3 In successive ages, this
authority
was gradually circum- scribed.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
243 Standing by the bedside, Columba invoked Christ's holy name.
He prayed, also,
of his body 24
Then opening his blessed lips, he said
:
Cummin, by Colgan, who gives Colgu a festival at February 20th. See ibid. , n. 1 7,
223 Interpreted "Alius Blai,"in the Second
Life. Colgan remarks, that he has little
doubt, but that the present Lugneus was some one of three saints, occurring in the
and nn. (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, k, 1), pp. 215 to 217.
231 By Dr. George Petrie. See "Eccle- siastical Architecture and Round Towers of Ireland," part ii. , sect, iii. , subs. 3, pp. 387
Irish Calendars, viz. at the 20th of :
to 389.
233 See ibid.
233 See Rev. " Diocese
ary, Lugneus, Priest, of Kill-Tarsna, at
the 25th of April ; Lugneus, Confessor, of
Letter or Letrach : and at the 31st of Decem-
ber, Lugneus, a Deacon. See ibid. , cap.
xxii. , and n. 18, pp. 327, 331. As the Pa-
tronymic is written by Adamnan, it may be
chap, xix. , pp. 543 to 546.
234 See Rev. Thomas lanes' "Civil and
Ecclesiastical History of Scotland," book ii. , sect, xlvi. , p. 196.
233 He is surnamed Mocumin, in the title of Adamnan's chapter.
236 When he was an old man.
237Notidentified. Mr. Reevesgivessome interesting details regarding Elochare, or
"
nepos Blai. "
Latinized
225 The title to this
of Adamnan
chapter reads in the following manner :
"De Angelo Domini qui alicui Fratri la: so de Monas- terii culmine rotundi in Roboreti Campo
"
" tured, may be Elona. See Adamnan's Life
Janu-
Anthony Cogan's
of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. ,
opportune tarn cito subvenerat. "
227 The Rev. Dr. Reeves argues, that the of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 18, and nn.
present chapter of Adamnan supplies a most
valuable link in the History of the Irish
Round Towers, which are supposed to date
back to the sixth century, and he thinks, that P- 354 5 Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib. ii. ,
it points to their primary use as monastic cap. lxxxv. , p. 425. ""
abodes, known by the name Monasterium Rotundum. "
228 The magna or major domus is supposed to have* been contradistinguished from the humble cells.
"* This anecdote is thus related by Noiker
Balbulus: " Et ecce in ipsius momenti turga,'' Quaita Vita S. Columbae. lib. i. , cap.
atomo, ita ruenti homini subventum est ab
Angelo, quasi—non scriptori, sed fabro sem- per adesset. " Canisius, "Antiquae Lec- tiones,"tomusv. ,p. 853.
230 See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's
"Life of St. lib. Columba,"
iii. , cap. 15,
243 See
Colgan's
" Trias
Thaumaturga,"
the Island of Saints," which it is conjec-
(a, b, c), pp. 127, 128.
238 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
QuartaVita S. Columbae, lib. ii. , cap. xviii. ,
239 Adamnan uses the expressions ad carnaiia medicamenta. "
240 It would seem from this anecdote, that St. Columba's monastery was resorted to for the relief of bodily infirmities.
xxvii. ,p. 344. Also, Quinta Vita S. Co- lumbae, lib. ii. , cap. xcvi. , p. 427.
24i
See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "LifeofSt. Columba,''lib. i. , cap. 27,and nn. (a, b), pp. 55, 56.
