et Cobthach, frater ejus; Ernaan, sancti avunculus Columbæ; Diormitius, ejus ministrator; Rus, et Fechno, duo filii Rodain; Scandal, filius Bresail filii Endei filii Neil; Luguid Mocuthemne; Echoid; Tochannu Mocufir-cetea; Cairnaan, filius Branduib filii Meilgi ; Grillaan.

"Sancti Columbæ parentes: Aedelmith, pater ejus, filius Ferguso; Eithne, mater ipsius, filia filii Navis.

Iogen germanus frater Columbæ junior. Item, tres germanæ sorores ejus Cuimne, mater filiorum Meic Decuil, qui nominantur Mernooc, et Cascene, et Meldal, et Bran qui sepultus est in Dairu Calchaich, consobrini sancti Columbæ; Mincholeth, mater filiorum Enain, quorum unus Calmaan dicebatur; Sinech mater virorum Mocucei in Cuile-aque, quorum nomina sunt Aidanus monachus, qui sepultus est hi Cuil-uisci, et Chonrii Moccucein, qui sepultus 'est in Daurmaig; avia Tocummi Mocucein, qui valde senio fessus, presbiter sanctus, in Iona insula præsentem finivit vitam."

The following recital will serve as a commentary on that list, in showing the prevalence of the duodecimal economy among the Irish as well as the other inhabitants of the British Isles:MISSIONARY.

I.

1. S. Palladius, with twelve companions, sent to the Scots. 2. S. Mochta, a Briton, circ. 500, came to Ireland with

twelve disciples.

3. S. Columba, An. 562, with twelve followers, retired to Hy. 4. S. Mochonna, called also Macarius and Mauricius, was sent by St. Columba with twelve companions to the Picts.

5. S. Columbanus, circ. 612, with twelve brethren, whose names are on record, departed from Ireland to the Continent.

6. S. Kilian, circ. 680, was chief of a company of twelve who went from Ireland to Franconia, and founded the church of Würtzburg.

7. S. Eloquius, disciple of S. Fursa, circ. 680, with twelve companions, whose names are preserved, propagated the Gospel in Belgium.

8. S. Rudbert, or Rupert, circ. 700, chose twelve companions, whose names are on record, to assist him in preaching the Gospel in Bavaria.

9. S. Willibrord, who had studied for twelve years in Ireland, was chief of a society of twelve who, in 692, were sent by Ecgbert to evangelize Friesland. Their names are given in Surius.

10. S. Forannan, an Irishman, bishop and abbot of Vassor, circ. 970, with twelve companions, propagated the Gospel on the Belgic frontier.

11. S. Paulus, uncle of S. Jovinus, with twelve presbyters, passed over from Britain to Armorica.

12. S. Joseph, and his twelve companions, appear in the Glastonbury Legends; and the number recurs in other instances adduced by Ussher.

II. MONASTIC.

1. S. Carthach, or Mochuda, formed at Rahen a community of twelve, whose names are recorded.

2. S. David, of Menevia, founded twelve monasteries. 3. S. Petroc, who retired to the wilderness with twelve companions.

4. S. Benedict founded twelve monasteries, placing in each twelve monks under a superior.

5. S. Cungar, or Doccuin, placed twelve canons in each of his monasteries.

6. S. Gall built an oratory, "mansiuneculis per gyrum dispositis, ad commanendum fratribus, quorum jam XII. ad æternorum desiderium concitavit."

7. S. Corpreus, collected twelve presbyters into his church at Clonmacnois.

8. S. Disibod, an Irishman, in whose church of Mons Disibodi, or Dysenberg, twelve canons were placed "ad numerum XII. apostolorum."

9. S. Rhabanus Maurus, at Fulda, had 270 monks, "inter quos juxta numerum Apostolorum XII. viri erant præ ceteris doctissimi."

10. Mons S. Victor, a cell of St. Gall, founded for twelve Irish pilgrims.

11. S. Colman Finn, cum suis sociis XII. in Morthreabh Corcnea.-(Litan. Aengus, Colgan, Act. SS., p. 539.) 12. SS. Conchennacii XII., qui cum utroque Sinchello jacent in Kill-achuidh (ibid.)

13. S. Finniani XII. discipuli ín Ard-brendomnuigh (ibid.)

14. Episcopi XII. habitatores Killachia Dromfhodæ apud Falgheides (ibid.)

15. Meuthi, an Irish hermit in Wales, with twelve

ministers.

16. Monymusk, where was a college of twelve Culdees and

a prior.

e

III. DIOCESAN.

1. Pope Gregory wrote to St. Augustine of Canterbury, directing: "Per loca singula XII. episcopos ordines qui tuæ subjaceant ditioni. Ad Eburacam vero civitatem te volumus episcopum mittere; ita duntaxat, ut si eadem civitas cum finitimis locis verbum Dei receperit, ipse quoque XII. episcopos ordinet, et metropolitani honore perfruatur" (Bede i. 29).

