A Prayer for the Damned Read Online Free PDF

Lindisfarne, who had been the leading spokesman for those opposing the reforms, could not, in conscience, accept the decision, or remain as chief abbot to the king. It was against all his beliefs and teachings, as it was against those of many of us who had been raised in the ways of those who first brought the word of Christ to our kingdoms. Arguments raged in many abbeys and churches, even to the shedding of blood in the heat of such quarrels.’
    Eadulf nodded slowly. ‘I had heard that Oswy’s decision was not popular among either the religious or the people. I did not realise that it had led to bloodshed.’
    Berrihert grimaced wryly. ‘To say that it was not a popular decision is an understatement, Eadulf. Abbot Colmán said he could no longer preside at Lindisfarne and serve Oswy’s churches. He announced that he would return to his native land so that he could practise his faith in the way in which he had been raised. Many decided to follow him. Colmán asked Oswy to choose a successor at Lindisfarne. The king chose Tuda, who was from the kingdom of Laigin. Although the Blessed Aidan at Lindisfarne had trained him, Tuda espoused the reforms of Rome. When Tuda agreed to succeed him, Colmán withdrew from the kingdom. Many went with him, including some thirty of the faithful community from Lindisfarne.’
    ‘I thought that Eata, the abbot of Melrose, became abbot of Lindisfarne?’ said Eadulf.
    ‘Tuda was dead within the year from the dreadful Yellow Plague and then Eata succeeded him. My brothers and I – indeed, my father and mother also – had joined Colmán. We first travelled north through Rheged and then west to Iona. From Colmcille’s little island community, to which we owe so much, we sailed across the sea to this land. Colmán was from the kingdom of Connacht and he sought the permission of the local prince of the Uí Briúin to settle on Inis Bó Finne, the island of the white cow, to the west. Permission was given and we established our community there.’
    ‘I have heard stories of that community. I was told that it prospered.’
    Brother Berrihert shook his head sadly. ‘For the first year we prospered, and then we received an emissary from Ard Macha.’
    ‘Ard Macha?’ Eadulf was surprised. He knew the abbey was in the northern kingdom of Ulaidh. ‘What did Ard Macha seek in Connacht?’
    ‘The emissary was an abbot who came to demand that Colmán, and our community, recognise Ard Macha as the centre of the Faith among all the kingdoms of this land. He had an arrogance of manner that reminded me of Wilfrid.’
    ‘Wilfrid who was the main advocate of Rome at Witebia?’
    ‘The same. I had known Wilfrid since he was a callow youth sent by Queen Eanflaed to Lindisfarne to be taught religion. Wilfrid was, and is, an ambitious man. He went to Rome and then to Canterbury and, I believe, he expected to become leader of all the churches of the Angles and the Saxons. He was angry when it was not so. Alas, his demeanour was dictatorial and he never allowed that there could be many paths in religion other than the one he advocated.’
    ‘And you observed the same qualities in this abbot from Ard Macha?’
    ‘He and Wilfrid might have been born from the same womb. The abbot, as I said, was an emissary from the abbot and bishop of Ard Macha. Colmán, having rejected the ideas of Rome once, was not averse to rejecting similar demands again. But this man was very cunning and, indeed, had persuasive arts. Once more there arose arguments and dissension among the brethren. Some decided to accept what this envoy from Ard Macha argued. They were led by a brother from the East Saxons named Gerald. There was no dwelling in harmony with him and those who had been persuaded to follow him. Finally, they left our island and went to found a new abbey on the mainland – a place called Maigh Éo …’
    ‘The plain of yews? I know of it.’
    ‘We, my brothers and I, became increasingly saddened by what was