in Nennius is "a manifest interpolation." This he proves, from its being said that " Wedale is a village now subject to the Bishop of St Andrews;" whereas there was no bishop of this designation when Nennius wrote.

In this interpolated passage, it is pretended, that Arthur obtained a signal victory over the Pagans of this district, by means of a cross consecrated at Jerusalem. "The fragments of this cross," it is said, "are still held in great veneration at Wedale."-Cujus fractae adhuc apud Wedale in magna veneratione servatur. Wedale, Anglice: Vallis doloris, Latine: Wedale est villa in Provincia Lodonesie, nunc vero juris epis. copi sancti Andreae Scotiae, VI. milliaria ab occidentali parte, ab illo quondam nobili et eximio Monasterio de MeilGale, vol. i. 114.

ros.

Sir James conjectures, that "this interpolation has been made before the last erection of the abbacie of Melross, and after the time of William the Conqueror, and Malcolm the Third." When Wedale is spoken of as a village, that of Stow is undoubtedly referred to; for Milne uses both terms as applied to the same place, p. 65. But Wedale, in its larger signification, has been applied to the valley itself. Stow, according to the sense of the word in Anglo-Saxon, might signify, the place, or village, of Wedale. Different places in England are thus denominated; and the term enters into the composition of the names of others, as Walthamstow, &c.

Collections, p. 57.

66

I.

"The monastery of Melrose," Mr Pinkerton 66 says, was apparently ruined by the Danes about the year 800, if not by Kenneth III. about 850. Chron. Pict. It remained in ruins, till refounded by David I. 1136" The latter part of this account receives confirmation from the silence of the Chronicle of Mailros, as to any abbots, or even monks, be-. longing to this monastery, during the period referred to: and still more, from the express language of Simeon of Durham. He relates, that Aldwin, Turgot, and some others, leaving the monastery of Girwy, came to what was formerly the monastery of Mailros, but then a solitude; and being delighted with the retirement of that place, began to serve Christ there. But when Malcolm, King of Scots, to whom this place belonged, was informed that they had taken up their residence there, he subjected them to great injuries and persecutions, because, observing the rule of the gospel, they would not swear fealty to him. In the mean time the venerable bishop Walcher, by letters and precepts, desired, admonished, and adjured them" to return to Girwy, having threatened to excommunicate them," in the presence of the most sacred body of St Cuthbert, if they did not return to live under this saint." They at length obeyed; "being more afraid of excommunication, than of the wrath of the king, which threatened them with death."

2

'Enquiry, ii. 268. N.

Igitur ad Mailrosense quondam Monasterium, tunc autem solitudinem, pervenientes, secreta illius loci habitatione delectati, Christo ibidem servientes, coeperunt conversari. &c. Sim. Dunelm. Hist. Col. 45.

From the Chronicle of Mailros, it appears that this Walcher, who was bishop of Durham, was killed A. 1080, that is, fifty-six years before the foundation of the new monastery.

CHAPTER IX.

Of the Monasteries of Crusay and Oronsay.—Of Govan ;— Abercorn ;-Inchcolm;-Tyningham;-Aberlady;—and Coldingham. Of the first Missionaries to the Orkney Islands.Churches and Chapels dedicated to Columba.

1

BESIDES these places, a variety of others might be mentioned. In Crusay, and Oronsay, two of the western isles, monasteries were founded by Columba, which, like other Culdean establishments, were at length given to the canons regular. The isle of Oronsay " is adorned," says Martin, "with a church, chappel, and monastery. They were built by the famous St Columbus, to whom the church is dedicated. There is an altar in this church, and there has been a modern crucifix on it, in which several precious stones were fixed. The most valuable of these is now in the custody of Mack-Duffie, in black Raimused village, and it is used as a

2

Spotiswood's Account, p. 420. Keith's Catalogue, p. 329.

⚫ Martin still improperly gives his name in this form.

I

2

catholicon for diseases." Pennant views it as more probable that the monastery was founded" by one of the lords of the isles, who fixed here a priory of canons regular of Augustine, dependent on the abbey of Holyrood, in Edinburgh." But the settlement of canons regular here, in a late age, so far from being a proof that this monastery was not originally peopled by Culdees, is a strong presumption that it was.

66

In the Statistical Account, this monastery is given to a different order of monks; although, I suspect, erroneously. "There was," it is said of Colonsay, a monastery of Cistercians in this island. Their abbey stood in Colonsay, and its priory in Oronsay. The remains of the abbey were, with Gothic barbarity, torn asunder not many years ago, and the stones put into a new building. The walls of the priory are still standing, and, next to Icolmkill, is one of the finest religious monuments of antiquity in the Hebrides. 3

Dr Smith has observed, that "Adomnan, besides the chief monastery of Iona, mentions several more in the Western Isles; such as that of Achaluing, in Ethica; Himba, or Hinba, and Elen-naomh ; also Kill-Diun, or Dimha, at Lochava or Lochow."

5

According to Colgan, Columba founded the monastery of Govan on the Clyde. But the accounts of this foundation vary so much, that no certain judgment can be formed. "The church of Govan," it is said by another writer, "ap

▪ Western Islands, p. 246.

2

Voyage to the Hebrides p. 269.

3 Vol. XII. 3$0. * Life of St Columba, p. 151. V. Messingham, p. 181. 5 Life of St Columba, ibid.