20 Transactions. 



When they arrived at the Holy City, the Devil said — , 

 Signa te signa temere vie tangis et angis, 

 Roma tibi subito notibus ibit amor. 



The visit of Niuian to St. Martin appears to have made 

 a wonderful impression on Ninian, and, in point of fact, de- 

 termined his character and subsequent life. St. Martin was 

 his patron and exemplar. And being thoroughly indoctrin- 

 ated in Martin's views, he, on his return to Galloway, set 

 about erecting a cathedral and monastery at Whithorn, which 

 was the capital or chief town of the Novantes. 



A priory of Premonstratensen monks was afterwards 

 founded at Whithorn by Fergus, Lord of Galloway, in the 

 time of King David I. And the buildings which that Prince 

 erected may constitute the ruins we now see at the place. 

 But, from an anecdote which Ailred tells, and which he terms 

 a miracle among the leeks, it is plain there existed in 

 Ninian's time a fraternity of monks who were, no doubt, 

 selected by Ninian himself when away abroad, and accom' 

 panied him in his journey home to Scotland. It was through 

 their assistance also the first cathedral was erected. 



It happened one day, says Ailred, that the blessed Ninian 

 went in to the refectory to take a meal with the brethren, 

 and not finding any vegetables on the table, he called the 

 friar who had charge of the garden to know the reason why. 

 Truly, father, said the gardener, whatever of leeks or such 

 like remained I put in the ground to-day, and the garden has 

 not as yet anything fit to eat. Go, said Ninian, and what- 

 ever you find take up with your hand, and bring it to me. 

 The gardener went, and, wonderful to relate, says Ailred, — 

 credible only to those who believe that to faith nothing is 

 impossible, — he saw leeks and other kinds of vegetables 

 growing and running to seed ! 



This is narrated by Ailred as a miracle, like many other 

 things of Ninian, in his biography. 



But the story is perhaps susceptible of an easy explana- 

 tion. What Father Ninian said was perhaps to the follow- 



