d leaving an offering."

The large numbers of pilgrims conveyed in hackney coaches to the
French shrine of this saint at Breuil, caused those vehicles to be
known as _fiacres_, a designation they still bear.

31--St. Aidan, Bishop, A.D. 651.

This saint was a native of Ireland, where, after some years of
monastic life at Inniscattery in the Shannon, he was consecrated
bishop. Later on he entered the monastery of Iona. He became the
first bishop of Lindisfarne, and the helper of St. Oswald in the
conversion of Northumbria. His life was one of great poverty and
detachment, and his example had a wonderful effect on his flock. He
used to travel about his diocese on foot, accompanied by his clergy,
spending the time occupied by {126} the journey in prayer and holy
reading. His alms were abundant, and his manner to all with whom he
came in contact kind and fatherly. His miracles, even during life,
were many and striking.

St. Aidan was the founder of Old Melrose, which stood a short
distance from the site of the more modern Cistercian Abbey whose
ruins are familiar to travellers. He also assisted the Abbess, St.
Ebba, in the foundation of the celebrated monastery of Coldingham,
which consisted of two distinct communities of men and women.

After ruling his see for seventeen years, he died at Bamborough in a
tent which he had caused to be erected by the wall of the church. St.
Cuthbert, then a youthful shepherd, as he kept his flock on the
hills, had a vision of the soul of St. Aidan being borne by angels to
Heaven. It was this vision which determined him to seek admission to
Melrose. Many churches bear St. Aidan's name. Among them are those of
Cambusnethan in Lanarkshire and Menmuir in Angus. At the latter place
is the saint's holy well, which was renowned for the {127} cure of
asthma and other complaints. Another holy well called after St. Aidan
is to be found at Fearn in Angus. The ancient church of Kenmore,
Perthshire, was known as Inchadin. Keltney Burn in the same
neighbourhood, is called in Gaelic "St. Aidan's Stream."

SEPTEMBER

1--St. Egidius or Giles, Abbot, A.D. 714.

This saint never laboured in Scotland, yet the honour shown to him in
the country is sufficient reason for the mention of his name here. He
is said to have been an Athenian by birth, who fled from his native
land to escape the admiration excited by his extraordinary sanctity.
He settled in France and founded a monastery in the neighbourh