Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 2.djvu/253

Rh most perfect of all these ruins, having been preserved in a remarkable manner from the spoliation and desecration which has fallen on all the rest. The history and description of this ancient oratory will serve as an introduction to the whole subject.

St. Piran, or Kyeran, as he is called in Ireland, was dwelling in his native province of Ossory, at a place now named in honour of him Seir Kyeran, in King's County, where he had erected a little "ceall," or church, beside a spring, near his own dwelling. From this retired spot, although far advanced in years, he was induced to go forth as a missionary bishop to Cornwall. Early in the fifth century, he landed on the western shores, at one of the ancient Cornish harbours, now known by the name of St. Ives, from Ia, one of the Irish Christians who came over with him. St. Ia, having some influence with the governor, settled in that place, and built her church or oratory there; St. Piran travelled eastward, "an viij myles," and fixed his abode on the same northern coast, at a spot described as situated twenty miles from Pathrickstone, where St, Patrick had founded a monastery not long before, and twenty-five from Mousehole, another harbour to the south-west near Penzance. In this locality, as we learn from the legend of St. Piran, he built his cell, and near it a little oratory beside a spring, as he had previously done in his own country of Ireland. Here he lived till the infirmities of advanced age crept upon him; he died, and was buried here, and the spot has ever since that period borne his name. In the earliest records which have reached our times, this place is called Lan-piran, that is, the church of Piran. The Domesday Book preserved at Exeter informs us that, so early as the time of Edward the Confessor, about the year 1000, there was a collegiate establishment at this place, consisting of a dean and nine canons. But we must believe, that before that date the little oratory of St. Piran had been overwhelmed in the sand. Tradition had ever pointed out the exact spot where this relic of ancient days was interred, and, for centuries after, the hill of sand which covered the little sanctuary was a favourite burial-place. The many bones which were continually bleaching in the sun, exposed by the shifting of sands, must always have marked the place, of which Camden in the sixteenth century observed, "There is a little chapel here buried in the sand, dedicated to St. Piran of Ireland, who lies interred within it." The sands in this neighbonrhood