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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.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Malchus, though borne in Ireland, yet he spent the most part of his time in the monasterie of Win|chester Malchus. in England, and from thense was taken and admitted bishop of Lismore. Saint Barnard re|membreth of him, by occasion he cured a lunatike child in confirming, else (as they termed it) in bishop|ping him. This miracle seene and confessed by ma|nie hundreds of people, was blowen through the world. The same time happened discord betwixt the Discord be|tweene the king of Mounster and his brother. king of Mounster and his brother, and as the mat|ter was handled, the king was ouermatched and fled into England, where he visited Malchus in his ab|beie, and would by no meanes depart from him; but remaine there vnder his rule and gouernment, so long as it pleased God to denie him quiet returne into his countrie: he contented himselfe with a poore cell, vsed dailie to bath himselfe in cold wa|ter, to asswage the wanton motions of his flesh, and for his diet receiued none other delicats than bread, water, and salt, day and night, sobbing and bewai|ling with great remorse of conscience his former misdemened life. At length the other kings and peo|ple of Ireland began to repine at the vsurper, set vp|on him with open war, vanquished him in a pitcht field, and called home the rightfull prince his brother againe, to resume his kingdome, who with manie earnest persuasions of Malchus and of Malachias could vneth be brought to forsake that trade of life and companie, the which he had with such delecta|tion inured himselfe vnto.

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Compare 1587 edition: 1 In the meane while died Celſus Biſhop of Ardmagh, after whom ſucceeded Malachias, at the age of .xxxviij. yeares. But before this neare EEBO page image 13 hande the ſpace of two hundred yeares togither, a cuſtome had crepte into the countrey,Married bi|ſhops held the ſea ſucceſsiuely [...] of one fa|milie, neither vvoulde the [...] haue had any other than of the houſe. See S. Bernard in vita Mala|chi Bale. &c. The Bible and ſtaffe. that the Metropolitane ſea was conferred vpon ſuch Bi|ſhops as were maried, and were of the bloud roy|all) in maner by way of inheritance: Wherfore Nigellus or Neale the next of kinred, animated by the patrialitie of ſome princes, and getting in|to his cuſtodie the Bible and ſtaffe, & other mo|numentes of S. Patrike, wherevnto opinion of the common people tyed the prelacie, came to his Palace with a bande of ſouldiors to haue ſlayne the Biſhop: When al the people wept and how|led for his perill, he alone ſtepped into the boſome of his enimies, demaundyng what was theyr purpoſe: The bloodie ſouldiers letting fall theyr weapons in ſted of executing the pretenced mur|der, fell to reuerence him, and at length departed from him as freendes.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 For line all de|ſease of bi|shops.Three yeares he ſate in the primacie rather to diſcontinue the horrible corruption before vſed, than with intent to ſettle himſelfe there.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 After he hadde remoued the abuſe, he procured Orlaſius to ſucceede him in the Archbiſhops ſea, and he returned to his former ſea of Downe, to the which as then was annexed the Biſhopryke of Coner, but Malachias vnderſtanding that in tymes paſt they were .vj. ſeuerall ſeas, he deuided them againe, & ordeined an other to the Biſhop|rike of Coner, deſirous rather to leſſen his cure than to enlarge the frutes by taking more charge vpon hym.