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O S. Brigits Countrey, Parents, Birth, and many vertues and especially of her charithy to the poore

Abridged out of what Cogitosus her owne nepheu, and Ioannes Capgravivs have written...

1.The glorious virgin S. Brigit, who descended of the ancient, and honorable family of Etech in the kingdom of Ireland, was born at Fochart, a village a mile distant from Dundalke in the couhtry of Louth. Her father was a noble man of Leinster named Dubacus, who falling in love with a handmaid of his named Brocseca, a wiman indued with singular beauty, and admirable colines, he got her with child of this sacred virgin, which when his own wife perceive,being in great trouble thereat and taking the matter very greefuly, she said unto him; cast out this handmayd fearing her posterity surpasse mine. Dubtacus constrained through his wives importunty mand sale of her to a certain Magitian, in whose house falling in travaile, she was safe delivered of the holy child; such as were present at her birth, saw the cloath wherewith her tender head was covered, to burne with a flame of fire, wherupon hastning to quench it, they found no fire at all.

 2. So much did the holy virgin loath to feed of the Magitians meats, that she was constrayned everyd day to cast up what she ate. The Magitian considering attentitivly the cause thereof, said: I am unclean and this holy virgin (full of the spirit of God) cannot taste of my meat, choosing out therefore a white melch cow, he bestowed it upon her to live by her milk. The holy virgin increased in vertue no less than in years;for she exceled in all kinds of holy conversation and sanctity of life and became very conspicuous for her modeste harithy and temperence, but above all her charity to the poore is most remarkable.

3.The sacred virgin being deputed by the Magitian to keepe his cowes,gave all the butter and milk she chould gather to relieve the present wants, and necessities of the poore. When the Magitian saw but a small quantitiy of butter in a great vessel, wherin the butter was to be kept, he cahfed extremely. The Saint seeing what passion he was in, offered her pure prayers up to God, and so by divine bertue, filled the vessell with butter even up to the top: wherat the Magitian was so much astonished and moved, that he believed in Christ, settting both her and her mother at liberty.

4. In regard she gave to the poore, all whatsoever she could lay handes upon, and among other things, her Fathers sword he proposed to sell her for which end bringing her where the King was. He requested him that he would be pleased to by his daughter. Th whom the Kinge spoke in this manner what made you to give away your fathers sword to the poore man? To whome she answered I have given it to Christ, and sir if my God did aske your magesty, and my father too of me, I would bestow you both, and whatsoever eles you have upon him, if it lay in my power. The King turning to her fater sayd to him; this your daughter is of too great worth to be bought by me and of farre greater to be sold by yhou, so giving her another to give to her fathere, he dismissed her.

Chapter II.

1. When this sacred spouse of Christ saw herselfe pressed, and importuned by her friends to marry, she prayed to God, that he would be pleased to disfigure her body with some deformity, to this end that men should cease from making further love unto her; and without delay her eye burst, and melted in her head; then taking three other maydes in her company, she repayred to a holy Bishop, called Machella, S. Patricks Disciple, to be vayled at his handes: the holy Bishop saw a piller of fire appeare over her head , and contemplating moreover her ernest and ardent love of virginall integrity, he gave her the holy vayle of chastity: at which time as she fell prostrate before the venerable Prelate to offer herselfe a holy, cleane and impolluted host to her heavenly spouse, she touched the alter poste, which incontinently budded forth a fresh with leaves and so continueth greene and florishing to this day: Beiong vayled with the sacred cognizance of chastity, her bursten eye was restored again to perfect health.

2. Against Easter the sacred virgin made beer of one onely measure or pecke of malt, sending part thereof to eighteen Churches that were round about, and besides during all the octave, that small quatity sufficed aboundantly, and served to satisf all those who would, and were desirous to taste thereof. At the same time a Leaper came to the holy virgin, requesting her to help him to a cow, but she havin none said to him; Will you that we pray God to deliver you from your sickness? Who answered, that he preferred his own before all other guiftes; whereupon she aaving blessed water, sprinkled the leaper therewith, and immediately he became cleane: in like manner tow sicke virgins taking water, which the holy Virgin had blessed, recovered their perfect health.

3.Two blind men being Brittons, or English men by birth with a leaper who was their guide, came to her Church door, and besought the sacred Virgin to help them to their bodily health; She intreated them to have patience a little and to enter into the lodging to refresh their selves, and that she would in the mean time pray to God in their behalfe; which delay they took so impatiently , that with great indignation they replied; you heal the diseased of your own nation but as for us being strangers you neglect to cure us for Christs sake. The holy virgin receiving this reproach, went forth unto them, and casting holy water upon them she cleansed the leaper, and restored the blind men to their sight.

4. A certaine woman brought some apples to the Saint, at which time there came some leapers to beg alms of her: the said Saint delat these apples among them. The Woman hearing it, covayed her apples away saying; I brought those apples for your selfe, and your virgins and not to be given to leapers; whereat the Saint being not a little offended, she answere: You have done very ill in hindering us to give almes, therefore your trees will never more produce any fruit. The woman going forth into her orchard, which she flef full of apples, found none at all, and so it remayned fruitless always after.

Of Saint Brigites great austerity, and of many admirable miracles wrought by her.

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Chapter III
One night the season being frosty and cold when all had taken themselves to their rest and were safe asleep, the holy virgin went to a deepe poole, wherin she stood all night long weeping and praying, firmly purposing with herself to observe the same custome every night but our deare Saviour out of the aboundance of his infinite mercy, would not have her to continue it any longer, for the next night following, she found the poole dry without any water, and comming to see it the next morning, she saw it as full as it was before- the same happened to her the second night, which was a sufficient reason that she forbore that austere exercise of mortification.
2. Upon a time that some venerable Bishops came to seek lodging at her house she being unprovided of all provision, the divine munificence relieved her wants by miracle- for thrice in one day did she milke one cow that she had which yielded so much milke, as the three best cowes would. Another time a Dog did fawne upon her for meate, the holy virgin, with whom mercy grew even from her infancy, having nothing but flesh, that was boiling for some guests that were to come drew it out of the pot, and gave the doge a piece therof. When the flesh was laid upon the table, it appeared so entire as if nothing had been cut off, which excited the beholders to great admiration of the miracle, and verneration of the Saint.
3. The blessed virgin laboured very earnestly to reclaim nine men from fulfilling their nefarious vow made of killing a man in the kalendes of July, yet for nothing that she could either say or do would they relent from their wicked design. Betaking her selfe therefore to prayer for the desparate wretches loe there appeared before their eyes a figure resembling to the ful the man whom they intended to kill who they incontinently asayled with their swords and lances and after as it were insulting by way of triumph over their slain enemy came back immediately to the Saint with their weapons all imbrued in blood, where learning the truth of the matter they did pennance for their cruel intent.
4. Upon a time that a certain farmer came with all his family to celebrate some soleme feast with Saint Briget he being there his Cowes were stolen away by thieves who in their way came to a river which they found to swolne up with water that they could not pass over, tying therefore their garments and armes to the cowes harness they made them enter into the water but they returning back with great violence came and ran directly to Saint Briget's abode and the men being starke naked following them doing afterwards pennance for their heinous act in the Saints monastery.
5. The holy vergin being once benighted in a spacious field in Meath, declined to a certain poor woman's ouse with whom she lodged all night, and albeit the woman received her with great joy, rendering God many thanks for the happy and safe arrival of the most holy virgin, hyet her poverty was such that she wanted wherewithall to entertain so worthy a guest but nonetheless of reverence to theSaint she broke down a frame she used to weave in boyled therewith the calfe of one only cow which she had. Supper being ended, and after resting her self all night, the next morning to the end that the charitable woman should not sustain any dammage or detriment, by the entertainment or reflection of the Saint, she found another calfe like her owne with her cow and found likewise a weaving frame in form and greatness alike to her own that she had burnt.
Chapter IIII
When a certain person tormented with malignant spirit, knew that he was to be led to Saint Brigit he fell down to the ground saying You shall not carry me thither. Do you know said they where she lives? Yes said he and I will not go by any meanes. And when they could not remove him from the place, they sent for the saint intreating her to come thither when the Devil saw the sacred virgin comming a fear of being terrifyed he departed from the man out of their fright.
2. Another obsessed person who by reason of strange fits of fury and rage, wherewith he was vexed, bred great annoy and trouble to many, was brought to the Saint,to whome she sayd Preach to me the word of our Savior Jesus Christ and he answered. O most holy Virgin Brigit, I am compelled against my will to obey your comandment, saying Love God then ,ad all men will love thee: Honor God, and all men will honour thee: fear God, and all men will feare thee, this being said, the devil fled away with a loud cry.
3. As Saint Brigit sat at the table with a certin vergin whom she had invited, she saw a Devil sitting hard by her, the other virgin said I would fayne see him, if it were possible. It is not impossible quoth Saint Brigit but first sign your eyes, that they may be able to sustaine his sight, and contemplate his face: having signed her eyes, she saw the enemy in a most ugly and blacke shape, with a gterrible great head,exhaling forth at his nostrals smoke, and flames of fire. Speake to us Devil, said Saint Briget. To whom he answered, O most holy virgin , I cannot speak to you, neither yet can I contemne your comandments, since you contemne not Godes holy ordinances and are so affable to his poore and little ones. Wherefore camest thou hither? said the Blessed Virgin. I remaine with this virgin, said he and in regard of her slugishness , I have gotten a place in her. Behold then said she the holy vergin (turning to the other virgin) whom you have interrayned these many years? And from that day forwards, the virgin was delivered from the Devil.
4. There assembled together a great multitude of men with oxen and engines to draw a way a great tree, which was cut down that was to be used in some building but all in vaine for neither the multitude of men the strength of the oxen nor yet the variety of engines could prevaile any thing towards the removing thereof. The men were almost ready to depatrt, thinking it impossible to stir it out of its place at last by the help of the Saint Brigets prayers together with her pregnant faith like to a mustard seed by which faith as our Saviour sayth Mountains are transfered they carried away that three without the asistance of any human help and found no difficulty bringing it to the palce whither the Saint appoined them to carry it.

