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There is some confusion here, undoubtably because of the subserviency associated with saints studying under other saints, and their position as political tools (See Note). The 13th C. Life of St Dubricius* (Translation) has Samson as Illtud's disciple. In addition, the 11th C. (or earlier) Ruys Life of St Gildas* (Translation) identifies the teacher of Samson and Paul, as well as the young Gildas, as Hildutus, the head of a great school. However, the Life identifies the school as being on a narrow island, and as Gildas was originally from what is now the Scottish borders, it is not at all clear from the Life that Hildutus' school was in Wales. Despite the slight variation on the name, Hildutus' island is, according to the Life, still known as Llanilltud.

Despite these two sources, the 15th C. Titus D.XXII Life of St David* (Translation), for example, has David as taught by Paulinus, while the 11th C. Life by Rhygyfarch ["Ricemarsh"]* (Translation) has David setting up his own School in "Glyn Rosyn, then called Hodnant". His disciples included Eliud. Eliud is identified in both this Life and his 13th C. Life * (Translation) as St Teilo. However, one might note that in the (possibly very early) Life of St Samson* (Translation), his master is noted as Eltut, and Illtud's life itself is largely a magpie collection of traditional themes. This said, the name Iltud is testified from the "Illtud Stone" at Llantwit Major (Overview and photos)*.

One thing all the Lives that mention Illtud are clear on, and that is his high level of education and his excellence as a teacher. The Life of St Samson* has him as of all the Britons the most accomplished in the Scriptures, namely of the Old and New Testaments, and in philosophy of every kind, of form, geometry namely, and of rhetoric, grammar and arithmetic, and of all the theories of philosophy. And by birth he was a most wise magician, having knowledge of the future. The life also notes that he himself was a student of St Germanus.