DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61904#0029
GLASTONBURY ABBEY. 17
at the prayers of Jofeph, the Lord fent a fhip which had been
fcientifically built by Solomon, fo that it might laft till the time
of Chrift. With them came Mordraius, a king of the Medes,
and his general Vacianus, both of whom Jofeph had formerly
baptized in the city of Shiraz ; for the Lord appeared to Mor-
draius in a vifion, and fhewed him that the perfidious king of
North Wales had caft Jofeph into a dungeon for preaching
Chrifiianity. Mordraius and his general Vacianus marched
againft him with an army, flew him, and liberated Jofeph :
upon which they all returned great thanks amongfl: much joy
to God.
After this Jofeph and his fon travelled throughout Britain,
where reigned king Arviragus, a barbarian, who with his people
forbad them to preach the Chriftian faith. Yet, after a time,
beholding the modefty of their lives, he gave to Jofeph and
his eleven religious brethren, including his fon Jofeph, equalling
the number of the apoftles, a certain ifland called Ynswitryn,
— that is, Infula Vitrea,—fituated amid woods, thickets and
marfhes, and thus called on account of a ftream which flowed
round it through the marfhes which was of the colour of glafs,
— whence the name of the place became Glaftonbury, or the
city of glafs. It was alfo called the Ifle of Avalon, from
Aval the Britifh name for an apple, being very prolific of that
fruit. And this name of Avalon became very famous, not
only on account of the monaftery, but alfo that it was the
burial-place of king Arthur. The fettling of Jofeph here was
celebrated by a monkifh poet in the following lines :—
Intrat Avalloniam duodena caterva virorum.
Flos Armathiae Jofeph eft primus eorum.
Jofephes, ex Jofeph genitus, patrem comitatur.
His aliifque decern jus Glaftoniae propriatur.
Here Jofeph was directed by the archangel Gabriel in a vifion
D
at the prayers of Jofeph, the Lord fent a fhip which had been
fcientifically built by Solomon, fo that it might laft till the time
of Chrift. With them came Mordraius, a king of the Medes,
and his general Vacianus, both of whom Jofeph had formerly
baptized in the city of Shiraz ; for the Lord appeared to Mor-
draius in a vifion, and fhewed him that the perfidious king of
North Wales had caft Jofeph into a dungeon for preaching
Chrifiianity. Mordraius and his general Vacianus marched
againft him with an army, flew him, and liberated Jofeph :
upon which they all returned great thanks amongfl: much joy
to God.
After this Jofeph and his fon travelled throughout Britain,
where reigned king Arviragus, a barbarian, who with his people
forbad them to preach the Chriftian faith. Yet, after a time,
beholding the modefty of their lives, he gave to Jofeph and
his eleven religious brethren, including his fon Jofeph, equalling
the number of the apoftles, a certain ifland called Ynswitryn,
— that is, Infula Vitrea,—fituated amid woods, thickets and
marfhes, and thus called on account of a ftream which flowed
round it through the marfhes which was of the colour of glafs,
— whence the name of the place became Glaftonbury, or the
city of glafs. It was alfo called the Ifle of Avalon, from
Aval the Britifh name for an apple, being very prolific of that
fruit. And this name of Avalon became very famous, not
only on account of the monaftery, but alfo that it was the
burial-place of king Arthur. The fettling of Jofeph here was
celebrated by a monkifh poet in the following lines :—
Intrat Avalloniam duodena caterva virorum.
Flos Armathiae Jofeph eft primus eorum.
Jofephes, ex Jofeph genitus, patrem comitatur.
His aliifque decern jus Glaftoniae propriatur.
Here Jofeph was directed by the archangel Gabriel in a vifion
D