&c. That Arles of all the Cities of Gaul, did first obtain the hap∣piness of having Trophimus ordained Bishop thereof by the hands of St. Peter. Trophimus was a partaker with St. Paul in all his afflictions, and his daily companion. Zosimus writeth, that out of his Spiritual Fountain all the Rivers and Brooks of France were filled. Neither is St. Paul to be denied the honour of sending some of his Disciples thi∣ther also to preach the Gospel.
Crescens, a companion of St. Paul, mentioned by him in his second Epistle unto Timothy, is said to have departed into Galatia, 2 Tim. 4.10. which Eusebius saith was France. That he was the first Bishop of Vienna forementioned, not only the Martyrologies, but also Ado Vi∣ennensis, an ancient Writer of that Church doth expresly say. And that it was into this Countrey that he sent Crescens at that time, and not into Galatia in Asia Minor, the testimonies of Epiphanius and The∣odoret, which affirm the same, may sufficiently confirm. Dorotheus saith, that Crescens preached the Gospel in France, and was there martyred and buried in the time of Trajan the Emperour.
In the History of Lazarus and Maximinus, we find, that they with Mary Magdalen, and her sister Martha came to Marseilles. Maximinus was one of the seventy Disciples of Christ, as divers Authors tell us. The French Antiquities tell us, That after the Ascension of our Lord, Anno 14. the Jews raised so horrible a persecution against the Christians, that the most part fled whither they could: That Maximinus accom∣panied with Lazarus, took Mary Magdalen, Martha, Marcella her hand∣maid, and some others, and committing themselves to the Sea to avoid the fury of the Jews, they arrive at Marseilles, where the Prince of Mar∣seilles was baptized. Lazarus became first Pastor of Marseilles, and Maximinus of Aquens. They were ordained to those Churches in the Year of Christ, 46. in which Year these Authors tell us, that Simon the Leper (whom our Saviour cured of that infirmity) was Ordained to be Minister of Mentz, Cenomanensium in the Latin.
In the Year following, Martial was sent into France, who Convert∣ed divers Provinces and people, as the Annals of France do plainly te∣stifie.
In the Year of Christ 48. Aphordisius, by birth an Egyptian, and Governour of all Egypt, at the time when our Saviour being driven into Egypt, the Idols of the Temples there fell down, being the Disci∣ple of St. Peter at Antioch, was Constituted Pastor of Bourges in France. After he had preached there six years he died, and Ʋrsinus (whom some call Nathanael) succeeded him
Anno Christi 54. Paulus Sergius was also Constituted Pastor of the Church of Narbon.
About this time Clement Sirnamed Flavius, with Celestus and Felix, and our Countrey man Monsuetus, came also into France, and preached the Gospel there: so did Amator with others.