s All of these predictions were exactly
fulfilled
in both cases, and according to the prophecy of the holy man.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
96 to 101.
172 It is called in Irish, muAfoe. •W A little to the south of Ballina.
" Acta Sanctorun Hiber- nian," Manii xxvi. , Vita S. Corbmaci, cap.
x. , p. 752*.
*n The Irish always styled this territory,
Genealogies,
Hy-
174 See
Colgan's
" You all know," he re-
and however mindful
pare with pp. 132, 144, 168, 368,398. Edi-
"
HIar Connaught," pp. 73, 96, 97
June 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 455
the
petition
was either refused or not entertained. A of St. Columba with St. Corbmac Ua
is 1 ? ?
poem extant, being
l8° his
a
when the latter had returned after his first navigation of the boundless ocean, 181 and after both had escaped from the Coire Brecain. 182 This is said to have been composed in Hy. l83 The same holy man Cormac l8« laboured a second time to find a wilderness, or large tract of land, out in the ocean. He had sailed far away, intent on this object. St. Columba was then staying in Drum Alban, and he commended Cormac to the King of the Orcades, in
Colloquy
presence of King Brudeus. St. Columba said
lately sailed, to discover a desert in the trackless ocean, after much wander- ing should they happen to reach the Orkneys, direct this chief, whose hos- tages are in your hands, that no injury befall them. " This the saint said, be- cause he knew by revelation, that after long and painful navigation, Cormac should be driven to the Orkney Islands. So it came to pass, through respect for the former commendation of St. Columkille, he escaped from the danger of death. As some of the saint's monks entered into conversation respecting Cormac, they said it was not known what issue his navigation had, or whether it was fortunate or unsuccessful. The saint overheard them talking in this
and he " Cormac of whom are now shall replied : you speaking,
manner,
arrive here this very day. " Within one hour after this occurred, Cormac arrived,tothegreatjoyandadmirationofallthecompany. Hethenpro- ceeded to the oratory, to thank the Lord for his safe return. The third time, that the said venerable man Cormac attempted to find out a wilderness in the sea, his life was exposed to great danger ; for being driven by a strong south wind, that blew for fourteen days without intermission, he sailed into the North Seas, even beyond the course and limits that should restrain human navigation and daring, in those unknown waters. It seemed impossible for him to return. But, on the tenth hour of the fourteenth day, there arose most fearful and insupportable dangers. Certain loathsome and terrible in- sects assailed the ship, on its sides, stem and prow. They were even ready to pierce it through the leather covering, which protected the ribs of his vessel. At sight of these creatures, which were nearly the size of frogs, and which could swim rapidly, although they could not fly in the air, the mariners were greatly annoyed and pained. For their stings were very penetrating, and they crowded in large numbers on the oar-handles. Seeing those mon- sters, Cormac and his mariners were so much afraid and amazed, that with tears trickling down their faces, they addressed their prayers to God, who alone is the sure and sovereign refuge in all distress. At the same time, St. Columba was present in spirit with Cormac, while in his ship. He caused, therefore, a sign to be made for his monks to assemble in the oratory. There
" Dear brethren, pray most earnestly for Cormac, who now sustains great dangers, having sailed beyond the allotted bounds of prudent enterprise. We ought therefore con- ceive a tender compassion for our dear fellow-members, being in such mani- fest danger, and pray to God for their comfort and safety. Behold, at this
moment, Cormac and his mariners are shedding copious tears, and fervently
prophesying after his wonted manner, Columba said
:
Burgunclian Library, Bruxelles.
off the north coast of Ireland.
l83 A version of this Poem in Irish, with an
English translation by Eugene O'Curry, as also illustrative notes, may be found in Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Co-
Additional Notes
lumba," F, pp. [264 to
269.
l84 Of whom Adamnan speaks, in his First
Book of St. Columba's Life.
180 His festival
occurs,
at the 21st of
June.
181 This begins with "Oia oo beacA a
Chopb-rmc criAin,—Latinized " Bene venisti
"
Cormace dilecte. " Colgan's Trias Thau-
maturga," Tertia Appendix ad Acta S. Columhse, Secunda pars, p. 472.
182 A celebrated
whirlpool
in the ocean,
:
M Some of our brethren have
Liathain,
disciple,
456 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
praying to our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us assist them, by our prayers, and taking compassion on us, the Almighty will cause the southern winds of the'Jast fourteendaystoblowreversedlyfromthenorth. " Afterspeakingthisandmuch more, St. Columba fell down prostrate on his knees before the altar. With a sorrowful heart and a doleful voice, he besought the omnipotent moderator of winds and waves, for the safety of the adventurous navigators. After
"
prayer, he rose up and refraining from tears, he joyfully said :
with our clear brethren, for whom we have been praying, for God will now convert the south wind into a northern gale, that will deliver them from all
danger and bring them hither in safety. " Immediately, the south winds ceased, and the north winds began to blow. This favourable change con- tinued for many days. Cormac at last arrived safe, and he gladdened all the company of monks with his presence. His first visit, after landing, was paid to St. Columba. By this, the reader may conjecture how great the holy Abbot was in God's eyes, who by invoking Christ's name commanded the raging winds and swelling billows. l8s
There is yet extant, an interesting account, regarding the wanderings of two priests or monks, belonging to St. Columkille's community. 186 On returning to Hy from Ireland, l8 ? they were driven by adverse winds into the northern seas,wheretheysawstrangemenandgreatwonders. Thismayhavesome foundation in
gators
had
fact,'
penetrated
so far north as
Iceland,
l89 which in
part they
colonized J
Aporici
Latin,
88 for we know that at a the Irish navi- very early period,
and Christianized. Even it is possible, they proceeded so far as Greenland, 9°
where are yet the ruins of primitive churches, very closely resembling those
built in —so far back as the time of St. Columba. Whether one of Ireland,
—he adventurers
whom the
tradition has been
foregoing preserved
t
regarding
was St. Cormac Ua Laithan or not admits of question.
