Chapter 1: A Brief Narrative of His Miracles of Power. Therefore, what proofs of power this venerable man gave shall be briefly set forth at the beginning of this little book, according to the little promise made above. For the infestations of diverse diseases which men endured he healed, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of his prayers: and he alone, a single man, by God's help drove back from this our chief island the hostile assaults of demons and their innumerable bands warring against him—seen with bodily eyes—as they began to bring deadly diseases upon his monastic community. The raging fury of wild beasts he restrained, partly by their death, partly by their forcible repulse, with Christ's aid.
The swellings of the waves too, rising up sometimes like mountains in a great storm, were calmed and humbled the more swiftly at his prayer; and his ship, in which he himself chanced to be sailing at that time, when calm had been made, was brought to the harbour it had desired. While he was staying for some days in the region of the Picts, returning from there to confound the magi, he raised his sail against the contrary blasts of the wind, and thus his little vessel, gliding on with swift course, sped along as if it had had a following wind. At other times also, the winds contrary to those sailing were, at his prayer, turned into favourable ones. In the same region mentioned above he brought a white stone from a river, which he blessed that it might be of profit for certain healings:
and this stone, against nature, when dipped in water, floated like an apple. This divine miracle was wrought in the presence of King Brude and his household. In the same province likewise he raised up the dead boy of a certain believing commoner, which is the greater miracle, and gave him back alive and unharmed to his father and mother. At another time the same blessed man, while a young deacon, dwelling in Ireland with the holy bishop Findbarr, when wine, necessary for the sacred mysteries, was lacking, by the power of prayer turned pure water into true wine. But also a great light of heavenly brightness, both in the darkness of night and in the light of day, was seen poured out upon him, sometimes by certain of the brethren, on diverse and separate occasions.
He was also accounted worthy to have the sweet and most delightful luminous visitations of the holy angels. By the Holy Spirit's revelation he saw the souls of certain just men frequently carried by angels to the heights of the heavens. But he also very often beheld the souls of others, the reprobate, borne to the lower regions by demons. He generally foretold the future merits of very many still dwelling in mortal flesh, of some joyful, of others sorrowful. And in the terrifying din of wars he obtained this from God by the power of his prayers, that some kings were vanquished, and others were made conquering rulers.
This privilege of such a kind was bestowed by God, the honourer of all the saints, not only upon him while dwelling in this present life, but even after his passing from the flesh, as though upon a certain victorious and most valiant champion. Of this man, worthy of such honour conferred upon him from heaven by the Almighty, we shall set forth one example also, which was shown to Oswald, the Saxon ruler, on the day before he fought against Cadwallon, the most valiant king of the Britons. For when this same King Oswald, in readiness for battle, had pitched camp, one day, sleeping upon a pillow in his pavilion, he sees in a vision Saint Columba, gleaming in angelic form; whose lofty stature seemed with its head to touch the clouds.
This blessed man, namely, revealing to the king his own name, standing in the midst of the camp, covered the same camp—except for a certain small outlying part—with his shining garment; and he uttered these words of confirmation, the very same, namely, which the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun before the crossing of the Jordan, after Moses had died, saying: 'Be strong and act manfully; behold, I will be with thee,' and so on. Saint Columba therefore, speaking these things to the king in the vision, adds: 'On this following night go forth from the camp to battle; for on this occasion the Lord has granted me that your enemies be put to flight, and your enemy Cadwallon be delivered into your hands, and that after the battle you return a victor, and reign happily.'
After these words the king, having awoken, recounted this vision to the assembled council; encouraged by which, all the whole people promised that, after their return from the war, they would believe and receive baptism: for up to that time all that Saxony was darkened with the shadows of heathenism and ignorance, except the king himself Oswald, together with twelve men, who had been baptized while in exile among the Scots. Why say more? On the same night that followed, King Oswald, just as he had been instructed in the vision, advanced from the camp to battle with a far smaller army against numerous thousands;
to whom, as it was promised him by the Lord, a happy and easy victory was granted, and, Cadwallon the king having been slain, returning a victor after the battle, he was afterwards ordained by God emperor of all Britain. This narrative my predecessor, our abbot Failbe, related to me, Adamnan, without doubt, who testified that he had heard it from the very mouth of King Oswald himself, as he recounted the same vision to abbot Segine.
But this too seems not to be passed over, namely that, through certain songs of the Scottish tongue in praise of the same blessed man, and through the commemoration of his name, certain men—however wicked, of lay manner of life and bloodthirsty—on that night on which they had sung those same songs, were delivered from the hands of enemies who had surrounded that same house of these singers; who escaped unharmed amid flames and swords and spears, and—wonderfully—a few of them, who, as though making little account of it, had refused to sing those same commemorations of the holy man in their chants, perished alone in that onslaught of their rivals. Witnesses of this miracle not two or three, according to the law, but even a hundred and more, could be produced.
