Loch Ness Monster legend. Cropped Latin text from a 12th-century manuscript copy of the 7th-century work 'Life of St Columba' by Adamnan of Iona. This is the earliest report of a monster associated with Loch Ness. Saint Columba and his companions were in the land of the Picts when they came the burial of a man by the River Ness. The man had been swimming in the river when he was attacked and killed by a 'water beast'. Saint Columba commands the beast to go. The word 'Bestia' is on the second line of this image, and 'Nessam' is on the last line. This page is from the 12th-century 'Lives of Saints'. For the full page of text, see image C027/0566.