456 CORNISH DEDICATIONS. 



and bonfires were lighted on hills on 8. Blaise's night. He is 

 believed to have had his flesh torn with wool-combs, wherefore 

 such a comb is his symbol, or else a taper. His feast is 

 February 3. 



8. Bbeaca, Virgin Abbess. 



Leland (Itin. iii, p. 15) quoting from a life of this saint, in 

 use in Breage church, says that she was one of the company of 

 Irish Saints that arrived under the conduct of 8. Sennen. She 

 was born in "the parts of Leinster and Ulster," and was 

 associated with S. Bridget in the foundation of a community in 

 these parts. 



As Leland's Itinerary is not very accessible, I extract the 

 whole of the passage in which he sums up the record he found 

 in the "Vita Sanctse Breacse." 



" Barricius socius Patritii, ut legitur in vita 8. Wymeri. 



gta Breaca nata in partibus Lagonise et Ultonise. Campus 

 Breacse in Hibernia in quo Brigida oratorium construxit, et 

 postea Monasterium, in quo fuit et 8** Breaca.f 



Breaca venit in Cornubiam comitata multis Sanctis, inter 

 quos fuerunt Sinninus Abbas, qui Eomse cum Patritio fuit, 

 Maruanus monachus, Germochus rex, Elwen, Crewenna, Helena. 



Breaca appulit sub Eivyer cum suis, quorum partem 

 occidit Tewder. 



Breaca venit ad Pencair 



Breaca venit ad Trenewth, 



Breaca sedificavit eccl. in Trenewith et Talmeneth, ut 

 legitur in vita S^'Elwini." 



Now who was this Breaca? Breaca is but a latin form 

 of Brig or Breeg, as the name is pronounced alike in Cornwall 

 and in Ireland. 



There were several female saints of this name. 



Brig was virgin abbess of Killbrig, and was a pupil of 8. 

 Bridget. There is a little doubt as to her father's name, whether 

 Cairpre or Finlog. The glossator to the martyrology of Oengus 



t Campus Breacae is the plain between Dublin and Drogheda, otherwise 

 Magh Breagh. 



