or **COLUMN**, an island in the Firth of Forth, forming part of the parish of Dalgetty, Fife-shire, and lying two miles S. of Aberdour. It is only about a mile in length; but is interesting as the site of an ancient monastery, founded by Alexander I about 1123. The legend is, that this monarch, in passing the Firth of Forth, 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 in the chapel of St Columba, and who, for the three days during which 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 which 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 erected in consequence of the piety of Alexander were extensive; and there is still to be seen a large square tower belonging to the church, with 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; and those who escaped, struck with the justice of the judgment, vowed to make ample recompense to the injured saint. The tempest ceased, and they performed the promised atonement.