It is proven that this same thing happened not only in one place or one time, but also in diverse places and times in Scotia and in Britain, with nevertheless a like manner and cause of deliverance, that it was done has been ascertained without any ambiguity. These things we have learned without doubt from those who experienced them in each region, wherever the same thing happened by a like miracle. But, to return to our purpose, among those miracles which the same man of the Lord, dwelling in mortal flesh, by God's gift had accomplished, from his youthful years he began also to flourish with the spirit of prophecy, to foretell things to come, to announce to those present things absent; for although absent in body, yet present in spirit, he was able to see clearly things done far away.
For, according to the word of Paul, 'He who cleaves to the Lord is one spirit.' Whence also the same man of the Lord, holy Columba, just as he himself did not deny to certain few brethren who at times questioned him about this very matter, in some contemplations of divine grace beheld the whole world too, as though gathered together in one ray of the sun, marvellously manifested to him when the bosom of his mind was wonderfully opened wide. These things concerning the holy man's powers have been recounted here for this reason, that the more eager reader may, from what is briefly written, foretaste as it were certain sweeter feasts: which nevertheless shall be more fully recounted below in three books, with the Lord's help.
Now it seems to me not unbecoming, though in a reversed order, to utter the prophecies of the blessed man, which he spoke at diverse times concerning certain holy and illustrious men. Chapter 2: Of Saint Fintan, Abbot, Son of Tailchan. Saint Fintan, who afterwards was held very well known throughout all the churches of the Scots, keeping, with God's help, the integrity of flesh and soul from his boyhood age, devoted to the studies of divine wisdom, conceived this purpose in his heart, while passing the years of his youth, that, leaving Ireland, he should go as a pilgrim to our holy Columba.
Burning with the same desire, he goes to a certain elder, a friend of his, in his own nation a most prudent and venerable cleric, who in the Scottish tongue was called Columb Crag, that from him, as from a prudent man, he might hear some counsel. To whom, when he laid bare such thoughts of his, he received this answer from him: 'Who, as I judge, can hinder your God-inspired and devout desire, that you should not sail across to Saint Columba?' At that same hour two monks of Saint Columba chance to arrive, who, being questioned about their journey, say: 'Lately, rowing from Britain, today we have come from Roboretum Calgachi (the Oakwood of Calgach).' 'Is your holy father Columba safe?' says Columb Crag.
They, weeping bitterly, said with great grief, 'Truly that patron of ours is saved, who in these recent days departed to Christ.' When they heard this, Fintan and Columba and all who were present there fell with their faces to the ground and wept bitterly. Fintan then went on to ask, saying, 'Whom did he leave behind him as his successor?' 'Baithéne,' they said, 'his own foster-son.' And when all cried out, 'Worthy and fitting!', Columba said to Fintan, 'What will you do about this, Fintan?' He answered and said, 'If the Lord shall permit, I will sail to Baithéne, a holy and wise man, and if he will receive me, I shall have him for my abbot.'
Then, having embraced the aforementioned Columba and bidden him farewell, he made ready for the voyage, and crossing over without any delay, he came to the island of Iona. And not yet, up to that time, was his name known in those parts. Therefore at first, being received hospitably as though some unknown guest, on the next day he sent a messenger to Baithéne, wishing to have speech with him face to face. And Baithéne, being affable as he was, and welcoming to strangers, ordered him to be brought to him. He, being at once brought in, first, as was fitting, prostrated himself on the ground with bended knees.
And being bidden by the holy elder, he rose and, sitting down, was questioned by Baithéne—who as yet did not know him—about his people and province, his name and manner of life, and for what cause he had undertaken the labour of the voyage. He, being thus questioned, related all in order, and humbly besought to be received. To him the holy elder, having heard these things from his guest, and at the same time recognizing this to be the man of whom long ago the holy Columba had prophetically foretold, said, 'I ought indeed to give thanks to my God at your coming, my son; but know this without doubt, that you shall not be our monk.' Hearing this, the guest, greatly saddened, began, 'Perhaps I, being unworthy, do not deserve to become your monk.' The elder thereupon said:
'I did not say this because, as you suppose, you are unworthy; but although I would have preferred to keep you with me, yet I cannot profane the command of the holy Columba, my predecessor, through whom the Holy Spirit prophesied concerning you. For on a certain day he spoke to me alone, apart, and thus declaring with prophetic lips, among other things, said: "O Baithéne, you ought to listen more attentively to these my words."'
