MONYMUSK 2007:

THE RESURRECTION OF ST.COLUMBA

St. Columba was born in Ireland, in the year 521, and became a well established priest.

Saint Columba secretly copied a manuscript known as St. Martins Gospel. St Finnian (the owner of the manual) learned of it, claimed the copy, and a dispute arose so serious it came before King Diarmaid. The King judged in favor of Finnian, and famously stated: "to every cow its calf; to every book its copy".

Columba refused to hand over the copy, and Dermott forced the issue into a battle at Cooldrevny, where Columba's family and clan defeated the king. 3000 men died and St. Columba moved to Northern Scotland to reestablish a new ministry where he stayed till his death in June 9, 597.

He has historically been revered as a warrior saint, and was often invoked for victory in battle. The Monymusk Reliquary (or the "Brecbennoch of St. Columba”), from around 750 AD, is believed to have contained the bones of St. Columba. It became a powerful symbol of nationhood, and was carried before the Scots army as it marched into war.

St Columba’s copy of St Finnians manuscript, and the battle it lead to, is the first documented conflicts concerning copyright issues in Western history.