A very poor and needy man, living near a place called Stagnum
now known as Loch Abor J92 came to the Lochabar,'93
'91 in
saint, bemoaning that he had nothing wherewith to sustain his wife and chil- dren. Columba had compassion for his distress. "Go, and cut in the next
" obediencethemanbroughtwithoutdelay. Thesaintsharpeneditwithhis
and bring it to me in haste. " This through ownhands,formingitintoapointedspit. Blessingit,likewise,hedelivered
wood a long pole," said our saint,
185 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 42, pp. 166to 171. andnn. (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, k, 1, m), ibid.
186 Contained in the Book of Fermoy.
north-eastern continuation of the Linnhe Loch, and known as that part of Loch Eil lying between Fort William and Corren Ferry. This was the Loch Abor proper of early times.
*93 Lochaber was an extensive anciently
lordship, reaching on the south to Loch- Leven. It is still a large district, in the county of Inverness, and on the shore of Argyleshire. The Scottish poet Allan Ram- sey has composed a beautiful song ''Locha- ber no more," in reference to—this place,
187 the Dublin Among
Trinity College MSS. there is a Tract also relating to this
incident. It is classed H. 2, 16.
188 See " Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Academy," vol. i. , part i. , Irish MSS. Series, p. 29.
189 See the Second Volume of this work, at February v. , Art. i. Life of St. Buo.
'9° The ancient Icelandish and — Norwegian
writers called the natives of Greenland— who belong to the Esquimaux family Skrellings. See " The Popular Encyclopae- dia ; or Conversations Lexicon," vol. iii. , Art. Greenland, pp. 554 to 556.
191 It lay in that division of Scotland, called Abria, by Buchannan, in his " Rerum Scoticarum Historia," lib. i. , p. 19.
192 It was that inlet of the sea, forming the
commencing with these lines
" Farewell to
Lochaber,
:
and farewell
my Jean,
Where heartsome with thee I've
mony day been ;
For Lochaber no more, Lochaber no
more,
We'll may be return to Lochaber no
more. " "Poems of Allan
—
No. xlii. , p. 171.
vol. Paisley, 1877, Svo.
Ramsay,"
ii. , Lyric,
Let us rejoice
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
457
it to the
"
and so
as preserve it, your house shall never want plenty of venison, and I believe it shallneverhurtmenorcattle,butonlywildbeastsandfishes. " Thepoorman rejoiced not a little, and returned to his house, bringing this stake with him. He fixed it in a remote place, which the wild beasts haunted, and coming next morning to see it, he found a great stag which had fallen upon it, pierced therewith ; and every day, he found a stag, roe or some other wild beast trans- fixed upon this stake. By means of it, he got such a store of venison, that he was enabled to sell a great quantity of it to his neighbours. His wife ad- vised him, however, to remove that stake from the spot in which it had been fixed, lest men or cattle should perish through its means, and as being the cause of such accident, themselves and their children might be put to death,
poor man, saying :
Keep
this stake
carefully,
long
you
or be made slaves. Her husband then said " This shall not be, for the
:
holy abbot, when blessing the stake said, that it should not hurt men nor cattle. " However,urgedbyhiswife,thatpoormanwent,andhedrewthestake from the earth. Afterwards, he set it against the wall of his house. Soon his dog fell upon it and was killed. This being observed by the wife, she feared that oneoftheirchildrenmightfareinlikemanner. Wherefore,toavoidsucha casualty, her husband resolved to remove, and to place it among rushes, in a very thick part of the wood, where he supposed it should not harm any living thing. But returning on the day following, he found that a goat had fallen on the stake, and had been killed. Then he removed that stake once more, and placed it near the bank, beside a river, which is Latinized Nigra Dea. r 94
the spot, and to his great surprise, he found a salmon S5 of astonishing size had been transfixed and held on the top of that stake. So heavy was the fish, that he could hardly bear it to his house. At the same time, he removed the stake, and he placed it on the top of his house. Soon a crow was found to have flown against it, and to have perished. That man's wife, having a superstitious fear of further consequences, advised her husband to cut it into pieces, and to cast these into the fire. This advice he adopted, and soon he fell into his former state of want and misery. But, for the remainder of his life, this ill-advised man bewailed the loss of this stake, to which St. Columba's
It was completely submerged in the water. The following day he revisited J
blessing
had such an unusual 1 imparted property.
? '
6
CHAPTER XIII.
ST. COLUMBA'S BLESSING MULTIPLIES THE HERDS OF CERTAIN POOR MEN—FATE OF THE IMPIOUS JOAN, SON OF CONALL—MIRACULOUS POWERS OF ST. COLUMBA— THE VISIT OF ST. CANICE TO IONA—MENTAL AND ANGELIC VISIONS VOUCHSAFED TO ST. COLUMEA—INCHCOLM—INAUGURATION OF AIDAN AS KING OVER DALRIADA, BY ST. COLUMBA—RYDDERCH HALL BECOMES KING OF STRATH- CLYDE.
In a conterminous to country,
1 and while St. Columba probably
Lochaber,
was on a certain occasion engaged for one of his frequent missionary excursions,
*** This river has not been identified, and in Irish it has received the name t)ub ban- oeA. In the Liber Armachanus, we find the name Bandea applied to a river in Ireland, at fol. lid, a. Whether it was identical with that here mentioned or not
to which of the Scotias the story contained in the text referred. The River Dee in Scot- land may be the one understood, but this conjecture, too, is uncertain.
I9S Adamnan has it " esocem in eo mine magnitudinis transfixum et retentum inve- nit. "
I? 6 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
" Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 37, and
*
might
nn.
Chapter xm. The Latin name given
determine
b, c), — to
(a, pp. 153 155.
to it, in Adamnan's text, is Stagnum Apo-
"
longus," which he interprets as Loch-abor,
rum, which Colgan calls
canalis, seu locus
458 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
he visited a man named Nesanus. 2 Though very poor, Nessans joyfully received the saint as his guest. After he had entertained the holy Abbot, as hospitably as his means afforded for one night, the saint asked him how
many
cows he had. He answered five.
