ailment to which it was applied. + +One time the King of Britain's steward went to command Patrick and his +nurse to go and clean the hearth of the royal house in Al-Cluaid. +Patrick and his nurse went. Then it was that the angel came, and said +to Patrick: "Pray, and it will not be necessary for you to perform that +work." Patrick prayed. The angel afterwards cleaned the hearth. Then +Patrick said: "Though all the firewood in Britain were burned in that +fireplace, there would be no ashes of it on the morrow." And this, +indeed, is fulfilled yet. Another time, the King of Britain's steward +went to demand tribute of curds and butter from Patrick's nurse; and +she had nothing that she would give for the rent. Then it was that +Patrick made curds and butter of the snow, and they were taken to the +king; and the moment they were exhibited to the king, afterwards they +changed into the nature of snow again. The king thereupon forgave the +rent to Patrick for ever. + +The cause of Patrick's coming to Erinn was as follows: The seven sons +of Fechtmad--viz., the seven sons of the King of Britain--were on a +naval expedition, and they went to plunder in Armoric-Letha; and a +number of the Britons of Srath-Cluaidh were on a visit with their +kinsmen, the Britons of Armoric-Letha, and Calpurn, son of Potit, +Patrick's father, and his mother--_i.e._, Conches, daughter of Ocbas of +the Galls--_i.e._, of the Franks--were killed in the slaughter in +Armorica. Patrick and his two sisters--viz., Lupait and Tigris--were +taken prisoners, moreover, in that slaughter. The seven sons of +Fechtmad went afterwards on the sea, having with them Patrick and his +two sisters in captivity. The way they went was around Erinn, +northwards, until they landed in the north; and they sold Patrick to +Miliuc, son of Buan--_i.e._, to the King of Dal-Araidhe. They sold his +sisters in Conaille-Muirthemhne. And they did not know this. Four +persons, truly, that purchased him. One of them was Miliuc. It was +from this that he received the name that is Cothraige, for the reason +that he served four families. He had, indeed, four names. . . + +[Here a leaf is missing from both the Bodleian and British Museum MSS. +of the Tripartite Life, the contents of which would fill eight pages of +similar size to the foregoing.] + +When Patrick had completed his sixtieth year, and had learned +knowledge, his auxiliary angel, Victor (for he was of assistance to him +when he [Patrick] was in bondage with Miliuc, and regarding everything +besides which he might wish), went to him, and said to him: "You are +commanded from God to go to Erinn, to strengthen faith and belief, that +you may bring the people, by the net of the Gospel, to the harbor of +life; for all the men of Erinn call out your name, and they think it +seasonable and fit that you should come." Patrick afterwards bade +farewell to Germanus, and gave him a blessing; and a trusted senior +went with him from Germanus, to guard him and testify for him; his name +was Segetius, and he was by grade a priest, and he it was who usually +kept the _Ordo_ of the church besides Germanus. + +Patrick went subsequently on the sea, his company being nine. Then he +went upon an island, where he saw a withered old woman on her hands at +the door of a house. "Whence is the hag?" asked Patrick; "great is her +infirmity." A young man answered, and said: "She is a descendant of +mine," said the young man; "if you could see the mother of this girl, O +cleric! she is more infirm still." "In what way did this happen?" +enquired Patrick. "Not difficult to tell," said the young man. "We +are here since the time of Christ. He came to visit us when He was on +earth amongst men; and we made a feast for him, and he blessed our +house and blessed ourselves; but this blessing reached not our +children; and we shall be here without age or decay for ever. And it +is long since thy coming was foretold to us," said the young man; "and +God 'left it with us' [_i.e._, prophesied to us] that thou wouldst come +to preach to the Gaeidhel; and He left a token with us, _i.e._, His +_bachall_ (crozier), to be given to thee." "I will not take it," said +Patrick, "until He Himself gives me His _bachall_." Patrick remained +three days and three nights with them; and he went afterwards into +Sliabh-Hermoin, near the island, where the Lord appeared unto him, and +commanded him to go and preach to the Gaeidliel; and He gave him the +Bachall-Isa, and said that it would be of assistance to him in every +danger and every difficulty in which he would be. And Patrick besought +three requests of him--viz., (1) to be at His right hand in the kingdom +of heaven; (2) that he (Patrick) might be the judge of the Gaeidhel on +the Day of Judgment; and (3) as much as the nine companions could carry +of gold and silver to give to the Gaeidhel for believing. + +The Airchinnech that was in Rome at that time was Celestinus, the +forty-second man from Peter. He sent Palladius, a high deacon, with +twelve men, to instruct the Gaeidhel (for to the comarb of Peter +belongs the instruction of Europe), in the same way as Barnabas went +from Peter to instruct the Romans, etc. When Palladius arrived in the +territory of Leinster--_i.e._, at Inbher-Dea--Nathi, son of Garchu, +opposed him, and expelled him. And Palladius baptized a few there, and +founded three churches--viz., Cill-fine (in which he left his books, +and the casket with the relics of Paul and Peter, and the tablet in +which he used to write), and Tech-na-Roman, and Doinhnach-Airte, in +which Silvester and Solonius are. On turning back afterwards, sickness +seized him in the country of the Cruithne, and he died of it. + +When Patrick heard this thing, and knew that it was for him God +designed the apostleship of Erinn, he went subsequently to Rome to +receive grade; and it was Celestinus, Abbot of Rome, who read _grada_ +(orders, degrees) over him; Germanus and Amatho, King of the Romans, +being present with them. + +When Patrick came from Rome, where he arrived was at Inbher-Dea, in +Leinster. Nathi, son of Garchu, came also against him. Patrick cursed +him. Sinell, moreover, the son of Finnchadh, was the first who +believed in Erinn through Patrick's teaching. Hence it was that +Patrick blessed him and his seed. On the same day Auxilius and +Eserninus, and others of Patrick's people, were ordained; and it was +then, also, that the name Patricius--_i.e._, a name of power with the +Romans--was given to him; _i.e._, a hostage-liberating man. It was he, +moreover, who loosened the hostageship and bondage of the Gaeidhel to +the devil. And when they were reading the _grada_ (orders, degrees), +the three choirs responded--viz., the choir of the men of heaven, and +the choir of the Romans, and the choir of the children from the woods +of Fochlud--all whom cried out, "Hibernienses omnes," etc. In illis +diebus autem gesta sunt in predictis ita. In that time there was a +fierce pagan king in Erinn--_i.e._, Laeghaire Mac Neill--and his seat +and royal hold was in Tara. In the fifth year of the reign of +Laeghaire Mac Neill Patrick came to Erinn. The eighth year of the +reign of Lughaidh he died. The eighth year of the reign of Theodosius, +the forty-fifth man from Augustus, Patrick came; eight years Celestine +was then prince, as Gelasius said. + +This valiant king, then--_i.e._, Laeghaire Mac Neill--possessed druids +and enchanters, who used to foretell through their druidism and through +their paganism what was in the future for them. Lochru and Luchat Mael +were their chiefs; and these two were authors of that art of +pseudo-prophecy. They prophesied, then, that a mighty, unprecedented +prophet would come across the sea, with an unknown code of +instructions, with a few companions, whom multitudes would obey, and +who would obtain dignity and reverence from the men of Erinn; and that +he would expel kings and princes from their governments, and would +destroy all the idolatrous images; and that the faith which would +arrive would live for ever in Erin. Two years, or three, before the +arrival of Patrick, what they used to prophesy was [as follows]; + + "A _Tailcend_ (_i.e._, Patrick) shall come across the stormy sea. + His garment head-pierced, his staff head-bent, + His _mias_ (_i.e._, altar) in the east of his house; + His people all shall answer, Amen, amen." + + +Baile-Cuinn (the Ecstasy of Conn, a rhapsody so called) dixit: "A +_Tailcend_ shall come who will found cemeteries, make cells new, and +pointed music-houses, with conical caps [bencopar], and have princes +bearing croziers." "When these signs shall come," said they, "our +adoration and our _gentility_ (paganism) will vanish, and faith and +belief will be magnified." As it was foretold then and represented, so +it happened and was fulfilled. + +When Patrick completed his voyage, and his ship entered the harbor at +Inbher-Dea, in the territory of Leinster, he brought his ships to the +shore. Then it was that he decided to go to instruct Miliuc. He +thought fit as he labored at first for his body, that he should labor +for his soul. He then put stick to shore, and proceeded on a +prosperous voyage, past the coast of Erinn, eastwards, until he stopped +in Inbher-Domnand. He found no fish there, and cursed it. He went to +Inis-Patrick: and he sent to Inbher-Nainge, where nothing was found for +him. He cursed this also, and both are unfruitful. Then it was that +Benen came into his company. Soon after, Patrick slept awhile, and all +the odoriferous flowers that the youth could find, he would put them +into the cleric's bosom. Patrick's people said to Benen: "Stop doing +that, lest thou shouldst awake Patrick." Patrick said: "He will be the +heir of my kingdom." He went to Inbher-Boindi, where he found fish. +He blessed it, and the _Inbher_ is fruitful. He found druids in that +place who denied the virginity of Mary. Patrick blessed the ground, +and it swallowed the druids. Patrick went afterwards from +Inis-Patrick, past Conaille, and past the coast of Ulster, until he +stopped at Inbher-Brena. He went afterwards to Inbher-Slani, where the +clerics hid their ships; and they went ashore to put off their fatigue, +and to rest; so that there it was the swine-herd of Dichu, son of +Trichim, found them, where Sabhall-Patrick is to-day. When he saw the +divines and the clerics, he thought they were robbers or thieves, and +he went to tell his lord; whereupon Dichu came, and set his dog at the +clerics. Then it was that Patrick uttered the prophetic verse, "Ne +tradas bestis, etc., et canis obmutuit." When Dichu saw Patrick, he +became gentle, and he believed, and Patrick baptized him; so that he +was the first in Ulster who received faith and baptism from Patrick. +Then it was that Dichu presented the Sabhall to Patrick. Patrick said: + + "The blessing of God on Dichu, + Who gave to me the Sabhall; + May he be hereafter + Heavenly, joyous, glorious. + + "The blessing of God on _Dichu_-- + Dichu with full folds (flocks); + No one of his sept or kindred + Shall die, except after a long life." + + +Patrick went to preach to Miliuc, as we have said, and took gold with +him to prevail on him to believe; for he knew that he (Miliuc) was +covetous regarding gold. But when Miliuc heard that Patrick had +arrived, he wished not to believe for him, and to abandon the pagan +religion. He thought it unbecoming to believe for his servant, and to +submit to him. The counsel that a demon taught him was this: He went +into his royal house with his gold and silver; and he set the house on +fire, and was burned with all his treasures, and his soul went to hell. +Then it was that Patrick proceeded past the northern side of Sliabh-Mis +(there is a cross in that place), and he saw the fire afar off. He +remained silent for the space of two or three hours, thinking what it +could be, and he said, "That is the fire of Miliuc's house," said +Patrick, "after his burning himself in the middle of his house, that he +might not believe in God in the end of his life. As regards the man +who persuaded him thereto," added he, "there shall not be a king or +righdamhna of his family, and his seed and race shall be 'in service' +for ever, and his soul shall not return from hell to the judgment, nor +after judgment." After he had said these words, he turned _deisel_ +(right-hand-wise) and went back again into the territory of Uladh, +until he arrived at Magh-inis, to Dichu, son of Trichim, and he +remained there a long time disseminating faith, so that he brought all +the Ulidians, with the net of the Gospel, to the harbor of life. + +Patrick went subsequently from Sabhall southwards, that he might preach +to Ros, son of Trichim. He it was that resided in Derlus, to the south +of Dun-leth-glaise (Downpatrick). There is a small city (cathair, +_i.e._, civitas, but also meaning a bishop's _see_) there this +day--_i.e._, Brettain, ubi est Episcopus Loarn qui ausus est increpare +Patricium tenentem manum pueri ludentis justa Ecclesiam suam. As +Patrick was then on his way, he saw a tender youth herding pigs. +Mochae his name. Patrick preached to him, and baptized him, and cut +his hair, and gave him a copy of the gospels and a reliquary. And he +gave him also, another time, a _bachall_ which had been given them from +God--viz., its head into Patrick's bosom, and its end in Mochae's +bosom; and this is the Detech-Mochae of Noendruim; and Mochae promised +Patrick a shorn pig every year. And this, indeed, is still given. + +When the solemnity of Easter approached, Patrick considered that there +was no place more suitable to celebrate the high solemnity of the +year--_i.e._, the Easter--than in Magh-Bregh, the place where the head +of the idolatry and druidism of Erinn was--viz., in Temhair. They +afterwards bade farewell to Dichu, son of Trichim, and put their +vessels on the sea; and they proceeded until they anchored in +Inbher-Colptha. They left their vessels in the Inbher, and went by +land until they reached Ferta-fer-fec, and Patrick's tent was fixed in +this place, and he cut the Easter fire. It happened, however, that +this was the time in which the great festival of the Gentiles--_i.e._, +the _Fes of Tara_--was usually celebrated. The kings and princes and +chieftains were wont to come to Laeghaire Mac Neill to Tara, to +celebrate this festival. The druids and the magicians were also wont +to come to prophesy to them. The fire of every hearth in Erinn was +usually extinguished on that night, and it was commanded by the king +that no fire should be lighted in Erinn before the fire of Tara, and +neither gold nor silver would be accepted from any one who would light +it, but he should suffer death for it. Patrick knew not this thing; +and if he knew it, it would not prevent him. + +As the people of Tara were thus, they saw the consecrated Easter fire +at a distance which Patrick had lighted. It illuminated all +Magh-Bregh. Then the king said: "That is a violation of my prohibition +and law; and do you ascertain who did it." "We see the fire," said the +druids, "and we know the night in which it is made. If it is not +extinguished before morning," added they, "it will never be +extinguished. The man who lighted it will surpass the kings and +princes, unless he is prevented." When the king heard this thing, he +was much infuriated. Then the king said: "That is not how it shall be; +but we will go," said he, "until we slay the man who lighted the fire." +His chariot and horses were yoked for the king, and they went, in the +end of the night, to Ferta-fer-fec. "You must take care," said the +druids, "that you go not to the place where the fire was made, lest you +worship the man who lighted it; but stay outside, and let him be called +out to you, that he may know you to be a king, and himself a subject; +and we will argue in your presence." "It is good counsel," said the +king; "it shall be done as you say." They proceeded afterwards until +they unyoked their horses and chariots in front of the _Ferta_. +Patrick was "whispered" out to them; and it was commanded by them that +no one should rise up before him, lest he should believe in him. +Patrick rose and went out; and when he saw the chariots and horses +unyoked, he sang the prophetic stanza: + + "Hi in curribus et hi in eorus (equis), + Nos autem, in nomine Domini Dei nostri ma." + +They were then before him, and the rims of their shields against their +chins; and none of them rose up before him, except one man alone, in +whom was a figure from God--_i.e._, Ere, son of Dega. He is the Bishop +Ere who is [commemorated] in Slaine of Magh-Bregh to-day. Patrick +blessed him, and he believed in God, and confessed the Catholic faith, +and was baptized; and Patrick said to him: "Your seat (_cathair_, chair +or city) on earth shall be noble"; and Patrick's (_comarb_) successor +is bound to bend the knee before his _comarb_ in consideration of his +submission. + +Each then questioned the other--viz., Patrick and Laeghaire. Lochru +went fiercely, enviously, with contention and questions, against +Patrick; and then he began to denounce the Trinity and the Catholic +faith. Patrick looked severely at him, and cried out to God with a +loud voice, and he said: "Domine qui omnia potes et in tua potestate +consistit quidquid est, quique nos misisti huc ad nomen tuum gentibus +praedicandum hic impius qui blasphemat nomen tuum, elevatur nunc foras, +et cito moriatur. Et his dictis elevatus est magus in aera et iterum +desuper cito dejectus sparso ad lapidem cerebro comminutus et mortus +fuerat coram eis." The pagans became afraid at this. But the king was +much infuriated against Patrick, and he determined to kill him. He +told his people to slay the cleric. When Patrick observed this +thing--the rising up against him of the pagans--he cried out with a +loud voice, and said: "Et exurget Deus et dissipentur inimici ejus, et +fugiant qui oderunt eum a facie ejus, sicut defecit fumus deficit sic +deficiant sicut fluit caera a facie ignis; sic pereint peccatorus facie +Domini." Immediately darkness went over the sun, and great shaking and +trembling of the earth occurred. They thought it was heaven that fell +upon the earth; and the horses started off, frightened, and the wind +blew the chariots across the plains, and all rose against each other in +the assembly; and they were all attacking each other, so that fifty men +of them fell in this commotion through Patrick's malediction. The +Gentiles fled in all directions, so that only three remained--viz., +Laeghaire, and his queen, and a man of his people; et timuerunt valde, +veniensque regina ad Patricium (_i.e._, Angass, daughter of Tassagh, +son of Liathan), dixit: "Ei homo juste et potens ne perdas regem. The +king will go to thee, and will submit to thee, and will kneel, and will +believe in God." Laeghaire went then, and knelt before Patrick, and +gave him a "_false peace_." Not long after this, the king beckoned +Patrick aside, and what he meditated was to kill him; but this happened +not, because God had manifested this intention to Patrick. Laeghaire +said to Patrick, "Come after me, O cleric! to Tara, that I may believe +in thee before the men of Erinn"; and he then placed men in ambush +before Patrick in every pass from Ferta-fer-fec to Tara, that they +might kill him. But God did not permit it. Patrick went, accompanied +by eight young clerics (maccleirech), and Benen as a _gilla_, along +with them; and Patrick blessed them before going, and a _dicheltair_ +(garment of invisibility) went over them, so that not one of them was +seen. The Gentiles who were in the ambuscades, however, saw eight wild +deer going past them along the mountain, and a young fawn after them, +and a pouch on his shoulder--viz., Patrick, and his eight [clerics], +and Benen after them, and his (Patrick's) _polaire_ (satchel, or +epistolary) on his back. + +Laeghaire went afterwards, about twilight, to Tara, in sorrow and +shame, with the few persons who escaped in his company. On the day +succeeding Easter Sunday the men of Erinn went to Tara to drink the +feast; for the _Fes_ of Tara was a principal day with them. When they +were banqueting, and thinking of the conflict they waged the day +before, they saw Patrick, who arrived in the middle of Tara, januis +clausis ut Christus in cennaculum; because Patrick meditated: "I will +go," said he, "so that my readiness may be manifested before the men of +Erinn. I shall not make a candle under a bushel of myself. I will +see," said he, "who will believe me, and who will not believe me." No +one rose up before him inside but _Dubhtach_ Mac Ua Lugair alone, the +king's royal poet, and a tender youth of his people (viz., his name was +Fiacc; it is he who is [commemorated] in Slebhte to-day). This +Dubhtach, truly, was the first man who believed that day in Tara. +Patrick blessed him and his seed. Patrick was then called to the +king's bed, that he might eat food, and to prove him in prophecy +(_i.e._, in Venturis rebus). Patrick did not refuse this, because he +knew what would come of it. The druid Luchat Mael went to drink with +him, for he wished to revenge on Patrick what he had done to his (the +druid's) companion the day before. The druid Luchat Mael put a drop of +poison into the goblet which was beside Patrick, that he might see what +Patrick would do in regard to it. Patrick observed this act, and he +blessed the goblet, and the ale adhered to it, and he turned the goblet +upside-down afterwards, and the poison which the druid put into it fell +out of it. Patrick blessed the goblet again, and the ale changed into +its natural state. The names of God and Patrick were magnified +thereby. The hosts then went and took up their station outside Tara. +"Let us work miracles," said Luchat Mael, "before the multitude in this +great plain." Patrick asked; "What are they?" The druid said: "Let us +bring snow upon the plain, so that the plain may be white before us." +Patrick said to him: "I do not wish to go against the will of God." +The druid said: "I will bring the snow upon the plain, though you like +it not." He then began the druidic poetry and the demoniacal arts +until the snow fell so that it would reach the girdles of men; and all +saw and wondered greatly. Patrick said: "We see this; send it away, if +you can." The druid answered: "I cannot do that thing until this time +to-morrow." "By my _debhro_," said Patrick, "in evil is thy power, and +not in good." Patrick blessed the plain before him, towards the four +points, and the snow immediately disappeared, without rain, without +sun, without wind, at Patrick's word. Darkness afterwards went over +the face of the earth, through the incantations of the druid. The +multitudes cried out thereat. Patrick said: "Expelli tenebras." The +druid answered: "I am not able to-day." Patrick prayed the Lord, and +blessed the plain, and the darkness was expelled, and the sun shone +out, and all gave thanks. They were for a long time contending thus +before the king--_i.e._, as Nero said to Simon and Peter--et ait rex ad +illos, "Libros vestros in aqua mittite, et ilium cujus libri illesi +evaserint adorabimus." Respondit Patricius: "Faciam ego"; et dixit +magus: "Nolo ego ad judicium ire aquae cum ipso; aquam etiam Deum +habet"; because he heard that it was through water Patrick used to +baptize. Et respondit rex: "Mittite igitur in igne"; et ait Patricius: +"Promptus sum;" at magus nolens dixit; "Hic homo versa vice in alternos +annos nunc aquam nunc ignem deum veneratur." "It is not this that +shall be done," said Patrick; "for since you say that it is the fire I +adore, go you, if you wish, into a house apart, and well closed, and a +student of my people along with you, and let my _casula_ be about you, +and your druidic tunic about my student (_mac cleirech_); and fire will +be applied to the house, that God may decide between you there." This +counsel was agreed to by the men of Erinn, including Laeghaire. The +house was then made, one-half of dry faggots, and the other half of +fresh materials. The druid was put into the fresh part, and Patrick's +_casula_ about him. Benen, however, was put into the dry part, with +the druid's tunic about him. The house was afterwards closed and +fastened on the outside, before the multitude, and fire was applied to +it. A great prodigy occurred there through Patrick's prayers. The +fresh part of the house was burned, as well as the druid under the +casula, and not a bit of the _casula_ was destroyed. The dry portion, +in which was Benen, however, was not burned, and God preserved Benen +under the druid's tunic, and the tunic was burned, so that it was +reduced to ashes. The king was greatly enraged against Patrick for the +killing of his druid. He arose, and would like to slay Patrick; but +God did not permit it, through the intercession of Patrick. The anger +of God fell afterwards on the impious multitude, so that great numbers +of them died--viz., twelve thousand in one day. Patrick said to +Laeghaire: "If you do not believe now, you shall die quickly; for the +anger of God will come upon your head." When the king heard these +words, he was seized with great fear. The king went into a house +afterwards to take counsel with his people. "It is better for me," +said he, "to believe in God than [to suffer] what is threatened to +me--my death." It was after this that Laeghaire knelt to Patrick, and +believed in God, and many thousands believed in that day. + +Then it was that Patrick said to Laeghaire: "Since you have believed in +God, and have submitted to me, length of life in thy sovereignty will +be given thee. As a reward for thy disobedience some time ago, +however, there will be no king nor roydamhna from thee for ever, except +Lughaidh," the son of Laeghaire; for his mother implored Patrick that +he would not curse the infant that was in her womb, when Patrick said: +"I will not, until he comes against me." Lughaidh then assumed the +sovereignty; and he went to Achadh-farcha. There he said: "Is not that +the church of the cleric who said that there would be neither king nor +roydamhna from Laeghaire?" After this, darts of lightning descended +from the heavens on his head, which killed him, and hence is [the name] +Achadh-farcha. These miracles live to this day. These are the +miracles the divines of Erinn knew, and through which they put a thread +of narration. Columcille, son of Fedhlidhmidh, Ultan, the grand-son of +Conchobhar, Adamnan, the grandson of Tinne, Eleran the Wise, Ciaran of +Belach-duin, Cruimther Collait from Druim-Railgech, knew Patrick's +miracles in the first place, and composed them. + +A man of truth, indeed, was this man, with purity of mind like the +Patriarchs; a true pilgrim like Abraham; gentle and forgiving of heart +like Moses; a praise-singing psalmist like David; a shrine of wisdom +like Solomon; a chosen vessel for proclaiming truth like Paul the +Apostle; a man full of grace and knowledge of the Holy Ghost like John; +the root of a holy herb-garden towards the children of faith; a vine +branch with fruitfulness; a sparkling fire, with power to heat and warm +the sons of life, in founding and dispensing charity. A lion in +strength and might; a dove in gentleness and humility. A serpent in +wisdom and cunning in regard to good; gentle, humble, mild, towards +sons of life; dark, ungentle, towards sons of death. A slave in work +and labor for Christ; a king in dignity and power, for binding and +releasing, for enslaving and freeing, for killing and reviving. +Appropinquante autem hora obitus sui, sacrificium ab Episcopo Tassach +sumpsit quod viaticum vitae aeternae ex consilio Victoris acceperat, et +deinceps post mortuos suscitatos, post multum populum ad Deum +conversum, et post Episcopos et presbyteros in ecclesiis ordinatos, et +toto ordine Ecclesiastico conversa tota Scotia ad fidem Christi, anno +aetatis suae cxii. obdormivit in vitam aeternam. + + +PART II. + +Euntes ergo docete omnes gentes baptizantes eos in nomine Patris, et +Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, docentes eos observare omnia quaecumque +mandavi vobis, etc. + +When Patrick came with his fleet to Erinn, to preach to the Gaeidhel, and +went to Tara, he left Lomman in Inbher-Boinne, to take care of his ships, +during the forty nights of the Lent. Patrick commanded him to row his +vessel against the [current of the] Boyne, until he would arrive at the +place were to-day Ath-Truim [Trim] is--at that time the _dun_ of +Fedhlimidh, where he (Lomman) found the son of Laeghaire +MacNeill--_i.e._, at Ath-Truim. And in the morning, Fortchern, +Fedhlimidh's son, went and found Lomman, and his gospels before him. He +wondered at the precepts he heard. He believed, and was baptized by +Lomman. And Fortchern was listening to the instruction, until his mother +went to seek him. She welcomed the clerics, for she was of the Britons, +viz.: Scoth, daughter of the king of Britain. Fedhlimidh himself came to +converse with Lomman; and he believed, and presented Ath-Truim to God and +Patrick, and to Lomman, and to Fortchern. Patrick himself went and +founded Ath-Truim [Trim], twenty-five years before the foundation of +Ard-Macha. Of the Britons, moreover, was the origin of Lomman, and his +mother was the sister of Patrick. + +Lomman's brethren were, moreover, Bishop Munis in Forgnidhe in +Cuircne--_i.e._, in the north of Meath, to the south of the Ethne (Inny); +Broccaidh in Imlech-Achaidh, in Ciarraighe of Connacht; Broccan in +Brechmagh, in Ui-Dorthain; Mughenoc in Cill-Dumagloin, in the south of +Bregia. They were the relatives, moreover, who were dear to Patrick by +consanguinity, and faith, and baptism, and instruction; and they +presented to Patrick whatever they possessed, land and churches, for +ever. But, after some time, when Lomman's death drew nigh, Lomman and +his foster-son, _i.e._, Fortchern, went to converse with his brother, +_i.e._, Broccaid, and he committed his church to Patrick and Fortchern; +and Fortchern opposed it, that he might not inherit his father's +possessions, who gave the place to God and Patrick. But Lomman said, +"You shall not receive my benediction unless you assume the abbacy of my +church." Fortchern took upon him the abbacy after the death of Lomman, +for three days, when he went to Trim; and afterwards gave his church to +Cathlai, a pilgrim. These are the offerings of Fedhlimidh, son of +Laeghaire, to St. Patrick, and to Lomman, and to Fortchern, viz., +Ath-Truim, in the territory of Laeghaire of Bregia, and Imghae, in the +territory of Laeghaire of Meath. The way in which all these offerings +were presented to Patrick, and to Lomman, and to Fortchernd, per (_sic_) +omnibus regibus majoribus et minoribus usque indiem judicii. Prima feria +venit Patricius ad Taltenam, where the regal assembly was, to Cairpre, +the son of Niall. It was he who desired the murder of Patrick, and who +drove Patrick's people into the river Sele, wherefore Patrick called him +the enemy of God, and said to him, "Thy seed shall serve thy brother's +seed," and there shall not be salmon in that river, through Patrick's +malediction. Patrick went afterwards to Conall, the son of Niall, whose +residence was where Donagh-Patrick is this day, who received him with +great joy; and Patrick baptized him, and confirmed his royal seat for +ever. And Patrick said to him: "Thy brother's seed shall serve thy seed +for ever; and strive to exercise charity towards my successors after me, +and the sons of thy sons, that they may be perpetual subjects to my sons +of faith." Then it was that Conall measured a church for God and +Patrick, sixty feet in extent; and Patrick said: "Whichsoever of your +race diminishes this church shall not have a long reign, and he shall not +be prosperous." They went early on Sunday morning to Rath-Airthir, +Cinaed and Dubhdaleithe, the two sons of Cerbhall, son of Maelodhra, son +of Aedh-Slaine, when they saw a young man lying down--_i.e._, the son of +Bresal. One of them plunged a sword into him, and then throttled him. +The murderer then went past Tailten, up, on his straight road, and the +other went to Domnach-Patrick. It was then that Patrick blessed that +part of the plain of Tailte, so that dead bodies are never borne off from +it. + + [A few lines of the MS. at this place are damaged.] + + +The Pasch being therefore finished, on the next day Patrick came to +_vadum duarum forcarum_ (Ath-da-laarg, near Kells; county Meath), and +founded a church there, and left the three brothers there with their +sister, viz., Cathaceus, and Cathurus, and Catnean; and Catnea, the +sister, who used to milk the deer. He went afterwards to Druim +Corcortri, and founded a church there, and he left in it Diarmaid, son of +Restitutus. + +When Patrick was going eastwards to Tara, to Laeghaire (for they had +formed a friendship), from Domhnach-Patrick, he blessed Conall, son of +Niall. When he was going away, he threw his flagstone (_lec_) behind him +eastwards into the hill, _i.e._, where . . . . . . + + [A folio of the original MS. is missing here.] + + +And Maine knelt to Patrick and performed penance, and Patrick said, "Rex +non erit qui te non habebit; and thy injunctions shall be the longest +that will live in Erinn. The person whom I have blessed also shall be a +king, _i.e._, Tuathal [Maelgarbh]." And he [Tuathal] assumed the +sovereignty afterwards, and banished Diarmaid MacCerbhaill, so that he +was on _Loch-Ri_, and on _Derg-Derc_, and on _Luimnech_. + +One day as Diarmaid went in his boat past the shore of Cluainmic-Nois, +Ciaran heard the noise and motion of the craft, and called him ashore, +and Ciaran said, "Come to me, for thou art a king's son, and mark out the +Redes [a church] and the Eclais-bec [a little church], and grant the +place to me." He said, "I am not a king." To whom Ciaran said, "You +will be a king to-morrow." In that day, the king, Tuathal, came with +great bands to banish Diarmaid, when Maelmor (of the Conaille), +Diarmaid's foster-brother, killed him; and Maelmor was immediately slain. +Hence the old saying, "the feat of Maelmor." Diarmaid afterwards assumed +the sovereignty of Erinn, through Ciaran's blessing when Diarmaid was +marking the site of Eclais-bec, and bowed down thrice. He went to Tara, +and gave Ciaran an offering for every _tairlim_, along with Druimraithe. +Ocurrit nobis hic virtus etsi per ancificatione [_recte_ anticipationein]. + +Another time Patrick heard, through the malice of the vulgar, that Bishop +Mel had sinned with his sister, for they were wont to be in the same +house, praying to the Lord. When Bishop Mel saw Patrick coming towards +him to Ard-Achadh [Ardagh] to reprove him, Bishop Mel went out to a hill +to fish in the pools and furrows. When it was told to Patrick that he +had caught a salmon in this way, Patrick uttered the famous saying: +"Seorsim viri et seorsim foeminae ne occasionem dare intirmis inveniantur +et ne nomen Domini per nos blasphemetur, quid absit a nobis," for God +does not assist any unjust, false man; _i.e._, non temptabis Dominum Deum +tuum. Bishop Mel's sister then went with fire in her _casula_, Patrick +then knew there was no sin between them, dicens, "Seorsum feminis ne +occasione dare infirmis inveniamur et ne non Domini per nos blasfemaretur +quod absit a nobis, et sic reliquit eos," _i.e._, Bri-Leith between them: +she in Druim-Cheu to the west of Bri-Leith; he (Bishop Mel) to the east +of it, in Ard-Achadh. + +Patrick went afterwards into northern Tethbha, _i.e._, to the territory +of Cairbre, where Granard was presented to him by the sons of Cairbre, +and he left there Bishop Guessacht, son of Milchu, his foster-brother, +and the two sisters Emir, who first put up at Cluain-Bronaigh; and this +is the reason why the sides of the churches are joined to each other; and +it is the airchinnech (superior) of Granard that always ordains the head +nun in Cluain-Bronaigh. The moment that Patrick blessed the veil on the +aforesaid virgins, their four feet sank into the rock, and the traces +exist in it always. Patrick went afterwards across the water to +Magh-Slechta, where the arch-idol of Erinn was, _i.e._, Cenn Cruach, made +of gold and silver, surrounded by twelve other idols formed of bronze. +When Patrick saw the idols from the waters called Guthard (_i.e._, he +raised his voice--_guth_, voice; _ard_, high), and when he approached it, +he lifted his hand to lay the Bachall-Isa on it; but he could not, as the +idol inclined over to its right side (for towards the south its face was +turned), and the mark of the _bachall_ lives yet in its left side, +although the _bachall_ did not leave Patrick's hand. And the ground +swallowed the other twelve idols as far as their heads; and they are in +that condition in commemoration of the prodigy. And he cursed the demon +(idol), and banished him to hell; and he called all the people, with king +Laeghaire, who worshipped the idols; and all saw him (the demon), and +feared death unless Patrick would banish him to hell. His _graif_ +(fibula) fell from Patrick's garment whilst maintaining the conflict and +valor against the idol. He cut away all the heath in the place until he +found his _graif_, and no heath grows in that place, nor in the plain +besides. And he founded a church in that place, _i.e._, +Domhnach-Maighe-Slecht, and left there Mabran Barbarus, Patrick's +relative and prophet, and Patrick's well is there, ubi baptizavit multos. +Patrick went afterwards into the territory of Connacht, over Snamhda-en, +across the Shannon, where he found a ford, viz.: the land (bed of the +river) rose up under Patrick in the ford, and the learned will yet find +that _esker_. And Patrick landed (_i.e._, on the Connacht side of the +Shannon) immediately, and then it was that Buadmael, Patrick's +charioteer, died, and was buried there. Cill-Buaidhmael is the name (of +the church), and it is appropriate to Patrick. When Laeghaire Mac +Neill's druids (_i.e._, Mael and Caplait, two brothers, who had fostered +Laeghaire's two daughters, Ethne the Fair, and Feidelm the Red) heard all +that Patrick had done, they brought thick darkness over all Magh-Nai, +through the power of the demon, for the space of three days and three +nights. Patrick thereupon prayed to God, and bent his knees, and blessed +the plain, so that there was darkness for the druids, and light for all +others. And he gave thanks to God, and all the darkness was banished +from Magh-Ai. And they went past the Shannon to Duma-graidh, where he +ordained Ailbhe, a noble priest, who is [commemorated] in Senchua in +Ui-Ailella; and Patrick instructed him regarding a stone altar [which +was] in the mountain of Ui-Ailella, underground, and four glass Chalices +at its four corners: et dixit cavendum ne frangerantur orae fossurae. +Inter nepotes etiam Ailello fuit, et baptizavit Maineum sanctum quem +ordinavit Episcopus Bronus filius Iccni qui est i Caisel-Irra, servus Dei +socius Patricii. Patrick went to Magh-glas, where he founded Cill-mor of +Magh-glas; and he left two of his people there, viz., Conleng and +Ercleng. Deinde venit in fines Corcu-Achland, to the south of +Ui-Ailella, and to the north of Badhghna. There were two brothers there, +viz., Id and Hono, who were druids. Hono asked Patrick, "What will you +give me for this land?" Patrick answered "Eternity." Hono said, "You +possess gold: give it to me for it." Patrick replied, "I have given +much, but God will give more." He afterwards found a mass of gold in the +place where the pigs had been rooting, and Patrick gave the mass of gold +to him (_i.e._, to Hono) for his land. Tir-in-brotha is its name now. +Dixit Patricius, "Nec rex eris nec de semine tuo regnabit in aeternum." +Illius vero lacrimis misertus est Patricius, dicens, "Non erit rex quem +tua progenies non jurabit," etc., quod impletur. Cenel Maic Erce is the +strongest and most powerful [sept] in Connacht, but they do not govern +like high-kings. Ona, son of Aengus, son of Ere Derg (Ere the Red), son +of Brian, de quo Ui-Honach, presented his house to Patrick; and +Imlech-Onon was its name at that time: Ailfinn, moreover, [is its name] +this day; from the _ail_ (rock) taken out of the well which was made by +Patrick in the fair green, and which is on the brink of the well, the +place has been named. Et dixit illi Patricius: "Thy seed shall be +blessed, and the palm of laics and clerics shall be of thee for ever, and +the inheritance of this place shall belong to them." Et posuit ibi +Assicum et Bite filium fratris Assicus (Assici?) et Cipiam matrem Bitei. +Episcopus Assicus sanctus episcopus, faber aereus Patricii: and he made +altars, and four-cornered book-cases, and four-cornered dishes, in honor +of Patrick; and a four-cornered dish of them was in Ard-Macha, and +another in Ailfinn, and another in Domnach-mor of Magli-Seola, on the +altar of the holy bishop Felanus in Ui-Briuin-Seola, far westwards from +Ailfinn. Assicus, however, fled northwards to Sliabh-Liag, in +Tir-Boghaine, where he was on an island for seven years. And his monks +sought him, and found him, after much trouble, in the mountain glens; and +they brought him away with them; and Assicus died with them in the +desert, and they buried him in Rath-Cunga, in Seirthe. And the king of +that county gave to him, and to his monks after his death, the pasture of +one hundred cows with their calves, and twenty oxen, as a perpetual +offering; for he said that he would not again go to Magh-Ai, on account +of the falsehood which had been said there of him. His remains are in +Rath-Cunga, and to Patrick belongs the church, upon which the people of +Colum-Cilleand of Ard-Sratha have encroached. Patrick went from Elphin +to Dumacha (the mounds) of Ui-Ailella, and built a church there, _i.e._, +Senchell-Dumaighe, and he left Machet in it, and Cetchen, and Rodan, a +noble priest, and Mathona, Benen's sister, who received the veil from +Patrick and from Rodan, and who was a servitor to them. + +When Patrick was at Dumha-graidh, ordaining the great multitude, he +smiled. "What is that?" asked Benen. "Bron, and the monk Olcan," said +Patrick, "who came towards me along Traig-Eothaili, and my foster-son, +Mac-Erca, with them; a wave of the sea made a great dash, and tried to +carry off the youth." This was a prophecy. He (Patrick) went through +the territory of Ui-Oilella, and founded the church eastwards in +Tamhnagh, and it was built by God and men: et ipsa fecit amicitiam ad +reliquias Assici Rodani; et successores eorum epulabantur invicem. Post +hoc autem possuerunt episcopum Cairellum juxta sanctam Ecclesiam in +Tamhnagh, quem ordinaverunt Episcopum Patricii, viz., Bronus et Biteus. +Patrick went afterwards to the fountain, _i.e._, Clibech, on the slopes +of Cruachan, at sunrise. The clerics sat down at the fountain. +Laeghaire Mac Neill's two daughters, viz., Eithne the Fair, and Feidelm +the Red, went early to the fountain to wash their hands, as they were +wont to do, when they found the synod of clerics at the well, with white +garments, and their books, before them. They wondered at the appearance +of the clerics, and imagined they were _fir-sidhe_, or phantoms. They +questioned Patrick. "Whence are you, and whither have you come? Is it +from the _sidhe_? Are you gods?" Patrick said to them, "It would be +better for you to believe in God than to ask regarding our race." The +elder daughter said, "Who is your God, and in what place is he, in heaven +or in earth? is it under the earth, or on the earth, or in seas, or in +streams, or in hills, or in valleys? Has He sons and daughters? has He +gold and silver? Is there a profusion of every good in his kingdom? +Tell us plainly how we shall see Him, and how is He to be loved, and how +is He to be found. Is He young or old? or is He ever-living? Is He +beautiful, or have many fostered His son, or is His daughter handsome, +and dear to men of the world?" St. Patrick, full of the Holy Spirit, +responded, "Our God is the God of all, the God of heaven and earth, the +God of the seas and rivers, the God of the sun and moon, and all the +other planets; the God of the high hills and low valleys; God over +heaven, in heaven, and under heaven; and He has a mansion, _i.e._, +heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and all things that are in them. He +inspireth all things. He quickeneth all things. He enkindleth all +things. He giveth light to the sun, and to the moon. He created +fountains in the dry land, and placed dry islands in the sea, and stars +to minister to the greater lights. He hath a Son, coeternal and coequal +with Himself; and the Son is not younger than the Father, nor is the +Father older than the Son. And the Holy Ghost breatheth in them. And +the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are not divided. I desire, +moreover, to unite you to the Son of the heavenly king, for ye are +daughters of an earthly king." And the daughters said, as if with one +mouth and one heart, "How shall we come to believe in that king? Teach +us duly, that we may see the Lord face to face--teach us, and we will do +as you will say to us." Et dixit Patrici: "Do you believe that through +baptism the sin of your mother and of your father shall be put away from +you?" They answered, "We believe." "Do you believe in repentance after +sin?" "Yes." And they were baptized. And Patrick blessed a white veil +upon their heads; and they desired to see Christ face to face. And +Patrick said to them: "You cannot see Christ except that you first taste +death, and unless you receive the body of Christ and His blood." And the +daughters replied, saying: "Give us the Communion, that we may be able to +see the Prophesied One." And they after this received the Communion, and +fell asleep in death, and Patrick placed them under covering, and in one +bed [grave]; and their friends made a great lamentation over them. The +druids then entered into conflict with Patrick, on account of the +daughters having believed, and having gone to heaven, _i.e._, Mael and +Caplait. Caplait came crying against Patrick, for it was he [Caplait] +who fostered the second daughter. Patrick preached to him, and he +believed, and he cut off his hair. After this the other druid came, +_i.e._, Mael, and said to Patrick: "My brother has believed for thee," +said he; "it shall not serve nor strengthen him," said he; "I will again +lead him into paganism." And he was thus insulting Patrick; but Patrick +preached to him, and the druid believed in God and Patrick. And Patrick +shaved him; and hence "Mael is like Caplait" is a proverb; for it was +together that they believed. And the day of weeping was finished, and +the maidens were interred there; and Sen-Donahnagh of Magh-Ai was +presented to Patrick for ever. And others say the relics of the maidens +were brought to Ard-Macha, where they await the resurrection. + +Patrick went afterwards to Tir-Caireda, and he founded a church at +Ard-lice, _i.e._, Sen-Domhnach, and he left Deacon Caeman in it. And +Patrick erected Ard-Senlis, ubi posuit Lalloc sanctam et tenuit locum in +Campo Nento; and they went with Bishop Cethech to his country. Of the +race of Ailill was his mother; of Cenel-Sai [nigh] of Cinacht, from +Domhnach-Sairigi at Damhliac-Cianain; and it was Bishop Cethech's custom +to celebrate the great pasch in Domhnach-Sairigi; and in Ath-da-lorg, in +Kells, he celebrated the little pasch, with Comgilla; for Cethech's +people used to say that Comgilla was Cethech's servitor. Patrick went +afterwards to the territory of Ui-Maine, and he left there an arch-priest +(or deacon) of his people, _i.e._, Deacon Juis, and he erected Fidharta; +and Patrick left his books of orders and baptism with him; and he +baptized the Ui-Maine; and Deacon Juis, in his old age, baptized Ciaran +mac-int-sair, from Patrick's book, quia cxl anni fuit quando Ciaran +baptizavit, ut aiunt peritissimi. Patrick's Franks, moreover, left him, +viz., fifteen brothers and one sister, viz., Bernicius and Hibernicius, +and Hernicus, etc., and Nitria, the sister. And many places were given +to them. One of these is Imgoe of Baislic, between Hy-Maine and +Magh-Nai. Patrick described to them the likeness of the place with his +finger, from Cill-Garad, quia venerunt ad Patricium ut obteret illis de +locis quos invenerent. Patrick also founded Cill-Garad, where Cethech +[was left], and Ferta-gethich together. Then it was that Patrick made +the well which is called Uaran-garad, and he loved this water very much, +ut ipse dixit: + + "Uaran-gar--[Uaran-gar]-- + O well! which I have loved, which loved me; + Alas! my cry, O dear God! + That my drink is not from the pure well." + + +Patrick went afterwards to Magh-Selcae, _i.e._, to Dumha-Selca, where +there were young men, the six sons of Brian, viz., Bolcderc, Derthacht, +Echen, Cremthann, Caelcharna, Echuid; and Patrick wrote three names there +in three stones, viz., Jesus, Soter, Salvator. Patrick blessed the +Ui-Briuin from Dumha-Selca, and Patrick's seat is there between the +stones in quibus scripsit literas, et nona (_sic_) episcoporum cum illo +illic fuerunt, viz., Bronus of Caisel-Irra, Sachelus of Baislic-mor in +Ciarraighe, Brocaid of Imlech-ech (brother to Lomman of Ath-truim), +Bronachus, presbyter, Rodan, Cassan, Benen, comarb of Patrick, and Benen, +brother of Cethech, Felartus, bishop, and his sister, a nun there, and +another sister, quae sit insola in mari Conmaicne, _i.e._, +Croch-Cuile-Conmaicne. And he founded a church on Loch-Selca, _i.e._, +Domhnach-mor of Magh-Selca, in quo baptizavit Ui-Briuin et benedixit. +Patrick went to Gregraidhe of Loch-Techet, and founded a church there in +Drumma, and dug a well thereat, and no stream went into or came out of +it, but it was always full, and its name is Bithlan (_i.e._, ever full). +He afterwards founded Cill-Atrachta in Gregraidhe, and [left] Talan's +daughter in it, who received a veil from Patrick's hand. And he left a +_teisc_ and chalice with Atracht, the daughter of Talan, son of Cathbadh, +of the Gregraidhe of Loch-Teched, sister of Caemhan of Airdne-Caemhain. +Patrick blessed a veil on her head. Drummana was the name of the place +in which they were; Machaire is its name to-day. A _casula_ was sent +down from heaven on Patrick's breast. "You shall have this _casula_, O +nun!" said Patrick. "No," said she, "not to me was it given, but to +thyself." + +He then went to the sons of Erc; they carried off Patrick's horses, and +Patrick cursed them, saying: "Your seed shall serve the seed of your +brother for ever." Patrick went into Magh-Airtich, and blessed a +place,;_i.e._, Ailech-Airtigh, in Telach-na-cloch. And he went +afterwards into Drummut of Ciarraighe-Airtigh, where he found two +brothers fighting regarding the father's land after his death, _viz_, +Bibar and Lochru, Tamanchend's two sons. Patrick stretched out his arms, +and their hands became fixed to the swords, so that they were not able to +lift or lower them, "Sit ye," said Patrick; and he blessed them, and made +peace between them. And they gave the land to Patrick, for their +father's soul. And Patrick founded a church there, where Conu the +artifex is, the brother of Bishop Sechnall. Patrick went subsequently to +Ciarraighe-Airne, where he met Ernaisc and his son Loarn under a tree, +and Patrick wrote an alphabet for him, and stayed a week with them, with +his twelve men. And Patrick founded a church there, et tenuit ilium +abbatem (_sic_), et fuit quidem spiritu sancto plenus. + +And Patrick went to Tobar-Mucno, and advanced to Senchill et fuit +Secundinus solus sub ulmo frondosa separatim, et est signum crucis in eo +loco usque in hunc diem. And he afterwards went into the country of +Conmaicne, into Cuil-Tolaigh, and he founded four-cornered churches in +that place. One of these is Ard-Uscon, etc. He went to Magh-Cera, and +stopped at Cuil-Corra, and founded a church in that place, et baptizavit +multos. + +Afterwards Patrick proceeded to Magh-Foimsen, where he met two brothers, +viz., Luchtae and Derclam. Derclam sent his servant to kill Patrick, but +Luchtse prevented him, to whom Patrick said: "There shall be priests and +bishops of thy seed, and the race of thy brother shall be cursed, and +shall be few." And he left in that place Cruimther-Conan, and went +afterwards to Tobar-Stringle in the desert, and he was two Sundays +[living] on that well. + +Patrick went to the men of Umhall, to Achadh-Fobhair where Bishop Senach +was ordained. The name Patrick conferred on him was "Agnus Dei." And he +it was who asked the three requests of Patrick--viz., that he should not +oppose him as regards orders, that the place should not be called after +him, and that what was wanting to complete his age should be added to the +age of Mac Aenghusa. It was for him (Mac Aenghusa) that Patrick wrote an +alphabet the day that Bishop Senach was ordained. Patrick desired truly +to erect a _see_ at Achadh-Fobhair, when he said: "I would remain here, +on a small plot of land, after circumambulating churches and fastnesses; +for I am infirm, I would not go." The angel said to Patrick: + + "Everything you select shall be yours-- + Every land, whether plain or rough, + Both hills and churches, + Both glens and woods, + After circumambulating churches and fastnesses + Though infirm, that you shall select." + + +Then Patrick left two trout alive in the well, and they will be there for +ever, as he said: + + "The two inseparable trout, + Which would advance against perpetual streams, + Without obligation, without transgression-- + Angels will be along with them in it." + +Patrick went to Cruachan-Aighle on the Saturday of Whitsuntide. The +angel went to converse with him, and said to him: "God will not give thee +what thou demandest; for He thinks the demands weighty and immense and +great." "Is that His decision?" said Patrick. "It is," answered the +angel. "This is my decision, then," said Patrick: "I shall not leave +this Cruachan until I die or all the demands shall be given." Patrick +was afterwards with illness of mind in Cruachan, without drink or food, +from Shrove Saturday to Easter Saturday, just like Moses, son of Amra; +for they were alike in many things. God accosted them both out of the +fire; six score years was the age of each; the place of sepulture of both +is uncertain. At the end of those forty nights and forty days the +mountain around him was filled with black birds, so that he could see +neither heaven nor earth. He sang cursing psalms at them, but they went +not away from him. He then became angry with them; he rang his bell at +them, so that the men of Erinn heard its sound. And he flung it at them, +so that a gap was broken out of it, and that [bell] is Bernan-Brighte. + +Patrick afterwards cried until his face and the front of his _casula_ +(cowl) were wet. No demon came after this to Erinn for the space of +seven years, and seven months, and seven days, and seven nights. + +The angel subsequently went to protect Patrick, and he cleaned his +_casula_, and brought white birds about the Cruachan; and they used to +chant sweet melodies for him. "I will bring so many souls from pain," +said the angel, "and as many as would cover as far as your eye could +reach on the sea." "That is no great boon for me," said Patrick; "not +far can my eye reach over the sea." "You shall have between sea and +land, then," added the angel. "Is there anything more granted to me +besides that?" asked Patrick. "There is," said the angel; "you can bring +seven every Saturday from the pains of hell for ever." "If anything be +granted to me," observed Patrick, ["let me have] my twelve men." "You +shall have it," said the angel; "and depart from Cruachan." "I shall not +depart," said Patrick, "because I have been tormented, until I am +recompensed. Is there anything else, then, to be granted to me?" asked +Patrick. "Yes," said the angel; "you shall have seven every Thursday, +and twelve every Saturday, from pains; and depart from Cruachan." "I +will not depart," answered Patrick, "because I have been tormented, until +I am recompensed. Is there anything else granted to me?" asked Patrick. +"There is," answered the angel; "the great sea to come over Erinn seven +years before the Judgment; and depart from the Cruachan." + +"I will not depart," said Patrick, "since I have been tormented, until I +am gratified." "Is there anything more you demand?" asked the angel. +"There is," answered Patrick; "that Saxons may not occupy Eriu, by +consent or force, whilst I shall be in heaven." "It shall be granted +thee," said the angel; "and depart from Cruachan." "I will not depart," +said Patrick, "since I have been tormented, until I am gratified. Is +there anything more granted to me?" asked Patrick. "There is," said the +angel; "every one who repeats thy hymn from one day to the other shall +not suffer pains." "The hymn is long and difficult," said Patrick. +"Every one who repeats from _Crist illum_" (recte _Crist lim_, "Christ +with me") "to the end, and every one who repeats the name, and every one +who observes penitence in Eriu, their souls shall not go to hell; and +depart from Cruachan" [said the angel]. + +"I will not depart," said Patrick, "for I have been tormented, until I am +gratified. Is there anything more?" asked Patrick. "Yes," said the +angel; "you shall have one man for every hair in your _casula_ from pains +on the Day of Judgment." "Which of the other saints who labor for God," +said Patrick, "that would not bring that number to heaven? I shall not +accept that," said Patrick. + +"What will you accept, then?" asked the angel. "Here it is," said +Patrick: "that I should bring from hell on the Day of Judgment seven +persons for every hair in this _casula_." "It shall be granted to you," +said the angel; "and depart from this Cruachan." "I will not depart," +said Patrick, "for I have been tormented, until I am gratified." "Is +there anything else you demand?" asked the angel. "There is," said +Patrick: "the day that the twelve royal seats shall be on the Mount, and +when the four rivers of fire shall be about the Mount, and when the three +peoples shall be there--viz., the people of heaven, the people of earth, +and the people of hell--that I myself may be judge over the men of Eriu +on that day." "This thing cannot be obtained from the Lord," said the +angel. "Unless this is obtained from Him, I will not consent to leave +this Cruachan from this day for ever; and even after my death there shall +be a caretaker from me there," answered Patrick. + +The angel went to heaven. Patrick went to his offering. The angel came +in the evening. "How now?" asked Patrick. "Thus," answered the angel: +"all the creatures, visible and invisible, including the twelve apostles, +entreated, and they have obtained. The Lord said that there came not, +and would not come, after the apostles, a man more illustrious, were it +not for the hardness of the request which is granted thee. Strike thy +bell," said the angel; "thou art commanded from heaven to fall on thy +knees, that it may be a blessing to the people of all Eriu, both living +and dead." "A blessing on the bountiful king that gave," said Patrick; +"the Cruachan shall be left." + +Patrick proceeded afterwards until he was in Achadhfobhair, where he +celebrated the ordo at Easter. There are, moreover, "keepers" of +Patrick's people in Eriu living still. There is a man from him in +Cruachan-Aigle. The sound of his bell is heard, but it [the bell] is not +found. And there is a man from him in Gulban-Guirt; and the third man +from him is to the east of Cluain-Iraird, together with his wife. Both +entertained Patrick in the reign of Laeghaire Mac Neill, and they are, +and will be for ever, the same age. There is a man from him in +Dromanna-Bregh; there is another man from him in Sliabh-Slainge--_i.e._, +Domangart, son of Eochaidh. It is he that will raise Patrick's relics a +little before the Judgment. His cell is Rath-Murbhuilg, at the side of +Sliabh-Slainge; and there is always a shin (of beef), with its +accessories, and a pitcher of ale, before him every Easter, which is +given to Mass people on Easter Monday always. Patrick's charioteer died, +moreover, and was buried between Cruachan and the sea. Patrick went +afterwards into the country of the Corco-Themne, and baptized many +thousand persons there, and he founded four churches there, viz., in the +three Tuagha. + +Patrick went then to Tobar-Finnmaighe--_i.e._, a well. It was told to +Patrick that the pagans honored this well as a god. The well was +four-cornered, and there was a four-cornered stone over its mouth, and +the foolish people believed that a certain dead prophet made it, +bibliothecam sibi in aqua sub petra ut dealbaret ossa sua semper, quia +timuit ignem, et zelavit Pat. de Deo vivo, dicens non vere dicitis quia +rex aquarum fons erat hoc necnon cum eis habuit rex aquarum, et dixit +Patricius petram elivari et non potuerunt elevavit autem eam petram; +Cainnech, que, baptizavit Patricius, et dixit erit semen tuum benedictum +in secula. Cill-Tog, in the territory of Corco-Themne--it was this +church that Bishop Cainnech, Patrick's monk, founded. One time, as +Patrick was travelling in the plains of Mac-Ercae--_i.e._, in Dichuil and +Erchuil--he saw a large sepulchre there, viz., 120 feet in length. The +brothers desiring that the dead man might be resuscitated, Patrick +thereupon "awoke" the dead man who was in the sepulchre, and questioned +him quando, et quomodo, et quo genere, et quo nomine esset. Respondit +sibi, dicens, "Ego sum Cass, filius of Glassi, qui fui subulcus Lugair +Iruatae, and Mac Conn's _fiann_ killed me in the reign of Cairpre Niafer, +in the hundredth year. I am here until to-day." Patrick baptized him, +and he went again into his sepulchre. + +Quis comprehendere valet modi (_sic_) diligentise orationis ejus omnes, +namque psalmos, et ymnos et Apocalipsi, ac omnia cantica spiritualia +scripturarum cotidie (quotidie) decantabat seu in uno loco seu in itinere +gradiens. From vespers on Sunday night until tierce on Monday Patrick +would not come from the place where he might be. + +One Sunday Patrick was in a cold, damp place, when great rain fell on the +earth, but it rained not in the spot where Patrick was, sicut in concha +et vellere Gideoni accederat. It was a custom with Patrick to place the +cross of Christ over himself one hundred times each day and night; and he +would go aside from his path, even though the cross were one thousand +paces away, provided that he saw it or knew it to be in his vicinity; +whether he was in a chariot or on a horse, he would proceed to each +cross. One day Patrick omitted to visit a cross which was on his way, +but he knew not that it was there. His charioteer said to him in the +evening: "You left a cross which was on your way to-day without +visiting." Patrick left his guest-house and his dinner, and went back to +the cross. When Patrick was praying at the cross, "This is a sepulchre," +said Patrick; "who was buried here?" A voice answered out of the +sepulchre: "I am a poor pagan," it said, "and I was buried here; whilst +living, I was injuring my soul until I died; and I was buried here +afterwards." "What was the reason," asked Patrick, "that the sign of +Christianity--_i.e._, the cross--was placed over thy grave?" "This," +answered the voice: "a certain woman that was in foreign lands, and her +son was buried here in this country in her absence; and she came from +foreign lands, and placed this cross over my grave. She thought it was +over the grave of her son it was placed; for she was not able through +grief to recognize her son's grave." "This is the reason that I missed +the cross," said Patrick--"_i.e._, its being over the grave of a pagan." +The cross was afterwards raised by Patrick over the Christian's grave. + +One time Patrick's charioteer wanted his horses; he could not find them, +owing to the darkness of the night. Patrick lifted up his hand; his five +fingers illuminated all the place as if they were five torches, and the +horses were immediately found. + +Patrick went across the Muaidh to Hy-Amhalghaidh; the twelve sons of +Amhalgaidh, son of Fiachra, son of Eochaidh, came to meet him, viz., +Aengus, Fergus, Fedhlimidh, Enna Crom, Enna Cullom, Connac, Cairbre, +Echui Dianimh, Oena, Eoghan Coir, Dubchonall, Ailill of the rough face. +The sons of Amhalghaidh were disputing about the sovereignty: twenty-four +tribes (_i.e._, old tribes) that were in the country; and they objected +that they would not admit any man asking over them with an additional +[nick] name. Aengus then imposed additional names upon his brothers. +This Aengus was the proudest of Amhalghaidh's sons. Laeghaire, son of +Niall, son of Eochaidh, King of Tara, and his brother Eoghan, son of +Niall, decided the dispute. The sons of Amhalghaidh went to Tara in +twelve chariots, sicut in libris Patricii inventus, quod exirent in +judicium tamen vii fratres de eis. They were welcomed by the king at +Tara. Aengus was foster-son to Laeghaire. He got a special welcome +there. Aengus prayed the door-keepers that they would not admit Conall, +the son of his brother--_i.e._, the son of Enna Crom--into the fort; for +Aengus feared his wisdom in arguing his right. Aengus obtained this +request from the door-keepers. As Conall was outside the _lis_, he heard +the sound of Patrick's bell from Tobar-Patrick at the fort. Conall went +to him and saluted him. "O cleric!" said he, "do you know this +expression which I have in commemoration--_i.e._, 'Hibernenses omnes +clamant ad te pueri,' etc.