Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 5 Fintan abbat was had in such reuerence, that whereas Colme king of Leinster kept Cormake the Colme king of Leinster. kings son of Tensill prisoner, he went boldlie with twelue of his disciples through the prease of all the souldiors, and in sight of the king was suffered to borow the yoong prince. For the Irish are not sterne against those of whom they haue conceiued an opi|nion of holinesse. I remember (saith our author) that Cambrensis writeth himselfe merilie to haue obiected to Morice then archbishop of Cashill, that Ireland in so manie hundred years had not brought foorth one martyr. The bishop answered pleasantlie The answer of the archbi|shop of Cashill to Giraldus Cambrensis. (alluding so the late dispatching of Thomas archbi|shop of Canturburie) Our people (quoth he) notwith|standing their other enormities, yet haue spared euer the bloud of vertuous men. Marie now we are de|liuered to such a nation that is well acquainted with making martyrs, so that from hensefoorth I trust no complaint shall néed for want of martyrs. Mala|chias was borne in Armagh of a noble progenie, Malachias. brought vp in vertue by the example of his mother, and trained foorth in learning, profited greatlie in deuotion: so that being yet but a verie babe, he was espied diuerse times to steale awaie from his com|panions to praie in secret. He was so graue and modest, that of himselfe he chose the most graue and seuere schoolemaister, refusing an excelient clearke, because he saw him somewhat lightlie demeaning himselfe at game. In the beginning of his youth|full yeares, he became the disciple of Imarius an old recluse, whose austeritie of conuersation the whole towne had in great reuerence. There he be|came a deacon, and at fiue and twentie yeares a priest.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 4 The archbishop, for the fame and the opinion of his woorthinesse, receiued him to be assistant to him in office, in the which he so behaued himselfe, that he reformed superstitions, and reuiued the force of re|ligion, namelie in the vniformitie of their church seruice, wherin before time they iarred. The famous The mona|sterie of Ban|chor repared. monasterie of Banchor he reedified of the patrimo|nie and legacies by his vncle lest him. The same monasterie was of old time gouerned by Congel|lus, and after him by Columbanus the father of ma|nie religious houses in France. This abbeie being spoiled and nintie of his brethren murdered in oue day by the prior, the possessions whereof being come to the hands of Malachias by his vncles assigne|ment, he restored foorthwith, and aduanced the foun|dation. At the age of thirtie yeares he was by ca|nonicall election forced to accept the bishoprike of Conereth, a people of all the Irish then most sauage and wild, whome with inestimable trauell he recla|med from their beastlie maners. In the meane while died Celsus bishop of Armagh, after whome succée|ded EEBO page image 55 Malachias, at the age of eight and thirtie yeares. But before this, neere hand the space of two hundred yeares togither, a custome had crept into the coun|trie, that the metropolitane sée was conferred vpon [...]d bi|shops held the [...] successiue| [...] [...]d of one [...], nei|ther would the Irish haue had anie other than of the h [...]se. [...] saint Barnard In vita Malachiae. Bale, &c. The bible and [...]. such bishops as were maried, and were of the bloud roiall, in maner by way of inheritance. Wherefore Nigellus or Neale the next of kinred, animated by the parcialitie of some princes, and getting into his custodie the bible and staffe, and other monuments of saint Patrike, wherevnto opinion of the com|mon people tied the prelacie, came to his palace with a band of souldiors to haue slaine the bishop. When all the people wept and houled for his perill, he alone stepped into the bosome of his enimies, demanding what was their purpose? The bloudie souldiors let|ting fall their weapons, in stead of executing the pretensed murtherer, fell to reuerence him, and at length departed from him as friends.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Thrée yeares he sat in the primasie rather to dis|continue the horrible corruption before vsed, than For lineall descent of bi|shops. with intent to settle himselfe there. After he had re|moued the abuse, he procured Orlasius to succéed him in the archbishops sée, and he returned to his for|mer see of Downe, to the which as then was annexed the bishoprike of Coner. But Malachias vnderstan|ding that in times past they were six seuerall sées, he diuided them againe, and ordeined an other to the bi|shoprike of Coner, desirous rather to lessen his cure than to inlarge the fruits by taking more charge vp|pon him. Malachias being demanded of his bre|thren the monkes of Benchor, where and when he would wish to die and to be buried, if it laie in his choise? He answered: If in Ireland, beside the bodie of saint Patrike: if beyond the seas, at Clareuale where saint Barnard was then resiant, and in the feast of Alsoules. He purposed within few daies to sue to pope Eugenius for increase of the number of metropolitans, which request was shortlie after ac|complished. And in this viage which he thus made, he staied at Clareuale, and there diuerse times o|penlie foreshewed, that the yeare of his departure foorth of this world was come; and accordinglie when he had taken leaue of saint Barnard and the bre|thren, he went downe from his chamber to the church and there did communicat. Which doone, he retur|ned to his lodging, and there on Alsouls daie in the yeare of his age 54 he gaue vp the ghost, so mild|lie and quietlie, that it séemed rather a sléepe than a death.