Of the obedience that unreasonable creatures exhibited to Saint Briget

Chapter V.
One day as the Saint saw Ducks sometimes swimming in the waters, and other times flying in the air, she commanded them to come to her. They as if they had been trained up under hujan discipline, flew in great haste with prompt obedience to the Saint. The blessed virgin touched them gently and embrased them sweetly, which doing for a pritty space permitted them after to fly away. Another time a great whild bore being pursued bvery eaerly came in great haste to Saint Briget's heard of swine she beholding the boar among her swine gave him her blessing and he remained familiar and without any fear ever afterward her heard. By this and the other precident example it is clear and evident that the folwes of the air and beasts of the earth were subject to her command and obeyed her will and pleasure as we may further gather from these ensuing acidents.

2. A simple country man comming to the Kinges court, saw there a Fox, who being taught for that purpose, made the King great recreation with his many sleightes, and trickes, and thinking it was not tame or familiar, he killed it in presence of all the multitude, for which being repreended and cast into fetters, he was brought fast bound to the King, who commanded that he should be put to death, unles he procured him another Foxe like unto the former in all conditions, and subtill feates, and that his wife and children should be made slaves. S. Brigit hearing thereof, prayed very earnestly to God for the release of the poore man; by and by another Fox entering into her coach, sat quietly ,and familiarly by her side, whome when she had presented to the King, and that he saw it to play trickes, and pranks, and in all thinges to be comformable to the other Fox, his wrath appeared therewith, he set the poore man at liberty, S. Brigit returning to her monastery, and the Fox remaining as yet amongst the presse of people, fled backe againe into his denne : all those who saw what had passed, wondered much at the miracle, and honoured noe less the Saint by whose meanes it was wrought.

3. As the sacred Virgin sat with her virgins in her coach, she saw a man, with his wife, family, and oxen, toyled very much with carrying hevy, and cumbersome burdens, even in the extreame heat of the sunne, and taking compassion of them, she gave them her owne coach horse to helpe, and ease them of their insupportable paynes. In the meane thype she sat downe by the way  side, and spoke to some of her virgins, bidding them to digge under the adioyning earth, to the end that water might spring forth, where with such as were drye might quench their thirst.  Upon the digging up of the ground, there gushed out a cleare, and faire river.  Within a little time after, there came a certain Captaine to the place , who hearing of what S. Brigit had done with the horses, he bestowed upon her wilde, and madd horses, which became without delay forme and gentle, as if they had beene alwayes wont to draw a coach.  There came leapers sometymes to Saint Brigit, who begged her coach of her, which she gave them without delay, and her horses likewise.

4. A certain Queene came to visit S. Brigit, bringing with her many rich presents,amongst the rest a very fayre silver chayne, which her maydes took away, hiding it, the Saint bestowing the rest upon the poore.  Not long after when a poore man cried to the Saint for almes, having nothing, she tooke the chaine, and gave it him.  The maydes seeing it, sayd, you are the cause that we loose all that God sends us, for you give all to the poore, leaving us poore and needy.  To whome she answered, seeke the chains in the place, where I am wont to pray in the Churche, and peraduenture you shall find it there: they finding the chayne, showed it to many, and kept it ever after, as an evident testimony of her sanctimony and vertue.

How S. Briget protected, and assisted such as invocated her in their distresse and dangers.

CHAP. VI

Saint Brigit came one time, being intreated thereunto by her father, to the King saying, let me have your sword for my Father, and release me one of your slaves.  To whome the king answeared, what will you give me for these two great petitions.  She replied, if you will, the life everlasting and that your seed shall reign  for e ver after you.  The king answeared againe; I covet not a life, which I doe not see, neither am i sollcitous in behalfe of my children, that shall live after me: two otherr thinges I desire, and covet, the first is, that I may enjoy this life, which I love; and the second is, that in all places and conflictes, I get the upper hand over mine enemies.  These two thinges, said the Blessed virgin, shall be granted you.  Not long after, with a few in his company, he went to fight with a great multitude, and invocating S. Brigits helpe nad assistance,  he saw her goe before him, and a piller of fire to burne all vpeuen to the skies, soe the King having defeated his ennemies, he returned homewardes, magnifying the glory, and the name of the most sacred virgin.

2. A virgin that suffreed shipwracke by invocating S. Brigetts helpe, walked drie foote, upon the liquid waves, escaping by that meanes the danger of death.  Some of Saint Brigitts maydes having received from a certaine rich man, many measures of meale, could not passe over a water that was in the way, being therefore destitute of all humane helpe, and assistance, they invocated the powerfull suffrages of their most holy mistris, and they were suddainly transported to the further side.  A man that prohibited S. Brigits coach to passe through his feildes, and stroake at her horses, fell downe to the ground, and yeilded up his ghost suddainly.

3. A gentleman who was in the countryu, loved dishonestly a certaine woman and contriving with himself how to compasse his filthy delights, he gave her in custody a rich silver pynne, which he stole away privily at unawaeres from her, and  cast it into the sea, thinking that when she could not restore it, she should become his slave, and so should glut his wanton desires: all which wicked plot he put in practise, neither could he be contented otherwise, then either by getting againe the silver pin, or by her bondage.  The chast woman being driven to this pinche, fled to S. Brigit, as to a cittie of refuge. As the holy virgin was musing with her selfe what to doe in this matter, behold one brought home fish taken out of the neighbour river, and they unbowelling the fishes, the silver pin was found in one of their bellies, so brining the pin with her, she went to the assembly, where the matter was to be determined, where she did show the pin, and it being knowne by many that saw it, to be the selfe same he cast into the sea, she freed the vertuous woman from her cruell tyrants handes, who afterwardes acknowledging his fault, and guiltines, submitted himselfe to S. Brigits pleasure, who having wrought this great miracle, returned backe againe to her monastery.

4.  It fell out that the King called together an assembly of his subjectes, to make a borade and fayre h igh waye in a deep and impassible marsh,  through which a great river ranne.  The people meeting by their family, and kindreds, they divided the worke, alloting to every family his own share of that laborious taske, that  part wher the river ran was most difficult, and fell to one of the families, who being potent and strong forced S. Brigits kinsefolkes being weaker to change with them.  They in this their distresse, falling prostrate before the Saint, bemoaned their worng to her.  To whome she answeared, Departe in peace, it is the will of God, that the river passe from that place, where you are put to such heavy workes, to the other which they have made choice of.  The next morning, when the multitude rose to begin the work, the  river was found to have left its ancient channel, where S. Brigits family was constrayned to worke, and to be transfered  into the part of the potent, and proude men, who unjustly oppressed the weaker company : in proofe whereof, the ancient channell where the river tooke its course in former tymes, appeares drye without any waters to this very day.

Of many miraculous cures, wrought  by gthe merits, and interssion of the Saint.
CHAP. VII

The sacred virgin having delivered many leapers, cripples, and obsessed persons, from their infirmities, there came two leapers with teares in their eyes, begin the cure of their disease.  The the Saint praying and blessing water, she commanded them to washe one another in that water.  One being washed by his companion, became cleane: to whome the Saint said, wash now your fellow; who seeing himselfe cleane, and boasting of his health, would not touch the others ulcers, which pride of his God did chastice, for immediately after he said: I  feele sparkles of fire upon my shoulders, and instantly all his body ( his companion being cleansed) was covered over with leprosy.

2. A certaine woman commiting of devotion, to visit S. Vrigit, brought her daughter with her, who was dumbe.  S.Brigit seeing the yong mayden, said unto her.  Are you content to be a virgin? (but not knowing that she was dumbe) The maid answeared incontinently,  I will willing do, what you will command me, and  so dedicating her virginity to God. she to her dying day remayned most elequent.  A blind virgin named Daria, spoake to S. brigit saying.  Blesse mine eyes, to the end that I may see the world according unto my desire: her eyes being opened without delay, she sad, shut mine eyes againe, for the more that one is a bsent from the world, so much the nearer, is that party to god, then S. Brigit shut her eyes as she requested.

