The life of the glorious bishop S. Patricke apostle and primate of Ireland Togeather with the lives of the holy virgin S. Bridgit and of the glorious abbot Saint Columbe patrons of Ireland.

How S. Brendanus saw a fiery piller, ascending fro S. Columbes head as he sayd masse: how for three entire dayes he enioyed heauenly visions, and of other miracles in this kind. CHAP. IIII.

FOVRE holy founders of monasteryes, whose names were Congellus, Cahinnechus, Brendanus, and Cormacus, comming out of Ire∣land to visit the Saint, found him in the Ile Him∣ba: these holy men with one accord, did choose, that S. Columbe should confecrate the holy my∣steryes of the Eucharist in their presence; who yeelding to their pious desire, entred the church at once with them, and whilest the masses were celebrating, S. Brendan saw a very brightsome globe of fire shinning ouer the head of S. Colum∣be all the while he consecrated the sacred oblati∣on, and ascending like a piller of fire, vntill he had made an end of the most holy mysteryes.

2. Another tyme in the sayd Ile of Himba,

the grace of the holy Ghost so copiously descēded on him, that remayning the space of three entire dayes lockt vp in his cell, he was so replenished during that tyme with diuine light, that he did neyther eate, or permitted any to come at him, In the night two beames of immense brightnes, issued out at the chinckes of the doore, and holes of the locke: he was likewise heard to sing, most sweet and ineffable verses; many secrets that were hidden from the knowledge of men, since the beginning of the world, were manifested to him; the eyes of his most pure hart, pierced into the difficultyes of the most obscure and abstruse pas∣sages of holy scriptures: and he complained of the absence of Batthaneus his disciple, who had he been present during those three dayes, should haue described touching the forepassed, or fu∣ture ages, many misteries vnknowne to other men.

3. A Monke named Virgnous, a man feruent in the loue of God, entred the Church one night all alone, & sat him downe to pray in one of the oratories. Within the space as it were of an houre S. Columbe likewise entred the sayd holy house, together with him, & a golden light descending frō heauen, was seen to replenish al the house: &

as none can contemplate the meridiā sunne with stedfast and vndaseled eyes, so could not Virg∣nous sustaine that heauenly splendour that blun∣ted the quicknesse of his eyes, where with he was so astonished and terrifyed, that no strength re∣mayned in him. The next morning, the Saint called on Virgnous, speaking these comfortable wordes to him: O my little child, you haue pleased almighty God much yesternight by casting your eyes on the earth; for had you not done so, your eyes had beene blinded with the lustre of that diuine light: beware you neuer bring this diuine visitation to the knowledge of men during my life. Another brother named Col∣gus, cōming that night by chance to the Church doore, saw the same glistering light▪ whome the saint admonished the next day, not to speake of it to any, all his life tyme.

4. Another tyme the saint charged one of his disciples named Brochanus: Beware my sonne, you approach not this night to my cell, as you are wont. Who notwithstanding the saints forbidding, went to the doore, and looked in at the key-hole, thinking with himselfe, as it fell out, that the saint had within some heauenly vision; for at that tyme the saints little lodging was replenished with diuine light, which the disobedient young

man being not able to sustaine, fled way in haste▪ The next day, the Saint called Brochanus aside▪ and he reprehended him with great seuerity, speaking to him in this manner: My sonne, you haue sinned before God, this last night, in thinking it possible to conceale your crafty prying, for if the holy Ghost did not, yet I behould you comming & returning from the doore of our lodging: had not I then offered my prayers in your behalfe, you would eyther haue fal∣len downe dead before the doore, or els your eyes had fallne out of your head: and know this, that in your owne country of Ireland, for liuing lasciuiously, you shall sustaine shame and reproach all the dayes of your life, yet I haue obtayned from our Lord, that in regard your are our disciple, that you shall do bitter pennance before your death, and obtaine mercy. All which happened to him afterwardes, according to the Saints prophecy.