and the quern-stone used to turn swiftly of itself, without the hand of man, and to grind corn before all the folk.  For the angels of God were grinding for Saint Kyaranus, unseen of men.  And after no long time a certain man of the province of Mumenia, that is, of the people of the Desi, who was called Hiernanus, stirred up by divine favour, came with two most excellent vessels, like unto the vessel of that king, of the same sort and the same use, and gifted them in alms to Saint Kiaranus.  When the king heard the miracle of the quern-stone, he accepted those two vessels, and gave his liberty to Saint Kiaranus; for beforetime he would not for anger accept a ransom for him.  Thus was Saint Kiaranus freed from the servitude of the king; and Saint Kiaranus blessed that man with his tribe, by whom he himself obtained his liberty.

XXXIII.  HOW A PROPHECY WAS FULFILLED

12.  On a certain day when Saint Kieranus was in the place called Cluain Innsythe, he saw a ship floating on the river, and he saw a hut on the bank of the river.  Now there was a platter woven of twigs within it, full of ears of corn, with fire underneath so that they should be dried for grinding, as was the custom of the western people, that is, of Britain and of Ireland.  Saint Kyaranus said in prophecy, secretly, to his companions, “Yonder ship which is on the waters shall be burned to-day, and the hut which is on land shall be submerged.”  As they disputed and wondered, he said, “Wait a little space, and ye shall see it with your eyes.”  Forthwith that shiplet was raised from the water on to the land, and placed in a shed that its leaks and cracks might there be caulked.  But a bonfire having been lit, the shed was consumed, and the ship in its midst was likewise consumed.  But strong men, wrenching the hut out of the ground, cast it from the bank into the river, and there it was submerged, as the servant of the Lord prophesied.  When they heard and saw such a prophecy of things contrary, they gave glory to Christ who giveth such a gift unto his servants.

XV.  HOW CIARAN REPROVED HIS MOTHER

13.  On another day when Saint Kiaranus had come from the fields to his home, men came meeting him.  To them he said, “Whence have ye now come?” They said, “We come now from the house of Beoedus the wright.”  Said he to them, “Have ye gotten there fitting refreshment for Christ’s sake?” They said, “Nay; but we found there a hard woman who would not for hospitality give us so much as a drink.”  When Saint Kyaranus heard this, he blessed them, and came swiftly to his house, and entering the house he found no one therein, for its inmates were busied with their work out of doors.  Then blessed Kyaranus, moved with zeal for God, scattered all the food which he found in the house of his parents; for[2] the milk he poured on the ground, the butter he mixed with the sheep’s