Celtic Scotland : a history of ancient Alban / by William F. Skene.

  • William Forbes Skene
Date:
1886-1890
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Celtic Scotland : a history of ancient Alban / by William F. Skene. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    534/546 (page 504)
    But it is excessive to reckon and relate the number of pro- digies and miracles which God wrought in the lands for Colum Cille ; because there is no one that could reckon them entirely unless his own angel, or the angel of Heaven’s God, should come to relate them. So that it is sufficient for us to give this much of them, by way of example. [A certain1 bad, furious man wounded a monk of Colum Cille’s people ; but he only cut the monk’s girdle, although the spear was sharp. Colum Cille cursed the Saxon, and he died immediately. Bishop [Aedan 1] and Colman of Inish-bofinne2 were they whom Colum Cille left with the Saxons, preaching the word of God to them. Colum Cille went afterwards upon a time to the king of the Piets, to Brudi, son of Maelchu, and the door of the fort was closed against him. But the iron locks of the place opened instantly through the prayers of Colum Cille. The son of the king, to wit, Maelchu, and his druid came after that, to contend with Colum Cille through paganism;3 and the king’s son and the druid along with him died forthwith through Colum Cille’s word. The names4 of God and Colum Cille were magnified thereby.] There was not born of the Gaidhel, however, a being more illustrious, or more wise, or of better family, than Colum Cille. There came not of them any person who was more modest, more humble, or more lowly. Great indeed was the humility of Colum Cille, for it was he himself that used to take their shoes off his monks, and that used to wash their feet for them. ’Tis he that used often to take his share of corn on his back to the mill, and that used to grind it and bring it home with him. ’Tis he that would not have5 linen or wool to his skin, that would not sleep until his side came in contact with the bare earth. Under his head there used not to be but a pillar-stone for a pillow, and he would even sleep 1 Certain. The orig. of this para- graph and the following one occurs only in A. L. 2 Inish-bo-finne ; ‘ the island of thewhite cow.’ NowBophin Island, off the coast of Mayo. The Annals of Ulster give Bishop Column's ‘ pausat ’ under a.d. G76. 3 Paganism. Oeinntlighecht; lit. ‘ gentilism.’ 4 Names. Ainm; lit. ‘name.’ 5 Would not have. Nis gebed; lit. ‘ would not take.’