The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings
History
The Most Ancient Lives of Saint Patrick: Including the Life by Jocelin, Hitherto Unpublished in America, and His Extant Writings
Patrick, Saint, 373?-463?
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._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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