3. One of Saint Brigits, virgins burnt in the concupiseence of a certaine man, to whome she promised to steale forth in in the night: after Saint Brigit betooke her to her rest, the virgin rose according to her promise, being inflamed with the fire of sesuality (fefuality?) , and likwise vexed with the torment of conscience, she knew not what to do, but fearing God, and S. brigit, prayed her earnestly, that she would vouchsafe to helpe nad assist her being indistresse. At last she resouved with her selfe to make a fire, putting her selfe thereinto, so by that meanes, with fire she quenched fire, and with payne, overcame payne, which S. Brigit knewe by divine revelation, yet nevertheles kept it secret, to see the event and issue of the virgins combat.  The next morning the virgin acknowledged her sin to Saint Brigit, who sayed to her, because in fighting couragiously this night, thou hast urnt thy selfe, the fire of fornication shall never annoye thee in this life, nor the fire of hel burne thee in the next, then the holy virgin did heale her feete, so that no marke of the burning did appearin them.

4. Neither ought we to omit the great miracle, which this blessed Saint wrought in imitation of our Saviour, by opening the enyes of a man who was blind from his nativity.  A certaine Queen that had no children, b y the holy Virgins intercession obtayned issue.  And as Almighty God for her sake and merits, did help others in their necessityes, so did he not fayle to assist her selfe in her wantes, for upon a certaine time the holy virgin being in great necessity, besought God to help her to some hoony, and what she fought for, she found it in great plenty, upon the  pavement of her house.

 How the holy Virgin for the releaf of the poore, wrought many admirable signes.
CHAP VIII

Saint Brigit said to a certain virgin who begged almes of her, I heare that there are many afflicted with sickness in your country, take therove my girdle, and with it steaped in water you shal in the name of our Saviour Jesues Christ deliver them of their infirmityes, and they will give you both meate and cloathes, who taking the girdle, as the Saint commanded, she cured diseases, getting thereby great gaynes, and becomming very rich, she her selfe afterwardes, dealt great almes to the needy.  Another time she converted water into good beere to give to leapers who called her for it. In like manner did she for the comfort of a needy person, convert a stone into salt.  She likewise devided one garment between two poore men, and by divine vertue each part became an entire garment.

2. Among the many stupendous miracles she wrought, this is not to be accounted the least, nor the least to be admired.  To three leapers who besought her to bestow some charity of them she gave a silver vessell, and fearing it should be an occasion of debate, or discord amongst them if they devided it themselves, she spoke to the gold smith to devided it equally amongst them.  But he making his excuse, that he could not devide it into three equal partes, the most holy virgin her selfe tooke it into her hand, and stroke it against a stone, and soe devided it into three equall parcells, in so much that afterwardes being put in scales to be weighed, neither part did overweigh the other, not so much as one drame so equal were the devisions, and so the leapers departed away joyfully with their shares, and with out cause either to envy, or any  injury.

3. According to the example of holy job, she never permitted the poore to depart from her with empty handes, for she gave them very pretious, and rich gramentes, which a holy Bishop named Conleath, used to weare in saying the divine mysteries of the Masse, upon the higher feastes of our Lord, and the Apostles.  Now when the time came, that the venerable Prelate should according to his wonted manner, use the aforesaid episcopall robes, the holy virgin, who had given them to Christ in his needy members, receaved other such robes fully resembling the former, as well in the wearing, or texture, as in colour, which were brought her in a waggon of two horses, even at the same houre that she liberally gave the others to the poore.

4.  So large and liberall was her charity to the poore that none ever had a repulse hat her handes, as it is cleare and evident by this ensuing narration.  For one time being abroad in the feildes feeding of her flocke, one who was well acquainted with the tendernes of her hart, and largeness of her hand, came to her seaven times in one day begging of almes, and every time she gave him a weather, and when evening approaching she drove home the sheep, yet being tould over twice or thrice, the flocke  was found entire, and complete, not one being missing to the great wonder of those who knew what chaunced.  It is also recorded of her, that after prayer made for that intent, she got miraculously a summe of money, with which she ransommed a gulty person, whome the King appointed to be put to death.
 

How the holy virgin declared the innocency of Bishop Broom Saint Patrickes disciple, by making a young suckling to speake, and of other no lesse remarkable miracles.
CHAP. IX

A Certayne malitious woman, withouit regard of conscience or feare of God, slandered most wickedly a venerable Bioshop of Saint Patrickes disciples named Broom, by fathering upon him a child, which she had gotten by another.  The Bishop standing upon denial of the fact St. Brigit calling the woman sayd, Who is the father of your child ?  She answered, Bishop Broom, With that S. Brigit signed the womans mouth with the figure of Christs banner, and instantly her head swelled up with a great tumour, after she blessedthe young infants tongue, saying to him, Who is your Father?  The child made answer, Bishop Broom is not my  Father, but that wild and deformed man, who sitteth last among the people. Then all the assembly rendering many thankes, and prayses to God, constrained the lewed woman to do pennance for her folly.

2. There was a certaine man named Linguidinus, who was indued with such admirable strength, and surpassing vigour of body, that he himselfe alone could do so much worke as twelve men, and who moreover was so great a devourer of meate, as to eate at once so much , mig ht well serve twelve men, for as in working he did countervaile twelve men, so likewise in  eating did he match that number.  This man came to S. Brigit, beseeching her to obtaine of god, that he would vouchsafe to temper, and bridle the immoderate appetite of hiss devouring, and ravenous stomack, without diminishing or mayning the strength of his body. The holy Virgin gave him her blessing, and offered up her prayers to God in behalfe of his just petition, which he obtayned by her merits, and intercession, for nevr after did he take more , then was avble to satisfy one man, being nevertheless able to perform so much worke as he was before, when he did eate most of all.

3. The sacred virgin sent for many uorkemen and reapers to cut downe her corne and having agreed with them for their pay, and appointed a day when they should come to performe their worke, it happened that the day appointed proved very rayny, in so m uch that the cloudes powred forth showers in great aboundance over all the province, exceptiong on S. Brigits fields which were not wet at all, the rayne falling thicke upon every side, so that where all the workemen in the country were constrayned to give over their worke, by reason of the wet, and moistey season, S. Brigets workemen continued from morning withoiut intermission or impediment, cutting downe of her corne, not without the admirariton of all who saw, and heard of that wonderful miracle.

4. Another miracle no lesse stupendious wherein the Reader may conteplate the purity of her hart, the perfection of her soule, the  eminency of her merits, and the perogatiue of her vertues we are to recount, which was this.  As what time this sacred virgin f ed her flocke in a wide and open playne, farre from any shelter, showres of rayne fell downe so thicke, that she was wet to the skin, who comming home with her cloathes all full of water she saw a suinne became pearcing in thorough a chinke, that illuminating the roome, and taking it for a pearch (the quickness of her eyes being hindered, or somewhat blunted) she cast hereon here wet mantle, or upper garmente whereupon it hung being supported by it, as well as by a beame, or post, to the great astonishment of all the neighbours, who could not sufficiently admire the merits, and vertues of this holy virgin.

Of S. Brigits happy departure ot of this life, and how she knew thereof by divine revelation, and of some miracles wrought after hear death by her intercession and merits.
CHAP  X
The sacred virgin having run out the course of her mortall dayes, in the exercise of all kind of sanctimony, and innocency of life, the time of the resouletion of her terrene tabernacle drew neere at hand, whose desposition, as her selfe knew  by revelation, and foretould to one of her virgins, were not farre off.  The holy virgin gave up her soule, to her heavenly spouse about the yeare of our redemption 518.  Her venerable body, was placed in a sumptuous monument of gould, and silver, adorned with jewells, and pretious stones, and was first interred in her owne monasterie at Kildare, together with the sacred body of the holy Boishop Conleath, afterwards it was translated (whereof we have an authentical record) to the citty of Dune in Ulster where it lyes together with the venerable bodies of S. Patriocke, and S. Columbe, the other two glorious patrons of Ireland.  At Kildare and other places, many mirracles have been wrought by the merits of Saint Brigit,  we will content our selves with the relation of some few, fearing to cloy the Reader with too much tediousnes.

2. The overseer of Saint Brigits great and famous monasterhy, sent workemen, and stonehewers to provide a millstone, they neither reflecting ujpon the difficulty of the way, nor yet regarding that there was no meanes of getting downe the stone, went up to the topp of a most high and craggy mountayne, where they hewed out a great stone forming it into a mill stone, the Oversseer came with oxen and horses to carry it away, but seeing it impossible with oxen and horses to go where it was, in regard of the steepe and graggfy ascent, all begune to dispaire of ever getting it downe, and so were ready to depart.  But the prudent Overseer said, Not so, but let us in the name of god and S. Brigit (to whome nothing is impossible) rowle it downe, and so conc eaving a firm faith of the holie virgins asistance, they cast it downe, and loe the stone rowling amongst the rocky, and stony crages, trundled downe without any detriment from the mountaine, and thence was carried to the mill.  to which mill a certain pagan sent his corne by an ignorant and simple  man to be ground . when the corne was laid between the stones the aforesaid stone being the uppermost stood iremoveable, neither could the violent currents of the great river, or yet the paynfull industry of men, wheel it about. at last knowing that the corne belonged to a pagan Magitian, and therefore S. Brigits mill would not grinde it they removed and put it away, powring other graine instede thereof, and then the stone without any impediment, kept its ordinary and wonted course in grinding.

