COENISH DEDICATIONS. 91 



Non — what her real name was we do not know* — was perhaps 

 a professed Nun in the monastery of Ty Gwyn, perhaps only a 

 pupil therein. One day as she was walking at some distance 

 from the monastery, she was overtaken by Sandde, son of Cedig 

 and grandson of Ceredig who has left his name to Ceredigion 

 or Cardigan, Ceredig had expelled the Irish from that portion 

 of Wales over which he held sway, and that Grynyr of Caer 

 Q-awch was an Irish Chief holding on among the rocks and 

 moors of Ehos, is likely enough. The British Prince carried 

 off Non, regardless of every consideration. 



When he let her depart, she returned to Ty Gwyn. The 

 story goes that Gildas was there and could not preach. What 

 the mysterious influence was that silenced him he could not 

 divine, so he bade all leave the church. Still he could not 

 preach, so looked further and discovered a woman crouched 

 behind the dividing wall. Then he found his tongue and 

 proclaimed that the child that would be born to her would be a 

 great saint. f 



It is also said that thirty years before, S. Patrick, who had 

 halted there on his way to Ireland — The Wexford mountains 

 are visible thence — had likewise foretold the birth of the saint. 

 This is fabulous. What is true is that it was thence that 

 S. Patrick set sail for Ireland. The foundations of his chapel 

 near the beach remain. Also that Gildas visited Ty Gwyn 

 whilst S. Ninidh was master there, and thence also embarked 

 for Ireland. This was quite sufficient for a legend to spring 

 up that both had foretold the birth of David. 



When the time of her confinement drew near S. Non 

 retired to a cot at some distance, and this cot was afterwards 

 converted into a chapel. She took her child to Perth Clais, 

 where an Irish Bishop happened to have arrived, named Helue, 

 actually S. Ailbe of Emly, who baptised him in a spring that is 



*In Brittany she is called also Malaria. 



t There is another version of the story in the life of S. Ailbe. He came to 

 Ty Gwyn on his way back to Ireland from Gaul, and found a priest at the altar 

 unable to proceed with the mass. " Then Ailbe looking round the church saw a 

 certain pregnant woman, and said, " You cannot offer, because this woman bears 

 in her womb David of Kilmuin, a bishop ; and a priest must not celebrate before 

 a bishop without his consent." — Cod. Salam, p. 245. 



