medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
AFAIK these raids are not corroborated by historic sources and sound to me
like late grumbles about the losses after Halidon Hill.
Henk
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Van: medieval-religion - Scholarly discussions of medieval religious culture
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] Namens Francis Murphy
Verzonden: maandag 8 maart 2010 20:38
Aan: [log in to unmask]
Onderwerp: Re: [M-R] vengeful saints
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
The following's recounted of Inchcolm (patron: St Columba) in Robert
Boucher's "The Kingdom of Fife: Its Ballads and Legends" (1899),
pp.104-5. Unfortunately, he doesn't give the source, but perhaps
another list-member will be able to identify it:
"In 1335 an English squadron of seventy ships appeared in the Firth of
Forth, and laid in ashes the towns and villages on both sides of the
river. The Monastery of Inchcolm became a cynosure to the eyes of the
devastators, and one crew, more headstrong than its fellows, forcibly
entered the sacred edifice, which was dedicated to the memory of St
Columba, and plundered it of its most rare and costly ornaments and
relics - even impoverished the shrine by carrying away the sacred
image of the patron-saint himself. Thus laden they set sail for home.
But Heaven took immediate steps to vindicate her own rights, and a
speedy retribution pursued the crime of the sacrilegious mariners.
Without a moment's warning, Aeolus, the storm-fiend, let loose his
angriest blast which, driving the ships from their moorings, dispersed
and shattered the whole fleet. All at once the rock-bound shores of
Inchkeith loomed close in front of them like avenging demons,
threatening them with instant destruction. Then did their consciences
smite them. Struck with terror and remorse, they fell on their knees
before the sacred idol, confessed their crimes, and solemnly promised
to make abundant restitution if they were allowed to go scot-free.
"And the Saint heard them. The raging winds abated, stilled were the
angry waves, and the tempest-tossed vessels were carried on the bosom
of a gentle breeze to the tranquil haven of Kinghorn. There atonement
was made. The spoils of war were landed, and returned, along with a
handsome present, to the brethren of St Colme's Isle. And, as a token
that the recompense was propitiatory enough in the eyes of the injured
saint, fair winds sprang up from the west and wafted the repentant
mariners homewards.
"The lesson, however, was inefficacious and soon forgotten, for, ere
another year had run its course, the Southrons were back at their old
tricks again. This time the puissant King Edward himself invaded
Scotland, and marched as far north as Inverness. And while Windsor
stormed through the country, the English navy, numbering over one
hundred men of war, anchored in the Forth, while their crews carried
their ravages far and wide. The whole seaboard of Fife, from Culross
to Kinghorn-ness - that is, the Green Cape - bore evidences of their
pillaging and ruthless fingers. The Church of Dollar was despoiled of
its beautifully-carved wainscot, a present from the Abbot of Inchcolm,
which the marauders took to pieces and placed on board one of their
vessels. Flushed with success, they started for home in high glee -
dancing and laughing and singing over their good fortune, as their
water-steeds bounded joyously on the top of the waves.
"But alas! How short-lived was to be their hilarity. Columba's saintly
shade had been a witness of all their manoeuvres, and was on the
lookout for them ; and, just as the fleet was steering past Inchcolm,
his wrath burst forth like a torrent, and the sacrilegiously-loaded
vessel, with its ill-starred crew and ill-gotten gear, dropped like a
ball of lead to the bottom of the ocean. Affrighted and dismayed, the
other seamen vowed they would never again molest or interfere with the
vengeful saint and his possessions."
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