Southill was founded by S. Samson. As we have
already seen, he had landed on the north Cornish
coast and made his way to Petherwin, where he had
visited his first cousin Padarn. On his way, he
passed through the district of Trecor, now Trigg,
deriving its name from three notable caers or camps,—Helborough, Warbstow, and Launceston. As
Samson was in this district, he found the people
performing idolatrous rites about a tall upright
stone, and this with the sanction of their chief, who
was called Gwythian. Samson did not throw down
the menhir; he contented himself with cutting a
cross upon it.
I wonder whether this is the stone that still stands at Southill, on which is cut the cross of Constantine. It is an inscribed stone to one Connetoc, and is of the period of S. Samson.
Whilst tarrying in Cornwall, Samson heard that his old master, Dubricius, was very infirm and failing, and he hastened to South Wales to revisit him. The old man, who was dying, committed to his charge a favourite disciple named Morinus. Samson did not particularly relish the charge, for he did not believe the young man was sincere. However, he took Morinus back with him, but soon after, the disciple became insane and died. The monks, regarding this as possession, removed his body and buried it outside their cemetery. Samson was, however, very uneasy, because the deacon had been entrusted to him with such solemnity by Dubricius, whom he loved and reverenced with all his heart, and he prayed incessantly for the poor fellow who had died mad,
