The Healers of Mull (2)
I was telling you about the Beatons on Mull. They were famous physicians. The most famous of them was the Ollamh Muileach, John Beaton. According to oral tradition, he died when he was murdered.
The King of Scotland wanted to find out who was the most capable physician in the kingdom. He pretended to be ill. He invited the most renowned physicians in Scotland. He was wanting them all to tell him what was wrong with him. Among the physicians was the Ollamh Muileach.
He reached the king’s palace. But the king wasn’t allowing any examination by the physicians. The Ollamh Muileach immediately understood the king’s ploy. And the king had a high opinion of him because of that.
However, the other physicians were jealous. They decided to kill John Beaton. They gave money to his publican as a reward for poisoning John.
John and his servant reached the inn. The physician asked the publican to give him a cup of water. As soon as he swallowed the water, he knew that he had been poisoned. He requested a cup of milk. But there was no milk there. He asked his servant to go out to the kailyard to get cabbage. But there was no cabbage there.
The Ollamh Muileach died within a few minutes. His earthly remains were taken to Iona. He was buried there.
Before we leave the Mull Beatons, I want to tell you about another John Beaton – the second son of the Ollamh Muileach. He wasn’t a physician. He was an Episcopalian minister. But it’s to him that the family’s collection of manuscripts and books went.
He lost his ministry and went to Ireland. He took with him the book collection. He met with the renowned Welsh scholar, Edward Lhuyd. Lhuyd was doing research on the Celtic countries. He learned a lot from John Beaton about the language and culture of the Gaels and about medical practice in the Highlands.
Na Lighichean Muileach (2)
Bha mi ag innse dhuibh mu na Peutanaich ann am Muile. Bha iad nan lighichean ainmeil. B’ e am fear a b’ ainmeile aca an t-Ollamh Muileach, Iain Peutan. A rèir beul-aithris, fhuair e bàs nuair a chaidh a mhurt.
Bha Rìgh na h-Alba airson faighinn a-mach cò an lighiche a bu chomasaiche anns an rìoghachd. Leig e air gun robh e tinn. Thug e cuireadh do na lighichean a bu chliùitiche ann an Alba. Bha e airson ʼs gun innseadh iad uile dha dè bha ceàrr air. Am measg nan lighichean, bha an t-Ollamh Muileach.
Ràinig e lùchairt an rìgh. Ach cha robh an rìgh a’ ceadachadh sgrùdadh sam bith leis na lighichean. Thuig an t-Ollamh Muileach sa mhionaid plòigh an rìgh. Agus bha deagh bheachd aig an rìgh air, air sàillibh sin.
Ge-tà, bha na lighichean eile farmadach. Chuir iad romhpa Iain Peutan a mharbhadh. Thug iad airgead don òstair aige mar dhuais airson Iain a phuinnseanachadh.
Ràinig Iain agus a shearbhant an taigh-òsta. Dh’iarr an lighiche air an òstair cupa uisge a thoirt dha. Cho luath ʼs a shluig e an t-uisge, bha fios aige gun robh e air a phuinnseanachadh. Dh’iarr e cupa bainne. Ach cha robh bainne sam bith ann. Dh’iarr e air a shearbhant falbh a-mach don leas-chàil airson càl fhaighinn. Ach cha robh càl sam bith ann.
Chaochail an t-Ollamh Muileach taobh a-staigh beagan mhionaidean. Chaidh an dust aige a thoirt a dh’Eilean Ì. Bha e air a thiodhlacadh an sin.
Mus fhàg sinn Peutanaich Mhuile, tha mi airson innse dhuibh mu Iain Peutan eile – an dàrna mac aig an Ollamh Mhuileach. Cha robh e na lighiche. Bha e na mhinistear Easbaigeach. Ach ʼs ann thuigesan a chaidh an cruinneachadh de làmh-sgrìobhainnean is leabhraichean a bha leis an teaghlach.
Chaill e a mhinistrealachd agus chaidh e a dh’Èirinn. Thug e an cruinneachadh leabhraichean leis. Thachair e ris an t-sàr-sgoilear Chuimreach, Eideard Lhuyd. Bha Lhuyd a’ dèanamh rannsachadh air na dùthchannan Ceilteach. Dh’ionnsaich e tòrr bho Iain Peutan mu dheidhinn cànan is cultar nan Gàidheal agus mu leigheas air a’ Ghàidhealtachd.
