142 CHRONICLES OF CORNISH SAINTS. VI.—S. BURIAN. 
which bring him to a better mind; the narrative of course being 
embellished here and there with a touch of the supernatural. 
The upshot of the story is that Bruinecha revives, and that her 
restoration is attributed to the intercession of S. Piran, who, 
believing that the chief will never again resort to violence, enters 
her chamber and prays that her life may return. . 
Now in this legend, which in its outline at all events we may 
regard as a statement of what actually took place, though it 
abounds with fables characteristic of the age in which it was 
written, we have a glimpse of the life of S. Burian prior to her 
landing on our shores; and the Cornish tradition that she was a 
chieftain’s daughter, and a companion of S. Piran, is in perfect 
harmony with the narrative. Her parents were probably Pagans, 
and died whilst she was an infant; otherwise she would hardly 
have been consigned to the care of Piran’s mother, who was not 
a convert to Christianity until late in life. It was at the time when 
the old heathen superstitions of Ireland were beginning to quail 
before the zeal of S. Patrick and his fellow-labourers ; and Piran 
seems to have embraced the new faith in early life. No other 
member of his family, however, appears to have followed his . 
example for many years. Certainly it was not until he had been 
called to the work of the ministry, and was a recognized coadjutor 
of the great Irish Apostle,that his mother was baptized ; and as her 
conversion, we are told in the passage above quoted, was owing 
to his instrumentality, so also we may infer was that of his foster- 
sister Burian, who must often have listened to his teaching. 
We find nothing more concerning the damsel in the life of S. 
Piran ; but we may be sure that when he migrated into Cornwall 
soon afterwards with his companions, he did not abandon his 
helpless sister to the perils which encompassed her. Even if 
tradition had been silent respecting the king’s daughter that 
accompanied him, we should say that he could not have left 
Bruinsecha behind him. May we not rather suppose that he 
sought a new and distant field of labour mainly for her sake, and 
to place her beyond the reach of further violence? 
Nothing has been recorded of S. Burian’s life and labours in 
Cornwall, except the general tradition that she spent her days in 
good works and great sanctity ; but the place where she dwelt was 
regarded as holy ground for centuries, and can still be pointed out. 