3. It hapned within a while after that the mill by some chance or other took fire which consumed the house and the other stone to that was joined to this but as for this stone that was particularly dedicated to s. Briget, the fire did not  presume to touch, neither was it branded with any figne, or marke of burning which made them to bring the stone away, and to place it neare to St. Briogets churc doore, where a many diseased meeting, by the only touch of this stone were delivered from their maladies.  Here our author by occasion of this infsueing miracle, enlargeth himself in describing the magnificence of Saint Brigits church, the sumptuousnes of the oratories, the curiosity of anticke workes, and variety of curious portratures, with many other remarkable particulers, worthy the reading, which we to continue our intended course of brevity, do wittingly pase over, and will content our selves with the bare and succinct relation of the mariacle it selfe, which was this.

4. The gate of Saint Brigits oratory, thourough which she, and her holy virgins passed, when they went to receave the deliciouis viand of our Saviours face and pure body being broken downe and made ider, the carpenters setting the former doore upon the hinges which was found, was lesse by a fourth part , or quarter whereupon they resolved, either to add another peece to the ould doore, or to make another al of new, and as they were debating the busines, the principall worke master sayd.  Wee ought this next night to watch and pray at S. Brigits monument, to the end that she may direct us in the morning, what is best to be done in this matter, so passing all the night over at her shrine and rising the next morning after, saying some prayers, setting the ould doore upon the hinges, it fitted all the gate so iust that it nether wanted, nor yet ecceeded any thing in conuenient bignes and in this manner was the doore by the meritis of Saint Brigit, exteneded to an equally commensurative  proportion with the gate of the church.  Who can expresse  ( sayth our author here) the admirable beauty of this Church, or how can we declare the maruciles of this Citty? Or who may recount the innumerable thronges, and infinit multitudes of people flocking thither from all countryes?  Some came to delight themselves with plentifully diversity of banquets, some to solace themselves with viriety of pleasant showes, and spectacles, others to obtayne the cure of thir diseases, and others with rich, and great donaryes to solemnise Saint Brigits natiall feast, which falleth upon the first of February, upon which day in the year of Christ 518 as we have touched about in the first paragraffe of this present chapter, the holy virgin passed from the miseries of thi mortal life, to the immortall joyes of paradise.  Whither God of his infinit grace conduct us all to him, to his all immaculate m other, and to the two glorious patrones  of Ireland, Saint Patricke, and Saint Brigit, be all honour, glory and prayse, world without end. Amen

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From the Matins lessons of the Sarum Breviary,  St. Hilarion Press

Lesson 1: The holy Brigid, therefore, whom God foreknew, and predestined to
eternal glory, was born of good and very prudent Irish stock, offspring of
her father Dubhtach and her mother Brocca. From her youth she grew up in
studies of the good things. For this maiden was chosen by the Lord, and grew
always into the better things, being full of the principles of sobriety and
modesty. And who is able to fully tell the story of her deeds and wonders,
which she wrought even at this age? Yet for the sake of example we have
taken care to set before you these few deeds from amongst the innumerable.
When therefore she had come to maturity, she was sent by her mother to the
work of milking, that from milking the cows butter might be made from milk,
that just as other women usually laboured at this task, she also might
accomplish it in equal measure. But Thou.




Lesson 2: And when at the appropriate time the other women were making the
accustomed milking of the cows and the measured weight of butter as
commanded, they yielded quite fully the amount of butter customary for use,
but she, a virgin very beautiful and hospitable in her conduct, wishing to
obey God rather than men, distributed the milk and butter to the poor and
travellers, generously. And when according to custom the right time came for
all to yield up the fruit of the cows, it was now her turn. And once her
co-labouring maids had showed their completed work, it was asked of the
aforesaid virgin that she also should show her share of the work. And she,
anxious with fear of her mother, seeing she had nothing she could show,
because she had bestowed it all upon the poor, she (not obtaining a stay
till the next day), being steadfast and enkindled with a great and
inextinguishable flame of faith, betaking herself to the Lord, prayed.
Without delay, the Lord was with her, hearing the virgin's voice and her
prayers (seeing that He is our helper in our necessities) through the
generosity of His Divine gift. And He restored the butter overflowingly to
His virgin trusting in Him. But Thou.



Lesson 3: And behold, not long afterwards, when her parents wished to
betrothe her to a husband after the way of men, she --being inspired from
heaven--wishing to show herself a chaste virgin to God, made her way to the
most holy Bishop Machille of blessed memory. Seeing her heavenly desire and
purity, and the love of such chastity in the virgin, he placed upon her
venerable head a white veil and a shining white garment. She humbly bowing
her knees before God and the Bishop and the altar, and offering her virginal
crown unto the almighty Lord, touched with her hand the wooden base
wherewith the altar was upheld, which wood, in remembrance of its pristine
powers, sprouted forth with greenery (as it does even to the present day),
becoming green, as if it had not been cut and planed, but as if it were
fixed in place by its roots. And even until this day, it driveth sickness
and diseases from many of the faithful. And who is able to count up the
diverse multitudes and numberless peoples from all provinces of Ireland that
flowed together to her? They came together for the solemn feast of the
nativity of the holy Brigid, some because of the abundance of the banquets,
others because of their healings from their diseases, others coming together
with great gifts and donations. For that is when she, on the kalends of the
month of February, cast off the heaviness of the flesh, falling asleep in
security, and when she followed after the Lamb of God into the mansions of
heaven. But Thou.



From the Matins lessons of the Sarum Breviary,  St. Hilarion Press

(The Sarum rite is used within parts of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside
of Russia and of the Milan Synod

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From Lady Gregory
Brigit in Her Young Youth:

Now as to Brigit she was born at sunrise on the first day of the spring,of a bondwoman of Connacht. And it was angels that baptized her and that gave her the name of Brigit, that is a Fiery Arrow. She grew up to be a serving girl the same as her mother. And all the food she used was the milk of a white red-eared cow that was set apart for her by a druid. And everything she put her hand to used to increase, and it was she wove the first piece of cloth in Ireland, and she put the white threads in the loom that have a power of healing in them to this day. She bettered the sheep and she satisfied the birds and she fed the poor.

Brigit in Her Father's House:

And when she grew to be strong and to have good courage she went to her father Dubthach's house in Munster and stopped with him there. And one time there came some high person to the house, and food was made ready for him and for his people; and five pieces of bacon were given to Brigit, to boil them. But there came into the house a very hungry miserable hound, and she gave him out of pity a piece of the bacon. And when the hound was not satisfied with that she gave him another piece. Then Dubthach came and he asked Brigit were the pieces of bacon ready; and she bade him count them and he counted them , and the whole of the five pieces were there, not one of them missing. But the high guest that was there that Brigit had thought to be asleep had seen all, and he told her father all that happened. And he and the people that were with him did not eat that meat, for they were not worthy of it, but it was given to the poor and to the wretched.

She Minds the Dairy:

After that Brigit went to visit her mother that was in bondage to a druid of Connacht. And it is the way she was at that time, at a grass-farm of the mountains having on it twelve cows, and she gathering butter. And there was sickness on her, and Brigit cared her and took charge of the whole place. And the churning she made, she used to divide it first into twelve parts in honour of the twelve apostles of our lord; and the thirteenth part she would make bigger than the rest, to the honour of Christ, and that part she would give to strangers and to the poor. And the serving boy wondered to see her doing that, but it is what she used to say:"It is in the name of Christ I feed the poor; for Christ is in the body of every poor man"'

She Fills The Vessels:

One time the serving boy went to the druid's house and they asked was the girl minding the dairy well. And he said"I am thankful, and the calves are fat;" for he dared not say anything against the girl, and she not there. But the druid got word of what she was doing and he came to visit the farm, and his wife along with him; and the cows were doing well, and the calves were fat. Then they went into the dairy, having with them a vessel eighteen hands in height. And Brigit bade them welcome and washed their feet, and made ready food for them, and after that they bade her fill up the vessel with butter. And she had but a churning and a half for them, and she went into the kitchen where it was stored and it is what she said:

"O my High Prince who can do all these things, this is not a forbidden asking; bless my kitchen with thy right hand! "My kitchen, the kitchen of the white Lord;a kitchen that was blessed by my king; a kitchen where there is butter. "My Friend is coming, the Son of Mary; it is he blessed my kitchen; the Prince of the world comes to this place;that there may be plenty with him" After she had made that hymn she brought the half of the churning from the place where it was stored and the druid's wife mocked at her and said"It is good filling for a large vessel this much is!""Fill your vessel" said Brigit, "and God will add something to it." And she was going back to her kitchen and bringing half a churning every time and saying every time a verse of those verses. And if all the vessels of the men of Munster had been brought to her she would have filled the whole of them.

