Earca ran away from her husband to be with
Murtogh, a distant cousin of Saran, and she bore
him four sons. The most noted of all was Murtogh
MacEarca, who in time became king of Ireland.
Saran then married Earca's sister, and by her
became the father of S. Cairnech and Lurig, king
of the Scots (Irish) in Britain. Murtogh having
committed several murders in Ireland, fled for
protection to his grandfather, Loarn, in Alba, and
murdered him. Thereupon he was banished from
what we now call Scotland. He went to his cousin
S. Cairnech to bless his arms, as it was his intention
to offer his services to one of the kings of Britain,
and do as much fighting as came in his way. Before
leaving Cairnech he murdered in cold blood his cousin
Luirig, and carried off his wife.
In Britain this ruffian, we are told, became the father of Constantine and Goidel Ficht, who became the reigning princes in Cornwall.
Murtogh was back in Ireland in 488, for we find him there fighting; and he remained there stirring up strife, and a cause of bloodshed till he was elected king of Ireland in 508.
Now, Murtogh most certainly when he went to Britain led a body of adventurers like himself. He is said to have been the father of Goidel Ficht, who remained there as sovereign. Now, Goidel Fichti signifies the Irish Picts, neither more nor less, a generic name, and his fatherhood of the Irish Picts means no more than that his clan or horde, which swooped down on Cornwall and Wales, regarded themselves as Hy Murtogh.
