CORNISH DEDICATIONS. 509 



without the slightest hesitation, and both met, armed for the 

 conflict. CoUen, in the first encounter, had the misfortune to 

 have his hand somewhat bruised, but Bras very kindly gave him 

 a little ointment to put upon it, at the same time endeavouring to 

 persuade him to give in, and believe in his Pagan god. The 

 hand was forthwith healed, but instead of returning the ointment 

 box, Collen threw it into the river, lest either should get further 

 benefit from it. This time Collen felled his antagonist^ who 

 implored him not to kill him, and promised to embrace the 

 Christian religion. He was in due time baptized by the Pope, 

 and thereupon "the whole Greek nation believed and was 

 baptized." As a souvenir of this signal victory, the Pope gave 

 Collen a wonderful lily, which he afterwards brought to this 

 country, " and it is said that that lily is still at Worcester." 



Collen afterwards went to Q-lastonbury, where, in three 

 months' time, he was elected abbot. This post he soon resigned 

 for a mode of life that was "heavier and harder, " which consisted 

 principally in preaching here and there. He again got tired of 

 this, and returned to Glastonbury, where everything went on 

 quite smoothly for five years, when he happened to quarrel with 

 some of the people, and, cursing them, left for "the mountain of 

 Glastonbury " (probably Glastonbury Tor), and made his cell in 

 a quiet spot beneath a rock. As he was in his cell, one day, he 

 heard two men talking about Gwyn ab Nudd, and saying that 

 he was the King of Annwn (the Under- World) and of the Fairies. 

 Collen put his head out, and told them to hold their peace, as 

 those were merely demons. They told him to be silent, and, 

 besides, he would have to meet Gwyn face to face. By-and-by 

 CoUen heard a knocking at his door, and in answer to his call got 

 the reply, "It is I, the messenger of Gwyn ab Nudd, King of 

 Annwn, bidding you to come to speak with him on the top of 

 the hill by mid-day." The saint persistently refused to go, day 

 after day, until at last he was threatened with the words, "If 

 you don't come, Collen, it wiU be the worse for you." This 

 disconcerted him, and, taking some holy water with him, he 

 went. On reaching the place, Collen beheld there the most 

 beautiful castle that he had ever seen, with the best-appointed 

 troops : a great number of musicians with all manner of instru- 

 ments ; horses with young men riding them ; handsome, sprightly 