'For immediately after my passage from this world to Christ—a passage awaited and greatly longed for—a certain brother from Ireland, who now, well governing his youthful age with good morals, is being sufficiently imbued with the studies of sacred reading, by name Fintan, of the people of Mocumoie, whose father is called Tailchán, coming to you, I say, will humbly entreat that you receive him and number him among the other monks. But this has not been predestined for him in God's foreknowledge, that he should become the monk of any abbot; but rather that he should be abbot of monks and leader of souls to the heavenly kingdom, having been long ago chosen by God. Therefore you shall not wish to keep this man here among these our islands, lest you be seen to go against the will of God:'
'but, making known to him these words, you shall send him back in peace to Ireland, that in the parts of the Leinstermen bordering on the sea he may build a monastery, and there, pasturing the flock of Christ's sheep, may lead countless souls to the heavenly homeland.' Hearing these things, the holy younger man, shedding tears, gave thanks to Christ, saying, 'According to the holy Columba's prophetic and wondrous foreknowledge, let it be done to me.' And in those same days, obeying the words of the saints, and receiving a blessing from Baithéne, he sailed across in peace to Ireland. These things I have learned without doubt from a certain religious old priest, a soldier of Christ, by name Osséne, son of Ernán, of the people of Mocu Neth Corb, who related them:
who testified that he himself had heard these same aforementioned words from the mouth of the holy Fintan, son of Tailchán, being his monk. Chapter 3: Concerning the prophecy of Columba about Ernéne, son of Crasén. At another time the blessed man, founding by divine bidding a monastery in the inland part of Ireland, which in the Irish tongue is called Dair-mag, and tarrying there some months, was minded in spirit to visit the brethren who were dwelling in the monastery of holy Ciarán at Clonmacnoise. And when his arrival was heard, all from every side, gathered from the little fields near the monastery, together with those who were found there, with all eagerness following their abbot Ailither, went forth from the rampart of the monastery, all of one mind, to meet the holy Columba as though an angel of the Lord;
and with faces humbled to the ground, when he was seen, he was kissed by them with all reverence; and resounding with hymns and praises, they conducted him honourably to the church. And they joined together a kind of canopy of wooden poles around the saint as he walked, and caused it to be borne by four men walking abreast: namely, lest the holy elder Columba should be troubled by the press of that multitude of brethren. At that same hour a certain boy, very despicable in face and dress, a household servant, and not yet pleasing to the elders, came up behind, hiding himself as much as he could, that he might secretly touch even the hem of the cloak with which the blessed man was clothed, and if it could be done, without his knowing or feeling it.
But this nevertheless was not hidden from the Saint; for what he could not see with bodily eyes being done behind him, he discerned with spiritual eyes. Wherefore he suddenly stopped, and stretching out his hand behind him, he held the boy's neck, and drawing him, set him before his face. And when all who were standing about there said, 'Let him go, let him go! why do you hold this wretched and offensive boy?', the Saint on the contrary uttered these prophetic words with pure heart: 'Let him be, brethren, let him be now.' And to the boy, who was greatly trembling, he said, 'O son, open your mouth and put out your tongue.' Then the boy, being bidden, opening his mouth with great trembling, put out his tongue;
which the Saint, stretching out his holy hand, diligently blessing, thus prophetically declared, saying, 'This boy, though he now seems to you contemptible and very base, let no one despise him on that account. For from this hour he will not only not displease you, but will greatly please you; and in good morals and virtues of soul he will grow little by little from day to day: in wisdom too and prudence he will increase more and more in himself from this day, and in this your congregation he is to be a great advancement; his tongue also will be endowed by God with wholesome doctrine and eloquence.' This was Ernéne, son of Crasén, afterwards famous and very well known throughout all the churches of Ireland;
who had related all these words written above, as prophesied about himself, to abbot Ségéne, while my predecessor Failbe attentively listened, who was himself present together with Ségéne; by whose disclosure I myself also came to know these very things which I have related. But also in those same days in which the Saint was a guest in the monastery of Clonmacnoise, he prophesied many other things by the revealing of the Holy Spirit; that is, concerning that discord which after many days arose among the churches of Ireland on account of the diversity of the Paschal feast; and concerning certain angelic frequentings made manifest to him, by which certain places within the enclosures of that same monastery were at that time frequented by angels. Chapter 4:
Concerning the coming of holy Cainnech the abbot, which the holy Columba prophetically foretold. At another time, when in the island of Iona, on a day of roaring tempest and intolerable greatness of the waves, the Saint, sitting in the house and instructing the brethren, said, 'Make ready quickly a guest-lodging, and draw water to wash the feet of guests.' Then a certain one of them, a brother, replied, 'Who,' said he, 'on this day so windy and exceedingly dangerous, can prosperously sail across the strait, however short it be?' Hearing this, the Saint thus declared: 'To a certain holy and chosen man, who will come to us before evening, the Almighty has granted a calm, even in the midst of the tempest.'
