Saint Patrick & Names along the Antonine wall

[MonsGraupius]

Bede was an Anglo Saxon from the Roman church. Why would he have any concern whatsoever to manufacture BRITISH martyrs for the BIRITISH church... That's a frankly ridiculous argument.

Because at the time he was writing about (the early 4th century) there was no distinction between the Roman church and the British church. They were just Christian martyrs.

What does seem a little 'frankly ridiculous' is the idea that a Saxon monk in the 8th century knew more about what was going on in the 4th century than the inhabitants of the 4th century!

why wouldn't they refer to this well known landmark - which we still recognise today - and not to a little known settlement?

I have no idea. But if you are claiming that they both have different names - Subdobiadon and Nemeton - then they must be distinct places. Saying that the scholiast meant to refer to Nemeton rather than Subdobiadon when he was explaining where 'nemthur' was seems a bit vague to me.

Can we please stop this nonsense about there being no persecutions. It is there in the most unequivocal terms in Gildas (500 – c570AD)

Ch.9 The Diocletian persecution.

Though these precepts had a lukewarm reception from the inhabitants, nevertheless they continued unimpaired with some, with others less so, until the nine years' persecution of the tyrant Diocletian. In this persecution churches were ruined throughout the whole world, all copies of the Holy Scriptures that could be found were burnt in the open streets, and the chosen priests of the Lord's flock butchered with the innocent sheep, so that if it could be brought to pass, not even a trace of the Christian religion would be visible in some of the provinces.

10. He of His own free gift, in the above mentioned time of persecution, as we conclude, lest Britain should be completely enveloped in the thick darkness of black night, kindled for us bright lamps of holy martyrs. ... I speak of Saint Alban of Verulam, Aaron and Iulius, citizens of Caerlleon, and the rest of both sexes in different places, who stood firm with lofty nobleness of mind in Christ's battle.

You cannot possibly claim that Gildas is too late. The persecutions happened - there is a perfectly good reason for Potitus, Patrick's grandfather to want to flee at the time of these persecutions. In light of the fact the persecutions are proven to be real, it is perfectly plausible that there would be Christians in Strathclyde.