The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick

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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.

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