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Insula Sanctorum et Doctorum
supporting his declining age with coarse bread and cold
water," says Bede. It was from him that Bede heard the
story of Drythelm's vision as told by Drythelm himself
to King Aldf rid. Haemgils is commemorated among the
hermits in the Liber Vitae.
3.
SPECIAL COLLEGES FOR PRINCES
It is noteworthy too that the reigning families of Europe
sent their heirs to Ireland to be educated. The French
prince, Dagobert, son of Sigebert, king of Austrasia, spent
eighteen years in Ireland. He was educated at the royal
college of Slane, near Tara, where his fellow students
included many Irish princes. On his return to France
he succeeded his father as ruler and had many Irishmen
at his court.
Dagobert, in some accounts, is said to have been banished
to Ireland by the major-domo Grimold, who sought to
usurp the kingly authority for his own family. Eddi's
life of Wilfrid tells us that his friends and relatives, hav-
ing learnt from travelers (a navigantibus)
that he was
living and in perfect health in Ireland, sent envoys to
Wilfrid, then bishop in the north of England, asking him
to send for him from Scotland and Ireland (de Scottia
et Hibernia ad se invitasset)
.* Wilfrid consented to do
this. Dagobert thereupon set out from Ireland and returned
to his own country, where, enriched by the arms
and forces of his companions, he occupied the throne.
The king^ remembering his obligation to Wilfrid, offered
him when visiting on his way to Rome the largest bish-
opric in his realm, namely, that of Strassburg. Arbogast,
an Irishman, and nineteenth bishop of Strassburg, is said
to have died at this time, i. e., July 21, 679.
1
i This Is apparently the first instance of the word Scottia being used in
contrast to Hibernia. It may be a later corruption.
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