_The Habit, the Bearing, and the Acts of Saint Patrick._
And until the five and fiftieth year of his age, wherein he was
advanced in Hibernia unto the episcopal degree, did he after the manner
of the apostles continually travel on foot; and thenceforth, by reason
of the difficulty of the journey, he used a chariot, according to the
manner of the country. And over his other garments he was clothed with
a white cowl, so that in the form and the candid color of his habit he
showed his profession, and proved himself the candidate of lowliness
and purity. Whence it came to pass that the monks in Hibernia
following his example, for many years were contented with the simple
habit which the wool of the sheep afforded unto them, untinged with any
foreign dye. And he kept his hands clear from any gift, ever
accounting it more blessed to give than to receive; therefore when any
gift was given unto him by any rich man, he hastened so soon as might
be to give it unto the poor, lightening himself thereof as of a heavy
burden. In his countenance, in his speech, in his gait, in all his
members, in his whole body, did he edify the beholders; and his
discourse was well seasoned, and suited unto every age, sex, rank, and
condition. In four languages, the British, the Hibernian, the Gallic,
and the Latin, was he thoroughly skilled; and the Greek language also
did he partly understand. The little Book of Proverbs, which he
composed in the Hibernian tongue, and which is full of edification,
still existeth; and his great volume, called Canoin Phadruig, that is,
the canons of Patrick, suiteth every person, be he secular, be he
ecclesiastic, unto the exercise of justice and the salvation of souls.
Whensoever he was addressed for the exposition of profound questions or
difficult cases, always, according to the custom of his lowliness, did
he answer: "I know not, God knoweth "; but when great necessity
compelled him to certify the word of his mouth, he always confirmed it
by attesting his Judge. So excellent was he in the spirit of prophecy
that he foretold divers future things even as if they were present;
things absent he well knew, and whatsoever fell from his lips, without
even the smallest doubt did that come to pass. So evidently did he
foretell of the saints which for an hundred years thereafter would be
born in Hibernia, but chiefly in Momonia and Conactia; that he showed
even their names, their characters, and the places of their dwelling.
Whomsoever he bound, them did the divine justice bind; whosoever he
loosed, them did the divine justice loose; with his right hand he
blessed, with his left hand he cursed; and whom he blessed, on them
came the blessing of the Lord; whom he cursed, on them came the
heavenly malediction; and the sentence which issued from his lips,
unshaken and fixed did it remain, even as had it gone forth of the
eternal judgment-seat. Whence doth it plainly appear, that this holy
man being faithful unto God, was with Him as one spirit. Yet though in
his manifold virtues he equalled or excelled all other saints, in the
virtue of lowliness did he excel even himself; for in his epistles he
was wont to mention himself as the lowest, the least, and the vilest of
all sinners; and little accounting the signs and the miracles which he
had wrought, he thought himself to be compared not to any perfect man;
and being but of small stature, he used often to call himself a dwarf.
And not seldom, after the manner of the Apostle Paul, he toiled with
manual labor, fishing, and tilling the ground; but chiefly in building
churches, to the which employment he much urged his disciples, both by
exhortation and example. Nevertheless, right earnestly did he apply
himself unto baptizing the people and ordaining the ministers of the
church. Three hundred bishops and fifty did he consecrate with his own
hand; seven hundred churches did he endow; five thousand clerical men
did he advance unto the priestly rank. But of the other ministers whom
he appointed unto the inferior orders, of the monks and the nuns whom
he dedicated unto the divine service, God alone knoweth the number.