, in 1658, in
octavo.
5. It seems demonstrated that the St. Patrick who flourished among the
hermits of Glastonbury, and was there buried, was distinct from our
saint, and somewhat older.
6. C. 55, 56, 57, 58, 61.
7. The popular tradition attributes the exemption of their country from
venomous creatures to the benediction of St. Patrick, given by his
staff, called the staff of Jesus, which was kept with great
veneration in Dublin, as is mentioned in the year 1360, by Ralph
Higden, in his Polychronicon, published by Mr. Gale and by others.
The isle of Malta is said to derive a like privilege from St. Paul,
who was there bit by a viper.

St. Patrick's purgatory is a cave in an island in the lake Dearg, in
the county of Donnegall, near the borders of Fermanagh. Bollandus
shows the falsehood of many things related concerning it. Upon
complaint of certain superstitious and false notions of the vulgar,
in 1497, it was stopped up by an order of the pope. See Bollandus,
Tillemont, p. 787, Alemand in his Monastic History of Ireland, and
Thiers, Hist. des Superst. t. 4. ed. Nov. It was soon after opened
again by the inhabitants; but only according to the original
institution, as Bollandus takes notice, as a penitential retirement
for those who voluntarily chose it, probably in imitation of St.
Patrick, or other saints, who had there dedicated themselves to a
penitential state. The penitents usually spend there several days,
living on bread and water, lying on rushes or furze, and praying
much, with daily stations which they perform barefoot.

MANY MARTYRS AT ALEXANDRIA, IN 892.

THEOPHILIIS, patriarch of Alexandria, obtained a rescript of the emperor
Theodosius, to convert an old deserted temple of Bacchus into a
Christian church. In clearing this place, in the subterraneous secret
caverns, called by the Greeks Adyta, and held by the pagans as sacred,
were found infamous and ridiculous figures, which Theophilus caused to
be exposed in public, to show the extravagant superstitions of the
idolaters. The heathens in tumults raised a sedition, killed many
Christians in the streets, and then retired into the great temple of
Serapis as their fortress. In sallies they seized many Christians, and
upon their refusing to sacrifice to Serapis, put them to death by cruel
torments, crucifying them, breaking their legs, and throwing them into
th