Very ancient traditions, which were accepted as facts throughout the Middle Ages, connected Gloucester with the first introduction of Christianity to Roman Britain. It was said to have been the chief city of Lucius, the British King who, about the year 160, sent messengers to Rome with a request that Pope Eleutherius would despatch Christian teachers into Britain, who might teach Lucius himself and his people. This was accordingly done. Lucius was baptized at Gloucester, and after establishing Christianity throughout the island, died at Gloucester in the year 201, and was buried in a church which he had built on the site of the existing cathedral[24]. What amount of truth may be involved in this story is altogether uncertain. The first who mentions the conversion of Lucius is Bede[25]. His death is placed at Gloucester by Matthew Paris, and by others of the later chroniclers; and his legend (for it is little more) has been illustrated in a window of stained glass, lately inserted in the nave of the Cathedral, (see Pt. I. § VI.) Gloucester, the British _Cair glou_, the Roman _Glevum_, had been walled during the Roman period, and was one of the strong “ceasters” of Mercia. In 681 it was granted by Ethelred of Mercia to Osric, as “underking” or viceroy of the district. Osric is said to have completed the establishment of a convent of nuns, which had been commenced in Gloucester by Wulphere, brother of Ethelred; and Archbishop Theodore of Canterbury dedicated it in honour of St. Peter. Osric was accordingly regarded as the founder of the monastery, which continued under the rule of an abbess until A.D. 767, between which year and 821 it lay desolate, and the nuns were dispersed. In A.D. 821, Beornulph of Mercia restored the convent, and established in it a body of secular canons. They remained until 1022, when Canute introduced Benedictines in their place. From that time until the dissolution the abbey increased steadily in wealth and importance. The reception of the body of Edward II. brought vast sums to its treasury; and under Abbot Froucester it was raised to the dignity of a mitred abbey, by Pope Urban VI. Its income at the Dissolution was, according to Speed, £1,550. The first Parliament after the Conquest was assembled by Henry I. in this abbey, and the young King, Henry III., (then but nine years old,) was crowned in the church, October 28, 1216. Richard II. held a Parliament in the great hall of the abbey, in November, 1378. The most important _Abbots_ were--