The Man That had lost his Wife's Love:

Brigit would give herself to no man in marriage but she took the veil and after that she did great wonders. There came to her one time a man making his complaint that his wife would not sleep with him but was leaving him, and he came asking a spell from Brigit that would bring back her love. And Brigit blessed water for him and it was what she said:" Bring that water into your house, and put it in the food and in the drink and on the bed." And after he had done that, his wife gave him great love, so that she could not be as far as the other side of the house from him, but was always at his hand. And one day he set out on a journey, leaving the wife in her sleep, and as soon as she awoke from her sleep she rose up and followed after her man till she saw him, and there was a strip of the sea between them. And she called out to him it is what she said, that if he would not come back to her, she would go into the sea that was between them.

The Drying of Brigit's Cloak:

One time Brennain, the saint of the Gael, came from the west to Brigit, to the plain of the Life, for he wondered at the great name she had for doing miracles and wonders. And Brigit came in from her sheep to welcome him, and as she came into the house she laid her cloak that was wet on the rays of the sun, and they held it up the same as hooks. Then Brennain bade his serving lad to put his cloak on the sun rays in the same way, and he put it on them, but twice it fell from them. Then Brennain himself put it on them the third time, and there was anger on him, and that time it stopped on the rays.

The King of Leinster's Fox:

One time there was a man of her household cutting firing, and it chanced to him to kill a pet fox belonging to the King of Leinster, and the King had him bake prisoner. But Brigit called the fox out of the wood, and he came and was at his tricks and his games for the King and his people at Brigit's bidding. And when he had done his tricks he went away safe through the wood, and the army of Leinster, footmen and horsemen and hounds, after him.

Brigit Spreads Her Cloak:

When she was a poor girl she was minding her cow one time at the Curragh of Life/e and she had no place to feed it but the side of the road. And a rich man that owned the land came by and saw her and he said:"How much land would it take to give grass to the cow?" "As much as my cloak would cover" said she. "I will give that" said the rich man. She laid down her cloak then, and it was spreading out miles and miles on every side. But there was a silly old woman passing by and she said "if that cloak goes on spreading, all Ireland will be free; and with that the cloak stopped and spread no more. And Brigit held that land through her lifetime, and it never had rent on it since, but the English Government have taken it now and have put barracks upon it. It is a pity the old woman spoke that time. She did not know Brigit to be better than any other one.

The leper who would be a King:

A leper came one time to Brigit, asking a cow. And Brigit said "Would you sooner have a cow or be healed of your disease?" "I would sooner be healed" he said "than to have the sway over the whole world. For every sound man is a king" he said. Then Brigit prayed to God; and the leper was healed, and served her afterwards.

The Lake of Milk:

The Seven Bishops came to her in a place she had in the north of Kildare, and she asked her cook Blathnet had she any food, and she said she had not. And Brigit was ashamed, being as she was without food before those holy men, and she prayed hard to the Lord. Then angels came and bade her to milk the cows for the third time that day. So she milked them herself, and they filled the pails with the milk, and the whole of Leinster. And the milk overflowed the vessels till it made a lake that is called the Lake of Milk to this day.

The Things Brigit Wished For:

These were the wishes of Brigit:

"I would wish a great lake of ale for the King of Kings; I would wish the family of Heaven to be drinking it through life and time. "I would wish the men of Heaven in my own house; I would wish vessels of peace to be giving to them.
 

I would wish vessels full of alms to be giving away; I would wish ridges of mercy for peacemaking.
I would wish joy to be in their drinking;I would wish Jesus to be here among them.
I would wish the three Marys of great name;
I would wish the people of Heaven from every side.
I would wish to be a rent-payer to the Prince; the way if I was in trouble he would give me a good blessing.

Whatever, now, Brigit would ask of the Lord, he would give it to her on the moment And it is what her desire was, to satisfy the poor, to banish every hardship, and to save every sorrowful man.

The Son of Reading:

One time she was minding her sheep on the Curragh, and she saw a son of reading running past her. "What is it makes you so uneasy?" she said "and what is it you are looking for?" "It is to Heaven I am running, woman of the veil" said he scholar. "The Virgin's son knows he is happy that makes that journey"

said Brigit. "And pray to God to make it easy for myself to go there" she said. "I have no time" said he; "for the gates of Heaven are open now, and I am in dread they might be shut against me. And as you are hindering me" he said "pray to the Master to make it easy for me to go there and I will pray him to make it easy for you" Then they said "Our Father" together, and he was religious from that out, and it was he gave her absolution at the last. And it is by reason of him that the whole of the sons of learning of the world are with Brigit.

The Fishes Honour Her:

Brennain came to Brigit one time to ask why was it the beasts of the sea gave honour to her more than to the rest of the saints. Then they made their confession to each other, and Brennain said after that " In my opinion, girl, it is right the beasts are when they honour you above ourselves".

A Hymn Made for Brigit by Brennain or Another:

" Brigit, excellent woman; sudden flame; may the bright fiery sun bring us to the lasting kingdom.
"May Brigit save us beyond troups of demons;
"May she break before us the battles of every death.
"May she do away with the rent sin has put on us; the blossomed branch; the Mother of Jesus; the dear young woman greatly looked up to. That I may be safe in every place with my saint of Leinster.
 

The First of February:

And from that time to this the housekeepers have a rhyme to say on Saint Brigit's day, bidding them to bring out a firkin of butter and to divide it among the working boys. For she was good always, and it was her desire to feed the poor, to do away with every hardship, to be gentle to every misery, And it is on her day the first of the birds begin to make their nests, and the blessed Crosses are mad with straw and are put up in the thatch; for the death of the year is don with and the birthday of the year is come. And it is what the Gael of Scotland say in a averse:

" Brigit, but her finger in the river on the feast day of Brigit and away went the hatching-mother of the cold.

"She washed the palms of her hands in the river on the day of the feast of Patrick, and away went the birth-mother of the cold."

A Hymn Brocan Made for Brigit:

Victorious Brigit did not love the world; the spending of the world was not dear to her; a wonderful ladder for the people to climb to the kingdom of the Son of Mary. "A wild boar came among her swine; he hunted the wild pigs to the north; Brigit blessed him with her staff, that he made his dwelling with her own herd. "She was open in all her doings; she was only Mother of the great King's Son; she blessed the frightened bird till she played with it in her hand. "Before going with angels to the battle let us go running to the church; to remember the Lord is better than any poem. Victorious Brigit did not lover the world"

Her Care for Leinster:

On the day of the battle of Almhuin, Brigit was seen over the men of Leinster, and Columcille was seen over the Ua Neill; and it was the men of Leinster won that battle. And a long time after that again, when Strongbow that had brought great trouble into Ireland and that was promised the kingdom of Leinster was near his end, he cried out from his bed that he saw Brigit of the Gael, and that it was she herself was bringing him to his death.

She Remembers the Poor:

But if Brigit belonged to the east, it is not in the west she is forgotten, and the people of Burren and of Corcomruadh and Kinvara go every year to her blessed well that is near the sea, praying and remembering her. And in that well there is a little fish that is seen every seven years, and whoever sees that fish is cured of every disease. And there is a woman living yet that is poor and old and that saw that blessed fish, and this is the way she tells the story:" I had a pearl in my eye one time, and I went to Saint Brigit;s well on the cliffs.Scores of people there were in it, looking for cures, and some got them and some did not get them. And I went down the four steps to the well and I was looking into it, and I saw a little fish no longer than your finger coming from a stone under the water. Three spots it had on the one side and three on the other side, red spots and a little green with the red, and it was very civil coming hither to me and very pleasant wagging its tail. And it stopped and looked up at me and gave three wags of its back, and walked off again and went under the stone."And I said to a woman what was near me that I saw the little fish, and she began to call out and to say there were many coming with cars and with horses for a month past and none of them saw it at all. And she proved me, asking had it spots, and I said it had, tree on the one side and three on the other side. That is it she said. And within three days I had the sight of my eye again. It was surely Saint Brigit I saw that time; who else would it be? And you would know by the look of it that it was no common fish. Very civil it was, and nice and loughy, and no one else saw it at all. Did I say more prayers than the rest? Not a prayer. I was young in those days. I suppose she took a liking to me, maybe because of my name being Brigit the same as her own."

The Boy that Dreamed He Would Get His Health:

There was a beggar boy used to be in Burren, that was very simple like and had no health, and if he would walk as much as a few perches it is likely he would fall on the road. And he dreamed twice that he went to Saint Brigit's blessed well upon the cliffs and that he found his health there. So he set out to go to the well, and when he came to it he fell in and he was drowned. Very simple he was and innocent and without sin. It is likely it is in heaven he is at this time.

