130 EXCURSION FROM RUABON 



ivere juft fo many, that being divided into feven 

 parts, each of thefe contained three hundred men, 

 which, with their proper rulers, paffed their time 

 alternately in prayer and labour *. 



The monks of Bangor were diffenters from the 

 Romifh church ; and, on a conference betwixt 

 Auguftine and its governors, the imperious monk 

 demanded of them that they fhould keep the feall 

 of Eafler at the fame time the papifts did ; that they 

 fliould adminifler baptifm according to the cere- 

 monies of the church of Rome ; and " preach the 

 word of life with him and his fellows." In other 

 things, he faid, they would be allowed to retain 

 their ancient cuftoms, infolently concluding, that 

 '' if they would not accept of peace with their 

 brethren, they fhould receive war from their ene- 

 mies, and by them, without referve, fliould fufFer 

 death f." They refufed obedience to his injunc- 

 tions, and refolutely maintained the original rites of 

 theijc, church. Shortly after this period followed 

 the dreadful maffacre of above twelve hundred of 

 the monks by Ethelfrid, king of Northumbria, at 

 the memorable battle of Chefler. This unmanly 

 flaughter the Britifh annals and fongs afcribe to the 

 inRigations of Auguftine. 



Not long after this event the monaftery became 

 neglected, and went entirely to decay. William of 

 Malmfbury, who lived fhortly after the Norman con- 



* Bcde, lib. ii. c. 2. p. II I — 113. Holinflied, I. 15. 

 f Holitifhcd, i. 103. 



queftj 



