observed in the country of the Picts; 45 and churches were everywhere dedicated in his honour.' The saint, however, would no longer remain in these parts, but exchanged them for another part of the country.46 The localities here mentioned can be easily recognised. Dul is the village of Dull in Strathtay in Atholl, where Adamnan, not long after Cudberct's death, founded a monastery; and about a mile east of Dull is the church of Weem, situated under a high cliff called the Rock of Weem, about six hundred feet high, and in some places so steep as to be almost perpendicular.47 In the year 657 Osuiu, king of Northumbria, had extended his sway not only over the Britons and Scots, but also over the territories of the southern Picts. The district in which these places are situated was now under the dominion of the Angles, which may have led to Cudberct having proceeded thither. Cudberct did not remain long at Ripon, for Bede tells us that, since the whole condition of this world is fragile and unsteady as the sea when a sudden tempest arises, the above-named abbot Eata, with Cudberct and the rest of the brethren whom he had brought along with him, was driven home, and the site of the monastery he had founded was given for a habitation to the monks.' This sudden tempest, as we learn from Bede's history, was the return of St. Wilfrid to England, when King Alchfrid, 'who had always followed and loved the Catholic rules of the church,' gave him 'the monastery of thirty families at a place called In Wrypum (Ripon), which place he had lately given to those that followed the doctrine of the Scots to build 45 This is true of the Columban monasteries generally. 46 This account is abridged from the Irish Life, cc. xxvi. and xxvii. See Surtees' edition, pp. 82, 83. 47 In the Statistical Account we are told that there is a spring of water about the middle of the Rock of Weem, of which St. David is said to be the patron, who had a chapel on a shelf of the rock called Craigan-chapel. The fair is called Feill Dhaidh, and there is a buryingground called Cill Dhaidh. St. David seems to have superseded St. Cuthbert here. The fair was held in March. St. Cuthbert's day is 20th March. A. D. 661. Cudberct becomes prior of Melrose. a monastery upon. But forasmuch as they afterwards, being left to their choice, would rather quit the place than adopt the Catholic Easter and other canonical rites according to the custom of the Roman and Apostolic Church, he gave the same to him.' 48 Boisil having soon after died, Cudberct was appointed prior of Mailros in his room, and performed its functions for several years with so much spiritual zeal, as became a saint, that he gave to the whole community not only the counsels, but also the example, of a monastic life.' He was also zealous in converting the surrounding populace, 'and frequently went out from the monastery, sometimes on horseback, but more generally on foot, and preached the way of truth to those who were in error, as Boisil had been also wont to do in his time in the neighbouring villages. He was also wont to seek out and preach in those remote villages which were situated far from the world in wild mountain places and fearful to behold, and which, as well by their poverty as by their distance up the country, prevented intercourse between them and such as could instruct their inhabitants. Abandoning himself willingly to this pious work, Cudberct cultivated these remote districts and people with so much zeal and learning that he often did not return to his monastery for an entire week, sometimes for two or three, yea occasionally even for an entire month, remaining all the time in the mountains, and calling back to heavenly concerns these rustic people by the word of his preaching as well as by his example of virtue.' 49 It was during this time that we find him visiting Aebbe at Coludi or Coldingham, and spending the greater part of the night in prayer and prolonged vigils, entering the sea till the water reached to his arms and neck;' and that on one occasion he went to the land of the 'Niduari Picts,' or Picts of Galloway, who were then under the dominion of the Angles. He 48 Bede, Hist. Ec., B. v. c. 19. 49 Bede, Vit. S. Cud., c. ix. is described as quitting his monastery on some affairs that required his presence, and embarking on board a vessel. for the land of the Picts who are called Niduari, accompanied by two of the brethren, one of whom reported the incident. They arrived there the day after Christmas, expecting a speedy return, for the sea was smooth and the wind favourable; but they had no sooner reached the land than a tempest arose, by which they were detained for several days exposed to hunger and cold; but they were, by the prayers of the saint, supplied with food under a cliff where he was wont to pray during the watches of the night; and on the fourth day the tempest ceased, and they were brought by a prosperous breeze to their own country.50 The traces of this visit have been left in the name of Kirkcudbright, or Church of Cuthbert. Cudberct goes to farne. In the year 664 the Columban Church in Northumbria A.D. 664. was brought to an end by the adverse decision of the Council