JUNE 131 



miles nolilis. He became so ardent one day that the 

 lady took refuge upon a rock in the tide, with her two 

 handmaidens cum duabus ancillis. The situation was 

 critical, for that terrible gentleman on the shore might 

 get a boat and come out to them ; and even if he didn't, 

 there was neither food nor water on the rock. So they 

 betook themselves to prayer, and the answer came pat ; 

 the rock became a boat and carried them safely to the 

 Scottish coast, where Medana built herself a cell and lived 

 in piety and peace, always with her two maidens. But 

 there came a day when miles nobilis, having traced his 

 lady-love to her retreat, reappeared suddenly on the scene. 

 Medana escaped up a tree, and remonstrated with Miles 

 from the upper branches. He vowed he could not help 

 it ; it was Medana's eyes that did the mischief. ' My 

 eyes ! ' she cried. ' Is that all ? Take them, and welcome ! ' 

 and so saying tore them out and flung them at his feet ; 

 whereat was seen a great miracle, for a spring of pure 

 water gushed from the rock where the eyes had fallen. 

 Medana had achieved her purpose ; Miles interfered with 

 her devotions no more. 



Now all this happened a long time ago to wit, at the 

 end of the fourth century of our era and differs in many 

 particulars from anything likely to occur at the present 

 time ; but if any one should be so hardened as to doubt 

 the unsupported statements in the Aberdeen breviary, let 

 him see for himself. There is St. Medana's cell, nestling 

 just above high- water mark under the cliff, enlarged into 

 the parish church of Kirkmaiden, and used as such until 

 the Reformation, but now a gray, silent ruin. There, on 

 the sweep of strand before it, lies the very rock which 

 served Medana and her maids as a ferry-boat, just where 



