C0BNI8H DEDICATIONS. 481 



Brychan himself is a shadowy figure ; and when we read of 

 his sons and daughters being numerous, no more is implied than 

 that these persons were the Hy-Brychan, i e. the Tribe of 

 Brychan, of his kin, and claiming tribal rights in his inheritance. 



8. BRrNAOH, Abbot, Confessor. 



Brynaeh was an Irishman, " soul-friend" (i.e. confessor and 

 spiritual director) of Brychan, son of the Irish Conqueror and 

 Kang of Brecknock. He married one of his daughters, Oorth ; 

 and by her had a son, Berwyn or Gerwyn, and three daughters, 

 Mwynen, G-wenan, and Gwenfiw. 



The Legend of 8. Brynaeh is preserved and published by 

 Rhys in his " Lives of the Cambro-British Saints." 



He travelled much, even, it is said to Rome, and tarried 

 some while in Armorica. But being desirous of returning to 

 his wife and bairns, he got a sod, no ship being available, and 

 was wafted over to Milford Haven. Here he got into difficulties. 

 A handsome girl, daughter of a Prince, became enamoured of 

 him, but he resisted all her allurements, so that her love turned 

 into hatred, and she had him attacked and half-killed. Thence 

 he went to the neighbourhood of Fishguard, but again was in 

 trouble. Accordingly, at the head of all his followers, he 

 migrated to Cornwall where he died ; but not before he had 

 performed some notable miracles : — One day the King, Maelgwn, 

 perishing with hunger, arrived where 8. Brynaeh was. The 

 Saint went to an oak, and plucked oflf acorns that were at once 

 converted into bread. Thenceforth the tree was called the 

 Bread-Oak. The river near was the Cam or crooked. The 

 important foundation of his is Braunton, where he is called 8. 

 Branock, and his legend is represented on some of the bosses of 

 the roof. In welsh he is now called Byrnach, and his principal 

 foundation, Llanfyrnach, adjoins that of his brother-in-law, 

 Clydwyn, king of Carmarthen, at Llanglydwen. 



The author of the life of S. Brynaeh has apparently altered 

 the facts of his life in one particular. Brynaeh, as already said, 

 was married to Corth or Comorth, daughter of King Brychan 

 to whom he was confessor and chaplain. By her he was father 

 of three daughters and a son. This was not relished by the 