The saint then said " them : Bring
until I bless them. '; When
holy hand and blessed them. Then he said heifersshallincreasetothenumberofonehundredandfivecows. " And,as this same Nesanus was a man of humble condition, having a wife and chil-
to
me,
they
were the saint raised his brought,
" Your seed shall be blessed in your children and grand-children. " All this was completely ful- filled in every particular, according to the word of the saint. On the other hand,3 he pronounced the following prophetic sentence, on a certain rich miser named Uigenius/* who despised St. Columba, and who showed him no " But the riches of that who has contemned Christ
dren, the saint added this further blessing, saying :
miser,
in his pilgrims, shall be gradually diminished from this day, and reduced to
hospitality, saying :
nothing; while himself shall become a beggar ; his son shall go about from house to house, with a half empty bag; and he shall be slain by a rival with
an axe, in the pit of a threshing floor.
s All of these predictions were exactly fulfilled in both cases, and according to the prophecy of the holy man. 6 Having lodged for a night at the house of one Columbanus? who was a very
8
poor man, in the morning our saint questioned his host concerning the
" You shall by God's grace have one hundred and five cows, while this benediction shall extend to your children and grand-children, who shall be numerous. " Which prophe- tical saying fell out to be most true. Those cows, having multiplied to the aforesaid number, could not be increased for their master, for how many soever exceeded that limit perished by several mischances, excepting those he made use of in maintaining his family or in alms-giving. As in other cases, here we find the gifts of prophecy and of miracles united, in the sayings and doings of the holy Abbot. 10 The venerable superior loved entirely the afore-
quantity and quality of his substance. The poor man answered
five small cows,° which if you vouchsafe to bless, I doubt not, but they shall increase to a greater number. " The saint commanded him to bring them
into his presence, and when blessing them, he said
:
in the Scottish language. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. xx. , p. 354, and n. 21, p. 383.
"excussorium," means an area, where grain had been separated from the straw, and pro- bably in this instance by a flail. In coun- tries of the east, grain was often trodden out
oxen, and we find allusion to that
by practice
in the Sacred Scriptures.
6
This latter part of the narrative is omitted in some MSS. , but it is contained in Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Co- lumba," lib. ii. , cap. 20. pp. 130, 131. See alsonn. (a, b, c, d, e, f, g).
7 See for the account in the text, Colgan's
is likewise, Nessanus or 2He —
styled,
Nisanus the Crooked probably owing to
some personal deformity. See an account of this miracle, in Prima Vita S. Columbse,
cap. xxv. , p. 324, ibid.
3 This narrative immediately following has
neither title nor rubric to constitute it a dis- tinct chapter, as Pinkerton has made it, in
his edition of Adamnan. Though its
resembles that of Adamnan, yet it is- of lumba;, lib. ii. , cap. xxi. , p. 355 ; Quinta doubtful authority, not being in Codex A, Vita, lib. ii. , cap. lxxi. , p. 422.
style
used by Rev. Dr. Reeves, when compiling his edition.
4 In the Capitulationes to the Second
" Trias Vita S. Co- Thaumaturga," (Quarta
9 The poverty or size of these animals
seems to be indicated in this and in the pre-
ceding chapter of Adamnan by the use of
such diminutives, as "boculae," "vacculae," "
to read ingenio," owing to the capricious See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life
grouping of letters, formed by strokes. of St. Columba," lib ii. , cap. 21, and n. (b), s This Latin word used by Adamnan pp. 131, 132.
Book of Adamnan, the name occurs as ""
written Uigeno," in the text Uigenio," in Dr. Reeves edition. The original seems
pauculse. "
" 10 "
8
By O'Donnell, he is called Colma.
:
" From this day, your five little
:
" I have
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. said person, for many kind acts and pious offices he had done.
fortune, when proceeding with his companions on their way to a vessel, to meet with the saint, who rebuked him for his wickedness, and who endeavoured to persuade him to restore those goods unjustly taken. 16 But little regarding the saint's prayers and admonitins—yea, rather laughing and scoffing at him— Columba followed even to the sea-side and entered the clear green salt water ** up to his knees. This port was at a spot called in Irish, Ait-Chambas l8 Art- Muirchol. 1 ? In that place, Columba offered his prayers most fervently to Christ, who glorifieth his elect that glorify him. Having made an end of this prayer, our saint returned to the dry shore, where sitting down on a eminence
:
with his companions, he pronounced these fearful words " The miserable
wretch, who hath this day despised Christ in his servants, shall never return to the haven whence he departed, nor yet arrive in any other, but he shall be drowned in the midst of ocean waves, together with his wicked accomplices. A furious storm, on this day, shall proceed from a cloud you must soon see rising in the north, and not one of those raiders shall survive to tell the tale. "
11 He is also mentioned, again, in Adam- Cowel), with its islands. Twice seven-
certain wicked named 11 son of 12 son to man, Joan, Conall,
459
However, a
and
Domhnall,'3 descending from the blood royal I4- of Gabran, *s had persecuted Columbanus, oursaint'sdearfriend,andhadtwicerobbedhishouse. Thisunprincipled mantookawayallthegoodsofColumbanus. Thethirdtime,itwasJoan's
nan's "Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. xxiv. , as a bad man, and as a wicked perse- cutor of the Church.
12 Who he was does not seem to be clear. The King of Scotland, Aidan, Gabh- ren's son, was St. Columba's contemporary, and he lived until A. D. 606. See Rev. Dr.
O'ConorVRerumHibernicarumScriptores,' tomus ii. , Tigernaclii Annales, pp. 179, 180.
His grand-nephew is represented as being at man's estate many years before that period.