2<I See this account, in " Trias Thauma-
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 423
many years, after my death. 2<4 Diarmit was delivered incontinently from his
2 disease ; and, in good health, he survived the saint many a long year. *5
Wherejwood abounded, as a more convenient material to procure than stone,
the Irish were accustomed to use 21* 6 even when as did St. it, building churches,
Finian on the Island of Lindisfarne. It is a well-known fact, that such had
2*? even from the date of the first introduction of
into Northern Britain. The small cells, which surrounded the church,249 were frequently constructed of upright posts, to which planks were nailed ; or sometimes, stakes and rods were used, through which oziers and twigs were interwoven, while oratories and chapels even were formed in this manner,
duringtheprimitivetimesofChristianityintheseislands. 250 Itisprobable, that the interstices were covered with moistened clay, much in the manner of
It was — present day. probably
been the custom in
Ireland,
Christianity to our Island, and St. Columba 2«8 no doubt brought the practice
even at the
for some such purpose, that Columba sent 2SI to a place called Delcross 252
in Irish erecting partitions cabins,
thesituationofwhichisunknown. Thiswelearn,however,thathisearliest cell in Iona was formed of planks. The holy saint at that time desired some of his monks, to fetch from the fields of a certain countryman253 some rods 2 54 and twigs, for the building of a cell. 255 They brought their boat well laden with these materials. All who returned signified to the saint, that the farmer felt greatly grieved at the matter, in regard of the loss he thereby
" How can corn grow, against the nature of this country, :
" Fearing the man should be scandalized
sustained. Then the saint said
by us, let there be nine measures of barley carried to him, and let him sow these in his fields, even at this present time. " The corn being sent and de- livered with the former errand, that man, named Findchan, received it grate-
:
fully, but he said
when sown in midsummer. " To whom his wife answered *' Do as the saint hath commanded, to whom our Lord will grant what thing soever he shall de-
:
:
mand. " The messengers likewise added " Holy Columba sent us to you
with this gift, and with the following counsel. Let that man trust in God's
2-~° Founders of the first church erected in
'•
Britain built on Ynswitrin,
pel lam inferius per circuitum virgis torquatis muros perficientis. " See William of Malmes-
"" bury's account in Ussher's Works, vol.
v. , pp. 26, 132.
251 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
"Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 30, p. 144.
Vita S. Quarta
lib.
P- 357 > Vita Quinta S. Columbse, lib. ii. ,
cap. Ii. , p. 418.
*-u See " Life of St. Columba, Founder of
Hy," written by Adamnan, Ninth Abbot of that Monastery, Edited by William Reeves, D. D. , M. R. I. A. , &c, book ii. , chap, xxxi. , p. 57. Edinburgh, 1874, 8vo.
246 Thus
:
" more Scottorum, non de
oeAig pof, promontory of thorns. The ancient Irish Life refers this anecdote to the of " On a cenain
Columbse,
ii. , cap. xxx. ,
"
2)5 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's nn. (a, b, c, d, e), pp. 106, 107.
sed de robore sec—to totam
atque harundine texit. " Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica Centis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xxv. , p. 233.
217 Thus St. Kieran of Saighir had rods
and hay prepared for the construction of his
primitive cell.
248 He is said to have gathered three bun-
lapide,
composuit neighbourhood Deiry.
dies of rods to build a cell in Rathin, which afterwards he abandoned in favour of St. Carthage.
2'9 "Itwasbuilt,smallperhapsandrude, of suc—h materials as were most readily to be had. " C. Innes' "Sketches of Early Scotch History and Social Progress," chap, i. , p. 3.
"
occasion he sent his monks into a wood to cut watling for a church for him in Daire. " The title, however, of the chapter in Adam-
nan is opposed to such a supposition,
253 It is likely he lived in Mull,—or on some other island distinct from Iona especially as the materials were brought in a boat, Nor does it appear from any known record, that Columba had any tenants other than his
monks inhabiting Hy. 254Thesewereforthehurdlework,of
which the walls of houses, both secular and
ecclesiastical, were constructed. This, too, was a phase of primitive architectural m te rial among the Celts.
Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 3, and
252 Possibly the name is formed from ""
quandam ca-
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
omnipotence ; his com, although now sown twelve days after the month of
sowing the corn. In the middle of June, it grew so fast, and ripened so soon, that, to the great astonishment of all the neighbours, Findchan cut it down
in the beginning ofAugust. 25?
