* 1.1II. CHAP.
1.2.3. The time and occasion of S. Iosephs coming into Brittany not cleared by an∣cient Writers.
4.5.6. Bishop Godwins mistake, wrong∣fully grounded on Freculphus.
7. The Holy Graal, an old sence∣les Legend.
1. HAd it not been for that visible la∣sting Monument of Glastonbury, per∣haps posterity had never been acquainted with the name of so illustrious a Patron of our Nation as S. Ioseph, since no Books of that Age, if any were written, are now ex∣tant, and the wonderfull changes in the very constitution of this Island, by a succes∣sion of severall new Nations, would pro∣blably extinguish all ancient Traditions.
2. These things considered, it will be dif∣ficult to give any rationall or satisfactory Account of the precise time and occasion of S. Iosephs arrivall in Brittany: and much lesse of the particular Acts of himselfe and his companions, during the space of so many years as interven'd between their first com∣ing and deaths.
3. Those Modern Writers which have most studiously searchd into Antiquity, and with greatest candour and sincerity reiected se∣verall fabulous inventions of some of our Authours who wrote not many Ages since, doe agree that S. Ioseph first entred Brittany in the raign of Nero, when Suctonius Paulinus was Pret••r here: at which time great oppor∣tunity was afforded for such a Voyage, by reason of severall Troops and companies of soldiers sent out of Gaule to re-inforce the Roman Army, as likewise the coming hither of Nero's freed servant and favourite Poli∣cletus with a great retinue, &c.
4. But what particular occasion or Mo∣tive might induce S. Ioseph to undertake such a journey and employment, is altogether uncertain. Our late Protestant Historians to exclude any relation, dependence or obli∣gation that our Countrey might have to S. Peter, are willing it should be beleiv'd that he was commissiond from S. Philip the Apo∣stle, then preaching in Gaule.* 1.2 To this effect Doctour Godwin late Bishop of Hereford writes thus; Freculphus Lexoviensis, saith he, gives the reason why S. Ioseph pass'd ouer into Brit∣tany. For when S. Philip the Apostle (or, as others rather thinke, the Evangelist, for the Acts of these two are much confounded and mingled in history) preach'd the Gospell in Gaule, he had much con••estat on with the Druids, the cheif Doctours of whose superstition lived in Brit∣tany. Therfore being inform'd that our Island was by a very narrow sea divided from the conti∣nent of Gaule, he thought it very expedient to send hither twelve Preachers, the Cheif and President of which was S. Ioseph, who in the sixty third yeare of Christ began their employment of converting the Brittains. Thus writes the Bishop, pretending Freculphus for his war∣rant.
5. Wher as Freculphus treating of S. Philip neither mentions S. Ioseph nor the Druid's,* 1.3 nor Brittany: all that he writes being onely this, S. Philip preach'd Christ to the Gaules: and moreover brought to the light of knowledge and secure Haven of Faith certain barbarous Na∣tions, neighbouring to darknes, and ioynd to them by the swelling Ocean. Afterwards in Hiera∣polis a Citty of Phrygia he suffred death by cru∣cifying and stoning. This passage Freculpus extraited out of Isidor, and consequently it is to be interpreted according to Isidors mind, who by the Gaules (or Galatae) understood that Nation then inhabiting Asia, not Eu∣rope: and by the barbarous Nations neigh∣bouring to (Northern) darknes, the Scythians, divided from the Galatians by the Euxin Sea. Besides, according to the cōsent of Antiqui∣ty S. Philips Martyrdom hapned many years before the time mention'd by the Bishop.
6. Let the Apostles name therfore, who sent S. Ioseph and his companions into Brit∣tany, remain in obscurity to Protestants: though the forecited Text of S. Innocent first Pope of that name expressly affims that none converted any of these Western and Northern Na∣tions but only S. Peter or his Successours, or such as were delegated by them. His co∣ming cannot be questiond, nor that he came with the authority of a Spirituall Pastour and Apostolick Preacher.
7. As for his six hundred companions which a senceles Legend upon the authority of a more senceles old Book call'd the Holy Graal, says came along with him, some men and some women: as l••kewise the arrivall of a certain Prince of Media call'd Nacianus, whom S. Ioseph had formerly baptis'd in a Citty call'd Saram, and who was sent by our Lord with an army to deliver S. Ioseph out of prison, into which a wicked King of Northwales had cast him: which King is sayd to be mentiond in a Book found by the Emperour Theodosius in Pilats palace at Ieru∣salem: Such foolish dreames as these, as they are not with out scorn to be recited, so neither ought they to be made use of for the disgracing or discrediting sober History prudently grounded on Tradition.