—
13 The sons of Gabhran for allusion is
here made to one ofhis race—are thus enu- merated, in the Irish Tract on the Men of Alba : 5Abj\An, utnorirxo, CU15 mec ley . 1. •Ao'OAn (. 1. Oiffo ponn) eoJAriAn,CuiboAc (no CalLac), 'OorhnAlL, Agur'OoifiAttso^c. "Gabhran, now, had five sons, viz. : Aodhan {i. e. Aodh Finn), Eoghanan (mentioned by Adamnan, in lib. iii. , cap. 5, Obiit A. D. 595) Cuildach (or Callach), Domhnall and Dom- hangort. " Such is the account contained in the Book of Ballymote, fol. 84^, a ; as also
in Mac Firbis' Genealogical Manuscripts, at p. 401. It is remarkable how admirably —as in the present instance—they coincide with Adamnan's account.
benches to every 20 houses was their sea muster. " This is found in the Book of Bally- mote, at fol. 84/$, b ; as also in Mac Firbis'
very
Genealogical Manuscript,
pp. 403, 404.
There is no place in Ardnamurchan called Aitcampasor Ait Chambas; but there the race of Gabhran. See Dr. O'Conor's is Camusnangel, and Canusinish ; there is also Comisteras on the south coast, and
14 At the year 719, Tighernach treats about
" Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , Tigernaci Annales, p. 230. Of the
cecne pnnrtcnieoiL "OaiL'|\ia'oa, or " the four chief familes of Dalriada," the cineub n-jAbrxAin, race of Gabran was one. Cineub n-'5Ab]\Aln Annro. Crtf xx. cej Ar\ 0015 ceux)Aib. CeAnnCij\e Agur Cr»ioc Corn^AilX
Cammaseen to the east, in Sunart.
19 Identified as Ardnamurchan, a district on the northern bounds of Argyleshire, and
the most westerly point in the mainland of Great Britain. See J. R. M'Culloch's
T)a recc ref Jac ,xx. ceg A " The Race of Gabhran here. Five hundred and three score houses, Ceann- tire (now Caniire), and Comgall's land (now
Historical of the Various Countries, Places
and Natural in the Principal Objects
World," vol. i. , p. 1 78. London, 1866, 8vo.
cotiA inrib.
r;eAcc
mA]\A.
at
15 Gabhran was the son of Domhangart by
Fedhelm, daughter of Brian, son to Eoch- aidh Muighmedhain, son of Fergus Mor, who succeeded his brother Comgall as King of Scotic Dalriada, A. D. 558. He died in the year 560, according to the Annalist Tighernach : b&yy 5Abr>Ain nuc 'OomAn-
" Domangart,KingofAlba. " See"Rerum
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , Tiger- nachi Annales, p. 141. He was succeeded, by his nephew Conall.
16
Joan was probably one of those early freebooters, who in after ages were denomi- nated caterans, in the Highlands of Scotland, and whose wild ways of living are so forcibly illustrated in Sir Walter Scott's romance, " The Fair Maid of Perth, or St. Valen- tine's Eve. "
*J Or as expressed in Irish, gbAif riA- mArvA ; or as it is now usually called, in Latin "vitrea aqua maris. "
18
gAirvc r\i -AbbAti,
Death of Gabran, son of
"
Dictionary Geographical, Statistical, and
20
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
460 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
This dreadful though just prophecy of the saint was fully accomplished in thepresenceofthemall, afterthelapseofafewmoments. 20 Soonthatcloud arose from the sea, and a hurricane setting in followed the robber with his spoil. He and his seamen were swallowed in the yeasty waves, between the IslandofMull2Iand
22 Whatseemedmostremarkablewasastorm
Colonsay.
raging over them, while the surrounding ocean remained tranquil. Not one
of the for all sunk in the treacherous 23 plunderers escaped, deeps.
When at one time travelling, the parents of a young infant brought to 2
Columba their child, so that he might be christened. * But, as no water could be found in the adjoining places, the saint turned towards a rock which was near, and after praying a little upon his knees, the holy man blessed the face of that rock. Out of it gushed an abundant stream ofwater. 2 s Therein
he baptized their young son, of whom also he prophesied, that in youth this child should be addicted to unlawful desires and sensuality, but that after- wards,heshouldgivehimselftothestudyofChristianperfection. Inthisstate he was destined to persevere to the end of his life, and he was to die at a good old age. All which happened to be true, in the sequel. The name of this
26 His
Muirchal. ? In the time of Adamnan, a well, called after St. Columkille, was
man was
Lugucencalad. 2
parents
dwelt in a
known as Ardtaib
place,
exercise of holy prayer. When he began to pray in that soot selected, sud- denly he saw an ugly and a deformed host of devils fighting against him with iron darts, and these demons intended, as the saint knew by the inward illu- mination of the Holy Ghost, to assail his monastery, and to kill with their pointed spears many of his monks. But, when alone, St. Columkille took
seen in that
28 Another time while in
our saint in the sought
Iona,
woods 2° a solitary place, unfrequented by men, and commodious for the
locality.
Quarta Vita S. Columba? , lib. ii. , cap. xxii. ,
P- 355 > Quinta Vita S. Columba? , lib. ii. ,
cap. lxxii. , p. 422.
endeavours to find out a saint in the Irish
Calendars for identification with him ; but,
he can only discover one Lugh, Luga, Lugu or Lugus, at the 16th of June.
2? The old form of Ardnamurchan, the peninsular district of the northern boundary of Argyleshire. Its church was called Kil- coan, dedicated to St. Congan, the Abbot, and it was situated near the south coast, on the right bank of a stream, falling into Kil- choan Pay. Ardnamurchan Point termi- nates the western extremity of the mainland of Scotland. From east to west, Ardna- murchan is crossed by high hills and deep valleys, and it has a coast-line many miles in extent. See Cosmo Innes' "Origiues Parochiales Scotioe," vol ii. , part i. , pp. 194 to 197.
