464 OORNISH DEDICATIONS. 



and Cornwall. The expulsion of the Irish was not effected all 

 at once. Cuerp, the name of Brioc's father is unquestionably 

 Irish, it is the same as Cairbre. The name of Brioc's mother is 

 given as Eldruda, which is Saxon. This is by no means unlikely, 

 for the Irish and Saxon piratical hordes that invaded Britain 

 were in alliance. During the reign of Constantius Chlorus, Irish, 

 Picts and Saxons appear on the scene as aggressors, and Theodo- 

 sius, in 368, is said to have defeated them when allied. Irish, 

 Picts and Saxons were again acting in concert in 396-397. An 

 alliance with a Saxon is by no means improbable. " The com- 

 mon object of attack, Roman Britain, brought the Irish and 

 Saxons in touch at an early period. And that this intercourse 

 was on the whole of a most friendly character, is shewn by the 

 frequent inter-marriages which took place between them." * 



The expulsion of the Irish from Corotica is set down by 

 Eees as effected by Oeredig, son of the Strath-Clyde chief 

 Cunedda, as taking place between 380 and 430, but it is most 

 probable that this did not take place during the reign of Niall 

 of the Nine Hostages, who made Wales his base of operations, 

 but after the death of Dathi his successor (428), If that be so, 

 then the Coroticus, to whom S. Patrick wrote, would be the 

 Ceredig who expelled the Irish and gave his name to Ceredigion 

 or Cardigan. 



The "Life " of S. Brioc contains anachronisms which shew 

 it to be a late production. 



Brioc is made a pupil of S. G-ermanus of Paris, who died in 

 576, and a fellow pupil with S. Patrick, who died 465, and 

 with S. Illtyd, who was appointed by S. Cermanus of Auxerre 

 to Llantwit about 440. The S. Germanus meant, is certainly the 

 Bishop of Auxerre who visited Britain in 429 and 447. 



In his old age, when Brioc came to Brittany he was recog- 

 nised as a kinsman by Ehiwal the prince, and he had as his 

 disciple a nephew, Tugdual. The mother of Tugdual was Alma 

 Pompsea, daughter of Deroch and wife of Eloc. She was sister 

 of Ehiwal. Deroch is said to have settled in Armorica and to 

 have come from Britain. Whether he were akin to Brioc's 

 mother, or to his father, Cuerp, we do not know. 



* Sullivan, Introduction to O'Curry's Manners and Oustoms of the Ancient 

 Irish, 1873, Vol. I. p. xxxv. 



