COKNISH DEDICATIOISrS. 121 



old h.ermit mounted it; at one bound the angelic steed carried 

 Mm to the top of a church tower and thence galloped without 

 touching soil till it had gone round the whole pou of Illy, over 

 which Ernoc held sway. When the latter awoke he rubbed his 

 eyes, and was much disconcerted to find that he had given away 

 every foot of soil he had. 



This is the legendary form assumed by a very simple 

 transaction, i.e. that Winiau turned his nephew out of his 

 lands, claiming a prior right to them. It was, perhaps then 

 that Ernoc migrated to Cornwall, and founded the chapel that 

 bears his name. S. Judoc died in 676. We may suppose that 

 his nephew lived till 700. 



The story of S. Erney is found in Le Grand's additions to 

 the Life of S. Paul of Leon. 



In the parish of S. Erney is a Holy Well that goes by the 

 name of Mark- well. 



It is stated in the life of S. Winnoc, that Ernan lived for a 

 considerable part of his religious life in Britain, so that the 

 conjecture that he came to Cornwall is not without basis. 



At S. Hernin, near Carhaix, in Finisterre, is his Holy Well, 

 and the saint is represented on the porch of the church. He 

 there figures in a short tunic or House, girt about the waist with 

 rope. He holds a staff in his hand. A more ancient statue 

 stands at the Well. To obtain the favour of the saint, his face 

 has to be washed and well rubbed ; for, so say the people, in life 

 he was wont to dip his head in the well thrice daily. 



The popular story concerning him is that he came fi-om 

 Ireland — so that his national origin is forgotten. It is said that 

 he brought a bell with him and settled first at Loc-harn. He 

 hung his bell between two trees, and by means of a sort of lever 

 was able to set the bell ringing without much trouble to himself 

 or leaving where he was. As this bell was clanging at all times 

 night and day, the people of the district did not like it. It was 

 a novelty, and they suspected mischief; that it would bring a 

 plague upon them. So they fled the neighbourhood. Then 

 S. Arnec, leaving his bell where it was, went to where is now 

 Saint Hernin. The chief at this place kept a pack of doo-s that 

 tore every beggar who approached. Arnec, or Erney, however 