21
tains about 300 square miles. Itliesoutsideof Loch Linnhe, in Western Argyleshire. See
James A.
172 It is called in Irish, muAfoe. •W A little to the south of Ballina.
" Acta Sanctorun Hiber- nian," Manii xxvi. , Vita S. Corbmaci, cap.
x. , p. 752*.
*n The Irish always styled this territory,
Genealogies,
Hy-
174 See
Colgan's
" You all know," he re-
and however mindful
pare with pp. 132, 144, 168, 368,398. Edi-
"
HIar Connaught," pp. 73, 96, 97
June 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 455
the
petition
was either refused or not entertained. A of St. Columba with St. Corbmac Ua
is 1 ? ?
poem extant, being
l8° his
a
when the latter had returned after his first navigation of the boundless ocean, 181 and after both had escaped from the Coire Brecain. 182 This is said to have been composed in Hy. l83 The same holy man Cormac l8« laboured a second time to find a wilderness, or large tract of land, out in the ocean. He had sailed far away, intent on this object. St. Columba was then staying in Drum Alban, and he commended Cormac to the King of the Orcades, in
Colloquy
presence of King Brudeus. St. Columba said
lately sailed, to discover a desert in the trackless ocean, after much wander- ing should they happen to reach the Orkneys, direct this chief, whose hos- tages are in your hands, that no injury befall them. " This the saint said, be- cause he knew by revelation, that after long and painful navigation, Cormac should be driven to the Orkney Islands. So it came to pass, through respect for the former commendation of St. Columkille, he escaped from the danger of death. As some of the saint's monks entered into conversation respecting Cormac, they said it was not known what issue his navigation had, or whether it was fortunate or unsuccessful. The saint overheard them talking in this
and he " Cormac of whom are now shall replied : you speaking,
manner,
arrive here this very day. " Within one hour after this occurred, Cormac arrived,tothegreatjoyandadmirationofallthecompany. Hethenpro- ceeded to the oratory, to thank the Lord for his safe return. The third time, that the said venerable man Cormac attempted to find out a wilderness in the sea, his life was exposed to great danger ; for being driven by a strong south wind, that blew for fourteen days without intermission, he sailed into the North Seas, even beyond the course and limits that should restrain human navigation and daring, in those unknown waters. It seemed impossible for him to return. But, on the tenth hour of the fourteenth day, there arose most fearful and insupportable dangers. Certain loathsome and terrible in- sects assailed the ship, on its sides, stem and prow. They were even ready to pierce it through the leather covering, which protected the ribs of his vessel. At sight of these creatures, which were nearly the size of frogs, and which could swim rapidly, although they could not fly in the air, the mariners were greatly annoyed and pained. For their stings were very penetrating, and they crowded in large numbers on the oar-handles. Seeing those mon- sters, Cormac and his mariners were so much afraid and amazed, that with tears trickling down their faces, they addressed their prayers to God, who alone is the sure and sovereign refuge in all distress. At the same time, St. Columba was present in spirit with Cormac, while in his ship. He caused, therefore, a sign to be made for his monks to assemble in the oratory. There
" Dear brethren, pray most earnestly for Cormac, who now sustains great dangers, having sailed beyond the allotted bounds of prudent enterprise. We ought therefore con- ceive a tender compassion for our dear fellow-members, being in such mani- fest danger, and pray to God for their comfort and safety. Behold, at this
moment, Cormac and his mariners are shedding copious tears, and fervently
prophesying after his wonted manner, Columba said
:
Burgunclian Library, Bruxelles.
off the north coast of Ireland.
l83 A version of this Poem in Irish, with an
English translation by Eugene O'Curry, as also illustrative notes, may be found in Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Co-
Additional Notes
lumba," F, pp. [264 to
269.
l84 Of whom Adamnan speaks, in his First
Book of St. Columba's Life.
180 His festival
occurs,
at the 21st of
June.
181 This begins with "Oia oo beacA a
Chopb-rmc criAin,—Latinized " Bene venisti
"
Cormace dilecte. " Colgan's Trias Thau-
maturga," Tertia Appendix ad Acta S. Columhse, Secunda pars, p. 472.
182 A celebrated
whirlpool
in the ocean,
:
M Some of our brethren have
Liathain,
disciple,
456 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
praying to our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us assist them, by our prayers, and taking compassion on us, the Almighty will cause the southern winds of the'Jast fourteendaystoblowreversedlyfromthenorth. " Afterspeakingthisandmuch more, St. Columba fell down prostrate on his knees before the altar. With a sorrowful heart and a doleful voice, he besought the omnipotent moderator of winds and waves, for the safety of the adventurous navigators. After
"
prayer, he rose up and refraining from tears, he joyfully said :
with our clear brethren, for whom we have been praying, for God will now convert the south wind into a northern gale, that will deliver them from all
danger and bring them hither in safety. " Immediately, the south winds ceased, and the north winds began to blow. This favourable change con- tinued for many days. Cormac at last arrived safe, and he gladdened all the company of monks with his presence. His first visit, after landing, was paid to St. Columba. By this, the reader may conjecture how great the holy Abbot was in God's eyes, who by invoking Christ's name commanded the raging winds and swelling billows. l8s
There is yet extant, an interesting account, regarding the wanderings of two priests or monks, belonging to St. Columkille's community. 186 On returning to Hy from Ireland, l8 ? they were driven by adverse winds into the northern seas,wheretheysawstrangemenandgreatwonders. Thismayhavesome foundation in
gators
had
fact,'
penetrated
so far north as
Iceland,
l89 which in
part they
colonized J
Aporici
Latin,
88 for we know that at a the Irish navi- very early period,
and Christianized. Even it is possible, they proceeded so far as Greenland, 9°
where are yet the ruins of primitive churches, very closely resembling those
built in —so far back as the time of St. Columba. Whether one of Ireland,
—he adventurers
whom the
tradition has been
foregoing preserved
t
regarding
was St. Cormac Ua Laithan or not admits of question.
