PRINTED BY J. AND T. CLARKE, ST. JOHN'S SQUARE, FOR THE AUTHOR : AND SOLD BY T. BLANSHARD, 14, CITY-ROAD, PREFACE. IN laying before the Public the present Volume on the Ancient History of Britain, and the Antiquities of the British Churches, the Author presumes upon the same candid reception of his Work which he has experienced on a former occasion. As the Author's professed aim has been to afford a comprehensive and impartial, and at the same time a concise, account of the affairs of the Ancient British Christians, it is hoped, the candid and judicious will acknowledge that he has fulfilled his engagement, if not in the best manner possible, yet in a manner calculated to satisfy every just and reasonable expectation. With such a design, particular attention has been paid to the national history of the periods under consideration; as well during the Roman imperial government as since the conclusion of it, until the establishment of the Anglo-Saxon power. The authorities principally depended upon are the most unexceptionable, as given by our greatest ecclesiastical antiquaries, USHER, GOODWIN, LLOYD, and STILLINGFLEET, illustrated by more recent |