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(it is thought from the remains of
buildings, palaces, baths,
tesselated pavements, ornaments, &c., that have been, and are
continually being found, whenever excavations are made),
lived in all the luxury and grandeur that marked the zenith
of the Roman empire no less than its decline and fall. The
legion occupied its northern quarters for about three hundred
years.
Septimus Severus, the Eoman emperor, visited this, the
most northern capital of his dominions, and died here about
207. Constantius Chlorus also ruled and resided in York,
where he died about 306, and was succeeded by his more
celebrated son, Constantine the Great, to 'whom has been
awarded the honour of introducing Christianity into this country
(or, perhaps, more probably permitting it to be introduced),
which is said to have been first preached at York, on the
very ground where the present cathedral stands.
York is rich in historical associations from the Roman
some of
period to the present day, and has been the scene of
the most important events which have occurred in the history
of Britain. After its evacuation by the Romans, it was soon
over-run by the Picts and Scots, then by the Saxons, and
ultimately by the Northmen (or Danes). At this time the
city suffered from repeated sieges ;
buildings were neglected
and allowed to fall to pieces ; and everything was thrown
back into a state of barbarism.
Ambrosius, ihe king of Britain, about 470, held a council
of princes and nobles here, and ordered all the destroyed
churches to be rebuilt. Here King Arthur (the Renowned)
kept, it is said, the first Christmas (or mass of Christ)
that was ever kept in Britain (521), and rebuilt all the fallen
churches. After that, troublous times set in ; and it is on
record that the then bishop Thudiocus fled to Wales in 587
from the persecution of the Saxons.
At the establishment of the Heptarchy, York was the
capital of Northumbria, the largest of the seven kingdoms,
and remained so after the division of that kingdom into two
provinces. The southern and more important of these provinces
was Deira. From this district, a number of youths
being taken captive, and exposed for sale in the slave-market
at Rome, attracted the attention of Pope Gregory the Great,
and caused him to send the priest Augustine to reconvert the