E06057: An excerpt from Cumméne the White's lost book on the miracles of *Columba (abbot of Iona, ob. 597, S02167), survives in some manuscripts of Adomnán's Life of Columba (E06056). Written in Latin at Iona, probably 637/69; copied by the priest Dorbbéne, c. 700.

Adomnán, Life of Columba ('A' tradition) 3.5

[...] Cummuneus albus in libro quem de uirtutibus sancti Columbae scripsit sic dixit, quod sanctus Columba de Aidano et de posteris eius de regno suo profetare coepit, dicens:

'Indubitanter crede O Aidane quoniam nullus aduersariorum tuorum tibi poterit resistere, donec prius fraudulentiam agas in me et in posteros meos. Propterea ergo tu filiis commenda, ut et ipsi filiis et nepotibus et posteris suis commendent, ne per consilia mala eorum sceptrum regni huius de manibus suis perdant. In quocumque enim tempore malum aduersum me aut aduersus cognatos meos qui sunt in Hibernia fecerint, flagillum quod causa tui ab angelo sustenui per manum dei super eos in magnum flagitium uertertur; et cor uirorum auferetur ab eis, et inimici eorum uehimenter super eos confortabuntur.'

Hoc autem uaticinium temporibus nostris completum est in bello Roth, Domnallo Brecco nepot Aidani sine causa uastante prouinciam Domnail nepotis Ainmuireg. Et a die illa usque hode adhuc in procliuo sunt ab extraneis: quod suspiria doloris pectori incutit.


'... Cumméne the White in the book which he wrote on the miraculous powers of St Columba gives this account of St Columba's prophecy about Áedán and his descendants and kingdom:

'Make no mistake, Áedán, but believe that, until you commit some act of treachery against me or my successors, none of your enemies will have the power to oppose you. For this reason you must give this warning to your sons, as they must pass it on to their grandsons and descendants, so that they do not follow evil counsels and so lose the sceptre of this kingdom from their hands. For whenever it may happen that they do wrong to me or to my kindred in Ireland, the scourge that I have suffered for your sake from the angel will be turned by the hand of God to deliver a heavy punishment for them. Men's hearts will be taken from them, and their enemies will draw strength mightily against them.'

This prophecy was fulfilled in our own time, at the battle of Mag Roth, when Áedán's grandson Domnall Brecc laid waste the territory of the saint's kinsman Domnall Ua Ainmirech. From that day to this the family of Âedán is held in subjection by strangers, a fact which brings sighs of sorrow to the breast.'

Text: Anderson and Anderson 1991, 188-190. Translation: Sharpe 1995, 209.