Editing Ninian (section)

===Ussher (1639)===
[[Image:James Ussher by Sir Peter Lely.jpg|thumb|[[James Ussher]], Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland.]]

[[James Ussher]] wrote that Ninian left Candida Casa for ''Cluayn-coner'' in Ireland, and eventually died in Ireland; that his mother was a Spanish princess; that his father wished to regain him after having assented to his training for an ecclesiastical state; that a bell comes from heaven to call together his disciples; that a wooden church was raised by him, with beams delivered by stags; and that a [[harp]]er with no experience at architecture was the builder of the church. He adds that a smith and his son, named respectively "Terna" and "Wyn", witnessed a miracle by Ninian and that the saint was granted lands to be called "Wytterna".<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Forbes|1874|p=iv–v}} ''Introduction to the Life of S. Ninian''</ref><ref>{{Harvcolnb|Ussher|1639|pp=199–209, 228, 251}} – claims regarding Ninian in his ''Life of Ninian'', in Latin</ref>

In addition, [[William Forbes Skene|Skene]] attributes the "traditional" date of Ninian's death (16 September 432) ultimately to Ussher's ''Life of Ninian'', noting that the date is "without authority".<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Skene|1887|pp=3–4}} In ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=oJoQAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA3 The Churches in the West]''</ref>

Ussher's contribution is often disparaged,<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Newman|Hutton|1845|p=11}} "The Irish life referred to by Archbishop Ussher does not appear entitled to much consideration" in ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=k-wOAAAAIAAJ St. Ninian's early days]'', for example; and elsewhere in the book.</ref><ref>{{Harvcolnb|Hardy|1862|p=44}} "The Irish Life was written long after Ninian's death, by an author of little discretion, who wished to adjust the conduct of the Saint to the usages of his own time." in the ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=4CUJAAAAIAAJ footnote]'', for example.</ref> as he both invented fictitious histories and misquoted legitimate manuscripts to suit his own purposes.<ref>for example, see {{Citation
|last=Bridgett
|first=Thomas Edward
|contribution=Catholicity of North-Britons
|contribution-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NdoCAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA55
|title=History of the Holy Eucharist in Great Britain
|volume=I
|publisher=C. Kegan Paul & Co
|date=1881
|location=London
|page=55 (footnote)
}} – Ussher printed a manuscript of the letters of [[Alcuin]], which contained a request for the intercession of Saint Ninian; however, Ussher edited the manuscript to change parts of it, and among his changes was the omission of Alcuin's request, but leaving other parts of it intact.</ref><ref>{{Citation
|last=Lawrie
|first=Archibald Campbell
|year=1905
|contribution=Letter of Alcuin to the Monks of Candid Casa, A.D. 782–804
|contribution-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wuxJAAAAMAAJ&pg=1
|title=Early Scottish Charters Prior to A.D. 1153
|publisher=James Maclehose and Sons
|publication-date=1905
|location=Glasgow
|pages=226–27
}}</ref> Still, he had access to legitimate manuscripts, and he has contributed to some versions of the traditional stories.