CHAPTER XI.
shall be
countryman, out of obedience to the saint, began ploughing the land, and
June
has
commenced,
reaped
in the
beginning
THE CHIEF MISSIONARY ESTABLISHMENT WAS FIXED AT IONA—MONASTERY OF ST. COLUMBA ON THE ISLAND OF HINBA—INAUGURATION OF KING AIDAN AT IONA—
— COLUMBA'S FOUNDATIONS ON ETHICA OR TIREE—BAITHAN'S PRESIDENCY—ADVEN- TURES—ST. COLUMBA PREDICTS THE ARRIVAL OF A PENITENT IN IONA—MONAS-
ETHICA—ANECDOTES OF COLUMBA'S OCCASIONAL RESIDENCE THERE—HIS VISIONS
TIC ESTABLISHMENT IN THE ISLAND OF SKYE.
The centre and chief station of religion among the Scots and Picts was Iona ; while it was the principal source, whence nearly all the churches and monas- teries of these people had t»een derived and propagated. Thence also
emanated that ecclesiastical authority, by which they were governed.
1
In
spirituals, the parent institution not only enjoyed a first place over all the monasteries of Columba's order, both among the Scots and Picts ; but, it
2
servedasaheadstationorcitadel, exercisinganextensivecontroloverthe
people at large.
3 In successive ages, this authority was gradually circum- scribed. The original grant of Hy, whether Scottish or Pictish, or both, was soon followed by the erection of other houses, extended to the adjacent islands. * The names of these,5 which were severally blessed with St.
6 Columba's exertions, are particularly mentioned, such as Ethica, Elena,7
8 and 10 In these he erected churches and formed Hinba, Oronsay9 Skye.
religious communities. With indefatigable zeal, he visited them frequently,
preaching the Gospel, and supplying them with religious teachers.
The history of St. Columba's proceedings in the Hebrides or Western Islands is known, chiefly from those recorded incidents, w—hich are connected severally with them. At Hinba, Himba,11 or Hymba sometimes called
255 According to Adainnan
:
" Suos misit
auspices of the local chiefs. "—"History of
Paganism in Caledonia, with an examina- tion into the influence of Asiatic Philosophy,
and the gradual development of Christianity in Pictavia," book iii. , chap, vi. , sect, v. , p. 256.
4 Thus, the founde—r speaks of the " marini nostri juris vituli. " Adamnan's Vita S.
monachos ut de alicujus plebeii agellulo vir- garum facicu—los ad hospitium afferrent con- struendum. " Lib. ii. , cap. 3.
256 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. iii. , p. 351.
257 In the neighbourhood of Iona, barley is occasionally sown early in July ; but, the usual time for sowing is June, and of reaping
Columbse, lib. i. , cap. 41.
s Columba's s—uccessor forbids a stay
"
in
of — nostris insulis. " early part September.
the
Chapter xi. See Rev. Thomas
"
Civil and Ecclesiastical History of Scotland," book ii. , sect, xxxi. , p. 173.
* See Rev. Ur. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba. " It is called "caput et arx. " AdditionalNotesN,pp. 341,368.
ap- pears to have been the custom to found monasteries on the model of that of Iona in the various centres of population, under the
Ibid. , lib. i. , 2. cap.
Innes'
Father Innes supposed the Terra Ethica to have meant the Shetland Islands. . It was however Tiree Island.
*6
3 Dr. Thomas A. Wise observes " It :
8 Not identified,
9 Near Colonsay Island,
,0 The largest Island of all the Hebrides, " If Himba, the reading in the Lives by
of 2^6 This August.
1 Supposed to have been Elachnave or "
Eileann naomh, Holy Island," and lying north-westofScarba.
[June 9.
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 425
Hinbina Insula I2—he founded a monastery, apparently soon after he had established on a firm basis his parent establishment. This Island has not yet been clearly identified,13 and unfortunately, the clues to it as afforded by
Adamnan are
1
* It
may reasonably
be 15 to have lain conjectured,
flame,
29 like a and as if burning pillar,
rising
from Columba's head. This
very slight.
northofandnotfardistantfrom TheIsland Hy.
