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FROM ENGLISH CHRONICLERS 9<br />
And out of each of these monasteries thenceforth very many<br />
monasteries were multiplied by his disciples, both <strong>in</strong> Brita<strong>in</strong><br />
and <strong>in</strong> Ireland so that over all of them the same island mon-<br />
;<br />
astery <strong>in</strong> which he rests <strong>in</strong> the body held the pr<strong>in</strong>cipate. x<br />
Now that island is accustomed to have as its ruler ever an<br />
abbot-priest, to whose right both the whole prov<strong>in</strong>ce and the<br />
bishops also themselves must be subject, <strong>in</strong> uncustomary order,<br />
after the example of its first teacher, who was no bishop, but a<br />
and monk. 2<br />
priest<br />
And of his life and words some writ<strong>in</strong>gs are reported to be<br />
<strong>in</strong> the possession of his disciples. But whatever manner of<br />
man he was himself, 3 <strong>this</strong> we hold for certa<strong>in</strong> concern<strong>in</strong>g him,<br />
1 Cf. Bede, H.E., III, 3, <strong>in</strong>fra, after 635 A.D. ; III, 21, <strong>in</strong>fra, s.a. 655,<br />
note ; V, 22, <strong>in</strong>fra, s.a. 716. In each of these passages Bede uses a past<br />
tense of the verb <strong>in</strong> speak<strong>in</strong>g of the authority of lona. The control of the<br />
Columbite monasteries <strong>in</strong> Brita<strong>in</strong> was removed to Dunkeld by Constant<strong>in</strong> I,<br />
who reigned from 789 to 820 A.D. Later, the monastery of lona was abandoned<br />
ow<strong>in</strong>g to the Norwegian <strong>in</strong>vasions ; but it was rebuilt by queen Margaret.<br />
Cf. O.V., VIII, xx, <strong>in</strong>fra, s.a. 1093. Kenneth mac Alp<strong>in</strong> (who reigned 844-860)<br />
"<br />
<strong>in</strong> the seventh year of his reign transferred the body of St. Columba to the<br />
church which he had founded," at Dunkeld. Chr. of the Picts, <strong>in</strong> Skene,<br />
P. & S., 8. The monastery of Ab<strong>in</strong>gdon claimed to possess one of Columba's<br />
ribs ; Chr. of Ab., ii, 158. For his relics' wander<strong>in</strong>gs v. Ann. of Ulst., s.aa.<br />
828, 830, 848, 877.<br />
2 This is misunderstood by A.S.C., MSS. A,E,F, s.a. 565 :<br />
t<strong>here</strong> must ever be <strong>in</strong> lona an abbot, not a bishop ;<br />
" Now<br />
and to him must be subject<br />
all Scottish bishops ;<br />
Cf. Bede, H.E.,<br />
because Columba was an abbot, not a bishop."<br />
IV, 27; i, 270: "For at that time the same most<br />
reverend father [Eata] ruled <strong>this</strong> place also [L<strong>in</strong>disfarne], <strong>in</strong> the rank of<br />
abbot. For <strong>in</strong>deed from ancient times both the bishop was wont to dwell<br />
t<strong>here</strong> with the clergy, and the abbot with the monks ; although they too<br />
perta<strong>in</strong>ed as a family to the care of the bishop. Because of course Aidan,<br />
who was the first bishop of that place, himself a monk came with monks<br />
thither, and established t<strong>here</strong> monastic life : even as we know the blessed<br />
father August<strong>in</strong>e also to have done before <strong>in</strong> Kent, when the most reverend<br />
pope Gregory wrote to him what we have set down above also, [H.E., I, 27 ;<br />
i, 48-49,] say<strong>in</strong>g :<br />
'<br />
But because thou, my brother, hast been tra<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> the<br />
rules of the monastery, and oughtest not to be separated from thy clergy :<br />
<strong>in</strong> the church of the English, which lately by God's guidance has been brought<br />
to the faith, that manner of life ought to be established which was to our<br />
fathers the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of the church at its birth ; for among them was none<br />
who said that anyth<strong>in</strong>g of what they possessed was his own, but they had all<br />
"<br />
th<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> common.' Cf. Bede, V.S.C., XVI ; E.H.S. ed., ii, 79-80. S. of<br />
D., H.D.E., i, 26.<br />
Nevertheless Eata became abbot of L<strong>in</strong>disfarne <strong>in</strong> 661 (Bede, H.E.,<br />
III, 26, <strong>in</strong>fra,) but was not bishop till 678 (H.E., IV, 12 ; i, 228-229.) In<br />
the Scottish system the bishops were members of monasteries, and subject<br />
to their abbot.<br />
3 A still pla<strong>in</strong>er <strong>in</strong>s<strong>in</strong>uation aga<strong>in</strong>st the character of Columba occurs<br />
among Wilfrid's arguments at the Synod of Whitby ; Bede, H.E., III, 24 ;<br />
"<br />
i, 187-188 : Now of your father Columba and his followers, whose sanctity<br />
you profess to imitate, and whose rule and precepts, confirmed by signs from<br />
heaven, you profess to follow, I might be able to answer that when <strong>in</strong> the<br />
Judgment many say to the Lord that they have prophesied <strong>in</strong> His name, and