And behold, on that same day the ship awaited for some time by the brethren, in which the holy Cainnech was, arrived according to the Saint's prophecy. The Saint came to meet him with the brethren, and he was received by him honourably and hospitably. And those sailors who were with Cainnech, being questioned by the brethren about the quality of the voyage, related it just as the holy Columba had foretold beforehand—both tempest and calm alike, by God's gift, on that same sea and at those same hours, by a marvellous division; and they declared that they had not felt the tempest, though they had seen it from afar. Chapter 5:
Concerning the peril of the holy bishop Colmán, of the Mocusailni, at sea near the island which is called Rechru. On another day likewise the holy Columba, abiding in his mother-church, suddenly broke into this utterance with a smile, saying: 'Columbán, son of Beognae, beginning to sail across to us, is now in grave peril amid the surging eddies of Brecan's Charybdis; and sitting in the prow, he lifts both palms to heaven; he blesses also the troubled and so fearsome sea: yet the Lord so terrifies him, not that the ship in which he himself sits may be overwhelmed by the waves in shipwreck, but rather that he may be roused to pray more earnestly, that, God being favourable, he may reach us after passing through the peril.' Chapter 6:
Concerning Cormac. At another time also, concerning Cormac, grandson of Lethan, a man assuredly holy, who not fewer than three times laboriously sought a desert hermitage in the ocean, yet did not find it, the holy Columba thus prophesying said: 'Today again Cormac, desiring to find a desert place, begins to sail away from that region which, situated beyond the river Moda, is called Eirros Domno; nor yet even this time will he find what he seeks; and that for no other fault of his than that he has taken aboard for the voyage, as a fellow-traveller, the monk of a certain religious abbot, departing without that abbot's permission, not rightly accompanying him.' Chapter 7:
Concerning the blessed man's prophecy of the din of battles fought far away. After the battle of Cúl Drebene, as it has been handed down to us, two years having passed, at which time the blessed man first sailed away from Ireland to go into pilgrimage, on a certain day—that is, at the very hour at which the battle was fought in Ireland which in the Irish tongue is called Ondemone—the same man of God, sojourning in Britain in the presence of king Conall, son of Comgall, related everything in full, both concerning the battle that had been fought, and also concerning those kings to whom the Lord granted victory over their enemies: whose proper names were Ainmuire, son of Sétne, and the two sons of Mac Erca, Domnall and Forcus.
But also concerning the king of the Cruithni, who was called Echoid Laib, in what manner, being defeated, he escaped sitting in his chariot, the Saint likewise prophesied. Concerning the battle of the Miathi. At another time—that is, after the passing of many years from the battle mentioned above—when the holy man was in the island of Iona, suddenly he said to his attendant Diarmait, 'Strike the bell.' At its sound the brethren, roused, ran quickly to the church, the holy prelate himself going before. To whom there, with bended knees, he said, 'Now let us pray to the Lord earnestly for this people and for king Áedán; for at this very hour they are entering battle.' And after a little interval, going out of the oratory, looking up to heaven he said, 'Now the barbarians are turned to flight;'
and victory, however unhappy, was nevertheless granted to Áedán. But also concerning the number of those slain from Áedán's army, three hundred and three men, the blessed man prophetically related. Chapter 8: The holy Columba's prophecy concerning the sons of king Áedán. At another time, before the aforesaid battle, the Saint asked king Áedán about the successor of his kingdom. When he answered that he did not know which of his three sons would reign—Artúr, or Echoid Find, or Domangart—the Saint thereupon declared in this manner: 'None of these three will be ruler; for they will fall in battles, slain by enemies: but now, if you have other younger sons, let them come to me, and the one whom the Lord shall choose as king will suddenly rush upon my bosom.'