6 or 1? Cannay,
Canna,'
which bears some resemblance in name, lies about four miles north-west of Rum. 18 Its church, of which the ruins and a small cross existed in 1772,
was named from St. Columba. J 9 The parsonage of the island belonged to
2° and the
to the
21 On various
the abbot of
and at different
it seems to have been a favourite place for his retreats and meditations,
which were so often interrupted at Iona. When visited by four holy founders
Hy, periods,
vicarage
bishop.
occasions,
Cummian, John of Tinmuth, and O'Don-
and in some MSS. of Adamnan, be correct, the name may have its origin in the old Irish word 1mbAC (Imbah), which Cor- mac explains, . 1. OciAti bdc . 1. imnr\ [mare] ut est rnuir\ ecir\ ©runt* ocup -AlbAin vel aliud quodcunque mare (gloss, in voc. ) :
cap. 18, and n. (a), p. 222.
16 Father Innes " It is like Himba says :
was what is since called Ouyst, or the long Island. " See " Civil and Ecclesiastical His- tory of Scotland," book ii. , sect, xxxix. ,
p. 189.
17 See an account of it in Thomas Pen-
nant's "Tour in Scotland, and Voyage to the Hebrides, mdcclxii. " part i. , pp. 311 to 317.
nell,
that is "a surrounding sea. " See John "
O'Donovan's Iri>hGrammar,"p. 274.
St. Columba lived on the Island of Hinba 22
; while,
of monasteries in viz. , 23 Cainnech,24 Brendan of 2*
Ireland, Comgall, Clonfert, and Cormac Hua Liathain,26 he happened to be there. These holy men with one accord choose, that St. Columba should consecrate the sacred
2
mysteries of the Eucharist in his church. ? Yielding to their pious desire, St.
Columba at once entered it with them on a 28 While Sunday.
celebrating Mass at their request, and in their presence, Brendan saw a very bright
12 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
" 18
Life of St. Columba," lib, i. , cap. 21, lib. ii. , cap. 24, and lib. hi. , cap. 5, 17, 18, 23, sect. 4.
See ibid. , pp. 317 to 324.
19 See Martin's " Western Isles of Scot-
13 However, William F. Skene thinks this
name indicates that group called the Gar-
veloch Isles, situated in the centre of the
great channel, which separates the Island of
Mull from the mainland of Lorn, and also
styled the lmbach, or "sea-surrounded. "
The most westernly ofthe four Islands which "Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 21, pp. constitute this group, is denominated Elach-
nave and Eilean na Naomh, or " Island of
"
5o, 51.
23 Abbot of Bangor. His feast occurs at
It is a grassy Island rising to a
Saints. "
considerable
a small and sheltered bay, on the lower ground, facing which are a fountain, called
St. Columcille's Well, and the foundations
of what must have been a monastic estab- lishment,nearw—hicharetheremainsoftwo June.
"-"
bee-hive cells. " William F. Skene's Cel- 1 See Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga,"
height,
Kilkenny.
and has at the west side
He was vene- rated on the nth of October.
tic Scotland : a History of Ancient Alban, vol. ii. , book ii. , chap, iv. , pp. 128, 129.
"
Prima Vita S. Columba? , cap. xii. , p. 322; Secunda Vita S. Columba? , cap. xii. , and nn. n, 12, 13, p. 331; Tertia Vita S. Co-
lumba? , cap. xxxvii, p. 334 ; Quarta Vita S. Columba? , lib. iii. , cap. xvii. , p. 367, and n. (! 9)> P- 386 ; Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib.
14 A conjecture has been offered, that previously to the occupation ofthe western Islands by the Scandinavians, Oransay separated from Colonsay by flood tide only, if not both of these Islands, at least the
ii. , cap. cvi. , p. 428. " 28
larger on—e seems to have been called See an account of this miraculous mani- Hymba. " "New Statistical Account of festation in Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
Scotland," vol. vii. , part ii. , p. 544.
15 From Adamnan's " Life of St. Colum-
ba," lib. iii. , cap. 5, and n. (b), p. 197 ; also
"Life of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 17,
pp. 219 to 222.
35 It is said to have shone like a comet.
land," p. 275.
29 See "Origines Parochiales Scotise,"
vol. ii. , and part i. , p. 339; also " Collec- tanea de Rebus Albanicis," pp. 2, 3.
