immediate neighbourhood is dedicated, not to the archangel, but to
some local ecclesiastic, whose name is now forgotten. In reference to
this spring, Captain White says, "Trickling out from under a rock,
is the Priest's Well (Tobar-ant-Sagairt), famous, like many another
spring of so-called holy water, for its miraculous healing virtues. I
believe the country people have by no means lost their faith in its
powers." The extent of the archangel's popularity in Scotland is shown
by his impress on topography. Among place-names we find at least
three Kilmichaels, and there are five parishes called Kirkmichael,
respectively in the counties of Dumfries, Ayr, Perth, Ross and
Cromarty, and Banff. A chapel is said to have been dedicated to him at
a very early date on the top of the Castle Rock at Edinburgh. Another
once stood in the demesne of Lovat, where was founded, about 1232,
a Priory for French monks, who were so struck with the beauty of the
spot that they called it Beau-lieu, now Beauly. Far west, in the outer
Hebrides, he had faithful votaries. On the island of Grimisay, close to
North Uist, a chapel styled Teampull Mhicheil was built in his honour
towards the close of the fourteenth century. It was the work of Amie,
otherwise Annie, wife of John of Isla, first Lord of the Isles, and
was used by her as an oratory when prevented by rough weather from
crossing the Minch to visit her friends in Lorne. That the archangel
should have had wells named after him is therefore not surprising.
CHAPTER V.
STONE BLOCKS AND SAINTS' SPRINGS.
Stone Beds and Chairs--Cave Life--Dwarfie Stone--Stone
Boats--Balthere--His Corpse--His Well and Cradle--Marnan--His
Influence on Topography--His Head--St. Marnan's
Chair and Well--Muchricha--Cathair Donan--St. Donan's
Well--Patrick--His Wells--St. Patrick's Vat--Quarry at
Portpatrick--Columbanus--Mark of his Hand--Kentigern's
Chair and Bed--His connection with Aberdeenshire--The Lady's
Bed--Thenew--Columba's Bed and Pillow--Holy Island--Traces
of Molio--St. Blane's Chapel--Kilmun--Inan--St. Innian's
Well--Tenant's Day--St. Inan's Chair and Springs--Kevin--Print
of Virgin's Knee--Traces of Columba at Keil--St. Cuthbert's
Stane--St. Madron's Bed--Mean-an-Tol--Morwenna--St. Fillan's
Chair--St. Fillan's Spring--Water for Sore Eyes--The Two
Fillans--Their Dedications--Queen Margaret's Seat--St. Bonnet's
Spring--The Fairies' Cradle--The Pot o' Pittenyoul--Church of
Invergowrie--Greystane--Cadger's Bridge--Wallace's Seat and Well.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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