The Water of the Well:

And there is a woman in Burren now is grateful to Saint Brigit, for "I brought my little girl that was not four years old " she says " to saint Brigit's well on the cliffs, where she was ailing and pining away. I brought her as far as the doctors in Gort and they could do nothing for her and then I promised to go to Saint Brigit's well, and from the time I made that promise she got better. And I saw the little fish when I brought her there; and she grew to be as strong a girl as ever went to America. I made a promise to go to the well ever year after that, and so I do, of a Garlic Sunday, that is the last Sunday in July. And I brought a bottle of water from it last year and it is as cold as amber yet"

The Binding:

And when the people are covering up a red sod under the ashes in the night time to spare the seed of the fire for the morning, they think upon brigit the fiery Arrow and it is what they do be saying:"I save this fire as Christ saved every one; Brigit beneath it, the Son of Mary within it; let the three angels having most power in the court of grace be keeping this house and the people of this house and sheltering them until the dawn of day." For it is what Brigit had a mind for; lasting goodness that was not hidden;minding sheep and rising early; hospitality towards good men. It is she keeps everyone that is in straits and in dangers; it is she puts down sickeness; it is she quiets the voice of the waves and the anger of the great sea. She is the queen of the south; she is the mother of the flocks; she is the Mary of the Gael. ____________________________________________________________________________________

Source: A Book of Saints and Wonders Put down here by Lady Gregory According to the Old Writings and the Memory of the People of Ireland.,Lady Augusta Gregory, London, John Murray,Albermarle St, M MVII

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Hail Briget

Sit thou safely enthroned, triumphant Brigit, upon the side of Liffey far as the strand of the ebbing sea!

Thou art the sovereign lady with banded hosts that presides over the Children of Cath/air the Great.God's counsel at every time concerning Virgin Erin is greater than can be told: though glittering Liffey is thine today, it has been the land of others in their turn.

When from its side I gaze upon the fair Curragh....The lot that has fallen to every king causes awe at each wreck

Logaire was king as far as the sea,--Ailill `Ane, a mighty fate: the Curragh with its glitter remains-- none of the kings remains that lived thereon.

Perfect Labraid Longsech lives no more, having trodden under foot his fair thirty years: since in Dinn Rig--`twas a wonted abode--he dealt doom to Cobthach the Slender.

Lore's grandson, Oengus of R`oiriu, seized the rule of Erin,....sway; Maistiu of the freckled neck, son of Mug Airt, through princes across their graves.

Fair-famed Alenn! Delightful knowledge! Many a prince is under its girth: it is greater than can be fathomed when Crimthan the Victorious was seen in its bosom.

The shout of triumph heard there after each victory around a shock of swords, a mettlesome mass; the strength of its warrior-bands against the dark blue battle-array; the sound of its horns above hundreds of heads.

The tuneful ring of its even-colored bent anvils, the sound of songs heard there from the tongues of bards; the ardour of its men at the glorious contest; the beauty of its women at the stately gathering.

Drinking of mead there in every home-stead;its noble steeds, many tribes; the jingle of chains unto kings of men under blades of five-edged bloody spears.

The sweet strains heard there at every hour' its wine-barque upon the purple flood; its shower of silver of great splendor; its torques of gold from the lands of the Gaul.

Far as the sea of Britain the high renown of each king has sped like a meteor: delightful Alenn with its might has made sport of every law.

Bresal Bree was king over Elg, Fiachra Fobree with a fierce band of warriors; Ferus of the Sea, Finn son of Roth they loved to dwell in lofty Alenn.

Worship of auguries is not worth listening to, nor of spells and auspices that betoken death; all is vain when it is probed, since Alenn is a deserted doom.

Briget is the smile that smiles on you from the plain...of Core's land; of each generation which it reared in turn Liffey of Lore has made ashes.

The Currah of Liffey to the brink of the main, the Curragh of S`etna, a land of peace as far as the sea,--many is the king whom the Curragh of Carbre Nia-fer has overthrown.

Cath`air the Great-- he was the choicest of shapes --ruled Erin of many hues: though you cry upon him at his rath, his prowess of many weapons has vanished.

Fiachna of Fomuin, glorious Bresal ruled the sea with showers of spears: thirty great kings to the edge of the sea seized land around Tara of Bregia.

The Peaks of Iuchna, delightful place, around which many graves have settled behold in lofty Allen the abode of Tadg, son of Nuada Necht!

The apparel of Feradach-- a goodly diadem--around whom crested bands would move; his blue-speckled helmet, his shining mantle,--many a king he overthrew.

Dunlang of Fornochta, he was generous, a prince who routed battles against the sons of Niall: though one were to tell the tale to all, this is not the world that was once.

Illann with his tribe launched thirty battles against every king, Enna's grandson, a rock against terror, it was not a host without a king's rule.

Ailill was a king that would bestow favour, against whom a fierce blood-dark battle-host would rise: Cormac, Carbre, Colman the Great, Brandub, a barque in which were hosts.

Faelan the Fair was a track of princeship, Fianamail with....; Braiin, son of Conall with many deeds, he was the wave over every cliff.

Oh Brigit whose land I behold, on which each one in turn has moved about, thy fame has outshone the fame of the king--thou art over them all.

Thou hast everlasting rule with the king apart from the land wherein is thy cemetery. Grand-child of Bresal son of Dian, sit thou safely enthroned, triumphant Brigit!
 

Sources:

Kuno Meyer Trans.

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Sloinneadh na Ban-Naomh Bride

Genealogy of the holy maiden Bride

Lasair dhealraich oir,muime
Radiant flame of gold, foster-mother
chorr Criosda.
over Christ.
Bride nighinn Dughaill duinn,
Bride the daughter of Dougall the brown,
Mhic Aoidh, mhic Airt,mhic Cuinn,
Son of Aoidh, son of Airt, son of Cuinn,
Mhic Crearair, mhic Cis, mhic
Son of Crearair, son of Cis, son of Carmaig,
mhic Carruinn.
son of Carruinn.
Gach la agus gach oidhche
Each day and each night
Ni mi sloinntireachd air Bride,
I will say the genealogy of Bride,
Cha mharbhar mi,cha spuillear mi,
I will not be killed,I will not be harried,
Cha charcar mi,cha chiurar mi,

I will not be put in cell,I will not be wounded,
Cha mhu dh'fhagas Chriosd an dearmad mi.
Neither will Christ leave me in forgetfullness
Cha loisg teine,grian, no gealach mi,
No fire,no sun, no moon will burn me
Cha bhath luin, no sala mi.
No lake, no water, no sea shall drown me,
Cha reub saighid sithich,no sibhich mi,
No dart of fairy nor arrow of fay will wound me,
Is mi fo chomaraig mo naomh Muire
And I under the protection of my holy mother Mary,
Is i fo chaomh mhuime Bride
And her under her foster-mother Bride.

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Briget References:

From : The Martyrology of Donegal., A Calendar of the Saints of Ireland, Trans. John O`Donovan,Dublin,The Irish Archaeological and Celtic Society, 1864.(Original: Michael O'Clery,Compiler,Donegal,April 19,1630)
P.35. Kalendis FebruarII 1.

Brighit,

Virgin, abbess of Cill-dara. She was of the race of Eochaidh Finnfuathairt, son of Feidhlijidh Reachtmhar, son of Tuathal Teachmhar, monarch of Erinn. Broiccseach, daughter of Dallbronach, son of Aedh Meamhair, was her mother, and she was the sister of Ultan of Ard-Breccain , and it was Ultan that collected the virtues, and miracles of Brighit together and who commanded his disciple Brogann to put them into poetry as is evident in the Book of Hymns, i.e., The victorious Brighit did not love, etc.
When Moling was returning from the king of Erinn after obtaining the remission of he Borumha(the tribute of oxen) from Fionnachta, king of Erinn, the people of the king were seized with regret, and they followed him to kill him. When Moling saw this he had recourse to the protection of the saints, and he implored Brighit first, and said: O Brighit, bless our path, etc...
A very ancient old book of vellum, in which is found the Martyrology of Maelruain of Tamhlach and the saints of the same name, and the names of many of the mothers of the saints, states that Brighit was following the manners and the life which the holy Mary,mother of Jesus had.
It was this Brighit, too, that did not take her mind or her attention from the Lord for the space of one hour at any time, but was constantly mentioning Him, and ever constantly thinking of Him, as evident in her own life, and also in the life of Saint Brenainn, bishop of Cluain-fearta. She was very hospitable and very charitable to guests and to needy people. She was humble, and attended to the herding of sheep and early rising, as her life proves, and as Cuimin of Coindeire states in the poem whose beginning is, Patrick of the fort of Macha loved, etc.. Thus he says:---
The blessed Brighit loved Constant piety, which was not prescribed: Sheep-Herding and early rising Hospitality towards men of virtues. She spent indeed 74 years diligently serving the Lord, performing signs and miracles, curing every disease, and sickness in general as evident in her own life, until she yielded her spirit, after having completed seventy-four years as we have said before, A.D. 525, ( A.D. 525. The more recent hand has corrected this date to 522, adding in the margin this note: ex. Ii. Binarlo numero fecit quinariam literam transcriptoris error; i.e., the transcriber mistook xxii for xxxv) and she was buried at D/un in one tomb with Patrick, where Colum Cille was afterwards interred. The life of Ciaran of Cluain states, chapt. 47, that the Order of Brighit was one of the eight Orders that were in Erinn.
 

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From: Miscellanea Hagiographica Hibernica.