21
2-
the 10th of May.
of his body 24
Then opening his blessed lips, he said
:
Cummin, by Colgan, who gives Colgu a festival at February 20th. See ibid. , n. 1 7,
223 Interpreted "Alius Blai,"in the Second
Life. Colgan remarks, that he has little
doubt, but that the present Lugneus was some one of three saints, occurring in the
and nn. (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, k, 1), pp. 215 to 217.
231 By Dr. George Petrie. See "Eccle- siastical Architecture and Round Towers of Ireland," part ii. , sect, iii. , subs. 3, pp. 387
Irish Calendars, viz. at the 20th of :
to 389.
233 See ibid.
233 See Rev. " Diocese
ary, Lugneus, Priest, of Kill-Tarsna, at
the 25th of April ; Lugneus, Confessor, of
Letter or Letrach : and at the 31st of Decem-
ber, Lugneus, a Deacon. See ibid. , cap.
xxii. , and n. 18, pp. 327, 331. As the Pa-
tronymic is written by Adamnan, it may be
chap, xix. , pp. 543 to 546.
234 See Rev. Thomas lanes' "Civil and
Ecclesiastical History of Scotland," book ii. , sect, xlvi. , p. 196.
233 He is surnamed Mocumin, in the title of Adamnan's chapter.
236 When he was an old man.
237Notidentified. Mr. Reevesgivessome interesting details regarding Elochare, or
"
nepos Blai. "
Latinized
225 The title to this
of Adamnan
chapter reads in the following manner :
"De Angelo Domini qui alicui Fratri la: so de Monas- terii culmine rotundi in Roboreti Campo
"
" tured, may be Elona. See Adamnan's Life
Janu-
Anthony Cogan's
of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. ,
opportune tarn cito subvenerat. "
227 The Rev. Dr. Reeves argues, that the of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 18, and nn.
present chapter of Adamnan supplies a most
valuable link in the History of the Irish
Round Towers, which are supposed to date
back to the sixth century, and he thinks, that P- 354 5 Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib. ii. ,
it points to their primary use as monastic cap. lxxxv. , p. 425. ""
abodes, known by the name Monasterium Rotundum. "
228 The magna or major domus is supposed to have* been contradistinguished from the humble cells.
"* This anecdote is thus related by Noiker
Balbulus: " Et ecce in ipsius momenti turga,'' Quaita Vita S. Columbae. lib. i. , cap.
atomo, ita ruenti homini subventum est ab
Angelo, quasi—non scriptori, sed fabro sem- per adesset. " Canisius, "Antiquae Lec- tiones,"tomusv. ,p. 853.
230 See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's
"Life of St. lib. Columba,"
iii. , cap. 15,
243 See
Colgan's
" Trias
Thaumaturga,"
the Island of Saints," which it is conjec-
(a, b, c), pp. 127, 128.
238 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
QuartaVita S. Columbae, lib. ii. , cap. xviii. ,
239 Adamnan uses the expressions ad carnaiia medicamenta. "
240 It would seem from this anecdote, that St. Columba's monastery was resorted to for the relief of bodily infirmities.
xxvii. ,p. 344. Also, Quinta Vita S. Co- lumbae, lib. ii. , cap. xcvi. , p. 427.
24i
See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "LifeofSt. Columba,''lib. i. , cap. 27,and nn. (a, b), pp. 55, 56.
