THIS ftatute was put into immediate execution. The utility of which has been fully juftified by the experience of nearly three centuries. During this time, the genius of the Welsh nation has taken a different turn, has composed itself to rational obedience, and has been directed to those pursuits which tend to polish their manners, to enlarge their views, and to cultivate their minds; and, by confequence, to promote the happiness of individuals, as well as the best interests of the public. THE THE INTRODUCTION AND PROGRESS O F CHRISTIANITY IN A. D. 60. BRITAIN AND IN CAMBRIA. THE Saxons having destroyed, with barbarous rage, the ancient monuments of the British hiftory, it is difficult to determine, at this time, whether Christianity was established by the divine miffion of the apostles and their first disciples, or by the pious labours of fucceeding miffionaries. This event, from the want of authentic records, forms a doubtful part of history; being nearly loft in the darkness of thofe times, and enveloped amidst the legendary fables of the monks. It is however allowed, that christianity was introduced about the middle of the first century; having been perhaps in fome degree favoured by an edict of the emperor Claudius, which had been iffued to exterminate the Druidical religion. But though the chriftian faith Mofheim's Ecclefiaftical Hift. Whitaker's Hift. Manchefter, vol. II. p. 187. had had been thus early planted in the island, it does not appear to have taken root, or to have spread, until the time of Lucius, who is faid to have reigned in Britain about the end of the second century. Soon after the converfion of this prince from paganism, he sent ambassadors to Eleutherius, the bishop of Rome, to folicit the affistance of pious and learned men; by whose labours his own faith might be confirmed, and chriftianity extended through the nation. By the industry and zeal of those who in confequence were fent by that prelate, the Britons were in general converted; and the British church received at that period a confiderable degree of ftrength and of union, by being reduced into a regular establishment. This A. D. prince is faid to have converted the heathen temples into places of christian worship; and to have divided the national church into three ecclefiaftical provinces, each of which was a metropolitan fee, and the refidence of an archbishop. The first fee was fixed at London, and contained within its province the fouth of England. The second was settled at Caer Lleon upon Ufke in Monmouthshire, and held within its jurifdiction Cambria, or Wales. The third fee was established at York, which extended its ecclefiaftical power over the northern parts of the ifland. Besides three archbishops, there were twenty-eight suffragan bishops; the whole being equal to the number of Arch ■ Vertigan, in his Epistle to the English Nation, p. 2. Flor. Wighorne. Mar. Sabellicus. Godwin's English Bishops. 2 2 Archbishop Usher, cap. viii. 4. Mosheim, vol. I. p. 121. Godwin's English Bifhops. Geoffry Monmouth. 3 Rowland's Mona Antiq, p. 142. 180. flamens and Flamens, who had prefided over the Pagan hierarchy in Britain. At the fame time that chriftianity acquired this degree of regularity, a school for religious learning was eftablished at Bangor-is-Coed in Flintshire, which afterwards became the great feminary of knowledge for the province of Cambria.* To decide upon the credit which is due to this legend is a difficult point to the hiftorian, many learned writers having held different opinions with respect to the real existence of Lucius; on the authenticity of which is founded the fabric of the early British church. The evidence of Tertullian and Origen, who lived about the second century, and of St. Chrysostome and other fathers of a later period, bear teftimony to the early introduction of christianity into the ifland, as well as to the falutary effects which it had produced upon the manners of the Britons. The British bishops also appear to have attained a degree of pre-eminency, in the public councils of the church, on account of the chriftian faith having been earlier established in Britain than in any of the western parts of Europe.* THE flames of perfecution, which under feveral emperors had raged in various parts of the Roman empire, had not extended into Britain before the reign of Dioclefian; and from the first establishment of the church under Lucius to this 1. Godwin's English bishops, p. 157. Geoffry Monmouth. Speed's Chron. p. 79. a Rowland's Mona, p. 142. period, A. D. 284. period, it enjoyed an univerfal tranquillity. But the rapid progress of christianity alarmed the heathen priests; who were afraid left their power, together with Polytheism, would fink under that ascendency which the new religion was acquiring over the minds of men. Influenced by thefe motives, they affailed the fears of Dioclefian with unjust accufations against the christians; impofing on him fictitious oracles, and other infidious arts, which influence the timid and fuperftitious." After fome refiftance, the zeal of this prince was inflamed by an interested priesthood, and a cruel perfecution enfued; which was of fo long continuance, that it had nearly proved fatal to the christian cause.' The church of Britain shared in the general A. D. calamity; for, during its progrefs, the facred edifices were deftroyed, the priests were maffacred, and the people were either killed, or obliged to abjure their religion. The firft person who fealed with martyrdom his faith in the religion of Christ, was Alban, of the city Verulamium, who was beheaded upon the fite of the prefent town of St. Alban's; and at the fame time, and near the fame place, fuffered Amphibalus, who had converted that father to christianity. The next martyrs of eminence were Aaron and Julius, who were put to death at • Godwin's English Bishops, 157. 2 Mofheim's Ecclef. Hift. vol. I. p. 256. Speed's Chron. p. 79. Godwin's Eng. Bishops, p. 157. 3 Mofheim's Ecclef. Hift. vol. I. p. 258. * In honour of this Saint, Offa 'king of the Mercians, built the monaftry of St. Alban's. 5 Speed's Chron. p. 79. from Bede. Godwin's Bishops, p. 157. Carte, vol. I. P. 136. • Matth. Paris. 286. |