SHE was born in Ireland on the borders of Leinster and Ulster, and
consecrated herself to God in a religious state under the direction of
St. Bridget, who built for her a separate oratory, and afterwards a
monastery, in a place since called the field of Breaca. She afterwards
passed into Cornwall in company with abbot Sinnin, a disciple of St.
Patrick, Maruan, a monk, Germoch, or Gemoch, king Elwen, Crewenna, and
Helen. St. Breaca landed at Revyer, otherwise called Theodore's castle,
situated on the eastern bank of the river Hayle, long since, as it
seems, swallowed up by the sands on the coast of the northern sea of
Cornwall. Tewder, a Welshman, slew part of this holy company. St. Breaca
proceeded to Pencair, a hill in Penibro parish, now commonly called St.
Banka. She afterwards built two churches, one at Trene, with the other
at Talmeneth, two mansion places in the parish of Pembro, as is related
in the life of St. Elwin. See Leland's Itinerary, published by Hearne,
p. 5.
ST. GERMOKE'S church is three miles from St. Michael's Mount, by
east-south-east, a mile from the sea. His tomb is yet seen there, and
his chair is shown in the churchyard, and his well a little without the
Churchyard. Leland, ib. p. 6.
ST. MAWNOUN'S church stands at the point of the haven towards Falmouth,
ib. p. 13.
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