Keyne

Keyne (/keɪn, kiːnə/;[1][2] also referred to as Keane, Kayane[3] Keyna, Cenau, Cenedion,[4] Ceinwen[4][5]) was a 5th-century holy woman and hermitess who was said to have travelled widely through what is now South Wales and Cornwall.

Numerous dedications to Saint Keyne exist in areas as diverse as South Wales, Anglesey, Somerset, Hertfordshire, and Cornwall.

[6] The only literary source on the life of Saint Keyne is the Vita Sanctae Keynae, which was edited by John of Tynemouth and included in his Sanctilogium Angliae Walliae Scotiae et Hiberniae in the 14th century.

[7] Her vita reports that she travelled widely, and is said to have founded several oratories,[7] including Llangeinor in mid Glamorgan, Llangunnor and Llangain in Dyfed, and Rockfield (Llangennon) in Runston, Gwent.

However, a similar miracle is also attributed to St Hilda, and it has been suggested that Keynsham instead takes its name from "Ceagin's (Caega) Hamm".

She laid on the waters of this well a spell thus described by Richard Carew in 1602 AD—'The quality that man or wife / Whom chance or choice attaines / First of this sacred stream to drinke / Thereby the mastery gains.'"

There is also a ballad called The Well of St Keyne[13] written by Robert Southey; it is set to an adaptation of the air of the Helston Furry Dance.