A TOUR ROtfND NORTH WALES. 49 



On the banks of the Dee, which flows 

 under a handfome bridge of five arches, 

 on which is the following whimfical in* 

 fcription. 



MVND. 5607. tiENB.CC. COiVCIT. 



fARAf. AN. CHRIST. i6$S.SVMP. fc. COMIT. LIB. M. A. 



HEGYR.I036. FLINT.C. 



This place is chiefly celebrated, as 

 having been the fite of* the moft ancient 

 monaftery in the kingdom, founded, as 

 is fuppofed, by Lucius, the fon of Coel, 

 the firft Chriftian King of Britain, fof 

 the increafe of learning^ and for the 

 prefervation of the Chriflian faith in 

 this realm, ibmetime prior to the year 

 180*. Lucius founded it for an Univer- 

 fity; and it produced for thofe unen- 

 lightened ages many learned men ; but 

 it was afterwards converted into a mo- 



* Speed's Chronicle, I. 207. According to Rowland, 

 Lucius is faid to have embraced the ChrKiian fnith fro/n rlic 

 preaching of Timoihy, the fon of Claudia Ruflina,a Britiih 



Jady, and a difcijile of St. Paul. &v Mona nnHyua r--ii. 

 /. 178. 



VOL. IT. E - r.afiery. 