--which two girls uttered in their mother's +womb in our country?" "I am he whom that refers to," said Patrick; "and +I heard it when I was in the islands of the Tyrrhene Sea, et nescivi +utrum in meam vel extra locuta sunt verba, et ibo tecum in regionem tuam +baptizare, docere, evangelizare." Interrogat autem Patricius qua causa +venit Conall, and Conall related the reason to Patrick, and he said that +he was not allowed to enter Tara; to whom Patrick said: "Go in now, as +the doors are open; and go to my faithful friend, Eoghan Mac Neill, who +will assist you, if you lay hold, secretly, of the finger next his little +finger, which is always a sign between us." And so it was done. + +"Welcome," said Eoghan. "What is Patrick's wish?" Conall said: "That +you assist me." Conall afterwards observed: "If it is according to youth +precedence in a king's house or land is to be given, I am the youngest; +if according to mother's age, Enna Cromm is the oldest." To which +Laeghaire replied: "Honor to the senior, truly," said he, "and converse +with the learned; but if jewels and treasures are given to any one, +however, I will not deprive him of them." They came away, and Patrick +with them, and Patrick gave his chariot to Conall, so that it was the +thirteenth charlot. They went their way afterwards, and there was not +good-will with Aengus for his brother's son and for Patrick. He told his +two brothers--viz., Fergus and Fedhlimidh--to kill Patrick and Conall, as +he had agreed on parting Laeghaire, after Laeghaire had instigated him +thereto. They went northwards towards their country. The place which +Aengus had fixed upon for the fratricide was in Corann. Fergus simulated +sleep. His brothers refused what they had promised. "We will not kill +the innocent," said they, "and will not commit murder upon our brother." +Aengus went towards him (Patrick) to kill him, accompanied by two bands +and two druids---viz., Reon and Rechred, of the race of Faelan the +warrior. It is not more than a mile from the place whence Patrick saw +the enemies, from the cross to the west of Cross-Patrick, to +Cill-Forclann. Reon said that the ground would swallow Patrick on the +place where he would see him. This was related to Patrick. "It is I who +shall see him first," said Patrick. When Patrick saw him, the ground +swallowed him up. "I will believe," said he, "if I am rescued." The +ground flung him up until he was above the winds, and he fell down half +alive. He believed, and was baptized. Rechred was also lifted up and +let down until his head was broken against the rock, and fire from heaven +burned him. The druid's rock is there. There is a church there. +Cross-Patrick is its name, to the east of Coill-Fochlaidh. +Telach-na-Druadh is the name of the place where the pagans were, to the +west of Cross-Patrick. Glas-Conaigh is between them. Aengus said: "I +will believe if my sister is resuscitated"--_i.e._, Feidelm, daughter of +Amhalgaidh, who died long before. + +One time a blind man went to meet Patrick; he went in haste with the +desire of being healed. One of Patrick's people laughed at him. "My +_debroth_," said Patrick, "it would be fit that you were the blind +person." The blind man was healed, and the hale was made blind, quod +utrimque factum est. Mignae is the name of the person who was blinded; +and he is the second man of Patrick's people who remained in +Disert-Patrick, which is near the well at Cross-Patrick, and Donnmall was +the other. Ruan, son of Cucnamha, Amhalgaidh's charioteer, that was +healed there. Roi-Ruain is the name of the place where the blind was +healed, and it belonged to Patrick afterwards. He met two _bacachs_ in +Ochtar-Caerthin. They complained to him of their infirmity, for they +found it difficult to proceed through mountain or plain. What more shall +I say? They were healed. He went to Domhnach-Mor, where Bishop Mucna +is. He went afterwards to Cross-Patrick, where Aedh Fota, son of +Eochaidh, son of Oengus, came to him; and he healed him from lameness at +the fountain to the west of Cross-Patrick; and he (Aedh) presented to him +a plot of land there, where he founded a residence, and he left two of +his family there--viz., Teloc and Nemnall. Enna saw the druids (magi) +wishing to kill Patrick, and he said to his son Conall, "Go and protect +Patrick, that the magi may not kill him." Patrick perceived them, and +ethereal fire burned them, to the number of nine. + +He then founded Cill-Alaidh, and he left an illustrious man of his family +there--_i.e._, Bishop Muiredhach. Patrick baptized women--viz., Crebriu +and Lesru, the two daughters of Glerann, son of Cummen. It was they that +called upon Patrick from their mother's womb when he was in the islands +of the Tyrrhene Sea. They are patronesses of Cill-Forglainn, in +Hy-Amhalghaidh or Tirawley, to the west of Muaidh. + +He went to Forrach-mac-Amalghaidh. Seven sons of Amalgaidh believed, +including Enna and the king. It was then he baptized the pregnant woman +and her offspring, and resuscitated another. Patrick and Conall went to +the grave where the dead pregnant woman was, by the lower road to +Cill-Alaidh. Aengus, however, went by the upper road. They reached the +grave, and Patrick resuscitated the woman, and her son in her womb; and +both were baptized in the well Aen-adharcae (from the little hillock of +land that is near it the well was named). Being resuscitated, she +preached to the multitudes of the pains of hell and the rewards of +heaven, and with tears prayed her brother that he would believe for God +and Patrick, which was done, and he was baptized. And in that day twelve +thousand were baptized in the well of Aen-adharcae, ut dicitur: "On one +day were baptized six great thousands, with the seven sons of Amhalgaidh. +This was the number." Twelve thousand, truly, that believed for Patrick +in Ui-Amhalghadha, and of those of Caille-Fochladh. And Patrick left +Magister Manchen with them. He went southwards to the ford of +Loch-Daela. The place was the property of Aengus. Patrick intended to +found a residence for himself there. Aengus came quickly when he saw him +(Patrick), for it was not from his heart that he believed when he was +baptized and confessed the faith. "My _debroth_," said Patrick, "'twere +right that thy houses should not be exalted, nor thy descendants after +thee. Thy successors shall be seldom just, and there shall be fratricide +through it." + +He went to the east, to Lec-finn, where Patrick made the cross in the +stone over Cill-mor-uachtair-Muaidh, to the west. But Lia-na-manach is +its name at this day--_i.e._ Cruimther Monach's, or Olcan's church; but +there was no church there at that time. And he baptized Eochaidh, son of +Nathi, son of Fiachra, and resuscitated his wife Echtra, at Ath-Echtra, +the little stream at the very door of Cill-mor. And Echtra's grave is on +the margin of the ford. It is a sign of knowledge with them in their +history to remember this grave. He (Patrick) sent Bishop Olcan to build +where the church is to-day. Thus he came with an axe on his back, and +Patrick told him that he should put up at the place where the axe would +fall off his back; quod factum est where Cill-mor-uachtair-Muaidh is. He +went afterwards to the north, to Lec-Balbeni, where he found and blessed +the sons of Amhalgaidh; and he went out of the country from [the western] +Bertlacha to the eastern Bertlacha, and passed it eastwards to the +estuary of the Muaidh, towards the mouth of the sea. A young woman was +drowned there before him; and he blessed the place, and said that no +person should be drowned there for evermore. Patrick prophesied that the +eastern Bertlacha should be with him, as it is in their history; and in +the day of war the king of that region will be victorious, if true to +Patrick. It was there, at the stream, the Gregraighe flung stones at +Patrick and his people. "My _debroth_," said Patrick, "you shall be +beaten in every conflict in which you may be; and you shall be subject to +insult and contumely in every assembly in which you may be." "Arise, O +Conall!" said Patrick, "that you may assume the _bachall_." Conall said, +"If it please thee, I shall do so." "That shall not be," said Patrick; +"but I will support thy valor, and will give comarbs to thy race, and +thou shall be the Conall Sciath-bachall. The palm of laics and clerics +shall be from thee; and every one of thy descendants in whose shield the +sign of my _bachall_ shall be will not be subdued." + +All this Patrick did to him. He went eastwards into the territory of +Hy-Fiachrach, by the sea. A water opposed his passage--_i.e._, there was +an unusually large rock in it--and he cursed it. On the water there is a +place, Buaile-Patrick is its name--_i.e._, a little mound--with a cross +there, where Patrick rested a short time. Then the holy bishop, Bron of +Caisel-Irra, and the holy Mac Rime of Cill-Corcaraidhe; and there he +wrote an alphabet for him; and I have heard from another that in the said +place he gave a tooth from his jaw to Bishop Bron, for he was dear to +Patrick. Immediately on coming from the west, across the Muaidh, into +Gregraighe, he met three virulent druids at Rath-Righbhaird, who were +able to do nothing to him; and he said that there never would be wanting +of this people a man of such magical knowledge. + +Mac Erca, the son of Draighen, who is in Cill-roe-mor, in the territory +of Hy-Amhalgadha. Patrick baptized the seven sons of Draighen, and he +selected of them Mac Erca, and gave him to Bishop Bron to be fostered; +for it would not be easy to take him far away, in consequence of the love +of his father for him. + +Patrick marked out the site of Caisel-Irra, and the flag on which +Patrick's tooth fell is in the middle of the _lis_. Bishop Bron founded +the place, and Patrick prophesied that the place would be deserted by +Gentiles, _quod factum est_. + +Then Patrick desired the fishermen to set their nets for him in the +river--_i.e._, in Sligech. They said to him, "A salmon is not taken in +this period of the winter; but as you desire it, however," said the +fishermen, "we will do so." They placed their nets, and caught large +salmon; and they gave them to Patrick; and he blessed the river, so that +Sligech is the most fruitful river of Erinn, for fish is caught in it +every quarter (of the year). + +Bishop Rodan, the herd--Patrick left him in Muirisk, in +Cill-espuig-Rodain. His calves would only do what he counselled; +wherefore the harpers and musicians had a proverb. The Callraighe of +Cul-Cernadhan were in a secret place before Patrick, and they brought +their spears close to their shields to assault Patrick and his people. +"My _debroth_," said Patrick, "what you did is not good. Every battle +and every conflict which you wage, and your children after you, will be +gained over you." They forthwith knelt to Patrick, except five. Patrick +said: "In any battle that may be won against you, though all Connacht be +after you, no greater number than five shall fall of you." And so is it +observed. + +One time he was after going by Bernas-Ui-Oilella to go to Magh-Luirg, +when he fell into water--_i.e._, a river that goes into (_recte_, from) +Loch-Techet. Ath-carpait is the name of the ford, near to Ess-mic-Eirc. +Patrick cursed the eastern half of the water. "And the half from the +ford westwards, why do you spare it?" asked his people. "A son of life +will come who will set up there hereafter," said Patrick, "who will like +fruitful water at his place"--_i.e._, Colum-Cille, son of Fedhlimidh, at +Ess-mic-Eirc. From the ford up to the lake the best fishing in Erinn is +found there by all. From the ford down not much is taken there. + +Patrick went afterwards into the territory of Magh-Luirg, when his horses +were carried off by Cenel-Mic-Erca. And Patrick cursed the people of +that country; but Bishop Maine of the Hy-Ailella, who prayed Patrick +regarding forgiveness for his kinsmen, and Patrick modified the +malediction. And Bishop Maine washed Patrick's feet with his hair and +tears, and drove the horses into a meadow, and cleaned their hoofs in +honor of Patrick. And Patrick said, "There shall be weeping, and +wailing, and mourning with the inhabitants of that country; and there +will not be neighborship there _in saecula saeculorum"; ut impletur_. +And Patrick also said that a great part of that country should afterwards +belong to him; which was fulfilled in the case of Nodain of Loch-Uama. +Bishop Maine is also of Patrick's people, and Geintene in Echainech in +Hy-Ailella. + +Patrick went after that into the territory of Callraidhe to Druim-dara, +where Druim-lias is to-day. It was then he baptized Mac Caerthinn; and +that place was presented to Patrick for ever. Patrick afterwards +established himself on the offering in Druim-dara, Druim-lias +to-day--_i.e._, from Patrick's seats and from the sheds it was named. +Patrick left his _dalta_ Benen there in abbotship during the space of +twenty years. He journeyed into the glens eastward, where +Cenel-Muinremur is to-day. His two nostrils bled on the way. Patrick's +flag (Lee-Patrick) is there, and Patrick's hazel (Coll-Patrick), a little +distance to the west of the church. He put up there. Srath-Patrick it +is named this day; Domhnach-Patrick was its former name. Patrick +remained there one Sunday; _et hoec est una ecclesia illius regionis_. +Patrick went afterwards past Druim-cliabh, from Caisel-Irra, by the +Rosses eastwards, along Magh-Eni, and founded Domhnach-mor of Magh-Eni. +Then it was that he cursed the Dubh River for the refusal which the +fishermen gave him. He blessed Drobhais, however, on account of the +kindness which the little boys who were fishing there did to him. + +Thrice Patrick went across the Shannon into the land of Connacht. Fifty +bells, and fifty altar chalices, and fifty altar cloths he left in the +land of Connacht, each of them in his church. Seven years was he +preaching to the men of Connacht; and he left them a blessing, and bade +them farewell. + +Patrick went to Es-Ruaidh. He desired to establish himself there, where +Disert-Patrick is, and Lec-Patrick. Cairbre opposed him, and sent two of +his people, whose names were Carbacc and Cuangus, to seize his hands. +"Not good is what you do," said Patrick; "if I were permitted to found a +place here, the second to Rome of Letha, with its Tiber running through +it, would be my establishment with its Es-Ruaidh through it; and your +descendants would be comarbs in it." Cairbre declined then, as Patrick +had foretold. Thereupon Cairbre incited a dog to attack Patrick. +Cuangus struck the dog with a rod. Patrick said that Cairbre's race +should not exceed a small band, and that the palm of laics or clerics +would not be from him, _quod impletur_. But as to Cuangus, since he +agreed to seize Patrick's hands for Cairbre, Patrick said that his race +should not be more numerous than a company, and that illustrious men +would be of them, _quod impletum est_. Cairbre promised to Cuangus, for +seizing Patrick's hands, as much as he could see to the north of +Sliabh-Cise. When he turned to take a view about him, a dark cloud +closed around Cuangus, so that he only saw to the sea westwards, and to +the _ash_ eastwards. "This river, which God gave you, Cairbre," said +Patrick, "your share of it shall not be fruitful as regards fish" +(_i.e._, the northern half of the river in length was Cairbre's +share--_i.e._, the half next to Cenel-Conaill--for Crich-Conaill belonged +to Cairbre at that time as far as Rath-Cunga); "but Conall's share (the +southern half) will be fruitful"; _sic impletum est_, until Murghins, son +of Maelduin, son of Scannal, an illustrious king of Cairbre's race, +presented the unfruitful part to Colum-Cille; and it is now fruitful with +Colum-Cille. + +He (Patrick) went afterwards between Es-Ruaidh and the sea into +Crich-Conaill, where Rath-Chunga is at this day. He fixed a stake there, +and said that it would be an abode and establishment for seven bishops; +and there Bite is now, the brother's son of Aisicus from Elphin. + +It was then also that he foretold of Domhnall, son of Aedh, son of +Ainmire--viz., he fixed a pole in Ard-fothaidh, and on the morrow it was +bent; and Patrick said that the place would be the seat of a king, which +was fulfilled in Domhnall. On Sith-Aedha Patrick blessed Conall Mac +Neill, when Patrick's hands would fall on the head of Fergus. Conall +wondered at this thing, when Patrick said: + + "A youth (_i.e._, Colum-Cille) shall be born of his tribe, + Who will be a sage, a prophet, and poet, + A glorious, bright, clear light, + Who will not utter falsehood." + + +After Patrick had blessed the Cenel-Conaill, and had left a blessing on +their forts and rivers and churches, he went into the country of Eoghan, +the son of Niall, across Bernas of Tir-Aedha into Magh-Itha, and to +Domhnachmor of Magh-Itha, where he left Dudubae, son of Corcan, of his +people. And Patrick said to his people: "Take care that you meet not +with the lion, Eoghan, son of Niall." Muiredhach, the son of Eoghan, who +was in the front of the youths, met on the way Sechnall, who was in the +rear of the host of clerics. Sechnall said to Muiredhach: "You would +have a reward from me, if you would persuade your father to believe." +"What reward?" asked he. "The sovereignty of thy tribe shall for ever +belong to thy heirs," said Sechnall. "I will," answered Muiredhach. In +Fidhmor it was that Eoghan met with Patrick, where the flag (_lec_) is. +"If you would believe in your country," said Patrick, "the hostages of +the Gaedhil would come to you." + +"I am not good-looking," said Eoghan; "my brother precedes me on account +of my ugliness." "What form do you desire?" asked Patrick. "The form of +the young man who is under (_i.e._., _who is bearing_) your +satchel--_i.e._, Rioc of Inis-bo-finde," said Eoghan. Patrick covered +them over with the same garment, the hands of each being clasped round +the other. They slept thus, and afterwards awoke in the same form, with +the difference of the tonsure. "I don't like my height," said Eoghan. +"What size do you desire to be?" asked Patrick. Eoghan reached up his +hand with his sword. "I should like this height," said he; and he +immediately grew to that height. Patrick afterwards blessed Eoghan, with +his sons. "Which of your sons is dearest to you?" asked Patrick. +"Muiredhach," said he. "Sovereignty from him for ever," said Patrick. +"And next to him?" asked Patrick. "Fergus," answered he. "Dignity from +him," said Patrick. "And after him?" asked Patrick. "Eocha Bindech," +said Eoghan. "Warriors from him," said Patrick. "And after him?" asked +Patrick. "They are all alike to me," answered Eoghan. "They shall have +united love," said Patrick. + +Patrick went to Ailech of the kings, when he blessed the fort and left +his flag there; and he prophesied that kingship and pre-eminence should +be over Erinn from Ailech. "When you lift your foot out of your bed to +approach it, and your successor after you," said Patrick, "the men of +Erinn shall tremble before you." + +He blessed the whole island (Inis-Eoghain) from Belach-ratha; and he gave +a blessing of valor to Eoghan. Then it was that Patrick said: + + "My blessing on the _tuatha_ (territories) + I give from Belach-ratha, + On you, you descendants of Eoghan, + Until the day of judgment. + + "Whilst plains are under crops, + The palm of battle shall be on their men. + The armies of Fail (Ireland) shall not be over your plains; + You shall attack every _telach_ (tribe). + + "The race of Eoghan, son of Niall, + Bless, O fair Brigid! + Provided they do good, + Government shall be from them for ever. + + "The blessing of us both + Upon Eoghan Mac Neill, + On all who may be born from him, + Provided they are obedient." + + +Eochaidh, son of Fiachra, son of Eoghan, was baptized with Eoghan, and +Patrick's covenant was made between them; and whosoever transgresses it +shall not have children born to him, and his body will not rot in the +clay. + +Where Patrick went after this was into Daigurt in Magh-Dula. He built +seven Domhnachs (churches) about Fochaine (_i.e._, flumen), namely, +Domhnach-Dola, Domhnach-Seinlis, Domhnach-Dara, Domhnach-Senchua, +Domhnach-Minchluane, Domhnach-Catte, Both-Domhnaigh. + +Patrick proceeded into Tir-Eoghain of the Islands--namely, into the +territory governed by Fergus--and he took to build a _disert_ at a +certain place; Achadh-Driman was the proper name of the land in which he +built it. But Coelbhadh, son of Eoghan, drove him from thence, and +Patrick said that in consequence thereof his race should never have a +goodly house there. Quod probatum est super by Comman, son of Algasach, +of the race of Coelbhadh, who was at Eas-nac-Eire, who made a house +there, but, before he had the roof on it, it was broken down by a young +cleric of the family of Domhnach-mor-Maighe Tochair. + +"Thou shalt receive welcome from me," said Aedh, son of Fergus. There is +neither bank nor wall between him and the aforesaid, and it was there +that he erected Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair, ribi xl, dubas mansit et Mac +Cairthin reliquit. + +Patrick proceeded from Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair into Bredach, and +there he met the three Deachans, the sons of Patrick's sister, in the +country of Ailell, son of Eoghan, and he ordained Oengus, the son of +Ailell, in that place, and he remained there on Sunday; Domhnach-Bile is +its name. + +When Patrick was at Ailech-Airtich in Sonnacht, in Cinel-Enda, Enda came +to him. "Da mihi hunc locum," said Patrick. "Quasi non babussemus +clericos," said Enda. On the morrow venit Enda et suus filius secum, +Echu Caech. Patrick had turned off to pray, and his people to baptize, +to confer orders, and to propagate the faith. The two Maccairthinns were +there at the time, namely, qui est at Clochar et qui est at +Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair. "Confer ye the degree of bishop upon my +son," said Enda. "Let Patrick be consulted," said Patrick's champion, +Maccairthinn of Clochar. "It is our duty," said the other; "I will +confer the order." When Patrick, he said, "Ye have conferred orders in +my absence on the son of the Wolf; there shall be strife in the church of +the one for ever; there shall be poverty in the church of the other." +Quod impletur: strife at Clochar; Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair, poverty is +there. "The son upon whom the degree was conferred, two persons, after +committing murder, shall profane his relics. One hundred and twenty +years until a son shall be born in the southern parts [who shall +reconsecrate his church], and it shall be restored to me again." Quod +totum impletum est. The first place where his relics were was a high and +beautiful spot, but they were carried thence after a short time to a +lower place; and the first place where they were is deserted, and robbers +and murderers are accustomed to dwell there, through Patrick's curse. +And his church was ceded to Ciaran Mac-an-tsair, but was restored to +Patrick again. This Echu, son of Enda, is at this day called Bishop +Echan. + +As Patrick was in Tir-Enda-Airtich at Tulach-liag, in Leitir, he stuck +[wattles for] a church there, which afterwards became a bush. After this +he went to the Lei, on the east of the Bann, ubi non capiebant homines +pieces nisi in nocte usque ad illud tempus. Deinde imperavit eis +Patricius ut in die caperent, et sic erit in finem seculi. + +Patrick went afterwards into Dal-Araidhe and Dal-Riada. Then he +proceeded to Ror to Carn-Setna, southwards, where he heard the screams of +an infant from out of the ground. The carn was demolished, the sepulchre +was laid bare, and a smell of wine arose around them out of the +sepulchre. They saw the living child with the dead mother. A woman that +died of ague; she was brought across the sea to Eriu, and the child was +born after death; and seven days, it is said, it lived in the tumulus. +"That is bad (_olc_)," said the king. "That shall be his name (_Olcan_)" +said the druid. Patrick baptized him; and he is Bishop Olcan, of the +community of Airther-Maighe, in the district of Dal-Riada. And Mac +Nisse; of Condere, read his psalms with Patrick. . . . + +Patrick received welcome in the district from Erc's twelve sons. And +Fergus Mor Mac Erca said to Patrick: "If I am preferred before my +brothers in the division of our land, I will offer some to you." And +Patrick gave to Bishop Olcan this part--_i.e._, Airther-Maighe. Patrick +said to Fergus: "Though thy esteem with thy brothers is not great to-day, +it is thou that shall be king. The kings of this land and of Fortren +shall be from thee for ever"; and this is what was fulfilled in Aedan Mac +Gabhrain, who possessed Alba by force. Patrick left many cells and +establishments in the territory of Dal-Riada. + +He founded Fothraidh, and left two of his people in it--viz., Presbyter +Cathbadh, and the monk Dimman; and he founded Rath-Mudhain, and left +Presbyter Erclach in it; he left Bishop Nem in Telach-Ceniul-Aenghusa; +Dachen-nindan in Domhnach-Cainri, in Cothraighe; Enan in Druim-Indich; +and Bishop Fiachra in Cuil-Echirainn. And Patrick blessed Dun-Sobhairce; +and Patrick's well is there, and he left a blessing upon it. + +He went afterwards to Dal-Araidhe. He found Caelbadh's twelve sons +before him. He proposed to found a place where Cill-glas is. He was +repelled from it; and it belongs to him yet; and he left two of his +people there--viz., Glaisiuc and Presbyter Libur. And he determined that +he would found a place where Lathrach-Patraic is. It is there Daniel, +Patrick's angel and dwarf, is. It is there Patrick's well is--_Slan_ is +its name--which Patrick discovered there. Saran, the son of Caelbad, +seized his hand to expel him; and Patrick took heaven and land from him. +Connia, the son of Caelbadh, however, received Patrick with humility, and +gave him Domhnach-Combair; and Patrick blessed him, and declared that +kings and chieftains should be of his race for ever. And he founded many +churches in Dal-Araidhe--viz., Domhnach-mor of Magh-Damhairne, and +Rath-Sithe (and he left two of his people there), and Telach-Conadain, +and Gluaire in Latharna (and Mac Laisre is in it). He founded +Glenn-indechta, and Imlech-[c]luana, in Semhne (where Caemhan was left), +and Rath-Escuip-Indich, in the territory of Ui-Erca-chein. + +After some time the aforesaid Saran bore off some men in captivity from +the district of Dal-Riada. Bishop Olcan met him, and the poor people +were grievously complaining to him. Olcan interceded, but it was of no +avail, unless he would assure heaven to Saran. "I cannot do so, indeed," +said he, "for Patrick has deprived thee of it." "I will kill thy people +about thee but thee alone," said he, "and I will slay all these captives; +and wherever I shall find a priest (tailcend), I shall bring him under +the edge of the sword." + +Whereupon Bishop Olcan promised him heaven. He came afterwards from the +north to offer submission to Patrick. It was reported to Patrick that +Bishop Olcan had promised baptism and heaven to the person to whom he had +denied them. They met to the north of Cluain-Fiachna, on the way, going +different directions. "The chariot over him," said Patrick. "It is not +allowable," said the charioteer, "that it should go over a bishop." He +told him (Bishop Olcan) that his establishment on earth would not be +high, and that it would be thrice destroyed; as was afterwards fulfilled, +for it was ruined by Scandal, King of Dal-Araidhe, and by Cucuaran, and +by fire also. "Laech-dich, son of Bresal, and his land, shall belong to +the young boy bearing the satchel," said Patrick, "one of thy own +people--_i.e._, Mac Nisse of Condere--and to one not born yet--_i.e._, +Senan of Inis-Altich. Thy merit in heaven will be illustrious." + +Saran's guilt it was that was here laid upon Bishop Olcan. Saran's +brother, Nadsluagh, was submissive to Patrick; and he was in captivity +on Patrick's arrival. "You shall have from me," said he, "the site of +your _regles_." "Where will you give it me?" asked Patrick. "On the +brink of the Bann, in the west," said Nadsluagh, "where the boys are +burning the _ratha_ (ferns)." "It shall be mine, truly," said Patrick; +"a descendant of mine and thine shall be there"--_i.e._, Bishop Coirpre, +son of Deggell, son of Nadsluagh; it is he that is in Cul-rathain, +on the eastern brink of the Bann. Bishop Brugach, who is in +Ratha-Maighe-Aenaigh, in Crich-Conaill, it was that conferred orders on +Bishop Coirpre. Patrick, also, it was that conferred orders on Bishop +Brugach; so that he (Bishop Coirpre) is a descendant of Patrick in this +wise. Patrick gave no malediction to any of the twelve sons of Caelbad, +except to the king alone--_i.e._, Saran. It was he that had acted +disobediently to him. It was on this occasion that Patrick brought with +him Bishop Guasacht, son of Milchu, from the territory of Dal-Araidhe; it +was he whom Patrick left in Granard, and the two Emirs also, Milchu's two +daughters; it is they that are in Cluam-Bronaigh, ut diximus. + +The way Patrick went was into the territory of Dal-Araidhe, across +Fertais-Tuama, to Ui-Tuirtre. He was forty nights in Finnobair, and +determined to build a city there for its suitability--Loch-Nechach being +on one side of it, and Sliabh-Calland on the other. Cairthen Mor, king +of the country, went to him, and ordered him off. He (Patrick) deprived +him and his children of the sovereignty. Patrick afterwards gave the +sovereignty to Cairthend Beg, who was in exile from his brother; and +Patrick baptized him, and blessed his wife and the being that was in her +womb. "My _debroth_," said Patrick, "the being that is in thy womb shall +be full of the grace of God; and it is I that twill bless a veil upon her +head." The woman was Mogan, daughter of Fergus Mor Mac Nissi, King of +Dal-Riada; and Trea, daughter of Cairthend, was the daughter who was in +her womb; and it was Patrick who blessed a veil on her head, as he +prophesied. The angels, moreover, that brought the veil from heaven, and +placed it on her head, down over her eyes; and Patrick began to raise it +up. "Why is it not good to leave it as it was placed?" asked Trea. "It +is good indeed," answered Patrick. She never saw anything during her +life except what she saw through that veil. + +Patrick had seven Domhnachs in Ui-Tuirtre--viz., Domhnach-Fainre, +Domhnach-Riascad, Domhnach-Fothirbe, Domhnach-Righduinn, Domhnach-Brain, +Domhnach-Maelain, Domhnach-Libuir. + +Where Patrick went afterwards was to Feara-Gabrae, and they were not +obedient to him. Patrick said that they would go afterwards with tribute +to his church in winter-time, and that extern tribes would get their +country; _quod impletum est_. Patrick went afterwards to Fera-Imchlair, +and he baptized and blessed them; and he left with them Cruimther Colum, +and Patrick's book of orations, and his bell therewith; they are +miraculous things unto this day. + +When Patrick concluded his triumphant career in the present life, as the +Apostle Paul said, "I have fought the good fight; I have finished my +course; I have kept the faith; as to the rest, there is laid up for me a +crown of justice, which the Lord the just judge will render to me in that +day," he received communion and sacrifice from Bishop Tassach. His +remains and relics are here regarded with honor and veneration by the +earthly church. Though great his honor and veneration on the earth, +greater still will they be in the Day of Judgment, when the fruit of his +preaching will be committed to him as to each other high apostle, with +the apostles and disciples of Jesus, in the union of the nine choirs of +angels, in the union of the Divinity and the Humanity of the Son of God, +in the unity which is nobler than all unity--in the unity of the Holy +Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I beseech mercy through the +intercession of Patrick. We ask that we may all ourselves obtain this +union _in soecula soeculorum_. Amen. + +[It should be observed that, at the commencement of each of the three +parts of the Tripartite Life, there are several pages of Latin, which +were intended by the author as a sort of introduction or preface to what +follows in each part. They are made up principally of Scriptural +quotations strung loosely together. These quotations have general +reference to the establishment of Christ's kingdom upon earth, and are +obviously intended to bear upon the happy introduction of Christianity +into Ireland through the labors of our glorious apostle. At the end of +each of the parts, in like manner, are some paragraphs, by way of +peroration, devoted chiefly to the praises of the great saint, who +dedicated the greater part of an unusually long life to the service of +God, by the regeneration of our pagan ancestors. The language of both +prefaces and perorations, whether corrupted by the copyists in +transcription, or originally so written, is a most barbarous Latin. For +the reasons indicated it has been deemed better to omit the pages alluded +to, merely giving a few words of the commencement of each. In the Irish +original, also, as was usual in early Irish manuscripts, there are a +considerable number of Latin quotations or sentences, which in some cases +have been translated, and in others given as they stood, without any +attempt to correct the style.] + + +PART III. + +Mirabilis Deus in sanctis suis. Spiritus Sanctus, a quo omne donum, et +gratiarum charismata utrique, et novi et veteris Testamenti Ecclesias, +data, haec protulit per os Regii Psalmistae Davidis filii, etc. + +Patrick left Presbyter Conaedh in Domnach-Airther-Maighe, in the +territory of Hy-Briuin of the north. He rested there on Sunday, and then +went after Patrick from that place as far eastwards as the wood. "What +brought you?" asked Patrick. "I cannot bear your absence, holy man," +said he. "No wonder," observed Patrick; "the place around thee is not +the place of a son of life, but a place for pig-eaters; the soil of the +place shall never be reddened" (which we have proved when Connacan, son +of Colman, son of Niall Frossach, went into the district with an army, +nine men moved off from a tree which Artifex, a pilgrim, selected. He +was beheaded; eight were liberated, however, in his land). + +Patrick went afterwards to Telach-Maine, and received a welcome from +Maine, son of Conlaedh, who humbled himself to him; and Patrick blessed +him, and blessed his wife, so that she was fruitful, and brought forth +two daughters. Patrick baptized them, and blessed veils on their heads, +and left a senior with them to instruct them. + +Patrick did not visit Ard-Macha on that occasion, but went into the +territory of Hy-Cremthand, where he founded churches and residences. One +time, as Patrick was coming from Clochar, from the north, his strong +man--_i.e._, Bishop Mac Carthend--carried him across a difficult place; +and after lifting up Patrick, he said: "Uch, uch." "My _debroth_," said +Patrick, "you were not accustomed to say that word." "I am old and +infirm," said Bishop Mac Carthend, "and you have left all my early +companions in churches, whilst I am still on the road." "I will leave +thee in a church," said Patrick, "that shall not be too near us for +familiarity, that shall not be too distant for intercourse between us." +And Patrick afterwards left Bishop Mac Carthend in Clochar, and the +Domhnach-Airgid with him, which was sent to Patrick from heaven when he +was on the sea coming to Erinn. + +Patrick went after that to Lemhuin. Finnabhair is the name of the hill +on which Patrick preached. Three days and three nights was he at the +preaching, and each day did not seem to them longer than one hour. Then +it was that Brigid slept at the preaching, and Patrick did not allow her +to be awakened. Patrick asked her afterwards what she had seen. She +said: "I saw fair synods and white oxen and fair cornfields; behind them +spotted oxen, and black oxen after these. I afterwards saw sheep and +pigs, and dogs and wolves, fighting amongst themselves. I saw +subsequently two stones, one little and the other big. A drop was shed +on each of them. The little stone increased at the 'drop,' and silvery +sparks burst from it. The large stone withered, moreover." "They were +the two sons of Eochaidh, son of Crimthann," said Patrick. Cairpre +Damhairgit believed, and Patrick blessed him, and blessed his seed. +Bresal, moreover, refused, and Patrick cursed him. Patrick also +explained the whole vision of Brigid in an admirable manner. + +He resuscitated Eochaidh, son of Crimthann, from death. Eochaidh +possessed a daughter--_i.e._, Cinnu--whom her father wished to marry to a +man of noble family--_i.e._, to the son of Cormac, son of Cairpre Mac +Neill; she, walking along, met Patrick with his companions on the way. +Patrick preached to her that she unite herself to the spiritual prophet; +and she believed, and Patrick instructed her, and baptized her, +afterwards. When her father was subsequently seeking for her, to give +her to her man, she and Patrick went to converse with him. Patrick +requested that he would permit her to wed the Eternal Spouse; Eochaidh +agreed to this, if heaven would be given to him therefor, and he himself +not be compelled to be baptized. Patrick then promised these two +conditions, though he thought it hard. The king afterwards consented +that his daughter--_i.e._, Cinnu--should be united to Christ, and Patrick +made her a female disciple to him, and commanded a certain virgin to +instruct her _i.e._, Cechtumbar of Druim-Dubhain, in which place both +virgins rest. + +After many years, moreover, the aforesaid Eochaidh reached the end of his +life; and when his friends would remain by him, he said: "Let me not be +buried," said he, "until Patrick comes." And when Eochaidh finished +these words, his spirit departed. Patrick, moreover, was at this time in +Ulster, at Sabhall-Patrick; and the death of Eochaidh was manifested to +him, and he decided on going to Clochar-mac-Daimhin, where he found +Eochaidh, who had been inanimate twenty-four hours. When Patrick went +into the house where the body was, he sent out the persons who were about +the body. He bent his knees to the Lord, and shed tears; and he prayed, +and said in a clear voice: "Rise, O King Eochaidh! in the name of +Almighty God"; and immediately, at the voice of the servant of God, he +arose. When he had composed himself, he spoke, and the grief and +lamentations of the people were changed to joy. And forthwith Patrick +instructed the king in the rule of faith, and baptized him. He also +commanded him, before the people, that he would describe the pains of the +impious and the joy of the saints, and that he would speak to the people, +that they might believe all that is said of the pains of hell and the +joys of the blest to be true. And he spoke of these things, as he was +commanded. And Patrick offered him a choice--_i.e._ fifteen years in +the chief kingship of his country, if he would live piously and +truthfully, or to go to heaven, if he preferred it. But the king said: +"Though the sovereignty of the entire globe were given to me, and though +I might live for many years, I would count it all as nothing in +comparison with the good shown to me. Hence it is that I pray more and +more that I may be freed from the miseries of the present life, and sent +to the eternal joys exhibited to me." To whom Patrick said, "Go in +peace, and journey to the Lord." Echu (or Eochaidh) gave thanks to God +in the presence of his people, and he commended his soul to the Lord and +Patrick, and his spirit departed to heaven. + +Where Patrick went afterwards was to the territory of Ui-Meith-Tire, to +Tech-Thalain; and he left Bishop Cilline there, and other holy men of his +people, and the relics of saints which he brought with him across the sea +from the east. Then it was that three robbers of Ui-Meith-Tire carried +off the second goat that was wont to be bringing water, and they came to +swear falsely to Patrick respecting him, but the goat cried from the +bodies of the three who had acted treacherously. "My _debroth_," said +Patrick, "the goat himself announces you as thieves. From this day forth +goats shall stick to your children and kindred"; which has been fulfilled. + +Eoghan, son of Brian, son of Muiredach, son of Imchadh, son of +Colla-fo-Crich, was King of Ui-Meith when the people believed, and he +(Patrick) blessed them. Eoghan besought Patrick to resuscitate his +grandfather, _i.e._, Muiredach. Patrick afterwards resuscitated him, and +buried him again in the Erende, on the borders of Mughorna and Ui-Meith; +but the place belongs to Mughorna. Then Patrick went into the district +of Mughorna, to Domhnach-Maighen especially. When Victor, who was in +that place, heard that Patrick had come to it, Victor went, to avoid +Patrick, from the residence to a thorny brake at the side of the town. +God performed a prodigy for Patrick. He lighted up the brake in the dark +night, so that everything therein was visible. Victor went afterwards to +Patrick, and gave him his submission; and Patrick gave him the church, +and imposed the degree of bishop on Victor, and left him in +Domhnach-Maighen. And Patrick blessed Mudhorna, and said that the most +illustrious of laics and clerics should be of them. And he bade farewell +to them, and left a blessing with them. Afterwards Patrick went to +Fera-Ros, to Enach-Conglais, where he remained a Sunday. There it was +that the Ui-Lilaigh gave the poison to Patrick in the lumps of curds. +Patrick blessed the pieces, and made stones of them. + +When Patrick went on Monday across the ford southwards, the Ui-Lilaigh +went with fifty horsemen upon the ford after him to slay him. Patrick +turned towards them upon the bank to the south of the ford, and he raised +his left hand, and said: "You shall neither come out of the ford here nor +go the other way; but you shall be in that water for ever." The water +immediately went over them. Ath-O'Lilaigh is the name of the ford for +ever, and the stone lumps are at Enach-Conglaise, in commemoration of the +miracle, to this present day. + +He afterwards went to Rath-Cuile, where he blessed the +Fera-Cuile--_i.e._, the Ui-Seghain. He went to Bile-Tortan after that, +and constructed a church for Presbyter Justin near Bile-Tortan, which is +near the community of Ard-Breccan. When Patrick was journeying to the +territory of Leinster from Domhnach-Tortan, he remained a night at +Drum-Urchaille. Patrick went afterwards to Naas. The site of his tent +is in the green of the fort, to the east of the road, and his well is to +the north of the fort (_dun_), where he baptized Dunlaing's two sons, +Ailill and Illann, and where he baptized Ailill's two daughters, Moghain +and Feidelm. And their father dedicated them to God and Patrick, from +their consecrated virginity, and he (Patrick) blessed the veil on their +heads. + +Messengers went from Patrick to call the steward of the fort of +Naas--_i.e._, Fallen. He avoided Patrick; and he pretended to be asleep, +through enmity and ridicule of Patrick. And Patrick was told that the +steward was asleep. "My _debroth_," said Patrick, "I should not be +surprised if it were his last sleep." His people went to awake him, and +they found him dead, through the disobedience he showed to Patrick. And +hence is the proverb amongst the Irish: "Fallen's sleep in the fort of +Naas." + +Dricriu was the King of Ui-Garchon at Patrick's coming, and the daughter +of Laeghaire Mac Neill was his wife. And he refused Patrick regarding +his feast at Rath-Inbhir, on Laeghaire's account. But Cilline gave him +welcome, and killed his own cow for him, and gave to Patrick the quantity +of flour that he brought for his support from the king's house, whereupon +he (Patrick) prophesied that Cilline's son should be king of Ui-Garchon. + +He went afterwards to Magh-Life, and founded cells and houses there; and +he left Usail in Cill-Usaille, and Iserninus and Mac Tail in +Cella-Cuilinn, and other saints. On his going into Western Life, the +sons of Laighis prepared water-pits in the way before him, and a covering +over them. "For God's sake," said the little boys, "drive on your +horses." "Drive on, then, for God's sake, your horses," said Patrick. +But no injury was done to them; and he cursed Laighis (_i.e._, Laighis, +son of Find) where Moin-Choluim is to-day; and Patrick said that there +would be neither a king nor a bishop from them, and that a foreign lord +should be over them for ever. + +Brig, the daughter of Fergnad, son of Cobtach, of the Ui-Ercain, went to +report to Patrick the enmity that was in store for him. Patrick blessed +her, and her father, and her brothers, and the Ui-Ercain altogether, and +he said that they would never be without distinguished laics and clerics +of them. + +Then Patrick alighted on the hillock which was then called +Bile-Mac-Cruaich; to-day, however, it is called Forrach-Patrick; and he +said that there would never be a foreign king or steward over them; and +when the King of Leinster would be distributing the feast in his royal +house, he would have one shin (of beef), and the King of Ui-Ercan the +other; they should have Patrick's respect, Patrick's _forrach_ (seat), +the dignity of laics and clerics, wealth, and immortality. Eight princes +they had up to the reign of Conchobhar, son of Donnchadh, in Tara. +Laighis, moreover, was the tribe-name of the youths who committed the +misdeed; and neither king nor bishop shall be from them, but strange +lords shall govern them, and they shall never have rest from persecution +and complaints. + +Patrick went from Tara until he met Dubhtach Mac Ui-Lugair at +Domhnach-mor of Magh-Criathar, in Ui-Cinnse-laigh, who believed for +Patrick. Patrick requested from him a handsome youth who would not be of +low family--a man of one wife, for whom but one son was born. "Hem," +said Dubhtach, "that is Fiacc, son of Ere, I am afraid--the man of those +qualities, who went from me to the territory of Connacht with poems for +the kings." At these words he (Fiacc) came. "What are you considering?" +asked Fiacc. "Dubhtach for the crozier," said Patrick. "That will be a +blemish to many, indeed," said Fiacc; "why should not I be taken in place +of him?" "You will be received, indeed," said Patrick. He was tonsured, +baptized, an alphabet was written for him, and he read his psalms in one +day, as has been related to me. He was ordained in the grade of bishop, +and the bishopric of Leinster was given to him by Patrick; and his only +son, Fiachra, was also ordained. This Fiacc was, therefore, the first +bishop ordained in Leinster. Patrick gave Fiacc a case--viz., a bell, a +reliquary, a crozier, and a book-satchel; and he left seven of his people +with him--viz., Mochatoc of Inis-Fail, Augustin of Inis-Bec, Tecan, and +Diarmait, and Nainnid, Paul, and Fedilmidh. + +He (Fiacc) afterwards resided in Domnach-Feic, and he was there until +threescore of his people died with him. Then the angel went to him, and +said to him: "It is on the west of the river (Barrow) thy (place of) +resurrection is, in Cul-maighe"; and he said that where they would meet a +boar, there they should build their refectory; but where they would meet +a hind, there they should place the church. Fiacc said to the angel that +he would not go until Patrick would come to mark out the boundary of his +place, and to consecrate it, and that he might get the place from him. +Patrick went then to Fiacc, and marked out his place with him, and fixed +his site. And Crimthan presented that place to Patrick, for it was +Patrick that baptized him; and it is in Sleibhte he is buried. It was +there, afterwards, Fiacc was ordained. + +They (the Ui-Ercan) were at that time persecuted by the King of Leinster, +Crimthann, son of Enna Ceinnselach, so that they went into exile. Of +them are the _manachs_ in Hy-Crimthann, and the _manachs_ in Ulster, and +Cenel-Enna in Munster. Of them is Fiacc, of whom we have spoken before. +Fiacc, Aengus, Ailill Mar, Conall, and Etirscel were five brothers. +Their father was the son of Ere. + +Through the action of Patrick, the king granted him (Fiacc) land, the +fifth part of his father's possessions, and thereon it was that he built +Sleibhte. + +The Aengus in question afterwards killed the king, Crimthann, son of Enna +Ceinnselach, to avenge his exile. In thirties and forties are the +churches which he gave to Patrick in the east of Leinster, and in +Ui-Cennselaigh, including Domnach-mor of Magh-Criathar and Inis-Fail, +where Mochonoc and Mochatoc are, and Erdit and Augustin in the smaller +island (but their shrines are in Sleibhte, since the place was occupied +by Gentiles); Domnach-mor of Magh-Reta. Patrick was a Sunday here +(_i.e._, in Domnach-mor of Magh-Reta), and they were on that Sunday +building Rath-Baccain, the royal fort of the district. Patrick sent to +prevent this, but no notice was taken thereof. Patrick said, "Its +building shall be troublesome, unless 'offering' is done there every +day." He also said that the fort would not be inhabited until the wind +(_gaeth_) would come from the lower part of hell. This was Gaithini, son +of Cinaed, who rebuilt the fort in the time of Fedhlimidh, and of +Conchobhar in Tara. + +After that Patrick had founded churches and establishments in Leinster, +moreover, he left a blessing upon Ui-Cennselaigh, and upon the +Leinstermen all; and he afterwards ordained Fiacc Find in Sleibhte, as +bishop of the province. + +He then went along Bealach-Gabhran, into the district of Ossory, and +founded churches and establishments there; and he said that distinguished +laics and clerics should be of them, and that no province should have +command over them, whilst they remained obedient to Patrick. Patrick +took leave of them afterwards, and he left the relics of holy men with +them, and some of his people, in the place where Martar-tech is this day +in Magh-Roighne. At Druim-Conchind, in Mairge, the cross-beam of +Patrick's chariot broke when he was going to Munster. He made another of +the wood of the _druim_. It broke immediately. He made one again, and +it broke also. Patrick said that there should never be any implement +made of the timber of that wood, which has been fulfilled, for even a pin +is not made of it. Patrick's Disert is there, but it is waste. + +Patrick went afterwards to the territory of Munster, to Cashel of the +Kings. When Aengus, son of Nadfraech, got up in the morning, all their +idols were prostrate; and Patrick and his people came to the side of the +fort, and he (Aengus) bade them welcome, and took them into the fort to +the place where Lee-Patrick is to-day. And Patrick after that baptized +the sons of Nedfraech, and the men of Munster besides, and left a +blessing and prosperity upon them. And he blessed the fort--_i.e._, +Cashel--and said that only one race should be there for ever. And he was +seven years in Munster. The learned calculate that he made an offering +on every seventh ridge that he traversed in Munster. + +When Patrick was baptizing Aengus, the point of the crozier went through +Aengus's foot. Patrick asked, "Why was it that you did not tell me?" +"Because," said he, "I thought it was the rule of the faith." "You shall +have its reward," said Patrick; "your successors from this day forth +shall not die of wounds." No one is King of Cashel until Patrick's +comarb ordains him and imposes the grade on him. Patrick said: + + "The sons of Nadfraech, of sounding fame, + Of them shall be kings and chieftains; + Aengus, from the lands of Feimhen, + And Ailill, his brother." + +And twenty-eight kings, of the race of Ailill and Aengus, reigned in +Cashel, ordained with the crozier, until the time of Cenngegan. + +Patrick went after this to Muscraidhe-Breogain, and founded churches and +establishments there. + +One day he was washing his hands at a ford there, when a tooth fell out +of his mouth into the ford. Patrick went upon the hillock to the north +of the ford; and persons went from him to look for the tooth, and +forthwith the tooth glistened in the ford like a sun; and Ath-fiaclai is +the name of the ford, and Cill-fiacia is the name of the church where +Patrick left the tooth and four of his people--viz., Cuircthe and Loscan, +Cailech and Bedan. He bade them (_i.e._, the Muscraidhe) farewell, and +left them a blessing. + +He went afterwards to Aradha-Cliach until he was in Iochtar-Cuillenn in +Ui-Cuanach; and Ailill, son of Cathbadh, son of Lughaidh, of the +Eoghanacht of Airther-Cliach, met him. His wife went on the hillock +where they (the clerics) were, and said: "The pigs have eaten our son +Ailill through savageness," said she. And Ailill said: "I will believe +if you resuscitate my son for me." Patrick commanded the boy's bones to +be collected, and he directed a Cele-De of his people--_i.e._, Malach +Britt--to resuscitate him. "I will not offend the Lord," said he. (He +was seized with doubt.) Patrick said: "That is pitiful, O Malach! thy +house on earth shall not be high; thy house shall be the house of one +man." His house is in the northeastern angle of the southern Deise; its +name is Cill-Malaich. Five persons can never be supported there. + +Patrick afterwards commanded Bishops Ibar and Ailbhe to resuscitate the +boy; and he prayed the Lord with them. The boy was afterwards +resuscitated through Patrick's prayers. The boy subsequently preached to +the hosts and multitudes in Patrick's presence. Ailill and his wife +thereupon believed; and all the Ui-Cuanach believed, and were baptized in +that place. And the seat of the four--_i.e._, of Patrick, Ailbhe, Bishop +Ibar, and the young boy--is in the place where the boy was resuscitated. +His father said: "God cures by the hand of the physician." Four persons +stole Patrick's horses southwards. Patrick forgave it. One of them was +a leech, whose name was Caencomhrac; another was a carpenter; another was +a bondman; but the fourth was a groom, whose name was Aedh. Patrick +called the latter, and blessed his hands, and told him that his name +should be Lamaedh from that day; and from him are the Lamhraighe. + +It was then that disease seized Ailill's wife, who was _enciente_, so +that death was nigh unto her. Patrick asked what was the matter. The +woman answered: "An herb I saw in the air, and I saw not the like of it +on the earth; and I shall die, or the being in my womb shall die, or we +shall both die, unless I taste that herb." Patrick asked her of what +kind was the herb. "Like rushes," said the woman. Patrick thereupon +blessed rushes, so that they were apparently the same. The woman then +ate them, and was forthwith whole; and after some time she gave birth to +a son, and blessed Patrick; and it is reported that Patrick said that all +women who should eat of this herb would be healed. + +He desired to remain by the side of Clar, at the fort of Coirpre and +Brocan, but he was not permitted; and Patrick said that there never would +be a king or bishop of the race of Colman, who opposed him. He also said +that the place would belong to himself afterwards, and left a man of his +people there, after a long period--_i.e._, Caemhan of Cill-Rath. + +Ibar then selected a place of residence in Grian, in Aradha-Cliach. Dola +opposed him. Patrick said that there would not be a house of his +(Dola's) there, or, if there should be, it would be only for (the lives +of) two or three. This was fulfilled. They (Dola's descendants) removed +to Airther-Cliach, and Dal-Modola is their name until this day. + +Nena went to him (Patrick), who refused to receive him, and said that he +would not be prosperous. No successors of his occupied the place there +since, but they are enslaved by Muscraighe-Mittine. "Menraighe" they are +called. + +As Patrick was leaving this place, the women of Grian came to bewail his +departure from them. Patrick blessed them, and said that the children +they would bear to extern tribes would be illustrious. + +Patrick was in Aradha-Cliach, at Tedil (the name of a hill). When he was +bidding farewell, two of his people remained behind. They were sent for, +and found asleep under a bush there. This was told to Patrick. "Here +their resurrection will be," said he; which is true. Muin and Lomchu +[who are] in Cill-Tidil [were left there] by Patrick. + +He went after this to Hy-Fidhgente, where Lonan, son of Mac Eire, +provided a banquet for him. Mullach-Cae, over against Carn-Feradhaigh on +the south; and a man of Patrick's people was preparing the banquet along +with the king--_i.e._, Deacon Mantan. A band of artists came up to +Patrick to solicit food, and would have no excuse. "Go to Lonan and to +Deacon Mantan, that they may relieve me," said Patrick. Who answered, +"No, until our banquet is blessed." Then Patrick said: + + "The youth who comes from the north, + To him is vouchsafed the triumph; + To Cothraige he comes, + With his little wether on his back." + + +At that very time came another youth, attended by his mother, carrying on +her back a cooked wether to the king's supper. Patrick begged of him to +give him the wether to save his honor. The son at once gave it +cheerfully, though the mother was unwilling to do so, through fear of the +king. Patrick gave the food to the players; and immediately the earth +swallowed them. Derc, son of Scirire, of the southern Desi, was their +chief; and Patrick said there would not be a king, or heir apparent, or +bishop of his family of Lonan for ever; and he assured Mantan, the +deacon, that his church would not be exalted on earth, but should be the +abode of the dregs of the people, and that swine and sheep would trample +on his own remains; but to Nessan, who had saved his honor, he promised +that he should be honored among the nations. And he baptized him, +ordained him deacon, and founded for him a church--_i.e._, Mungarit. His +mother excused herself, and he said she should not be buried in her son's +church. This came to pass, for her grave is to the west of Mungarit, and +the bell of the great church is not heard in that place; they are almost +together, only separated by a wall. + +The men of North Munster, to the north of Luimnech, went in fleets of +boats to meet Patrick southwards as far as Domhnach-mor of +Magh-Aine--_i.e._, to Dun-Nocfene, then and now so called; and he +baptized them in Tir-glass, to the southeast of it. He afterwards went +to Finnine, to the northwest of Domhnach-mor, a hill from which he could +see the country to the north of Luimnech, when he gave a blessing to the +men of North Munster, who had gone with a profusion of gifts to meet +Patrick. + +Cairthend, son of Blat, the senior of the Clann-Toirdhelb-haigh, believed +in the Lord, and Patrick baptized him at Sangul (_i.e._, a different +angel that went to converse with him that day, and not Victor). No +children were born to Cairthenn, except deformities, up to that time. It +was then that Eochu Ballderg was born to Cairthenn. Patrick that +procured this; and he formed a clot of gore, which was on his (Eochu's) +body, as a sign of that miracle. Patrick himself did not go into the +country, but he saw from him about Luimnech to the west and to the north; +and he blessed the district and its islands, and prophesied of the saints +who would appear in them, of their names, and the time in which they +would come. "The green island in the west," said Patrick, "in the mouth +of the sea; the lamp of the people of God shall come into it, who will be +the head of counsel to this district--_i.e._, Senan of Inis-Cathaigh--six +score years from this." (Senan, son of Gerrgenn, son of Dubhthach.) He +did not go across Luachair, indeed, into West Munster. He prophesied of +Brenainn, son of Ua-Altae, who was to be born 120 years after, which was +fulfilled. + +Patrick then went into the southern Desi, and set about building a church +in Ard Patrick; and Lec-Patrick (Patrick's flag) is there, and the limits +of his church. Derball, son of Aedh, opposed him. Derball said to +Patrick: "If you would remove that mountain there, so that I could see +Loch-Lunga across it to the south, in Fera-Maighe-Feine, I would +believe." Cenn-Abhrat is the name of the mountain, and Belach-Legtha +(melted pass) is the name of the pass which was melted there. When the +mountain began to dissolve, Derball said that whatever he (Patrick) did +would be of no use. Patrick said to Derball: "There shall be no king nor +bishop of your family, and it will be allowable to the men of Munster to +plunder you all every seventh year for ever as bare as a leek." + +As Patrick was in the district of the Desi, awaiting the king of the +country--_i.e._, Fergair, son of Rossa--Patrick said to him, after his +arrival: "How slowly you come!" "The country is rough" [said he]. "True +indeed," said Patrick. "There shall be no king from you for ever. What +delayed you to-day?" asked Patrick. "The rain delayed us," said the +king. "Your meetings shall be showery for ever," said Patrick. +Patrick's well is there, and also the church of Mac Clairidh, one of +Patrick's people. And assemblies are not held by the Desi except at +night, because Patrick left that sentence upon them, for it was towards +night they went to him. Patrick then cursed the streams of that place, +because his books were drowned in them, and the fishermen gave his people +a refusal. Patrick said that they would not be fruitful, and that there +would never be any mills upon them, except the mills of strangers, +notwithstanding their great profusion up to that time. He blessed the +Suir, moreover, and the country around; and it is fruitful in fish, +except the places where those streams (_glaise_) flow into it. + +Patrick went into Muscraighe-thire, and to preach and plant the faith +there. He met three brothers of that nation, men of power--Furic and +Muinnech and Mechar, the sons of Forat, son of Conla. Muinnech believed +at once, and Patrick baptized and blessed him, and said that illustrious +heroes and clerics should descend from him for ever; and that the chief +kingship of his country should be [filled up] from him for ever, as the +poet said: + + "Muinnech the Great believes + In Patrick, before all; + That there might be over his country + Chieftains of his race for ever. + + "Mechair believed, + For he was a true, just man. + Patrick gave him a lasting blessing-- + The companionship of a