A very poor and needy man, living near a place called Stagnum
now known as Loch Abor J92 came to the Lochabar,'93
'91 in
saint, bemoaning that he had nothing wherewith to sustain his wife and chil- dren. Columba had compassion for his distress. "Go, and cut in the next
" obediencethemanbroughtwithoutdelay. Thesaintsharpeneditwithhis
and bring it to me in haste. " This through ownhands,formingitintoapointedspit. Blessingit,likewise,hedelivered
wood a long pole," said our saint,
185 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 42, pp. 166to 171. andnn. (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, k, 1, m), ibid.
186 Contained in the Book of Fermoy.
north-eastern continuation of the Linnhe Loch, and known as that part of Loch Eil lying between Fort William and Corren Ferry. This was the Loch Abor proper of early times.
*93 Lochaber was an extensive anciently
lordship, reaching on the south to Loch- Leven. It is still a large district, in the county of Inverness, and on the shore of Argyleshire. The Scottish poet Allan Ram- sey has composed a beautiful song ''Locha- ber no more," in reference to—this place,
187 the Dublin Among
Trinity College MSS. there is a Tract also relating to this
incident. It is classed H. 2, 16.
188 See " Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Academy," vol. i. , part i. , Irish MSS. Series, p. 29.
189 See the Second Volume of this work, at February v. , Art. i. Life of St. Buo.
'9° The ancient Icelandish and — Norwegian
writers called the natives of Greenland— who belong to the Esquimaux family Skrellings. See " The Popular Encyclopae- dia ; or Conversations Lexicon," vol. iii. , Art. Greenland, pp. 554 to 556.
191 It lay in that division of Scotland, called Abria, by Buchannan, in his " Rerum Scoticarum Historia," lib. i. , p. 19.
192 It was that inlet of the sea, forming the
commencing with these lines
" Farewell to
Lochaber,
:
and farewell
my Jean,
Where heartsome with thee I've
mony day been ;
For Lochaber no more, Lochaber no
more,
We'll may be return to Lochaber no
more. " "Poems of Allan
—
No. xlii. , p. 171.
vol. Paisley, 1877, Svo.
Ramsay,"
ii. , Lyric,
Let us rejoice
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
457
it to the
"
and so
as preserve it, your house shall never want plenty of venison, and I believe it shallneverhurtmenorcattle,butonlywildbeastsandfishes. " Thepoorman rejoiced not a little, and returned to his house, bringing this stake with him. He fixed it in a remote place, which the wild beasts haunted, and coming next morning to see it, he found a great stag which had fallen upon it, pierced therewith ; and every day, he found a stag, roe or some other wild beast trans- fixed upon this stake. By means of it, he got such a store of venison, that he was enabled to sell a great quantity of it to his neighbours. His wife ad- vised him, however, to remove that stake from the spot in which it had been fixed, lest men or cattle should perish through its means, and as being the cause of such accident, themselves and their children might be put to death,
poor man, saying :
Keep
this stake
carefully,
long
you
or be made slaves. Her husband then said " This shall not be, for the
:
holy abbot, when blessing the stake said, that it should not hurt men nor cattle. " However,urgedbyhiswife,thatpoormanwent,andhedrewthestake from the earth. Afterwards, he set it against the wall of his house. Soon his dog fell upon it and was killed. This being observed by the wife, she feared that oneoftheirchildrenmightfareinlikemanner. Wherefore,toavoidsucha casualty, her husband resolved to remove, and to place it among rushes, in a very thick part of the wood, where he supposed it should not harm any living thing. But returning on the day following, he found that a goat had fallen on the stake, and had been killed. Then he removed that stake once more, and placed it near the bank, beside a river, which is Latinized Nigra Dea. r 94
the spot, and to his great surprise, he found a salmon S5 of astonishing size had been transfixed and held on the top of that stake. So heavy was the fish, that he could hardly bear it to his house. At the same time, he removed the stake, and he placed it on the top of his house. Soon a crow was found to have flown against it, and to have perished. That man's wife, having a superstitious fear of further consequences, advised her husband to cut it into pieces, and to cast these into the fire. This advice he adopted, and soon he fell into his former state of want and misery. But, for the remainder of his life, this ill-advised man bewailed the loss of this stake, to which St. Columba's
It was completely submerged in the water. The following day he revisited J
blessing
had such an unusual 1 imparted property.
? '
6
CHAPTER XIII.
ST. COLUMBA'S BLESSING MULTIPLIES THE HERDS OF CERTAIN POOR MEN—FATE OF THE IMPIOUS JOAN, SON OF CONALL—MIRACULOUS POWERS OF ST. COLUMBA— THE VISIT OF ST. CANICE TO IONA—MENTAL AND ANGELIC VISIONS VOUCHSAFED TO ST. COLUMEA—INCHCOLM—INAUGURATION OF AIDAN AS KING OVER DALRIADA, BY ST. COLUMBA—RYDDERCH HALL BECOMES KING OF STRATH- CLYDE.
In a conterminous to country,
1 and while St. Columba probably
Lochaber,
was on a certain occasion engaged for one of his frequent missionary excursions,
*** This river has not been identified, and in Irish it has received the name t)ub ban- oeA. In the Liber Armachanus, we find the name Bandea applied to a river in Ireland, at fol. lid, a. Whether it was identical with that here mentioned or not
to which of the Scotias the story contained in the text referred. The River Dee in Scot- land may be the one understood, but this conjecture, too, is uncertain.
I9S Adamnan has it " esocem in eo mine magnitudinis transfixum et retentum inve- nit. "
I? 6 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
" Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 37, and
*
might
nn.
Chapter xm. The Latin name given
determine
b, c), — to
(a, pp. 153 155.
to it, in Adamnan's text, is Stagnum Apo-
"
longus," which he interprets as Loch-abor,
rum, which Colgan calls
canalis, seu locus
458 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
he visited a man named Nesanus. 2 Though very poor, Nessans joyfully received the saint as his guest. After he had entertained the holy Abbot, as hospitably as his means afforded for one night, the saint asked him how
many
cows he had. He answered five.