When they had been summoned, according to the Saint's word, Echoid Buide, coming, reclined in his bosom. And immediately the Saint, having kissed him, blessed him, and said to his father, 'This is the survivor, and the king who will reign after you, and his sons will reign after him.' Thus afterward all things, in their times, were fully fulfilled. For Artúr and Echoid Find, after no long interval of time, were slain in the battle of the Miathi mentioned above. But Domangart was killed in a deadly slaughter in battle in Saxon land: while Echoid Buide succeeded to the kingdom after his father. Concerning Domnall, son of Áed. Domnall, son of Áed, while still a boy, was brought by his guardians to the holy Columba at Dorso Cete:
whom, gazing upon, he asked, saying, 'Whose son is this whom you have brought?' When they answered, 'This is Domnall, son of Áed, who has therefore been brought to you, that he may return enriched with your blessing,' the Saint, when he had blessed him, immediately said, 'This boy will be the survivor over all his brothers, and a very famous king; nor will he ever be delivered into the hands of his enemies, but by a peaceful death, in old age, and within his own house, in the presence of a throng of friends and kinsfolk, he will die upon his own bed.' All which things were truly fulfilled concerning him according to the prophecy of the blessed man.
Concerning Scandlán, son of Colmán. At that same time the Saint, and in the same place, went to Scandlán, son of Colmán, who was held in chains in the keeping of king Áed, desiring to visit him; and when he had blessed him, comforting him he said, 'Son, do not be saddened, but rather rejoice and take comfort: for king Áed, by whom you are held bound, will go before you out of this world; and, after some times of exile, you will reign as king for thirty years among your people. And again you will be driven from the kingdom, and for some days you will be in exile; after which, recalled by the people, you will reign for three brief times.' All which things were fully accomplished according to the prophecy of the Saint. For after thirty years, having been expelled from the kingdom, he was in exile for some space of time:
but afterward, recalled by the people, he reigned not, as he supposed, for three years, but for three months; after which he immediately died. Concerning two other rulers, who were called the two grandsons of Muiredach, Baitán son of Mac Erca and Echoid son of Domnall: the prophesying of the blessed man. At another time, making a journey through a rough and rocky region which is called Ardd-amuirchol, and hearing his companions—namely Laisrán, son of Feradach, and Diarmait the attendant—conversing on the way about the two aforementioned kings, he uttered these words to them: 'O little sons, why do you converse so vainly about these matters? for both those kings of whom you now speak have lately, being beheaded by their enemies, perished.'
'On this very day also some sailors arriving from Ireland will report these same things to you concerning those kings.' And the venerable man's prophecy was fulfilled, when on that same day seafarers from Ireland, coming to the place which is called Muirbolc Paradisi, reported the same things concerning those slain kings to his two companions written above, who were sailing in the same ship with the Saint. Concerning Áengus, son of Áed Commán: the holy man's prophecy. For this man, driven out from his homeland with two other brothers, came as an exile to the Saint sojourning in Britain; and to him, blessing him, the holy man uttered these words from his breast, prophesying about him: 'This young man, remaining as survivor when his other brothers are dead, will reign in his homeland for a long time;'
'and his enemies will fall before him; nor yet will he himself ever be delivered into the hands of enemies; but by a peaceful death, as an old man, he will die among friends.' All which things were fully fulfilled according to the Saint's word. This is the Áengus whose surname is Bronbachal. The prophecy of the blessed man concerning the son of king Diarmait, who was named in the Irish tongue Áed Sláine. At another time, when the blessed man tarried in Ireland for some days, to the aforesaid Áed, coming to him, he thus prophetically speaking said, 'You ought to take heed, son, lest you lose the prerogative of the monarchy over the whole kingdom of Ireland, predestined to you by God, through committing the sin of parricide:'
'for if ever you commit it, you will enjoy not the whole kingdom of your father, but some part of it among your people, for a brief time.' Which words of the Saint were thus fulfilled according to his prophecy. For after Suibne, son of Colmán, was slain by him through guile, he possessed a granted portion of the kingdom for no more, as is reported, than four years and three months. Concerning king Rhydderch, son of Tothal, who reigned at Petra Cloithe (the Rock of Clyde): the blessed man's prophecy. At another time likewise this man, being the holy man's friend, sent some secret embassy to him by Luigbe Mocumin, wishing to know whether he was to be slain by his enemies or not.
But Luigbe, being questioned by the Saint about that same king, and his kingdom, and his people, answering as if in pity, said, 'Why do you inquire about that wretched man, who can in no way know at what hour he may be slain by his enemies?' Then the Saint thereupon declared, 'He will never be delivered into the hands of enemies, but will die in his own house, upon a little feather pillow.' Which prophecy of the Saint concerning king Rhydderch was fully accomplished: for according to his word he died in his own house by a peaceful death. Chapter 9: Concerning two boys, one of whom, according to the Saint's word, died at the end of the week: the Saint's prophecy. At another time two certain common men came to the Saint dwelling in the island of Iona;