Carolus Plummer,Bruxelles,Societe Des Bollandists,1925
p.181
11. Brigit, abbess of Cell Dara, Feb. 1. First Irish Life.
MSS.
1.L.Br., pp.61-66
2. Book of Lismore,ff 11-17.
Paris, ff 76-81.
4. O'Cleary 1, ff 24-30. (A later heading notes that the Life is imperfect: Betha Brighde gan beth criochnuigthe.) 5. O'Clearyu 2, ff. 6-30. This is headed:"A small fragment of the Life and Miracles of St. Brigit; the first part of the Life was copied from the Book of Brian O'Naillgusa, and the remainder from the vellum book written by the community of Cianan" (i.e. Duleek). It omits the Latin text,but the Irish incipit is the same as in the other MSS. Expl. a llo mordala bratha, "in the day of the great asize of dooom", It is evidently a conflate Life.
2 and 3 are a longer recension than 1.
Edd. By Whitley Stokes from 1 in Three Middle-Irish Homililies,Calacutta, 1877. By the same from 2 in Lismore Lives of Saints, pp.34-53. 182-200. Inc. Hic sunt qui sequuntur Annum. Exlp.. a l. Ailiom trocaire 7c
12. Second Irish Life.
MS 1 Rawl. B 512, ff. 31-36
Imperfect at beginning:...miracula uulgata sunt. Laae nand isuidiu luid in Broiscech do bleogan. Expl.Vita: pluuiam et uentum sedauit, f. 35. Then follows an appendix of anecdotes almost idendical with those in the notes to Broccan's Hymn: "Ni car Brigit", Liber Hymnorum,i. 112ff.; Thes.ii.327. The Life is a mixture of Latin and Irish, lthe Irish prevailing. Considerable extracts from it are quoted by Stokes in Lismore Lives, pp319-331.
13. Third Irish Life.
MSS
1. Kings' Inns, Dublin, No. 19,pp.493-514.
2.R.I.A. Hodges and Smith No. 168, f. 116 v.
3. ib. ib. No 12,pp.479-505.
After a preface stating that it was taken from Capgrave's abridgement of Cogitosus, Inc. Ase. ionad a rugad an oig bennaigthi glomar, Brigid, a bFochard. Expl. mar a ttr`eorchaidh Dia l`e a ghr`assibh dochriochnuighthe sinn uile; cf Capgrave, Ed. Horstman,i. 153-9; for Cogitosus, cf. Trias Thaum., pp.518-26.

Shorter Tracts and Anecdotes:
86.Brigit
Stories of, appended to the second Irish life;above No. 12. These stories are stated to be from another source from that from which the Life itself was derived: slicht sain inso budesta.
MS 1 Rawl. B. 512, ff. 36-6
a. The King of Leinster's Brooch; cf. Lib. Hymn. i. 123; Thes.ii 345. Inc. Delg dorat ri Laigen a ngill.
b. The ingot of silver; cf. L.H. i. 124; Thes. ii. 346. Inc. triar brathar dia tart a nathir tinni argait.
c. the three"huynger-men"; cf. L.H. i. 125; Thes. ii. 347. Inc. Triar trenfer ro batar oc denum cluid.
d. Water turned into mead; cf. L.H. i 125; Thes. ii. 347. Ed. by Whitley Stokes, Lismore Lives, p. 331. Inc. Lind ro dlecht ri Laigen.
e. Brigit and her craftsman bp. Condla(Conlaed), of cell dara, Man 3. Cf.L.H. i 125; Thes.ii.456-7; also in notes to F/eire,F/el. p.LXXIII;F/el.p.128. Inc. Condla,ceerd Brigte ro triall du Ruaim.
f. Brigit, Brendan, and the sea-monsters, and the cowl hung on a sunbeam; i cf. L.H. i 118, Thes. ii. 335-6; cf. supra No.83. Inc. Brenaind in mara, secht mbliadna d/o for ler. Brigit, Short stgories of.
BR> The young clerk who had lost his confessor.
MSS
1.LL.283-4
2. Liber Flau. Ferg. vol. I.Part Iv, f. 6; cf Gwynn,L.F.F. p.28.
Inc. Mac clerech do muntir Ferna M/oire.
b. The leper who asked for the best cow and the best calf. Cf. Cogitosus, 16
MS 1 Edinb. Aadv. Libr. XXVI f 2 Inc. Clamh taing co Brigidh do chungi b/bo fuirraidh.
c. Effacy of Brigit's prayers.
MSS. 1. R.I.A. Book of Lecan. f. 166.
2. King's Inns, Dublin, No.14, f.3. d. Brigit and her mother's sister, Fainche. MS. 1 L.L. p.367, top margin.
Ed. Whitley Stokes, Lismore Lives p. 335. Inc. F....siur mathar Brigthe,...bai dano F. i nambriti.
88. Brigit
Story of three of her monks and the poison.
Preface to Ultan' s Hymn: Briugit B/e bith-maith, Lib. Hymn. i. 107-8; Tghes. ii. 323-4.
Hymns From the Liber Hymnorum
202. Ultan, bp., of Ard Brecain, Sept. 4 Hyumn in honour of Brigit -attributed in the Preface also to Broccan Claen, cf. Mart. Don p. 236, to Colum Cille, three of Brigit's monks, and to Brendan.- EDD. Liber Hymn. i 107-1111; Thes. ii. 323-6. Inc. Brigit bithmaith.
203. Broccan Claen. Hymn to Brigit. Edd. Lib. Hymn. i. 112=127; Thes. ii. 327349. Inc. Ni c Brigit buadach bith.
Latin Lives of Irish Saints
Brigida, abbatissa de Cill dara, Feb 1.
I have little to add to the Catalogue in B.H.L. i.217-8, except that the Life in R. f. 62 R. f. 184 is identical with Colgan Vita Tertia, Trias Thaum pp.327-42, -B.H.L. No.1456-, ending with Colgan's c 120, which is somewhat differently phrased.Expl. quaod ut ipse uidit, mox penetentiam egit, et cum suis solutus, et puellam uirginitatem suam. Deo seruare permisit. 

From:The Sources for the Early History of Ireland An introduction and guide.

By. James F. Kenney,Volume I Ecclesiastical,New York,Columbia University Press,1929. P.356
IV. Cell-Dara (Kildare) and St. Brigit
147. Life of Brigit by Cogitosus s VII Prologue- Cogitis me, fratres, ut sanctae et beatae memoriae Brfigidae...Vita- Sancta itaque Brigida,quan Deus praescivit...veniam peto a fratibus et lectoribus haec legentibus...Orate pro me Cogitoso nepote culpabilli haedo..pacem evangelicam sectantes exaudiat.
MSS; Very numerous: see the lists, whti descriptive matter given by Esposito op. Cit. Infra; also Bibl. Hag. Lat of the Bollandists I 217. Almost all of the codices are large collections of vitae sanctorum-- in which the Life of Brigit forms one--from continental monastaries. None is of Irish origin . Eds: Bonimus Mombritius Sanctuarium seu Vitae sanctorum -Milan c. 1480- I ff. 144-46; and ed. (Paris 1910) I 257-61, cf. Pp. X,633 (abridgment.) --Canisius Antiquae lectionis (Ingolstadt 1604) Vii 623-41; and ed by basnage (Antwerp-Amsterdam 1725) I 413-24--Surius De probatis sanctorum historiis (4th ed Cologne 1618) II 21-25--Messingham Florilegium (Paris 1624) 189-200 (text of Canisius), --Colgan Tr. Thaum 518-26.--AA.SS. Boll. Feb. I (1685)135-41 (best ed.) .--Migne PL LXXII 775-90 reprint of Basnage). Comm: Trans RIA XX 195-205.--Mario Esposito On the Earliest Latin Life of St. Brigid of Kildare Proc. RIA XXX C (1912) 307-26 (a valuable study).
148. Brocc/ans Hymn Ni car Brigit Ni car Brigit buadach bith...fora f/oessam d/un linaib. 53 stanzas; the original ending was at he 47th., with a repetition of the opening words. (Antiphon) Sanctae Brigtae uirgo sacratissima in Christo domino fuid fidelissima Amen.
MSS : LH (T)ff. 17-9.--Lh(F)pp.39-42. Eds: Colgan Tr. Thaum. 515-20 (with Lat. Trans.).--WS Goidilica (Calacutta 1866); and ed Goidelica (London 1872) I (1880) 25-49, 322-4 (text, with illustrative extracts from Cogitosus and the LBr Life).--LH (1898) 112-28, II pp. I-IV 40-46, 189-205,(text, trans, notes).--Thes. Pal. II (1903) pp. XXXVIII sq, 327-49 (collated text, trans.).
149. Poem in praise of Brigit- Brigit b/uadach...bethad be/o. 2 stanzas probably incomplete.
Mss: LL p. 38; BB;TCD 1308 (H. 212 no.8). Quotation in the treatise on versification having the title Do aistib ind aircetail I coitchinn indso. Eds: RTh IT III (1891) 71--KM Bruchstucke der altern Lyrik Irlands, Ahhandl.d.preuss. Akd. D. Wissensch. 1919 phil. Hist. Kl.vii (verlin 1919) 23 no. Li (with erm. Trans).
150. List of tnuns of Brigit
Brigitae sanctae subiectae erant omnes hae virgines sanctae, quarum ioca et nomina enumer abinus Cainer ingen Chruthech/ain...Cellan I n-Achud Aeda
MS: LL 353 col. 2 Ed: Lis. Lives 336. A list of nuns subject to Briget
151. Later lives of Brigit in Latin: Life in verse attributed to Chillienus or Coelan MS: Monte Cassino 283 s X. Eds: Colgan Tr. Thaum 582-99--AA/SS. Boll. Feb I 141-55.--Bandinius Bibl. Leopoldina Laurentiana I 567-8 (prologue by Donatus). Cf. Boll Bibl hagiographica latina nos 1458,1459, and Supplementium; Margaret Stokes Six months in the Apenines (London 1892) 237-8 (trans of prologue by Donatus).
ii Life attributed to animosus, or Anmchad
Eds: Colgan Tr. Thaum. 546-67-AA.SS Boll. Feb 1 155-71.
iii Colgans Third Life
MSS: Cabrai Bibl. Communale 857.--Bodl Rawl. B 485 f 62; Rawal. B. 505 f 184 Eds: Colgan Tr. Thaum 527-42 --AA/SS Boll. Feb I 118-34 Epitome: Nova Legenda Anglie ff. 48-50; ed Horstman (1901) I 153-60-- Surius De probatis sanctorum historiis I ( Cologne 1570) 782-5; 3rd ed. (1618) II 19-20; new ed (1875) II 42-7,--Messingham Florilegium (1624) 206 sqq. iv Life by Laurence of Durham 152 Lives of Brigit in Irish MS: Bodl. Rawl. B.512 ff 31-6 (ED: Lis Lives 319-31 (extracts). MS: Brussels Bibbl. Roy. 5100-4 p. 33. ED: OCMs Mat. 616(With trans)-devotional poem.
154 Dialogue between Patrick and Brigit
MSS: Brussels Bibl. Roy. 5100-4 p. 48--Vat. Palatin 830 f. 148 (2 quats). EDS Z 961 96x (from Vat.Ms.)-WS Zx. F. Vergl. Sprachf.XXXI (1890) 252-3 (with trans)--B. MacCarthy Codex Palatino-Vaticanus 830 (RIA Todd Lect. Sr.III )(Dublin1892) 20 (Vat. Text).-poems ascribed to Moling.
155 Later Hymns in honor of Brigit
MS: LH (T) f. 32 (the MS is of the 11th cent., but this hymn has beeen added in a lagter hand). EDS: Dreves An . hyumn XIX 98 (cf. Ibid. LI 320).--LH 1898) I 161,II 223. Watch this space as more of the tales of Brigit are gathered.
 

