308 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Acadclni/. 



shown that it may have been a subsidiary cause of the battle of Cnl Dremhne. 

 But it is obviously not an essential part of the story ; and, in fact, it has 

 been rejected by Skene, who is disposed to admit the probability of the 

 murder of Curnan having given occasion to the famous conflict. 



Let us consider first his argument against its historicity. It is comprised 

 in a single sentence. This episode, he says, " is inconsistent with the terms 

 of affection and respect which appear from Adamuan (iii. 4) to have subsisted 

 between Bishop Finnian and Columba, and bears the stamp of spurious 

 tradition."' Since we are not told in what the mark of spuriousness consists, 

 the latter part of the statement cannot be discussed. But in the former part 

 allusion is made to a visit paid by Columba to Finnian. As lie approached, 

 Finnian saw that he was accompanied by an angel, and said to the brethren 

 who stood by : " Behold, now ye may see the holy Columba drawing near, who 

 has deserved to have an angel from heaven as his companion in travel." It 

 is a slight foundation on which to build. But the \'isit is dated.- It took 

 place two years after the battle, on the eve of Columba's departure from 

 Ireland. Is it unthinkable I hat in that interval there had been a recon- 

 ciliation between the two men ? The fiery and passionate saint must have 

 had considerable power of renewing friendships which had been severed for a 

 time, or he would have had few friends left. And that he had in his lovable 

 nature a great reserve of such power readers of Adamnan will not doubt. 

 If Columba liad .shown real penitence for his impetuous folly, and had made 

 amends so far as was possible, it is unlikely that Finnian would not meet his 

 old friend half way. And least of all would lie be likely to repel hiin at the 

 moment when he saw him for what might prove to be the last time. For 

 Finnian was already an old man, altliough he lived till 579. Moreover, if we 

 read between the lines, we may see in Finnian's words about the angel a 

 defence of Columba against his opponents, like the similar words of Brendan 

 at the Synod of Taillte,' or the speech attributed to Gildas in answer to the 

 taunt that Columba had been condemned by an Irish Synod.'' In all cases 



' Skene, p. 82. 



-Vita Columbae auctore Cumiuo, § 4 (J. Pinkertou, " Vitae Autiquae Sanctorum 

 i|ui habitauerunt in ea parte Britauniae nunc vocata Scutia," London, 1789, jj. 29); 

 Adamnan, iii. 4: "lisdeni diebus sanctus . . . ad Britanniam transnauigauit." Adamnan's 

 fourth chapter reproduces Cummian's § 3, but includes also the words quoted, which in 

 Cummian are the beginning of § 4. In Cummian they are follosved by an incident which 

 belongs to a much earlier period (Adaran. ii. 1), introduced by the phrase, "quo 

 proueniens." Re,§yes' remark— "This clause is borrowed from Cummian, but difFereiitly 

 applied "—though accurate, is misleading. Cummian applies it both to the farewell visit 

 of Columba to Finnian and to the miracle of .A.dainn. ii. 1. -Vdamnan confines it to the 

 former. 



^Adamnan, iii. 3. i Peregr. 7. 



