hem lying, and for the
softening, the reproving, and the confounding of his hard-heartedness,
the stone immediately splitted in three parts. But Tremeus becoming
the more hardened by that which should have softened him, forthwith
ascended his chariot, and scorning and rejecting the prayer of the
saint, commanded these slaves to be afflicted with yet severer toil.
Wherefore the Lord suffering not that this insult to Patrick, the
second Moses, should go unavenged, now punished the contemner of his
servant, even as formerly he punished Pharao and his host; for the
horses which were yoked to the chariot of Tremeus, rushing forward,
plunged into a neighboring lake, and drowned in its waters the chariot
and him who sat therein. Then, this child of Belial being so
destroyed, Saint Patrick without hindrance freed these afflicted men
brought out of the house of bondage, and gave unto them their
long-desired freedom.

CHAPTER CXXXIV.

_An Angel foretelleth to Patrick of Saint Moccheus._

The blessed Patrick purposed to build a church in a place sufficiently
fair and fitting, which is now called Ludha. But an angel appearing
unto him, enjoined that he should desist therefrom, saying; "Soon shall
a servant of the Lord arrive from Britain, named Moccheus, who for the
sake of God deserting his country and his parents, shall come into
Hibernia; and in this place shall he build and dwell, and finish his
days in piety." Then the saint obeying the angel, turned unto the left
side of the place, and there builded unto the God of Jacob a tabernacle
which is yet known by the name of Saint Patrick. And Moccheus coming
thither, erected an oratory and all places fitting, and lived there a
life abundant in virtue; and often Saint Patrick was wont to visit him,
and confer with him on things pertaining unto God. And on a certain
day, while they were sitting together and communing of God, the angel
appeared and proffered unto them an epistle; the which Saint Patrick
reading, found to be an exhortation, nay, rather a command, unto him
especially directed, that he should absolutely confer on Moccheus the
place which he had builded, with all matters pertaining thereunto, and
that he himself should fix his cathedral seat in Ardmachia. And
Patrick willingly did as the angel, nay, rather as the Lord, had
enjoined and thence retiring, he commended unto Moccheus twelve lepers,
to whom he had ministered in Christ; and Moccheus assumed the ca