The saint then said " them : Bring
until I bless them. '; When
holy hand and blessed them. Then he said heifersshallincreasetothenumberofonehundredandfivecows. " And,as this same Nesanus was a man of humble condition, having a wife and chil-
to
me,
they
were the saint raised his brought,
" Your seed shall be blessed in your children and grand-children. " All this was completely ful- filled in every particular, according to the word of the saint. On the other hand,3 he pronounced the following prophetic sentence, on a certain rich miser named Uigenius/* who despised St. Columba, and who showed him no " But the riches of that who has contemned Christ
dren, the saint added this further blessing, saying :
miser,
in his pilgrims, shall be gradually diminished from this day, and reduced to
hospitality, saying :
nothing; while himself shall become a beggar ; his son shall go about from house to house, with a half empty bag; and he shall be slain by a rival with
an axe, in the pit of a threshing floor.
s All of these predictions were exactly fulfilled in both cases, and according to the prophecy of the holy man. 6 Having lodged for a night at the house of one Columbanus? who was a very
8
poor man, in the morning our saint questioned his host concerning the
" You shall by God's grace have one hundred and five cows, while this benediction shall extend to your children and grand-children, who shall be numerous. " Which prophe- tical saying fell out to be most true. Those cows, having multiplied to the aforesaid number, could not be increased for their master, for how many soever exceeded that limit perished by several mischances, excepting those he made use of in maintaining his family or in alms-giving. As in other cases, here we find the gifts of prophecy and of miracles united, in the sayings and doings of the holy Abbot. 10 The venerable superior loved entirely the afore-
quantity and quality of his substance. The poor man answered
five small cows,° which if you vouchsafe to bless, I doubt not, but they shall increase to a greater number. " The saint commanded him to bring them
into his presence, and when blessing them, he said
:
in the Scottish language. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. xx. , p. 354, and n. 21, p. 383.
"excussorium," means an area, where grain had been separated from the straw, and pro- bably in this instance by a flail. In coun- tries of the east, grain was often trodden out
oxen, and we find allusion to that
by practice
in the Sacred Scriptures.
6
This latter part of the narrative is omitted in some MSS. , but it is contained in Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Co- lumba," lib. ii. , cap. 20. pp. 130, 131. See alsonn. (a, b, c, d, e, f, g).
7 See for the account in the text, Colgan's
is likewise, Nessanus or 2He —
styled,
Nisanus the Crooked probably owing to
some personal deformity. See an account of this miracle, in Prima Vita S. Columbse,
cap. xxv. , p. 324, ibid.
3 This narrative immediately following has
neither title nor rubric to constitute it a dis- tinct chapter, as Pinkerton has made it, in
his edition of Adamnan. Though its
resembles that of Adamnan, yet it is- of lumba;, lib. ii. , cap. xxi. , p. 355 ; Quinta doubtful authority, not being in Codex A, Vita, lib. ii. , cap. lxxi. , p. 422.
style
used by Rev. Dr. Reeves, when compiling his edition.
4 In the Capitulationes to the Second
" Trias Vita S. Co- Thaumaturga," (Quarta
9 The poverty or size of these animals
seems to be indicated in this and in the pre-
ceding chapter of Adamnan by the use of
such diminutives, as "boculae," "vacculae," "
to read ingenio," owing to the capricious See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life
grouping of letters, formed by strokes. of St. Columba," lib ii. , cap. 21, and n. (b), s This Latin word used by Adamnan pp. 131, 132.
Book of Adamnan, the name occurs as ""
written Uigeno," in the text Uigenio," in Dr. Reeves edition. The original seems
pauculse. "
" 10 "
8
By O'Donnell, he is called Colma.
:
" From this day, your five little
:
" I have
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. said person, for many kind acts and pious offices he had done.
fortune, when proceeding with his companions on their way to a vessel, to meet with the saint, who rebuked him for his wickedness, and who endeavoured to persuade him to restore those goods unjustly taken. 16 But little regarding the saint's prayers and admonitins—yea, rather laughing and scoffing at him— Columba followed even to the sea-side and entered the clear green salt water ** up to his knees. This port was at a spot called in Irish, Ait-Chambas l8 Art- Muirchol. 1 ? In that place, Columba offered his prayers most fervently to Christ, who glorifieth his elect that glorify him. Having made an end of this prayer, our saint returned to the dry shore, where sitting down on a eminence
:
with his companions, he pronounced these fearful words " The miserable
wretch, who hath this day despised Christ in his servants, shall never return to the haven whence he departed, nor yet arrive in any other, but he shall be drowned in the midst of ocean waves, together with his wicked accomplices. A furious storm, on this day, shall proceed from a cloud you must soon see rising in the north, and not one of those raiders shall survive to tell the tale. "
11 He is also mentioned, again, in Adam- Cowel), with its islands. Twice seven-
certain wicked named 11 son of 12 son to man, Joan, Conall,
459
However, a
and
Domhnall,'3 descending from the blood royal I4- of Gabran, *s had persecuted Columbanus, oursaint'sdearfriend,andhadtwicerobbedhishouse. Thisunprincipled mantookawayallthegoodsofColumbanus. Thethirdtime,itwasJoan's
nan's "Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. xxiv. , as a bad man, and as a wicked perse- cutor of the Church.
12 Who he was does not seem to be clear. The King of Scotland, Aidan, Gabh- ren's son, was St. Columba's contemporary, and he lived until A. D. 606. See Rev. Dr.
O'ConorVRerumHibernicarumScriptores,' tomus ii. , Tigernaclii Annales, pp. 179, 180.
His grand-nephew is represented as being at man's estate many years before that period.
