Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England

CHAP. IV. How Bishop Colman, having left Britain, built two monasteries in the country of
the Scots; the one for the Scots, the other for the English whom he had taken along with him.
[667 A. D.]
IN the meantime, Colman, the Scottish bishop, departing from Britain,took along with him all
the Scots whom he had gathered about him in the isle of Lindisfame, and also about thirty of the
English nation, for both these companies had been trained in duties of the monastic life; and leaving
some brothers in his church, he went first to the isle of Hii,whence he had been sent to preach the
Word of God to the English nation. Afterwards he retired to a small island, which is to the west of
Ireland, and at some distance from it, called in the language of the Scots, Inisboufinde, the Island
of the White Heifer. Arriving there, he built a monastery, and placed in it the monks he had brought
of both nations. But they could not agree among themselves, by reason that the Scots, in the summer
season, when the harvest was to be brought in, leaving the monastery, wandered about through
places known to them; but returned again the next winter, and desired to use in common what the
English had provided. Colman sought to put an end to this dissension, and travelling about far and
near, he found a place in the island of Ireland fitted to be the site of a monastery, which, in the
language of the Scots, is called Mageo? He bought a small part of it of the chief to whom it belonged,
to build his monastery thereon; upon condition, that the monks dwelling there should pray to the
Lord for him who let them have the place. Then at once building a monastery, with the assistance
of the chief and all the neighbouring people, he placed the English there, leaving the Scots in the
aforesaid island. This monastery is to this day occupied by English inhabitants; being the same
that, grown from a small beginning to be very large, is commonly called Muigeo; and as all have
long since been brought to adopt better customs, it contains a notable society of monks, who are
gathered there from the province of the English, and live by the labour of their own hands, after
the example of the venerable fathers, under a rule and a canonical abbot, in much continence and
singleness of life.