120 SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATEIJ. 



was overtaken by a dreadful storm, and driven upon this island, where he was 

 received by a hermit, in a small chapel or cell, dedicated to St. Columba, and 

 compelled by stress of weather to remain three days, with no better fare for 

 himself and suite than the milk of a single cow, and the shell-fish picked up 

 among the rocks. The buildings cover a very considerable space of ground. 

 The strong vaulted roofs are still partly entire ; the cloister and small octagon 

 chapel adjoining have suffered least. The square tower overlooking the other 

 compartments of the ruin resembles that of lona. 



In 1 335 this monastery had attained great celebrity ; but, along vrith its 

 reputed sanctity, it was known to possess considerable wealth, which, serving as 

 a bribe to the English fleet sent into the frith by Edward III., occasioned 

 its plunder and desecration. Among the spoils carried on board the English 

 ships, was an image of St. Columba, held in peculiar veneration. Soon 

 after this act of sacrilege, the fleet was nearly cast away in a violent tempest, 

 which was looked upon as a manifestation of Divine wrath against the impious 

 perpetrators of the deed. So intimidated were those who escaped the 

 waves, that they presented the church and monastery with a valuable peace- 

 offering of gold and silver — a circumstance which went far to propitiate the 

 saint, to pacify the monks, and deter future plunderers from a similar outrage 

 on the sanctity of Inchcolm. 



Alanus de Mortuo Mari — the Lord Mortimer of Aberdour, who attended 

 Edward III. in his Scotch expedition — bestowed half of liis lands on the monks 

 of this island, on condition of being allowed a burying-place in the church for 

 himself and his posterity. The island is now the property of the earl of 

 Moray, whose beautiful mansion of Dunibrissal overlooks the scene. 



Inchkeith, another striking feature in the panorama, is a small rocky island 

 situated nearly in the middle of the frith, said to derive its name from the 

 gallant Keith, who, in a remote period of Scottish history, distinguished himself 

 in the battle fought against the Danes at Barry, in Angus. This insular spot 

 was taken possession of and fortified by the Enghsh in the reign of Edward VI., 

 but which, after a gallant defence, they were obliged to evacuate. For some 

 time the fort was kept in repair, but at length dismantled by act of parliament, 

 to prevent its being again employed by any enemy as a post of offence. At the 

 close of the fifteenth century, it was converted, by order of the privy council, into 

 a lazaretto. It afibrds excellent pasturage, produced from a thin layer of soil ; 

 and on the summit of the rock a fine spring of fresh water. No evidence exists 

 of its ever having been employed as a permanent habitation ; but in the imme- 

 diate neighbourhood of the metropolis, it is surprising that so little has been 