—
13 The sons of Gabhran for allusion is
here made to one ofhis race—are thus enu- merated, in the Irish Tract on the Men of Alba : 5Abj\An, utnorirxo, CU15 mec ley . 1. •Ao'OAn (. 1. Oiffo ponn) eoJAriAn,CuiboAc (no CalLac), 'OorhnAlL, Agur'OoifiAttso^c. "Gabhran, now, had five sons, viz. : Aodhan {i. e. Aodh Finn), Eoghanan (mentioned by Adamnan, in lib. iii. , cap. 5, Obiit A. D. 595) Cuildach (or Callach), Domhnall and Dom- hangort. " Such is the account contained in the Book of Ballymote, fol. 84^, a ; as also
in Mac Firbis' Genealogical Manuscripts, at p. 401. It is remarkable how admirably —as in the present instance—they coincide with Adamnan's account.
benches to every 20 houses was their sea muster. " This is found in the Book of Bally- mote, at fol. 84/$, b ; as also in Mac Firbis'
very
Genealogical Manuscript,
pp. 403, 404.
There is no place in Ardnamurchan called Aitcampasor Ait Chambas; but there the race of Gabhran. See Dr. O'Conor's is Camusnangel, and Canusinish ; there is also Comisteras on the south coast, and
14 At the year 719, Tighernach treats about
" Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , Tigernaci Annales, p. 230. Of the
cecne pnnrtcnieoiL "OaiL'|\ia'oa, or " the four chief familes of Dalriada," the cineub n-jAbrxAin, race of Gabran was one. Cineub n-'5Ab]\Aln Annro. Crtf xx. cej Ar\ 0015 ceux)Aib. CeAnnCij\e Agur Cr»ioc Corn^AilX
Cammaseen to the east, in Sunart.
19 Identified as Ardnamurchan, a district on the northern bounds of Argyleshire, and
the most westerly point in the mainland of Great Britain. See J. R. M'Culloch's
T)a recc ref Jac ,xx. ceg A " The Race of Gabhran here. Five hundred and three score houses, Ceann- tire (now Caniire), and Comgall's land (now
Historical of the Various Countries, Places
and Natural in the Principal Objects
World," vol. i. , p. 1 78. London, 1866, 8vo.
cotiA inrib.
r;eAcc
mA]\A.
at
15 Gabhran was the son of Domhangart by
Fedhelm, daughter of Brian, son to Eoch- aidh Muighmedhain, son of Fergus Mor, who succeeded his brother Comgall as King of Scotic Dalriada, A. D. 558. He died in the year 560, according to the Annalist Tighernach : b&yy 5Abr>Ain nuc 'OomAn-
" Domangart,KingofAlba. " See"Rerum
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , Tiger- nachi Annales, p. 141. He was succeeded, by his nephew Conall.
16
Joan was probably one of those early freebooters, who in after ages were denomi- nated caterans, in the Highlands of Scotland, and whose wild ways of living are so forcibly illustrated in Sir Walter Scott's romance, " The Fair Maid of Perth, or St. Valen- tine's Eve. "
*J Or as expressed in Irish, gbAif riA- mArvA ; or as it is now usually called, in Latin "vitrea aqua maris. "
18
gAirvc r\i -AbbAti,
Death of Gabran, son of
"
Dictionary Geographical, Statistical, and
20
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
460 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
This dreadful though just prophecy of the saint was fully accomplished in thepresenceofthemall, afterthelapseofafewmoments. 20 Soonthatcloud arose from the sea, and a hurricane setting in followed the robber with his spoil. He and his seamen were swallowed in the yeasty waves, between the IslandofMull2Iand
22 Whatseemedmostremarkablewasastorm
Colonsay.
raging over them, while the surrounding ocean remained tranquil. Not one
of the for all sunk in the treacherous 23 plunderers escaped, deeps.
When at one time travelling, the parents of a young infant brought to 2
Columba their child, so that he might be christened. * But, as no water could be found in the adjoining places, the saint turned towards a rock which was near, and after praying a little upon his knees, the holy man blessed the face of that rock. Out of it gushed an abundant stream ofwater. 2 s Therein
he baptized their young son, of whom also he prophesied, that in youth this child should be addicted to unlawful desires and sensuality, but that after- wards,heshouldgivehimselftothestudyofChristianperfection. Inthisstate he was destined to persevere to the end of his life, and he was to die at a good old age. All which happened to be true, in the sequel. The name of this
26 His
Muirchal. ? In the time of Adamnan, a well, called after St. Columkille, was
man was
Lugucencalad. 2
parents
dwelt in a
known as Ardtaib
place,
exercise of holy prayer. When he began to pray in that soot selected, sud- denly he saw an ugly and a deformed host of devils fighting against him with iron darts, and these demons intended, as the saint knew by the inward illu- mination of the Holy Ghost, to assail his monastery, and to kill with their pointed spears many of his monks. But, when alone, St. Columkille took
seen in that
28 Another time while in
our saint in the sought
Iona,
woods 2° a solitary place, unfrequented by men, and commodious for the
locality.
Quarta Vita S. Columba? , lib. ii. , cap. xxii. ,
P- 355 > Quinta Vita S. Columba? , lib. ii. ,
cap. lxxii. , p. 422.
endeavours to find out a saint in the Irish
Calendars for identification with him ; but,
he can only discover one Lugh, Luga, Lugu or Lugus, at the 16th of June.
2? The old form of Ardnamurchan, the peninsular district of the northern boundary of Argyleshire. Its church was called Kil- coan, dedicated to St. Congan, the Abbot, and it was situated near the south coast, on the right bank of a stream, falling into Kil- choan Pay. Ardnamurchan Point termi- nates the western extremity of the mainland of Scotland. From east to west, Ardna- murchan is crossed by high hills and deep valleys, and it has a coast-line many miles in extent. See Cosmo Innes' "Origiues Parochiales Scotioe," vol ii. , part i. , pp. 194 to 197.
21
tains about 300 square miles. Itliesoutsideof Loch Linnhe, in Western Argyleshire. See
James A.
