146 CHEOI^ICLES OF COENISH SAINTS. YIII. — S. GUNWALLO. 



at that time devastated iiis native country. He settled on the 

 northern coast, at a place called after him Plonfragan (Plebs 

 Fracani), of which he is still the patron saint, and there it is said 

 Guiiwallo, the youngest son, was born.* His youth was spent in 

 the monastery of St. Budock, in the Isle of Laurels, f a teacher 

 renowned for sanctity and learning, and there he became a dis- 

 tinguished student. At that time, so runs the legend in the old 

 lives of this Saint St. Patrick's glorj'- was shining like a bright 

 star in Ireland, and illuminating the Church of Christ. Gunwallo 

 was therefore most anxious to visit him for instruction and 

 aaiidance, and had made arrangements to start for Ireland in the 

 company of some merchants, when lo ! on the eve of the day 

 fixed for his joume}^, St. Patrick appeared to hiin in a vision^ 

 crowned with a golden diadem, and with the countenance of an 

 angel, informed him. that he was sent to give him the interview 

 which he desired, and to bid him seek companions and go else- 

 where. Thereupon eleven discij)les were assigned to him by his 

 Master, St. Budock, and with them he traversed the whole of 

 Domnonia, as the northern part of Armorica was called, and 

 then settled in a sma,ll island at the mouth of the Avon or 

 Aulne, the river of Chateaulin, called by one of his biographers;]; 

 Topspiqia, but subsequently designated Tibidi, or House of 

 Prayer. On this island there formerly existed a famous Druidical 

 Monument, showing that in early times it must have been a high 

 place of heathen rites, and it was probably on this account that 

 GunAvallo and his companions took up their abode there. 

 Vestiges§ of a Christian Chapel have also been found on the 

 spot. The island seems to have been a most dreary and inhos- 

 pitable place, for it is described as baiTcn, rugged, unfit for 

 human habitation, and exposed to every wind that blew. Very 



* A Manuscript of the CliartBlary of Llaudeveniiac, now in the Library of 

 Quimper. gives a curious tradition respecting his mother, viz., that a third breast 

 was bestowed upon her to nourish this third son. Hence she is called in Breton. 

 Annals Gwen Teirbron, i e., Gwen with three breasts, and she is so represented 

 in sculpture on a corbel of an old chapel dedicated to her eldest son Guennoc, 

 about ten miles from Quimper. The tradition seems to have been known also in 

 her native country, for a Gwen is mentioned in Achany Saint to whom the name 

 of Teirbron was given, though she is confounded with another s<aint of the same 

 name. 



t Now called Isle-verte, not far from the Isle of Brehat. 



;j: Gurdistau, Abbot of Landevcnnec, Acta Sanct : March 3, 258. 



§ Arch : Camb : 3rd Series, iii, 134. 



