PRELIMINARY NOTICE. THE Life of St. Columba by Adamnan has always excited much interest, from the undoubted authenticity of the Biography, the early period in which it was compiled, and its connexion with the foundation of the ecclesiastical establishment at Iona, and the introduction of Christianity into the north of Scotland; but until the appearance, in 1856, of Dr. Reeves's edition of the Life, its real character, and that of the establishment at Iona, was little understood, and its history perverted to suit the purposes of a polemical controversy. The accuracy of learning and the thorough research displayed in Dr. Reeves's edition has now placed the subject beyond the reach of controversy, and his truly admirable edition is accompanied by a wealth of illustration almost unrivalled. His work, however, was printed for the Irish Archæological Society and for the Bannatyne Club, and is accessible only to the members of these bodies. It is therefore with much pleasure that the Publishers of the Series of Scottish Historians are enabled, by Dr. Reeves's permission, to present this work to the subscribers of that Series. Dr. Reeves has permitted them, in order to adapt the work more to the general reader, to add an English translation, and to re-arrange the matter contained in his learned and exhaustive Notes. The principal alteration in the latter is to throw the elaborate Additional Notes added to the Life in an Appendix into the form of an Introduction, and to transfer the numerous footnotes from the bottom of the page to the end of the Latin text. The Right Reverend the BISHOP OF BRECHIN has, at the Publishers' request, kindly superintended the preparation of the translation, and Mr. W. F. SKENE is responsible for the re-arrangement of the matter contained in the Notes. EDINBURGH, December 1874. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE CHAPTER I.-A brief narrative of his wonderful Miracles, . a CHAPTER VI.- His Prophecies regarding Cormac, grandson of Lethan, CHAPTER XII.-Of Laisran the gardener, CHAPTER XIII.—How he prophesied of a large Whale, CHAPTER XV. Of a certain Neman, an unreal penitent, loch of Loch-diæ, CHAPTER XXIX.-Of Gallan, son of Fachtna, whom the CHAPTER XXX.-Of Lugud Clodus, CHAPTER XXXI.-Of Enan, the son of Gruth, CHAPTER XXXII.—Of the Priest who was in Treoit, CHAPTER XXXIII.-Of Erc the robber, CHAPTER XXXV.-Prophecy of the Saint regarding Ronan, CHAPTER I.—Of the Wine which was made from water, 38 CHAPTER II.—Of the very bitter fruits of a tree changed into sweet by the blessing of the Saint, CHAPTER III. Of the land which was ploughed and sown CHAPTER IV.-On a Pestilential Cloud, and the cure of CHAPTER VI.—Of the healing the diseases of many people |