king. + + "Fuirec, the furious man, + Opposed, though he was hoary and old; + His ultimate fate, after this world, + Is not to be deplored. + + "When Cothraige imposed + A tribute (_cain_) upon noble Eri, + On the host of this island + He conferred a lasting blessing. + + "Choice was this blessing + Which he conferred seven-fold + On each one who would observe + His plain rule, his law. + + "Whoever would disobey + The noble, just rule, + Should not see him, he said, + In the region of the saints. + + "Patrick's _cain_ in great Munster + Was imposed on each family, + Until Dungalach violated it, + [Who was] of the race of Failbhe Flann. + + "Dungalach, son of Faelghus, + Grandson of just Nadfraech, + Was the first who transgressed + Patrick's _cain_ from the beginning. + + "It is related in histories, + All ages know it, + That his successorship is not found + In Cashel of the Kings. + + "There is not of his progeny + (Though he won battles) + A noble bishop or herenagh, + A prince or a sage. + + "Saergus the Young, also-- + * * * * * + Violated the _cain_ he had adopted, + For the vehement Dungalach. + + "It is seen that illustrious men + Are not of his wondrous family; + If there are now, they will not + Be found till judgment comes." + + +Now, after that Patrick had founded cells and churches in Munster, and +had ordained persons for every grade, and healed all sick persons, and +resuscitated the dead, he bade them farewell, and left his blessing with +them. He then went to Brosnacha, and the men of Munster followed after +him, as if with one accord; and their households (hillocks? _telcha_) +followed them, to go after Patrick. Patrick thereupon blessed the +households (hillocks?), and they remained in their places. + +Where the men of Munster overtook Patrick, men, youths, and women, was at +Brosnacha, when they raised great shouts of joy at seeing him; hence it +is called Brosnacha. It was here Patrick resuscitated Fot, son of Derad, +a Munsterman, who had been twenty-seven years dead. It was here, too, he +blessed the banquet of the youth at Craibhecha, with Bishop Trian, a +pilgrim of the Romans, by which the men of Munster were satisfied, and +the saints of Eri besides. He again bade farewell to the men of Munster, +and gave them his blessing, saying: + + "A blessing on the men of Munaani + Men, sons, women. + A blessing on the land + That gives them food. + A blessing on all treasures + Produced upon the plains. + A blessing upon Munster. + A blessing on their woods + And on their sloping plains. + A blessing on their glens. + A blessing on their hills. + As the sands of the seas under ships-- + So numerous be their homesteads, + In slopes, in plains, + In mountains, in peaks, + A blessing." + + +Patrick afterwards went to the territory of Hy-Failge, and Foilge Berrad +boasted that, if he met Patrick, he would kill him, in revenge of the +idol Cenn Cruach; for it was this that was a god to Foilge. This boast +of Foilge was kept back from Patrick by his people. One day Odran, his +charioteer, said to Patrick: "Since I have been a long time driving for +you, O Patrick! let me take the chief seat for this day. Be you the +charioteer, O father!" Patrick did so. After this Foilge came, who +dealt a thrust through Odran, in the guise of Patrick. "My curse," said +Patrick. "Upon the tree of Bridam," said Odran. "Be it so," replied +Patrick. Foilge died at once, and went to hell. As to Foilge Ross, +indeed, it is his children who are in the district at this day; and +Patrick blessed him, and from him is the sovereignty of the district +filled for ever. + +On one occasion, as Patrick was going the way of Midluachair, in order to +come to Uladh, he met carpenters cutting down trunks of yew. Patrick saw +their blood ooze from their palms in the operation. "Whence are ye?" +said Patrick. "We are slaves belonging to Trian, son of Fiac, son of +Amalgad--_i.e._, brother to Trichem--who are in subjection and +affliction, so much so that we are not allowed to sharpen our axes +(irons), in order that our work may be the heavier and more difficult, so +that blood flows from our hands." Patrick blessed the irons, so that +they could easily cut with them; and he went to the king, to Trian's +fort. Patrick fasts on him. He disobeyed. He returns on the morrow +from the fort. He spat on the rock which was there on his way, so that +it broke into three pieces; one third part was cast to a distance of one +thousand paces. Patrick said: "Two-thirds of the fast on the rock, +another third on the fort and king, and on the district. There will not +be a king nor _roydamhna_ of the children of Trian. He shall die +prematurely himself, and shall go down to a bitter hell." The wife of +the king came, following Patrick. She performed penance, and knelt. +Patrick blessed her womb and the beings in it--_i.e._, Setna, son of +Trian, and Iarlaid, son of Trian. Sechnall that baptized Setna, Patrick +that baptized Iarlaid, and Patrick said that he would be his successor +afterwards. Trian himself proceeded to bind and maltreat the slaves who +reported him. His horses bore him off in the chariot, and his driver, so +that they went into the lake. Loch-Trena is its name. This was his last +fall. He will not arise out of the lake till the vespers of judgment; +and it will not be to happiness even then. There was a certain wicked +man in the country of Uladh--_i.e._, Magh-Inis--at that time, an impious +man, and a son of death--_i.e._, Mac Cuill--who was plundering and +killing the people. On one occasion Patrick and his companions passed by +him a certain day, and he desired to kill Patrick. This is what he (Mac +Cuill) said to his followers: "Behold the _tailcenn_ and false prophet, +who is deceiving every one; let us arise and make an attack on him, to +see if perhaps his God will assist him." This is what they planned +afterwards: to bring one of their people on a bier, as if dead, to be +resuscitated by Patrick, and to deceive Patrick; and they threw a cover +over his body and over his face. "Cure," said they to Patrick, "our +companion for us, and beseech your God to awake him from death." "My +_debroth_," said Patrick, "I would not wonder if he were dead." Garban +was the name of the man; and it is of him Patrick said: "The covering of +Garban shall be the covering of a dead body; but I shall tell you more: +it is Garban who will be under it." His friends removed the covering +from his face, so that they found it so. They afterwards became mute, +and then said: "Truly this is a man of God." They all believed at once. +Mac Cuill believed also; and he went on sea in a cot of one hide, by the +command of Patrick. Garban was awakened from death through the prayers +of Patrick. Mac Cuill, however, went that very day on sea, and his right +hand towards Magh-Inis, until he reached Manann; and he found two +venerable persons before him on the island. It was they who preached the +word of God in Manann, and it is through their teaching that the people +of that island were baptized and believed; their names are Coninnri and +Romael. When those men saw Mac Cuill in his cot, they took him off the +sea; they received him kindly; and he learned the divine knowledge with +them, and spent his whole time with them, until he got the episcopacy of +the place after them. This is Mac Cuill, of Mann, famous bishop and +abbot. May his holy favor assist us! + +One time Patrick slept on a Sunday, on a hill over the sea, at Drombo, +when he heard the noise of Gentiles digging a rath on the Sabbath. He +called them, and told them to cease. They heeded him not, but began to +mock him. And Patrick said: "My _debroth_, your labor shall not profit +you." This was fulfilled; for on the following night a great tempest +arose and destroyed their work, according to the word of Patrick. + +Patrick said to Eochaidh, son of Muiredach that there should never be a +king from him, nor enough of his race to constitute an assembly or army +in Ulster, but that his tribe would be scattered and dispersed, that his +own life would be short, and that he would meet a tragic fate. This was +the cause Patrick had against Eochaidh, as the learned say: Two virgins, +who had offered their virginity to the Lord, he bound and sent on the +waves to be drowned, as they refused to adore idols and to marry. When +Patrick heard this, he besought the king regarding them, but in vain. +"Your brother Cairell has got thy luck, since he granted me a good +request," said Patrick, "and you have lost it through your disobedience. +He (Cairell) shall be a king, and there shall be kings and chiefs of his +race over your children and over all Ulster"; so that of him sprang the +race of kings, and of his son Deman, son of Cairell, son of Muiredhach, +according to the words of Patrick. Eochaidh's wife cast herself at the +feet of Patrick. He baptized her, and blessed the child in her +womb--_i.e._, the excellent and illustrious son, Domangart, the son of +Eochaidh. He it was whom Patrick left in his body, and he will be there +for ever. He turned back to the Fera-Ross, and commenced a church in +Druim-Mor, in the territory of Ross, over Cluain-Cain. It was here the +angel went to him and said: "It is not here you have been destined to +stay." "Where shall I go?" said Patrick. "Pass on to Macha northwards," +said the angel. "The _cluain_ below is fairer," replied Patrick. "Be +its name Cluain-Cain" (_fair cluain_), answered the angel. "A pilgrim of +the Britons shall come and occupy there, and it shall be yours +afterwards." "_Deo gratias ago_," said Patrick. Where Patrick went then +was to Ard-Phadraig, on the east of Lughmadh, and he proposed to build an +establishment there. The Dal-Runter went after him to keep him, as one +presented him to another. He blessed them afterwards, and prophesied +that distinguished chiefs and clerics should be of them, and that they +should have possessions outside their territory, because they went forth +out of their own country after him. Patrick used to come every day from +the east, from Ard-Phadraig, and Mochta used to come from the west, from +Lughmadh, that they might converse together every day at Leac-Moctae. +One day the angel placed an epistle between them. Patrick read the +epistle, and what was in it was: "Mochta, the devoted, the believing, let +him be in the place he has taken." Patrick goes, by the order of his +king, to smooth Macha, and he assigned the twelve lepers left in +Ard-Phadraig to Mochta, and their food used to be given to them each +night by Mochta. Patrick went afterwards to the _macha_, by order of the +angel, to a place where Rath-Daire is this day. There was a certain +prosperous and venerable person there. Daire was his name--_i.e._, +Daire, son of Finchad, son of Eogan, son of Niallan. Patrick asked for a +site for his _regles_ from him. Daire answered: "What place do you +desire?" "In this great hillock below," says Patrick, where Ardmacha is +to-day. "I will not give it," said Daire, "but I will give you a site +for your _regles_ in the strong rath below," where the _ferta_ are +to-day. Patrick founded a church there, and remained a long time. One +day two steeds of Daire's were brought to him, to his _regles_, for the +_relig_ was grassy. Patrick became very angry. The horses died at once. +His servant told this to Daire, saying: "That Christian," said he, +"killed your steeds, because they ate the grass that was in his +_regles_." Daire was angry at this, and ordered his servants to plunder +the cleric, and expel him from his place--_i.e._, the _ferta_. A colic +seized on Daire immediately, so that death was near him. His wife +recalled the plunder of Patrick, and told Daire that the cause of his +death was the attack on Patrick. She sent messengers to beg prayer-water +for Daire from Patrick. Patrick said: "Only for what the woman has done, +there would never be any resurrection from death for Daire." Patrick +blessed the water, and gave it to the servants, with orders to have it +sprinkled over the horses and over Daire. They did so, and immediately +they all returned from death. A brazen caldron was brought to Patrick as +an offering from Daire. "_Deo gratias_," said Patrick. Daire asked his +servants what Patrick said. They answered, "_Gratzicum_." "This is +little reward for a good offering and a good caldron," said Daire. He +ordered his cauldron to be brought to him. "_Deo gratias_," said +Patrick. Daire asked what Patrick said when they were bringing the +caldron from him. The servants answered: "It was the same thing he said +when we were bringing it away from him--_Gratzicum_." "This is a good +word with them, this _Gratzicum_," said Daire; "_Gratzicum_ when giving +it to him, and _Gratzicum_ when taking it away from him." Daire and his +wife then went with his submission to Patrick, and gave Patrick the +caldron willingly back again, and the hill which he before asked; and +Patrick accepted and blessed them, and founded a church in that place +called Ard-Macha. Patrick and his divines, and Daire, with the nobles of +Airther besides, came to the hill to mark out its boundaries, and to +bless it, and consecrate it. They found a doe, with its fawn, in the +place where the Sabhall is to-day, and his people went to kill it. +_Prohibuit Patricius, et dixit, "Serviat sibi postea_," and sent it out +of the hill northward, to the place where Telac-na-licce is to-day, _ibi +magna mirabilia fecit_. + +Daire's daughter loved the person Benen; sweet to her was the sound of +his voice in chanting. Disease seized her, so that she died of it. +Benen carried _cretra_ to her from Patrick, and she suddenly afterwards +arose alive, and loved him spiritually. She is Ercnait, the daughter of +Daire, who is in Tamlaght-bo. + +One time there came nine daughters of the King of the Longbards and the +daughter of the King of Britain on a pilgrimage to Patrick; they stopped +at the east side of Ard-Macha, where Coll-na-ningean is to-day. There +came messengers from them to Patrick to know if they should proceed to +him. Patrick said to the messengers that three of the maidens would go +to heaven, and in that place (_i.e._, Coll-na-ningean) their sepulchre +is. "And let the other maidens go to Druim-fenneda, and let one of them +proceed as far as that hill in the east." And so it was done. + +Cruimthir went afterwards, and occupied Cengobd; and Benen used to carry +fragments of food to her every night from Patrick. And Patrick planted +an apple-tree in Achadh-na-elti, which he took from the fort, in the +north of the place--_i.e._, Cengoba; and hence the place is called +Abhall-Patrick, in Cengoba. It was the milk of this doe, moreover, that +used to be given to the lap-dog that was near the maiden--_i.e._, +Cruimthir. + +Another time, when Patrick was at rest in the end of night, at +Tiprad-Cernai, in Tir-Tipraid, the angel went to him and awoke him. +Patrick said to him: "Is there anything in which I have offended God, or +is His anger upon me?" "No," said the angel; "and you are informed from +God," added the angel, "if it is it you desire, that there shall be no +share for any else in Eriu, but for you alone. And the extent of the +termon of your see from God is to Droma-Bregh, and to Sliabh-Mis, and to +Bri-Airghi." Patrick replied: "My _debroth_, truly," said Patrick, "sons +of life will come after me, and I wish they may have honor from God in +the country after me." The angel responded: "That is manifest. And God +gave all Eriu to you," said the angel, "and every noble that will be in +Eriu shall belong to you." "_Deo gratias_," said Patrick. + +Patrick was enraged against his sister--_i.e._, Lupait--for committing +the sin of adultery, so that she was pregnant in consequence. When +Patrick came into the church from the eastern side, Lupait went to meet +him, until she prostrated herself before the chariot, in the place where +the cross is in Both-Archall. "The chariot over her," said Patrick. The +chariot passed over her thrice, for she used still to come in front of +it; so that where she went to heaven was at the Ferta; and she was buried +by Patrick, and her _ecnaire_ (requiem) was sung. Colman, grandson of +Ailill, of the Ui-Bresail, that fixed his attention on Lupait at Imduail. +Aedan, son of Colman, saint of Inis-Lothair, was the son of Lupait and +Colman. Lupait implored of Patrick that he would not take away heaven +from Colman with his progeny. Patrick did not take it away; but he said +they would be sickly. Of the children of this Colman, moreover, are the +Ui-Faelain and Ui-Dubhdara. + +One time Patrick's people were cutting corn in Trian-Conchobhair. They +were seized with great thirst, whereupon a vessel of whey was taken to +them from Patrick, who persuaded them to observe abstinence from tierce +to vesper time. It happened that one of them died; and he was the first +man that was buried by Patrick--_i.e._, Colman Itadach, at the cross by +the door of Patrick's house. What Patrick said when it was told to him +was: "My _debroth_, there will be abundance of food and ale and +prosperity in this city after us." + +Once the angels went, and took from off the road the stone which was +before the chariot, and its name is Lec-na-naingel. It was from that +place--_i.e._, from Druim-Chaile--that Patrick with his two hands blessed +the _macha_. The way in which Patrick measured the rath--_i.e._, the +angel before him, and Patrick behind, with his people, and with the holy +men of Eriu, and the Bachall Isa in Patrick's hand. And he said that +great would be the crime of any one who would transgress in it, as the +reward would be great of such as fulfilled the will of God in it. + +The way in which Patrick measured the _ferta_ was thus, viz., one hundred +and forty feet in the _lis_, and twenty feet in the great house, and +seventeen feet in the kitchen, and seven feet in the chamber; and it was +thus he always constructed the establishment. + +The angel went to Patrick in Ard-Macha. "This day," said he, "the relics +of the apostles are distributed in Rome throughout the four parts of the +globe; and it would be becoming in you that you should go there." And +the angel bore Patrick in the air. At the southern cross, in +Aenach-Macha, it was that four chariots were brought to Patrick; at the +northern cross, moreover, it was that God manifested to him the form he +will have in the Day of Judgment. And he went in one day to +Comur-tri-nuisce. He left Sechnall in the episcopacy with the men of +Eriu until the ship would come which would bear him from the shore of +Letha. + +Patrick went subsequently, and arrived at Rome; and sleep came over the +inhabitants of Rome, so that Patrick brought away a sufficiency of the +relics. These relics were afterwards taken to Ard-Macha with the consent +of God and with the consent of the men of Eriu. + +What was brought were the relics of three hundred and sixty-five martyrs, +and the relics of Peter and Paul, and Lawrence, and Stephen, and of many +more; and a cloth in which was the blood of Christ and the hair of the +Virgin Mary. Patrick left this collection in Armagh, according to the +will of God, of the angel, and of the men of Eriu. + +His relics--the relics of Letha--were stolen from Patrick. Messengers +went from him to the Abbot of Rome. They brought an epistle from him, +directing that they should watch the relics with lamps and torches by +night for ever, and with Mass and psalmody by day, and prayers by night, +and that they should elevate them every year (for multitudes desired to +see them). + +Two brothers of the Ulstermen, Dubhan and Dubhaedh, stole Patrick's two +garrons from the land (_tir_) to the east of the Nemhed +(Tir-suidhe-Patrick is its name). They carried them off into the moor to +the south. Dubhan said; "I will not take what belongs to the +_tailcenn_." "I will take what comes to me," said Dubhaedh. Dubhan went +and did penance. "Your comrade's journey is not a good one," said +Patrick. He got a fall, so that his head was broken, and he died. +Dubhan became a disciple, and was ordained; and Patrick said: "Here thy +resurrection shall be." Another time, in carrying a bag of wheat from +Setna, son of Dallan, to Patrick, the manna which dropped from heaven, in +a desert place, over Druim-mic-Ublae, Patrick's horse [fell] under it. A +grain of the wheat dropped out of the bag, and the horse could not rise +until there came from Patrick. "This is the reason," said Patrick +through prophecy, "a grain of wheat that fell out of the sack, in the +spot where the cross is on the way southwards to the Nemhed." "Nenihed +then will be the name of the place where the horse stopped," said +Patrick; and so it is. + +Another time Sechnall went to Armagh, and Patrick was not there. He saw +before him two of Patrick's horses unyoked, and he said: "It were fitter +to send those horses to the bishop--_i.e._, to Fiacc." When Patrick +returned, this thing was told to him. The chariot was attached to the +horses; and he sent them on without a man with them until they were in +the disert with Mochta. They went right-hand-wise on the morrow to +Domhnach-Sechnaill. They then went eastwardly to Cill-Auxili. They went +afterwards to Cill-monach; then, after that, to Fiacc to Sleibhte. The +reason for giving the chariot to Fiacc was because he used to go every +Whit-Saturday as far as the hill of Druim-Coblai, where he had a cave. +Five cakes with him, as report says. On Easter-Saturday he used to come +to Sleibhte, and used to bring with him a bit of his five cakes. The +cause of giving the chariot to Fiacc was that a chafer had gnawed his +leg, so that death was nigh unto him. + +Sechnall said to Patrick: "When shall I make a hymn of praise for thee?" +"You are not required," observed Patrick. "I have not said to thee, +'Shall it be done?'" said Sechnall, "for it will be done, truly." "My +_debroth_," said Patrick, "it is time it were finished now"; for Patrick +knew that it would not be long until Sechnall's time [arrived], for he +was the first bishop who went under the clay of Eriu. + +When he was composing the hymn, they were holding an assembly near him. +It was commanded to them from him that they should go away from the +place. They began to mock him. He told them that the ground would +swallow them; and it swallowed twelve chariots of them at once. Sechnall +said to Patrick's people at Ferta-Marta: "A good man is Patrick, but for +one thing." When he heard these words with his people, he asked Sechnall +for the previous message, and Sechnall said; "O my lord! the reason I +have said it is because little do you preach of charity." "Young man," +said Patrick, "it is for charity that I preach not charity; for if I did +preach it, I would not leave a stud of two chariot horses to any of the +saints, present or future, in this island; for all belong to me and them." + +Sechnall went with his hymn to Patrick, and Patrick went along +Belach-Midhluachra into the territory of Conaille. He returned along the +mountain westwards. He met Sechnall. They saluted one another. "I +should like that you would hear a [hymn of] praise which I have made for +a certain man of God," said Sechnall. "The praise of the people of God +is welcome," answered Patrick. Sechnall thereupon began "Beata Christi +custodit," fearing that Patrick would prohibit him at once if he heard +his name. When he sang "Maximus namque," Patrick arose. The place where +he sang so far is called Elda. "Wait," said Sechnall, "until we reach a +secret place which is near us; it is there the remainder will be +recited." Patrick enquired on the way how "Maximus in regno coelorum" +could be said of a man. Sechnall replied: "It [_maximus_] is put for the +positive [_magnus_]," or because he excelled the men of his race of the +Britons or Scoti. They came then to a place called Dal-Muine, where he, +Patrick, prayed and sat; and Sechnall afterwards sang the remainder of +the hymn; and Patrick heard his name, and thereupon thanked him. Three +pieces of cheese, and butter, were brought up to him from a religious +couple--viz., Berach and Brig. "Here is for the young men," said the +woman. "Good," said Patrick. A druid came there, whose name was +Gall-drui ("foreign druid"), who said: "I will believe in you if you +convert the pieces of cheese into stones"; which God performed through +Patrick. "Again convert them into cheese"; and he did. "Convert them +into stones again"; and he did. "Convert them again." Patrick said: +"No, but they will be as they are, in commemoration, until the servant of +God, who is Dicuill of the Ernaidhe, shall come here." The druid +(_magus_) believed. + +Patrick flung his little bell under a dense bush there. A birch grew +through its handle. This it was that Dicuill found, the _betechan_, +Patrick's bell--a little iron bell--which is in the Ernaidhe of Dicuill. +And two of the stones made of the cheese are there; the third one was, +moreover, carried by Dicuill to Lughmagh when he was abbot there. It is +to-day in Gort-Conaidh. + +Sechnall asked something for the hymn. "As many as there are hairs in +your _casula_," said Patrick, "if they are pupils of yours, and violate +not rules, shall be saved. The clay of your abode has also been +sanctified by God," said Patrick. "That will be received," said +Sechnall. "Whosoever of the men of Eriu," said Patrick, "shall recite +the three last chapters, or the three last lines, or the three last +words, just before death, with pure mind, his soul will be saved." "_Deo +gratias ago_," said Sechnall. Colman Ela recited it in his refectory +thrice. Patrick stood in the middle of the house, when a certain +plebeian asked, "Have we no other prayer that we could recite except +this?" And Patrick went out afterwards. Cainnech, on the sea, in the +south, saw the black cloud of devils passing over him. "Come here on +your way," said Cainnech. The demons subsequently came, stating, "We +went to meet the soul of a certain rich rustic observing the festival of +Patrick; but his sons and people ate, and he sang two or three chapters +of the hymn of Patrick; and, by your dignity, we thought it more a satire +than praise of Patrick as they sang it; but by it we have been +vanquished." + +The miracles of Patrick are these--viz.: The hound in the territory of +Gailenga, at Telach-Maine; the buck speaking out of the bodies of the +thieves in the territory of Ui-Meith; the travelling of the garron +without any guide to Druimmic-Ublae, when he lay down beside the grain of +wheat; the chariot, without a charioteer, [going] from Armagh to +Sleibhte; the appearance of the King of Britain in the form of a fox in +his country, an ever-living miracle; a part of Aenach-Tailten, from which +nothing dead is taken; the King of Cashel not to be killed by wounding, +provided that he be of the race of Aenghus, son of Nad-fraech; these bare +residences not to lie demolished--viz., Rath-Airthir, and Sen-domhnach of +Magh-Ai ("_Eccor Sen-domhnaigh_" is an old saying); Dun-Sobhairce charmed +to the herenaghs--viz., an altar-sop with the Forbraige; and the +_dominica_ of Naas, and Magh-itir-da-glas in Macha; the navigation from +Bertlach to Bertlach of Calry-Cuile-Cernadha; the streams which the +_gilla_ blessed at Drob-hais; the take [of fish] at Eastern Bann; the +take at Sligo every quarter [of the year]; the Samer, which goes from the +loughs of Erne to the sea--its eastern half, against Cenel-Conaill, is +fruitful; its western part, towards Cenel-Cairbre, is unfruitful, through +Patrick's word; Finn-glas, at the martyr-house of Druim-Cain, and +Druim-Cruachni; the taking of his kingship from Laeghaire, from Cairbre, +from Fiacha, from Maine; the grant of his kingship to Eoghan, to Conall, +to Crimthann, to Conall Erball; the smiths making the bells--_i.e._, Mac +Cecht, and Cuana, and Mac Tail; the artificers making the dishes and +reliquaries and the altar chalices--viz., Tassach, and Essa, and Bitiu; +the nuns making the altar-cloths--viz., Cochnass, and Tigris, and Lupait, +and Darerca. + +After these great miracles, however, the day of Patrick's death and of +his going to heaven approached. What he began to do was to go to Armagh, +that it might be there his resurrection would be. The angel Victor came +to him. What he said to Patrick was: "It is not there thy resurrection +has been decreed; go back to the place from whence you came (_i.e._, to +the Sabhall), for it is there God has decreed that you shall die--not in +Macha. God has granted thee," said the angel, "that thy dignity and +rule, thy devotion and teaching, shall be in Ard-Macha, as if thou +thyself wert alive there." + +The angel left advice with Patrick as to how he would be buried, saying: +"Let two young, active oxen be brought," said he, "of the herds of +Conall, from Finnabndir--_i.e._, from Clochar; and let your body be +placed in a wagon after them; and what way soever these young oxen go by +themselves, and the place where they will stop, let it be there your +interment shall be; and let there be a man's cubit in your grave, that +your remains be not taken out of it." It was so done after his death. +The oxen carried him to the place where to-day is Dun-da-leth-glas; and +he was buried there with all honor and respect. And for a space of +twelve nights--_i.e._, whilst the divines were waking him with hymns and +psalms and canticles--there was no night in Magh-inis, but angelic light +there; and some say there was light in Magh-inis for the space of a year +after Patrick's death, quia nulli adanti viri meritum declarandum +accidisse dubium est, et ita non visa nox in tota ilia regione in tempore +luctus Patricii, qualiter Ezechiae langenti in horologio Achaz +demonstrato sanitatis indicio, sol per xv lineas reversus est, et sic sol +contra Gabon, et luna contra vallem Achilon stetit. + +In the first night the angels of the Lord of the elements were watching +Patrick's body with spiritual chants. The fragrant odors of the divine +grace which issued from the holy body, and the music of the angels, gave +tranquillity and joy to the chief clerics of the men of Erin who were +watching the body on the nights following; so that the blessing of Jacob +to his son was kept regarding him--_i.e._, "Ecce odor filii mei sicut +odor agri pleni, quem benedixit dicens," etc. + +There was, moreover, a great attempt at conflict and battle between the +provinces of Erin--viz., the Ulidians and the Ui-Neill and +Airghialla--contending for Patrick's body. The Airghialla and Ui-Neill +were trying to take it to Ard-Macha; the Ulidians were for keeping it +with themselves. Then the Ui-Neill went to a certain water [river] +there, when the river rose against them through the power of God. When +the flood left the river, the hosts proceeded to quarrel--viz., the +Ui-Neill and the Ulidians. It appeared then to each party of them that +they were bringing the body to their own country, so that God separated +them in this wise through the grace of Patrick. + +The miracles so far shall be unto to-day. They are the miracles which +the divines of Eriu heard, and which they put into order of narration. +Colum-Cille, the son of Fedhlimidh, firstly, narrated and compiled the +miracles of Patrick; Ultan, the descendant of Conchobhar; Adamnan, the +grandson of Atinne; Eleran the wise; Ciaran of Belach-Duin; Bishop +Ermedach of Clogher; Colman Uamach; and Cruimther Collaith of +Druim-Roilgech. + +A just man, indeed, was this man; with purity of nature like the +patriarchs; a true pilgrim like Abraham; gentle and forgiving of heart +like Moses; a praiseworthy psalmist like David; an emulator of wisdom +like Solomon; a chosen vessel for proclaiming truth like the Apostle +Paul. A man full of grace and of the knowledge of the Holy Ghost like +the beloved John. A fair flower-garden to children of grace; a fruitful +vine-branch. A sparkling fire, with force of warmth and heat to the sons +of life, for instituting and illustrating charity. A lion in strength +and power; a dove in gentleness and humility. A serpent in wisdom and +cunning to do good. Gentle, humble, merciful towards sons of life; dark, +ungentle towards sons of death. A servant of labor and service of +Christ. A king in dignity and power for binding and loosening, for +liberating and convicting, for killing and giving life. + +After these great miracles, therefore--_i.e._, after resuscitating the +dead; after healing lepers, and the blind, and the deaf, and the lame, +and all diseases; after ordaining bishops, and priests, and deacons, and +people of all orders in the Church; after teaching the men of Eriu, and +after baptizing them; after founding churches and monasteries; after +destroying idols and images and druidical arts--the hour of death of St. +Patrick approached. He received the Body of Christ from the bishop, from +Tassach, according to the advice of the angel Victor. He resigned his +spirit afterwards to heaven, in the one hundred and twentieth year of his +age. His body is here still in the earth, with honor and reverence. +Though great his honor here, greater honor which will be to him in the +Day of Judgment, when judgment will be given on the fruits of his +teaching, like every great apostle, in the union of the apostles and +disciples of Jesus; in the union of the nine orders of angels, which +cannot be surpassed; in the union of the divinity and humanity of the Son +of God; in the union which is higher than all unions--in the union of the +Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. I beseech mercy through the +intercession of Patrick. May we all arrive at that union; may we enjoy +it for ever and ever. Amen. + +These miracles, then, which we have related, the Lord performed for +Patrick. Though one should attempt to recount them, he could not. +Nevertheless, they are but a few of many related in commemoration; for +there is no one who could remember them all. And there is no writer who +could write all the prodigies and miracles he wrought in the countries he +reached. + +After the foundation, then, of numerous churches; after the consecration +of monasteries; after baptizing the men of Eriu; after great abstinence +and great labor; after destroying idols and images; after degrading +numerous kings who would not obey him, and raising up those who obeyed +him; and after he had three hundred and fifty or three hundred and +seventy bishops; and after ordaining three thousand priests and persons +of all other orders in the Church; after fasting and prayer; after +showing mercy and mildness; after gentleness and sweetness towards sons +of life; after the love of God and his neighbor, he received the body of +Christ from the bishop, from Tassach; and he afterwards resigned his +spirit to heaven. His body, lowever, is here on earth still, with honor +and reverence. And though great his honor here, his honor will be +greater in the Day of Judgment, when he will shine like a sun in heaven, +and when judgment will be given regarding the fruit of his teaching, like +Peter or Paul. He will be afterwards in the union of the patriarchs and +prophets; in the union of the saints and virgins of the world; in the +union of the apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ; in the union of the +Church, both of heaven and earth; in the union of the nine orders of +heaven, which cannot be surpassed; in the union of the divinity and +humanity of the Son of God; in the union which excels every union--in the +union of the Trinity, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, for +ever and ever. Amen. I beseech the mercy of God, through the +intercession of Patrick. May we all reach that union; may we deserve it; +may we inhabit it for ever and ever. + +These are the four-and-twenty who were in orders with Patrick--viz., +Sechnall, his bishop; Mochta, his priest; Bishop Ere, his brehon; Bishop +MacCairthen, his strong man; Benen, his psalmist; Caemhan of Cill-Ruada, +his youth; Sinell, from Cill-Daresis, his bell-ringer; Athgein of +Both-Domhnach, his cook; Cruimther Mescan, from Domhnach-Mescan at +Fochan, his brewer; Cruimther Bescna, from Domhnach-Dala, his +mass-priest; Cruimther Catan and Cruimther Ocan, his two waiters; Odhran, +from Disert-Odhran in Hy-Failghe, his charioteer; Cruimther Manach, his +wood-man; Rodan, his shepherd; his three smiths, MacCecht, Laeban from +Domhnach-Laebhan (who made the Findfaithnech), and Fortchern in +Rath-Adine. Essa and Bite and Tassach were his three artists. His three +embroiderers were Lupait, and Ere, daughter of Daire, and Cruimthiris in +Cenn-Gobha. And this is the number that were in the company of Joseph; +and it is the number that is allowed at the table of the King of Cashel, +down from the time of Fedhlimidh, son of Crimthann--_i.e._, the king of +the two provinces of Munster, etc. + +The Annals of the Lord Jesus Christ, the year this Life of St. Patrick +was written, 1477; and to-morrow will be Lammas Night. And in +Baile-in-Mionin, in the house of O'Troightigh, this was written by +Domhnall Albanach O'Troightigh; et Deo gratias Jesu. + + + + +THE PROEME OF JOCELIN. + +It has been, from ancient times, the object and the design of most +writers to perpetuate, with a pen worthy of their virtues, the lives of +holy men, that the fervor of sanctity so deserving our veneration might +not be buried in oblivion, but rather that it might shine before all as +in a glass, to the end that posterity might imitate its brightness--as +was commanded from above, that in the breast-plate of the chief priest +the names of the twelve patriarchs, the sons of Israel, should be +engraven on twelve precious stones, so that by the sight thereof the +faithful might be moved to imitate the acts of the holy fathers; for it +is most fitting that of those in whose titles we glory, in whose +praises we delight, by whose patronage we are protected, we should +endeavor to conform to the manners, and be confirmed by the examples; +but since the dearth of literature has so much increased, and the +slothfulness to learning so much abounded, very many, fools and +ignorant persons, have ofttimes, lest they should perish from the +memory of the faithful, written the lives of the saints, certainly with +a pious intent, but in a most unhandsome style. Wherefore, in reading +the lives and acts of the saints composed in a rude manner or barbarous +dialect, disgust is often excited, and not seldom tardiness of belief. +And hence it is that the life of the most glorious priest Patrick, the +patron and apostle of Ireland, so illustrious in signs and miracles, +being frequently written by illiterate persons, through the confusion +and obscurity of the style, is by most people neither liked nor +understood, but is held in weariness and contempt. Charity therefore +urging us, we will endeavor, by reducing them to order, to collect what +are confused, when collected to compose them into a volume, and, when +composed, to season them, if not with all the excellence of our +language, at least with some of its elegance. To this our endeavor the +instruction of the threefold instrument which is described to belong to +the candlestick of the tabernacle giveth aid; for we find therein the +tongs, the extinguisher, and the oil-cruse, which we must properly use, +if, in describing the lives of the saints, who shone in their +conversation and example like the candlestick before the Lord, we +should labor to clear away the superfluous, extinguish the false, and +illuminate the obscure, which, though by the devotion we have toward +St. Patrick we are bound to do, yet are we thereto enjoined by the +commands of the most reverend Thomas, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate +of all Ireland, and of Malachy, the Bishop of Down; and to these are +added the request of John de Courcy, the most illustrious Prince of +Ulidia, who is known to be the most especial admirer and honorer of St. +Patrick, and whom we think it most becoming to obey. But if any snake +in the way, or serpent in the path, watching our steps, shall rashly +accuse us herein of presumption, and shall attack our hand with viper +tooth, yet do we, with the blessed Paul, collect the vine-twigs for the +fire, and cast the viper into the flame. Wherefore, in describing the +saints that sleep, which were the branches of the true vine, so that +the minds of the faithful may be inflamed toward the love and belief of +Christ, we little regard the tongue of the scorner and of the +slanderer; for if we are to be judged of such, with the apostle setting +them at small account, we commit all to the divine judgment. + + +[Illustration: The Saint Patrick of Our Own Century.] + + + + +THE LIFE AND ACTS OF ST. PATRICK. + +BY JOCELIN. + + +CHAPTER I. + +There was once a man named Calphurnius, the son of Potitus, a +presbyter, by nation a Briton, living in the village Taburnia (that is, +the field of the tents, for that the Roman army had there pitched their +tents), near the town of Empthor, and his habitation was nigh unto the +Irish Sea. This man married a French damsel named Conchessa, niece of +the blessed Martin, Archbishop of Tours; and the damsel was elegant in +her form and in her manners, for, having been brought from France with +her elder sister into the northern parts of Britain, and there sold at +the command of her father, Calphurnius, being pleased with her manners, +charmed with her attentions, and attracted with her beauty, very much +loved her, and, from the state of a serving-maid in his household, +raised her to be his companion in wedlock. And her sister, having been +delivered unto another man, lived in the aforementioned town of Empthor. + +And Calphurnius and his wife were both just before God, walking without +offence in the justifications of the Lord; and they were eminent in +their birth, and in their faith, and in their hope, and in their +religion. And though in their outward habit and abiding they seemed to +serve under the yoke of Babylon, yet did they in their acts and in +their conversation show themselves to be citizens of Jerusalem. +Therefore, out of the earth of their flesh, being freed from the tares +of sin and from the noxious weeds of vice by the ploughshare of +evangelic and apostolic learning, and being fruitful in the growth of +all virtues, did they, as the best and richest fruit, bring forth a +son, whom, when he had at the holy font put off the old man, they +caused to be named Patricius, as being the future father and patron of +many nations; of whom, even at his baptism, the God which is three in +one was pleased, by the sign of a threefold miracle, to declare how +pure a vessel of election should he prove, and how devoted a worshipper +of the Holy Trinity. But after a little while, this happy birth being +completed, they vowed themselves by mutual consent unto chastity, and +with an holy end rested in the Lord. But Calphurnius first served God +a long time in the deaconship, and at length closed his days in the +priesthood. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +_How a Fountain burst forth, and how Sight and Learning were given to +the Blind._ + +A certain man named Gormas, who had been blind even from his mother's +womb, heard in a dream a voice commanding him that he should take the +hand of the boy Patrick, then lately baptized, and make on the ground +the sign of the cross--adding that at the touch a new fountain would +burst forth, with the water whereof, if he bathed his eyes, he would +forthwith receive his sight. And the blind man, instructed by the +divine oracle, went to the little boy, made with his right hand on the +ground the sign of salvation, and immediately did a new fountain burst +forth. And his darkened eyes, being bathed with this healing stream, +perceived the day poured in, and the virtue of Siloe renewed; and, +_that the mercies of the Lord might be acknowledged, and the wonders +that he doeth for the children of men_, while the outward blindness of +Gormas was enlightened, his inward sight received the revealing gift of +science; and he who was before unlearned, having experienced the power +of the Lord, read and understood the Scriptures, and as by the outward +mercy from being blind he became able to see, so by the inward grace +from unlearned he became learned. But the fountain flowing forward +with a more abundant stream, even unto this day pouring forth its clear +waters, sweet to the draught and wholesome to the taste, is honored +with the name of Saint Patrick, and, as is said, gives health or relief +to many laboring with divers diseases; and it rises near the seaside, +and over it the devotion of posterity has erected an oratory, with an +altar built in the form of a cross. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +_Of the Stone of Saint Patrick._ + +Near this place is a stone which the inhabitants call Saint Patrick's +Rock; for some believe that he was born thereon, and others that on it +he celebrated Mass. As often as any controversy arises between the +villagers or the neighbors which is thought fit to be determined by an +oath, it is brought to this stone, and there, the sacrament being +taken, the cause is decided. But if any perjurer or false witness laid +his hand thereon, immediately it was wont to pour forth water, and the +holiness of Patrick openly showed unto all how accursed was the crime +of perjury or of false testimony; yet at any other time it did not use +to exude one drop, but always remained in its natural dryness. Which +opinion of the people, however, as to this stone, is the more probable, +we know not, though the latter may seem the nearer unto the truth. Let +it suffice, therefore, to record the miracle which the Bishop Saint Mel +testifies that he had oftentimes beheld. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_Of the Well dried up._ + +As he grew in age, he was seen also to grow in grace, and, as from the +full store of divine ointment flowing within him, he perfumed all +around with the abundance of his manifold miracles. And Patrick, the +child of the Lord, was then nursed in the town of Empthor, in the house +of his mother's sister, with his own sister Lupita. And it came to +pass in the winter season, the ice being thawed, that a well overflowed +and threatened to overturn many houses in the town; and the rising of +the waters filled the mansion wherein Patrick abided, and overturned +all the household stuff, and caused all the vessels to swim. And the +little boy, being an hungered, asked in his infantine manner for bread; +yet found he not any who would break bread for him, but jeeringly was +he answered that he was nearer to being drowned than fed. When the boy +dipped three of his fingers into the swelling water, and, standing on a +dry place, he thrice sprinkled the water in the form of a cross, and in +the name of the Holy Trinity commanded the well that forthwith it +should subside. And behold a miracle! Immediately all the flood +retired with a refluent course, and the dryness returned, nor was there +hurt or damage seen in the vessels or in the furniture of his dwelling. +And they who looked on saw that sparks of fire instead of drops of +water were sprinkled from the fingers of the holy child, and that the +waters were licked up and absorbed thereby; and the Lord, "who collects +the waters as in a heap, and lays up the depths in his treasury," who +had worked such great works through his beloved child Patrick, is +praised of all; and the child also is magnified who was so powerful in +Him, great and worthy of all praise. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +_How he produced Fire from Ice._ + +Though Saint Patrick, in his childish years, sometimes thought as a +child and acted as a child, yet do his illustrious works declare how +precious was he in the eyes of Him who was for us born a child. And on +a certain day, the winter then freezing everything, the boy Patrick, +being engaged in their sports with boys of his own age, gathered many +pieces of ice in his bosom, and bore them home, and cast them down in +the court-yard; but his nurse, seeing this, said to him that it were +better he had collected wood for the hearth than have played with +pieces of ice. And the boy, speaking with the tongue of an aged man, +answered unto her: "It is easy for the Lord, who created all things, +even from these to supply the hearth; and at His nod, so that faith be +not wanting, it is easy for fire to prevail over water; and that thou +mayest know," said he, "how possible are all things to them who +believe, thy faith shall be an eye-witness of that which I say unto +thee." And he heaped together the pieces of ice, like brands for the +fire, and he prayed, and, making the sign of the cross, he breathed on +them, and immediately fire went forth, and, lighting the ice, produced +long streams of flame; yet not only did the hearth give warmth to all +who came near, but it ministered much cause of admiration, for out of +the mouth of the boy Patrick was seen to issue flame instead of breath, +that he might plainly appear to be illuminated within by the infinite +light of the divine grace. Nor does this miracle much fall short of +that ancient miracle which the Scripture records to have been performed +by Nehemias; for when he brought back into the land of Juda the people +of the Hebrews after their long captivity, restored to freedom by +Cyrus, the King of Persia, he commanded the place to be searched out +wherein their fathers had hidden the fire of the sacrifice; in which, +when discovered, the fire was not found, but thick water; the which +Nehemias commanded to be brought, and the sacrifice to be sprinkled +therewith; and immediately a great fire was kindled, and it consumed +the holocaust and burned the hard stones. So was the congealed water +burned up by the power of the same fire which, proceeding from water, +did burn to ashes the sacrifice and the stones of the altar. Therefore +is the strangeness of this miracle to be admired, the holiness of +Patrick to be venerated, and in all these things the power of the +omnipotent God to be adored; and herein by a most evident sign did the +Lord illustrate Saint Patrick, whose preaching afterward inflamed many +that had been frozen in unbelief with the fire of faith and of the +charity of God. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_How the Sister of St. Patrick was healed._ + +On a certain day the sister of Saint Patrick, the aforementioned +Lupita, being then of good stature, had run about the field, at the +command of her aunt, to separate the lambs from the ewes, for it was +then weaning time, when her foot slipped, and she fell down and smote +her head against a sharp flint, and her forehead was struck with a +grievous wound, and she lay even as dead; and many of the household ran +up, and her kindred and her friends gathered together to comfort the +maiden wounded and afflicted; and her brother came with the rest, +compassionating his sister, but confiding in the divine medicine; for, +drawing near, he raised her, and, touching with his spittle the thumb +of his right hand, he imprinted on her forehead, stained with blood, +the sign of the cross, and forthwith he healed her; yet the scar of the +wound remained as a sign, I think, of the miracle that was performed, +and a proof of the holiness of him who, by his faith in the cross of +Christ, had done this thing. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_How he restored to Life his Foster-Father._ + +The husband of Saint Patrick's nurse, who had often-times borne him an +infant in his arms, being seized with a sudden death, expired. And his +wife, with many others of the household, ran thither, and to Patrick, +who was standing nigh, bursting into tears, she thus spake: "Behold, O +Patrick! thy foster-father, the bearer of thine infancy, lieth dead; +show now, therefore, on him thine enlivening virtue, even that which +hath been wont to heal others!" And the boy of holy disposition, +compassionating the tears of his nurse and the miserable state of his +foster-father, approached him lying there lifeless, and he prayed over +him and blessed him, and signed him on his head and on his breast with +the sign of life, and he embraced him, and raised him up, and restored +him unto her alive and safe. And all who beheld this miracle gave +praise to God, who worked such works in Patrick. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_Of the Sheep released from the Wolf._ + +While Saint Patrick was a little boy, his aunt entrusted him with the +care of the sheep, and to these he diligently attended with his +aforementioned sister. For in that age no reproach was attached to +such employments when the sons of the chief men discharged the duties +of a shepherd; as the patriarch Jacob and his sons truly declared +before Pharao, that they, like their forefathers, were keepers of +sheep; and as the lawgiver Moses and the illustrious King David long +time labored in the shepherd's occupation. But as the boy Patrick was +one day in the fields with his flock, a wolf, rushing from the +neighboring wood, caught up a ewe-lamb, and carried it away. Returning +home at evening from the fold, his aunt chided the boy for negligence +or for sloth; yet he, though blushing at the reproof, patiently bore +all her anger, and poured forth his prayers for the restoration of the +ewe-lamb. In the next morning, when he brought the flock to the +pasture, the wolf ran up, carrying the lamb in his mouth, laid it at +Patrick's feet, and instantly returned to the wood. And the boy gave +thanks to the Lord, who, as he preserved Daniel from the hungry lions, +so now for his comfort had saved his lamb uninjured from the jaws of +the wolf. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +_Of the Cow freed from an Evil Spirit, and Five other Cows restored to +Health._ + +The aunt who had nursed Saint Patrick had many cows, one of which was +tormented with an evil spirit; and immediately the cow became mad, and +tore with her feet, and butted with her horns, and wounded five other +cows, and dispersed the rest of the herd. And the owners of the herd +lamented the mishap, and the cattle fled from her fury as from the face +of a lion. But the boy Patrick, being armed with faith, went forward, +and, making the sign of the cross, freed the cow from the vexation of +the evil spirit; then drawing near to the wounded and prostrate cows, +having first prayed, he blessed them and restored them all even to +their former health. And the cow, being released from the evil spirit, +well knowing her deliverer, approached with bended head, licking the +feet and the hands of the boy, and turned every beholder to the praise +of God and the veneration of Patrick. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +_Of the Water turned into Honey, and of his Nurse restored to Health._ + +The nurse of Saint Patrick, being oppressed with illness, longed much +for honey, by the taste whereof she trusted that her health might be +restored. It was sought by all who stood round her, but obtained not; +and when she was told thereof, she longed so much the more earnestly +for that which she could not have, and complained that she was +remembered and assisted of none. But her young charge, the illustrious +boy Patrick, was grieved for her, and, putting his trust in the Lord, +he commanded that a vessel might be filled with fresh water from the +fountain, and brought unto him; and he bended his knees in prayer, and, +rising, blessed it with the sign of the cross, and gave it to the woman +desiring honey. And immediately the water was changed into the best +honey; and the woman tasted, and her soul was satisfied, and she was +relieved from her infirmity. Thus did Patrick change water into honey +in the name of Him who, at Cana in Galilee, changed water into wine. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +_How the Fort was Cleansed._ + +On a certain promontory overhanging the aforementioned town of Empthor +was erected a fort, the ruins of whose walls may yet be traced. And +the governor thereof had reduced the nurse of Saint Patrick under the +yoke of slavery, and compelled her to be a servant unto him. And among +other servile works enjoined to her, he had commanded her to clean with +shovels all the offices within the fort, and to carry forth the soil +from the stables. But the woman, having an ingenuous mind, and +understanding that all power was from God, and that all things were +ordained of God, made of her necessity a virtue, and patiently bore the +servitude imposed on her. Then the boy Patrick, compassionating his +nurse's affliction, besought the Lord that he would vouchsafe to set +her free from the labor of this servile work; and behold, as he prayed, +all the dwelling-places therein were cleansed without an human hand, +and neither within nor without could any remains of the soil be found. +And the governor and all who saw or heard this miracle marvelled; and +the nurse was released from slavery through the merits of her +foster-child. Nor is this miracle beheld only at stated seasons, or +once in every year; for even to this day does it appear to be +continued. And the dwellers and the neighbors bear witness that if +within the precincts of the fort as many cattle as the place could hold +were gathered to abide there together, not even the least portion of +soil could therein be found. And the place, being in the Valley of +Clud, is called in the language of that people Dunbreatan--that is, the +Mountain of the Britons; and the miracle cannot be unknown to those who +desire to be informed thereof, inasmuch as so often it is published +abroad by all the dwellers in that country. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +_Of the Religious Conversation of Saint Patrick._ + +And the boy Patrick grew up precious in the sight of the Lord, in the +old age of wisdom, and in the ripeness of virtue. And the number of +his merits multiplied beyond the number of his years; the affluence of +all holy charities overflowed in the breast of the boy, and all the +virtues met together made their dwelling in his youthful body. +Entering, therefore, and going forward in the slippery paths of youth, +he held his feet from falling, and the garment that nature had woven +for him, unknowing of a stain, he preserved whole, abiding a virgin in +the flesh and in the spirit. And although the divine unction had +taught him above all, the fit time being now come, he was sent from his +parents to be instructed in sacred learning. Therefore he applied his +mind to the study of letters, but chiefly to psalms and to hymns and to +spiritual songs, and retaining them in his memory, and continually +singing them to the Lord; so that even from the flower of his first +youth he was daily wont to sing devoutly unto God the whole psaltery, +and from the vial of his most pure heart to pour forth the odor of many +prayers. Thus wearing out his tender body in fastings, in many +watchings, and in the pious exercise of holy labors, he offered up +himself a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God; and thus +passing his days in the flesh, against the flesh, and above the flesh, +in his conversation he represented an angel. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +_How Saint Patrick was Carried into Ireland._ + +As, according to the testimony of Holy Writ, the furnace tries gold and +the fire of tribulation proves the just, so did the hour of his trial +draw near to Patrick, that he might the more provedly receive the crown +of life. For when the illustrious boy had perlustrated three lustres, +already attaining his sixteenth year, he was, with many of his +countrymen, seized by the pirates who were ravaging those borders, and +was made captive and carried into Ireland, and was there sold as a +slave to a certain pagan prince named Milcho, who reigned in the +northern part of the island, even at the same age in which Joseph is +recorded to have been sold into Egypt. But Joseph, being sold as a +slave, and being after his humiliation exalted, received power and +dominion over all Egypt. Patrick, after his servitude and his +affliction, obtained the primacy of the especial and spiritual dominion +of Ireland. Joseph refreshed with corn the Egyptians oppressed by +famine; Patrick, in process of time, fed with the salutary food of the +Christian faith the Irish perishing under idolatry. To each was +affliction sent for the profit of his soul, as is the flail to the +grain, the furnace to the gold, the file to the iron, the wine-press to +the grape, and the oil-press to the olive. Therefore it was that +Patrick, at the command of the forementioned prince, was appointed to +the care of the swine, and under his care the herd became fruitful and +exceedingly multiplied. From whence it may well be learned that as the +master's substance is often increased and improved by the attention of +a diligent and fortunate servant or steward, so, on the other hand, is +it reduced and injured under an idle or unprosperous hand. But the +holy youth, heartily embracing in his soul the judgments of the Lord, +made of his necessity a virtue, and, having in his office of a +swineherd obtained solitude, worked out his own salvation. For he +abode in the mountains, and in the woods, and in the caves of the +wilderness, and having leisure for prayer, and knowing how kind was the +Lord, freely and more freely did he pour forth the incense of his +supplications in the presence of the Most High; and an hundred times in +the day and an hundred times in the night did he on his bended knees +adore his Creator, and often did he pray for a long time fasting, and, +nourishing himself with the roots of herbs and with the lightest food, +did he mortify his members which were stretched upon the earth. Nor +him could heat, nor cold, nor snow, nor hail, nor ice, nor any other +inclemency of the air compel from his spiritual exercises. Therefore +went he forward daily increasing and confirming himself more strong in +the faith and love of Christ Jesus; and the more weak and infirm he +appeared, so much the steadier and more powerful was he in fulfilling +the commands of the Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +_Of Milcho's Dream, and of its Interpretation._ + +And Milcho beheld a vision in the night; and behold, Patrick entered +his palace as all on fire, and the flames issuing from his mouth, and +from his nose, and from his eyes, and from his ears, seemed to burn +him. But Milcho repelled from himself the flaming hair of the boy, nor +did it prevail to touch him any nearer; but the flame, being spread, +turned aside to the right, and, catching on his two little daughters +who were lying in one bed, burned them even to ashes; then the south +wind, blowing strongly, dispersed their ashes over many parts of +Ireland. And Milcho, awaking, meditated with himself on his couch what +prodigy might this remote vision portend. On the morrow, Patrick being +called before him, he declared unto him his dream, entreating and +abjuring him that if he knew he would unfold its interpretation. And +Patrick, being filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, answered unto +Milcho: "The fire which thou sawest to issue from me is the faith of +the Holy Trinity, with which I am entirely illumined, and which I shall +endeavor to preach unto thee; but my speech will find in thee no place, +for thou wilt, in the blindness of thine heart, repel from thee the +light of the divine grace, and thou wilt die in the darkness of thy +unbelief; but thy daughters shall at my preaching believe in the true +God, and, all the days of their lives serving God in holiness and in +justice, shall, in a pious end, rest in the Lord; and their ashes, that +is, their relics, the Lord revealing them and making of them signs, +shall be carried into many places through Ireland, and shall give the +blessing of health to many who are infirm; and thy dream is true, and +its interpretation is true, and all shall be fulfilled in due time." +Thus having said, Patrick departed to his accustomed labor; and all +these things happened unto Milcho and unto his daughters even as +Patrick had foretold. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +_Of the Angel Victor appearing to Saint Patrick._ + +And six years had now passed when, under the direction of the Lord, he +had thoroughly learned the Irish tongue, and with prayers and with +tears he unceasingly besought of God that he might be released from +slavery and restored to his country. And on a certain day appeared +unto him, while praying, an angel of the Lord, standing on the crag of +an overhanging rock, and announcing that his prayers and his fastings +had ascended as a memorial before God; and the angel added thereto that +he should soon cast from his neck the yoke of servitude, and, after a +prosperous voyage, return to his own parents. And the servant of God +looked on the angel of God, and, conversing with him face to face +familiarly, even as with a friend, asked who he was, and by what name +was he called. And the heavenly messenger answered that he was the +ministering spirit of the Lord, sent into the world to minister unto +them who have the heritage of salvation; that he was called Victor, and +especially deputed to the care of him, and he promised to be his +helpmate and his assistant in doing all things. And although it is not +needful that heavenly spirits should be called by human names, yet the +angel, being beautifully clothed with an human form composed of the +air, called himself Victor, for that he had received from Christ, the +most victorious King, the power of vanquishing and binding the powers +of the air and the princes of darkness; who had also given to his +servants made of the potter's clay the power of treading on serpents +and scorpions, and of vanquishing and bruising Satan. And in their +mutual colloquy the angel showed unto Patrick an opening in the ground +that had been delved up by the swine, and therein he directed him to +look for gold with which he might redeem himself from the hands of his +cruel master; and he added that a ship to carry him over to Britain was +ready in a harbor two hundred miles distant, and which, by the divine +will, could not have a favorable wind until he should arrive. And the +vision of the angel, thus saying, disappeared, and his speech ended; +and, as the inhabitants assert, the marks of his feet appear even to +this day imprinted on the rock in the Mountain Mis, in the borders of +Dalnardia; and an oratory is erected there in honor of St. Patrick, +wherein the devotion of the faithful is wont to watch and pray. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +_How St. Patrick was Redeemed from Slavery._ + +And Patrick went to the place which the angel had pointed out unto him, +and he found therein no small weight of gold. Wherefore he addressed +for his ransom his hard and cruel master, and with the offering of the +yellow metal induced his mind, greedy of gold, to grant unto him his +freedom. Therefore, being by the aid of Mammon solemnly released from +his servitude, he went his way rejoicing, and hastened toward the sea, +desiring to return to his own country. But Milcho repented that he had +dismissed a servant so very necessary unto him, and, falsifying his +agreement, pursued Patrick that he might bring him back and reduce him +to his former slavery, as Pharao pursued the Hebrews. But by the +divine will, wandering both in his mind and in his course, he found not +him whom he sought. Foiled, therefore, in his attempt, he returned +with grief and with shame. And his sorrow was much increased, for that +not only Patrick, having obtained his freedom, had escaped, but the +gold which was the price of his freedom, on returning home, he found +not. And with this the law accords; for to him who has served six +years in slavery, the law directs that in the seventh year shall his +freedom be restored. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +_How he Relieved those who were Perishing of Hunger._ + +And Saint Patrick, guided by his angelic guide, came unto the sea, and +he there found the ship that was to carry him to Britain, and a crew of +heathens who were in the ship freely received him, and, hoisting their +sails with a favorable wind, after three days they made land. And +being come out of the ship, they found a region desert and inhabited of +none, and they began to travel over the whole country for the space of +twenty-four days; and for the want of food in that fearful and wide +solitude were they perishing of hunger. And Patrick, through their +whole journey, was preaching unto those pagans the Word of God, and +disputing with them and persuading them unto the faith of the Holy +Trinity and the kingdom of heaven; but they, even as the deaf adder +that listens not to the voice of the charmer charming wisely, closed +their ears against the Word of God until misery gave them understanding +to hear. For hunger yet more heavily assailing and oppressing them, +the greater part are said to have thus spoken: "Behold, O worshipper of +Christ! how wretched are we with want and misery, and our eyes fail us +for every need; now, therefore, implore for us thy God, whom thou +describes! and exaltest as all-powerful, that His bounty may relieve +us, and we will adore and glorify His greatness." And Saint Patrick +answered unto them: "Believe in and confess the God who giveth food +unto all flesh, and by whom, when He openeth His hand, ye shall be +satisfied from His goodness." And he prayed earnestly, and behold, as +he prayed for them, suddenly an herd of swine appeared, and they saw +wild honey, and therewith they were sufficed even to fulness, nor from +that day through their whole journey did ever a supply of food fail +unto them. And this great miracle being seen, they all gave thanks +unto God and held Saint Patrick in the highest reverence. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +_Of his Fast continued for Twenty Days._ + +And all things succeeding prosperously, and their provision much +abounding, these men soon forgot the Lord who had saved them from the +straitness of hunger, and, ungrateful for the benefits extended unto +them by the divine bounty, they sacrificed of their food to devils, and +not unto God, imitating herein those Samaritans whom the Book of Kings +records to have worshipped God, yet not to have the service of their +idols. Wherefore it seemed good to Saint Patrick to eat no earthly +food for twenty continual days, and, albeit he was much entreated +thereto, he would in no wise join with them in their meals, lest he +should appear to be contaminated with their sacrifices. And the power +to endure this abstinence was given unto Patrick by the Lord, who had +theretofore enabled Elias the prophet to fast forty days. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +_How he Overcame the Temptation of the Enemy._ + +The wonderful Ruler of all things, the more he exalts with signs and +with wonders his elect whom he loveth, the more does he, according to +the Apostle, suffer them to fall into divers temptations, that they may +learn and know how to preserve their strength in God, who is their +maker, and trust to nothing in themselves or of themselves. Wherefore +Patrick, the beloved and the elect of God, is suffered by the divine +will to be grievously tempted of Satan, to increase the confusion of +the tempter and the glory of him who was tempted, and lest he should be +lifted up by the greatness of his miracles or his fastings. For in the +night season the prince of darkness rushed on him, and oppressed him as +with the weight of a huge stone, and, falling on him, the tempter took +from him all sense and motion, causing to him darkness and heaviness, +and for the space of three days ceased not to torment and lash him +beyond human power to endure. But the saint in his tribulation cried +unto the Lord, thrice in His name invoking Elias, the prince of +prophets, unto his aid. And Elias, being sent of the Lord with a great +brightness, freed him from the pressure of the enemy that hemmed him +round, and, wonderfully illumining him both within and without, +refreshed the powers of his limbs and his senses. And the enemy of +mankind, being put to confusion, was compelled to own himself +vanquished by Patrick, and that ever after he could have no power to +prevail against him. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +_How he was again made Captive, and released by the Miracle of the +Kettle._ + +But Patrick, departing from the company of his fellow-travellers that +he might prove how many are the tribulations of the just through which +they must enter into the kingdom of heaven, fell into the hands of +strangers, by whom he was taken and detained; and while his spirit was +afflicted within him, the Father of mercies and God of all consolation +sent the angel Victor in the wonted manner to comfort him, promising +that in a short time he should be released from the hands of his +captors; and how truly was made the angelic promise did its speedy +fulfilment show, which followed even in the space of two months; for +the barbarians sold him to a certain man in the neighborhood for a +kettle--how small a purchase for so precious a merchandise! But when +the vessel that had been bought with such a price was filled with +water, and placed as usual on the hearth to dress their victual, behold +it received no heat; and so much the hotter the fire burned, so much +the colder did it become; and fuel being heaped thereon, the flame +raged without, but the water within was frozen, as if ice had been +placed under instead of fire. And they labored exceedingly thereat; +but their labor was vain, and the rumor went everywhere through the +country; and the purchaser, thinking it to have been done by +enchantment, returned his kettle to the seller, and took Patrick again +into his own power. And the vessel thereon received the heat, and did +its accustomed office even naturally, and showed to all that this +miracle happened because Patrick had been unjustly oppressed; and +forthwith they who had taken him let him go free. Thus, by the +heavenly power being released from the hands of strange children, was +he, after his long captivity, restored to his parents; and they, +beholding him, rejoiced with exceeding great joy, and at the return of +their son did their spirits revive as the spirits of one awakening from +a heavy sleep, and they besought of him, with entreaty of many prayers +and the abundance of many tears, that he would not again bereave them +of his presence. Therefore, that he might show the honor and the +submission due unto his parents, he abided with them certain days. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +_Of Saint Patrick's Vision._ + +And a short space of time being passed, the while he was settled in his +lather's house, he beheld in a vision of the night a man of comely garb +and countenance, bearing many letters as if from Ireland, and holding +out to him one of them for him to read--which taking, he read, and +found therein thus written: "THIS IS THE VOICE OF THE IRISH." But when +he would have continued to read, he seemed in the spirit to hear the +Irish infants which were yet unborn crying unto him with a loud voice, +"O holy youth Patrick! we beseech thee come unto us, and abide with us, +and release us!" And Patrick, being pierced therewith in his heart, +could not finish the letter; but awaking, he gave infinite thanks to +God, for he was assured by the vision that the Lord had set him apart, +even from his mother's womb, had by His grace called him to convert and +to save the Irish nation, which seemed to desire his presence among +them. And on this he consulted the angel of great counsel, and through +the angel Victor he received the divine command that, quitting his +father and his country, he should go unto France, there to learn the +doctrine and the discipline of the Christian faith. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +_How he dwelt with the blessed Germanus, and how he received the Habit +from Saint Martin._ + +Being thus instructed and directed of heaven, though both his parents +resisted and would have detained him, he, with the faithful Abraham, +quitted his country, his kindred, and his father's house, and, passing +through his native Britain, he went into France. And lest his labor +should be fruitless, or that he might not attempt to teach what he had +not thoroughly learned, he attached himself to the blessed Bishop +Germanus, and, for his greater progress in the Christian faith and +learning, abided with him for the space of eighteen years, reading and +imbibing the Holy Scriptures (as in the acts of the blessed Germanus is +recorded). And each had received the divine command--Patrick that he +should abide with Germanus, and the holy bishop that he should retain +and instruct the youth. For he was a prelate, in his descent, in his +nobility, in his life, in his learning, in his office, and in his +miracles most illustrious; and from him the several degrees of the holy +orders, and at length the sacerdotal dignity according to the canons, +did Patrick receive. With the like purpose did he some time abide with +the blessed Martin, Archbishop of Tours, who was the uncle of his +mother, Conquessa. And as this holy luminary of the priesthood was a +monk, he gave to his nephew, Patrick, the monastic habits and rules, +the which he most devoutly assumed, and adorned by his life, and +persevered therein. And bidding farewell, they departed the one from +the other, forasmuch as Martin was enjoined by the angel to go into a +certain island. And Saint Patrick, returning to the blessed Germanus, +remained with him many days. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +_Of the Flesh-meat changed into Fishes._ + +But Patrick, having now become a monk, forgetting all things that were +past, applied to the future, and, as if little accounting his former +conversation, hastened to the height of perfection. For by incredible +abstinence, by his lengthened fasts, and by the exercise of his other +virtues, he afflicted himself, and continually bore in his heart and on +his body the mortification of that cross which his habit displayed. +But the most high Pastor, who intended to raise him to the head of the +holy Church, that he might learn to think humbly of himself, to walk +with the lowly, and to bear with the weak, permitting him to feel his +own inferiority; so that the more deeply he was fixed on the foundation +of true humility, the more firmly he might stand in the height of +perfection. For a desire of eating meat came upon him, until, being +ensnared and carried away by his desire, he obtained swine's flesh, and +concealed it in a certain vessel, thinking rightly that he might thus +satisfy his appetite privily, which should he openly do he would become +to his brethren a stone of offence and a stumbling-block of reproach. +And he had not long quitted the place when, lo! one stood before him +having eyes before and eyes behind, whom when Patrick beheld, having +his eyes so wonderfully, even so monstrously, placed, he marvelled who +he was, and what meant his eyes fixed before and fixed behind, did +earnestly ask; and he answered, I am the servant of God. With the eyes +fixed in my forehead I behold the things that are open to view, and +with the eyes that are fixed in the hinder part of my head I behold a +monk hiding flesh-meat in a vessel, that he may satisfy his appetite +privily. This he said, and immediately disappeared. But Patrick, +striking his breast with many strokes, cast himself to the earth, and +watered it with such a shower of tears as if he had been guilty of all +crimes; and while he thus lay on the ground, mourning and weeping, the +angel Victor, so often before mentioned, appeared to him in his wonted +form, saying, Arise, let thine heart be comforted; for the Lord hath +put away thine offence, and henceforward avoid backsliding. Then St. +Patrick, rising from the earth, utterly renounced and abjured the +eating of flesh-meat, even through the rest of his life; and he humbly +besought the Lord that He would manifest unto him His pardon by some +evident sign. Then the angel bade Patrick to bring forth the hidden +meats, and put them into water; and he did as the angel bade; and the +flesh-meats, being plunged into the water and taken thereout, +immediately became fishes. This miracle did St. Patrick often relate +to his disciples, that they might restrain the desire of their +appetites. But many of the Irish, wrongfully understanding this +miracle, are wont, on St. Patrick's Day, which always falls in the time +of Lent, to plunge flesh-meats into water, when plunged in to take out, +when taken out to dress, when dressed to eat, and call them fishes of +St. Patrick. But hereby every religious man will learn to restrain his +appetite, and not to eat meat at forbidden seasons, little regarding +what ignorant and foolish men are wont to do. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +_How in his Journey to Rome he Found the Staff of Jesus._ + +And being desirous that his journey and all his acts should by the +apostolic authority be sanctioned, he was earnest to travel unto the +city of Saint Peter, and there more thoroughly to learn the canonical +institutes of the holy Roman Church. And when he had unfolded his +purpose unto Germanus, the blessed man approved thereof, and associated +unto him that servant of Christ, Sergecius the presbyter, as the +companion of his journey, the solace of his labor, and the becoming +testimony of his holy conversation. Proceeding, therefore, by the +divine impulse, or by the angelic revelation, he went out of his course +unto a solitary man who lived in an island in the Tuscan Sea; and the +solitary man was pure in his life, and he was of great desert and +esteemed of all, and in his name and in his works he was Just; and +after their holy greetings were passed, this man of God gave unto +Patrick a staff which he declared himself to have received from the +hands of the Lord Jesus. + +And there were in the island certain other solitary men, who lived +apart from him, some of whom appeared to be youths, and others decrepit +old men, with whom when Patrick had conversed, he learned that the +oldest of them were the sons of the youths; and when Saint Patrick, +marvelling, enquired of them the cause of so strange a miracle, they +answered unto him, saying: "We from our childhood were continually +intent on works of charity, and our door was open to every traveller +who asked for victual or for lodging in the name of Christ, when on a +certain night we received a stranger having in his hand a staff; and we +showed unto him so much kindness as we could, and in the morning he +blessed us, and said, I am Jesus Christ, unto whose members ye have +hitherto ministered, and whom ye have last night entertained in His own +person. Then the staff which He bore in His hand gave He unto yonder +man of God, our spiritual father, commanding him that he should +preserve it safely, and deliver it unto a certain stranger named +Patrick, who would, after many days were passed, come unto him. Thus +saying, He ascended into heaven; and ever since we have continued in +the same youthful state, but our sons, who were then infants, have, as +thou seest, become decrepit old men." + +And Patrick, giving thanks unto God, abided with the man of God certain +days, profiting in God by his example yet more and more; at length he +bade him farewell, and went on his way with the staff of Jesus, which +the solitary man had proffered unto him. O excellent gift! descending +from the Father of light, eminent blessing, relief of the sick, worker +of miracles, mercy sent of God, support of the weary, protection of the +traveller! For as the Lord did many miracles by the rod in the hand of +Moses, leading forth the people of the Hebrews out of the land of +Egypt, so by the staff that had been formed for His own hands was He +pleased, through Patrick, to do many and great wonders to the +conversion of many nations. And the staff is held in much veneration +in Ireland, and even unto this day it is called the staff of Jesus. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +_How he Journeyed unto Rome, and was made a Bishop; and of Palladius, +the Legate of Ireland._ + +The God of our salvation having prospered Patrick's journey, he arrive +at the city which is the capital of the world; and often, with due +devotion, visiting the memorials of the apostles and the martyrs, he +obtained the notice and the friendship of the chief Pontiff, and found +favor in his sight. In the apostolic chair then sat Pope Celestine, of +that name the first, but from the blessed Apostle Peter the +forty-third; but he, keeping Saint Patrick with him, and finding him +perfect and approved in faith, in learning, and in holiness, at length +consecrated him a bishop, and determined to send him to the conversion +of the Irish nation. But Celestine had sent before him, for the sake +of preaching in Ireland, another doctor named Palladius, his +archdeacon, to whom, with his coadjutors, he gave many books, the two +Testaments, with the relics of the Apostles Peter and Paul and of +numberless martyrs; and the Irish not listening to, but rather +obstinately opposing, Palladius in his mission, he quitted their +country, and, going towards Rome, died in Britain, near the borders of +the Picts; yet, while in Scotland, converting some to the faith of +Christ, he baptized them and founded three churches built of oak, in +which he left as prelates his disciples Augustine, Benedict, Sylvester, +and Sulomus, with the parchments and the relics of the saints which he +had collected. To him with more profitable labor did Saint Patrick +succeed, as is said in the Irish proverb, "Not to Palladius, but to +Patrick, the Lord vouchsafed the conversion of Ireland." And the Pope, +being certified of Palladius's death, immediately gave to Patrick the +command, which hitherto, keeping more secret counsel, he had delayed, +to proceed on his journey and on the salutary work of his legation. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +_How he Saw and Saluted the Lord._ + +And shortly after he had received the episcopal dignity, the angel +Victor appeared unto him, then abiding in Rome, and commanded him that +he should hasten his journey into Ireland, that he might gain unto +Christ the people of that country, as the Lord had willed. But +Patrick, judging himself to be unequal to such a work and to such a +labor, answered that he could not and would not attempt it unless he +should first behold and salute the Lord. Therefore was he conducted by +the angel unto the mountain Morion, bordering on the Tuscan Sea, nigh +unto the city of Capua; and there, even as Moses, did he merit to +behold and salute the Lord, according to his earnest desire. Who, I +pray you, can estimate in his mind the merit of Patrick? What tongue +can sufficiently praise him to whom, while yet living on earth, it was +given to behold the King of Glory, whom the angels desire to behold +face to face, and who was permitted to declare unto men what he had +been taught from the lips of the Most Highest? And the Lord promised +unto Patrick that He would hear his prayers, and that He would be his +assistant in all his acts to be done by him. Therefore, being by the +vision and by the divine colloquy strengthened unto the ministry +enjoined to him of heaven and confided to him by our lord the Pope, he +vehemently longed to complete the same, and speeded his journey toward +Ireland with twenty men deputed unto his assistance by the Sovereign +Pontiff, and who were renowned for their lives and for their wisdom. +Yet turned he out of his way unto the blessed Germanus, from whom he +received chalices, and priestly vestments, and many books, and other +matters unto the divine worship and ministry pertaining. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +_Of the Miraculous Voyage of the Leper._ + +When the blessed Patrick, speeding his journey toward Ireland; was +about to embark with his disciples at a British port, a certain leper +standing on the shore met the holy man, beseeching in the name of the +Lord Jesus that he would carry him over in his ship. The man of God, +abounding with the bowels of compassion, listened to the prayers of the +poor leper; but the sailors and the others that were of the ship +forbade him, saying that the vessel was already enough loaded, and that +_he_ would be to them all at once an encumbrance and a horror. Then +the saint, confiding in the power of the divine mercy, cast into the +sea an altar of stone that had been consecrated and given to him by the +Pope, and on which he had been wont to celebrate the holy mysteries, +and caused the leper to sit thereon. But the pen trembles to relate +what, through the divine power, happened. The stone thus loaded was +borne upon the waters, guided by Him, the head-stone of the corner, +and, diverse from its nature, floating along with the ship, held +therewith an equal course, and at the same moment touched at the same +shore. All, then, having happily landed, and the altar being found +with its freight, the voice of praise and thanksgiving filled the lips +of the holy prelate, and he reproved his disciples and the sailors for +their unbelief and hardness of heart, endeavoring to soften their stony +hearts into hearts of flesh, even to the exercising the works of +charity. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +_How he beheld Devils._ + +And when the saint with his people drew nigh unto the shore, he beheld +a multitude of devils gathered together in the form of a globe, +surrounding the whole island, and setting themselves against him even +as a wall to defend their own citadel and to oppose his entrance. But +his heart was not moved, nor did he tremble at the presence of these +deformed ones, knowing that there were many with him more powerful than +with them, even unto his triumph and their overthrow. Therefore stood +he fixed in faith as Mount Sion, because mountains of angels were +around him, and the Lord encompassed His servant great and mighty unto +the battle. And the holy prelate, knowing that all those enemies were +to be quelled by him through the virtue of the cross of Christ, raised +his sacred right hand, and made the sign of the cross, and, telling +unto his people what he beheld, and confirming them in the faith, +unhurt and unterrified passed he over. Thus clothed with strength from +on high, mightily did he exercise the armor of the power of God to the +overturning of the powers of the air, who raised themselves against all +height and against the wisdom of the Lord, being always ready to punish +their disobedience and their rebellion, as will more plainly in the +following chapters appear. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +_Of the River sentenced to perpetual Sterility._ + +The man of God landed with the companions of his voyage within the +borders of Leinster, in the port of Innbherde, where a river flowing +into the sea then abounded with many fishes. And the fishermen were +quitting the water, and drawing after them to the bank their loaded +nets, when the servants of the holy prelate, being wearied with their +travel and with hunger, earnestly besought that they would bestow on +them some of their fishes; but they, barbarous, brutal, and inhuman, +answered the entreaty, not only with refusal, but with insult. Whereat +the saint, being displeased, pronounced on them this sentence, even his +malediction: that the river should no longer produce fishes, from the +abundance of which idolaters might send empty away the worshippers of +the true God. From that day, therefore, is the river condemned to +unfruitfulness, so that the sentence uttered by the mouth of Patrick +might be known to proceed from the face of the Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +_How the Dry Land was turned into a Marsh._ + +And going forward, he arrived at a place which was called Aonach +Tailltion, and there he made ready to refresh himself and his people, +and to announce the office of his ministry. But the idolatrous +inhabitants, not enduring the presence of the man of God, gathered +together and violently drove him thence, as the light of the sun is +intolerable to the weak-eyed. Yet the God whom Patrick bore about him, +and glorified in his body, permitted not that an affront offered unto +His servant for the sake of His name should go unpunished; but quickly +did he bring on them his deserved wrath, inasmuch as for the wickedness +of them who dwelt therein the Lord converted their fruitful land into a +salt marsh; and the sea, with the foreflowing of an unwonted tide, +covered it, and, that it might even for ever be unhabitable, changed +the dry land into a plashy lake. Then the saint, going unto a small +island not far from the main shore, abided there certain days, and it +is called unto this time Saint Patrick's Island. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +_Of his coming into Ulidia, and of the Prophecy of the Magicians on his +coming._ + +And the blessed Patrick, embarking with his people, steered toward the +northern parts of the island, that he might overcome the northern +enemy, and expel him from those hearts where he had fixed his seat. +And the north wind fell, and the south wind arose, that he might go +into the quarters of the north, and plant therein the garden of the +Lord, breathing sweet odors; and the desire had come into his mind to +bring unto the knowledge of truth the king, Milcho, who was yet living, +to whom he had formerly been a servant, and to make him a servant of +the true King, whose service is a kingdom. But forasmuch as the ways +of man are not in his own power, but as his steps are directed of the +Lord, he landed on the coast of Ulidia, that the vessels of mercy might +there be gathered together. But Patrick being come forth on the dry +land, a multitude of heathens met him who were waiting and expecting +his coming; for the magicians and soothsayers, either by divination or +by prophecy, had foreknown that the island would be converted by the +preaching of Patrick, and had long before predicted his arrival in +these words: "One shall arrive here, having his head shaven in a +circle, bearing a crooked staff, and his table shall be in the eastern +part of his house, and his people shall stand behind him, and he shall +sing forth from his table wickedness, and all his household shall +answer, So be it! so be it! And this man, when he cometh, shall +destroy our gods, and overturn their temples and their altars, and he +shall subdue unto himself the kings that resist him, or put them unto +death, and his doctrine shall reign for ever and ever." Nor let it +seem strange or incredible that if the Lord inspired or even permitted +the magicians should thus foretell the arrival and the several acts of +Saint Patrick, since the soothsayer Balaam and the King Nabuchodonosor +plainly prophesied the coming of Christ, and since the devils that bore +testimony to the Son of God. But when they said that he should from +his table sing forth wickedness, evidently doth it appear that he who +never stood on the truth, but who from the beginning was a liar and the +father of lies, did in his blasphemy utter these things through their +mouths. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +_How a Fierce Dog was suddenly Tamed; of the Conversion of Dichu; and +how a Fountain rose out of the Earth._ + +But the chief King of Ireland, named Leogaire, the son of Neyll, +recollecting the prophecy, gave command unto his subjects that as soon +as Patrick should land they should forthwith expel him from the +country. And the saint, being then in the harbor called Innbherslan, +went alone out of the ship, and immediately the people, infidel and +dog-like in their manners, excited a very fierce dog to bite him even +unto death. But the dog, being at the sight of the man of God entirely +stiffened like a stone, stood fixed and without motion, plainly showing +that the worshippers of stones were like unto the gods which they +worshipped. The which, when a certain man named Dichu, who was +powerful of strength, gigantic of stature, and savage of mind, beheld, +he brandished his sword to destroy the saint. But the Lord interposed +His protecting arm, and all his strength withered in him, and he +entirely stiffened, so that he could move neither his foot to go +forward nor his hand to strike. And he, experiencing in himself such a +miracle, suddenly is changed into another man, and from proud becoming +humble, mild from fierce, from an infidel a believer, he is, with all +his household, at the preaching of Patrick, baptized in the Christian +faith. Thus he who had been in that country its first and principal +opposer became its first professor, and even to his latest age +continued its most devoted follower. And as his soul was loosed from +the chains of sin, so were his limbs loosed from their heaviness, and +all their strength was restored unto him. Behold, therefore, the +miracle which the Book of Kings relates to have been formerly wrought +on Jeroboam did Patrick more profitably renew on Dichu; for when that +king was sacrificing unto idols, and stretched out his hand to seize on +the prophet who was reproving him, forthwith his arm stiffened, which +on his repentance the prophet healed, yet did not he when healed +forsake his error; but Dichu, for the increase and for the evidence of +his devotion toward his new faith, gave unto Saint Patrick the place +wherein this miracle had been declared, to erect thereon a new church. + +In this place, at the request of Dichu (but for what cause I know not), +did the saint build the church, having its aspect against the north, +and looking toward the southern point. Perchance that by this mystical +structure the worshippers of idols might be persuaded from the northern +coldness of unbelief unto the meridian fervor of the faith and the +charity of Christ--the which to this day is called Sabhall Phadruig, +that is, the Barn of Patrick; for in process of time he builded there a +fair monastery, into which he introduced monks that had passed their +novitiate; and for their use he not long afterward, by his prayers, +produced a fountain out of the earth. Of this monastery did he appoint +his disciple, Saint Dunnius, to be the abbot, wherein when he had +returned from his mission, he abided with him not a few days. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +_Of the Evil-doer Swallowed up by the Earth._ + +And in that church the holy prelate stood before the altar on a certain +day, celebrating the divine mysteries, when an evil-doer, a bondsman of +Satan, thrusting with accursed boldness a rod through the window, +overturned the chalice, and sacrilegiously poured out on the altar the +holy sacrifice. But the Lord instantly and terribly avenged this +fearful wickedness, and in a new and unheard-of manner destroyed the +impious man. For suddenly the earth, opening her mouth (as formerly on +Dathan and Abiron), swallowed up this magician, and he descended alive +into hell. And the earth, thus disjoined and rent asunder, closed on +him again; but to this day a ditch yet remaining declareth the judgment +of the divine wrath. But the holy sacrificer, being struck with +sorrow, mourned with heavy mourning over the chalice that had been +filled; and the chalice, with the divine sacrifice entire therein, +stood erect before him, being raised by the divine Power, nor did any +trace of the offering remain to be seen. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +_Of the Aged Man restored unto his Youth._ + +And Dichu had a brother named Rius, far advanced in years and in +unbelief, the tabernacle of whose body, for very age, was bending unto +the grave; and this man heavily grieved for the death of the magician +and for the conversion of his brother. And his wisdom was wholly of +this world, and he believed in no life but the present life; for he +thought that he had lost his brother, who, believing in Christ, labored +with all his strength after the glory to come, which he had revealed to +his followers. Therefore for many days he opposed and troubled +Patrick, and strove to stop his mouth, lest he should spread abroad the +Word of God, and increase the number of the believers. But the saint, +desiring to gain him unto Christ, met him with true and lively +arguments, persuading him from the very kinds and natures of all +created things to believe that God was the Creator of all; and, that he +might the more thoroughly lead him into the way of truth, he promised +unto him a miracle, saying, "Now that the power of all thy limbs and of +all thy senses fail thee, and are nearly dead, and that thy life is +almost gone from thee, if Christ should restore unto thee the strength +of the grace of thy early youth, wouldst thou not be bound of right to +believe in Him?" And the man answered: "If thou canst through Christ +perform on me such a miracle, forthwith will I believe in him." Then +Saint Patrick prayed, and, laying his hand on him, he blessed him, and +immediately he became beautiful and strong, and flourished again as in +his early youth. And great marvel seized on all who witnessed this +miracle, and their mouths were opened to the praise of Christ and to +the veneration of Saint Patrick. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +_Of the Death of Rius._ + +And Rius, being renewed outwardly in his body and inwardly in his +spirit, brought with him his three brothers, and came with very many to +be purified at the healing font. And after these things, Saint +Patrick, observing him to be thoroughly freed from sin, and knowing how +sin besets the slippery path of human life, inspired of the Holy +Spirit, said unto him: "Choose, now, whether in this valley of tears, +this world of tribulation and sorrow, shall thy years be prolonged, or +whether, the misery of this life being instantly ended, thou wilt be +carried up by the angels of light, and enter into the joy of the Lord +thy God." But he, trusting that he should behold the mercies of the +Lord in the land of eternal life, answered: "I choose, and I desire to +be dissolved, and to be with Christ for ever, rather than to continue +in the habitations of sinners." And he received the sacrament from the +hands of the holy bishop, and, commending his spirit unto the Lord, he +was brought unto eternal rest. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +_Of the Death of Milcho._ + +But Saint Patrick, confiding his affairs to his beloved Dichu, set +forward to visit Milcho, his former master, even his tormentor; for so +had he long intended in his mind, that by his preaching he might truly +convert unto the infancy of the Christian faith him now grown old in +his evil days. And Milcho, this man of envious heart, this minister of +death feared lest the preaching of Patrick should penetrate a breast of +stone, and that by his clear and fiery eloquence, or by some +irresistible miracle, he should be compelled to believe. Therefore +held he it as base and shameful to submit unto the doctrine of one who +had formerly been his servant, and to be bound unto the unused worship +of the Creator rather than his accustomed idolatry. So when he heard +that the priest of the Most High was approaching, this child of +perdition gathered together all his substance, and cast it into the +fire; and then, throwing himself on the flames, made himself an +holocaust for the infernal demons. And the holy prelate, beholding +from a neighboring mountain the deadly end of this wicked prince, saw +his soul, in the form of a fiery serpent, plunged into hell; when, +contemplating the infinite depths of the judgments of God, with heavy +tears and sighs uttered he these words: "Of this king, who, lest he +should believe in the Creator of heaven and earth, hath thus doubly +damned himself, the posterity shall not inherit his kingdom, but shall +be bound in servitude that never may be loosed." And all this came to +pass even according to the word of the man of God, for none of his race +ascended after him to the throne of his kingdom; but in a short time +all his generation quickly perished; from the face of the earth by the +sword or by famine, or by captivity and the lowest servitude. Thus +visiteth the Lord the sins of the fathers on their children; and thus +is put the axe unto the tree of death, lest it should bring forth +branches of iniquity. Yet as God is able of stones to raise up sons +unto Abraham, and to produce from thorns roses, the two daughters of +Milcho were, by the inspiration of the Lord and by the preaching of +Patrick, converted unto the faith. And each, after they were purified +by the healing water, was called Emeria; and they lived a holy and +religious life, and after their deaths they were buried in the place +which is called Cluainbroin, and, as Patrick had long before +prophesied, were celebrated for many miracles. Then the saint returned +unto the house of Dichu, where he abided not a few days, and by +preaching the Christian faith, and by working signs and miracles, he +profited much people. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +_Of the Holy Mochna._ + +And there was a youth of virtuous disposition named Mochna, and he was +a swine-herd whom Saint Patrick had met near the town of Ereattan while +he was preaching in those parts, and to him, the Spirit having revealed +that he was destined to be a vessel of election, did the saint preach +the way of salvation. And the youth, even at his first preaching, +believed; and Patrick, when he had baptized him, taught unto him the +alphabet, and, having blessed him, sent him to be instructed in +learning, and went his way. But the youth, through the divine grace, +learned in one month the whole Psaltery, and, before the year had +ended, arrived he at the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. And after +some time Patrick returned to the aforementioned village, and Mochna +met him there. And while sitting together, they conversed on holy +things; behold, a staff sent from heaven fell between them, and the +head thereof rested on the bosom of Patrick, and the point thereof on +the bosom of Mochna. And the saint, gratulating the youth on the gift +thus miraculously bestowed, said unto him: "Now, my best-beloved son, +shalt thou know by this pastoral staff that the guardianship of souls +will be committed unto thee." But he refusing and alleging his +ignorance and the imperfection of his youth, the saint is reported thus +to have said: "Seek not thou to excuse thyself for that thou art a boy, +since unto all those parts whither the Lord sendeth thee shalt thou go; +and what he commandeth unto thee, that shalt thou speak." Therefore +through the several degrees did Patrick at length consecrate him a +bishop, and placed him over the church of Edrum. And he profited much +the church of God by his conversation and by his example, and, being +renowned in virtues and in miracles, was called to heaven. And he was +buried in that church wherein he had worthily served the Lord, and +wherein, adorned with manifold miracles, he had accustomed himself to +live in Christ. And the staff is in that church still preserved, and +is called by the Irish "the flying staff." And as Saint Patrick had +advanced this man from the care of swine unto the episcopate, a swine +is yearly taken from that territory, and paid unto the church of Down. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +_Of the Hostages of Dichu which were Freed by an Angel._ + +Leogaire, a man of leonine fierceness, with a high and swelling heart, +rose above himself in the pride of his exploits, for that he seemed to +himself to hold the land by the strength of his arm and the firmness of +his valor. And he took hostages of all the provincial chiefs bordering +on his kingdom, and among others he held in his power the sons of +Dichu, lest any of them should raise the head to defend themselves, or +the heel to offend him. For he, being rooted in the errors of +idolatry, strenuously favored the magicians and the soothsayers; and +his neck was stiff and his head was stubborn against the true religion. +But when he understood that Dichu, with all his household and kindred +and people, had turned unto Christ, and renounced the gods of their +country, even the devils, his mind and his eye were inflamed with the +fury of his wrath. Therefore, being moved in his mind, he gave order +that the hostages of Dichu should be punished in a manner mainly +destructive; for he forbade drink to be given to them, to the end that +they might perish of thirst. And the Spirit revealed this unto the +saint, and he disclosed it unto Dichu, and advised him to seek from +Leogaire the respite of at least ten days until Patrick should appear +before him. Yet could he not, as directed by the man of God, obtain +the respite even of one day, but rather did his entreaties more +vehemently blow up the flame, and exasperate the heart of the king with +the fire of fiercer rage, which when the prelate heard he betook +himself to his accustomed arms of prayer; and behold, on the following +night an angel appeared and gave unto them to drink, and satisfied +their thirst. And from that hour not any suffering of thirst came on +them; and when a few days had passed, at the prayers of the saint, the +angel again appeared, and freed them from their prison-house and from +the power of their enemies. And from the place wherein they were +confined he bore them through the air, as was formerly the prophet; and +he left one of them in a place in Down, where is now erected the church +of Saint Patrick, and the other on a neighboring hill surrounded by a +marsh of the sea; and he broke asunder the chains wherewith they were +bound, and each place is even to this day, from the broken chains, +called Dun-daleathglas. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +_Of Saint Benignus, and of the Prophecy which was made of him._ + +And the Passover was nigh, the festival of the Christians, whereon the +Life that died, arising from the dead, became the first-fruits of the +resurrection of the dead. Therefore was it near to the heart of the +holy prelate to solemnize this solemn day, which the Lord had appointed +a day of joyfulness to the dwellers on earth and the dwellers in +heaven, on the fair and spacious plain called Breagh, and there, by +evangelizing the kingdom of God, and baptizing the people of his +conversion, to gather together the elect race unto Christ. And he +embarked in a vessel, and arrived in a harbor nigh unto this plain, +and, committing the care of the vessel unto his nephew, Saint Lumanus, +he there landed, and went to the mansion of a certain venerable man +named Sesgnen, therein to pass the night. And he gladly received the +saint, hoping that salvation would be brought unto his house by such a +guest, nor did his hope fail unto him, for when Patrick preached the +word of salvation he and all his household believed and were baptized. +And the venerable man had a son, whom the saint purified with the +healing water, and, taking the name from the occasion, called Benignus; +and as was his name, so were his life and his manners; and he was +beloved of God and of man, worthy of honor and of glory on earth and in +heaven, and he steadfastly adhered to the holy prelate, nor ever could +be separated from him; for when the saint, being weary, would lie down +to rest, this unspotted youth, flying from his father and from his +mother, would cast himself at the feet of the holy man, and enfold them +in his bosom, and ever and anon would he kiss them, and there would he +abide. But on the morrow, when the saint was arrayed for his journey, +and, with one foot in his sandal, the other on the ground, was +ascending his chariot, the boy caught his foot with fast-closing hands, +and besought and implored that he might not leave him. And when his +parents would have separated him from the saint, and retained him with +themselves, the boy, with wailing and lamentation, cried out, Away, +away, I entreat ye! Release me, that I may go with my spiritual +father. And the saint, observing such devotion in his tender heart and +body, blessed him in the name of the Lord, and, bidding him ascend with +him the chariot, prophesied that he would be, as indeed he was, the +successor of his ministry. And this Benignus succeeded Saint Patrick +in the primacy of all Ireland, and, being illustrious for his virtues +and his miracles, at length he rested in the Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +The Fire that was Lighted by Patrick. + +And the saint, on that most holy Sabbath preceding the Vigil of the +Passover, turned aside to a fit and pleasant place, called Feartfethin, +and there, according to the custom of the holy church, lighted the +lamps at the blessed fire. And it happened on that night that the +idolaters solemnized a certain high festival called Rach, which they, +walking in darkness, were wont to consecrate to the prince of darkness. +And it was their custom that every fire should be extinguished, nor +throughout the province should be relighted until it was first beheld +in the royal palace. But when the monarch, Leogaire, being then with +his attendants at Teomaria, then the chief court of the kingdom of all +Ireland, beheld the fire that was lighted by Saint Patrick, he +marvelled, and was enraged, and enquired who had thus presumed. And a +certain magician, when he looked on the fire, as if prophesying, said +unto the king: "Unless yonder fire be this night extinguished, he who +lighted it will, together with his followers, reign over the whole +island." Which being heard, the monarch, gathering together a +multitude with him, hastened, in the violence of his wrath, to +extinguish the fire. And he brought with him thrice nine chariots, for +the delusion of foolishness had seduced his heart and persuaded him +that with that number he would obtain to himself a complete triumph; +and he turned the face of his men and his cattle toward the left hand +of Saint Patrick, even as his magicians had directed, trusting that his +purpose could not be prevented. But the saint, beholding the multitude +of chariots, began this verse: "Some in chariots, and some on horses; +but we will invoke the name of the Lord." And when the king approached +the place, the magicians advised him not to go near Saint Patrick, lest +he should seem to honor him by his presence, and as if to reverence or +adore him. Therefore the king stayed, and, as these evil-doers +advised, sent messengers unto Patrick, commanding that he should appear +before him; and he forbade all his people that when he came any one +should stand up before him. So the prelate, having finished his holy +duties, appeared; and no one stood up before him, for so had the king +commanded. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +_Of the Holy Man named Hercus._ + +But a certain man named Hercus, the son of Degha, who had heard many +things of Saint Patrick, rose up in the sight of all, and did him +honor. Therefore the prelate blessed him, and promised eternal life +unto him; and he, believing in God, received the grace of baptism, and, +leading his life renowned for virtues and for miracles, after a while +he was made a bishop, and died in the city of Slane. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +_How the Magician was Destroyed._ + +And there was in that place a certain magician named Lochu, who was +highly favored with the king, and he uttered blasphemies against the +Lord and his Christ. For being driven mad by the delusions of devils, +he declared himself to be a god; and the people, being dazzled with his +cheats, and stubbornly adhering to his pernicious doctrine, worshipped +him even as a deity. Therefore he continually blasphemed the ways of +the Lord, and those who were desirous to be converted from idolatry did +he labor to subvert in their faith, and to pervert from Christ. And +almost in the same manner as Simon Magus resisted Saint Peter did he +oppose Saint Patrick. And on a certain time, when he was raised from +the earth by the prince of darkness and the powers of the air, and the +king and the people beheld him as if ascending into the heavens, Saint +Patrick thus prayed unto the Lord: "O omnipotent God! destroy this +blasphemer of Thine holy name, nor let him hinder those who now return +or may hereafter return unto Thee!" And he prayed, and the magician +fell from the air to the earth at the feet of the man of God, and his +head was stricken against a stone, and, bruised and wounded, he +expired, and his spirit descended into hell. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +_Of the Miraculous but Terrible Rescue of Saint Patrick._ + +But the king, being much grieved at the death of the magician, burned +with anger, and, with all the manifold multitude of his people, he +arose to destroy the saint. And he, beholding their violence, and +singing forth with a loud voice, began this verse from the Psalms: "Let +God arise, and let His enemies be scattered, and let them who hate His +face be put to confusion." Then the Lord, the protector of His chosen +ones in the time of need, saved from this multitude his faithful +servant; for, with a terrible earthquake, and with thundering and the +stroke of the thunderbolt, some he destroyed, some he smote to the +ground, and some he put to flight. Thus, as was said by the prophet, +"The Lord shot forth His arrows, and He scattered them; He poured forth +His lightnings, and He overturned them." For He sent among them, +according to the prophecy of Isaiah, the spirit of giddiness; and He +set the idolaters against the idolaters, like the Egyptians against the +Egyptians; each man rushed on his fellow, and brother fought against +brother, and the chariots and their riders were cast to the ground and +overturned; and forty and nine men were slain, and hardly did the rest +escape. But the king trembled at the rebuke of the Lord, and at the +breath of the spirit of His anger, and ran into a hiding-place with +only four of his people, that he might conceal himself from the terrors +of the face of the Lord. But the queen, entreating for the pardon of +the king, reverently approached, and, bending her knee before Saint +Patrick, promised that her consort should come unto him and should +adore his God. And the king, according to her promise, yet with a +designing heart, bended his knees before the saint, and simulated to +adore the Christ in which he believed not. There, with the tongue of +iniquity and the heart of falsehood, he promised that if on the morrow +he would vouchsafe to visit his palace, he would obey all his precepts. +But the man of God, though the Lord suffered not the wickedness which +this unworthy king had conceived in his heart, confidently trusting in +the protection of the Lord, assented to his entreaty. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +_How the Saint Escaped the Deadly Snares._ + +And the king, bidding farewell to the bishop, returned to his palace, +and in the several places through which the saint was to pass he laid +an ambush; and divers rivers crossed the road, which might in many +parts be forded, nigh unto the shallows whereof he placed nine chariots +with some of his murderous servants, that if the saint should escape +the one he might meet with the other, and so that in no wise could he +pass unharmed. But on the morrow Patrick, with eight persons only and +the boy Benignus, going in a straight road to Teomaria, where the king +then resided, passed through them who had laid snares for his life; and +their eyes were bound, that they could not behold him; but to their +sight appeared eight stags with one hind passing over the mountains; +and thus, the Lord being his protector, did the saint and his +companions escape the contrivers of his destruction. Therefore he came +unto the royal city, and found the king at supper with his companions. +And at his entrance no one arose excepting a certain bard of the king +named Dubhtach, who devoutly saluted the saint, and besought and +obtained of him that he should be made a Christian. And Dubhtach the +first among them all believed in the Lord, and it was remembered to his +justification; for, being baptized and confirmed in the faith of +Christ, the strains that erewhile he had poured forth in the praise of +his false gods, now converting to a better use, he composed more +excellent poems unto the praise of the All-powerful and the honor of +His saints. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + +_Of the Poison mingled in the Wine._ + +But the King Leogaire, fermenting with the gall of wickedness and +deceit, knowing and marvelling how often the saint had escaped his +snares, turned himself to other inventions, and whom he could not slay +with the sword he plotted to destroy with poison. Therefore, by the +hand of a certain evil-doer named Lugaich Mael, he gave his cup unto +Patrick, whereof, that servant of Satan mingling poison with the wine, +did the saint drink. But the man of God, taking the cup and invoking +the name of the Lord, bended it forward, and all that was deadly +therein poured he into the hollow of his hand unmixed with the rest of +the liquor; then making the sign of the cross, what remained he +blessed, and, to the confusion of the poisoner and the admiration of +all who sat around, drinking thereout, he received neither hurt nor +damage. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + +_Of the Fantastic Snow._ + +Then, being utterly covered with shame, did the magician more and more +grieve; and lest he should appear to be vanquished, he challenged +Patrick to bring down signs from heaven. And the saint answered that +he would not tempt the divine will; but the magician by his +enchantments sprinkled all those parts with the coldest snow, and +afflicted all the inhabitants with cold. And the saint urged him, +urging and pressing that he would remove the snow from the earth and +the cold from the inhabitants; and thus compelled, the magician +confessed that by all his enchantments he could not do that thing. +Therefore, O impious man! said the saint, out of thine own mouth will I +judge thee, and prove that thou art the worker of wickedness and +minister of Satan; thou who canst cause evil only, and canst not at all +produce good. Then raising his consecrated hand, blessed he the plain +and all the places around in the name of the Holy Trinity; and +forthwith all the fantastic snow which could not melt in the accustomed +manner vanished. And all around marvelled, confessing the hand of the +Lord working in Patrick, and detesting the deceitful works of the +magician. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + +_How the Darkness was Dispersed._ + +And the magician, beholding how his art was scorned and set at small +account, once again by his enchantments covered the places that had +been whitened with snow, even with a palpable cloud of thick darkness. +And fear and trembling came on all whom it covered, or at least they +experienced how closely it shaded them from the brightness of the true +faith. Nor let it be marvelled that strangers to the darkness of the +true light which illuminates every man entering this world should be +involved in the darkness of magicians, who, with blind and hardened +heart, worshipped the prince of darkness. And Patrick in his wonted +words addressed the magician, that he would make this cloud to pass +away; but the magician answered even as before. Then did the son of +light pour out a prayer unto the Eternal Light, the Sun of Justice, and +immediately the material sun arose and shone forth, and the darkness +was dispersed. And the people which had hitherto sat in darkness, now +beholding the great light, proclaimed their thanks and their praises, +and magnified Patrick, who was the preacher of the Eternal Light. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + +_How the Magician and his Garment were consumed, and Benignus and the +Garment of St. Patrick preserved unhurt._ + +But the magician, loving darkness rather than light, and darkening +himself in the delusions of his darkness, stubbornly persevered in his +malice, and still contentiously affirmed that his wicked and perverse +opinions excelled the doctrines of the saint. And the king feared that +the works of the magician would be overturned, and he proposed a +certain trial to be made between them: "Let your books be plunged into +the water, and he whose writings are blotted or effaced, let his +preaching be disbelieved; but he in whose writings no blemish shall be +found, let his preaching be admitted and confirmed." And Patrick +assented to this decision, but the magician refused; for he affirmed +that Patrick worshipped the element of water for a god, inasmuch as he +baptized with water in the name of his God. Then the king changed the +trial, and appointed that each book should be cast into the fire, and +that of him whose book should remain unhurt the doctrine should be +received of all. And the saint accorded to this sentence, but the +magician, distrusting himself, accorded not; for he said that Patrick +worshipped, in their turn, now the fire, now the water, and that +therefore he held propitious to him either element. And Patrick +replied that he adored no element, but that he worshipped the Creator +of all the elements. While, therefore, the dispute waxed high, and the +people varied from the one side unto the other, the wisdom of the Lord +inspiring them to distinguish the light of the true faith from the +darkness of idolatry, and the soundness of holy doctrine from the +vanity of magical delusion, a new trial by fire is sought out. Then +with the agreement of all, and Patrick and the evil-doer consenting, in +a new manner a new house is builded, whereof the one-half is made of +wood which was green, the other of wood which was dry and eaten of +worms; and the boy Benignus and the magician, each being bound hand and +foot, are placed over against each other, the boy, arrayed in the +magician's garment, is placed in the dry part of the building, and the +magician, clothed in the robe of Saint Patrick, is placed in the green +part, and the fire is put thereto. And behold an event marvellous and +much unwonted! The fire, furiously raging, consumed the magician, even +to ashes, with the green part of the building wherein he stood; and the +robe of the saint wherewith he was clad was neither scorched nor +soiled; but the blessed youth Benignus, standing in the dry part +thereof, the fire touched not, yet reduced to a cinder the garment of +the magician that wrapped him round. Behold, therefore, herein +repeated the miracles which are recorded in the Holy Writ, as when the +three youths were cast into the furnace, the fire burned only their +bonds, and hurted not themselves; so destroyed it the magician, with +the green part of the house, yet hurted not the vest of Patrick, and, +leaving the boy with the dry part of the house uninjured, it consumed +the garment of the evil-doer. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + +_Of Many who were Swallowed up by the Earth, and how the rest were +Converted unto God._ + +But the heart of Leogaire was hardened, as was formerly the heart of +Pharao before Moses against the commands of the Lord. For though so +many miracles had been wrought, he feared not to provoke the high God, +and to offend his servant Patrick. Therefore, showing himself to be a +second Nero, in revenge for the death of the evil-doer, he appointed +several of his people to destroy the saint. And, as is testified by +the Holy Writ, a wicked prince always hath wicked ministers, many of +his servants put themselves forward, voluntary, prompt, and earnest to +so great a sacrilege. But God, the all-powerful protector of His +beloved, armed the zeal of the creature against these senseless +idolaters, and ere they could effect their wickedness he swept them +from the earth and destroyed them. For the earth opened and swallowed +them up, and so many of the people of Teamhrach as were consenting +thereto; and the abyss opened its mouth and devoured them, even alive. +And they who remained, and all the dwellers of that land seeing or +hearing of these things, feared with mighty fear; and, lest they should +be punished with the like punishment, they believed in Christ, and +crowded together unto the font. And the king trembled, and threw +himself at the feet of Patrick, and besought pardon, and promised that +he would thenceforth obey him. And the saint forgave him; yet, though +he a long time instructed him in the faith of the Lord Jesus, in no +wise could he persuade him unto baptism. Therefore he dismissed him, +that, following his free will, he might go on in the inventions of his +own heart, nor seem to be compelled unto the faith; yet, at the +revelation of the Spirit, what he foreknew of the king and his +posterity thus was prophesied by the saint: "Since thou hast always +resisted my doctrine, nor ceased to afflict me beyond measure; +moreover, since thou thoughtest scorn to believe in the Creator of all +things, therefore art thou the child of perdition, and thou, with all +that were partners in thine offence, shouldst justly, even at this +instant, go into eternal punishment; but since thou humbly besought of +me forgiveness, and, like the King Achab, hast humbled thyself before +my God, the Lord will not at this time bring on thee the evil which +thou hast deserved; yet shall none of thy seed sit on thy throne after +thee, but they shall become servants unto thy brother, who will believe +in Christ, and to his posterity for ever and ever." But the queen +believed in Christ, and was baptized and blessed of Patrick, and at +length, with a pious end, rested in the Lord. And he went forward with +his people, baptizing in the name of the Holy Trinity all those who +believed, while the Lord assisted and confirmed his labors with +manifold miracles. + + + + +CHAPTER L. + +_Of the Sisters and the Nephews of St. Patrick._ + +And the saint had three sisters, memorable for their holiness and for +their justice, and they were pleasing unto the Lord; and of these the +names were Lupita, Tygridia, and Darercha. And Tygridia was blessed +with a happy fruitfulness, for she brought forth seventeen sons and +five daughters. And all her sons became most wise and holy monks, and +priests, and prelates; and all her daughters became nuns, and ended +their days as holy virgins; and the names of the bishops were +Brochadius, Broichanus, Mogenochus, and Lumanus, who, with their uncle, +Saint Patrick, going from Britain into Ireland, earnestly laboring +together in the field of the Lord, they collected an abundant harvest +into the granary of heaven. And Darercha, the youngest sister, was the +mother of the pious bishops, Mel, Moch, and Munis, and their father was +named Conis. And these also accompanied Saint Patrick in his preaching +and in his travel, and in divers places obtained the episcopal dignity. +Truly did their generation appear blessed, and the nephews of Saint +Patrick were a holy heritage. + + + + +CHAPTER LI. + +_How Saint Lumanus Sailed against the Wind and the Stream._ + +And Saint Patrick, having sailed over from Ulidia, came unto the +territory of Midia, at the mouth of the river Boinn, among barbarians +and idolaters; and he committed his vessel and its tackle unto his +nephew, Saint Lumanus, enjoining him that he should abide there at the +least forty days, the while he himself would go forward to preach in +the interior parts of the country. But Lumanus, abiding there the +messenger of light, and being made obedient through the hope of +obtaining martyrdom, doubled the space of time that was enjoined unto +him, which no one of his companions, even through the fear of their +lives, dared to do. Yet was not this child of obedience disappointed +of his reward. For while he received the seed of obedience, he brought +forth unto himself the fruit of patience, and deserved to fertilize +strange lands, even with the seed of the divine Word, to the +flourishing of the flowers of faith and the fruits of justice; and the +more devotedly he obeyed his spiritual father, the more marvellously +did the elements obey him. And having fulfilled there twice forty +days, and being wearied with the continual expectation of the saint's +return, on a certain day, the wind blowing strongly against him, he +hoisted the sails, and, trusting in the merits of Saint Patrick, even +by the guidance of the vessel alone passed he over unto the place where +he was appointed to meet him. O miracle till then unheard and unknown! +The ship, without any pilot, sailed against the wind and against the +stream, at the bidding of the man of God, and bore him with a +prosperous course from the mouth of the Boinn even to Athtrym; and He +who formerly turned back the stream of Jordan unto its fountain did, +for the merits of Patrick, guide the vessel against the wind and +against the stream. + + + + +CHAPTER LII. + +_How Forkernus and his Parents were Converted and Baptized._ + +And Saint Lumanus having landed at the aforementioned town of Athtrym, +he converted unto the faith of Christ first Forkernus, the son of a +certain great man who there ruled, then his mother, a Britoness by +nation, and lastly his father, Fethleminus, and in a fountain which by +his prayers he produced out of the earth, even before their eyes, did +he baptize them and many others. And these things being done, the holy +prelate, in the twenty-fifth year before the foundation of Ardmachia, +there builded a church, to the endowment and the enrichment whereof +Fethleminus, that faithful servant of Christ, gave by solemn gift +Athtrym and Midia, with many farms, and then crossing the river, he +builded a habitation for himself and for his people, and there did he +piously finish his days. And Lumanus, being consecrated the bishop of +this church, sent his novice, Forkernus, to be instructed in letters, +and, when he was sufficiently learned, advanced him to the priesthood. +And as the day of his death approached, he went with Forkernus unto his +brother Brocadius, and commanded Forkernus on his obedience that he +should, after his decease, take on himself the government of the church +over which he presided. But he, refusing and protesting that it +accorded neither to reason nor to justice that he should in the church +of his father take on himself the guidance of souls, lest he should +seem to hold in heritage the sanctuary of the Lord, his father and +pastor bound him thereto by his iterated commands. Why need we many +words? Lumanus would not bless him until he had promised to undertake +this office. And at length Lumanus, having departed from this light +unto the mansion of eternal light, Forkernus, as enjoined, took on +himself the care of his church; and after he had presided over it only +three days, he committed it unto a certain stranger, by birth a Briton, +named Cathladius. Thus did the man of God fulfil the command of his +father, and thus he took care that he should not set the example of +selling the rights of the church or the heritage of his parents. But +all the revenues of this church were by Lumanus transferred to Saint +Patrick and his successors, and for ever after given unto the church of +Ardmachia. + + + + +CHAPTER LIII. + +_Of the Prophecy of St. Patrick on Coyrbre, and of the Unfruitfulness +of a River._ + +And Leogaire had two brothers, the elder of whom was named Coyrbre, +like unto him in cruelty and unbelief, if, indeed, any one could in +that country be found like him, who contemned and condemned the law of +the Most High; and the younger was named Conallus, who retained no more +of his birth than does the fish of the sea or the rose of the thorn. +But Patrick having gone to Coyrbre, who then abided in the place called +Tailltion, that he might convert him unto the Christian faith, if in +any wise from that stone could a son be raised up unto Abraham, yet he, +his heart being hardened against belief, intended the death of the +preacher who would have preached life unto him, and even in the middle +of the river he scourged the servants of Patrick; and the saint, +knowing him to be obstinate in his error, and to be abandoned of God, +thus prophesied unto him: "Since thou hast refused to bear the yoke of +Christ, whose service is freedom, no one of thy posterity shall attain +the throne of thy kingdom, but in perpetual servitude shall they serve +the seed of thy younger brother, Conallus. And this shall be to thee a +sign that the Lord will fulfil the word which He has spoken through my +mouth: the river near thy mansion, which, with the abundance of its +fishes, is wont to feed thee and thine household, from henceforward, +even for ever, shall produce no fishes." And the word of the man of +God obtained, for all his posterity became subject unto the posterity +of his brother Conallus, and they came unto the throne of his kingdom; +and the river, which is called Seyle, even to this day beareth no +fishes. + + + + +CHAPTER LIV. + +_Of Conallus, and of the Prophecy of Patrick concerning him._ + +And the saint, leaving those children of darkness in the anger and +blindness of their hearts, and the depth of their error, turned his +steps towards Conallus, who was to be the child of the truth. And he, +rejoicing and giving thanks, received him as the angel of peace and of +delight, and opened the ears of his hearing unto the words of +salvation, and, through the laver of the regeneration and renovation of +the Holy Spirit, deserved he to be incorporated with Christ. Whereby +are we plainly showed that the Heavenly Potter out of the same clay can +form at His will one vessel unto reproof and another unto honor. Then +Conallus, being comforted and confirmed in the Catholic verity, offered +unto the saint his dwelling-house, and his land, and his farm, and +besought of him with many prayers that for the spreading of the +Christian faith he there would build a city for him and for his people; +and he said he would build a habitation for himself on the borders +thereof. And the saint, praising so great charity in his novice, lest +he should seem to reject his entreaty, builded there a city, which is +now called Domnhach Phadruig--that is, the City of Patrick; and +touching it with his staff, he marked out the dwelling-place of +Conallus, which is now called Rathyr-tair. And the saint blessed him +in the name of the Lord; and among other things which were to happen +unto him, thus did he prophesy: "Happy and prosperous shall be this +dwelling-place, and happy shall be they who dwell therein; nor shall +the blood of any man, save only one, be shed in it; and the Lord, +giving His blessing, shall bless thee, and He shall confirm thy throne +and multiply thine empire, and the seed of thy brother shall serve thy +seed for ever and ever." And all these things which the saint +prophesied were not in the event disproved. + + + + +CHAPTER LV. + +_Of the Altar of Saint Patrick._ + +And it was near to the heart of the saint to visit Connactia; and +chiefly for the vision which he had heretofore beheld in his sleep, +wherein he was called by the infants of that country, even in their +mothers' wombs, he desired there to evangelize the kingdom of God. And +he purposed to travel round the whole island, that he might convert it +unto Christ; and the saint, being prepared to his journey, blessed +Conallus, and in memorial of himself he left in the aforementioned city +his altar of stone, for the relieving of the sick and for the working +of miracles; but when he proceeded on his journey, the altar followed, +nor to the eyes of any man was it visible how it was carried; but, as I +account, it was carried along the path of the saint by the power and +the virtue of Him at whose nod the prophet was carried from Judea into +Chaldea. Thus did the Corner-Stone, Christ, that He might show unto +all the holiness of Patrick, cause this holy stone to be moved without +human hand. And the prelate, looking back, beheld the altar thus +marvellously borne after him, and exulted in the Lord, and returned, +and placed it in a fitting place. And from that day did it remain +fixed, yet ceased it not to shine in miracles, as if the virtue of +Patrick had remained in it or flowed from it. + + + + +CHAPTER LVI. + +_Of the Images destroyed from Heaven, and of the Fountain produced from +the Earth._ + +And the King Leogaire, being devoted to the worship of devils, with a +great part of his people who much desired to please him adored a +certain idol magnificently formed of silver and gold, and which was +raised in a field called Maghfleidh. And the idol was named +Ceancroithi--that is, the head of all the gods, for that it was by that +foolish people accounted to utter responses. And around this image +stood twelve inferior gods, made of brass, as if subject unto it. +Therefore Saint Patrick turned toward this place, that he might +overturn the idol, and by his preaching convert its worshippers to the +worship of the Creator. But when he could not prevail, neither could +he recall those idolaters from the folly that was fixed in their minds, +he betook himself to his accustomed arms of prayer. And from a +neighboring hill beholding the idol, he stretched forth in prayer his +spotless hands unto God, and lifted against it the staff of Jesus, when +suddenly, by the power of God, the idol fell on its left side, and all +the silver and the gold poured from it broken and powdered into dust; +but on the hard stone of the image was seen impressed the mark of the +staff, though it had touched it not; and the earth swallowed up the +twelve inferior gods, even to their necks, and their heads continue +above the ground unto this day. Thus what human strength could not +accomplish was done by the divine power; and many beholding it believed +in the true and living God, and being baptized, according to the +apostle, put on Christ, And in that place Saint Patrick by his prayers +produced out of the earth a fountain of the clearest water, wherein +many were afterward baptized. + + + + +CHAPTER LVII. + +_How the Darkness was Dispersed._ + +And the saint, having overturned the idols, held on the way that he +purposed; and the fame of his holiness, going before him, announced his +coming. And when he drew nigh unto Connactia, two magicians, the sons +of Neyll, the one whereof was named Mael, the other Cabhlait, heard of +his approach; and they were both bound in the bonds of Satan, nor were +they less germane in the exercise of their evil deeds than in the germ +of their native generation. These men by their enchantments covered +the whole country with thick darkness for three continual days, whereby +they hoped to prevent the entrance of Patrick into that place. But the +son of light, in whose heart the morning star that never sets +perpetually shone, while he lifted up unto heaven his heart and his +hand and his tongue in prayer, the light-streaming rays of the sun, +shining forth, dispersed the magic darkness; and, finding free entrance +into Connactia, with all his strength he labored to open to those +unworthy enemies of the truth the door of faith. + + + + +CHAPTER LVIII. + +_Of the Virgins who went unto Heaven._ + +And of Leogaire were born two daughters, like roses growing in a +rose-bed. And the one was of a ruddy complexion, and she was called +Ethne; and the other was fair, and she was called Fedella; and they +were educated by these magicians. And early on a certain morning, the +sun having just arisen, they went to bathe in a clear fountain, on the +margin whereof they found the saint sitting with other holy men; and +regarding his countenance and garb, they were struck with wonder, and +enquired of his birth and his residence, taking him for an apparition. +But the saint admonished them rather to believe in his God than to +enquire of his descent or his dwelling-place. Then the damsels, +desiring to know more assuredly of God, earnestly questioned about His +power, and His riches, and His glory. And the Saint instructed them in +the Catholic faith, truly affirming him to be the Creator and Ruler of +the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and of all that is therein; +and that He had one Son, with Himself coeternal, coeval, and +consubstantial--everywhere reigning, governing all things, possessing +all things; and promised he also unto them that they should exchange an +earthly and transitory kingdom for a heavenly and eternal kingdom; for +that if they obeyed his counsel, they should unite with the Celestial +King in pure and indissoluble union. And when he had thus preached +unto them with persuasive eloquence, the damsels believed in Christ, +and he baptized them even in that fountain. Thus being made +Christians, they besought the saint that according to his promise he +would show unto them the face of Christ, their beloved Spouse. And the +saint thus answered: "Ye must first, with the mouth of your heart and +of your body, devoutly receive the flesh and the blood of your Spouse, +so that, being quickened with the living food, and having tasted of +death, ye may pass from this impure world unto the starry +bride-chamber." Then the virgins, believing in the word of the man of +God, devoutly entreated and received the Eucharist, and, immediately +falling asleep in the Lord, they quitted their earthly tabernacles, and +went unto their heavenly Spouse. And their friends and their kindred +gathered together and bewailed them for three days, as was the custom +of the country, and returned their sacred remains unto the womb of the +mother of all human kind. And on that spot was erected a church, which +is now collated to the metropolitan seat of Ardmachia. And the two +magicians, for that they had educated the damsels, were sorely grieved +at their deaths, and reproached the saint with bitter and angry words; +but he, touching the harp of David, and preaching unto them the kingdom +of God, converted them unto the faith, and they were baptized. + + + + +CHAPTER LIX. + +_Of the Magician Struck by Lightning, and of Twelve Thousand Men +Converted unto Christ._ + +And after these things had come to pass, a great and solemn council was +held in a solemn place by the people of that province gathered there +together, whereat the seven sons of Amhlaich, a man eminent for his +birth, his dignity, his riches, and his power, were present with a +numerous train of their followers. Then the saint, that he might gain +many of that multitude unto Christ, threw himself into the midst of the +assembly, and took the spiritual armor of the power of God unto the +extirpation of idolatry. But when this renowned preacher unsheathed +the sword of the Spirit to the destruction of devils and the salvation +of man, a certain magician named Rochait with all his strength +endeavored to slay him. Lest, however, his wicked attempt should +accomplish the yet more wicked deed, the hand of the Almighty, sending +on him fire from above, consumed this child of hell, and smote him with +lightning, even in the presence of all. And beholding this marvellous +and fearful miracle, the seven sons of Amlaich, with twelve thousand of +the people, believed in Christ, and were baptized, and constantly +remained in the Catholic faith which they had taken on them. And the +two daughters of a certain nobleman named Glerannus, who were then +unborn, are said to have invoked the saint, and were with the rest +converted unto Christ, and were baptized even in their mother's womb. +And they afterward, living a holy and religious life, in a pious end +rested in the Lord, and after their deaths proved by many miracles that +they were with the saints in heaven. And Saint Patrick placed over +this newly-converted people a prelate named Mancenus, and he was +learned and religious, and well versed in the Holy Scriptures. + + + + +CHAPTER LX. + +_Of another Magician whom the Earth swallowed up._ + +And the Lord ordained unto Saint Patrick strong and frequent conflicts +with the magicians, that he might conquer and know how prevailing was +the wisdom of Him in whose name all their endeavors were foiled. For +as, according to the apostle, Iannes and Mambres resisted Moses, so did +very many evil-doers resist Patrick. Therefore, on another day, in the +place of the aforementioned council, another but not a different +evil-doer, at the instigation of Satan, arose with the like fury +against the saint, that he might destroy him. But the right hand of +the Lord, which erewhile had smote his enemy with consuming fire, was +magnified in strength, and in His manifold power swept this evil-doer +from the face of the earth. For the earth, cleaving asunder, opened +her mouth and swallowed up the magician who had so often defiled +himself with so many evil deeds, and, closing again, plunged him into +the abyss. + + + + +CHAPTER LXI. + +_How another Magician is Sunken up to the Ears, and again is Raised up._ + +And the deadly end of this evil-doer being discerned by one who was +germane unto him in his flesh and in his mind, and who was not able to +succor his brother when perishing, therefore sought he to avenge his +destruction on Patrick as his destroyer; and being enraged against the +saint, he sought to put him to death. But the Lord fought for Patrick, +and the earth in like manner opened and swallowed up the magician, even +to his ears. Then the man, being almost swallowed up in the earth, +implored pardon of the saint, and promised that he would believe in +Christ, and that he would obey his doctrine. And the saint, being +moved with pity, prayed for him unto the Lord; and immediately the +earth cast him forth, and raised him. And the unmerciful man, being +mercifully saved, gave thanks unto the power that had saved him, and +believed in Christ, and received the grace of baptism. Thus doth the +Lord, distinguishing between the light and darkness, severely condemn +the reprobate and obstinate in evil, and mercifully saveth those who +fly unto his mercy. + + + + +CHAPTER LXII. + +_How a huge Stone was raised by the Saint._ + +And the saint, passing along on a certain day, beheld a multitude of +men gathered together, that they might move from its place a very large +stone; and they had labored a long time, but in vain; for they were +wearied in their strength and fatigued with the unequal attempt, and to +raise the stone they prevailed not. Then the saint approached, even as +a builder of the temple of the living God to be builded in the Lord; +and having prayed and blessed their work, that huge stone, which could +not be stirred by an hundred hands, did he alone remove and raise and +place in its fit place. And the men who stood around marvelled at this +marvellous work, and were converted to believe in the God of Saint +Patrick; and they who hitherto, having stony hearts, worshipped stones, +this stone being raised by the saint, believed in the living Stone, the +precious Stone, the Corner-Stone, the elect Stone, the Stone which is +placed in the foundations of Sion; and this Stone had they long time +rejected; but now becoming themselves living stones, joined together +with the cement of the Christian faith, and following the sacred +doctrine, and being polished and purified in baptism, they grew in the +temple of the Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIII. + +_How the Women were raised from Death._ + +And wheresoever in his preaching went Patrick, the man of God, his lips +diffused the healing knowledge, and the number of the believers was +daily increased. And the Lord assisted his faithful servant with +manifold miracles, and confirmed his doctrine, for that he falsified +not the word of God, but always sought His praise and His glory. And +on a certain day he came to a place called Fearta, where at the side of +a hill two women who had deceased were buried. Then the man of God, +approaching the grave, commanded the earth to be removed, and, having +invoked the name of Christ, he raised them up to life. And the women +thus raised up, even in the presence of all around, proclaimed that +their idols were vain, and that their gods were devils, Christ alone +being the true God; and in His name they besought to be baptized, and +they attained their prayer. And the bystanders glorified God, and +devoutly received his faith and baptism. Thus did the most holy +prelate revive from double death the two women who were dead in the +flesh; and their resurrection from bodily death gave unto many +resurrection from the death of the soul. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIV. + +_Two Women who were pregnant are with their Infants rescued from Death +unto Life._ + +And in these parts was a certain woman named Fidelina, yet knew she not +how to confide in Christ; and she was pregnant, and even at the instant +other travail, for lack of strength, she expired. But as a city +builded on a mountain cannot be hidden, nor a candle placed in a +candlestick, nor the fragrance of a sweet-smelling garden, so, though +ever so much he desired it, could not the virtue of the blessed Patrick +be concealed. For proceeding from him it drew after him many who had +been evil-disposed; and for the odor of his ointments many followed +him, so by the grace thereof the friends of the departed woman, being +attracted, brought her lifeless body unto the saint, and entreated with +lamentable entreaties that he would show now on her the power which +erewhile he had shown on others. And forthwith the man full of God +betook himself unto prayer; and he restored the dead woman unto life; +and afterwards she brought forth a son, and in a convenient season +thereafter, with her child, received baptism; and thus was each from +the death of the body and of the soul revived by Patrick before the +people. And all the multitude who beheld these things believed and +gave praise unto God. And the woman related what during her death she +had seen of the glories of heaven and of the pains of hell; and her +testimony was believed, and converted unto Christ many thousands. And +shortly after this miracle was renewed on another woman, who also died +in travail, and who was in like manner revived by the saint, and with +her child was baptized. + + + + +CHAPTER LXV. + +_How he builded a Church of Clay alone._ + +And Saint Patrick journeyed round Connactia, spreading through all that +region the Word of God; nor ceased he from his preaching nor from his +working of miracles until all the inhabitants thereof were converted +unto the true faith. And in many places builded he churches, and +appointed therein priests and other ecclesiastical ministers unto the +government of souls and the holy ministry. And on a time when the +saint was intent on his wonted work, he came unto a certain plain, +which, by its fair and pleasant site, was fitted unto the building of a +church; but neither wood nor stone could be found therein. For the +forest was a long way distant, and no axe could be found in those +parts, nor even, if found, did any of the inhabitants understand its +use. Therefore did this holy man offer up his prayers, and, being +helped of heaven, he builded there a church of clay alone, and it was +fashioned for that time in very handsome form, and it was endowed with +the divine grace. For well is it known to have suffered naught, +neither from the wind, nor from the snow, nor from the hail, nor from +the rain, nor from any other inclemency of the air; but from thence +even to this day is it seen to continue in its original state. And the +seat of Saint Patrick, wherein sitting he was wont to preach, is still +shown; and manifold and marvellous miracles are reported to have been +done there. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVI. + +_Of the two Rivers, Dubh and Drobhaois._ + +In that country were two rivers, whereof the one was called Dubh, and +the other Drobhaois; and the river Dubh was wont to abound with fishes, +but the other produced them not. And the saint, passing nigh the bank +of the fruitful river, entreated the fishermen that out of a great +draught which they had taken they would bestow their kindness unto him. +But they, wanting charity toward the beloved of the Lord, sent him away +empty, and wholly refused unto him even one fish. Therefore God, the +author and the lover of charity, from these fishermen, narrowed in +their hearts, and frozen with covetousness, withdrew their wonted gain, +and deprived that river of its perpetual abundance of fishes; and the +other river, which was called Drobhaois, did he immediately enrich +therewith. And this river, as being more fruitful, so is it clearer +than all the other rivers in Ireland. From whence a wise man may +understand that we should show charity unto every member of Christ, and +receive the friends of God and relieve them with all kindness. For +whatever honor, whatever kindness, we show unto them, that do we +assuredly show unto Christ; so whatever we unjustly take from or deny +unto them, of that doth God attest us to have defrauded Him. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVII. + +_Of the Voice that issued from the Sepulchre._ + +The holy standard-bearer of the Lord was accustomed to stop at the +head-stone of every Christian who was buried outside of a burial-place, +there to erect a cross; for he knew that in that country, then only +lately converted unto the faith, all the dead, by reason of the fewness +of the churches, could not be buried in consecrated ground; and +therefore the good pastor wished by that blessed token to distinguish +the sheep from the goats--namely, the Christians that were buried from +the pagans. So might the worshippers of Christ, beholding the sign of +life, understand that a servant of the faith of the cross was there +buried, and so might they not delay to offer unto the Creator their +prayers for his soul. Truly, a pious custom, and worthy is it of +general observance that all who were baptized in the death of Christ, +and are dead in his faith, should, when buried, have on them or near +them the ensign of the death of Him. + +And it came to pass that Patrick, in going out of Connactia, beheld +outside of a burying-place which was consecrated to God the graves of +two men who had been lately buried, and he observed that at the head of +the one was a cross erected. And sitting in his chariot, as was then +the custom, he bade his charioteer to stay, and, speaking to the dead +man as to one living, he asked him who and of what religion he had +been? And the voice answered unto him from the grave that he had been +a pagan, altogether ignorant of the Christian faith. "Why, then," said +the saint, "bearest thou the cross of Christ, thou who didst never +worship or acknowledge Him?" And the voice answered: "He who is buried +near me was a Christian; and some one of your faith, coming hither, +placed the cross at my head." Thus the voice spake, and was silent. +Then the saint descended from his chariot, and removed the cross from +that place, and fixed it at the head-stone of him who had been +baptized, and prayed for him, and went his way. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVIII. + +_Of his Journey, and of his manifold Miracles._ + +And going out of Connactia, after having confirmed that country in the +Christian faith, he went toward the northern part of Ireland, which is +called Dalnardia; and the people therein dwelling, by his conversation, +and by his example, and by his miracles, did he convert unto the faith +of Christ and the sacraments of the faith. Then he passed over the +mountain Ficoth, even to the great plain of Bregh, thus traversing +through Midia into Lagenia; and everywhere he preached the kingdom of +God, and certain of his disciples he advanced in fit places unto the +episcopal dignity. But by how many miracles his journey was graced, +how many diseased persons he healed, severally to relate, not even the +pen of the most eloquent could suffice. For divers received health, +not only by his touch or by his prayer, but even by the passing of his +shadow, as were he another Peter. So many as were not purified by the +healing water did he labor to persuade unto baptism; so many as were +already baptized, lest their faith should be perverted by the old enemy +or subverted by heretical doctrines, did he therein confirm. And since +faith, according to the Apostle James, is "dead without works," and +since a dead faith is no faith, this blessed preacher earnestly +persuaded the believers unto a holy and sincere faith by their diligent +working of good works. But they who, proceeding in all wickedness, +condemned his doctrine, and, rebelling against God, obstinately +persevered in the worship of devils, often at his prayer were they by +the suddenness of divine justice destroyed, as our relation has +hitherto declared, and will declare in the following pages. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIX. + +_The Prophecy of the Saint Concerning Dublinia; and the Sick Man cured._ + +And the saint, departing from Midia, directed his course toward +Lagenia, for the purpose of preaching there; and on his journey he +crossed a river named Finglas to a certain hill distant about one mile +from the village Athcliath, the which is now called Dublinia; and +looking on this place and on the country around it, and blessing it, +thus spake he, prophesying: "This village, now so small, in time shall +be renowned, and it shall be increased in riches and in dignity until +it be advanced the royal seat of a kingdom." How truly he spake the +proof of this time manifestly showeth. And he entered the village, and +the dwellers therein, having heard of the miracles which he had wrought +in the Lord, came forth joyfully to meet him; and the son of the lord +of that place, his only son, was even at the point of death, so that +many said he had already expired. Then, at the entreaty of the father +and of the rest who flocked around him, the saint went unto the sick +man's bed, and bended his knees on the earth, and prayed, and blessed +him then dying, and snatched him from the jaws of death, and in the +sight of them all restored him. And they who beheld this miracle +believed in the Author of life, and by the holy prelate were baptized +in His name. + + + + +CHAPTER LXX. + +_A Fountain is produced out of the Earth._ + +And Saint Patrick, while abiding in this village, was entertained at +the house of a woman who often in his presence complained of the want +of fresh water. For the river that ran near it was, by the flowing in +of the tide of the sea, made wholly salt of taste; nor before the +return thereof could any fresh water be obtained, unless drawn at a +great distance. But the saint, who continually thirsted after God, the +living fountain, compassionated the grievance of his hostess and of the +multitude then newly born unto Christ, and, the rather that they might +the more ardently pant toward the fountain of life, thought he fit to +show its virtue. Therefore on the morrow he went unto a certain place, +and in the presence of many standing around he prayed, and touched the +earth with the staff of Jesus, and in the name of the Lord produced +from it a clear fountain. Thus with the staff in the hand of his +preacher Saint Patrick did the Lord renew the miracle which of old time +he had deigned to work by the rod in the hand of Moses striking the +rock; there the rock twice struck flowed forth abundant waters; here +the earth once pierced poured forth a pure fountain. And this is the +fountain of Dublinia, wide in its stream, plenteous in its course, +sweet to the taste, which, as is said, healeth many infirmities, and +even to this day is rightly called the fountain of Saint Patrick. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXI. + +_The Dead are raised up; the King and the People are converted; a +Fountain is produced, and Tribute promised._ + +The divine Providence bestoweth on this transitory world the desire of +letters, to the end that the human race, which when death arrives +cannot long continue in the memory, may through distant ages preserve +the record of great events, and recall them as if passing before their +eyes. Therefore do those things appear to me very worthy of +remembrance which were done by Patrick, the illustrious preacher unto +the Irish nation, the holy prelate, who, by the grace of God, in his +evidences, his miracles, and his virtues, became the conqueror of the +old enemy, even to the gathering together the people of Ireland and her +kings, that they might serve the Lord; and at length he came unto the +noble city which is now called Dublinia. And it was inhabited by the +Norwegians and by the people of the Isles, having been conceded by the +King of Ireland unto the dominion of the queen, who was the daughter of +the King of Norwegia; and in course of time was it one while allied to, +and other while warring against, the kings of Ireland. Hither Saint +Patrick coming, found the city defiled with the abominations of idols, +and unknowing of the true Creator. And He who burst asunder the gates +of death and of hell smoothed the path for his servant; for the king +and the people, who erewhile had said unto the Lord, Depart Thou from +us, we will not the knowledge of Thy ways, so cast down were they, so +saddened with weeping and with lamentation, that all memory of their +wonted fierceness, all their barbarous rudeness, and all the pride of +their idolatry, were utterly subdued. Wretched was the spectacle on +that day! The twin hope of the kingdom, the delight of the city, the +solace of the old, the companion of the young, the son of the King of +Dublinia, lay in his chamber dead; and his sister, who had gone to +bathe in the neighboring river, had that day perished in the +mid-stream. And a tumult arose through the whole city; and the funeral +rites of the king's son being wholly neglected, all ran confusedly to +the shore; some, not even casting off their garments, plunge into the +river, some dive into its lowest depths, and others sail down the +course of the tide, lest haply the body of the royal damsel might +thitherward be hurried down. But they who had gone out to seek beheld +in the water the damsel lying down, even as one sleeping. They delay +not; they raise the royal maiden from the stream; they bear her unto +the chamber of her brother for her obsequies; and, according to the +superstition of the pagans, the tombs are prepared. And a rumor +gathers in the palace that he, Patrick of Ardmachia, who in the name of +the unknown God had already raised many that were even dead, had on +that day arrived in the city. This the king hearing rejoiced mightily; +and he caused him to come where his two children lay, and, being +already full of faith, he promised that if God at the prayers of the +saint would restore the children of his age, he and all his people +would worship him. And all the nobles confirm the promise of the king, +and the whole city yearneth toward the faith, so that the children may +but be revived. Then the saint, beholding the gain of souls which was +there prepared for him, poured forth his prayers, and in the sight of +the king and of the people restored to life the royal children; and +they, being made the assistants unto the faith, rising again in their +bodies, assisted in their father and in the people the resurrection of +souls. And this king was called Alphinus, and his son was called +Cochadh, and his daughter Dublinia, and from her the city received its +name. And he and all his people, rejecting their idols and all the +abominations of the devils, were converted unto Christ, and were +baptized at the fountain of Saint Patrick, at the southern side of the +city, which the saint, striking the earth with the staff of Jesus, had +caused to arise, to the increase of the faith of the believers; +wherefore did the saint offer there the sacrifice unto salvation; and +there, even to this day, is honor and reverence paid Saint Patrick and +his successors, the primates of Ardmachia. And from that time the King +Alphinus and all the citizens of Dublinia vowed themselves and all +their posterity to the service of Saint Patrick and the primates of +Ardmachia, and builded one church near this fountain, and another near +the Church of the Holy Trinity, and in the city westward of the +archbishop's palace. And they appointed a tribute unto Saint Patrick +their patron, which was unto the Archbishop of Ardmachia from every +merchant ship a sufficient cask of wine or of honey, a hook of iron, or +a measure of salt; from every tavern a vessel of mead or of ale; and +from every shop a gift of shoes, or gloves, or knives, or combs, with +many gifts of such kind. And on that day the king and his nobles each +offered unto him a talent of gold; but the people offered even as they +could, the which did Patrick, the poor in Christ, give unto the poor, +having retained a part unto the building of churches. Then blessed he +them with the blessings of Jacob the patriarch, and of Moses the +servant of God, like unto the age and spiritual bearing of whom he +appeared, prophesying, and praying, if their deeds agreed with their +words, that they might be unconquered and fortunate, but weak and +unhappy if ever they falsified their vows. Which plainly was proved +when this people, becoming proud and regardless of the blessing of the +saint, neglected to pay the appointed tribute. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXII. + +_Of the Sentence pronounced on Murinus._ + +And the saint having blessed and bidden farewell unto the inhabitants +of Dublinia, then by the power of his miracles confirmed in the faith, +preparing himself for the like work, set forward on his journey. And +he came unto a neighboring town, which is now called the Castle Cnoc, +where a certain infidel named Murinus governed. Him did the saint +desire to lead into the path of life; but this son of death, hearing +the fame of his virtue and of his wisdom, which he feared no one could +resist, absented himself from the saint, even as from a fierce enemy. +And the saint required him that he would at the least give unto him of +his abundance; but he, concealing himself in an inner chamber, required +him that he would at the least suffer him to sleep. The which commands +being of each oftentimes repeated, the saint, at the inspiration of the +Spirit, understanding him to be a child of perdition, exclaimed: "Let +him sleep, let him sleep; nor until the day of judgment let him awaken +or arise!" Then the saint departed, and the wretched man sank into the +sleep of death. Thus when the sleeper, covered with the darkness of +unbelief, refused to awake at the heavenly voice which called him from +the dead, that he might be illuminated of Christ, he descended into the +dark grave, there to remain for ever covered with the darkness of +death. Therefore, even to this day, it is among the Irish a frequent +imprecation on a feigned sleeper, Mayest thou sleep, as at the word of +Saint Patrick Murinus slept! + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIII. + +_Foylge is punished with a double Death, and the deceiving Fiend is +driven out of his body._ + +And in Lagenia was a certain wicked idolater named Foylge, who was an +eminent adversary of Christ, so far forth as he was able; this child of +Belial frequently sought occasion to lay on Patrick, the anointed of +the Lord, his impious hands, for to him it was very grievous not only +to see but even to hear the saint. To this inveterate malice was he +urged, for that the man of God had destroyed the aforementioned idol +Ceancroythi, unto the abominable worship whereof he was especially +bound. But when he could not effect his wicked purpose, he one day +attacked the charioteer of Saint Patrick, who was named Odranus; for he +seized him sitting in the chariot, and strangled him, so that by the +one act of blood his fury might be the more fiercely excited toward +another. And the saint, wounded in his heart, cast the weapon of his +malediction on this child of hell, who, pierced thereby, even at the +moment breathed out his soul into the infernal regions. Of some it is +said that Odranus, foreknowing the servant of Satan to be intent on the +death of the saint, obtained that in his stead he might on that day +hold the reins. And this he did, earnestly desiring to lay down his +life for the saint, lest, so bright a lamp being extinguished, the +people of Ireland should again walk in darkness. And the saint beheld +his soul borne into heaven by the angels, and placed in the seat of the +martyrs. But the old enemy, entering the dead body, showed to all a +false and feigned Foylge, as if revived unto life, and dwelled therein +as returned to his possessions and to his people. And after some days, +as Patrick was passing nigh unto the dead man's dwelling, he called +unto him certain of the family, and asked where Foylge was; and they +answered that he was then within in the house, when the saint replied: +"The soul of Foylge, for that he unjustly slew my chariot-driver, God +justly judging and vindicating my cause, hath gone cut of his body, and +descended into hell; but Satan, to the delusion and the seduction of +mankind, hath entered into his corpse, and occupieth it as his own +proper vessel." Then the saint forbade Satan that in that vessel he +should longer abide, or deceive mankind with so wicked a phantom. And +forthwith, at the command of the man of God, the deceiving spirit +quitted his habitation of clay; the which, covered with worms, and +raising horror and offence to all, was carried into instant sepulture. +Nor let it be wondered that the devil should show himself in the +visible form of his accustomed instrument, the God permitting whose +judgments are an abyss; but rather let Him be feared who can destroy +both body and soul in hell. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIV. + +_Of the Saint's Prophecy concerning the Kings of Momonia._ + +And the saint, going out of Lagenia, journeyed prosperously forward +into the country of Momonia. And the king thereof, who was named +Oengus, met the holy prelate, rejoicing and giving thanks in the +exultation of his heart, as on that day occasion was ministered unto +him of joy and of belief, for that in the morning, when he entered the +temple to adore his idols, he beheld them all prostrate on the ground. +And so often as he raised them, so often by the divine power were they +cast down; nor could they stand upright, but continually were they +overthrown. And as Dagon could not stand at the approach of the ark of +the testament, so neither could the idols stand at the approach of +Saint Patrick. And he may truly be called the ark of the covenant, who +in his pure heart, as in a golden urn, bore the manna of heavenly +contemplation, the tables of the heavenly law, and the rod of the +heavenly discipline. And the king brought him, with great reverence +and honor, unto his palace in the city of Cassel, because his mind and +his eye had long time longed for him, by reason of the manifold +miracles which he knew had been worked by the saint. And at his +preaching the king believed in the Holy Trinity, in the name of which +he is regenerated in the healing water of baptism. And after he had +blessed the king by touching his head, at his earnest and devout +entreaty the saint pierced his foot with the point of the staff of +Jesus. But the king, receiving his blessing with ardent desire, felt +in his body no pain of the wound, so much did he rejoice in the +salvation of his soul. Then did the saint behold the wounded foot of +the king, and imprinted on it the sign of the cross, and blessed it, +and healed the wound; and, full of the prophetic spirit, thus +prophesied he unto the king: "The blood of any king of thy race who +shall sit on thy throne shall never be shed, save of one alone." And +the inhabitants of this region, assert the prophecy to have been proved +by undeniable truth, inasmuch as history recordeth not one king of all +his posterity, even to the tenth generation, to have been slain, but +only one. And there remained in that place a tablet of stone, whereon +the saint is said to have celebrated the holy mysteries; and it is +called by the Irish Leac Phadruig--that is, the Stone of Saint Patrick; +and on this stone, for reverence of him, the kings of Cassel are wont +to be crowned and to be advanced unto the throne of their kingdom. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXV. + +_How Dercardius and his Companions were destroyed._ + +And thence the saint speeded unto Urmonia, that out of that place he +might pluck the thorns and the branches of error which, being planted +by the craft of the old enemy, had flourished there, and sow in their +stead the spiritual harvest. And a certain man of Comdothan, named +Lonanus, freely received him, and made unto him and the companions of +his journey a great supper. And the saint deemed right to impart the +spiritual and eternal food unto those who had prepared for him the food +which was perishing and earthly. And during supper, while the saint +labored to fill their minds with the word of life, a certain wicked man +named Dercardius approached, and with rude and importunate speech, nay, +even with clamor, wearying the ears of the saint, afflicting his mind, +and stopping his mouth, demanded of him food. The which the saint not +having at hand, blushed, and took unkindly the irreverence that +prevented him from preaching. But a certain man named Nessan, who +beheld how the just man's spirit was vexed, offered unto him a ram, +which the saint bade him give to the bold importuner. This receiving, +Dercardius returned to his companions, boasting that by his importunity +he had penetrated the stony heart of Patrick, even as the continual +dropping of water weareth out a stone. And they slay the ram, and +dress and eat it. And while the meat was yet in their mouths the anger +of God came on them, and suddenly avenged His servant; for the meat +turned to instant poison, and destroyed them all; wherein are we +sufficiently admonished not to offend the servants of God, lest we +offend the Almighty Himself, who will protect and defend them in the +time of their trouble. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVI. + +_Of the Quarrel of the Two Brothers._ + +The blessed Patrick, as the angel of peace, announcing by the blood of +Christ that peace which passeth all understanding, journeyed through +Ciarraghus. And as he journeyed, he beheld two brothers named +Bibradius and Locradius, who, their father having then lately been +buried, were dividing the inheritance; and they at first disputed with +their tongues, and at length they attacked each other very fiercely. +And when each brandished the sword unto the death of the other, the +saint feared exceedingly, lest even in his sight the crime of +fratricide should happen. Therefore unto the pity of these unpitying +men did he address his heart, unto prayer his mouth, unto blessing his +hand; and making their arms immovable as wood or as stone, he stayed +them in the air. And they, beholding themselves thus miraculously +prevented, ceased from the fury of their conceived sin, and, at the +bidding of the saint telling good tidings of peace and preaching +salvation, returned unto the mutual kindness of brotherly love. Then +he, the brothers being appeased, and his blessing being given unto +them, restored the power of their arms; and they offered him for the +building of a church the field wherein was worked this miracle. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVII. + +_Fourteen Thousand Men are miraculously refreshed with the Meat of Five +Animals._ + +And after that Patrick, the illustrious worker of miracles, had +fortified with his most holy admonitions the inhabitants of Momonia, +whom he had already filled with the faith, he turned to visit the +northern part of the island, the territories of the sons of Neyll, that +he might convert or confirm the dwellers therein. And the +aforementioned King Oengus, with twelve of his tributary kings, and +other of the chiefs who were subject unto him, followed the saint with +fourteen thousand men, desiring to be fed with the bread of life and of +understanding. And when they came unto the river Brosnach, where +Triamus the bishop, by birth a Roman, companion unto Saint Patrick in +his journey and his labors, dwelled in a place called Choibeach, he +desired to refresh all this multitude. Therefore he first fed them all +with spiritual food, and then bade them sit down unto supper. And +Triamus had one cow, by the milk of which he was wont to be sustained, +and he caused her to be slain for their repast. But what was this one +among so many? Then Patrick, the beloved of the Lord, addressed a +prayer unto heaven; and behold, two stags issued from one part of the +wood, and two boars issued from another part, and came unto him as +tamed and domestic. And these; giving thanks unto the most high Giver, +he in like manner bade to be killed, and, having blessed, he placed +before the multitude. And all the people ate, and were abundantly +filled; and the remnants, that nothing might be lost, were gathered up; +thus with the flesh of five animals did Patrick most plenteously feed +fourteen thousand men in the name of Him who, with five loaves and two +fishes, did feed four thousand. For he said: "He who believeth in me, +the works that I do, these shall he do, and greater than these," that +the Father may be glorified in the Son. And these miracles differ not, +though they vary in their number, for each was worked of the Lord, this +in Himself, that in His servant. Nevertheless, on the morrow was found +in that field a cow like unto the one that was killed and eaten, and it +was given unto Triamus, that he might be nourished of her milk. And +the rumor went forth among very many, affirming this to have been the +same cow revived by Saint Patrick. We, however, say that nothing is +impossible unto God, but that this was done we neither deny nor assert. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXVIII. + +_Nineteen Men are raised by Saint Patrick from the Dead._ + +But to these wonderful acts succeed yet more wonderful, and evidently +show in His saint the wonderful God; for the next miracle deserveth +even higher admiration. And as Patrick was one day preaching eternal +punishment to those who resisted the commands of God, and the reward of +eternal life to those who obeyed, his words were confirmed by the +argument of an unheard miracle. For, lest any scruple of doubt should +arise in their hearts, he revived, in the sight of all, nineteen men +who had been dead and buried in their graves, one of whom, named Fotus, +had lain in his narrow house for the space of ten years. And all these +related the pains which they had suffered, and with one voice declared +that the God whom Patrick preached was the true and the living God. +Then the King Oengus and all his people, beholding these things, +glorified the God who is glorious in His saints, wonderful in His +majesty, and eminent in His miracles, such as are never seen on earth; +and they honored Patrick as the priest of the high God and His peculiar +apostle. And each returned unto his home, saying, This day we have +beheld a miracle. And they who had been revived were by Patrick +baptized, and, professing a penitent life, they took on them the +monastic habit, and, abiding with the blessed Triamus, they remained in +holiness and in faith even to their lives' end. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXIX. + +_The King's Daughter becomes a Nun._ + +And Patrick came unto the country of Neyll, wherein reigned a king +named Echu, and he had one beloved daughter named Cynnia, whom he +intended at a fitting time to give in fitting marriage. And the damsel +unfolded to the saint her father's purpose, and he exhorted her to +deserve the reward of virginity even an hundred-fold; therefore, +rejecting worldly nuptials, she determined to offer herself an +undefiled offering unto her celestial Spouse, and to cherish Him in her +heart. And the king, beholding her thus steadily to preserve her +virgin purity, called unto him the saint, and thus he spake: "I had +determined that my daughter should continue unto me a long-descending +progeny for the confirmation of my kingdom and the solace of mine age; +but the succession is cut off, and mine hope is defeated by thee; if, +therefore, thou wilt promise unto me the heavenly kingdom, yet not +compel me unwillingly to receive baptism, my daughter shall become the +servant of thy God, even as thou hast exhorted her; otherwise will I +not be stopped of my desire, nor shall thy preaching prevail." And the +saint, confiding in, and committing all unto, the Lord, faithfully +promised what the king required. Then the damsel, being veiled and +consecrated, and serving the Lord in virginity and in the exercise of +all other virtues, brought by her example many unto His devotion; and +during her life and after her death she was renowned by divers +miracles. And the saint commended her unto the care of the holy virgin +Cethuberis, who first of all the women of Ireland had received from him +the veil, and to whom, being placed over the Monastery of Druimduchan, +with a great multitude of virgins serving Christ, the saint himself +addressed an exhortatory epistle. And in this monastery did Cynnia +abide, until at length with many holy virgins she rested there in the +Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXX. + +_The King Echu is raised from Death._ + +And after some time had passed, the King Echu was reduced to the bed of +sickness, and when he perceived that his strength failed, and the day +of his death approached, he sent a messenger to call Saint Patrick unto +him. And he strictly forbade that his body should be buried until the +arrival of the saint; for that he had promised unto him the heavenly +kingdom, and especially, that the king desired to receive from him the +heavenly baptism. Thus saying, he expired, and his body was kept for +the space of one day and one night unburied, in expectation of the +saint. And he, then abiding in the Monastery of Saballum, which was +distant two days' journey, knew in the spirit of the king's death, and, +ere the messenger could arrive, had made ready for the journey. And +the saint came, and mourned over the king, especially for that he had +died without baptism. Therefore prayed he unto the Lord, and loosed +him from the bonds of double death, and forthwith instructed in the +faith him restored unto life, and baptized him, and bade him that for +the edification of the people and for the proof of his preaching he +should relate what he had seen of the pains of the wicked and of the +joys of the just. And he told unto them many wonders, and there among +that in that heavenly country he had beheld the place which Patrick had +promised unto him; but, because he was not then baptized, he could not +enter therein; and so at the prayers of the saint his body was revived. +Then the saint enquired of him whether would he longer live in this +world, or instantly go into that place which was prepared for him; and +he answered that all the power, all the riches, all the delights of the +whole world, were to him but as the emptiest smoke compared with those +celestial joys which he had proved with the eye of faith. But I +entreat, said he, that I may be loosed from the body of this death, and +delivered instantly from this prison-house; for earnestly I desire to +be dissolved and to be with Christ. Thus having said, he received the +Eucharist, and, falling asleep in the Lord, went unto the place of +immortality. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXI. + +_A Man of Gigantic Stature is revived from Death._ + +And Patrick was journeying on a certain day for the wonted purpose of +his preaching; and he found near the road a sepulchre of wondrous +length. And his brethren who journeyed with him beheld it; but with +their very admiration could they not believe that the body of any man +was buried in such a tomb. But the saint affirmed that God could prove +it by the resurrection of this gigantic man, so that they did not +falter in the faith; for there was then no small doubting of the +general resurrection. Then prayed the saint earnestly that his acts +might be accorded with his words, and that thereby he might remove from +their hearts every scruple of doubt. Wonderful was the event, and to +past ages wholly unknown! The holy prelate, having first prayed, +signed the sepulchre with the staff of Jesus, and awakened from the +dust the buried man. Then stood one before them horrible in stature +and in aspect; and he looked on the saint, and, bitterly weeping, said +unto him: "How great thanks do I give unto thee, O beloved and chosen +of God! who even for one hour hast released me from unspeakable +torments and from the gates of hell!" And he besought the saint that +he might go along with him; but the saint refused, for that no man for +very terror could stand before his countenance. And being asked by +Patrick who he had been, he replied that he was the son of Chaiis, by +name Glarcus, formerly a swineherd of the King Leogaire; and that when +he was an hundred years of age, he was slain in an ambush by a certain +man named Fynnan Mac Con. Then the saint admonished him that he should +believe in the three-in-one God, and in His name receive baptism unto +salvation, so that he might escape that place of torment. And he +answered that he firmly believed in the God, whom he knew to be +almighty, and in his name desired to receive baptism. And he said that +while he had lived he understood of the Creator from the likeness of +the created; and though he knew Him not, yet loved he Him according to +his ability. Therefore he was baptized by Patrick, and forthwith he +expired, and was buried in his former sepulchre; and according to the +word of the saint, he was freed from his punishment. And the saint, +considering and commending the inestimable riches of the goodness of +God, exhorted them all earnestly, faithfully, and continually to love +God, and chiefly those who knew and understood Him, affirming that this +man had obtained so great a mercy through the earnestness of the love +which, though ignorant, he held toward God. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXII. + +_Of Another Man who was Buried and Raised Again._ + +And a certain prince who reigned in Humestia at the preaching of +Patrick believed, and, with all his people, was baptized. But when the +saint would have instructed him as to the general resurrection, he +could not easily bend thereto his faith, for in nowise could he believe +that the body which was once reduced into dust could ever be raised +again in the pristine state of its proper but improved nature. So when +the man of God, that he might reclaim him from his error, showed divers +testimonies of the Holy Writ, examples, signs, and miracles, he is said +to have thus replied; "If, by the virtue of Christ Jesus, thou shall +revive my grandfather, who has now been buried many days, then will I +believe in the resurrection of the dead which thou preachest." Then +the saint, being accompanied of the prince and all his people, went +unto the tomb, and signed it with the staff of Jesus; and he caused the +tomb to be opened, and, having prayed, to the admiration of all +present, and to the confirmation of the Catholic faith, he raised to +life the buried man. And he was of exceeding height and of terrible +countenance, yet much inferior to the aforementioned in his stature. +And him, relating the torments of hell, and devoutly asking baptism in +the name of Christ, did the saint baptize, and, when baptized, gave +unto his entreaty the Holy Eucharist; and placed him again, falling to +sleep, but sleeping in the Lord, in his former sepulchre. Then no one +of those present doubted of the resurrection of the dead, since it was +proved before their eyes by a testimony so credible, a miracle so +apparent. And this and the aforementioned miracle hath the saint +recorded in an epistle, addressed to a certain friend who dwelled in a +country beyond the sea, wherein, among other things, he sayeth: "The +Lord hath given unto me, though humble, the power of working miracles +among a barbarous people, such as are not recorded to have been worked +by the great apostles; inasmuch as in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ +I have raised from the dead bodies that have been buried for many +years; but, I beseech you, let no one believe that for these or the +like works I am to be at all equalled with the Apostles, or with any +perfect man, since I am humble and a sinner, and worthy only to be +despised." Now, let the hearer admire to what a point of perfection +this man had raised his mind, who, working so many and so great works, +yet thought so humbly of himself. And I truly admire in the saint his +extreme humility, beyond even his raising up of the dead. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIII. + +_Of the Boy who was torn in pieces by Swine and restored unto Life._ + +And another prince, named Elelius, strenuously resisted the doctrine of +the saint, nor ever opened his ears unto his preaching until misery +gave him understanding. For on a certain day his best-beloved son was +trampled on by the swine, and torn in pieces and almost devoured. +Which when the father heard, he rent his garments, and cast himself at +Patrick's feet, and, weeping, told unto him what had happened, and +promised him to believe in his God and obey his precepts, if, in His +name, the saint would revive his son. Then the saint commanded one of +his disciples, by name Malachia, by nation a Briton, that he should +restore unto life the dead and mangled youth. But he, disobeying and +disbelieving the word of the saint from the faint-heartedness of his +faith, thus answered: "Who is the man that may replace the bones which +are broken in pieces, renew the nerves, and restore the flesh, recall +the spirit to the body, and the life to the dead corpse? I will not +endeavor it, nor will I with such rashness tempt the Lord, nor essay a +work which I cannot finish." And the saint answered unto him: "Hast +thou not read the promise of the Lord? If ye ask anything from my +Father in my name, He will grant it unto ye: and again, If ye have +faith, though but as a grain of mustard-seed, ye shall say unto this +mountain, Move thou hence, and cast thyself into the sea, and it shall +be done." And he answering that often had he so read, the saint +rejoined: "Since, as much as in thee lieth, thou hast rendered naught +the word of the Lord, I prophesy unto thee that thou shalt possess on +earth but a poor and slender household, and in thy church shall be the +dwelling of one man only." Then commanded he two bishops, his +disciples Elbeus and Hibarus, that they should revive the dead youth, +adding that he would assist them with his prayers. And they obeyed the +commands of their father, and, being aided by his prayers, they +restored the torn and mangled boy not merely unto life, but unto his +former health and unto his beauty and his strength. Therefore the +prince believed, and with all his household and with all his people was +baptized. And in the place where this miracle was worked he builded a +church, and, in memory of Saint Patrick, and of the two bishops, and of +the revived youth, he erected four very huge stones. But what the +saint foretold of his disciple Malachia happened in due time. Why, +however, he did not this miracle himself, but willed it to be done by +his disciples, is, I confess, to me and many such as I, utterly +unknown. Yet by these things a wise man will understand that as Saint +Patrick, in the name of the Lord, raised this dead body and divers +others, so, what is still more excellent, his disciples, when enjoined +by his commands and assisted by his prayers, were enabled to work this +great miracle. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIV. + +_The Prayers of the Saint confer Beauty on an Ugly Man._ + +And among the chief men of Hibernia was one named Eugenius, who had +long resisted the preaching of the saint, but, being at length +compelled by the argument of the living Word, and convinced by +indisputable miracles, he at length believed, and, by the water of the +holy font, was renewed in Christ. And this man was rich and powerful, +but in his countenance and his person he was more deformed than all his +people. And after complaining of his deformity unto the saint, he +besought him to banish by the sending up of his prayers the hideous +ugliness of his face, and thereby show the omnipotence of his God, on +whom all the people believed. At length the saint, being moved with +the entreaties of the man thus ashamed of himself, asked to whose form +he would desire to be likened. Then he, regarding the people placed +around him, preferred the form of Roichus, an ecclesiastic, the keeper +of Saint Patrick's books; and this man was by birth a Briton, by degree +a deacon, a kinsman of the holy prelate, and beautiful in his form +above all men in those countries dwelling. Nevertheless was he a man +of most holy life, so that he might say with the Psalmist, "Lord, by +thy will thou hast added righteousness to my beauty!" But the saint +caused them to sleep in one bed and under one covering; and, standing +over them, he lifted his pure hands in prayer. Wonderful and unwonted +event! When they awaked and arose, not any difference appeared in +their countenance; the tonsure alone distinguished the one from the +other. And all who beheld admired; but more exceedingly joyful was he +who experienced in himself this miracle. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXV. + +_The Stature of the same Man is increased unto a sufficient Height._ + +And since the saint had gratified Eugenius by his form being thus +improved, he, confiding in his prayers, added another entreaty. For he +was of very low stature; and therefore he besought the holy prelate +that, as man can nothing prevail by his own merits, he would, in the +name of his God, add to his stature one cubit. Then Patrick bade him +to show the height which he desired; and he raised himself on tiptoe, +leaning on his erected spear, and stretched the ends of his fingers as +far upward as he could, and desired that his stature might reach unto +the measure of that height; and behold, at the prayers of the saint, +the man, erewhile a dwarf, increased thereto; and, lest the miracle +should be deemed the work of magic or of falsehood, in that stature and +in that form did he continue unto his life's end. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVI. + +_Of Saint Olcanus, the Teacher and Bishop, raised out of the Earth._ + +A certain prince, going on a journey, heard, not without much +amazement, a voice as if the voice of an infant weeping in a sepulchre, +and, staying, he bade his people to open the sepulchre; and within he +found a living boy nigh unto the dead mother. Him, by general advice, +did the prince raise out of the chamber of death, and bear unto Saint +Patrick, who, baptizing the child, named him Olcanus, for that he had +suffered much evil, and in a fit season sent him to be instructed in +letters. And he, being arrived at good stature, and being desirous of +learning, went into Gaul; and having long abided there, and acquired +much learning, he returned to his country; and being so returned, he +instituted schools, and taught many scholars who in after-time were +holy bishops. But this renowned teacher attained the episcopal +dignity, and, at length closing his life in much sanctity, was +illustrious even for many miracles. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVII. + +_How the Tooth of Saint Patrick shone in the River._ + +And on a time the saint, with his holy company, passed over a certain +river named Dabhall; and for that the day declined and the evening came +on, he prepared to pass the night near the bank, and pitched his tent +on a fair plain. And approaching the water, he washed his hands and +his mouth, and with his most pious fingers he rubbed his gums and his +teeth; but through age or infirmity one of his teeth, by chance, or +rather by the divine will, dropped out of his mouth into the water; and +his disciples sought it diligently in the stream, yet with all their +long and careful search found they it not. But in the darkness of the +night the tooth lying in the river shone as a radiant star, and the +brightness thereof attracted all who dwelled near to behold and to +admire. And the tooth so miraculously discovered is brought unto the +saint, and he and all around him offer thanks to the Almighty, who had +brought this thing to pass; and on that spot he builded a church, and +deposited the tooth beneath the altar. The which is famed for divers +miracles, and even to this day is called Cluayn Fiacal--that is, the +Church of the Tooth. And the tooth of Saint Patrick, like a radiant +star, shone by the same divine grace whereby, at the prayer of Samson, +the conqueror of the Philistines, a fountain of water streamed forth +from the jaw-bone of an ass. And this church is distant about five +miles from the metropolitan city of Ardmachia. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXVIII. + +_The Saint Prophesieth of the Virgin Treha, and a Veil is placed on her +Head by an Angel._ + +While on a certain time the saint was baptizing in the holy font a +chief named Cartanus, together with his wife, he foretold unto the +woman that she should bring forth a daughter, unto whom he would give +the veil and consecrate a virgin to the heavenly Spouse. And in the +appointed time the woman bore a daughter, who at her baptism was named +Treha; and when her tenth year was completed, the damsel journeyed +toward Saint Patrick for the purpose of her consecration, but a marsh +that crossed the way prevented her. Fatigued, therefore, and anxious, +she sat upon the bank, and beheld afar off, with a longing eye and a +wistful mind, the place where the prelate abided. And he, at the +revelation of the Holy Spirit, knew of the damsel's journey and of her +desire; and he prayed, and removed thence the marsh, and; passing over +with unsoiled feet, he went unto her. And while the saint was +consecrating the virgin Treha, a veil is dropped on her head by the +angel of the Lord, and reaching even unto her lips, covering her eyes; +and the saint stretched forth his hand, willing to remove the veil from +her eyes; but the damsel humbly prevented him, saying, "I beseech thee, +my father, let the veil remain, even as it is placed on the head of +thine handmaid, that mine eyes may no longer behold the vanity of this +world, but rather may, looking inward, contemplate the brightness of +mine heavenly Spouse!" Therefore Patrick, rejoicing at the pious +purpose of the damsel, let fall her veil; and as it was at first placed +on her from heaven, through all her life, covering her eyes like a dove +and her knees like a turtle-dove, it remained as if it were joined to +her face. Thus did the covering of the sacred veil exclude every +alluring object from her eye, lest death should enter therewith. + + + + +CHAPTER LXXXIX. + +_Saint Patrick Prophesieth of the Sanctity of Saint Columba._ + +A certain prince named Conallus sought and obtained a blessing from the +saint. And with the like purpose came also his younger brother, +Fergus, who was one of the most powerful chiefs of the country. And +him, the holy prelate, having prayed, blessed, and laid his hand upon +his head with much solemnity and with peculiar devotion. But Conallus, +who was elder in birth and in dominion, seeing that the saint had +blessed his brother more earnestly and more devoutly than himself, +wondered and grieved mightily. Therefore Patrick, observing his face +unusually clouded, explained the cause of this so solemn benediction, +and, prophesying, said unto him: "I have blessed thy brother Fergus for +the sake of the blessed child that will be born of his race. For his +son Fedhleminus will beget a son who will be called Columba--a name +well fitted to his birth, since even in his mother's womb will he be +filled with the Holy Spirit. Forasmuch as he will be enriched with the +treasures of the divine wisdom and grace, rightly will he be called the +bright and shining lamp of his generation, and the prophet of the Most +Highest; and from the time that he cometh to the age of understanding +never shall a purposed falsehood issue from his lips." How truly was +this prophecy made of Saint Columba, who is called Coluimcille, and was +the founder of an hundred monasteries, he who would more fully know, +let him read the volume that has been written of the saint's life. + + + + +CHAPTER XC. + +_The River is Divided in Twain, and Blessed._ + +On a certain time Saint Patrick came unto a deep and impassable river +named Boallus; and as neither boat nor vessel was at hand, he prayed +and divided the river in twain, and made unto himself and his followers +a free passage. And raising his right hand, he blessed the river, and +even to this day the eastern part of the stream can be passed by +horsemen and by footmen; yet over the western part cannot any pass +unless in some vessel. And being so blessed, this river abounded in +fishes beyond all others. Then to his disciples marvelling, and +seeking to know the cause of this so great miracle, did the saint +answer: "The yet unborn son of life, who will be named Columba, after +the lapse of many years will live in this place, and the water thus +divided will, for several purposes, be needful unto him and his +fellow-militants in Christ, while its abundance of fishes will minister +food unto his brethren." And Saint Columba being after many years +born, when he became a man builded there a stately monastery, and by +his dwelling and by his works approved the prophecy of Patrick. + + + + +CHAPTER XCI. + +_The Prophecy that Patrick made unto Connedus._ + +And Saint Patrick visited the country of the Turturini, where he abided +for the space of seven weeks; and in that little space builded he seven +churches, one whereof he called the Lord's Church. For this was his +custom: that wheresoever he abided on the Lord's day, if he founded a +church there, he called it Domnhach--that is, belonging to the Lord. +And over one of these seven churches he appointed one of his disciples +named Connedus, a good and holy man, by degree a presbyter, and learned +in the divine law. And he, undertaking the government of this church +rather from obedience than from ambition, abided there only one week, +and then quitting it hastened to Saint Patrick. And the saint +enquiring the cause of his so speedy return, he answered that he could +not patiently endure the absence of his beloved father. "Nor is it to +be wondered," replied the saint, "since in that place there are not +children of life, but men of blood and devourers of cattle, of whose +sword thou standest in dread, and fearest that thy blood will be poured +out. Return, return securely, nor tremble before their face; for the +blood of no man shall in that place be shed, even from generation to +generation." Therefore, receiving this answer of Saint Patrick, the +venerable Connedus returned unto the government of his church; and, as +the dwellers in that country declare, the word of the saint has been +confirmed by many proofs. + + + + +CHAPTER XCII. + +_Of Mannia and the other Islands Converted unto God._ + +The saint, beholding in Hibernia that the harvest was great, but the +laborers few, passed over into Britain to obtain assistance in the +field of the Lord. And forasmuch as the pest of the Pelagian heresy +and the Arian faithlessness had in many places denied that country, he, +by his preaching and working of miracles, recalled the people unto the +way of truth. And many are the places therein which even to this day +bear witness to his miracles and are imbued with his sanctity. And he +brought away with him many learned and religious men, thirty of whom he +afterward advanced unto the episcopal office. Returning to Hibernia, +he touched at the islands of the sea, one whereof, Eubonia--that is, +Mannia--at that time subject unto Britain, he by his miracles and by +his preaching converted unto Christ. And among his miracles very +conspicuous was this: a certain evil-doer named Melinus, like Simon the +magician, asserting himself to be a god, and attempting the air with a +diabolical flight, at the prayers of the saint fell headlong, and was +dashed in pieces, and so perished. And the saint placed as bishop over +the new church of this nation a wise and holy man named Germanus, who +placed his episcopal seat in a certain promontory unto this day called +Saint Patrick's Island, for that the saint had there some time abided. +And the other islands being converted unto the faith, he placed over +them bishops from among his disciples--one over some, many over +others--and then he returned to Hibernia; for the saint was accustomed +to appoint bishops not only in cities, but even in towns and the more +crowded places, lest any who had been baptized should be deprived of +episcopal confirmation. And this did he provide that the faithful +might always have present unto them one who could minister the +episcopal office; while the diocese, being not too extended, needed not +to withdraw from them the presence and the care of their pastor. But +the dwellers in some of these islands, being aliened from the faith, +afterward renounced the law of God which Patrick preached unto them; +and therefore unto this day are they deprived of the special gift of +God which, through the prayers of Patrick, freed from all venomous +animals the islands that persevered in their faith. + + + + +CHAPTER XCIII. + +_Of the Saint's Prophecy concerning Six Priests, and of a Skin which he +bestowed to them._ + +Six priests, who were led by their unanimous desire of learning the +Scripture and of visiting holy places, quitted Hibernia to travel +beyond the sea, when by a happy chance they met the saint returning out +of Britain; and he blessed them with bended knees entreating his +benediction, and foretold that they all would be bishops. And the +saint observing one of them, who appeared elder and stronger than the +rest, carrying in his bosom all their volumes, for that he had nothing +wherein he might bear them in his hand, bade that a seal-skin should be +given unto him on which he was wont to stand while he was celebrating +the Mass, that he might make thereof a satchel. And they, receiving +with manifold thanks the gift of the holy man, prosperously journeyed; +nor from that day forth was there among them any want; but whether in +travelling or abiding in the schools, they always found an honest +sufficiency. Therefore they knew that the saint assisted them with his +prayers, and that the Lord, through his merits, continued unto them His +mercy. But in process of time, having thoroughly acquired all holy +learning, they returned to their own country; and shortly after, +according to the word of the saint, they were all made bishops. And +the names of these holy prelates were Lugacius, Columbanus, Meldanus, +Lugadius, Cassanus, Ceranus; but to mention the names of the bishoprics +we for good reason omit--for in many instances we avoid the names of +places and of persons, that we may not, by their uncouth barbarousness, +occasion disgust or horror to cultivated ears. However, these prelates +profited much the church of God by their conversation and by their +example, and closed their lives in much holiness; for they were wont to +relate many miracles to have been worked by the aforementioned +seal-skin, the which even to this day remaineth entire, and is +preserved as a relic in memory of Saint Patrick. + + + + +CHAPTER XCIV. + +_Saint Patrick Continueth his Preaching Three Days._ + +And Saint Patrick preached to many people gathered together from divers +parts unto a place in Hibernia called Fionnabhair, which, being +interpreted, is the White Field. And for three continual days and +nights he read and explained to them in their order the four holy books +of the evangelists; and all who heard him accounted that not more time +had passed than the space but of one day--so happily were they +deceived, so profitably were they delighted, by the words of grace +which proceeded out of his mouth. O profitable, delightful deception! +whereby falsehood is excluded and truth induced; whereby the time is +beguiled, and the night is stolen away, and one day is made to appear +as three days. Nor let the reader admire for that I call it a +deception when the prophet exclaimeth unto his Creator, "O Lord! Thou +hast deceived me," and when the Apostle Paul sayeth unto certain of his +disciples, "Being crafty, I deceived you with guile." Kind deception +which saveth souls! Blessed seduction which induces unto God! + + + + +CHAPTER XCV. + +_Of the Vision of the Blessed Brigida, and its Explanation._ + +And the blessed Brigida was at these meetings; and at one, having +reclined her head, she slept. And the holy prelate forbade that any +one should arouse the beloved of God until she herself would awaken; so +did it appear how evidently what is said in the Canticles agreed with +her; "I sleep, but mine heart waketh"; for that his heavenly Spouse +revealed unto her all His mysteries. And when the holy virgin awaked, +he enjoined her that she should tell unto them all what she had beheld +in her vision. And she, obeying the command of the saint, said: "I +beheld an assembly of persons clothed in white raiment; and I beheld +ploughs, and oxen, and standing corn, all white, and immediately they +became all spotted, and afterward they became all black; and in the end +I beheld sheep and swine, dogs and wolves, fighting all and contending +together." Then Saint Patrick expounded the vision, and said that the +whiteness pertained unto the state of the world as it then was; for all +the prelates and servants of the church were then fruitful and diligent +in faith and in good works, even according to the evangelic and +apostolic doctrine. And the things which were spotted belonged, as he +said, to the time of the succeeding generation, which would be pure in +faith, but stained with evil works. And the blackness, he said, was +the season of the following generation, when the world would be +profaned, not only with evil works, but with the renunciation of the +Christian faith. And the contest of the sheep and the swine, of the +dogs and the wolves, he pronounced to be the controversy of the pure +and impure prelates, of good and of bad men, which, after the lapse of +many years, would at length come to pass. And having said, he +departed. Now, that the vision of the virgin and the interpretation of +the saint are proved by indisputable truths no one, I think, will doubt. + + + + +CHAPTER XCVI. + +_Of the Angels of God, of the Heavenly Light, and of the Prophecy of +Saint Patrick._ + +The blessed Patrick was accustomed to visit frequently all parts of +Hibernia, and, as opportunity permitted or discretion required, to +abide therein. Wherefore he abided for seven years in Momonia, and as +many in Connactia; but he dwelled a much longer time in Ultonia, +wherein, first announcing the kingdom of God, he had brought its +inhabitants unto the faith of Christ, and whose country he had more +frequently in his perlustrations illustrated with his holy presence. +And whithersoever he went he converted unto the faith or confirmed in +the faith all his hearers. And on a certain time he was journeying +through that part of Ultonia which is called Dalnardia; became unto a +place named Mucoomuir, when his disciple, the aforementioned Benignus, +stayed his steps, and gazed upward, as contemplating something +wonderful in the heavens. For he beheld radiant choirs of angels +surrounding the place with heavenly brightness; and he heard them with +unspeakable melody singing the praises of the Creator. And he, +intently contemplating these wonders, was filled with inward joy; yet +understood he not what meaned the angelic presence, the glittering +light, the celestial psalmody. But after a short season it vanished +from before his eyes, and he, following the holy prelate, hastened his +course, that he might overtake him. And when the saint enquired of his +delay, he related unto him his heavenly vision. Then the saint, +instructed of heaven, expounded this effusion of light and this angelic +choir: "Know ye, beloved children, in that place shall a certain son of +life, named Colmanclus, build a church, and gather together many who +will be the children of light and fellow-citizens of the angels. And +he will become the prelate and the legate of all Hibernia; and being +eminent in his virtues and his miracles, after he shall have closed the +darkness of this life, he will be conveyed by the angels of God unto +eternal light and eternal rest." And in that place, after the process +of time, all those things happened according to the prophecy of the +saint. + + + + +CHAPTER XCVII. + +_The Temptation of the Nun is Subdued._ + +The venerable Benignus, among the other endowments wherewith the divine +grace had endowed him, excelled in the song of a sweet voice, so that +he penetrated the hearts and the ears of all who heard him. But as a +virtue or gift which is given from on high becometh unto many the odor +of life unto life, yet unto others the odor of death unto death, so out +of the melody of his voice did the tempter minister the occasion of +sin. For a certain nun, while she was delighted with the sweet singing +of Benignus, entertained at length a more earnest desire toward the man +of God, who nothing knew of this unhallowed flame, which hardly could +she control in her bosom. And the more vehemently did it burn for that +the strict discipline which was instituted by Saint Patrick, and the +difficulty of the very attempt, prevented the damsel from any secret +conversation with Benignus. Therefore, taught by woman's cunning, +feigned she extreme illness, and withdrew as unto her sick-bed, and +besought that from Benignus she might receive spiritual counsel and the +holy communion. For he had then attained the priesthood, and was held +in great veneration as one who adorned with his holy life the priestly +office. But Saint Patrick, at the revelation of the Spirit, was not +ignorant of what distemper did the nun labor. Whereupon he called unto +him Benignus, and bade him that he should visit the sick damsel and +minister unto her soul's health. And he, obedient unto his spiritual +father, having besought and obtained his blessing, entered the house of +the complaining damsel, and made the sign of the cross, as was Saint +Patrick's custom at entering any house, that so he might overcome the +snares of the enemy of man's salvation. Wonderful was the event, and +marvellous; unwonted, indeed, yet exceedingly profitable. The damsel, +raising her eyes at his entrance, beheld Benignus, very terrible in his +stature, and his face as breathing forth flames; and she beheld herself +bright with fire both within and without, and Saint Patrick standing +nigh, and covering his head with his hands. And from that hour, even +unto the end of her life, was the fire of human love extinguished in +her bosom, as if her body were of stone or wood, and not of flesh. And +afterward she loved Saint Benignus with a pure and a saintly love, and +she confessed that through his merits Saint Patrick had snatched her +from the fire of hell. Now, for me, I do much more admire this +quickening and refreshing of the soul unto life than the raising up of +any man from death. + + + + +CHAPTER XCVIII. + +_Of Saint Comhgallus, and the Monastery foreshowed of Heaven._ + +Oftentimes did Saint Patrick travel through Ultonia, very earnestly +teaching unto its inhabitants the Catholic faith. And not seldom he +turned, for the sake of rest for himself and his holy company, unto a +certain hill situated in a valley where afterward was builded the +Monastery of Beannchor. And sitting there, they beheld the valley +filled with heavenly light and with a multitude of the host of heaven; +and they heard, as chanted forth from the voice of angels, the psalmody +of the celestial choir. Then did all who beheld this wondrous vision +earnestly entreat of Saint Patrick that in that place, consecrated of +heaven, he would build a church. But the saint refused, and prophesied +unto them: "When threescore years have passed away, then shall a son of +life be born, and his name shall be Comhgallus, which is, being +interpreted, the Beautiful Pledge; for he shall be beloved of God and +of man, and beautiful in his manners and in his merits; and he shall +happily go forward, and reign with Christ, and be accounted among His +pledges. And in this place, which is fore-showed by the heavenly +light, shall he build a church, wherein he shall collect innumerable +troops of the children of life, to be bound by the yoke of Christ." +And of all these things which Patrick foretold, not one jot hath passed +unfulfilled. But at the prophesied time Comhgallus was born, and in +the ripeness of his years and of his virtues, even in that place named +Beannchor, he builded a most stately monastery, wherein he brought +forth unto Christ many thousands of holy monks. And this saintly +place, so fruitful of saints, even as a vine increasing the sweetness +of its odor, extended its shoots unto the sea and its branches beyond +the sea; for it filled with monasteries and with pious monks Hibernia, +Scotia, and many islands, and even foreign regions, inasmuch as we +gather from ancient writers that one of the children of Beannchor, +Luanus by name, founded of himself an hundred monasteries. And +another, named Columbanus, a man most holy, and filled with the +abundance of all graces, as having instituted many monasteries, may be +accounted the father of innumerable monks. And he first presided over +the renowned Monastery of Luxovia, in Gaul, and then over that of Bobi, +beyond the Alps, wherein, having shone with many miracles, he now +resteth in peace. Thus is the prophecy of Saint Patrick seen to be +fulfilled. But of the antiquity of the church of Beannchor needless is +it to speak further here, inasmuch as it is most amply described in the +acts of those holy saints, Comhgallus, who was the first abbot of that +place, and Malachia, the bishop, who was the legate in Hibernia of the +apostolic chair. + + + + +CHAPTER XCIX. + +_The Saint Prophesieth of the Obstinate Fergus and of his Children._ + +And the saint came unto Assul, which was within the territories of +Midia, where it seemed good to him in a fitting place to build a +church. But a certain wicked man, named Fergus, who therein dwelled, +was to him an especial hindrance, that he might not accomplish his +purpose. Then the saint, willing to express the hard-heartedness of +this man rather by signs than by words, with the staff of Jesus made +the sign of the cross on a stone there placed, and immediately the +surface of the stone appeared divided into four parts, and showed the +form of the cross thereon portrayed. Yet did this man, stiff-necked, +and of heart more hard than stone, refuse to be melted unto penitence; +but his wife, who was then in travail, entreated pardon of the saint, +and fell at his feet. And the saint, beholding him thus hardened in +perverseness, spake unto him with prophetic voice: "Even thus, had it +so willed, could the power of God have dissolved thee at the word of my +mouth. But since thou canst not, nay, wilt not, believe, though the +long-suffering of God hath led thee unto repentance, shalt thou, +according to thine impenitent heart and the hardness of thine +obstinacy, treasure up stores of wrath which right soon shall come upon +thee. Quickly shall God consume thee from the face of the earth, nor +shall any of thy seed reign ever in this land, nor in any other land +shall they prosper, save only the infant alone which thy wife now +beareth in her womb, for on him shall my blessing come." And all these +things which were prophesied of the lips of the saint unto the father +and unto the offspring did happen. + + + + +CHAPTER C. + +_The Malediction of the Saint is laid upon the Stones of Usniach._ + +And with the like intention of building a church, this servant of +Christ turned unto a certain very renowned place named Usneach. But +two brothers, by name Fiechus and Enda, ruled in those parts; and unto +them and unto their offspring the saint prophesied, if they would so +permit him, many blessings in this world and in the next; yet not only +turned they their ears from his entreaty and from his preaching, but +violently expelled him from the place. Then the saint, more grievously +taking the hindrance of his purpose than his own expulsion, began to +cast on them and on their seed the dart of his malediction. And +Secundinus, his disciple, caught the word of his lip, and, ere he could +finish, entreated and said unto him: "I beseech thee, my father, that +thy malediction be not poured forth on these men, but on the stones of +this place!" And the saint was patient, and he was silent, and he +assented. Wonderful was the event! From that day forth are these +stones found useful unto no building; but if should any one thereunto +dispose them, suddenly would the whole work fall down and tumble into +pieces. And they admit not the heat of any fire, nor, when plunged +into water, do they hiss like other stones; whence it hath become a +proverb in that country, when at any time a stone falleth from a +building, that it is one of the stones of Usneach. But Enda repented +of the injury which he had offered unto the saint, and cast himself at +his feet, and besought his pardon, and obtained and deserved it. And +he had nine sons, the youngest of whom, named Cormacus, he offered unto +Saint Patrick, to be subject to the divine command, together with the +ninth part of all his land; and another brother of his, named Leogerus, +was converted unto the faith, and gave unto the saint, with his nephew, +fifteen villages. And Saint Patrick baptized the boy, and educated and +instructed him; and the boy increased in years, in wisdom, and in +holiness, and at length, being renowned in virtue and in miracles, +rested he in the Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER CI. + +_Of the Woman in Travail, and of her Offspring._ + +A certain prince, named Brendanus, who was then lately baptized, +earnestly besought the saint that he would bless a certain pregnant +woman; for he believed that his blessing would much avail unto her and +her offspring. And the saint, assenting to his petition, raised his +hand; but suddenly, before he had given the word of blessing or had +made the sign of the cross, he drew it back. For, at the revelation of +the Spirit, he knew that her child was conceived of Coirbre, of whom he +had prophesied that not one of his succession should remain. But why +the saint thus did the prince marvelled, and unto him the man of God +delayed not to declare the mystery nor the cause thereof. Then did he +the more earnestly entreat the saint that at least he would in some +other manner vouchsafe to bless the woman and her offspring. And +Patrick, raising his right hand, blessed her, and said: "The infant +which thou bearest in thy womb shall not reign, for the word that in +the name of the Lord I have spoken on Coirbre and on his seed shall +stand fixed; yet shall he be one of the chiefs of the land, and very +needful shall he be unto the king and unto the kingdom." And what the +saint foretold without doubt happened. + + + + +CHAPTER CII. + +_The Bishop Saint Mel catcheth Fishes on the Dry Land._ + +And the aforementioned Mel, a man of exceeding desert, who with his +most holy brothers, Munius and Kiochus, had come from Britannia unto +Hibernia, being promoted by Saint Patrick himself unto the episcopal +degree, became the assistant in the preaching. And he, like the +Apostle Paul, labored to live by the labor of his own hands; and what +was given unto him by the rich bestowed he on the poor. And with this +blessed man, as being her nephew, Lupita, the sister of Saint Patrick, +abided in one house (for such was the custom of the primitive church), +that by his conversation and example she might profit in the exercise +of all holy duties. And after some time had passed, when the pious +prelate, as he was wont, would arise in the middle of the night to +confess unto the Lord, this holy woman would compose herself to sleep +and cover herself with the skins in his bed. And they suspected not +that any evil suspicion would be formed thereof, for they accounted of +the minds of others from the purity of their own conscience. But some +one, holding this her familiarity with the bishop to be naught, +divulged it abroad. And as the tongue of the people is ever open unto +the spreading of scandal, it could not long lie hidden from Saint +Patrick. Then he, desiring to try whether so the matter was, repaired +unto the house of the bishop. But Mel, preferring to prove his +innocence by a token rather than by an oath, ploughed up the earth on a +certain hill, and took by the ploughshare many and large fishes out of +the dry land; and these he offered unto the saint as a miracle, that no +suspicion might continue in the beholders, inasmuch as such a token +could not ever be showed by an impure hand. And the sister of Saint +Patrick, gathering her vest around her bosom, filled it with live +coals; and these she carried a sufficient way, and shook them thereout +before the saint without any mark of a scar or of other hurt, proving +thus her innocence. Then the saint, beholding these evident proofs, +pronounced each to be pure and justified; yet took he care to ordain +what to them and to many others would be right profitable. And first +addressing the bishop, he bade him that he should thenceforth plough on +the land, and fish in the water, lest he should seem to tempt the Lord +his God; then, that he should not presume to glory in any miracle +worked by him through the divine grace; and, lastly, the saint gave +command that the men should be divided from the women, and that +distinct dwellings and oratories should be builded for either sex. +Thus truly, as Saint Patrick said, the name of God would not through +them be dishonored among the nations to whom they preached it; nor +would in such case occasion of scandal be given unto the weak, nor +cause of reproach afforded. And what he ordained and appointed, that +did Saint Patrick make to be observed. + + + + +CHAPTER CIII. + +_The Footprints of Certain Virgins are impressed on a Stone._ + +And on a certain day the saint veiled and consecrated and espoused unto +the heavenly Spouse four virgins standing on one stone. Then did an +event marvellous and unwonted appear. Even unto this day are seen +impressed on the hard stone the footprints of the virgins which were +consecrated unto God, that to all it might be seen how deeply could the +prayer or the preaching of the saint penetrate even stony hearts. And +hereby may we understand that they who, for the love of Christ, contemn +the world, should continue in the hard way, that they might attain Him +unto whom they have approved themselves. And the place wherein these +virgins were consecrated is called Tedna; and for the servants of the +Lord is there builded a church, which at this day pertaineth unto the +metropolitan seat of Ardmachia. + + + + +CHAPTER CIV. + +_The Earth is raised in the midst of the Stream._ + +And Saint Patrick, for the sake of passing thereover, came unto a very +great river named Synnia, between Midia and Connactia, which was +impassable of all, save only by vessels. And he long time sought a +vessel, but found it not. Then prayed he unto the Lord, who erewhile +had made a way through the sea and a path through the deep waters, and +immediately the earth at the divine bidding was raised in the middle of +the stream, and to the saint and his company it afforded a free +passage. And when they had reached the bank, his charioteer dropped +dead; and on that spot was a church builded, which to the church of +Ardmachia now of right belongeth. + + + + +CHAPTER CV. + +_Of the Altar and the Four Chalices discovered under the Earth._ + +In that place where the prayers of Saint Patrick had dispersed the +darkness which had been raised by the magicians, a church was builded, +wherein he promoted one of his disciples, named Ailvius, unto the +priesthood, that he there might minister. And he complained unto the +saint that the matters needful for his ministry were wanting unto him. +Then the saint, instructed of heaven, showed him under ground an altar +of wonderful workmanship, having at its four corners four chalices of +glass, and enjoined him to dig them forth carefully, lest perchance +they should be broken; and the priest did accordingly, and found all +things as the saint had foretold. But by whom this altar was made, or +with the chalices there deposited, to me is yet unknown. Some, +however, think that they were placed there by Palladius or his +associates, being placed there after his departure. + + + + +CHAPTER CVI. + +_A Treasure is Twice discovered in the Earth by Swine._ + +It seemed good unto the saint to build in a certain plain a church, +wherein he might gather together unto God the people of his conversion; +for the which purpose he entreated from the owner of the inheritance +that a place should be prepared, promising unto him the portion of +eternal life. But the man, accustomed to the magicians' arts, held as +naught that portion so worthy to be desired, requiring rather gold, for +the which he cherished an accursed appetite. And the saint replied +that at that season gold had he none, for that he had expended all +which he had possessed in the building of churches and in relieving the +poor. But when he could no otherwise prevail, having first prayed, he +went unto a hole in the earth which had been delved up by swine, and +therein found he as much gold as he required, and gave it in exchange +for the land. And there was another man possessing a neighboring +field, the which the saint earnestly entreated might be given unto the +said church. Wherefore this man answering as even did the other, again +the saint repaired unto the delved hole, and found therein an equal +weight of gold, and gave it to the man for the purchase of his field. +Thus did the Lord thrice show unto Saint Patrick gold in the earth +delved up by swine: once for his own redemption from captivity, twice +in this place for the enrichment and endowment of a church. And the +latter of the two brothers, Ono by name, was touched in his heart, and +not only restored the gold unto the saint, but even gave unto him for +the founding and building of a church his own house, his inheritance, +and all his substance; and the place is called Alfind, wherein to this +day is held the seat of a bishop. + + + + +CHAPTER CVII. + +_Saint Patrick prophesieth of the two Brothers._ + +But what the saint at the revelation of the Spirit foretold of the two +brothers should not be passed over in silence. For to the elder, who +had preferred Mammon and gold before his prayers, he predicted that he +and his seed should in a little time lose the possession of their +inheritance; and to the younger, for the devotion of his soul toward +him, predicted he many good things--that he should in that land be the +coadjutor of kings, and that of his race the holiest priests of the +Lord should be born. And none of those things which the saint foretold +in anywise failed in the event. + + + + +CHAPTER CVIII. + +_The Penitence of Asycus the Bishop._ + +And over this church Saint Patrick placed one of his disciples named +Asycus, who was both in habit and demeanor a monk, the first bishop. +And he, at the advice of the saint, instituted therein a college of +monks, the which he governed with the privileges of an abbot. But this +man, on a certain time, while he ought to have spoken the truth, +backsliding with a slippery tongue, uttered forth a falsehood. And +immediately he set himself against his own face, and in the bitterness +of his sorrow banished he himself, and, flying from human-kind, +remained in solitude, and abided he there seven years beheld of none. +And his monks sought him long time; and at the end of the seventh year +they found him in the depth of a valley, and they strove even by force +to bring him thence unto his church, and to compel him as a bridegroom +unto the bosom of his spouse. But the bishop in nowise yielded unto +them, accounting himself no longer worthy to exercise the priestly +office; since from his mouth had issued a purposed falsehood, the which +the sacred canons define to be sacrilege in the mouth of a priest. +Whereby it is to be considered how deeply should they repent who of +their own fault have fallen into the heaviest offences, when this holy +man so deeply repented of, and so strictly atoned for, one falsehood +alone. Alas! what hearts of clay do they bear unto the resistance of +sin, but what hearts of stone unto repentance! For many men, wicked, +sinful, abandoned in their lives (the which cannot be observed without +grief), take on themselves the cure of souls, and think to wash away +the guilt of others with their own denied hands; who, being themselves +bound with the chain of mortal sin, desire to loose others' bonds, and +thus heap on themselves increased offence. These men, being placed +under the spiritual control, can repent of and atone for their own +guiltiness, but, when seated in the pastoral chair, bound are they to +account for the faith of all those who are entrusted to their charge. +Since, then, the words of a priest must be either a truth or a +sacrilege, terrible is the judgment on those priests whose tongue is +defiled with falsehoods and with perjuries. Thus much let us show, as +speaking by digression, how earnestly not only crimes and evil deeds, +but even falsehoods, are to be avoided by all Christian men, and +especially by the pastors of souls. Now let us return unto the thread +of our sacred story. The aforementioned monks, unwilling to separate +from Saint Asycus, continued with him even unto the end of his life; +and after he was buried, building there a monastery, served they the +Lord in holiness and in truth. + + + + +CHAPTER CIX. + +_The Tempest of the Sea is Composed._ + +While on a certain time Saint Patrick was preaching unto the heathens, +for the sake of instructing and baptizing them, he made in that place a +long stay. But his disciple Benignus was grieved thereat; and the +saint declared that he would not depart until his disciples and pupils +should arrive from foreign regions. And one day he beheld the sky to +grow dark, and the ocean to be perturbed and shaken with a strong wind. +Then the saint, covering his face for very sorrow, showed unto his +attendants his sons which were born unto him in Christ laboring under +grievous peril; and he was sorely afflicted for them, and feared he +chiefly for his young pupil, the son of Erchus; but when every one said +that the vessel could not endure so violent a storm, forthwith the +saint betook himself unto prayer. And after a short space, even in the +hearing of them all, he bade the winds and the waves, in the name of +his God, to rest from their wrath. O wonderful event! and worthy of +admiration. Forthwith the wind surceased, the ocean became silent, the +tempest is appeased, and a great calm is made. And on that day the +aforementioned brothers happily landed, and told unto all around what +they had suffered from the elements which were turned unto their +destruction, but afterward composed by the powerful prayers of the +saint. + + + + +CHAPTER CX. + +_The Miracle of the Waters is Repeated._ + +And at another time the aforementioned brothers, for the purpose of +visiting Saint Patrick, took their way on foot over the sands of the +sea-shore. And as they walked along, communing on the way together, +behold, the flowing-in of the tide surrounded them, and, preventing all +escape, smote them with the fear of death. Then the saint, instructed +of heaven, saw their peril, and, showing it unto his disciples, +professed that he grieved for them. Then, having prayed, he commanded +the tide of the sea, by the powerful virtue of his word, speaking in +the name of the Lord God, that it should instantly retire, and leave +unto his sons who were about to visit him a safe and quiet passage. +And forthwith the sea obeyed the voice of the man of God, and retired; +and this company of brothers, rejoicing and lauding God, came unto +Saint Patrick, and, for so great a miracle, turned the hearts of all +which heard them unto the praise of the God who worked such wonders in +His saints. + + + + +CHAPTER CXI. + +_Of the Cowl of Saint Patrick which remained untouched by the Sea._ + +And on a time, having sailed on a certain way, Saint Patrick landed +with his religious men, and, going out on the dry land, perchance he +left his cowl on the shore. And being landed, they sat together, and +conferred on heavenly things, and refreshed themselves with the comfort +of mutual colloquy. Then the sea, rising as it was wont, covered the +surface of the sands, and was nigh unto bearing with it and carrying +away the cowl of the prelate. And this the saint observing, in the +name of Him who hath power in heaven and on the earth, in the sea and +in all the deeps, enjoined the tide of the sea that it should not touch +his cowl or bear it away. Wonderful was the event! The +flowing-forward of the sea filled the whole accustomed space, save that +spot alone whereon the cowl lay, and that did it leave untouched. And +after the tide had receded, the saint caused the cowl to be brought +unto him; and the miracle excited all who beheld it unto the praise of +God and the veneration of Saint Patrick. And thenceforward were they +all more ready to submit unto Him whose commands the mute element was +thus sent to obey. + + + + +CHAPTER CXII. + +_Of the Veil that was sent from Heaven._ + +And there was a time when Patrick was about to consecrate two virgins +in a field within the territory of Cregrus, and a veil sent from heaven +dropped into the bosom of the saint, the which, devoutly receiving, he +offered unto the virgin so soon as she was consecrated. But she, +deeming herself unworthy of a commendation so holy, said unto him: +"Since this most excellent and powerful gift, descending from the +Father of Light, is not sent unto me a sinner, I account it right that +thou, on whom it has fallen, shouldst keep it or bestow it on another +who is worthier than me." Then the saint, applauding the virgin's +lowliness, placed the veil on her head, enjoining that she should wear +it continually until she should be introduced unto the chamber of her +heavenly Spouse. And the virgin obeyed the command of the saint, and, +living a holy life, at length she rested in the Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER CXIII. + +_Of the Holy Leper, of the New Fountain, of the Angelic Attendance, and +the Prophecy of Patrick thereon._ + +And Saint Patrick, induced by his holy custom, retained with him a +certain leper, unto whom with intent devotion he ministered all things +needful for the sake of Christ. Even with his own hands cleansed he +his sores, and refreshed in him either man with fitting food. For the +leper, the health of his body being almost destroyed, earnestly studied +to preserve the health of his soul, and was continually intent on +prayer and on rendering thanks unto God. But when wasted with his +leprosy, he feared lest he should become an offence unto all, and +privily and humbly he withdrew himself from society, and lived solitary +in a hollow tree that he by chance had found. And while he sat there +alone he beheld a certain man passing by, and he called the man unto +him, and asked him of his religion; whom, answering that he was a +Christian, he besought that for the love of Him in whom he believed he +would not delay to go unto the nearest place which was full of +bulrushes, and, pulling up the bulrushes by the roots, to bring unto +him a bundle thereof. And at his entreaty, or rather, at his +adjuration, the man went unto the place; he pulled up a bulrush, and +immediately a clear fountain burst forth; and he bore the bulrush unto +the leper, and related of the new fountain. Then the leper rejoiced +and gave thanks unto God, and said unto him: "Knowest thou not, most +dear brother, that our Lord Jesus Christ brought thee hither that thou +mayest wash my body in the water of that fountain, and bury me there?" +Thus the leper said, and, raising his eyes and his hands towards +heaven, he expired; and the man washed his body in the fountain, and +beheld no mark of leprosy thereon, and committed it without spot to the +sepulchre, and departed. And after some days Saint Munis, the devout +bearer of many relics of saints, was returning from Rome, and of +necessity abided there for one night. And in the silence of the +night-season he beheld a great light to cover the place, and he heard +angels hymning and watching even until the morn around the tomb of the +buried leper. And all these things reported he unto Saint Patrick, +saying that he wished to remove the body from that desert place. But +Saint Patrick forbade this to be done, foretelling that a certain son +of life, named Keranus, but as yet unborn, should there dwell, who +should fill that place with a worthy company of holy men, and exalt the +body of the saint with much honor. And what Patrick foretold in the +course of time came to pass; the place is between Midia and Connactia, +and therein is situated the city of Cluane, in which even to this day +is an episcopal seat. + + + + +CHAPTER CXIV. + +_Of the Lake which was removed by Saint Patrick._ + +The aforementioned Saint Munis, being returned from Rome, disliking +after so long a journey the fatigue of any further travel, besought +Saint Patrick that as he had provided rest for his brethren who +possessed churches, so he would provide for him a dwelling suited unto +contemplation. Therefore the saint, knowing that although he loved +internal quiet, nevertheless he would be right profitable unto the +salvation of many, offered unto him a fitting place, saying: "Behold a +hill; behold a valley; build and inhabit where it seemeth pleasant unto +thine eyes; yet know thou this: if thou wilt build in the valley, thou +mayest bring many souls unto God; but if thou abidest in the hill, thou +wilt gain not so many, by reason of the vanities and delights which +will attract their eyes, and for very many other causes and reasons." +And Munis, foreadvised and forewarned by the Holy Spirit, answered +thus: "Neither of the hill nor of the valley do I complain, but of the +neighboring lake, nigh unto which is a royal dwelling; for the crowding +thither of courtiers and of other secular persons would unto me be an +exceeding trouble, and a disturbance unto the Sabbath rest of my mind." +Then Saint Patrick, encouraging him, said that God would easily remedy +this trouble, and, retiring a little space, poured he forth powerful +and prevailing prayers in the presence of God. And on the following +night the Lord removed the lake, with all its dwellings and dwellers +thereon, so far distant that his servant sustained thence neither +trouble nor damage. And Saint Munis, abiding there, builded a church, +unto which Saint Patrick bestowed certain relics of the holy Apostles +Peter and Paul, and of very many saints, and other ornaments, the which +were necessary unto its ecclesiastical ministry. And for his +conspicuous virtues he was afterward, although reluctant thereto, +advanced unto the episcopal office, for he was renowned for many +miracles; and at length he rested in the Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER CXV. + +_Patrick understandeth the Conscience of Saint Fiechus, and blesseth +him._ + +There was a certain youth, named Fiechus, a scholar of Dubhtachus the +bard, and he was docile of disposition, subtle of wit, florid of +eloquence, and beauteous of form. And a few years before he espoused a +damsel who then had lately deceased, of whom was born unto him one only +son. Him walking with his aforementioned tutor did the saint meet, +and, the Spirit revealing it unto him, at the moment, even with the +glance of his eye, understood his conscience, and in the presence of +all exclaimed: "Behold the husband of one wife, who, according to the +apostle, may worthily be advanced unto the priesthood, nay, even unto +the episcopate!" Then began he to expound unto Fiechus the doctrines +of the faith, and advised him unto baptism. And the youth marvelled at +the words of grace which proceeded from the lips of Saint Patrick; and +chiefly for that so soon the saint had divined his secret and +understood all the passages of his life. Therefore he believed, and +took on him baptism; and after his tutor had long time withstood, but +at length consented, he devoted himself unto the direction of the holy +bishop. And the holy bishop blessed him, and gave unto him the +alphabet written with his own hand. And being thus blessed, in one day +he learned the whole Psaltery, and in a short time, the spirit of +wisdom and knowledge inspiring him, he sufficiently understood the +Scriptures; for no delay can there be where the Holy Spirit descends to +be the teacher. And Saint Patrick advanced him unto the ecclesiastical +order, and, after he had worthily ministered in each degree, +consecrated him the bishop of the Church of Scleptus. And Fiechus was +eminent in his life, in his learning, and in his miracles; and being +directed by the angelic command, he took on him the habit of a monk, +and builded in his episcopal seat a stately monastery. + + + + +CHAPTER CXVI. + +_The Chariot is, by the Decision of the Angel, sent unto Fiechus._ + +The blessed Patrick gave order that a chariot should be prepared unto +Saint Fiechus, for that he, being weighed down by infirmity, could not +go on foot to visit his diocese and discharge his episcopal duties. +For he was reduced with exceeding abstinence, and moreover he was +afflicted with a disease in his hip. And Saint Secundinus, this +observing, felt in his mind certain worldly feelings, and was +displeased, and insisted that the chariot should rather be given unto +himself than unto Fiechus. And the holy prelate, seeing his +displeasure, sought rather to satisfy him with a sign than by argument, +saying: "Be not displeased, most dear brother, at this little gift +which we have given unto our brother and fellow-bishop, lest occasion +of reproach should be afforded to the evil one; for this our brother, +who is infirm, needeth the chariot more than doth any one among us. +But that I may not seem to err in my judgment, let this matter be left +to the heavenly decision." Then the angel, appearing at the prayer of +the saint, bade the horses to be yoked unto the chariot, and to be sent +forward without a charioteer; and at whichsoever they should stop, to +him should the chariot be given. And it was done as the angel +commanded, and the saint bade the chariot to be yoked; but the horses, +no man guiding them, went through irregular and devious paths, and came +in the evening to the dwelling of Secundinus, and, being unyoked, were +turned there to pasture. And in the morning, no man yoking them, they +were yoked to the chariot, and in like manner going unto the mansion of +a certain other saint, there they stayed the night. And on the third +day they hastened unto Saint Fiechus, and stayed there, and evidently +showed that they were intended for him. Yet would not the saint ascend +the chariot, until the angel had certified him that unto him the gift +was sent. And at another time was this miracle in like manner repeated +of two horses which were by Saint Patrick himself intended for Fiechus, +and to be yoked unto his chariot. + + + + +CHAPTER CXVII. + +_The Several Offices of a certain Monastery are appointed by an Angel._ + +And at another time the angel commanded the aforementioned Fiechus that +he should build a monastery on the other side of the river, assigning +unto all the offices their fit and proper place; that where a boar +should appear unto him, there should he build a refectory, and where a +stag should be seen, an oratory. And the saint replied unto the angel +that he in no wise could undertake such a work, unless Patrick, his +father and pastor, should come and approve thereof. And his words +displeased not the angel; for in them he saw the affection and the +obedience which Fiechus bore in Christ unto the man of God. And after +a few days were past, the angel so advising, Patrick assisted Fiechus, +and in the place which is called Forrach builded they a monastery, even +according to the direction of the angel. And therein Fiechus presided +as abbot; nevertheless throughout his diocese did he fully exercise the +episcopal office. And every year, at the beginning of the fast of the +Lent time, he went alone out of the monastery, with five barley loaves +mixed with ashes for his support, and abided in the wilderness through +all that sacred season. But on the Sabbath day which is called +Palm-Sunday, or sometimes at the Supper of the Lord, he was wont to +return unto his monastery for the discharge of his holy office, always +bringing with him the half of one loaf yet uneaten. And he sent before +him unto God threescore saints, whom when he followed he was buried in +Scleptus. And his son aforementioned imitated his father in wisdom and +holiness; and having in another place attained the episcopal degree, he +rested in the Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER CXVIII. + +_The Prophecy of Saint Patrick concerning the Men of Callria._ + +And while Saint Patrick earnestly pursued his preaching of the divine +Word, certain armed men of Callria met him, and violently expelled this +angel of peace from their borders. But what the man of God beheld of +them in the Spirit, deemed he that should not be concealed in silence. +"Since ye have raised your arms against an unarmed man, and driven from +your borders him announcing unto ye peace and preaching salvation, ye +and your seed shall turn your backs in the day of battle." And they, +hearing this, feared his face mightily, even as a sword, and repenting +their rashness, save only five alone, bended their knees before the +saint with lamentable prayers, and besought forgiveness. Then the +saint awhile deliberated within himself, and once again spoke unto them +with prophetic speech: "The word which, at the inspiration of the Holy +Spirit, hath gone out of my mouth on ye and on your seed shall be +fulfilled; but since ye have repented in your hearts, though ye shall +be turned to flight, shall none of ye, save only five alone, fall in +any conflict of battle." And the people of Hibernia vouch that this +prophecy of the saint hath been evinced by continual proofs. + + + + +CHAPTER CXIX. + +_Certain Cheeses are converted into Stones, and many Wicked Men are +drowned._ + +And certain wicked and envious men, who lived in the country of Ferros, +contriving to destroy the life of the saint, offered unto him poisoned +cheeses, as if for his benediction; the which he blessed, and +immediately converted into stones, to the admiration of many, the honor +of God, the veneration of himself, and the confusion of the poisoners. +And unto this day remain these stones in the place where the miracle +was done, and show the virtue of Patrick, though mute, because they +underwent mutation. Then did these poisoners, seeing that their +machinations redounded to the glory of the saint and to the shame of +themselves, gather together fifty armed men to spill the blood of this +just one. And they, being assembled against him, entered the ford of a +certain river, journeying along the bank whereof the man of God met +them; and when he beheld their countenances, he understood their +thoughts, and raising against them his left hand, with a clear voice he +cried out, "Ye shall not come unto us, nor shall ye return unto your +own people, but in this river shall your bodies remain, even to the day +of judgment." Then, according to the word of the man of God, +immediately they sank as lead in the mighty waters; nor even to this +day were their bodies found, though long and often sought. Thus, at +the divine mandate, did the water punish them who conspired the death +of Saint Patrick, as erewhile the fire from heaven punished them which +were sent by King Achab to the prophet. And the place wherein they +sank in the waters is called even to this day the Ford of the Drowned +Men. + + + + +CHAPTER CXX. + +_Of the Pitfalls passed over without danger, and the Prophecies of the +Saint._ + +And certain other sons of darkness, dwelling in the plain called Liffy, +digged deep pitfalls in many parts of the public pathway, the which +they covered with branches and green sods, that the saint when +journeying might fall unawares therein. But a certain damsel +discovered the contrived snare, and she hastened to show it unto the +man of God, that he might avoid the mischief. Then he, trusting in the +Lord, commanded his people to drive forward the horses, and, having +blessed them, he passed over with unfailing foot. For the soft and +tender herbage supported them like the solid earth, inasmuch as the +holy troop bore in their hearts and on their bodies Him who bore all +things. And the priest of God sent the damsel unto her father, that +she might bring him into his presence to receive the salvation of his +soul. And the damsel did even as he commanded, and brought before him +her father; and at the preaching of the saint the man believed, and +with his ten sons and his three daughters was baptized. Then did +Patrick consecrate the virgins unto God, and gave to them the sacred +veil; and he prophesied that of the sons five should be happy and +prosperous in a secular life, and that the other five should first +enter the clerical order, and at length holily live and die in the +monastic habit; but unto them who had treacherously prepared the pit +for him and for his people he foretold that they and their seed should +pass their life in providing their sustenance and continually digging +in the ground, and that, according to the Scripture, poverty should +come on them like water. And all these things which the saint +prophesied did the event prove. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXI. + +_The Prophecy of the Saint on a Certain Village._ + +And Saint Patrick went unto a certain village, near the island of +Inchenn, and he found therein a place fitting for the erection of a +church; the which when he had begun, a crowd of rustics issued from the +village, and impeded the work. Then the saint, being filled of the +spirit of prophecy, foretold unto them with the voice of truth, "Since +ye have made yourselves a hindrance unto me, that I may not build a +habitation to the Lord my God, never shall the smoke go out of the +houses which ye or your generation shall build in this place." And the +testified proof of the words of the saint even to this day evinceth its +truth, for many have oftentimes begun to build houses there, but for +the rudeness of these men never could they be finished. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXII. + +_The Sentence prophetically declared._ + +A certain man named Dengo, who was wicked and perverse, and powerful in +iniquity, prevented the saint from building a church in a convenient +place; to whom the saint attesting his Judge, nay, prophesying, said, +"In a short time shall thine house be destroyed, and thy substance +wasted away; and thy sons that issue from thine impious loins shall of +the greater part defile themselves by mutual fratricide; while the +remnant of them shall never attain unto dignity or power, but shall be +strangers and wanderers on the earth." And the prophecy of Saint +Patrick was proved by the subsequent misery visited on the man and on +his children. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXIII. + +_The Prophecy of the Saint on a Certain Bishop and on the one who +consecrated him._ + +A certain powerful man had endowed with lands and possessions a church +that he was about to build on his own estate; the which to govern, +Saint Patrick would have appointed one among his disciples who was able +unto the gaining of souls. But the man refused, saying that in his own +family he had a priest whom he willed to place over his own church. +Then the saint, deeming it unworthy to contend for such a matter, +departed from the man. And he on the morrow brought unto the saint his +son, desiring that he might be consecrated unto the bishopric of that +church. And for that the saint apart from his companions pursued in +solitude his studies and his prayers, the man, turning from him, went +unto two of his disciples, who were elsewhere appointed bishops, and +addressed them for the consecration of his son. And one of them denied +his request, saying that he could do no such thing without the consent +and the approbation of the saint; but the other, induced either by +entreaty or reward, presumed to do what the man required. The which +having discovered, Saint Patrick, afflicting the presumer with the +affliction of penance sufficiently severe, foretold that through all +his life he should suffer the want of bread. And he declared that the +bishop so consecrated was worthy of degradation and contempt, and that +his church should be exceeding poor, so that it should not be able to +defend itself even from two men. And that which the saint foretold +unfailingly came to pass--whereby a prudent man may take heed, lest +misled by ambition he should ever attempt the like. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXIV. + +_The Blind Man is restored to Sight; from him who seeeth is Sight +taken; and three are relieved of Lameness._ + +A certain man named Domhhaldus, who was blind even from his birth, +hearing the saint passing by, placed himself in his way; for he trusted +that through him should he receive the light so much desired. But +forasmuch as the darkness was before his steps and the light was +withdrawn from his eyes, while running forward he fell, and when he +would have arisen no one was there who would help him with their hand. +And a certain priest in the company of the saint seeing him to fall, +laughed, and mocked the mischance of the blind man. The which Saint +Patrick observing, was offended, and lest any among his disciples +should so again presume, he checked the foolishness of the scorner with +reproof and with punishment, saying, "Verily I say unto thee, since in +the name of my God the eyes of this man, which are closed in darkness, +shall now be opened, the eyes of thee, which are opened only to evil, +shall now be closed." Thus he said, and making the sign of the cross, +he removed the darkness from the blind man, and the light from the bad +man who saw. And herein was the word of the Saviour, recorded in the +Holy Scriptures, fulfilled: "That they which see not might see, and +that they which see might be blind." And even on the same day healed +he three lame men who besought his aid; and according to the prophet, +he made the lame to leap as a hart, and run on their way rejoicing. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXV. + +_Nine Evil-doers are consumed by Fire from Heaven, and a Fountain is +produced out of the Earth._ + +And nine evil-doers contriving the death of Patrick, the herald of +life, pretended to be monks and ministers of righteousness; and they +put on them white cowls, that the easier might they destroy the saint, +who was clothed in the same habit. And herein did they imitate their +preceptor, Satan, the angel of darkness, who sometimes transfigureth +himself into an angel of light, and unto whom in their arts and in +their acts they paid obedience. But an illustrious man named Enda, the +friend of the holy prelate, observing the treachery of these wicked +men, sent unto them his own son named Conallus, that he might prevent +their endeavor, and repulse their violence from the man of God. And +the son did even as his father commanded, and stood, the son of light, +among these sons of darkness. And Saint Patrick, warned of heaven, +knew these ravens under the wings of the dove, these wolves under the +fleece of the lamb; but well he knew that as the Ethiop cannot change +his skin, no, not though washed with fine linen, so could not these +magicians quit their inborn wickedness, though clothed in white +raiment. Therefore with the sign of the cross he fortified himself, +and opposed it to the enemies of Christ; and fire marvellously +descending from heaven consumed the evil-doers, and left Conallus +standing among them, unhurt of the flame, as he was guiltless of their +sin. Thus was the cross of Christ a protection to the faithful even +for their salvation, and to the idolaters a punishment even for their +perdition. And afterward the saint impressed on the earth the sign of +the cross, and a clear and salubrious fountain issued forth. And on +the spot where this miracle was worked by the cross did he build a +church, which even unto this day is called the Cross of Saint Patrick. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXVI. + +_Another Magician is in like manner Consumed._ + +And at another time another magician, but in wickedness not differing, +bound himself by a sacrilegious oath before the heathens which were +gathered together unto evil deeds, that he would destroy the saint. +But ere the accursed crime could be attempted, the saint, raising his +left hand, imposed in the name of the Lord his malediction on the +malefactor; and he was consumed by fire from heaven, and even like the +other nine he perished. Then the people which were collected to behold +the death of the saint, fearing that a like destruction might descend +on themselves, escaped by flight, or rather by the sufferance of the +divine mercy. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXVII. + +_A Grove is cursed by the Saint._ + +And Patrick was on a certain day speeding his journey for the ministry +of his wonted preaching, when the wheel of the chariot wherein he sat +was broken in twain. And his attendants hastened unto a neighboring +grove, wherein was seen wood that seemed fit unto their purpose; and +the wood is hewed down, and smoothed, and shaped to repair the wheel. +Nevertheless they long time labored with useless toil, for still did +the wheel appear broken as before; and ever and anon as they endeavored +to repair it, yet still, as touched of heaven, again did it fall in +twain. Then the man of God well knowing that this could not uncausedly +happen, enquired of the grove, and unto whom it belonged; and he was +told that it had been consecrated unto the infernal spirits. +Wherefore, knowing the divine will, and agreeing with the sentence of +heaven, he raised his left hand, and cursed the grove. Wonderful was +the event! Forthwith, like the fig-tree in the Gospel, it withered; +nor from that time was it ever fit unto any use, save only to be hewed +down and cast into the fire. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXVIII. + +_The Sentence pronounced by the Saint on his Deceivers._ + +A certain prince and his people, which dwelled in a place called +Nadese, within the country of Momonia, appointed a day and an hour +whereon they might meet in the presence of Saint Patrick to deliberate +concerning the erection of churches. And the saint came at the fixed +time, and he waited during the whole day until the evening, but no man, +at least no man thereunto deputed, came to meet him. And in this +manner did they oftentimes deceive the servant of God. Nevertheless +the Holy Spirit dwelling in Patrick concealed not from these men the +reward of their presumption delivered through his mouth; for when on +another evening they came, he said openly unto them, "Since ye have not +only deceived me, but the Holy Spirit, neither ye nor your children +shall ever in this place finish any your business until the evening." +And according to the common saying, this the sentence of the saint is +continually fulfilled, for if the people of this place begin any +business in the early morning, never can they finish it until the +latest evening. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXIX. + +_A Mountain is swallowed up in the Earth, and again it is raised._ + +And among the chiefs of Momonia was a certain wicked man named +Cearbhallus, and he always hindered Saint Patrick, so that a church +could not be builded in the lands of his inheritance. And not far from +this man's dwelling was a lake which was fair and pleasing to the eye, +but a lofty mountain which stood between intercepted all the delight +from his view. Him did the saint address for the building of a church, +exhorting and entreating; but long time he resisted. And on a certain +day this wicked man, endeavoring with subtle argument to circumvent the +saint, said unto him: "If in the name of the Lord thy God thou wilt +remove yonder mountain, so that mine eyes may be freely satisfied with +this desired lake, then shall thou build a church on my land +wheresoever thou mayest please." This he required, because he deemed +it impossible to be done. Then the saint having prayed raised his eyes +of faith and love unto the prepared Mountain which is exalted on the +top of the mountains; and forthwith the mountain was laid low, and +swallowed in the earth, and permitted unto the man a free view of the +lake. But when Saint Patrick began to build the church, this man of +hardened heart would not suffer it to be finished, for he feared where +no fear was, and dreaded lest thereby he should be deprived of his +inheritance. Then the saint prayed again unto the Lord, and the +mountain was lifted up unto its former height. And he foretold that +the wicked man should in a short space lose the possession of his land, +and that no one of his race should ever be a prince or a bishop. And +the prophecy of the saint was fulfilled, for as his eyes were prevented +from the sight of the lake, so was his life closed by death. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXX. + +_Euchodius is cursed by the Saint, and his Son is blessed._ + +A certain wicked tyrant, named Euchodius, reigned in Ulydia; and he +commanded two holy virgins, for that they rejected wedlock, to be bound +with chains and cast into the water; and he set at naught Saint Patrick +interceding for them. Wherefore the saint punished him with the +sentence of his malediction, and foretold that not one of his seed +should reign after him, but that his kingdom should be transferred to +Kerellus, his younger brother. And his wife, who was then in travail, +earnestly besought the saint that he would bless her and the child +which she carried in her womb. Then the saint blessed them both, and +prophesied that she would bring forth a most holy son, whose death +should be doubtful and unsearchable. And the woman brought forth a +son, who was named Dovengardus; and he was renowned for his sanctity +and his miracles, whereof many and wondrous traditions are told among +that people. And Euchodius in a short time lost both his life and hit +kingdom, and thereto not one of his race succeeded. But his +aforementioned brother and his descendants through many years possessed +the kingdom of Ulydia. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXI. + +_Of Saint Sennachus the Bishop._ + +In the place which is named Achadhfobhair Saint Patrick built and +endowed a church with fair possessions; and thereover he appointed and +consecrated a bishop, Sennachus, who for the innocency of his heart was +called a lamb of God. And he, being so consecrated, entreated of the +saint that with unceasing prayer he would labor with the Lord to shield +him in this his office from the commission of all sin; and furthermore +he suppliantly besought that the church over which he presided might +not be called by his name, as was in many places the custom among the +Irish people. And this did he to preserve his lowliness, and to avoid +vainglory, which is the fretting moth of all virtues. Then Saint +Patrick, understanding the worthiness of Sennachus and the simplicity +of his heart, promised unto him all his desire; and blessing him and +his flock, prophesied that thereout should proceed many holy and +eminent priests. And Sennachus, serving in exceeding holiness the Holy +One of all holies, and being renowned for his miracles and for his +virtues, entered at length into the heavenly sanctuary. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXII. + +_The Miracle which is worked for Certain Hewers of Wood._ + +And Saint Patrick in his journeying passed with his people through a +forest in Midernia, and he met therein certain slaves that were hewing +wood; and these men were under the yoke of a hard and cruel master, +named Tremeus; and they hewed the wood with blunt axes, nor had they +whetstones nor had they any other means whereon to sharpen them. +Wherefore their strength failed, their arms stiffened, and the flesh +fell from their hands, and the naked sinews were seen, and the +miserable men wished rather for death than for life. But when the man +of God beheld their misery, he compassionated them, and he touched +them, and he blessed their hands and their instruments. Then at the +touch and the word of his blessing, all their strength is restored, +their hands are healed, their instruments become sharpened, the hardest +oaks are hewed down without toil, even as the tenderest twigs; and in +these men did the miracle continue until the saint had wondrously +obtained for them their freedom. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXIII. + +_A Hone is divided by Saint Patrick, and the Oppressor is drowned._ + +And Patrick the pious father addressed the master, nay, rather the +tormentor of these slaves, yet found he him stubborn and inexorable. +Wherefore betaking himself unto his accustomed arms, he fasted and +prayed for three days; and once again approaching the man, he humbly +besought their liberation, and once again found he him a new Pharao. +Then the saint spat on a stone by chance before them lying, and for the +softening, the reproving, and the confounding of his hard-heartedness, +the stone immediately splitted in three parts. But Tremeus becoming +the more hardened by that which should have softened him, forthwith +ascended his chariot, and scorning and rejecting the prayer of the +saint, commanded these slaves to be afflicted with yet severer toil. +Wherefore the Lord suffering not that this insult to Patrick, the +second Moses, should go unavenged, now punished the contemner of his +servant, even as formerly he punished Pharao and his host; for the +horses which were yoked to the chariot of Tremeus, rushing forward, +plunged into a neighboring lake, and drowned in its waters the chariot +and him who sat therein. Then, this child of Belial being so +destroyed, Saint Patrick without hindrance freed these afflicted men +brought out of the house of bondage, and gave unto them their +long-desired freedom. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXIV. + +_An Angel foretelleth to Patrick of Saint Moccheus._ + +The blessed Patrick purposed to build a church in a place sufficiently +fair and fitting, which is now called Ludha. But an angel appearing +unto him, enjoined that he should desist therefrom, saying; "Soon shall +a servant of the Lord arrive from Britain, named Moccheus, who for the +sake of God deserting his country and his parents, shall come into +Hibernia; and in this place shall he build and dwell, and finish his +days in piety." Then the saint obeying the angel, turned unto the left +side of the place, and there builded unto the God of Jacob a tabernacle +which is yet known by the name of Saint Patrick. And Moccheus coming +thither, erected an oratory and all places fitting, and lived there a +life abundant in virtue; and often Saint Patrick was wont to visit him, +and confer with him on things pertaining unto God. And on a certain +day, while they were sitting together and communing of God, the angel +appeared and proffered unto them an epistle; the which Saint Patrick +reading, found to be an exhortation, nay, rather a command, unto him +especially directed, that he should absolutely confer on Moccheus the +place which he had builded, with all matters pertaining thereunto, and +that he himself should fix his cathedral seat in Ardmachia. And +Patrick willingly did as the angel, nay, rather as the Lord, had +enjoined and thence retiring, he commended unto Moccheus twelve lepers, +to whom he had ministered in Christ; and Moccheus assumed the care and +the custody of all these matters. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXV. + +_The Sentence pronounced by Patrick on Moccheus._ + +And after some days, while Moccheus heard the Book of Genesis read +before him, wherein he is told that the patriarchs before the Flood +lived for nine hundred years and more, and that after the Flood many +lived for three hundred years, he did not readily believe in the sacred +history; for he said that this tabernacle of clay, the human body, of +flesh so weak, covered with skin, and framed with bones and sinews, +could in no wise so long endure. The which when Saint Patrick +observed, he came unto him, that with true reason he might drive all +such scruples from his mind; for he said that the whole canonical +Scripture was dictated and written by the finger of God, and therefore +should in no wise be derogated or disbelieved; inasmuch as it was not +more difficult for the Creator of all things to extend the life of man +unto a thousand years, if so he willed, than unto one day, as according +to the Psalmist: A thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday, +which is passed. But even on these things Moccheus still doubting, the +saint thus pronounced, or rather prophesied: "Since thou disbelievest +the Holy Scriptures, by thine own experience shalt thou prove the truth +of its records; for even to the length of three hundred years shall thy +life be prolonged, nor until that time is passed shalt thou enter into +the joy of the Lord." And Moccheus afterward repented him of his want +of faith, but the sentence pronounced by the Holy Spirit through the +mouth of Patrick could not be revoked. And he lived for the space of +three hundred years; and then paying the debt of nature, and shining in +virtues and in miracles, at length he passed out of the world unto +Christ. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXVI. + +_The Saint prophesieth of two Brothers, and a Fountain is produced out +of the Earth._ + +And Saint Patrick coming out of Dalnardia, began to build a church in a +place called Elum, where twelve brothers, the sons of Killadius, then +ruled. And one of these, named Seranus, governed there, who preventing +the saint from his purpose, violently drove him away. But the saint, +though patiently would he bear an injury offered to himself, yet +grievously taking the hindrance of his holy work, prophesied what +through God he knew would happen, and said unto him: "Yet a little +while, and thou shalt be driven from this land, and the rule shall be +given to a better than thee." Then Colladius, the younger brother of +this perverse man, gave unto the saint a place which is called +Domhnachcumbuir, and even until the church was builded gave unto him +sufficient aid. And the saint blessed him, prophesying what the Lord +had determined for him, saying; "Unto this land shalt thou succeed, and +from thy loins shall kings proceed, and reign through many +generations." And in that place did the saint by his prayers produce +out of the heart of the earth a pure fountain, which to this day is +called Slan, that is, healing; for that it relieveth many laboring +under multiplied diseases. And for his perverseness Seranus was driven +from that land; and according to the word of the saint, the kingdom was +given to his younger brother, Colladius. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXVII. + +_The Saint Prophesieth of a Certain Youth._ + +Twelve brothers, whose father, a ruler in Dalnardia, was then lately +dead, met together to divide the inheritance; but holding in scorn +their youngest brother, Fergusius, without his portion they turned him +empty away. Therefore the youth addressed Saint Patrick, that by his +prayers he might be admitted unto his share; promising that he would +give unto the building and the maintaining a church the better part +thereof. And the saint prevailing for him, Fergusius receiveth his +share of the inheritance; of the which the larger half he gave to the +holy prelate for the erection of a church; but this, lest he should +seem to have sold his interference, he refused to receive himself, and +bade it be given unto the aforementioned Olcanus. And he builded a +church within that territory, in a place which is called Derkan, and +being there made bishop, continued in justice and in holiness. But +Saint Patrick blessed Fergusius, and prophesying said unto him, "Though +this day thou appeared humble and despised in the sight of thy +brothers, yet in a short time shalt thou be chief over them all; for +from thee shall kings proceed, who not only in this land, but even in +distant regions, shall hold rule." And after a short space, according +to the prophecy of the holy man, did Fergusius obtain the government of +all that country, and his seed ruled therein for many generations. And +thence was born Edan, the son of Gabranus, who reduced Scotia, which is +called Albania, and other islands wherein his posterity yet reigneth. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXVIII. + +_Of Conallus and of his Shield._ + +And Saint Patrick addressed his well-beloved, the Prince Conallus; and +he enquired of him whether would he assume the habit of a monk. And +the prince replied that his heart was prepared to do whatsoever the +saint would command. Then the saint rejoicing at his devotion said +unto him, "For the sign of power and protection, and for the proof of +thy spiritual worth, shall thou bear thy shield and thy sceptre; the +name of a laic shalt thou show; but the mind and the merit of a monk +shall thou possess, inasmuch as many saints shall proceed from thee, +and many nations shall in thy seed be blessed." And he signed his +shield with the sign of the staff of Jesus, declaring that no one of +his progeny who should carry this shield in battle should ever by any +one be vanquished. And the chronicles of Hibernia declare, and her +bards record, that this the saint's prophecy unto Conallus and his seed +duly came to pass. + + + + +CHAPTER CXXXIX. + +_A Heavenly Light shineth around Saint Patrick, and Victor is converted +unto the Faith._ + +And Saint Patrick coming into the territory of Mogharnd, went toward +the town of Domnhach Maghin, over which a man named Victor ruled. And +he hearing of the saint's arrival, yet loving darkness rather than +light, concealed himself in the shades of a thick grove, for much he +feared, lest being driven from the darkness of his unbelief, he should +though unwilling be compelled to believe in the true light. But the +shadows of the night season came on, nor yet did Patrick the son of +light therefore delay his journey. And when the curtain of deep night +had covered all things with surrounding darkness, it darkened not the +course of Patrick, who was the precursor of light; for unto him the +night was as day, and the deep shadows were as brightness. And the +light piercing through the darkness poured around the man concealing +himself, nor could he longer hide from before the face of the light. +Then Victor by so signal a sign being vanquished, and being even as +bound with the chains of the fear of the Lord, came unto Saint Patrick, +and devoutly entreated and received from him the holy baptism. And +being with all his household and all his people baptized, he gave unto +the saint his inheritance for the erection of a church, and among his +disciples he abided. And after a while he increased in holiness and in +the knowledge of the divine law, and being at length consecrated by +Saint Patrick, he received in that church the episcopal degree, and for +his virtues and his merits was he very renowned. + + + + +CHAPTER CXL. + +_A Certain Cymbal of Saint Patrick is lost and found again._ + +A certain man of the servants of Saint Patrick carelessly lost a +cymbal; when lost he sought it, when sought he found it not, when found +not he therefore sorely repented. And the saint forgave him, and +directed that no longer he should seek for the cymbal, until in that +place a church should be builded. And after a long time had passed, a +certain religious man named Dicullus builded there a church, and there +found the aforementioned cymbal; and in that church placed he it. And +many who were infirm, drinking out of or being sprinkled with water +from this cymbal, often received instant health; and when this +instrument was tuned, they experienced the holiness of the saint +breathing forth and sounding through its music. + + + + +CHAPTER CXLI. + +_The Obedience of Saint Volchanus._ + +And a certain disciple of Saint Patrick, named Volchanus, was eminent +in faith and in religion, but especially surpassing in the virtue of +obedience; and Saint Patrick willing that this his piety, which was so +well known unto him and unto God, should also be known unto his +fellow-disciples for an example unto them, commanded him that he should +build a church wheresoever God should vouchsafe to direct. And hearing +the word of the saint, he obeyed, and carrying a hatchet on his +shoulder, went forth to seek a fitting place for the erection of a +church. Then the spiritual father observing him to go forth with the +hatchet in his cowl, prophesied unto him with the words of consolation: +"Do not, well-beloved Volchanus, doubt of a fitting place; but +wheresoever thine hatchet shall fall, there securely build and inhabit, +and there shalt thou be among a great nation paying worship unto God!" +Thus having heard, he retired from the presence of his honored father, +knowingly unknowing, and wisely untaught, yet persuaded in his mind to +go whithersoever the most true teacher had directed him. Therefore the +whole day did he go forward, nor did he aught, save to lift up his +hands and his heart in prayer. And as the day declined eveward, the +hatchet fell from his shoulder unexpectedly, yet moved of heaven, in a +place neither intended nor foreseen. Then the man of God understanding +this to be the appointed place, with great labor builded there a +monastery, and gathered together unto one holy society many sons of +God, who were dispersed; and therein dwelling, holily and religiously +finished he his life, and at length, renowned in his virtues and his +miracles, he rested in the Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER CXLII. + +_Of Saint Rodanus, the Herdsman of Patrick._ + +And Saint Patrick had a certain herdsman named Rodanus, and he was +exceeding religious; and this man in his pastoral duty lived a hermit's +life, and often being absorbed in prayer, he pastured the cows and the +young calves together. And at the command of Saint Patrick, the whole +herd was wondrously retained under his control, nor was any disturbance +or confusion there among, for never did the calves approach their +mothers, nor depart from them, other than at the bidding of Rodanus; +and this he did by the authority and the power of his father, Saint +Patrick. And he after a while learning letters, acquired sufficiently +the knowledge thereof, and attaining the episcopal degree, he +flourished during his life and after his death by manifold miracles. + + + + +CHAPTER CXLIII. + +_Of Saint Kertennus, the Bishop of Clochor._ + +And Kertennus, a disciple of Saint Patrick, bore the saint, now worn +with age, on his shoulders, for so necessity required; and by his +panting showed he his weakness or weariness. And the saint said unto +him, "Often hast thou carried me, yet never before have I perceived +thee thus to pant." Then answered Kertennus, "Wonder not, holy father, +for now hath mine age come on me, and my companions whose years are as +mine have from the forecast of thy bounty received the refreshment of a +little rest; and mine head is covered with gray hairs, and I labor with +daily toil, and earnestly do I long for quiet, which above all things +else I need." Therefore Saint Patrick compassionating Kertennus, +promised unto him a place fitted for contemplation, yet not unsuited to +the exercise of pious duties. And as he much desired the presence of +so worthy a disciple, he provided for him a church; yet not too remote +from the archiepiscopal seat, which at the angel's command he had +builded in Ardmachia; nor yet too near, lest by succeeding archbishops +he should be oppressed; thus was it done, that in his frequent visits +to Saint Patrick the man of God should not by the distance be wearied, +nor his church appear contemptible by too close a neighborhood. And +after some days he placed him over the church of Clochor, which the +saint himself then ruled; and when he had thereto consecrated him, he +gave unto him a chrismatory, which he had received from heaven. And +Saint Kertennus there dwelling, and exercising within doors the office +of an abbot, and abroad the office of a bishop, cherished his gray +hairs, and finished his life in holiness. + + + + +CHAPTER CXLIV. + +_Of a Boy who was blessed by Saint Patrick._ + +And a certain woman, who was strong in the faith, brought unto the +saint her little son named Lananus, to be instructed in letters; and +for that she believed his blessing would render the child more docile +and ready unto learning, humbly she besought on her son the benediction +of his grace. Nor was she deceived in her faith, inasmuch as the saint +covered him with the aspiration of his blessing, and assisted him with +the divine favor; and he impressed on the boy the sign of the cross, +and committed him unto Saint Cassanus, that he might be instructed in +virtue and in learning. And the boy thus blessed, in fifteen days +learned the whole Psaltery; and afterwards he became a man of most holy +life, and shining in miracles rested he at length in the Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER CXLV. + +_Of a Woman who was raised from Death._ + +And Ethra, the wife of a noble man named Euchadius, lay dead; and he, +carrying her body placed on a bier, met Saint Patrick near a certain +ford in Connactia. And with many prayers he besought the saint that he +would recall her to life; and promised that he and all his people would +then believe in the Christ whom he preached. And the saint delayed +not, but revived the dead woman, and baptized her husband, who at so +wonderful a miracle thoroughly believed. And from the revived woman is +it called unto this day the Ford of Ethna; and the fluid element +affording a passage unto all travellers, showeth the merit of her +reviver. And often the saint visited Connactia and Momonia, working +miracles in each; and in each he dwelled for the space of seven years. + + + + +CHAPTER CXLVI. + +_The Testimony of One who was revived from Death._ + +And even unto the evening of his days did the saint continue his wonted +labor and his accustomed work; sowing the field of the Lord with the +seed of the divine word, from the fruit whereof he might gather eternal +life. This the devoted ones of Satan perceiving and envying, they +gnashed with their teeth, and one to the other they said in their +malice: "What shall we do? This man, the destroyer of our gods, the +persecutor, nay the extirpator of our sect, worketh many miracles; if +we let him go thus, all the people of Hibernia through him will believe +in his God, and the Christians will come and they will remove our +laws." Then took they counsel together, how they should destroy him +with their snares, and under the pretence of justice bring him unto the +death. And a certain woman was washing flax nigh unto the place where +the saint was to pass; and her they directed to hide much of the flax +in a hollow tree, and when the saint and his company passed by to +accuse him as of the theft. And the woman did according as she was +induced, nay rather as she was seduced; and loudly crying out, called +these children of Belial, and with wicked tongue accused him thereof. +And they, as before they had contrived, rushed forth from their +hiding-place, and seized the saint and his disciples as robbers, and +exclaimed that they were guilty unto the death. And in the place where +this accursed band were gathered together, was a tomb, and therein a +man was buried. Him did Saint Patrick, having first prayed, awaken +from the sleep of death; and by the virtue of the truth, which is God, +commanded that he should bear true witness of this their accusation. +And the revived man, openly protesting the innocence of the saint and +of his disciples, exposed the deceits of these wicked ones, and showed +in the presence of all where they had concealed the flax. Thus was +Saint Patrick and his people marvellously freed from the hands of the +destroyers, and his blood was in that day preserved, and brought +salvation to many which were evil-doers: for they who had contrived the +death of the herald of life, were by this miracle converted unto God +and obtained his mercy. + + + + +CHAPTER CXLVII. + +_The Cross that was not observed; and the Voice which issued from the +Sepulchre._ + +And Saint Patrick was accustomed, wheresoever in his journeying he +beheld the triumphal sign of the cross, to descend from his chariot, +and to adore it with faithful heart and bended head, to touch it with +his hands, and embrace it with his arms, and to imprint on it the +repeated kiss of devout affection. And on a certain day sitting in his +chariot, most unwontedly he passed by a cross which was erected near +the wayside, unsaluted; for his eyes were held, that he saw it not. +This the charioteer observing, marvelled; but he held his peace, until +they arrived at their dwelling. But when they began to pray, as was +their custom before dinner, then spake he of the cross which he had +seen, and of the place where he beheld it. Then Saint Patrick, the +preacher of the cross, leaving his meal prepared, went forth of his +dwelling, and returned unto the place on the road which he had passed +along. And diligently he sought for the sign of life, and he found +nigh unto it a certain sepulchre. And drawing near, he prayed in the +sight of the Lord, and enquired who therein was sepultured. And a +voice answered from within, that he had been a heathen, and that a +Christian man was buried at his side, whose mother had been absent when +her son died, and when he was returned into the bosom of the common +mother: and that after some days she had come hither to wail, but +knowing not the burial-place of her son, had placed over him the +Christian sign. Therefore the man of God averred that he could not +behold the cross, because it was placed over a heathen who had been an +enemy of the cross of Christ. And removing the cross, he placed it at +the head of the baptized man, and commending his soul to God, he walked +back unto his own dwelling. + + + + +CHAPTER CXLVIII. + +_A Goat bleateth in the Stomach of a Thief._ + +The blessed Patrick had a goat, which carried water for his service; +and to this the animal was taught, not by any artifice but rather by a +miracle. And a certain thief stole the goat, and eat, and swallowed +it. And the author or instigator of the theft is enquired: and one who +by evident tokens had incurred suspicion, is accused; but not only +denieth he the fact, but adding perjury unto theft, endeavoreth he to +acquit himself by an oath. Wondrous was the event to be told, yet more +wonderful to come to pass. The goat which was swallowed in the stomach +of the thief bleated loudly forth, and proclaimed the merit of Saint +Patrick. And to the increase of this miracle it happened, that at the +command, nay rather at the sentence of the Saint, all the posterity of +this man were marked with the beard of a goat. + + + + +CHAPTER CXLIX. + +_Of the Cloaks which fell from Heaven._ + +And that he might the more entirely profit unto God by their +conversation and their example, the saint was used to seek the society +of holy men, and to join himself unto them in the most strict +friendship. For, as Solomon witnesseth, as iron is sharpened by iron, +so are the lives of holy men by conversation and by example enflamed +into a firm faith, and more fervent love of God; the which how +acceptable is it to the Lord, vouchsafed he to show by the token of an +evident miracle. Therefore on a certain day, when Saint Patrick and a +venerable man named Vinnocus sate together, they conferred of God and +of things pertaining unto God; and they spake of garments which by +their works of mercy had been distributed among the poor; when behold, +a cloak sent from Heaven fell among them, even as the present eulogy of +the Divine gift and the promise of future reward. And the saint +rejoiced in the Lord, and what had happened each ascribed to the merit +of the other. And Patrick averred that it was sent unto Vinnocus, who +had for the Lord renounced all the things of this world: and Vinnocus +insisted it to have been sent unto Patrick, who though possessing all +things retained nothing, but clothing many which were poor and naked, +left himself naked for the sake of the Lord. Then from these holy men +thus friendlily disputing, suddenly the cloak disappeared; and in the +stead thereof the Lord sent down by an angel two cloaks, one truly unto +each, that even in charity they might no longer contend. + + + + +CHAPTER CL. + +_A wicked Tyrant is transformed into a Fox._ + +In that part of Britain which is now called Vallia, lived a certain +tyrant named Cereticus; and he was a deceiver, an oppressor, a +blasphemer of the name of the Lord, a persecutor and a cruel destroyer +of Christians. And Patrick hearing of his brutal tyranny, labored to +recall him into the path of salvation, writing unto him a monitory +epistle, for his conversion from so great vices. But he, that more +wicked he might become from day to day, laughed to scorn the monition +of the saint, and waxed stronger in his sins, in his crimes, in his +falsehoods and in his cruelties. The which when Patrick heard, taught +by the Divine Spirit, he knew that the vessel of evil was hardened in +reprobation, prepared in no wise for correction, but rather for +perdition; and thus he prayed unto the Lord: "O Lord God, as thou +knowest this vulpine man to be monstrous in vice, do thou in a +monstrous mode cast him forth from the face of the earth, and appoint +an end unto his offences!" Then the Lord, inclining his ear unto the +voice of his servant, while on a certain time the tyrant stood in the +middle of his court surrounded by many of his people, suddenly +transformed him into a fox; and he, flying from their sight, never more +appeared on the earth. And this no one can reasonably disbelieve, who +hath read of the wife of Lot who was changed into a pillar of salt, or +the history of the King Nabuchodonoser. + + + + +CHAPTER CLI. + +_The wicked Man Machaldus and his Companions are converted unto the +Faith._ + +And in Ulydia was Magiul, a heathen, who was also called Machaldus; and +he was eminent in wickedness and notorious in cruelty; and forasmuch as +like always accordeth with like, he gathered unto himself no small +company, well practised in theft, in rapine, and in blood. And this +man placed on his own head and on his companions' certain diabolical +signs which are called Deberth; that all might behold how devoted was +their brotherhood unto the service of Satan. And it happened on a time +that the blessed Patrick was journeying with his people through the +place where lurked this band of evil-doers, waiting and watching for +any traveller on whom they might rush forth to destroy and to despoil. +And beholding the saint, they thought at first to slay him as the +seducer of their souls and the destroyer of their gods: but suddenly +their purpose being changed by the Divine will, they thought it shame +to shed the blood of a peaceful, weak, and unarmed old man; yet +counselling to prove or rather to mock the power of Christ, and the +holiness of Patrick, they placed one of their companions named Garbanus +on a couch, and though he was in perfect health they feigned him as +dead; and they covered him with a cloak, and with deriding prayers they +besought the man of God that he would provide the funeral rites, or, as +he was wont, restore unto life the dead man. But the saint, at the +revelation of the Spirit, understood what they had done, and pronounced +that these scorners had deceivingly, yet not falsely, declared of their +companion's death. Therefore disregarding their entreaties he prayed +unto God for the soul of the derider, and went on his way. And the +saint had not journeyed far, when they uncovered the cloak from their +companion; and lo! they found him not feignedly but really dead. And +they, affrighted at this fearful chance, and dreading lest the same +should happen unto themselves, followed the saint, and fell at his +feet, and acknowledged their offence, and by their contrition obtained +pardon. And they all believed in the Lord, and in his name were they +baptized. Then did the saint, at their humble entreaty, revive the +dead man; and washing him in the holy font, associated him unto them in +the faith of Christ. + + + + +CHAPTER CLII. + +_The Penitence of Machaldus._ + +And Machaldus their chief falling at Saint Patrick's feet, confessed +his sins and entreated with many tears that a life of penitence might +be appointed unto him, whereby he might attain the life of eternity. +And the saint, inspired of Heaven, enjoined him that he should utterly +renounce his native soil and give all his substance to the poor; and he +clothed Machaldus in a vile and rough garment, and chained him with +chains of iron, and cast the key thereof into the ocean. Likewise he +commanded him to enter, alone, without oars, into a boat made only of +hides, and that on whatsoever country he should land under the guidance +of the Lord there should he serve Him even unto the end of his days. +And the man, truly repenting, did as his pastor enjoined; for he, +alone, chained with iron chains, bearing on his head the tonsure as the +token of penitence, entered the boat; and under the protection of God +he committed himself unto the waves, and was borne by them unto the +Island Eubonia, which is called Mannia. And therein were two bishops, +named Connidrius and Romulus, whom Saint Patrick himself had +consecrated and appointed to rule over the people of that island and to +instruct them in the faith of Christ after the death of Germanus the +first bishop. And they, beholding Machaldus, marvelled much, and they +pitied his misery; and when they understood the cause, received him +kindly and retained him with themselves. And after he had for some +space there abided, a fish was one day taken in the sea and brought +unto their dwelling; and when the fish was opened before them, a key +was found in its belly, and Machaldus being released from his chains, +gave thanks unto God, and went thenceforth free. And he, increasing in +holiness, after the deaths of these holy bishops attained the episcopal +degree; and being eminent in his miracles and in his virtues, there did +he rest. And in that island was a city after him named of no small +extent; the remains of whose walls may yet be seen. And in the +cemetery of its church is a sarcophagus of hollowed stone, whereout a +spring continually exudeth, nay, sufficiently floweth forth; the which +is sweet to the draught, wholesome to the taste, and healeth divers +infirmities, but chiefly the stings of serpents and the deadliness of +poison: for whoso drinketh thereof, either receiveth instant health, or +instantly he dieth. And in that stone are the bones of Saint Machaldus +said to rest, yet therein is nothing found, save only clear water. And +though many have oftentimes endeavored to remove the stone, and +especially the king of the Norici, who subdued the island, that he +might at all times have sweet water, yet have they all failed in their +attempt: for the deeper they have digged to raise up the stone, so much +the more deeply and firmly did they find it fixed in the heart of the +earth. + + + + +CHAPTER CLIII. + +_A Meadow is overflowed by the Sea._ + +At another time the blessed Patrick being fatigued with travel, turned +aside for the sake of a little rest, and for pasturing his horses, into +a grassy meadow near Roscomaira in Connactia. But when he had sate +down and his horses had begun to feed, a certain wicked and perverse +plebeian, the owner of the place, rushed forward in the fury of anger +to expel him forth. And first he attacked the saint with reproachful +words, and at length he cast stones at the horses and drove them from +the field: wherefore the hurt done unto them, increased the injury and +the affront offered unto their master. And as Saint Patrick was one, +and chief among those horses, with which according to the prophet +Habacuc the Lord made his way in the sea, therefore was the Lord wroth +at an injury offered unto him, and therefore at his command the meadow +withered up, and the sea flowing forward covered it, and it remained +unfruitful for ever. Fitting and just was this judgment of God, that +the people which hated him, and refused his servant one blade of grass, +should lose the whole harvest; and that as this man despitefully +entreated Saint Patrick, and drove him from his field, he should +thenceforward lose the place for which so contentiously he had striven. + + + + +CHAPTER CLIV. + +_A Stone is changed into Milk, and Milk is changed into Stones._ + +And one who had long time been a servant unto many evil-doers, hearing +of the virtues and the miracles of Saint Patrick, came unto him, for +the purpose of contending with him in working signs. And many false +signs did he multiply, the which the saint, having prayed and made the +sign of the cross, dispersed. Then the magician seeing all his +inventions to be frustrated, required of Patrick that he should work +signs to evince the power of his God; and the saint delayed not to do +what might prove the virtue of Christ, and instruct in the faith many +Christians: for he changed an hard stone into a soft mass of curdled +milk, and of this milk, in the name of Christ, he changed two soft +pieces into hard stones. But lest these should be accounted false and +like unto the signs of the magicians, the stones continued in the same +hardness whereunto they were transformed. But this which was +corporally done before the eyes of men, doth the divine virtue +spiritually do in the conversion of believers; inasmuch as the +worshippers of stones, men of hardened hearts, become soft unto the +faith and love of Christ, and as if again born infants, they desire the +milk of the apostolic doctrine, that thereby they may grow up unto +salvation. So did it happen unto the magician, who beholding this +miracle believed in the Lord and was baptized. + + + + +CHAPTER CLV. + +_A Wagon laden with Twigs is saved from the Fire._ + +And Saint Patrick requested of a certain man, that he would bring unto +him two wagons laden with twigs, for that such were required for +certain needful uses. And the man fulfilled his request, and brought +the twigs unto the appointed place. But a fire seized the two wagons +and burned one thereof, yet left it the other unharmed of the flame. +And all the beholders marvelled, that the fire should exercise its +natural power over the one wagon, and on the other have no effect; as +of yore it happened unto the three children which were cast into the +fiery furnace, but which were saved from the fire, nor did any hurt +come on them. We however admire in this miracle the merit of the +saint; but in no wise think that the cause thereof needs to be +discussed. + + + + +CHAPTER CLVI. + +_The Saint is preserved untouched from the falling Rain._ + +The man of God was wont to observe with singular devotion the Lord's +day, for the remembrance of that great solemnity, which the life of +death reviving unto resurrection, hath made worthy of rejoicing in +heaven, in earth, and in the grave. Wherefore this holy custom was +fixed in his mind, even as a law, that wheresoever the Sabbath-eve +arrived, he for reverence thereto passed the night and the next holy +day in hymns, and in psalms, and in spiritual songs; and heartily +devoting himself unto divine contemplation, so he continued until the +morning of the succeeding day. And on a time the observance of this +holy custom caused the blessed Patrick to celebrate the vigil under the +open air; and a violent fall of rain inundated all the field around: +but the place whereon the holy watchman, the guardian of the walls of +Jerusalem, stood with his companions, was not wetted even with the +dropping of one drop thereof. Thus was in Patrick repeated the +miracle, which formerly appeared in the fleece of Gideon, when the +whole ground was wet with dew, and the fleece was found dry and +undamped. + + + + +CHAPTER CLVII. + +_The Fingers of Saint Patrick shine with Light._ + +But the brightness of the eternal light, that He might prove with how +radiant a light of His grace the inward vessel of His saint was +illumined, glorified him by another miracle of yet higher marvel. For +on the same night which Patrick had passed under the open air, lauding +and praising God, the field wherein he stood was covered with thickest +darkness. And the chariot-driver of the holy prelate long time sought +for the steeds which he had loosed unto pasture, that he might reyoke +them to the chariot: but when for the darkness he could not find them, +he wailed with much lamentation. Which the saint compassionating, drew +forth his right hand from his sleeve, and raised up his fingers. +Wonderful was the event, and unheard of through ages! Immediately his +fingers shone even as sunbeams, and wonderfully illumining the whole +country, turned darkness into light, and night into day. Then by the +aid of this radiant miracle the chariot-driver found his steeds, and +led them rejoicing to the father, and yoked them unto the chariot. And +he, the bearer and the preacher of the heavenly light, his fingers +ceasing to shine, yet ceasing not to pour forth the purest and freshest +myrrh, ascended the chariot on the morning of the succeeding day, as +was his custom; and hastened on, whithersoever he was called by the +will of Him, who directed him, and dwelled in him. Thus by a very +beautiful but sufficiently convincing miracle his fingers outwardly +shone; so working in them the finger of the God, who so frequently had +healed and saved and protected by his works of light. + + + + +CHAPTER CLVIII. + +_Fire is also seen to issue from his Mouth._ + +And he preached the word of God unto a certain great man, to whom it +seemed that fire issuing from the mouth of the saint entered into his +ears and mouth, and filled him internally with its heat. And this fire +was not consuming, but illumining; not burning, but shining; as he who +so experienced related unto the saint, saying, "I behold a flaming fire +to issue from thy mouth, and penetrate my body and my inmost heart." +Then to him the saint: "Our God is the true light illumining every man +at his entrance into the world; our God, who came to send upon earth +that fire which He desireth should burn in the hearts of the faithful: +for the word of the Lord is bright, and his speech is as fire; whereof +by my preaching hast thou had in thyself the proof." + + + + +CHAPTER CLIX. + +_The holy Virgin Memhessa departeth unto God._ + +There was a noble and beautiful damsel, named Memhessa, the daughter of +a prince who reigned in a certain part of Britain. And she, being +occupied with the grace of the Holy Spirit, through the virtue which is +innate in a good disposition, and from the divers species of all +created creatures, understood the Creator; and Him, being so +understood, she affected with all her heart and with all her soul; for +the love and desire of the which affection she looked down on all the +riches, and all the delights, and all the splendors, and all the charms +of this world's glory, and she despised them in her heart. Yet had she +not been washed in the holy font, though in her manners she represented +the purity of the Christian faith. And her parents being heathens, +mainly endeavored with words and with stripes to frustrate and to shake +her purpose; but the column of her virgin heart being builded on the +rock of Christ, could neither be subverted by their persuasions, nor +shaken by their threats, nor could she by any their evil doings at all +be moved from her fixed firmness. And forasmuch as the spring-time of +her youth made her beautiful, and the elegance of her form made her +right lovely, while in her countenance the lilies and the roses of the +garden were mingled together, very many princes of royal stock desired +her in marriage; however in no wise could she thereunto be persuaded or +compelled. Wherefore having a long time vainly labored, her parents by +general consent brought her unto Saint Patrick, the fame of whose +holiness was proved and published through all that country by many +signs and miracles. Then they unfolded unto the saint the purpose of +the damsel, earnestly entreating him that he would bring her unto the +sight of his God whom she so loved and toward whom her heart yearned. +This the saint hearing, rejoiced in the Lord, giving thanks unto Him, +whose breath doth blow even whither and how he listeth; and who +oftentimes calleth unto himself without any preaching those whom he had +predestinated unto life. Then, having expounded to the damsel the +rules of the Christian faith, he catechised her, and baptized her +confessing her belief, and strengthened her with the sacraments of the +body and blood of Christ. And she, having received the viaticum, fell +to the ground in the midst of her prayers and breathed forth her +spirit: thus ascending from the font spotless and washed of all sin, +and being led by the angels unto the sight of her fair and beautiful +Beloved, went she into his embraces. Then did Patrick, and all who +were present, glorify God; and with honorable sepulture they committed +her holy remains unto the earth. + + + + +CHAPTER CLX. + +_Of the Work which was done in the Lord's Day._ + +And at a certain time Saint Patrick on the Lord's day entered a harbor +on the northern coast of Hibernia, opposite the town of Druimbo; yet +would he not go forth of the ship, but remaining therein he solemnized +the day with his wonted devotion. And now was the mid-hour of the day +passed, when he heard no little noise; whereby he understood that the +heathens were violating the Sabbath with their profane labors (the +which was right contrary to his custom and command); and that they were +then employed in a certain work which is called rayth; that is, a wall. +And thereat being somewhat moved, he ordered that they should be bidden +before him, and imperatively commanded them on that day to surcease +from their labor. But this profane and foolish generation received the +prohibition of the saint not only with contempt, but with scorn and +laughter. Then did he, understanding the perverseness of those +scorners, repeat his prohibition, and thus did he say unto them, +"Though mightily shall ye labor unto your purpose, never shall it come +to any effect, nor ever shall ye derive any profit therefrom." And how +true were his words, the event showed: for on the next night was the +sea wondrously raised with a tempest, and spreading thereover scattered +all the work of the heathens; and lest ever it should be recollected or +rebuilded, dispersed it with irreparable dispersion. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXI. + +_A certain Man is healed, and a Horse revived, in a place which is +called Feart._ + +A certain illustrious man, named Darius, gave unto Saint Patrick at his +request a dwelling-place together with a small field, whither he might +betake himself with the fellowship of his holy brethren. And this was +a small place near Ardmachia, in modern time called the Feast of +Miracles. And after a season, the charioteer of Darius sent his horse +into this field, there to pasture during the night; the which when on +the morrow he would lead forth of the field, found he dead. Which when +Darius heard, he was moved with wrath, and preventing all excuse, all +delay, all revocation, commanded that Patrick should be slain, as the +slayer of his horse. But scarcely had the word issued from his lips, +when lo, suddenly came on him a monitory, nay, a minatory weakness of +death, and cast him on his sickbed; and as suddenly were his feet which +were prompt unto mischief, and his hands which were accustomed unto +evil, recalled from the shedding of innocent blood; for misery alone +gave him understanding. Which things being told unto the saint, he +bade that the steed and the man should be sprinkled with water which +had been blessed of him: and being so sprinkled, each arose; the horse +from death, and Darius from the bed of sickness. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXII. + +_Of the Vessel which was given unto Saint Patrick, and again taken from +him._ + +And Darius being thus healed, sent unto the saint by the hands of his +servants a large brazen vessel, the which contained thrice twelve +gallons, and was most needful unto him and his companions for the +dressing of their food. And he, much requiring such a vessel, kindly +received it; yet said he only: this "I thank him." And the servants, +returning unto their master, when he enquired of the saint's answer, +replied that he said nothing other than, "I thank him." Then Darius +thereat wondering, accused the saint of rashness and of rudeness; yet +desiring to try the virtue of the word, commanded that they should take +the vessel from Patrick and bring it back again. Which when they did, +the saint, as he was thereto accustomed in his words and in works, +said, "I thank him." And again Darius demanded what Patrick had this +time said: and hearing that even then he had only spoken as before, "I +thank him," and admiring and understanding his firmness, pronounced he +the saint to be a man of consummate constancy, and that the word of his +mouth was most excellent. "Truly," said he, "this is a magnanimous man +and of unalterable mind, whose countenance and whose word could not be +changed, whether the vessel be given unto him or taken from him; but +ever do they continue the same." Then did he, following his servants, +salute the saint with appeasing speech, and gave unto him a field near +his dwelling-place, about which dispute might possibly have arisen. