Compare 1587 edition: 1 Brendan Abbot, at the age of tenne yeares was of ſuch incomparable holyneſſe (as they ſay) and therewith ſo wiſe and learned,Abbot Bren|dan. that hys fa|ther and mother thinking themſelues to haue gayned the moſte worthie fruite that myght enſue of theyr maryage, by mutuall conſent pro|feſſed continencie, and abandoned matrimoniall companie. He flouriſhed in the dayes of Saint Brydget, and lyued in familyer ſocietie wyth Saynt Arons the Byſhoppe, and Fyntan the Abbot.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Madoc.Madoc, alias Edan of noble parentage ta|ken pryſoner by the king of Temore and kept in his Court with dyuerſe yong men his ſchoolefel|lowes, openly adiured the king to licence him and them to depart, that they might ſerue God as they were accuſtomed, y^t which being now kept in ſunder and reſtrayned of libertie, they were forced to diſcontinue. Herevpon immediately they were diſmiſſed.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 He dyed Biſhoppe of Fernes, and layde the foundation of that Borow.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Giraldus Cambrensis reporteth of his owne know|ledge, that among other monuments of hirs, there was found a concordance of the foure euangelsts, A cõcordance of the foure euangelists. séeming to be written with no mortall hand, beauti|fied with mysticall pictures in the margent, the co|lours and cunning workemanship whereof at the first blush appeared darke and nothing delectable, but in the héedfull view of the diligent beholder verie liuelie and woonderfull artificiall. Cenanus that was first a souldier, succéeded saint Patrike in the see of C [...]nanus first a man of war, and after a bishop. [...]bbat Bren|dan. Armagh, after he had certeine yeares followed the warres. Brendan abbat at the age of ten yeares was of such incomparable holinesse (as they saie) and therwith so wise and learned, that his father and mo|ther, thinking themselues to haue gained the most worthie fruit that might insue of their mariage, by mutuall consent professed continencie, and abando|ned matrimoniall companie. He flourished in the daies of saint Briget, and liued in fanuliar societie with saint Arons the bishop, and Fintan the abbat.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Madoc aliâs Edan of noble parentage taken pri|soner by the king of Temore, and kept in his court Madoc. with diuerse yoong men his schoolefellowes, openlie adiured the king to licence him and them to depart, that they might serue God as they were accusto|med, the which being now kept in sunder and restrei|ned of libertie, they were forced to discontinue. He [...]|vpon immediatlie they were dismissed. He died bi|shop of Fernes, and laid the foundation of that bur|row. His successor Melingus, although he was bi|shop, gaue himselfe yet to voluntarie labour, and Melingus. with his owne hands deriued and brought a run|ning spring to his monasterie, induring that tra|uell daily after praier and studie for the space of eight yeares togither.

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.