“The Irish writers suppose him to have been ordained Bishop at Rome; but what John of Tinmouth affirms seems far more probable, that he was one of the twelve whom St. Patrick consecrated Bishops in Ireland, to assist him in planting the Gospel in that island. For his residence he built himself a cell in a place encompassed with woods, near the water of Fueran, which soon grew into a numerous monastery. A town was afterwards built there, called Saigar, now from the saint Sîer Keran. Here he converted to the faith his family, and his whole clan, which was that of the Osraigs, with many others. Having given the religious veil to his mother, whose name was Lidain, he appointed her a cell or monastery near his own, called by the Irish Ceall Lidain. In his old age, being desirous to prepare himself for his passage to eternity in close retirement, he passed into Cornwall, where he led an eremitical life, near the Severn sea, fifteen miles from Padstow. Certain disciples joined him, and by his words and example, formed themselves to a true spirit of Christian piety and humility. In this place he closed his mortal pilgrimage by a happy death. A town upon the spot is to this day called from him St. Piran’s in the Sands; and a church is there dedicated to God in his memory, where was formerly a sanctuary near St. Mogun’s church, upon St. Mogun’s Creek.[11] See John of Tinmouth, Usher, &c. collected by Henschenius; also Leland’s Collectanea, published by Hearne, tom. III. pp. 10 and 174.” It seems to be much more probable, that St. Perran took an active part with the Irish missionaries, perhaps as their chief, since he obtained such great celebrity in this county, than, according to Doctor Butler, that he should have come over to Cornwall in extreme old age, and have done his utmost to render the remaining years of his life utterly useless to the service of his Maker or to mankind. A white cross on a black ground was formerly the banner of St. Perran, and the standard of Cornwall; probably with some allusion to the black ore and the white metal of tin. Capgrave says that St. Perran attained an age exceeding two hundred years.