An historical account of the ancient Culdees of Iona, and of their settlements in Scotland, England, and Ireland

Front matter

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354. JAMIESON (Dr. John). Histor- I ical Account of the Ancient Culdees of Iowa, | and of their Settlements in Scotland, England aj)ti Ireland. Glasgow, 1890. Svo, cloih.$l.50 ]

Author's Preface

When the author engaged in this disquisition, it was not with the remotest idea of writing a book on the subject. His sole design was to collect a few materials, to be afterwards thrown together, so as to form an article in a literary work, to which he had promised to contribute. But, from the contradictory assertions of learned and able writers, concerning the Culdees ; from the variety of topics regarding their history or character, which demanded particular attention ; and from the indispensable necessity, in an inquiry of this kind, of producing original authorities ; he soon found, that it was in vain to think of giving any tolerable account of this celebrated society within the usual limits of an essay. Various difficulties have occurred, indeed, in the progress of this investigation. But, in consequence of persevering in it, he has had the satisfaction of meeting with

PREFACE. 9

facts, which seem to have been formerly overlooked ; and he flatters himself that he has been able, to set some others in a new light.

Although far from thinking that the work can be free from mistakes, he is conscious that he has done all in his power fairly to exhibit the testimony of antiquity on this subject. If it shall appear to the candid reader, that the author has in any measure elucidated this obscure, but important, branch of our ancient history, he will not regret his labour.

Chapter I

Of the Name, Culdees. —Conjectures as to its Origin. — Of the first preaching of the Gospel in North Britain. — Of the Mission of Palladins. — lona the principal seat of the Culdees. — .Said to have been the immediate Successors of the Druids, ...... 15

Chapter II

Of the coming of Columba into Britain. — Cursory view of his Life and Character. — To.be distinguished from Abbot Columban. — Of the Island of lona. — Of the Druids. — The Dooti'ine of the Culdees, and their mode of Living, ............ 21

Chapter III

Of the Ecclesiastical Government of the Culdees. — The Account given of this by Bede. — How explained by Bishop Lloyd. — Of Sodora. — Whether a Bishop always resided at Hii. — Usher's Testimony from the Annals of Ulster. — Goodal's reasoning on this Head, . , . . . .35

Chapter IV

Account of the Ecclesiastical Government of the Culdees continued. — Of the Mission of Bishop Aidau to the Northumbrians. — Mistranslations in the modern English Version of Bede. — Of the Seniores at lona. — Whether the Term denoted Bishops, or Presbyters ? — Whether the Culdean Government resembled that of a modern University ? — Of Gillan's reasoning. —If the Episcopal Missionaries to Northumbria were amenable to the College of lona ? . . . . . . ,51

Chapter V

Continuation of the Account of the Ecclesiastical Government of the Culdees. — Bishop Lloyd's View of the Ordination of Finan. — Of that of Colraan. — Bede's Account of the Ordination of Aidan. — Of the Episcopate of Cedd. — Of the Conversion of the Saxous by Scots. — Testimony of the Saxon Chronicle, fis

CONTENTS. II

CHAPTER \l.

Of the principal Seats of the Culdees. — Of Abernethy. — Antiquity of this foimdation. — Of St Bridget. — Whether Abernethy was a Bishopric? — Of the University here. — Of tlie Collegiate Ohurcli. — Property of the Abbey given to that of Aberbrothoc. — Controversy on this head. — Temporal Lords of Abernethy, 84

Chapter VII

Monastery of Culdees at Lochlevin. — Of St Serf. — Donations. — Library. — Foundation of Dunkeld. — Reliques of Coluniba transported thither. — Of the Primacy ascribed to it. — The Memory of Columba long held in Veneration there — Monastic Seal. — Culdees at St Andrews. — Of Regulus. — Of Constaiitine. — Endowments of the Priory. — If originally the seat of a Bishop ?.......... 101

