'Among all the miracles in Kildare, none appears to me more wonderful than that marvellous book which they say was written in the time of the virgin (St. Bridget), at the dictation of an angel. It contains the Four, Gospels according to St. Jerome, and almost every page is illustrated by drawings, illuminated with a variety of brilliant colours. In one page you see the countenance of the Divine Majesty supernaturally pictured; in another, the mystic forms of the Evangelists, with either six, four, or two wings; here are depicted the eagle; there the calf; here the face of a man; there of a lion, with other figures in almost endless variety. If you observe them superficially, and in the usual careless manner, you would imagine them to be daubs, rather than Careful compositions; expecting to find nothing exquisite, where, in truth, there is nothing which is not exquisite. But if you apply yourself to a more close examination, and are able to penetrate the secrets of the art displayed in these pictures, you will find them so delicate and exquisite - so finely drawn - and the work of interlacing so elaborate, while the colours with which they are illuminated are so blended, and still so fresh, that you will be ready to assert that all this is the work of angelic, and not human, skill. The more often and closely I scrutinise them, the more I am surprised, and always find them new, discovering fresh causes for increased admiration.

'Early in the night before the morning on which the scribe was to begin the book, an angel stood before him in a dream, and showing him a picture drawn on a tablet, which he had in his hand, said to him, "Do you think that you can draw this picture on the first page of the volume which you propose to copy?" The scribe, who doubted his skill in such exquisite art, in which he was uninstructed, and had no practice, replied that he could not. Upon this, the angel said, "On the morrow entreat your Lady to offer prayers for you to the Lord, that He would vouchsafe to open your bodily eyes, and give you spiritual vision, which may enable you to see more clearly, and understand with more intelligence, and employ your hands in drawing with accuracy." The scribe having done as he was commanded, the night following the angel came to him again, and presented to him the same picture, with a number of others. All these, aided by Divine grace, the scribe made himself master of, and faithfully committing them to his memory, exactly copied in his book in their proper places. In this manner, the book was composed: an angel furnishing the designs, St. Bridget praying, and the scribe copying.' - The Topography of Ireland.