A TOUR ROUND NORTH WALES. ,53 



twined the original rites of their church : 

 Ihortly after this period followed the 

 dreadful maflacre of above twelve hun- 

 dred of the fociety, by Ethelfrid King of 

 Northumbria, at the battle of Chefter*. 

 This flaughter the Britifh annals and 

 fongs afcribe to the inftigation of Auguf- 

 tine, which, after the preceding conten- 

 tions, feems very probable. 



The monaftery appears as if it had 

 gone to decay foon after this event ; for 

 William of Malmflburyf, who lived 

 Ihortly after the Norman Conqueft, has 

 reported, that in his time there remained 

 only fome relics of it's ancient great- 

 jiefs; but that there were then fo many 

 ruined churches, and fuch immenfe heaps 

 of rubbifh as were not elfewhere to be 

 met with. LelandJ fays of it in his 

 time, that it ftood on the fouth fide of 



* Matt. Weftm. p. 205. 

 * Script, poft BE DAM. p. 294. Ian, V. p. 30. 



4 the 



