may seem to have been given him by Divine in∣spiration, as if God had destin'd him also to be a Rock (Petra) upon which Truth would build the Church of Brittany. When the Prince his Fa∣ther was dead, the Nobles of the Countrey with the consent of the whole people were desirous he should succeed in the Royalty. But he neglecting worldly pomp, assum'd with him sixty companions and with them entred into a Monastery, there undertaking a Monasticall Profession. After some years spent there, he went into Ireland, where for the space of twenty years he addicted himself to the studies of litterature and the holy Scrip∣tures (There and then it was that the foresaid S. Coemgen was recommended by his parents to be instructed by him.)
3. Having in this space, saith Leland, heap'd a great treasure of learning under the most perfect Teachers of that Island, he return'd into Brittany, and in the Province of Corinia, or Cornwall intended to employ for the benefit of others also that treasure. And to shew that he had not all this while forgotten, much lesse deserted his R••ligious profession, he built there a Monastery, not many miles distant from the Severn shore neer a town in those days call'd Loderic, and Laffenac, and after∣wards from his name Petrocstow, at this day more contractedly Padstow.
4. At this time the Saxons under Cerdic had possess'd themselves of that Province: And hence it is that the Narration of his gests follows thus in Capgrave: Assoon as S. Petroc with his Disciplis had left their ship and were landed there, certain Reapers then at work spoke rudely and bitterly to them: and among other contumelious speeches requir'd them that their conductour S. Petroc should for the asswaging of their thirst cause a spring of fresh water to issue out of a rock there adjoyning. This they said either in derision of them being strangers, or for a tryall whether their sanctity was answerable to their Profession. Hereupon S. Petroc, who never refused those that ask'd any thing in his power, address'd his prayers to our Mercifull Lord, and with his staffe smiting the rock, immediatly there gush'd forth a spring of clear sweet water, which flows there to this day.
5. Those barbarous Pagans, utterly ignorant of Christian Religion, were astonish'd at this Miracle. And when the Holy servant of God ask'd them whether there were in that Province any one who profess'd the Christian Faith, they directed him to a certain Holy man call'd Samson, concerning whom they acquainted him, that he lead a solitary life, and exercis'd himself in corporall labours, fasting, watching and Prayers: and that he sustain'd life with no other thing but a small por∣tion dayly of barley bread. This it that Samson who first succeeded S. David in the See of Mersevia, and afterward was Bishop of Dole in Lesser Brittany: concerning whom we shall treat in due place.
6. After thirty years aboad in this solitude, in which he is sayd to have instructed Credan, Medan and Dachant three of his principal Disci∣ples illustrious for their learning and piety, he left his Monastery of Lodoric, and undertook a forrain pilgrimage, visiting Rome, and after that Hierusalem: From whence he is said to have pro∣ceeded as far as India, and to have spent seaven years in the exercises of a contemplative life in a certain unknown Island of the Eastern Ocean. From which tedious voyage he at last re∣turn'd home: and with twelve companions retir'd himself into a dry and barren solitude. The Prince of that part of Cornwal was called Tendur, a man of a feirce and savage na∣ture.
7. His death in our Ecclesiasticall monu∣ments is referr'd to the year of Grace five hundred sixty four: And he was buried in the place now call'd Petrocstow or Padstow. In which town anciently was placed an Episco∣pall See: which was afterward translated to another town calld Bodmin. The reason wherof seems to have been because the Body of S. Petroc which had first been simply and meanly buried at Padstow, was afterward transfer'd and honourably repos'd at Bodnun. To which purpose we find this passage in Mathew of Westminster, The Bishops of Cornwal had their See at S. Petroc's of Bodmin (apud Sanctum Petrocum de Bodmini) for so the words are to be corrected, saith Bishop V••her And the same place was meant by Harpsfeild thus writing: The Monument of S. Petroc is in the Citty Bosuenna, the most noted town of Mer∣chandise (Emporium) of Cornwal.
8. But the Relicks of S. Petroc did not always rest at Bodmin: for from thence they w••re stolln, conveyd over sea into Lesser Brittany, and reverently plac'd in the Monastery of S. Meven: but in the time of King Henry the second restor'd. Thus writes Roger Hove∣den: Martin a Canon Regular of the Church of Bodmin by stealth took away the Body of S. Petroc, and fled with it into Brittany to the Abbey of S. Meven. Which theft having been discovered, Roger Priour of that Cathedrall Church with the more ancient Canons of the Chapter address'd themselves to King Henry the Father, (for at that time he had made his son likewise King:) And from him they obtained a strict command to the Abbot and Convent of Saint Meven that without delay they should restore to Roger Priour of Bodmin the said Body of S. Petroc: Which if they refus'd, the King gave order to Roland of Dinant the Governour of Brittany to take away the sacred Body by force, and give it to the said Roger. Assoon as the Abbot and Monks of S. Meven heard of these things, to prevent any dammage to their Church, they restor'd the said Body entire and without any diminution to the foresaid Priour swearing withall upon the Holy Gospels and upon the Relicks of certain Saints there, that it was the very same Body, unchan∣ged and unempair'd.
9. The reason why the Convent of S. Meven in lesser Brittany were so desirous of the Relicks of S. Petroc, was because S. Meven himself the Patron of that Monastery was