2. S. Cataldus ducatum in XII. episcopatus distribuens, de suo episcopio archiepiscopatum fecit.

IV. CAPITULAR.

1. Canterbury.-Dean and twelve canons.

2. Durham.-Dean, twelve canons, and twelve minor canons (orig. constit.)

3. Winchester.--Dean and twelve canons.

4. Westminster.-Dean and twelve canons.

5. Windsor.-Dean and twelve canons.

6. Gloucester.-Dean, six canons, and six minor canons.

7. Bristol.-Dean, six canons, and six minor canons.
8. Norwich.-Dean, six canons, and six minor canons.
9. Aberdeen.-Bishop, and twelve canons.

V.-EDUCATIONAL.

1. S. Finnian, of Clonard, had twelve principal students,
afterwards styled the Twelve Apostles of Erin.
2. Aidan.-Eata "unus de XII. pueris Aidani, quos
primo episcopatus sui tempore de natione Anglorum
erudiendos in Christo accepit"-(Bede iii. 26).*
3. Daire-rabhne.-Duodecim 'innocentes pueri in Daire-
rabhne (Litan. Aengus).

VI.-CEREMONIAL.

1. At Wilfrid's consecration, Agilberct, bishop of Paris, "et alii undecim episcopi ad dedicationem antistitis [Wilfridi] convenientes, multum honorifice ministerium impleverunt" (Bede v. 19).

2. Eanfleda" baptizata est die sancto Pentecostes, prima de gente Nordanhymbrorum, cum undecim aliis de familia ejus" (Bede ii. 9).

VII. PEREGRINAL.

1. S. Ailbhe went to Rome, attended by several companies

of twelve.

2. S. Barr, of Cork, was attended to Rome by twelve

companions.

3. S. Maidocus. Duodecim qui cum Maidoco Fernensi ultra mare sunt peregrinati (Litan. Aengus).

4. Laisreanus. Duodecim qui sine morbo ad æterna tabernacula transierunt cum S. Molassio (ibid.)

5. Duodecim peregrini, quorum unum superstitem in Insula Felis reperit Brendanus (ibid.)

6. S. Rioch. Duodecim socii S. Riochi ultra mare (ibid.) 7. Duodecim peregrini in Lethglas Mor (ibid.)

8. Duodecim qui cum Albeo mori elegerunt (ibid.)

9. S. Munna, attended by twelve of his fraternity, went to meet the King of Leinster at Rathmor.

VIII.-MORAL.

1. Duodecim gradus humilitatis.

2. Duodecim pericula animæ.
3. Duodecim abusiones sæculi.

IX.-MISCELLANEOUS.

1. Twelve citizens placed by St. Patrick in Armagh. Represented by twelve burgesses in modern times. 2. Twelve pillars and twelve lamps in the Anastasis at Jerusalem.

3. Twelve psalms to be recited.

4. Twelve hostages delivered up.

5. Si XII. ordinati viri sapientes defuerunt, XII. clericorum inordinatorum consilium: si vero XII. clerici non affuerunt, XII. parvulis pueris, virginibus cum mulieribus haut coinquinatis, judicium atque consilium permittatur (Rees, Cambro-Brit. SS., p. 43.)

6. Twelve masons employed in Wales under an Irish architect called Liuguri (ibid. p. 47).

X.-MULTIPLES.

1. S. Patrick came to Ireland attended by twenty-four companions.

2. S. Brendan visits a community consisting of an abbot and twenty-four monks.

3. S. Ailbhe, with twenty-four men of Munster, crossed the sea (Litan. Aengus).

4. S. Cadoc and his twenty-four disciples (Rees, Cam.Brit. SS., p. 61).

5. Ratisbon.-An Irish monastery, founded for twentyfour Scots.

6. Exeter cathedral, dean, and twenty-four canons.

THE YEAR OF SAINT COLUMBA'S DEATH.

7. York cathedral, dean, and thirty-six canons.

8. S. Cadoc appointed thirty-six canons at Nantcarban (Rees, p. 82).

9. S. Brendan, with sixty pilgrim monks (Litan. Aengus). 10. S. Leonorius went from Britain to Gaul with seventytwo disciples.

11. S. Benedict." Instrumenta bonorum operum LXXII." 12. Servi Dei MCC. circa Lasreanum, ac episcopos Lethglinenses (ibid.)

V.

In calculating the year of St. Columba's death, it will be granted that he died on the ninth of June: for though Adamnan does not name the day of the month, he states the coincidence of St. Columba's and St. Baithene's festivals, and speaks of the Saint's decease as occurring soon after the month of May (B. III. c. 24). In the Feilire of Angus and the Roman Martyrology, as well as those of Bede and Notker, we have domestic and foreign testimonies agreeing with the date which has been observed for the solemnity within the memory of man. We learn, however, from Adamnan the following particulars, which, taken in conjunction with the date of the festival, determine the year with great precision :

1. Saturday was the last day of the Saint's life.

2. He had attended the nocturnal vigils.

3. Shortly after midnight he rose for matins.
4. Which was the second service of Sunday.

5. And just as the brethren had assembled.

6. While it was still dark in the oratory, for his attendant was obliged to feel after him, and was unable to discern his condition till lanterns were brought.

7. That this portion of the twenty-four hours was called the night of Sunday.

8. That, therefore, he died on Sunday.

9. That the ninth of June fell on Sunday.

Now the Regular letter of the ninth of June is f; therefore F was the Sunday letter of the year. But 597 is the only year