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXIII. + +_Ardmachia is given unto Saint Patrick; and a Fountain is produced out +of the Earth._ + +And after a short time the noble Darius, that he might show unto the +saint yet greater favor, brought him out of a low place unto a place +which was high; from a narrow dwelling unto one which was spacious and +fair, which was foreshown unto him by an angelic miracle, at that time +named Druymsaileach, but which is now called Ardmachia. And Saint +Patrick, considering the pleasantness and convenience of the place, and +walking around it, found therein a doe lying down with her fawn, which +they who accompanied the saint willed to slay; but this the pious +father would in no wise suffer to be done. And that he might show the +bowels of pity, which he had unto God's creatures, he bore the fawn in +his own arms, and caressed and cherished it, and carried it unto a park +at the northern side of Ardmachia; and the doe, even as the tamest +sheep, followed the compassionate bearer of her youngling, until he +placed it down at her side. And on that day did the saint, for the +praise of God and for the benefit of the people, bring forth out of the +earth by his prayers, even for the seventh time, a clear fountain. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXIV. + +_The Saint beholdeth a Vision of Angels, and cureth Sixteen Lepers._ + +When the lamp of the daily light was extinguished in the shades of +nocturnal darkness, the man of God beheld in a vision of the night +angels measuring the form and the extent of the city which was to be +builded in that high place, and one of the angels enjoined him, that on +the morrow he should go unto the fountain near Ardmachia, which is now +called Tobar Patraic, that is, the Fountain of Patrick; and there he +should heal in the name of the Lord sixteen lepers, who were come +thither from many places to experience the mercy of the Lord, and to +receive his faith. And Patrick obeyed the voice of the angel; and +early in the morning he found those men, and by his preaching he +converted them unto the faith, and being converted, he baptized them in +that fountain, and when baptized, he purified them from the leprous +taint of either man. And this miracle when published abroad, was +accounted a fair presage and a present sanction of the future city. +And the angel, at the prayers of Patrick, removed far from thence an +exceeding huge stone which lay in the wayside, and which could not be +raised by the labor or the ingenuity of man; lest it should be an +hindrance to passengers approaching the city. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXV. + +_Of the City of Ardmachia, and Twelve of its Citizens._ + +Then Patrick founded, according to the direction of the angels, a city, +fair in its site, its form, and its ambit, and when by the divine +assistance it was completed, he brought to dwell therein twelve +citizens, whom he had from all parts diligently and discreetly chosen: +and these he instructed in the Catholic doctrines of the Christian +faith. And he beautified the city with churches builded after a +becoming and spiritual fashion; and for the observance of divine +worship, for the government of souls, and for the instruction of the +Catholic flock, he appointed therein clerical persons; and he +instituted certain monasteries filled with monks, and others filled +with nuns, and placed them under the regulations of all possible +perfection. And in one of these monasteries was a certain brother, who +would not take either food or drink before the hour appointed by the +saint; and he perished of thirst; and Patrick beheld his soul ascending +into heaven, and placed among the martyrs. And in the convent of the +handmaidens of God, was a certain virgin, the daughter of a British +king, with nine other holy damsels, who had come with her unto Saint +Patrick, and of these, three in his presence went unto heaven. And in +this city placed he an archiepiscopal cathedral; and determined in his +mind that it should be the chief metropolis, and the mistress of all +Hibernia; and that this his purpose might remain fixed and by posterity +unaltered, he resolved to journey unto the apostolic seat, and confirm +it with authentic privileges. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXVI. + +_At the Direction of the Angels Saint Patrick goeth unto Rome._ + +And the angel of the Lord appearing unto Patrick, approved the purpose +of his journey, and showed him that the Pope would bestow and divide +among many churches the relics of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and of +many saints. And as carriages were haply then wanting unto him, the +angels provided him with four chariots, as if sent from heaven, the +which conveyed him and his people unto the sea-side. Then the +glorified prelate Patrick; after that the urgency of his laborious +preaching was finished, and the abundance of so many and so great +miracles had converted the whole island, blessed and bade farewell to +the several bishops and presbyters and other members of the church whom +he had ordained: and with certain of his disciples, led by his angelic +guide, he sailed toward Rome. Whither arriving, while in the presence +of the supreme pontiff he declared the cause of his coming, supreme +favor he found in his eyes; for, embracing and acknowledging him as the +apostle of Hibernia, he decorated the saint with the pall, and +appointing him his legate, by his authority confirmed whatsoever +Patrick had done, appointed or disposed therein. And many parting +presents, and precious gifts, which pertained unto the beauty, nay, +unto the strength of the church, did the Pope bestow on him; +where-among were certain relics of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and of +Stephen the proto-martyr, and of many other martyrs; and moreover, gave +he unto the saint a linen cloth, which was marked with the blood of our +Lord the Saviour Jesus Christ. Gift excelling all other gifts! And +with these most holy honors the saint being returned unto Hibernia, +fortified therewith this metropolitan church of Ardmachia (unto the +salvation of souls and the safety of the whole nation), and reposited +them in a chest behind the great altar. And in that church even from +the time of Saint Patrick the custom obtained that on the days of the +Passover and of the Pentecost these relics should be thereout produced, +and venerated in the presence of the people. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXVII. + +_The Acts of Saint Patrick while returning from Rome._ + +But the miracles which Saint Patrick wrought, when going to Rome, or +returning thence, or after he had returned, are beyond our ability to +relate either one by one or all together. For wheresoever he remained +through the night, or made any abiding, left he behind him the proofs +of his sanctity, in the healing of some diseased person; inasmuch as +churches and oratories which were builded in those places and entitled +after his name are yet to be seen; and which even to this day are +redolent of his holiness, and impart the benefit of his miracles to +many who sought the same with the desert of faith. And in his return +he some time abided in his own country of Britain, and founded there +many monasteries, and rebuilded many others which had been destroyed of +the heathens; and he filled them with convents of holy monks who +assented unto that form of religion which he thereto appointed; many +events also, prosperous and adverse, which were to happen unto Britain, +did he prophesy in the spirit; and especially he foresaw and foretold +the holiness of the blessed David, who was then in his mother's womb. +For there were many country places and towns, the inhabitants whereof +rudely drove away the saint while journeying, lest he should abide the +night among them; and these and their posterity could never prosper or +become rich therein, but strangers and aliens always possessed of them +the wealth and the dominion. But the groves into which the saint was +by those wicked ones driven to pass the night, and which before +produced but few and fruitless copses, were seen, by the blessing of +such a holy guest, to thicken and to flourish with so great abundance +of trees that in no future time could they be entirely destroyed. And +in the rivers, where the deceivers, fraudful both in heart and word, +had shown unto the saint a deep abyss instead of a safe ford, passed he +over safely, having first blessed the passage, and changed the abyss +into a ford; and the ford which before was pervious unto all changed he +unto a deep abyss. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXVIII. + +_The Acts of St. Patrick after he had Returned._ + +And after his long journey was finished, he consoled his people with +his presence; and he appointed unto the Lord's field thirty bishops +which he had chosen and in foreign countries had consecrated, for that +the harvest was many, and the laborers few. Therefore began he the +more frequently to assemble holy synods of bishops, to celebrate solemn +councils, and whatsoever he found contrary to the ecclesiastical +institutes or the Catholic faith, that did he take away and annul; and +whatsoever he found accordant to the Christian law, to justice, or to +the sacred canons, and consonant to good morals, that did he direct and +sanction. And daily he shone with innumerable miracles, and whatsoever +with his lips he appointed or taught, that did he confirm by most +signal miracles; whence it came to pass that all deservedly admired +him, by whose kindness all the inhabitants of that island are through +ages blessed; as in the sequel more fully shall we endeavor to show. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXIX. + +_Of the Threefold Plagues of Hibernia._ + +Even from the time of its original inhabitants, did Hibernia labor +under a threefold plague: a swarm of poisonous creatures, whereof the +number could not be counted; a great concourse of demons visibly +appearing; and a multitude of evil-doers and magicians. And these +venomous and monstrous creatures, rising out of the earth and out of +the sea, so prevailed over the whole island that they not only wounded +men and animals with their deadly sting, but slayed them with cruel +bitings, and not seldom rent and devoured their members. And the +demons, who by the power of idolatry dwelled in superstitious hearts, +showed themselves unto their worshippers in visible forms; often +likewise did they, as if they were offended, injure them with many +hurts; unto whom, being appeased with sacrifices, offerings, or evil +works, they seemed to extend the grace of health or of safety, while +they only ceased from doing harm. And after was beheld such a +multitude of these, flying in the air or walking on the earth, that the +island was deemed incapable of containing so many; and therefore was it +accounted the habitation of demons, and their peculiar possession. +Likewise the crowd of magicians, evil-doers, and soothsayers had +therein so greatly increased as the history of not any other nation +doth instance. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXX. + +_The Threefold Plague is driven out of Hibernia by Saint Patrick._ + +And the most holy Patrick applied all his diligence unto the +extirpation of this threefold plague; and at length by his salutary +doctrine and fervent prayer he relieved Hibernia of the increasing +mischief. Therefore he, the most excellent pastor, bore on his +shoulder the staff of Jesus, and aided of the angelic aid, he by its +comminatory elevation gathered together from all parts of the island +all the poisonous creatures into one place; then compelled he them all +unto a very high promontory, which then was called Cruachan-ailge, but +now Cruachan-Phadruig; and by the power of his word he drove the whole +pestilent swarm from the precipice of the mountain headlong into the +ocean. O eminent sign! O illustrious miracle! even from the beginning +of the world unheard, but now experienced by tribes, by peoples, and by +tongues, known unto all nations, but to the dwellers in Hibernia +especially needful! And at this marvellous yet most profitable sight, +a numerous assembly was present; many of whom had flocked from all +parts to behold miracles, many to receive the word of life. + + +Then turned he his face toward Mannia, and the other islands which he +had imbued and blessed with the faith of Christ and with the holy +sacraments; and by the power of his prayers he freed all these likewise +from the plague of venomous reptiles. But other islands, the which had +not believed at his preaching, still are cursed with the procreation of +those poisonous creatures. And he converted innumerable evil-doers +unto the faith; but many who continued obstinate, and hardened in their +perverseness, he destroyed from the face of the earth (as we have +already recorded); and from the men of Hibernia, whom he made servants +unto the true and living God, prayed he of the Lord that the visions of +the demons and their wonted injuries should be driven away; and he +obtained his prayer. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXI. + +_Without Earthly Food the Saint completeth a Fast of Forty Days._ + +And that in Hibernia or in the other islands which had received his +blessing no poisonous animal should continue or revive, nor the wonted +troop of demons therein abide, the saint completed without earthly food +a fast of forty days. For he desired to imitate in his mystical fast +Moses, who was then bound by the natural law, or rather Elias the +prophet, appointed under the law; but most principally desiring to +please the great Founder of nature, the Giver of the law and of grace, +Jesus Christ, who in Himself had consecrated such a fast. Therefore he +ascended the high mountain in Conactia, called Cruachan-ailge, that he +might there more conveniently pass the Lent season before the Passion; +and that there, desiring and contemplating the Lord, he might offer +unto Him the holocaust of this fast. And he disposed there five +stones, and placed himself in the midst; and therein, as well in the +manner of his sitting as in the mortification of his abstinence, showed +he himself the servant of the cross of Christ. And there he sat +solitary, raising himself above himself; yet gloried he only in the +cross, which constantly he bore in his heart and on his body, and +ceaselessly he panted toward his holy Beloved; and he continued and +hungered in his body, but his inward man was satisfied, and filled, and +wounded with the sweetness of divine contemplation, the comfort of +angelic visitation, and the sword of the love of God: "For the word of +God is quick and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing +even unto the separation of the body and the spirit," wherewith the +saint was wounded, even unto holy love. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXII. + +_He banisheth the Demons forth of the Island._ + +And the demons grieved for their lost dominion, and assailing the saint +they tormented him in his prayers and his fastings; and they fluttered +around him like birds of the blackest hue, fearful in their form, their +hugeness, and their multitude, and striving with horrible chatterings +to prevent his prayer, long time they disturbed the man of God. But +Patrick being armed with His grace, and aided by His protection, made +the sign of the cross, and drove far from him those deadly birds; and +by the continual sounding of his cymbal, utterly banished them forth of +the island. And being so driven away, they fled beyond the sea, and +being divided in troops among the islands which are alien unto the +faith and love of God, there do they abide and practise their +delusions. But from that time forward, even unto this time, all +venomous creatures, all fantasies of demons, have through the merits +and the prayers of the most holy father Patrick entirely ceased in +Hibernia. And the cymbal of the saint, which from his frequent +percussions thereof appeared in one part broken, was afterward repaired +by an angel's hand; and the mark is beheld on it at this day. Likewise +on the summit of this mountain many are wont to watch and to fast, +conceiving that they will never after enter the gates of hell; the +which benefit they account to be obtained to them of God through the +merits and the prayers of Patrick. And some who have thereon passed +the night relate them to have suffered grievous torments, whereby they +think themselves purified of all their sins; and for such cause many +call this place the Purgatory of Saint Patrick. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXIII. + +_Troops of Angels appear unto the Saint._ + +And God, the ruler of all, who after darkness bringeth light, +compassionated his servant; and so soon as the evil spirits were driven +forth, a multitude of angels poured around the place with exceeding +brightness, and with wondrous melody they comforted the saint. And he, +having finished his fast of forty days, offered the sacrifice of praise +and thanksgiving unto God, who had vouchsafed to mortal man the virtue +of so great abstinence, and had bestowed such mercies through the +intercession of Him. And moreover he rejoiced in the angelic +salutation. Then being led by the angels, he descended from the +mountain, and smote his cymbal, the sound whereof the Lord caused to be +heard through all parts of Hibernia. Thence, let none of the faithful +doubt that every man even over the whole world will hear the sound of +the last trumpet. And raising his hands, Saint Patrick blessed the +island and all the dwellers therein, and commended them unto Christ. + + +Now understand ye how it was the custom of Patrick, as of the other +ancient saints who abided in the islands, to have with them cymbals, +for the expulsion of evil spirits, for their own bodily exercise, to +proclaim the hours of the day and night, and for I know not what other +causes. One thing, however, is certain, that many miracles are known +to have been performed by the sound or the touch of these cymbals. +Therefore at the Lord's Supper, the blessed Patrick going forth of his +retirement into public view, rejoiced with his presence the whole +church of the saints who were born of his preaching unto Christ. And +there he discharged his episcopal office, the which he always joined +with those sacred seasons; and thus went he forward in the work of +salvation. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXIV. + +_The Saint titheth Hibernia and the Dwellers therein._ + +Then at the Paschal tide, his accustomed devotions being finished, he +went round the whole island with a holy multitude of his sons whom he +had brought forth unto Christ; and everywhere teaching the way of the +Lord, he converted to, or confirmed in, the faith the dwellers therein. +And all the islanders, unto whom had come even the knowledge of his +name, for this so strange and wondrous miracle surrendered themselves +to him and to his doctrine, as to an angel of light, and devoutly they +obeyed him for their peculiar apostle. Then this most excellent +husbandman, seeing the hardness of the Lord's field to be softened, and +the thorns, the thistles, and the tares rooted forth, labored to +fertilize it so much the more abundantly with the increase of +profitable seed, that it produced good fruit not only to the increase +of thirty or sixty, but even of an hundred-fold. Therefore he caused +the whole island to be divided with a measuring line, and all the +inhabitants, both male and female, to be tithed; and every tenth head, +as well of human kind as of cattle, commanded he to be set apart for +the portion of the Lord. And making all the men monks, and the women +nuns, he builded many monasteries, and assigned unto them for their +support the tithe of the land and of the cattle. Wherefore in a short +space so it was that no desert spot, nor even any corner of the island, +nor any place therein, however remote, was unfilled with perfect monks +and nuns; so that Hibernia was become rightly distinguished by the +especial name of the Island of Saints. And these lived according to +the rule of Saint Patrick, with a contempt of the world, a desire of +heaven, a holy mortification of the flesh, and an abandonment of all +pleasure; equalling the Egyptian monks in their merit and in their +number, so that with their conversation and example they edified far +distant countries. And in the days of Saint Patrick, and for many ages +of his successors, no one was advanced unto the episcopal degree or the +cure of souls, unless by the revelation of the divine Spirit or by some +other evident sign he was proved worthy thereof. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXV. + +_The different States of Hibernia are in a Heavenly Vision shown unto +the Saint._ + +And the man of God anxiously desired and earnestly prayed that he might +be certified of the present and the future state of Hibernia, to the +end that he might be assured of the faith, or of the value that his +labors bore in the sight of God. Then the Lord heard the desire of his +heart, and manifested the same unto him by an evident revelation; for +while he was engaged in prayer, and the heart of his mind was opened, +he beheld the whole island as it were a flaming fire ascending unto +heaven; and he heard the angel of God saying unto him: "Such at this +time is Hibernia in the sight of the Lord." And after a little space +he beheld in all parts of the island even as mountains of fire +stretching unto the skies. And again after a little space he beheld as +it were candles burning, and after a while darkness intervened; and +then he beheld fainter lights, and at length he beheld coals lying +hidden here and there, as reduced unto ashes, yet still burning. And +the angel added: "What thou seest here shown, such shall be the people +of Hibernia." Then the saint, exceedingly weeping, often repeated the +words of the Psalmist, saying: "Whether will God turn himself away for +ever, and will he be no more entreated? Shall his mercy come to an end +from generation to generation? Shall God forget to be merciful, and +shut up his mercy in his displeasure?" And the angel said, "Look +toward the northern side, and on the right hand of a height shalt thou +behold the darkness dispersed from the face of the light which +thenceforth will arise." Then the saint raised his eyes, and behold, +he at first saw a small light arising in Ulydia, the which a long time +contended with the darkness, and at length dispersed it, and illumined +with its rays the whole island. Nor ceased the light to increase and +to prevail, even until it had restored to its former fiery state all +Hibernia. Then was the heart of the saint filled with joy, and his +heart with exultation, giving thanks for all these things which had +been shown unto him: and he understood in the greatness of this fiery +ardor of the Christian faith the devotion and the zeal of religion, +wherewith those islanders burned. By the fiery mountains he understood +the men who would be holy in their miracles and their virtues, eminent +in their preachings and their examples; by the lessening of the light, +the decrease of holiness; by the darkness that covered the land, the +infidelity which would prevail therein; by the intervals of delay, the +distances of the succeeding times. But the people think the period of +darkness was that in which Gurmundus and Turgesius, heathen princes of +Norwegia, conquered and ruled in Hibernia; and in those days, the +saints, like coals covered with ashes, lay hidden in caves and dens +from the face of the wicked, who pursued them like sheep unto the +slaughter. Whence it happened that differing rites and new sacraments, +which were contrary to the ecclesiastical institutes, were introduced +into the church by many prelates who were ignorant of the divine law. +But the light first arising from the north, and after long conflict +exterminating the darkness, those people assert to be Saint Malachy, +who presided first in Dunum, afterward in Ardmachia, and reduced the +island unto the Christian law. On the other hand, the people of +Britain ascribe this light to their coming, for that then the church +seemed under their rule to be advanced unto a better state; and that +then religion seemed to be planted and propagated, and the sacraments +of the church and the institutes of the Christian law to be observed +with more regular observance. But I propose not the end of this +contention, neither do I prevent it, thinking that the discussion and +the decision thereof should be left unto the divine judgment. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXVI. + +_The Answer of Saint Patrick to Secundinus._ + +And oftentimes the Saint Secundinus sat in the assembly of the holy +men, conversing together of the acts and the virtues of Saint Patrick. +And when one of them affirmed that Patrick was the most holy of all +living men, Secundinus answered, "Verily, he would be the most holy, +had he not too little of that brotherly charity which it becometh him +to have." And this saying, uttered in the presence of so many of his +disciples, was not long concealed from the saint. Therefore it came to +pass that when Saint Patrick and Secundinus afterward met together, the +master enquired of his disciple, the metropolitan of his suffragan, why +he had spoken such a word of him, or rather against him. And +Secundinus replied, "So did I say, because thou refusest the gifts +offered unto thee of rich men, and wilt not accept farms and +inheritances, wherewith thou mightest sustain the great multitude of +the saints which are gathered unto thee." Then Saint Patrick answered +and said, "For the increase of charity is it that I do not accept these +works of charity; inasmuch as were I to receive all that are offered +unto me, I should not leave even the pasturage of two horses for the +saints which will come after us." Then Secundinus repenting of the +word which he had spoken, entreated forgiveness of the saint; and he, +with his wonted kindness, accorded it unto his penitence. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXVII. + +_Secundinus composeth a Hymn in Honor of Saint Patrick._ + +And Secundinus, who was exceeding wise and learned, said unto Saint +Patrick that he desired to compose a hymn in honor of a saint who was +yet living. This he said, for that the saint of whom he purposed to +write was Patrick himself; and therefore concealed he the name in +silence. Then answered the saint: "Verily, it is worthy, and fit, and +right, and profitable, that the people should tell the wisdom of the +saints, and that the congregation should speak of their praise; but yet +is it more becoming that the subject of our praise should not be +praised until after his death. Praise thou therefore the clearness of +the day, but not until the evening cometh; the courage of the soldier, +but not until he hath triumphed; the fortune of the sailor, but not +until he hath landed; for the Scripture saith, Thou shalt praise no man +in his lifetime. Nevertheless, if so thy mind is fixed, what thou +proposest to do, that do thou quickly; for death draweth nigh unto +thee, and of all the bishops which are in Hibernia, shalt thou be the +first to die." Therefore Secundinus composed a hymn in honor of Saint +Patrick, and after a few days, according to the word of the saint, he +died; and he was buried in his own church, in a place which he called +Domnhach-Seachlainn, and by manifold miracles showeth himself to live +in Christ. And this hymn are many of the islanders daily wont to sing, +and from its repetition they affirm many and great wonders to have +happened; for divers, while singing this hymn, have passed unseen +through their enemies who were thirsting for their blood, and who were +stricken with that sort of blindness which physicians term acrisia. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXVIII. + +_The Soul of a Certain Sinner is by Saint Patrick freed from Demons._ + +And on a time a certain saint, named Kaennechus, saw in Hibernia troops +of demons passing along, armed with infernal instruments; whom having +adjured in the name of the Holy Trinity, he compelled to declare the +cause of their coming thither. And they, thus adjured, confessed, +though unwillingly, that they came to bear away the soul of a certain +most wicked sinner, who for his sins deserved to be carried into hell. +Then Kaennechus enjoined them in the name of the Lord to return unto +him, and to tell him what they had done. And after some hours had +passed, the demons returned with confusion, and declared that by the +power of Patrick they had lost their expected prey; for that this man +had in every year during his life celebrated with a great feast the +festival of Saint Patrick, and had every day repeated certain chapters +of the hymn which had been composed in his honor; and therefore, they +said, had Saint Patrick snatched him from their hands, as his own +proper right. Thus saying, the demons vanished into thin air; and +Kaennechus rejoiced in these things, and by the relation excited many +unto the frequent repetition of this hymn in honor of Saint Patrick. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXIX. + +_How the Saint appeared unto Colmanus while singing his Hymn._ + +A certain abbot, a disciple of Saint Patrick, named Colmanus, was +accustomed frequently to repeat this hymn; and when he was asked of the +disciples why he would not rather sing the appointed offices and +psalms, inasmuch as once to sing this hymn ought to suffice him, he +continually beheld the face of his beloved father, Patrick, nor could +he ever be satisfied with the contemplation thereof. This, though +happening long after the death of Saint Patrick, we have written and +recorded among his acts; that we may show how this hymn was esteemed +among the people of Hibernia, and how ready was he in the hour of +necessity and tribulation to aid those who honored him, and who +frequently celebrated his memory. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXX. + +_The Admirable Contemplations of the Saint._ + +As Saint Patrick, the preacher of truth, while yet living in the flesh, +recalled and incited by his example and conversation many living men, +who yet were dead, unto the true life, so did he by his prayers bring +many who were buried unto the land of the living. For divers which +were deceased, he by his powerful prayers snatched from the depths of +eternal punishment, and from the roaring lions which were prepared for +their food, and bringing them to the expiatory place, restored them +unto salvation. And he, being often made the contemplator of the +divine mysteries, beheld the heavens opened, and the Lord Jesus +standing in the middle of the multitude of angels; and this, while he +offered the holy immolation of the Son of God, and devoutly sang the +Apocalypse of John, did Patrick merit to behold. For while in his +meditations he admired these admirable visions, unto the sight of their +similitude was he lifted up in the Lord. And the angel Victor, so +often before named, thrice in each week appeared unto him, and +comforted and consoled him with mutual colloquy. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXXI. + +_Saint Patrick beholdeth the Souls of the Rich and of the poor Man sent +unto different Places._ + +Oftentimes did the saint behold the souls of men going forth of their +bodies, some unto places of punishment, others unto places of reward; +one instance whereof we think worthy to record, inasmuch as the saint +was wont to relate it for the purpose of edification. There was a man +who had a great name, according as names are in this world accounted +great; and he had flocks of sheep, and herds of oxen, and his +possessions increased on the earth. And this man died; and a long +assembly of his children and his kindred celebrated his obsequies with +much pomp and honor according to the estimation of men, and so +committed him unto the common mother. And they who account blessed the +man unto whom these things are given, declared him happy, whose life +was so fortunate, and whose death so honorable; and they thought that +he very much had pleased the Lord. But the other man was a beggar, who +having lived all his life in wretchedness and in poverty, went the way +of all flesh. And his body long time lay without the ministry of the +funeral rites, unburied, and mangled by the birds of prey; and at +length was it dragged by the feet into a pit-hole, and covered with +turf; and they who judge according to outward show esteemed this man +most miserable and unfortunate. But the saint pronounced the opinion +of men to differ from the righteousness of Him who searcheth the reins +and the heart, whose judgments are a deep abyss; and he declared that +he saw the soul of that rich man plunged by the demons into hell; but +the spirit of the poor man, whose life was accounted as foolishness, +and his end without honor, was reckoned among the children of God, and +his lot of blessedness was among the saints. "Truly," said he, "the +sons of men are vain, and their judgments are false in the weight; but +the just God loveth justice, and his countenance beholdeth +righteousness; and in the balance of his righteousness weigheth he the +pleasures and the riches of this evil man, and the sins of this poor +man, haply whereby he hath merited the wrath and the misfortunes which +he bore; and the one from his honor and his glory he adjudged unto +present torment; and the other, which had atoned in the furnace of +poverty and of affliction, mercifully sent he unto the heavenly joys." +Nor did the saint behold this of these men only, but often of many +others did he behold and relate such things. Thus what the word of +truth had before told of the rich man clothed in purple and the poor +man covered with sores did this friend of truth declare himself to have +beheld of other. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXXII. + +_Saint Vinvaloeus is miraculously stayed by Saint Patrick from his +purposed Journey._ + +And in Lesser Britain lived a venerable man, named Vinvaloeus, who was +even from his infancy renowned for signs and wonders; for as his acts +are recorded, very many exceeding great miracles are attested to have +been done by him. And he, the south wind so blowing that all his +perfumes breathed forth, heard the holy name of Saint Patrick, and +earnestly desired he to hasten unto the odor of his virtues. And long +time he pondered and desired; and at length determined he to leave his +country and his parents, and to go unto Hibernia to serve Christ under +the discipulate and disciplinate of Saint Patrick; but when the night +came, with the morrow whereof he purposed to begin his journey, he +beheld in a vision that most illustrious man standing before him, +clothed in his pontifical vestments; and then said he unto him: "Know +thou me, beloved Vinvaloeus, to be the Patrick unto whom thou purposest +to travel; yet weary thou not thyself, nor seek thou him whom thou +canst not find; for the hour of my dissolution draweth nigh, when I +shall go the way of all flesh. Therefore it is the will of God that +thou leavest not this place; but by thy conversation and example shalt +thou endeavor to gain over a people acceptable unto him, and which +shall follow good works; forasmuch as the crown of life is yet to be +seen, which he hath promised unto those who love him." Thus saying, +the vision disappeared, and Vinvaloeus did as he was bidden of heaven. +Now let the hearer admire his perfection, who by the spirit which was +in him saw the desire of the holy man dwelling in Armorica, and thus +wondrously changed him from the purpose of his intended journey. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXXIII. + +_The Daily Prayers and Genuflexions of the Saint._ + +And now, the cloud of unbelief, by whose eclipse the people of Hibernia +so long had wanted the warmth and the light of the true sun, being +dispersed, now did the tongue, the life, the virtue of the blessed +Patrick, so long as the breath and the Spirit of God were in his +nostrils, avail unto the things which were begun, continued, and ended +in the Lord; giving the knowledge of salvation, affording the example +of holiness, extending the remedy of all diseases. And verily, this +peculiar habit of life, which he exercised in secret, was daily and +perpetual; inasmuch as every day was he wont diligently to sing the +entire Psaltery, with many songs and hymns, and the Apocalypse of the +Apostle John, and two hundred prayers before God; three hundred times +did he bend his knees in adoration of the Lord; every canonical hour of +the day did he one hundred times sign himself with the sign of the +cross. Nevertheless did he not omit every day worthily and devoutly to +offer up unto the Father the sacrifice of the Son; and never ceased he +to teach the people or instruct his disciples. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXXIV. + +_How he passed the Night Season._ + +And in a wondrous manner dividing the night season, thus did this +wakeful guardian and laborer in the Lord's vineyard distinguish that +also. For in the earliest part thereof having with two hundred +genuflexions and one hundred psalms praised God, then applied he unto +study and in the latter part, he plunged himself into cold water, and +raising his heart, his voice, his eyes, and his hands towards heaven, +offered he one hundred and fifty prayers. Afterward he stretched +himself on a bare stone, and of another stone making a pillow, he +rested his most sanctified body with a short sleep; or, that more +clearly we may speak, he refreshed himself unto the labor of his +continual conflict. With such rest indulging, he girded his loins with +roughest hair-cloth, the which had been dipped in cold water; lest +haply the law of the flesh, warring in his members against the law of +the Spirit, should excite any spark of the old leaven. Thus did Saint +Patrick with spare and meagre food, and with the coarsest clothing, +offer himself a holy and living sacrifice, acceptable unto God; nor +suffered he the enemy to touch in him the walls of Jerusalem, but he +inflicted on his own flesh the penance of perpetual barrenness; and +that he should not bring forth children which might hereafter be worthy +of death, made he his spirit fruitful of abundant fruit. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXXV. + +_The Habit, the Bearing, and the Acts of Saint Patrick._ + +And until the five and fiftieth year of his age, wherein he was +advanced in Hibernia unto the episcopal degree, did he after the manner +of the apostles continually travel on foot; and thenceforth, by reason +of the difficulty of the journey, he used a chariot, according to the +manner of the country. And over his other garments he was clothed with +a white cowl, so that in the form and the candid color of his habit he +showed his profession, and proved himself the candidate of lowliness +and purity. Whence it came to pass that the monks in Hibernia +following his example, for many years were contented with the simple +habit which the wool of the sheep afforded unto them, untinged with any +foreign dye. And he kept his hands clear from any gift, ever +accounting it more blessed to give than to receive; therefore when any +gift was given unto him by any rich man, he hastened so soon as might +be to give it unto the poor, lightening himself thereof as of a heavy +burden. In his countenance, in his speech, in his gait, in all his +members, in his whole body, did he edify the beholders; and his +discourse was well seasoned, and suited unto every age, sex, rank, and +condition. In four languages, the British, the Hibernian, the Gallic, +and the Latin, was he thoroughly skilled; and the Greek language also +did he partly understand. The little Book of Proverbs, which he +composed in the Hibernian tongue, and which is full of edification, +still existeth; and his great volume, called Canoin Phadruig, that is, +the canons of Patrick, suiteth every person, be he secular, be he +ecclesiastic, unto the exercise of justice and the salvation of souls. +Whensoever he was addressed for the exposition of profound questions or +difficult cases, always, according to the custom of his lowliness, did +he answer: "I know not, God knoweth "; but when great necessity +compelled him to certify the word of his mouth, he always confirmed it +by attesting his Judge. So excellent was he in the spirit of prophecy +that he foretold divers future things even as if they were present; +things absent he well knew, and whatsoever fell from his lips, without +even the smallest doubt did that come to pass. So evidently did he +foretell of the saints which for an hundred years thereafter would be +born in Hibernia, but chiefly in Momonia and Conactia; that he showed +even their names, their characters, and the places of their dwelling. +Whomsoever he bound, them did the divine justice bind; whosoever he +loosed, them did the divine justice loose; with his right hand he +blessed, with his left hand he cursed; and whom he blessed, on them +came the blessing of the Lord; whom he cursed, on them came the +heavenly malediction; and the sentence which issued from his lips, +unshaken and fixed did it remain, even as had it gone forth of the +eternal judgment-seat. Whence doth it plainly appear, that this holy +man being faithful unto God, was with Him as one spirit. Yet though in +his manifold virtues he equalled or excelled all other saints, in the +virtue of lowliness did he excel even himself; for in his epistles he +was wont to mention himself as the lowest, the least, and the vilest of +all sinners; and little accounting the signs and the miracles which he +had wrought, he thought himself to be compared not to any perfect man; +and being but of small stature, he used often to call himself a dwarf. +And not seldom, after the manner of the Apostle Paul, he toiled with +manual labor, fishing, and tilling the ground; but chiefly in building +churches, to the which employment he much urged his disciples, both by +exhortation and example. Nevertheless, right earnestly did he apply +himself unto baptizing the people and ordaining the ministers of the +church. Three hundred bishops and fifty did he consecrate with his own +hand; seven hundred churches did he endow; five thousand clerical men +did he advance unto the priestly rank. But of the other ministers whom +he appointed unto the inferior orders, of the monks and the nuns whom +he dedicated unto the divine service, God alone knoweth the number. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXXVI. + +_Of the Sick whom he healed, and the Dead whom he raised; and of his +Disciples who recorded his Acts._ + +Therefore under this most sanctified rule of life did he shine in so +many and so great miracles that he appeared second to no other saint. +For the blind and the lame, the deaf and the dumb, the palsied, the +lunatic, the leprous, the epileptic, all who labored under any disease, +did he in the name of the Holy Trinity restore unto the power of their +limbs and unto entire health; and in these good deeds was he daily +practised. Thirty and three dead men, some of whom had many years been +buried, did this great reviver raise from the dead, as above we have +more fully recorded. And of all those things which so wondrously he +did in the world, sixty and six books are said to have been written, +whereof the greater part perished by fire in the reigns of Gurmundus +and of Turgesius. But four books of his virtues and his miracles yet +remain, written partly in the Hibernian, partly in the Latin language; +and which at different times four of his disciples composed--namely, +his successor, the blessed Benignus; the Bishop Saint Mel; the Bishop +Saint Lumanus, who was his nephew; and his grand-nephew Saint +Patricius, who after the decease of his uncle returned into Britain, +and died in the church of Glascon. Likewise did Saint Evinus collect +into one volume the acts of Saint Patrick, the which is written partly +in the Hibernian and partly in the Latin tongue. From all which, +whatsoever we could meet most worthy of belief, have we deemed right to +transmit in this our work unto after-times. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXXVII. + +_The Angelic Voice showeth unto Saint Patrick of his Death and of the +Place of his Burial._ + +And Patrick, the beloved of the Lord, being full of days and of good +works, and now faithfully finishing the time of his appointed ministry, +saw, as well by the divine revelation as by the dissolution of his +earthly tabernacle, that the evening of his life was drawing near. And +being then nigh unto Ulydia, he hastened his journey toward the +metropolitan seat, Ardmachia; for earnestly he desired to lay in that +place the remains of his sanctified body, and in the sight of his sons +whom he had brought forth unto Christ to be consigned unto the common +mother. But the event changed the purpose of the holy man; that all +might know, according to the testimony of the Scriptures, that the way +of man is not in his own power, but that his steps are directed of God. +For the Angel Victor met him while on his journey, and said unto him: +"Stay thou, O Patrick, thy feet from this thy purpose, since it is not +the divine will that in Ardmachia thy life should be closed or thy body +therein be sepultured; for in Ulydia, the first place of all Hibernia +which thou didst convert, hath the Lord provided that thou shalt die, +and that in the city of Dunum thou shall be honorably buried. And +there shall be thy resurrection; but in Ardmachia, which thou so +lovest, shall be the successive ministry of the grace which hath been +on thee bestowed. Therefore remember thy word, wherewith thou gavest +hope unto thy first converts, the sons of Dichu; when, instructed of +heaven, thou didst foretell unto them that in their land thou wouldest +die and be buried." And at the word of the angel the saint was +grieved; but quickly returning unto himself, embraced he the divine +Providence with much devotion and thanksgiving, and submitting his own +will unto the will of God, he returned into Ulydia. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXXVIII. + +_The Place of his Sepulture is foreshown by a Light from Heaven._ + +And after a few days Patrick, the most holy old man, rested on a place +not far distant from the mother church of the city of Dunum; and with +him was Brigida, the spotless Pearl of Hibernia, and no small assembly +of religious and ecclesiastical persons. And while the saint +discoursed unto them of the glory of the saints, a great light +descended from heaven, and poured round a certain spot on the eastern +side of the cemetery; at the which marvelling, they enquired of the +saint what meant that light, and the holy prelate bade the blessed +Brigida to explain to them the meaning thereof. Then the virgin openly +declared that the so great light denoted and sanctified the +burial-place of a certain saint most illustrious and dear unto God, who +therein would shortly be buried. And the holy woman, Ethembria, who +first of all the nuns in Hibernia had been consecrated by Patrick, +privily enquired of Brigida who was the saint. And she answered that +Saint Patrick himself, the father and apostle of Hibernia, would soon +be buried in that place, but that in process of time he would be +removed from thence; and further she pronounced that she would be happy +if she might enshroud his most holy body in a linen cloth, which she +had made with her own hands and woven for his obsequies. This said she +secretly unto her sister nun, nor deemed she her words overheard of +any. Then the light which appeared from heaven was taken up from their +eyes, and foreshowed the ascension of the saint unto heaven. + + + + +CHAPTER CLXXXIX. + +_Saint Brigida bringeth unto Saint Patrick the Garment which was to +enshroud his Body._ + +And Saint Patrick, being instructed of heaven, understood the desire of +the heart of Brigida, and the words of her mouth, and her preparation +of the garment, and that she would enshroud therewith his body, as the +spiritual token of their mutual love in Christ. And he himself +returned unto the monastery of Saballum, which he had filled with a +fair assembly of monks; and there, down lying on the bed of sickness, +awaited he with a happy hope the termination of his life, nay, rather +of his pilgrimage, and his entrance into the life eternal. And the +venerable virgin obeyed the word of her father and bishop; and she went +unto the monastery, and took the garment, and with four virgins in her +train hastened she to return unto the saint; but forasmuch as they were +afflicted with too long abstinence and with the difficulty of the +journey, for very weariness they stayed on their way, nor could they +speed thereon as they had purposed. Yet the saint, while in Saballum, +knew at the revelation of the Spirit the weariness of the virgin; and +he commanded his charioteer to meet them on their way with four +chariots, and the charioteer obeyed, and met them at the place +exceeding wearied, and brought them unto the saint. And they offered +unto him the garment, the which he kindly received; and kissing his +feet and his hands, they obtained his benediction. + + + + +CHAPTER CXC. + +The Death of Saint Patrick. + +Now, the sickness of his body increasing, age pressing on, or rather +the Lord calling him unto his crown, the blessed Patrick perceived he +was hastening unto the tomb; and much he rejoiced to arrive at the port +of death and the portal of life. Therefore, being so admonished by the +angel, his guardian, he fortified himself with the divine mysteries +from the hand of his disciple, the Bishop Saint Thasach, and lifting up +his eyes he beheld the heavens opened, and Jesus standing in the +multitude of angels. Then raising his hands, and blessing his people, +and giving thanks, passed he forth of this world, from the faith unto +the proof, from his pilgrimage unto his country, from transitory pain +unto eternal glory. Oh! how blessed Patrick. Oh! how blessed he, who +beheld God face to face, whose soul is secured in salvation! Happy, I +say, is the man, unto whom the heavens opened, who penetrated into the +sanctuary, who found eternal redemption, whom the blessed Mary with the +spotless choirs of virgins welcomed, whom the bands of angels admitted +into their fellowship! Him the wise assembly of prophets attendeth, +the venerable senate of apostles embraceth, the laurelled army of +martyrs exalteth, the white-robed company of confessors accepteth, and +the innumerable number of the elect receiveth with all honor and with +all glory. Nor wondrous was it, nor undeserved; seeing that he was the +angel of God, though not by his birth, yet by his virtue and by his +office--he, whose lips were the guard of knowledge, and declared unto +the people the law of life which was required of God. Rightly is he +called the prophet of the Most Highest, who knew so many things absent, +who foretold so many and such things future, as seldom have any of the +prophets prophesied! Rightly is he called, and is, the apostle of +Hibernia, seeing that all the people thereof, and the other islanders, +are the signs of his apostolate! Rightly is he called a martyr, who, +bearing continually in his heart and in his body the name of Christ, +showed himself a living sacrifice unto God; who having suffered so many +snares, so many conflicts, from magicians, from idolaters, from rulers, +and from evil spirits, held his heart always prepared to undergo any +and every death! Rightly is he called the confessor of God, who +continually preached the name of Christ, and who by his words, his +examples, and his miracles excited peoples, tribes, and tongues unto +the confession of his name, of human sin, and of divine promise! +Rightly is he called a virgin, who abided a virgin in his body, in his +heart, and in his faith; and by this threefold virginity pleaseth he +the Spouse of virgins and the Virgin of virgins! Rightly is he +numbered among the angelic choirs and the assemblies of all saints, who +was the sharer in all holy acts and all virtues! + + + + +CHAPTER CXCI. + +_The Number of the Years of his Life._ + +On the seventeenth day of March, in the one hundredth and twentieth and +third year of his age, departed he forth of this world; and thus the +years of his life are reckoned. Ere he was carried into Hibernia by +the pirates, he had attained his sixteenth year; oppressed beneath a +most cruel servitude, six years did he feed swine; four years did he +feed with the sweet food of the Gospel those who before were swine, but +who, casting away the filth of their idolatry, became his flock of +unspotted lambs; eighteen years did he study under Saint Germanus, the +Bishop of Auxerres. When he had reached his fiftieth and third year, +he was invested with the episcopal dignity, and returned unto Hibernia, +therein to preach; in the space of thirty and five years converted he +unto Christ all that country and many other islands; and during the +thirty and three years which remained unto him, leading a life of +contemplation, abided he chiefly in Saballum, or in the monastery which +he had founded in Ardmachia. Nor did he willingly leave those holy +places, unless some cause of inevitable urgency called him forth; +nevertheless, once in every year did he celebrate a council, that he +might bring back unto the right rule those things which he knew to need +reformation. + + + + +CHAPTER CXCII. + +_The Funeral Honors which Men and Angels paid unto the Body of the +Saint._ + +And as Saint Patrick expired, the surrounding circle of monks commended +his spirit unto God, and enwrapped his body in the linen cloth which +Saint Brigida had prepared. And the multitude of the people and of the +clergy gathered together, and mourned with tears and with sighs the +dissolution of Patrick, their patron, even as the desolation of their +country, and paid in psalms and in hymns the rites which unto his +funeral were due. But on the following night a light-streaming choir +of angels kept their heavenly watch, and waked around the body; and +illumining the place and all therein with their radiance, delighting +with their odor, charming with the modulation of their soft-flowing +psalmody, poured they all around their spiritual sweetness. Then came +the sleep of the Lord on all who had thither collected, and while the +angelic rites were performed, held them in their slumber even until the +morning. And when the morning came, the company of angels reascended +into heaven, leaving behind them the sweet odor which excelled all +perfumes; the which, when the sleepers awakened, they and all who came +unto the place experienced even for twelve succeeding days. For during +that time was the sanctified body preserved unsepultured, inasmuch as +the controversies of the people with the clergy permitted it not to be +buried in that holy place. + + + + +CHAPTER CXCIII. + +_The Light continueth for Twelve Days._ + +And this was the reason of the controversy. A great and wondrous light +appeared, such as never in any time preceding had been beheld. Over +that whole country the light continued for twelve days, without any +intervention of night; for the night was illuminated, and shone even as +the day. Whereby was it plainly given to be understood that the +darkness of night obscured not Patrick, the son of life, the inhabiter +of eternal brightness, while the night was to him the illumination of +his joys, while he ascended unto the light without spot, the day +without night, the sun without eclipse. And this miracle seemeth like +unto that ancient miracle which was wrought by Joshua in Gibeon, though +much extended in its duration. For the sun, as is written, stood still +over Gibeon, and the moon stood still over the valley of Ajalon, one +day for the space of two days, gave by the divine virtue the victory +unto a faithful people; and by the same power the continued shining of +twelve days' light showed the merit of Patrick, triumphant over this +world and the prince of this world. + + + + +CHAPTER CXCIV. + +_The Miraculous Rising of the Sea between the Contending People._ + +And at the sight of such a miracle, the people could not be restrained +from their contention, for the fury of their wrath and the violence of +their minds which governed them they imputed to their devotion toward +the saint. And on the twelfth day a deadly and perilous contention +arose between the two people of Ulydia and Ardmachia about the sacred +body. And while arrayed in armor they rose unto arms, they heard a +voice from heaven, which seemed as the voice of Saint Patrick, staying +their violence; and the sea, rising above its wonted bounds, reared +itself as a wall, and separated the contending people, so that they +could neither behold nor attack one the other; and thus corporeally +separated, united them unto the concord of mutual peace. Then the +people being restrained from their fury, the waters surceased from +their fury also. + + + + +CHAPTER CXCV. + +_Two Wains appear, the which are sent by a Miracle._ + +Then, the swelling waves of the sea being reduced and returned unto +themselves, two oxen appear, seeming to draw toward Dunum a wain laden +with a noble burden, the holy body; the which the people and clergy of +Ultonia followed with exceeding devotion, with psalms, and hymns, and +spiritual songs. And plainly it showed that vehicle which formerly +bore the ark of the covenant from Acharon unto Getht. But by all these +wonders the fury of the Ardmachians is not appeased; for still is their +hand prepared unto battle, that the body of their prelate, their +primate, their patron, might not be riven from them. Nevertheless, the +divine Providence took heed that occasion of contest should not any +more be ministered; for another wain appearing, drawn by two oxen, went +before the Ardmachians, even like the former wain which had borne the +sacred body unto Dunum; and they stayed not to follow its track, +believing that it carried the precious burden, until it came within the +borders of Ardmachia, unto a certain river which is named Caucune. +Then the visionary wain disappeared; and the people, frustrated of +their hope, unsatisfied and sad, returned unto their dwellings. + + + + +CHAPTER CXCVI. + +_The Sepulture of Saint Patrick in the City of Dunum._ + +And the people of Ultonia, having entered Dunum, celebrated the +solemnities of the Mass, and in the place foreshown by the heavenly +light buried the venerable body with all due veneration, and this +desirable treasure, this most precious jewel, they deposited beneath a +stone, five cubits deep in the heart of the earth, lest haply by +stealth it might be conveyed thence. But by how many and how great +miracles the bones of this most holy saint were graced therein, we find +not recorded; either because the pen of the negligent preserved them +not, or being written, they were destroyed by some of the many heathen +princes who ruled in Hibernia. Now, Saint Patrick died in the four +hundredth and ninetieth and third year of Christ's incarnation, Felix +being then pope, in the first year of the reign of Anastasius the +emperor, Aurelius Ambrosius ruling in Britain, Forchernus in Hibernia, +Jesus Christ reigning in all things and over all things. + +Now unto Him be glory, and praise, and honor, and empire, through +infinite ages, for ever and ever! Amen! + + + + +HERE END THE ACTS OF SAINT PATRICK. + + + + +A CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE + +TO THE + +LIVES OF ST. PATRICK. + + A.D. + +1. St. Patrick was born in North Britain, near the Clyde, . . . 376 + or thereabouts. + +2. In the sixteenth year of his age he and Lupita, his sister, + were made captive by Scotch marauders, and, being led into + Ireland, were sold to Milcho in Dalaradia, now Ulster, . . 392 + +3. After six years' captivity, and being twenty-one years + old, he returns to his home in Britain, . . . . . . . . . . 397 + +4. After three months he went to Aremorica with his parents, + and was taken by the Picts two months into captivity. He + was taken captive a third time, and taken to Bordeaux, + where he was set at liberty, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 398 + +5. Passing thence to Tours, he became a monk in the Monastery + of St. Martin, and after four years of monastic life + returned to the Island of Temar, which is supposed to be + the same as Ireland, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402 + +6. St. Patrick was called by visions into Gaul, and proceeded + into Italy, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403 + +7. According to the customs of monks at that time, he spent + seven years in wanderings over mountains and through + islands, and, obeying the admonition of an angel, was + ordained priest by Bishop S. Senior, . . . . . . . . . . . 410 + +8. Having studied three years, St. Patrick is called by + visions into Ireland to preach the Gospel, . . . . . . . . 413 + +9. St. Patrick, through love of solitude, returns into + Britain to Valle Rosina, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 414 + +10. Being received at Antissiodorum by St. Amator, + A.D. 414, he remains there four years, and passes to + St. Germanus in the forty-second year of his age, . . . . . 418 + +11. Having spent nearly four years with St. Germanus, + St. Patrick departed for the Isle of Lerina, . . . . . . . 421 + +12. St. Patrick spent nine years in the Island of Lerina, + opposite Norbonne, and, knowing that the time for his + mission to Ireland was at hand, returned to Germanus + at Aries, now Orleans, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 430 + +13. Palladius returned from Ireland, his mission having + failed, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 431 + +14. St. Patrick is sent by St. Celestine in Ireland, . . . . . 432 + +15. Being consecrated bishop by the Bishop of Tours, he bids + farewell to St. Germanus in passing through Gaul, and, + having landed on the shore of Leinster, baptizes Sinellum + in the autumn of the same year, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 432 + +16. St. Patrick proceeds to Ulster, preaches the faith to + Milcho, and makes many converts, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 433 + +17. St. Patrick preaches to King Leary at Tara, . . . . . . . . 436 + +18. St. Patrick returned to Rome, and sent St. Kranie and his + five companions to preach the Gospel, . . . . . . . . . . . 445 + +19. St. Patrick gives St. Bridget the veil in the fourteenth + year of her age, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 450 + +20. Armagh is made a metropolitan see, and councils are + celebrated, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 454 + +21. St. Patrick again visits Rome, probably for the confirmation + of his council, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 455 + +22. St. Patrick dies, the eighty-second year of his age, at + Down, attended by St. Bridget, who had, he was conscious, + foreknown the time of his death, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 458 + + Some chronologies extend the life of St. Patrick by forty + or forty-five years. + +23. The Confession of St. Patrick was written, . . . . . . . . 455 + +24. The Epistle to Coroticus, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 456 + +25. The Metrical Life of St. Patrick by St. Fiech, . . . . . . 493 + +26. The Tripartite Life of St. Patrick by St. McEvin, . . . . 510 + +27. The Life of St. Patrick by Jocelyn, . . . . . . . . . . . 1185 + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MOST ANCIENT LIVES OF SAINT +PATRICK*** + + +******* This file should be named 18482.txt or 18482.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/4/8/18482 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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