OOBNISH DEDICATIONS. 499 



Somewhat later S. Ultan met Saran driving a number of 

 unhappy hostages before him, and he entreated the Prince to 

 treat them with humanity. Saran refused to do this unless 

 Ultan would promise him that heavenly place of which Patrick 

 had deprived him. To this Bishop Ultan agreed ; but when 

 Patrick found this out, he was furious, and meeting Ultan at 

 Clonfiech, ordered his chariot driver to impel the horses to drive 

 over Ultan. The charioteer shrank from doing this because the 

 transgressor was a bishop. Thereat S. Patrick cursed him,* 



Saran was married to Earca daughter of Loarn, who along 

 with his brothers Fergus and Aengus were blessed by Patrick. 

 They invaded Alba, and conquered Argylle ; Loarn gave his 

 name to Lome. The latter became King there somewhat later, 

 and reigned from 503 to 513. Earca was however an unfaithful 

 wife and eloped with Muirdach or Murtogh, son of Eoghain 

 (d. 464) and grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages (378-405), 

 By Murtogh she became the mother of four sons, the most 

 noted of whom was Murtogh Mac Earca, who was one of the 

 most turbulent men of whom we read in Irish history. After the 

 death of Murtogh, Earca was married to Fergus son of Connall 

 G-ulban (d. 464), another son of Niall, and by him also had four 

 sons. 



Saran, as Earca had left him, married her sister Babona or 

 Pompona, and became the father of Luirig, Bracan and S. 

 Oairnech. According to the legend, Saran had extended his 

 conquests into Britain, probably in alliance with his wife's 

 uncles, Fergus and Aengus, and he was succeeded by his son 

 Luirig. 8. Cairnech also had come into Britain and established 

 a monastery. It is rather remarkable that he should have had 

 a brother called Bracan which is the same name as the Brychan 

 of Welsh tradition. But the legend is very obscure relative to 

 what lands had been subdued by Saran, and over which Luirig 

 held rule. 



Murtogh Mac Earca had committed a murder in Ireland. 

 He had put to death some cross-bearers, probably because they 

 had composed lampoons upon him. This had been a legal 

 privilege of the bards, and the right seems to have been 



* Tripartite Life, pp. 165-6. 



