Note 657 — Chapter IX · THE KINGDOM OF SCOTIA PASSES INTO FEUDAL SCOTLAND.

Fordun, Chron. B. v. c. xxviii. Bower, who was himself abbot of this monastery, places its foundation in the year 1123, and adds to Fordun’s account the words ‘non minus mirifice quam miraculose.’ He explains this expression by telling us that Alexander, crossing the Queensferry on affairs of state, encountered a great storm, and was driven by a south-westerly gale upon the island of Emonia, where he was received by a hermit who served Saint Columba in a small chapel, and lived upon shellfish and the milk of one cow. Here the king was obliged by the gale to remain three days, and, in fulfilment of a vow which he had made in the extremity of his peril, founded the monastery in honour of Saint Columba.—Scotichron. B. v. c. xxxvii. The same legend was told to the author in the island of Iona, as having happened there, and the hermit’s cave where Alexander was said to have been received was pointed out to him on the west side of the island.