C0KNI8H DEDICATIONS. 461 



When Brendan was back, he at once reported himself to 8. 

 Itha and S. Ere. His foster-mother did not approve wholly of 

 what he had done, as his coracles had been covered with hide, 

 the skins of slain beasts, and she recommended him, if he set 

 out again on an exploring expedition, to construct boats of wood, 

 it is distinctly stated " of planks." 



Accordingly, together with sixty disciples, he set to work 

 in Connaught and constructed such a vessel, and in it resumed 

 his voyages which lasted two more years. On his return he 

 founded a good many monasteries in Ireland and then started to 

 pay a visit to Gildas at Ehuys in Brittany. He and his party 

 arrived outside the abbey after sunset, and Gildas, a hard man, 

 refused to open the gates to them although it was mid-winter 

 and snowing. But Brendan bade his disciple Talmagh force 

 them, which he did. Next day, when he desired to celebrate the 

 Eucharist, Gildas gave him a Greek liturgy. But Brendan, who 

 had learned Greek as well as Latin in the Irish schools, said his 

 mass using only the Greek volume. 



Leaving Gildas, Brendan went north, and founded a mon- 

 astery at Aleth, afterwards 8. Malo, and another at ' ' Bledna in 

 the country of Ethica." After that he returned to Ireland, 

 between 540 and 550, and established a monastery in Clonfert^ 

 which was governed by the rule that, it was said, an angel had 

 dictated to him. 



He established a nunnery at Enach-duim, over which he 

 placed his sister Briga, and I strongly suspect that the Cornish 

 Breaca is this very sister. At a late period of his life, he paid 

 a visit to 8. Columba at lona. 



8even years before his death Brendan was in his monastery 

 at Clonfert on Easter Day. 



A clerical student bearing a harp entered the refectory and 

 played to the monks, then asked where the old Abbot was, as he 

 desired to harp to him. They told him that Brendan was in his 

 cell, and would listen to no music, he put wax into his ears 

 whenever he heard music. The student, however, persisted, and 

 was introduced into the old man's cell. He found him there 

 reading. Brendan was with difficulty persuaded to listen to his 

 harping, but yielded at last. He listened to the sweet music for 