Chapter VIII

Of the Culdees of Brechin. — Whether they merely constituted the Episcopal Chapter ? — Of those at Dunblane. — Of the supposed Foundatioti at Mnthel. — Of that of Monimusk. — Culdees at Portmoak. — Scone. — Kirkaldy. — Culross. — Mailros, 115

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, 131

Chapter X

Of the Opposition of the Culdees to the Romish System. — Testimony of Bede ; — of Con ; — of Alouiu ; — of Bromton ; — of Auricular Confession ; — the Tonsure ; — Mode of Baptism ; — The Real Presence ; — Idolatrous Worship 146

Chapter XI

The judgment of the adherents of Rome concerning the Culdees.— Of the Synod of Streoneshalch. — Of Colman and Adamnan. —Government not the only ground of difference with the Romanists. — Charge brought by Richard of Hexham against the Scots. — Character given of the Culdees by Dr Henry. — Of the Synod of Cealhythe. —Their Character as given by Gibbon. — Of Clemens, Samson, and Virgilius. — Speech of Gilbert Murray, 161

12 CONTENTS.

Chapter XII

Of the Suppression of the Culdees. — Means employed for this Purpose. — Their Promotion to Bishoprics. — Increase of Episcopal Sees. — Preference given to Foreigners. — lutroductioii of Canons Regular; — at St Andrews; — Lochlevin ; — Dunkeld : — Brechin, — Convention between Bishop Malvoisin and the Culdees of Monimnsk. — Remarks on it, . . .179

Chapter XIII

Suppression of the Culdees at St Andrews. — Preparatory Measures adopted with this view. — Their Controversy with the Canons Regular as to St Mary's Church. — Remarks on Goodall's Account of this. — State of the Culdees at lona. — Their Subjection to the authority of Rome ; and Expulsion of those who were refractoi-y. — Of the Translation of the Reliques of Adamnan, and of Columba, . . . 201

Chapter XIV

Of the Library at lona. — Account given of it by Pennant, from Boece. — Causes assigned for its Destruction ; — Devastations by the Danes ; — by Edward I. ; — by the Reformers ; — by Cromwell ; — during the period of Persecution. — Books, formerly belonging to it, said to be still extant. — The Culdees preserved till about the time that the Lollards appeared. — Of tlie Reformation in Scotland, whether by Bishops ? — Of those called Superintendents, ........... 218

Chapter XV

Objections considered. — The supposed Inconsistency of the Monks of lona sending Bishops, or Improbability of their being applied to for such a Mission, if unfriendly to the Order ; — The Culdees said to have been merely the Episcopal Chapter of the Diocese in which they resided. — Asserted, that there were never any Culdees at lona, or within the Territories of the Ancient Scots ; and that they made their first Appearance at St Andrews, ......... 236

AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT

OF THE

ANCIENT CULDEES OF lONA.

INTEODUCTION.

There is no portion of the Scottish history, which has a higher claim to attention, than that which respects the Culdees. Nor are the natives of Scotland alone interested in it. Whatever be the peculiar influence of national attachment, or of local connection, this is a subject which merits the regard of all who bear the name of Protestants. Byvarious writers, indeed, it has either been industriously consigned to oblivion, or, if brought into view, grossly misrepresented. But, happily, amidst all the obscurity and fable, in which the more early part of our history is involved, such gleams of light now and then break forth, as not only to demonstrate the existence, but to elucidate the character, of a succession of men, who, while they were an honour to their country, were at the same time an ornament to the Christian name. Nor is their claim to attention enfeebled, from the circumstance of their appearing in a remote corner of the earth, as champions for the simplicity of our faith, and for the independence of the Church, at the very time that error and tyranny had extended their baleful empire over the continent of Europe. They, in this respect, resemble the Waldenses, who, hid amidst the almost inaccessible retreats of Piedmont, and environed by the natural bulwarks of the Alpine regions, during the same dark period, preserved the truth in its purity, till the time appointed for its more iieneral dissemination arrived.