Ireland and the Scottish Isles. 35 



kinsmen who were so harassed by the Picts. He had spent 

 the first forty years ot his life in Ireland, founding churches 

 and monasteries, and, as an itinerant missionary, preaching all 

 over Ireland. He started from Derry, founded by himself, 

 where stood his favourite monastery. He proceeded, accom- 

 panied by twelve of his followers, along the beautiful shores of 

 Lough Foyle to Innishowen Head, where the little bay is still 

 shown from which his curragh sailed to the Scottish Isles. It 

 was about the year 563 he left Ireland, and, as he was born in 

 521, he was then forty-two years of age. He was full of energy 

 and zeal, and had vast experience of mission work, when he 

 made this new departure. Monasticism was taking a firm hold 

 in Ireland about this time, and the more zealous of the Irish 

 clerics were founding monasteries in the islands around the 

 Irish coast as well as in the islands on the larger lakes. Islands 

 were the favourite spots where these institutions first flourished. 

 It is supposed that monasticism originated in Egypt in the 

 third century, and rapidly spread over the then Christian 

 world. What was for their safety and security at first— that 

 is, their isolated position — ultimately during the Danish period 

 led to their destruction. Columba stopped at several islands 

 on his way. He called at Oronsay with the idea of remaining, 

 but as he could see the summits of the mountains of Ireland 

 from it he proceeded on to I, or Hy, now known as lona, 

 where he got a grant of land, and founded his famous 

 monastery. For two years he never left the island, getting 

 the little community into order, building his monastery, and 

 tilling the ground. By his holy life, example, and conversation 

 he impressed most favourably all who came in contact with 

 him. His little colony was like an oa^is m the desert of that 

 wild country. He was entirely successful in his mission to 

 Brude, the Pictish King, who became a convert to the Christian 

 faith. The leading nobles followed, and for years afterwards his 

 labours amongst the Pictish nation never flagged until the 

 whole nation embraced Christianity. Tj - result he anticipated 

 followed, and the mellowing influence of the Gospel caused a 