2<I See this account, in " Trias Thauma-
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 423
many years, after my death. 2<4 Diarmit was delivered incontinently from his
2 disease ; and, in good health, he survived the saint many a long year. *5
Wherejwood abounded, as a more convenient material to procure than stone,
the Irish were accustomed to use 21* 6 even when as did St. it, building churches,
Finian on the Island of Lindisfarne. It is a well-known fact, that such had
2*? even from the date of the first introduction of
into Northern Britain. The small cells, which surrounded the church,249 were frequently constructed of upright posts, to which planks were nailed ; or sometimes, stakes and rods were used, through which oziers and twigs were interwoven, while oratories and chapels even were formed in this manner,
duringtheprimitivetimesofChristianityintheseislands. 250 Itisprobable, that the interstices were covered with moistened clay, much in the manner of
It was — present day. probably
been the custom in
Ireland,
Christianity to our Island, and St. Columba 2«8 no doubt brought the practice
even at the
for some such purpose, that Columba sent 2SI to a place called Delcross 252
in Irish erecting partitions cabins,
thesituationofwhichisunknown. Thiswelearn,however,thathisearliest cell in Iona was formed of planks. The holy saint at that time desired some of his monks, to fetch from the fields of a certain countryman253 some rods 2 54 and twigs, for the building of a cell. 255 They brought their boat well laden with these materials. All who returned signified to the saint, that the farmer felt greatly grieved at the matter, in regard of the loss he thereby
" How can corn grow, against the nature of this country, :
" Fearing the man should be scandalized
sustained. Then the saint said
by us, let there be nine measures of barley carried to him, and let him sow these in his fields, even at this present time. " The corn being sent and de- livered with the former errand, that man, named Findchan, received it grate-
:
fully, but he said
when sown in midsummer. " To whom his wife answered *' Do as the saint hath commanded, to whom our Lord will grant what thing soever he shall de-
:
:
mand. " The messengers likewise added " Holy Columba sent us to you
with this gift, and with the following counsel. Let that man trust in God's
2-~° Founders of the first church erected in
'•
Britain built on Ynswitrin,
pel lam inferius per circuitum virgis torquatis muros perficientis. " See William of Malmes-
"" bury's account in Ussher's Works, vol.
v. , pp. 26, 132.
251 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
"Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 30, p. 144.
Vita S. Quarta
lib.
P- 357 > Vita Quinta S. Columbse, lib. ii. ,
cap. Ii. , p. 418.
*-u See " Life of St. Columba, Founder of
Hy," written by Adamnan, Ninth Abbot of that Monastery, Edited by William Reeves, D. D. , M. R. I. A. , &c, book ii. , chap, xxxi. , p. 57. Edinburgh, 1874, 8vo.
246 Thus
:
" more Scottorum, non de
oeAig pof, promontory of thorns. The ancient Irish Life refers this anecdote to the of " On a cenain
Columbse,
ii. , cap. xxx. ,
"
2)5 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's nn. (a, b, c, d, e), pp. 106, 107.
sed de robore sec—to totam
atque harundine texit. " Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica Centis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xxv. , p. 233.
217 Thus St. Kieran of Saighir had rods
and hay prepared for the construction of his
primitive cell.
248 He is said to have gathered three bun-
lapide,
composuit neighbourhood Deiry.
dies of rods to build a cell in Rathin, which afterwards he abandoned in favour of St. Carthage.
2'9 "Itwasbuilt,smallperhapsandrude, of suc—h materials as were most readily to be had. " C. Innes' "Sketches of Early Scotch History and Social Progress," chap, i. , p. 3.
"
occasion he sent his monks into a wood to cut watling for a church for him in Daire. " The title, however, of the chapter in Adam-
nan is opposed to such a supposition,
253 It is likely he lived in Mull,—or on some other island distinct from Iona especially as the materials were brought in a boat, Nor does it appear from any known record, that Columba had any tenants other than his
monks inhabiting Hy. 254Thesewereforthehurdlework,of
which the walls of houses, both secular and
ecclesiastical, were constructed. This, too, was a phase of primitive architectural m te rial among the Celts.
Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 3, and
252 Possibly the name is formed from ""
quandam ca-
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
omnipotence ; his com, although now sown twelve days after the month of
sowing the corn. In the middle of June, it grew so fast, and ripened so soon, that, to the great astonishment of all the neighbours, Findchan cut it down
in the beginning ofAugust. 25?
