our sect, worketh many miracles; if
we let him go thus, all the people of Hibernia through him will believe
in his God, and the Christians will come and they will remove our
laws." Then took they counsel together, how they should destroy him
with their snares, and under the pretence of justice bring him unto the
death. And a certain woman was washing flax nigh unto the place where
the saint was to pass; and her they directed to hide much of the flax
in a hollow tree, and when the saint and his company passed by to
accuse him as of the theft. And the woman did according as she was
induced, nay rather as she was seduced; and loudly crying out, called
these children of Belial, and with wicked tongue accused him thereof.
And they, as before they had contrived, rushed forth from their
hiding-place, and seized the saint and his disciples as robbers, and
exclaimed that they were guilty unto the death. And in the place where
this accursed band were gathered together, was a tomb, and therein a
man was buried. Him did Saint Patrick, having first prayed, awaken
from the sleep of death; and by the virtue of the truth, which is God,
commanded that he should bear true witness of this their accusation.
And the revived man, openly protesting the innocence of the saint and
of his disciples, exposed the deceits of these wicked ones, and showed
in the presence of all where they had concealed the flax. Thus was
Saint Patrick and his people marvellously freed from the hands of the
destroyers, and his blood was in that day preserved, and brought
salvation to many which were evil-doers: for they who had contrived the
death of the herald of life, were by this miracle converted unto God
and obtained his mercy.

CHAPTER CXLVII.

_The Cross that was not observed; and the Voice which issued from the
Sepulchre._

And Saint Patrick was accustomed, wheresoever in his journeying he
beheld the triumphal sign of the cross, to descend from his chariot,
and to adore it with faithful heart and bended head, to touch it with
his hands, and embrace it with his arms, and to imprint on it the
repeated kiss of devout affection. And on a certain day sitting in his
chariot, most unwontedly he passed by a cross which was erected near
the wayside, unsaluted; for his eyes were held, that he saw it not.
This the charioteer observing, marvelled; but he held his peace, until
they arrived at their dwelling. But when they began to pray, as was
their cus