7. In fine whatsoever came to his notice which was irregular or unbecoming or perverse his _eye did not spare_;[232] but as the hail scatters the _untimely figs_ from _the fig-trees_,[233] and as _the wind the dust from the face of the earth_,[234] so did he strive with all his might to drive out before his face and destroy entirely such things from his people. And in place of all these the most excellent legislator delivered the heavenly laws. He made regulations full of righteousness, full of moderation and integrity. Moreover in all churches he ordained the apostolic sanctions and the decrees of the holy fathers, and especially the customs of the holy Roman Church.[235] Hence it is that to this day there is chanting and psalmody in them at the canonical hours after the fashion of the whole world. For there was no such thing before, not even in the city.[236] He, however, had learnt singing in his youth, and soon he introduced song into his monastery,[237] while as yet none in the city, nor in the whole bishopric, could or would sing. Then Malachy instituted anew[238] the most wholesome usage of Confession,[239] the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Marriage contract--of all of which they were either ignorant or negligent.[240] And let these serve as an example of the rest, for [here] and through the whole course of the history we omit much for the sake of brevity. 8. (5). Since he had a desire and a very great zeal for the honouring of the divine offices and the veneration of the sacraments, lest by chance he might ordain or teach anything concerning these matters otherwise than that which was in accordance with the rite of the universal Church, it came into his mind to visit Bishop Malchus,[241] that he might give him fuller information on all points. He was _an old man, full of days_[242] and virtues, and _the wisdom of God was in him_.[243] He was of Irish nationality, but had lived in England in the habit and rule of a monk in the monastery of Winchester, from which he was promoted to be bishop in Lismore,[244] a city of Munster, and one of the noblest of the cities of that kingdom. There so great grace was bestowed upon him from above that he was illustrious, not only for life and doctrine, but also for signs. Of these I set down two as examples, that it may be known to all what sort of preceptor Malachy had in the knowledge of holy things. He healed a boy, who was troubled with a mental disorder, one of those who are called lunatics, in the act of confirming him with the holy unction. This was so well known and certain that he soon made him porter of his house, and the boy lived in good health in that office till he reached manhood. He restored hearing to one who was deaf; in which miracle the deaf person acknowledged a wonderful fact, that when the saint put his fingers into his ears on either side he perceived that two things like little pigs came out of them. For these and other such