P re- Reformation Churches in Berwickshire. 87 



When the issues of the confused struggle just alluded to 

 become fiaally apparent to us, we find that the native population 

 of the south east of Scotland had been driven, either westwards 

 into Strathclyde, or northwards beyond the Forth, and that the 

 Northumbrian Angles had gained a firm footing over the entire 

 district. Then succeeded the long and stern conflict between 

 the Church and Saxon Paganism, so graphically described in 

 the quaint but solemn narratives of Bede and other early 

 chroniclers. Much that they tell us is no doubt largely mixed 

 with legend, but the main facts are, nevertheless, tolerably 

 clear. Passing over the brief but brilliant period, in the reign 

 of Edwin, when it seemed as if the church had won an easy and 

 final victory, only, however, to sustain a fatal reverse on the 

 disastrous field of Hatfield, we may regard the mission of Aidan, 

 who was brought from lona at the request of Oswald, King of 

 Northumbria, about the year 635, as the means by which the 

 Christian religion was first permanently planted in the Eastern 

 Borders. The light which he kindled was never afterwards 

 quenched. Before the middle of the seventh century his dis- 

 ciple Eata had become the superior of a religious establishment 

 at Old Melrose, and about the same time St. Ebba founded 

 or re-constituted her famous monastery on St. Abb's Head. 

 The rapid propagation of the new Faith by Aidan and his 

 coadjutors is thus described by Bede : — 



" On the arrival of the bishop (Aidan) King Oswald appointed him his 

 episcopal see in the isle of Lindisfarne, as he desired. Which place, as the 

 tide flows and ebbs twice a-day, is enclosed by the waves of the sea like 

 an island ; and again, twice in the day, when the shore is left dry 

 becomes contiguous to the land. The king also humbly and willingly 

 in all cases giving ear to his admonitions, industriously applied himself 

 to build and extend the church of Christ in his kingdom ; wherein, when 

 the bishop, who was not skilful in the English tongue, preached the 

 gospel, it was most delightful to see the king himself interpreting the 

 Word of God to his commanders and ministers, for he had perfectly 

 learned the language of the Scots daring his long banishment. From 

 that time many of the Scots came daily into Britain, and with great 

 devotion preached the woi-d to those provinces of the English over which 

 King Oswald reigned, and those among them that had received priest's 

 orders, administered to them the grace of baptism. Churches were 

 built in several places ; the people joyfully flocked together to hear the 

 Word ; money and lands were given of the king's bounty to build mon- 

 nsteries ; the English, great and small, were, by their Scottish masters, 

 instructed in the rules and observance of regular discipline : for most of 

 them that came to preach were monks." (Eccl. Hist. B. in., c. 2.) 