CHAPTER XI.
shall be
countryman, out of obedience to the saint, began ploughing the land, and
June
has
commenced,
reaped
in the
beginning
THE CHIEF MISSIONARY ESTABLISHMENT WAS FIXED AT IONA—MONASTERY OF ST. COLUMBA ON THE ISLAND OF HINBA—INAUGURATION OF KING AIDAN AT IONA—
— COLUMBA'S FOUNDATIONS ON ETHICA OR TIREE—BAITHAN'S PRESIDENCY—ADVEN- TURES—ST. COLUMBA PREDICTS THE ARRIVAL OF A PENITENT IN IONA—MONAS-
ETHICA—ANECDOTES OF COLUMBA'S OCCASIONAL RESIDENCE THERE—HIS VISIONS
TIC ESTABLISHMENT IN THE ISLAND OF SKYE.
The centre and chief station of religion among the Scots and Picts was Iona ; while it was the principal source, whence nearly all the churches and monas- teries of these people had t»een derived and propagated. Thence also
emanated that ecclesiastical authority, by which they were governed.
1
In
spirituals, the parent institution not only enjoyed a first place over all the monasteries of Columba's order, both among the Scots and Picts ; but, it
2
servedasaheadstationorcitadel, exercisinganextensivecontroloverthe
people at large.
3 In successive ages, this authority was gradually circum- scribed. The original grant of Hy, whether Scottish or Pictish, or both, was soon followed by the erection of other houses, extended to the adjacent islands. * The names of these,5 which were severally blessed with St.
6 Columba's exertions, are particularly mentioned, such as Ethica, Elena,7
8 and 10 In these he erected churches and formed Hinba, Oronsay9 Skye.
religious communities. With indefatigable zeal, he visited them frequently,
preaching the Gospel, and supplying them with religious teachers.
The history of St. Columba's proceedings in the Hebrides or Western Islands is known, chiefly from those recorded incidents, w—hich are connected severally with them. At Hinba, Himba,11 or Hymba sometimes called
255 According to Adainnan
:
" Suos misit
auspices of the local chiefs. "—"History of
Paganism in Caledonia, with an examina- tion into the influence of Asiatic Philosophy,
and the gradual development of Christianity in Pictavia," book iii. , chap, vi. , sect, v. , p. 256.
4 Thus, the founde—r speaks of the " marini nostri juris vituli. " Adamnan's Vita S.
monachos ut de alicujus plebeii agellulo vir- garum facicu—los ad hospitium afferrent con- struendum. " Lib. ii. , cap. 3.
256 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. iii. , p. 351.
257 In the neighbourhood of Iona, barley is occasionally sown early in July ; but, the usual time for sowing is June, and of reaping
Columbse, lib. i. , cap. 41.
s Columba's s—uccessor forbids a stay
"
in
of — nostris insulis. " early part September.
the
Chapter xi. See Rev. Thomas
"
Civil and Ecclesiastical History of Scotland," book ii. , sect, xxxi. , p. 173.
* See Rev. Ur. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba. " It is called "caput et arx. " AdditionalNotesN,pp. 341,368.
ap- pears to have been the custom to found monasteries on the model of that of Iona in the various centres of population, under the
Ibid. , lib. i. , 2. cap.
Innes'
Father Innes supposed the Terra Ethica to have meant the Shetland Islands. . It was however Tiree Island.
*6
3 Dr. Thomas A. Wise observes " It :
8 Not identified,
9 Near Colonsay Island,
,0 The largest Island of all the Hebrides, " If Himba, the reading in the Lives by
of 2^6 This August.
1 Supposed to have been Elachnave or "
Eileann naomh, Holy Island," and lying north-westofScarba.
[June 9.
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 425
Hinbina Insula I2—he founded a monastery, apparently soon after he had established on a firm basis his parent establishment. This Island has not yet been clearly identified,13 and unfortunately, the clues to it as afforded by
Adamnan are
1
* It
may reasonably
be 15 to have lain conjectured,
flame,
29 like a and as if burning pillar,
rising
from Columba's head. This
very slight.
northofandnotfardistantfrom TheIsland Hy.
