* 1.1VIII. CHAP.
1.2. &c. Testimonies of the Acts of S. Aristobulus a Disciple of S. Peter, and an Apostle to the Brittains.
1. THere is moreover still extant in Ec∣clesiasticall Records the Memory of an illustrious Disciple of S. Peter or S. Paul, who probably accompanied one of them into Brittany, & who after many years labour in our Lords vineyard was consummated here: and that is the Blessed Apostolicall Saint Ari∣stobulus. Concerning whom we read this passage in the Greek Menology: Aristobulus was one of the Seaventy Disciples, who was a follower of S. Paul,* 1.2 preaching the Gospell, and ministring to him in all places where he travel∣led: By whom likewise he was ordaind a Bishop for the Region of the Brittains. But in another Edition of the same Menology, translated formerly by one William a Cardinal, and in∣serted by Canisius in his second Volume of Antiquities, we read that this S. Aristobulus was ordained not by S. Paul,* 1.3 but S. Barnabas: for this is the tenour of that Passage: The commemoration of S. Aristobulus a Bishop of Brittany, and Brother of the Blessed Apostle S. Barnabas, by whom being ordained a Bishop he was sent into Brittany, and there preaching the Faith of Christ, and constituting a Church, he attaind the glory of Martyrdome.
2. Moreover a Fragment published lately by B. Vsher under the name of Haleca B. of Caesar Augusta (Sarragoçe) S. Aristobulus is declared to be the Disciple of S. Peter:* 1.4 These are the words, Among the Brittains is cele∣brated the Memory of many Martyrs, and prin∣cipally of S. Aristobulus one of the seaventy Disciples, who was also call'd Zebedaeus, the Fa∣ther of Iames and Iohn, Husband of Maria Sa∣lome: who together with S. Peter went to Rome: And there leaving his family, he was sent a Bishop into England, where he dyed a Martyr, in the second yeare of the raign of the most cruell Emperour Nero.
3. Now wheras S. Aristobulus is every where named Bishop of the Brittains, without any particular Citty assigned for his Sea••, this doth argue that in those times of zeale and simplicity, Apostolicall men did not confine thēselves to any determinate place, but like clouds hoverd up and down, being in a sort present to all, and dispensing showres sea∣sonably every where. Thus S. Augustin our Apostle, at first was ordaind Bishop of the English Nation, as Bede calls him, till more Provinces being converted,* 1.5 he confind him∣selfe to a particular Seat.
4. Arnoldus Mirmannus,* 1.6 with other Au∣thours likewise, extend the life of this Brittish Apostle to the ninety ninth yeare of our Lord: affirming that he dyed in Brit∣tany. And wheras both in the Greek Menology, and the Fragment of Haleca, as likewise in the Roman Martyrologe he is sayd,* 1.7 after perfor∣ming the course of his preaching to have been consummated by Martyrdome: this is to be in∣terpreted according to the expression of the Primitive times, in which those were called Martyrs, who for the propagation of the Gospell went into forraign parts, there ex∣p••••••ng themselves to all dangers, and dying in such an Employment: though their death was not violent.
5. And such was the condition of S. Ari∣stobulus, concerning whom this is further added in the Greek Menology:* 1.8 Aristobulus ha∣ving been ordained Bishop by S. Paul, was sent into Brittany, a region of most cruell and savage men: By whom he was sometimes tormented with stripes, and sometimes also dragg'd up and down the common Market-place. He perswaded many to adioyn themselves to Christ. And having constituted Churches, and ordaind Preists and Deacons there, he happily ended his life.
6. In the English Martyrologe this is added, That he dyed at Glastonbury, a place far enough removed from the Trinobantes,* 1.9 where the