Finnian
heard of the piracy, and, as owner of the original, claimed
the copy. Columba refused to let him have it. Then
Diarmid, King of Meath, was asked to arbitrate. Arguing
that as every calf belonged to its cow, so every copy of a
book belonged to the owner of the original, he decided in
Finnian's favour. Columba thought the award unjust, and
said so. A little later, after another dispute with Diarmid
on a question of monastic immunity, he called together his
tribesmen and partisans, and offered battle. Diarmid was
defeated. For some reason, not quite clear, these quarrels led
to Columba's voluntary exile(c. 563). He sailed from Ireland,
and landed upon the silver strand of Iona, and to the end of
his days his work lay almost entirely amid the heather-covered
uplands and plains of this little island home.[1] Iona became
a renowned centre of missionary work, quite overshadowing
in importance the earlier "Scottish" settlement
of Whitherne or Candida Casa. Pilgrims went thither
from Ireland and England to receive instruction, and
returned to carry on pioneer work in their own homeland.
Thence went forth missionaries to carry the Christian
message throughout Scotland and northern England.
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