of Whitby, and Bishop Colman left the country with those of Lindishis Scottish clerics who would not conform to Rome. Eata, the abbot, however, and his provost, Cudberct, gave in their adhesion to the Roman party, and, at Bishop Colman's suggestion, the monastery of Lindisfarne was placed under Eata's charge, who thus became abbot both of Mailros and of Lindisfarne. To the latter monastery Eata transferred Cudberct, there to teach the rules of monastic perfection with the authority of a superior, and to illustrate it by becoming an example of virtue.' He appears to have become zealous in endeavouring to assimilate the Scottish system to the customs of the Roman Church, for Bede tells us that there still remained in the monastery certain monks who chose rather to follow their ancient custom than to obey the new rule. These, nevertheless, he overcame by the modest power of his patience, and by daily practice he brought them 50 Bede, Vit. S. Cud., cc. x. xi. See also for locality of Niduari Picts vol. i. p. 133, note. VOL. II. A.D. 669-678. St. Wilfrid all the do minions of King Osuiu, and founds church of Hexham, which he dedicates to St. by little and little to a better disposition.' 51 In the meantime Tuda, who had been initiated and ordained bishop among the southern Scots of Ireland, having also the coronal tonsure according to the custom of that province, and observing the Catholic time of Easter, and had come from thence while Colman was yet bishop, was appointed bishop of the Northumbrians in his place. He was a good and religious man,' says Bede, 'but governed his church a very short time,' being cut off by the great pestilence of that year 52 King Alchfrid had sent Wilfrid to Gaul to be consecrated bishop over him and his people, and being still absent, King Osuiu sent Ceadda, abbot of the monastery of Laestingaeu, who had been one of Bishop Aidan's disciples, to Kent to be ordained bishop of the church of York, where, as the archbishop had just died, he was consecrated bishop by Bishop Vini of Wessex, to whom were joined two bishops of the British nation who adhered to the Roman party. Wilfrid now returned from Gaul a consecrated bishop. Whence it followed,' says Bede, 'that the Catholic institubishop over tion gained strength, and all the Scots that dwelt among the Angles either submitted to these persons or returned to their own country.' Ceadda soon gave way to Wilfrid, and was translated to the province of the Mercians; while from the year 669 to 678, when he was expelled, Wilfrid administered the bishopric of York and of all the Northumbrians, and likewise of the Picts as far as the dominions of King Osuiu extended. During the period of his episcopate, Wilfrid, as we are informed by Eddi, founded the monastery of Hagustald, or Hexham, in the valley of the Tyne, the district having been given him by the queen Etheldreda, whose property it appears to have been; and he dedicated it to St. Andrew,53 in commemoration of an early incident in his life recorded by Eddi, who tells us that, when he first conceived Andrew. 51 Bede, Vit. S. Cud., c. xvi. 22. 53 Eddii, Vita S. Wilfridi, cap. the purpose of endeavouring to turn the Northumbrians from the Columban institutions to Rome, he went in Rome to a church dedicated to St. Andrew, and there knelt before the altar and prayed to God, through the merits of his holy martyr Andrew, that He would grant him the power of reading the Gospels aright, and of preaching the eloquence of the Evangelists to the people. His prayer was answered by the gift of persuasive eloquence; and feeling himself peculiarly under the guidance of that apostle, he dedicated his monastery of Hexham to him. And thus were the dedications to St. Andrew first introduced into the northern parts of Britain. Cudberct Farne Returning to Cudberct, after he had been twelve years A.D. 670. in charge of the monastery of Lindisfarne, he resolved, withdraws according to the custom of the time, to withdraw from the to the monastery and lead a solitary life in some remote island. island. Bede tells us that he had already begun to learn the rudiments of a solitary life, and that he used to withdraw into a certain place which is yet discernible on the outside of his cell, than which it is more secluded.' This place can still be identified. It is a low detached portion of the basaltic line of rock which runs in front of the ruins of the priory at the south-west corner of the island of Lindisfarne, which becomes an islet at high-water, while at low-water it is accessible by a ridge of stone covered with sea-weed. still bears his name; and here subsequently existed a small chapel dedicated to him, which was called 'the Chapel of St. Cuthbert on the Sea.' 54 Bede tells us that 'when he had for a while learned as a recluse to contend thus with the invisible enemy by prayer and fasting, then in course of time he ventured still higher, and sought a place of conflict farther off and more remote from the abode of men.' For this purpose he retired to the solitary island of Farne, at a greater distance from the mainland than Lindisfarne, and then uninhabited. 54 Bede, Vit. S. Cudbercti, c. 17; Raine's North Durham, p. 145. |