m. An Irish priest, the Apostle of the Highlands, born about A. D. 520, and arrived in Scotland in 565. He preached to the Picts, whose king gave him the Western Isle, Iona, in which he founded his abbey and college. Columba was abbot 32 years, and died there, at the age of 77, on the 9th of June, 597 [Bd. 3, 4; S. 106, 107: it is not in king Alfred's A. Sax. version]. Columba is thus spoken of in the Chr. A. D. 565 :-- Colnmba, messapreóst, com to Pyhtum, and hí gecyrde to Cristes geleáfan; ðæt sind ðonne [ðone MS.] wærteras [MS. wærteres] be norþum mórum; and heora cyning him gesealde ðæt égland ðe man nemnaþ Ií, ðǽr sindon v hída, ðæs ðe men cweðaþ. Ðiér se Columba getymbrade mynster; and he ðǽr wæs abbot xxxii wintra; and ðǽr forþférde, ðá ðá he wæs lxxvii wintra. Ða stówe habbaþ nó git his erfewærdas [MS. erfewærdes]. . . . Nú, sceal beón ǽfre on Ií abbod, næs bisceop; and ðam sculon beón underþǽdde ealle Scotta biscopas, forðam ðe Columba wæs abbod, nes bisceop Columba, mass-priest, came to the Picts, and converted them to the faith of Christ; who are now dwellers by the northern mountains; and their king gave him the island which men name Iona, where there are five hides, from what men say. There Columba built a monastery; and he was abbot there thirty-two years, and there died when he was seventy-seven years. His inheritors yet have the place. . . . Now, in Iona, there must ever be an abbot, not a bishop; and to him must all the bishops of the Scots be subject, because Columba was an abbot, not a bishop, Chr. 565; Th. 31, 29, col. 1-33, 7, col. 1. columba