A. W. Wade-Evans (ed.), Y Cymmrodor 19 (1906) — Latin text, unedited OCR

¹ BRECHEINIAUC first received its name from Brachan. In the beginning of the times there was Teuderic, king of that region, who once came into Garth Matrun, and from there went with his nobles and elders, and with all his household, to Bran Coyn beside Lann Malet. Now Teuderic said to Marchel his daughter, “The shivering cold of winter sorely afflicts me; therefore it is well worth while that we should obtain a fur garment for my offspring, lest it be weighed down by the harshness of the cold. For I shall send her into Ireland with three hundred men to Anlac, son of Coronac, king of that country, that she may be married to him.”

² Marchel therefore set out with three hundred men to Lan Semino, and there on the first night a hundred men died from the severity of the cold. On the second night she came into Methrum, and there as many again as before perished. On the third night indeed she descended into Port Maur, that is, in a sheltered place. Afterwards with the hundred men left to her she crossed over to Ireland, and reached Anlac, king of that same country, safe with her people. He, receiving her with great joy and gladness, betrothed her to himself as his lawful wife, giving her his oath that, should she bear him a son, he would return with her to Britain, lest, truly, the boy should be deprived of his ancestral kingdom of Britain.

³ The same Anlach gave to his twelve chamberlains or attendants men, each one according to the dignity of his birth. Afterwards Marchel bore a son and called him Brachan. Anlach therefore returned with Marchel the queen and the boy Brachan, and with the nobles named below: Kerniol and Alio Fernach — from which it is called Enisfernach; third, Lithmilich — from which it is called Maiuaur oper birnich; fourth, Lounoic. Brachan was born in Benni, and was sent to Drichan — from which it is called Din Drichan. The same Drichan brought up Brachan; from there Brachan was led into Brecheniauc when he was four years of age.

⁴ Now in the seventh year Drichan said to Brachan, “Bring me my spear.” Drichan moreover had become blind at the end of his life. And while the same boy lay watching, a certain boar came out of the wood and stood beside the bank of the river Ischir. And a hind was swimming in the river, and under the coming hind was a fish; and these three things foretold that Brachan would be happy in wealth of abundance. Moreover a beech stood on the bank of the aforementioned river, in which bees were making honey. And Drichan said to his fosterling Brachan, “See, I give you this tree with the bees and the honey, and with gold and silver; and may the grace of God and his love abide with you for ever here and in the world to come.”

⁵ Afterwards Anlach gave his son Brachan to the king of Powys as a hostage. From there in process of time Brachan of Powys oppressed Banadlinet, daughter of Benadel. She being with child bore a son named Kynauc, who was carried to the camp and baptized. Which being done, Brachan took an armlet from his own arm and gave it to Kynauc his son. This Saint Kynauc is very celebrated in his own country, Brecheniauc; and the armlet itself survives at the present day among the most precious relics in the aforementioned province.

⁶ This is the genealogy of Saint Kynauc son of Brachan: Brachan son of Marchel, Marchel daughter of Teuderic, Teudiric son of Teudfall, Teudfall son of Teuder, son of Teudfal, Teudfal son of Annhun, king of the Greeks.

⁷ These are the names of the sons of Brachan of Brecheniauc: Rein son of Brachan; Clytwain son of Brachan, who subdued the whole land of South Wales — Clydouc the saint and Dedyu the saint were sons of that same Clytwain. Arthen son of Brachan; Papay son of Brachan; Kynon son of Brachan, who is a saint in the western part of the aforementioned

⁸ 26 The Brychan Documents

⁹ Manna; Dynigat son of Brachan; Paschen son of Brachan; Chybliuer son of Brachan — from which it is called Merthyr Chebliuer; Berwin son of Brachan, in Cornwall; Rydoch son of Brachan, in France — from which it is called Ridoch Windouith, i.e. “the fair,” de vent.

¹⁰ Of the daughters of Brachan: Gladus daughter of Brachan, mother of Saint Cadoc; Tudeuel daughter of Brachan, in Merthir Euineil; Goleu daughter of Brachan, in Lan Eschin; Hunyd daughter of Brachan, who lies under the stone of Meltheu, who was the wife of Tudual the Yellow, mother of Cunin the Crippled; Tudhistil daughter of Brachan — from which it is called Merthir Tudhistil; Tibyei daughter of Brachan, in Cantrebochan; Kehingayr daughter of Brachan, mother of Saint Kenider of Glastonbury; Meleri daughter of Brachan, wife of Keredic, and mother of Sant — and Sant was the father of Saint David; Tutglid daughter of Brachan, wife of Kenken son of Kenwaur; Cadcathuc, i.e. “with teeth,” mother of Cadel and Brochuail Schitrauc, and mother of Ieuab, and mother of Meigh, and mother of Sanand — which Sanand was wife of Maelgwn, King of North Wales; Aranwen daughter of Brachan, in Powys, wife of Gereuerth, King of Powys — from which it is called Iomerthiaun; Bethan daughter of Brachan, in Man; Luan daughter of Brachan, mother of Haidan the Treacherous; Kerdyeh daughter of Brachan, who lies Inthywin in Merions; Nyuein daughter of Brachan, wife of Kenuarchcul son of Meirchiaun, mother of Uruon, mother of Euerdil, mother of Estedich, wife of Elidir Coskoruaur, i.e. “of the great retinue,” and mother of Gurgi and Peredur; Guaur daughter of Brachan, wife of Lidanwen, and mother of Loarch the Old; Gurycon Godheu daughter of Brachan, wife of Cathraut Calchwynid; Marchel daughter of Brachan, wife of Gurind Barmbtruch, i.e. “truncated beard,” of Merions; Guen daughter of Brachan, in Talgarth; Belyau daughter of Brachan; Eilius

¹¹ The Brychan Documents. 27

¹² daughter of Brachan, Ygruge Gow Auail, i.e. “in the field of the lake of Caltion”; Kein daughter of Brachan, Ythrauil Ogrnot, i.e. “at the junction of that river”; Keneython daughter of Brachan, in Y Minid Cheuor in Kedweli; Clydei daughter of

¹³ fol. 11b.

¹⁴ Brachan is in Emelin; Duyn daughter of Brachan is in Anglesey; Ilud daughter of Brachan.

¹⁵ The sepulchre of Brachan is in the island which is called Enys Brachan, which is beside Man. The sepulchre of Rein son of Brachan is in Llandeuailac. The sepulchre of Kynauc is a martyr’s shrine in Brecheniauc. The sepulchre of Anlauch is before the door of the church of Lanespetit.

¹⁶ Brachan had three wives: namely Praust, and Biraust, and Proistri.

¹⁷ This is the progeny of Keredic, King of Keredigion: Dewi son of Sant, Sant son of Keredic son of Cuneda; Auan Buelh son of Kedic, son of the same Keredic; Pedy Lanwaur son of Corun son of Keredic; Kenider Gell son of Kynon son of Keredic; Gunlyu son of Guaur daughter of Keredic; Gugaw Cledyburdh son of Lauch son of Lucbo son of Kedich son of Keredic; Ina daughter of Keredic; Karanouc son of Keredic; Dyuennen son of Anhun son of Keredic; Keneu the saint, son of Comn son of Keredic; Gugan son of Samfon son of Keredic; Dogmael the saint, son of Ithael son of Keredic; Tydiuc the saint, son of Corun son of Keredic.