6 or 1? Cannay,
Canna,'
which bears some resemblance in name, lies about four miles north-west of Rum. 18 Its church, of which the ruins and a small cross existed in 1772,
was named from St. Columba. J 9 The parsonage of the island belonged to
2° and the
to the
21 On various
the abbot of
and at different
it seems to have been a favourite place for his retreats and meditations,
which were so often interrupted at Iona. When visited by four holy founders
Hy, periods,
vicarage
bishop.
occasions,
Cummian, John of Tinmuth, and O'Don-
and in some MSS. of Adamnan, be correct, the name may have its origin in the old Irish word 1mbAC (Imbah), which Cor- mac explains, . 1. OciAti bdc . 1. imnr\ [mare] ut est rnuir\ ecir\ ©runt* ocup -AlbAin vel aliud quodcunque mare (gloss, in voc. ) :
cap. 18, and n. (a), p. 222.
16 Father Innes " It is like Himba says :
was what is since called Ouyst, or the long Island. " See " Civil and Ecclesiastical His- tory of Scotland," book ii. , sect, xxxix. ,
p. 189.
17 See an account of it in Thomas Pen-
nant's "Tour in Scotland, and Voyage to the Hebrides, mdcclxii. " part i. , pp. 311 to 317.
nell,
that is "a surrounding sea. " See John "
O'Donovan's Iri>hGrammar,"p. 274.
St. Columba lived on the Island of Hinba 22
; while,
of monasteries in viz. , 23 Cainnech,24 Brendan of 2*
Ireland, Comgall, Clonfert, and Cormac Hua Liathain,26 he happened to be there. These holy men with one accord choose, that St. Columba should consecrate the sacred
2
mysteries of the Eucharist in his church. ? Yielding to their pious desire, St.
Columba at once entered it with them on a 28 While Sunday.
celebrating Mass at their request, and in their presence, Brendan saw a very bright
12 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
" 18
Life of St. Columba," lib, i. , cap. 21, lib. ii. , cap. 24, and lib. hi. , cap. 5, 17, 18, 23, sect. 4.
See ibid. , pp. 317 to 324.
19 See Martin's " Western Isles of Scot-
13 However, William F. Skene thinks this
name indicates that group called the Gar-
veloch Isles, situated in the centre of the
great channel, which separates the Island of
Mull from the mainland of Lorn, and also
styled the lmbach, or "sea-surrounded. "
The most westernly ofthe four Islands which "Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 21, pp. constitute this group, is denominated Elach-
nave and Eilean na Naomh, or " Island of
"
5o, 51.
23 Abbot of Bangor. His feast occurs at
It is a grassy Island rising to a
Saints. "
considerable
a small and sheltered bay, on the lower ground, facing which are a fountain, called
St. Columcille's Well, and the foundations
of what must have been a monastic estab- lishment,nearw—hicharetheremainsoftwo June.
"-"
bee-hive cells. " William F. Skene's Cel- 1 See Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga,"
height,
Kilkenny.
and has at the west side
He was vene- rated on the nth of October.
tic Scotland : a History of Ancient Alban, vol. ii. , book ii. , chap, iv. , pp. 128, 129.
"
Prima Vita S. Columba? , cap. xii. , p. 322; Secunda Vita S. Columba? , cap. xii. , and nn. n, 12, 13, p. 331; Tertia Vita S. Co-
lumba? , cap. xxxvii, p. 334 ; Quarta Vita S. Columba? , lib. iii. , cap. xvii. , p. 367, and n. (! 9)> P- 386 ; Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib.
14 A conjecture has been offered, that previously to the occupation ofthe western Islands by the Scandinavians, Oransay separated from Colonsay by flood tide only, if not both of these Islands, at least the
ii. , cap. cvi. , p. 428. " 28
larger on—e seems to have been called See an account of this miraculous mani- Hymba. " "New Statistical Account of festation in Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
Scotland," vol. vii. , part ii. , p. 544.
15 From Adamnan's " Life of St. Colum-
ba," lib. iii. , cap. 5, and n. (b), p. 197 ; also
"Life of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 17,
pp. 219 to 222.
35 It is said to have shone like a comet.
land," p. 275.
29 See "Origines Parochiales Scotise,"
vol. ii. , and part i. , p. 339; also " Collec- tanea de Rebus Albanicis," pp. 2, 3.
21
2-
the 10th of May.
