INCH Colm, or Columba, the isle of Columba, an island situated in the frith of Forth in Scotland, and famous for its monastery. See FORTH.
This monastery was founded about 1123, by Alexander I. on the following occasion. In passing the frith of Forth he was overtaken by a violent storm, which drove him to this island, where he met with the most hospitable reception from a poor hermit, then residing here in the chapel of St Columba, who, for the three days that the king remained there tempest-bound, entertained him with the milk of his cow, and a few shell-fish. His majesty, from the sense of the danger he had escaped, and in gratitude to the saint to whom
he attributed his safety, vowed some token of respect; and accordingly founded here a monastery of Augustines, and dedicated it to St Columba. Allan de Mortimer, lord of Aberdour, who attended Edward III. in his Scotch expedition, bestowed half of those lands on the monks of this island, for the privilege of a family burial-place in their church. The buildings made in consequence of the piety of Alexander were very considerable. There are still to be seen a large square tower belonging to the church, the ruins of the church, and of several other buildings. The wealth of this place in the time of Edward III. proved so strong a temptation to his fleet, then lying in the Forth, as to suppress all the horror of sacrilege and respect to the sanctity of the inhabitants. The English landed, and spared not even the furniture more immediately consecrated to divine worship. But due vengeance overtook them; for in a storm which instantly followed, many of them perished; those who escaped, struck with the justice of the judgment, vowed to make ample recompense to the injured saint. The tempest ceased; and they made the promised atonement.—The Danish monument, figured by Sir Robert Sibbald, lies on the south-east side of the building, on a rising ground. It is of a rigid form, and the surface ornamented with scale-like figures. At each end is the representation of a human head.