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"The Giveaway"
(from The Love Letters of Phyllis Mcginley, New York, Viking
Press, 1957)

Saint Bridget was
A problem child.
Although a lass
Demure and mild,
And one who strove
To please her dad,
Saint Bridget drove
The family mad.
For here's the fault in Bridget lay:
She Would give everything away.

To any soul
Whose luck was out
She'd give her bowl
Of stir about;
She'd give her shawl,
Divide her purse
With one or all.
And what was worse,
When she ran out of things to give
She'd borrow from a relative.

Her father's gold,
Her grandsire's dinner,
She'd hand to cold
and hungry sinner;
Give wine, give meat,
No matter whose;
Take from her feet
The very shoes,
And when her shoes had gone to others,
Fetch forth her sister's and her mother's.

She could not quit.
She had to share;
Gave bit by bit
The silverware,
The barnyard geese,
The parlor rug,
Her little niece-
's christening mug,
Even her bed to those in want,
And then the mattress of her aunt.

An easy touch
For poor and lowly,
She gave so much
And grew so holy
That when she died
Of years and fame,
The countryside
Put on her name,
And still the Isles of Erin fidget
With generous girls named Bride or Bridget.

   Well, one must love her.
   Nonetheless,
   In thinking of her
   Givingness,
   There's no denial
   She must have been
   A sort of trial
   Unto her kin.
   The moral, too, seems rather quaint.
   WHO had the patience of a saint,
   From evidence presented here?
   Saint Bridget?  Or her near and dear?
 

From the Martyrology of Saint Oengus, Celi De

Concerning Saint Brigit of Kildare (Feb 1/14)



Brigit the fair, strong, praiseworthy, chaste head of Erin's nuns.

Brigit the fair, Virgin, Abbess, daughter of Dubthach son of Demre, son of Bresal, son of Connla, son of Art Corp, son of Cairbre Nia, son of Cormac,
son of Oengus the Dumb, son of Eochaid Find Fuathnairt, son of Feidlimid Rechtmad.

The white-one from Liffey of the slopes, daughter of Dubthach of Druim derg: tomorrow she goes quickly, so that from her hand is Patrick's bequest.

Brigit's three eighths, to wit, her birth on the eighth (of the month), her veil on the eighteenth, her death on the twenty-eighth.



Eight Bishops came to Brigit out of Hui Briuin Cualann, i.e. from Telach na n-epscop to Loch Lemnachta beside Kildare on the north. Brigit asked her
cook, Blathnait, whether she had food for the Bishops. She said she did not. Brigit was ashamed: so the angel told her to milk the cows again. The
cows were milked and they filled the tubs, and they would have filled all the vessels in Leinster, so that the milk went over the vessels and made a
lake thereof, so Loch Lemnachta is called 'New-milk Lough'.



A robber came to Dubthach, who took a joint out of the caldron for him, and he made five pieces thereof, and gave them to Brigit to keep. But a
wretched hound came to her, and she gave it the five pieces out of the caldron,and the five pieces were then found in the caldron. That was told to
Dubthach, and then he gave to her and to God the land, to wit, the site of an oratory in Tuath da Maige.


A young cleric of the community of Ferns, a foster-son of Brigit's, used to come to her with wishes. He was with her in the refectory, to partake of food.
Once after coming to Communion she strikes a clapper. "Well, young cleric there," says Brigit, "hast thou a soulfriend?" "I have," replied the young
cleric. "Let us sing his requiem," says Brigit, "for he has died. I saw when half thy portion had gone, that thy quota was put into thy trunk, and tho
without any head on thee, for thy soulfriend died, and anyone without a soulfriend is a body without a head; and eat no more till thou gettest a
soulfriend."



Amra Plea a convent of Brigit's which is on the brink of the sea of Wight, or the Tyrrhene (sea), and its Rule is that of Brigit's community. It happened
in this manner: Brigit despatched seven persons to learn the Rule of Peter and Paul, for God did not determine that she should go. And they brought
not the Rule. So she sent eastward a third time, together with her blind boy, for everything he used to hear he remembered. When they reached the
sea of Wight, a storm fell upon them, so they let down their anchor, which stuck on the peak of the oratory. They cast a lot among themselve as to
who was going down, and it fell to the blind (boy). He loosed the anchor, and remained there to the end of a year, learning the Rule, till the rest of
the party came to him from Rome, and a storm fell upon them again in the same place, so they let down an anchor,and the blind boy came up from
below with the Rule of Plea and with a beautiful bell, and it is the Rule of Plea that abides today.

Now Brigit was fain to have the orders of penitence conferred upon her; so she went to Bri Eile, accompanied by seven nuns, since she had heard that
Bishop Mel was there. When they arrived, Bishop Mel was not there, but had gone into the district of the Hui Neill. So she fared forth on the morrow
with Mac caille before her as a guide to Moin Faithnig. Brigit wrought so that the bog became a smooth flowery plain for them. When they drew nigh
the place wherein Bishop Mel was biding Brigit told Mac caille that she would take a veil on her head so that she might not come unveiled to the
clerics; and that may be the veil that is commemorated here. Now after reaching the clerics a fiery column flamed from her head to the ridge of the
church. Said Mac caille: "This is the famous nun of Leinster, even Brigit." "My welcome to her," quoth Bishop Mel: "'Tis I," quoth he, "that prophesied
her in her mother's womb, and 'tis I that will confer the orders upon her."

Once upon a time Bishop Mel came to Dubthach's house and saw Dubthach's wife in grief. So the Bishop asked, "What is the matter with the
woman?" "Cause of grief I have," she says, "for dearer than I am to Dubthach is the bondmaid who is washing you." "Thou hast good reason, " says
Bishop Mel, "for thy seed will serve the seed of the bondmaid."

"Why have the nuns come?" asked Bishop Mel. "To have the orders of penitence conferred on Brigit," says Mac caille. Thereafter the orders were
read out over Brigit, and Bishop Mel bewtowed Episcopal orders upon her, and it is then that Mac caille set a veil on (her) head. Hence Brigit's
successor is entitled to have Episcopal orders conferred upon her. [These are the orders of Abbess, with the power of jurisdiction over her own nuns
and also over her churches and lands, but not Sacramental which would allow her to give Communion. No deacons, priests or bishops are recorded to
have been ordained by her nor does any Bishop claim succession through her or her successors.]

Beloved and little the month of dear February, which comprises for us those festivals,

Brigit's festival... Finntains's festival which I have chosen.

Save great Mary, good her fame, Mother of the Lord Jesus,

none under heaven has been found more wondrous than bright-white Brigit.
 

Brigid Passes by

The dandelion lights its spark
Lest Brigid find the wayside dark.
And Brother Wind comes rollicking
For joy that she has brought the spring.
Young lambs and little furry folk
Seek shelter underneath her cloak.
 

-Winifred Mary Letts

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