128 OENEEAL HISTORY 



that time, in this kingdom ; although it made but 

 small progress, and met with some persecution. 

 At this time St. Alban suffered martyrdom at Ve- 

 rulam ; and at Lichfield, shortly after, no fewer 

 than a thousand were put to death. 



In the year 180, when Lucius was king of this 

 Island, Elutherius, then bishop of Rome, sent Fa- 

 ganus, and Domanus to assist him ; upon whose 

 preaching, the temples of the heathenish Fiarains, 

 and arch Flamins, one and thirty in number, were 

 converted to so many bishops' sees ; whereof Lon- 

 don, York, and Caerleyn, now St. Davids, were 

 made the metropolitans of the province. There 

 was, in J684, a table in the parish church of St. 

 Peter, in Cornhill, London, which recorded that 

 the foundation thereof was laid by King Lucius, 

 and that this church was the cathedral to the Arch- 

 bishop's see. This account is no doubt exaggera- 

 ted; but it seems that Christianity was introduced 

 here very early, and that the missionaries did some 

 good in some parts of the Island ; though their in- 

 fluence was not general. 



In the beginning of the fourth century, we have 

 more correct accounts ; or, at least those on which 

 we can rely with greater certainty ; respecting the 

 progress of the gospel. 



Constantine the Great, after having defeated the 

 tyrant Maxentius, in the year 312, granted to 

 the Christians full power of living according to their 

 own laws and institutions. The year after this, 

 Constantine the Great embraced Christianity ; in 

 consequence, as it is said, of a miraculous cross, 



