"The story of the Lady's garter, however,” says Dr. Heylin, a learned writer, who has taken no small pains to satisfy himself and the world in this particular, "I take to be a vain and idle romance, derogatory both to the founder and the order; first published by Polydore Virgil, a stranger to the affairs of England, and by him taken upon no better grounds than Fama Vulgi, the tradition of the common people, too trifling a foundation to so great a building. COMMON BRUIT, being so famous an historian, that wise men will neither report after it, nor give credit to any thing they may receive from it." And yet many learned men, for want of reflection, have incautiously adopted this vulgar error, and by imposing it on the public as a fact, have brought it to the vogue it is now in.

Selden affirms that this noble order was raised to honor military virtue with some glorious favors and rewards, and to increase virtue and valour in the minds of the nobility. For King Edward finding that Philip de Valois had countermined his design at his court in France, by associating martial men there, as King Edward, in imitation of King Arthur's round table, had done at Windsor; he resolved upon a design more particular and select, and such as might oblige and tie those, whom he thought fit to make his associates, in a firm bond of friendship and honor: and therefore, having given forth his own garter for the signal

of a battle that succeeded happily-the battle of Cressy-from thence he took occasion to institute the order, and gave the garter (assumed by him for the symbol of unity and society), pre-eminence among the other ensigns of it. Whence that select number whom he incorporated into a fraternity, are styled KNIGHTS OF THE GARTER.

It seems hardly probable that the MOST NOBLE order of the GARTER should have originated from so trifling a circumstance as that to which it is so generally attributed. If no records are to be found of this honorable institution, would it not be more reasonable to conclude that it was established to perpetuate the memory of some mightier event in the annals of history, than the falling off of a Lady's garter? Notwithstanding, Littleton, who seems to have been very industrious in his researches, is, with some other historians, inclined to favor this ridiculous notion.

Query. Can the origin of a National Institution of the first order, having for its members Kings, Emperors, and Princes, be left to mere opinion? The acts of the Kings of England, "are they not written in the Book of Chro nicles?"

T

NUMBER XLI.

ON THE EARLY KNOWLEDGE OF CHRISTIANITY IN BRITAIN.

The good old man, too eager in dispute,
Flew high; and as his Christian fury rose,
Damn'd all for heretics who durst oppose.

IT has been frequently, though falsely asserted, that Austin or Augustin was the first who introduced Christianity into the British dominions; and it is no uncommon thing to hear persons who are attached to the Popish doctrines tauntingly inquire, Where was your Church before Austin's arrival? were you not all Pagans till he Christianized you? and consequently subject to the See of Rome till that tyrant Henry the VIII. quarrelled with the Pope. Shew us a Protestant before Luther? the very word Protestant proves the priority of the Romish Church.

Upon the first view of these observations, many unreflecting persons fall into a snare, and take all for granted. It is a lamentable fact, that the people of England are not sufficiently acquainted

with ecclesiastical history, to be guarded against the fallacious arguments of some, and the overbearing presumption of others.

Let those, however, who would argue the points dispassionately, reflect on what they read. They will then discover the futile arguments of false and partial reasoners, whose faculty for cavilling is, perhaps, better than their capacity for judging aright.

In the first place, it should be remembered, that the precise time when the Christian doctrine was first preached in England, has not with any degree of certainty been determined. But that it was introduced long before Austin's time, is sufficiently proved by numerous high authorities.

The learned Bishop Stillingfleet, Dr. Cave in his life of St. Paul, and Mr. Nelson upon his festival, who doubt not the preaching of this Christian disciple in Britain, about the year of our Lord 60, all agree in this particular; and of course draw their conclusions from good authority. But without insisting on this, the introduction of Christianity into the British dominions, may be traced to a still earlier date. Prior to the conversion of St. Paul, which took place in the year 35, Joseph of Arimathea, according to the history of those times, with his son John, a Bishop, and ten others, arrived in Britain from France; where he, together with two male and three female disciples, had been driven by the wind and waves about a year before; having all been put in an

open boat by the Jews, and banished Judea, when that great persecution arose recorded in Acts viii. 1. "And at that time there was a great persecution against the Church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles. 3. As for Saul, (afterwards named Paul) he made havock of the Church, entering into every house, and haling men and women, committed them to prison. 4. Therefore, they that were scattered abroad, went EVERY WHERE preaching the word."

And thus was fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, chap. lxvi. 19. "And I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory."

It is stated also, that as soon as Joseph of Arimathea landed with his party, he made application to the King for permission to settle near Glastonbury, in Somersetshire. His request was granted, and twelve hides of land were assigned for the support of himself and followers. From which circumstance, the place to this day is called the twelve hides of Glaston. Such was the success of their ministry, that multitudes of the idolatrous inhabitants and superstitious druids, became obedient to the faith. So that even when Paul, Simon, Aristobulus, and others visited this Island, Britain, it is affirmed, literally swarmed with Christians; and the British King, Lucius,