al bishops and presbyters and other members of the church whom
he had ordained: and with certain of his disciples, led by his angelic
guide, he sailed toward Rome. Whither arriving, while in the presence
of the supreme pontiff he declared the cause of his coming, supreme
favor he found in his eyes; for, embracing and acknowledging him as the
apostle of Hibernia, he decorated the saint with the pall, and
appointing him his legate, by his authority confirmed whatsoever
Patrick had done, appointed or disposed therein. And many parting
presents, and precious gifts, which pertained unto the beauty, nay,
unto the strength of the church, did the Pope bestow on him;
where-among were certain relics of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and of
Stephen the proto-martyr, and of many other martyrs; and moreover, gave
he unto the saint a linen cloth, which was marked with the blood of our
Lord the Saviour Jesus Christ. Gift excelling all other gifts! And
with these most holy honors the saint being returned unto Hibernia,
fortified therewith this metropolitan church of Ardmachia (unto the
salvation of souls and the safety of the whole nation), and reposited
them in a chest behind the great altar. And in that church even from
the time of Saint Patrick the custom obtained that on the days of the
Passover and of the Pentecost these relics should be thereout produced,
and venerated in the presence of the people.

CHAPTER CLXVII.

_The Acts of Saint Patrick while returning from Rome._

But the miracles which Saint Patrick wrought, when going to Rome, or
returning thence, or after he had returned, are beyond our ability to
relate either one by one or all together. For wheresoever he remained
through the night, or made any abiding, left he behind him the proofs
of his sanctity, in the healing of some diseased person; inasmuch as
churches and oratories which were builded in those places and entitled
after his name are yet to be seen; and which even to this day are
redolent of his holiness, and impart the benefit of his miracles to
many who sought the same with the desert of faith. And in his return
he some time abided in his own country of Britain, and founded there
many monasteries, and rebuilded many others which had been destroyed of
the heathens; and he filled them with convents of holy monks who
assented unto that form of religion which he thereto appointed; many
events also, prosperous and adverse, which were to happen unto Bri