liberty of reassumption. But the infraction of their privileges was resolutely withstood by the British Clergy; and, if they were not all perfectly pure in their morals, for Gildas unmercifully accuses them, yet, as a body, they stood forward like men of principal in the cause, and defended it with a determined vigour, becoming persons who were contending for the faith once delivered to the Saints. The Bards united in their efforts, denouncing woe on such of the Clergy as were remiss and neglected their duty in so perilous a time, when their temporal and spiritual privileges were in danger of becoming a prey to the avarice and rapine of unjust invaders.

Taliesin has left this curious fragment.

Gwaer offeiriad byd, nis anghreifftia gwyd,

Ac nis Pregetha.

Gwae ni cheidw, ei Gail acefyn fugail

Aç nis areilia.

Gwae ni cheidw ei ddefaid, rhay Bleiddie Rhifeuniaid,

Ai ffon gnwppa.

Woe to the Priest, at eve or morn,

Neglects to preach, or weed his corn,

And root out all the tares.

Woe to the shepherd that's remiss
In watching of his flock, and is

Unfaithful in his cares.

Woe be to him, that doth not keep,
With shepherd's staff, his harmless sheep
From Romish wolves and snares.

This spirited resistance brought down upon them the revenge of Rome. St. Austin and his Coadjutors

had obtained considerable influence in several of the Saxon Courts. Edelfrid, King of Northumberland, having obtained an advantage over the Strath Clwyd Britons, was instigated to turn his arms against the Welsh, who were at that time in possession of Chester.

On his arrival near that city, his army being drawn up in front of the enemy, he perceived a body of men, without military appearance, stationed in a place of security. Struck at the novelty of the sight, he inquired into the cause, and was told, they were the Monks from the Monastery of Bangor, who had come to offer up their prayers for the prosperous event of the day. Enraged at an opposition so singular in its nature, and stimulated with an hatred for a religion, that threatened the destruction of Paganism, Edelfrid commanded his army first to assail this defenceless and pious troop, who had already fasted and prayed three days. Twelve hundred of these unfortunate religious were cut in pieces, and fifty only of the whole number present at the battle escaped the enemy's sword.

After this cowardly act, the Saxon Prince marched to Bangor, and, with a barbarism worthy only of Goths and Vandals, destructive of those arts which soften and improve human nature, he entirely laid waste that ancient and celebrated seminary of religion and learning, and committed to the flames its valuable library. Edelfrid then attempted to penetrate into Wales, but his passage over the Dee was disputed at Bangor by the Prince of Powis, who

gallantly sustained the charge, till relieved by Cádvan, King of North Wales, Meredydd, king of South Wales, and Bledrus, the Sovereign of Cornwall.

When the confederate Princes had joined their forces, they called in religion to their aid. Dinawd, the Abbot of Bangor, delivered an oration to the army; and, before the action commenced, gave orders, that the soldiers should kiss the ground, in commemoration of the Communion of the body of CHRIST; and should take up water in their hands out of the Dee and drink it, to the remembrance of his precious blood. Animated by this act of devotion, and stung with resentment for the disgrace and injury they had lately received, the Welsh encountered the Saxons with great fury, entirely defeated them with the loss of ten thousand men, and obliged Edelfrid, with the remains of his army, to make a speedy retreat into his own country.

There was something singular in the event of that day, as an act of retributive justice, and as it severely punished, in the sight of Bangor, the recent and wanton desolation of its Monastery. These events are differently detailed by historians, but there is no doubt as to the authenticity of the facts, since they are admitted by all, without a single exception; and they serve strongly to prove what inveterate rancour there is in the human heart against real religion; and that, when its enemies endeavour to suppress or oppose it, they generally aim the weapons of their malice at the persons of its Ministers.

After this massacre, which happened A. D. 503, the remaining Monks were dispersed. Some of

them were collected under Daniel, son of Danawd or Dionothus, at this place, where he founded a college for the education of youth, and gave it the name of Bangor, from whence it was removed. A church was soon erected, and it was made a Bishop's See, by Maelgwyn, and Daniel consecrated Bishop of it by Dubricius, Archbishop of Caerleon. Vid. Rowland, p. 153.

The church was endowed with lands and franchises by Maelgwyn, A. D. 550, who is related to have been so struck at the criminality of his past life, that he resolved to devote the residue to the cloister. But the pleasures of the world, to which he was too much addicted, induced him to relinquish the design, and again to return to the affairs of court, and his former habits of criminality.

The Deanery was founded by Iago ap Beli, A. D. 603, and further endowed by Anarawd, A. D. 878; and still further by Edgar, in the reign of Howel ap Jefaf, who is said to have built a parochial church, dedicated to St. Mary, behind the palace. The cathedral was destroyed by the Saxons, 1071. It was rebuilt by King John, A. D. 1212. In 1402 it was burnt and pillaged by Owen Glyndwr, and lay in ruins for near a century. The choir was restored by Bishop Deny, and the present body and tower built by Bishop Skeffington, 1532. The tower was to have been raised to twice its present height, but the Bishop's death prevented the execution. Indeed the mixed and ornamental architecture mark the time of

Q

Henry VII. It is built cruciform and consists of a large nave, transept and choir; but the effect of the transept is lost on one side by a new Register Office, lately erected, which greatly disfigures the external appearance of the building.

Among the remains of eminent persons that lie here, are those of Gryffydd ap Cynan, who died A. D. 437; but no vestige of the shrine remains. Beneath a simple arch lies the body of Owen Gwynedd, the wise and valiant Prince of North Wales, who obtained this high encomium" He died regretted by his friends, and feared by his enemies, A. D. 1167." Part of Bishop Skeffington is deposited here, who died in 1530; and who, by a singular will, directed, that his body should be interred at Beaulieu, of which monastery he had been Abbot, and his heart deposited at Bangor, before the image of St. Daniel.

The choir is fitted up in a style of neat and simple elegance, by the munificence of the present prelate, and ornamented with a good organ, the gift of Dr. Thomas Lloyd, 1779. The service of this cathedral is performed with reverential decorum, and a true solemnity of devotion; and a regulation has been made by the Bishop, to accommodate all the inhabitants of Bangor and the environs. The service is performed in Welsh at seven o'clock in the morning, in English at eleven, and in Welsh again at four in the afternoon.

The chapter consists of a Dean, three Arch-deacons,