Bran the Blessed meeting Jesus

There are many legends surrounding the mysterious god/man Bran, among them are the legends of the Tower of London, the burying of his head at ‘White Mount’ and the ravens that occupy the tower to this day.
It is known of his association with rivers, his ability to navigate and lead his followers, his ability to fight, the location of his kingdom and the territories under his rule, that he was well travelled and traded with merchants in Brest and Marseilles, his kingdom was known across Albion & Prydain. (‘traditionally’ England & Wales) In the times of the iron age and the coming of the Romans many a hero was turned into a God by the patronage of their followers and Bran was no exception. He was a wealthy land owner who looked after his tenants, who in return looked after his lands and held him in high regard. He was a king with his own army who participated in events that transformed him from mere mortal into a legend and a God. It is worth noting that many Greek Gods originated as people who walked this Earth and were created by their followers. The Romans also, were known to not only create their own Gods but to also adopt local Gods as their own and integrate them into their own society. Such was the power of this man and such was the Romans fear of him, all records of him were erased or removed from history after the Roman invasion. Bran was a known associate and friend to Joseph of Arimathea, uncle and follower of Jesus. It is suspected the land to which Mary mother of Jesus is buried was owned by Bran. The isle of Anglesey is the largest isle on the coast of Wales, it is known as the last refuge of the druid, the invasion of Mona (Anglesey) is recorded by the Roman historian “Pliny”. The massacre of the Druids is overshadowed by the uprising of Boadicea and the battles in Essex. Mary, mother of Jesus was laid to rest in Anglesey on land owned by Bran. The romans in their quest for finding Jesus removed and destroyed all evidence relating to this most holy of occasions.
 
More than ninety years previously the arrival of the Romans on the shores of Albion, (Kent 55bc) caused much confusion, their arrival had been expected but their ferocity and coordinated attack strategy still gave them the element of surprise. The people of Kent accepted their fate but the people of Essex were more reluctant, with the River Thames preventing the romans from going further north the people of Essex were to be given a ninety-year reprieve.
The monks of Ireland, the Druids and high priests of England did not record their history in writing, instead using poetry, prose and verse with a well-versed Bard to encourage the locals into a rhythmic recording of local history. On a much wider scale the Celts were not writers and very little was written or recorded of these troublesome times. Today we are reliant on modern day archeologists and our use of Roman historians to enable us to piece together the events of the day. We know the Romans used maps created by Pytheas (Greek explorer) some three hundred and fifty years earlier to have some understanding of Albion, (Great Britain) Pytheas claimed to have walked around the shore and created his map by foot. This is something that Pliny a Roman writer of historical facts disputed but still Pytheas was held in high regard and respected by Caesar as an authority in the lay of the landscape in Britain. With some local knowledge and the belief in the maps of Pytheas, Caesar landed in Kent instead of Essex, from here he conquered the South-East coast of Britain and for the next ninety years the Romans would slowly infiltrate and cultivate every aspect of Life across Britain. Salt from Essex was a valuable commodity, such was its value regarding purifying meat, preventing it from going stale and to be able to maintain good health. The Latin word for salary derives from the word salt, a word used today has its origins in the way Roman soldiers were paid. They were paid in salt and would use it to barter with other traders for goods they required. Salt was a commodity the Romans needed, with an ever-expanding army to equip and keep healthy, their exploration and the invasion of new territories taking them ever further away from their homelands, the infiltration of Albion gave them the knowledge of the commodities that would be available in Britain. The Romans established trade with the people of Essex, they introduced wine to the region and established vineries that survive to this day. With Kent under Roman control the routes from the Essex salt flats of Maldon, Bradwell on Sea and Tillingham went into Chelmsford and from there to Colchester and London.
It is known of the Natural Springs in Upminster and Chadwell Heath, it is known of the raised footway in Dagenham capable of allowing thousands of people at any one time to walk across the bog and quagmires of the River Rom, the pilgrimages of the Druid can only be guessed but we know of the many places where spiritual congregations took place and we know of the Druid Schools relating to these congregations, the Petrified Oaks of Maldon are not without mention. The Essex Salt would have provided many a cure for many people, the high points in Essex will have provided many a place for congregation. The Druids of any region were of good repute and held in high esteem by the locals, they were healers with local knowledge and would establish schools for the Bard and Ovate to progress into Druidry. Jesus as a young boy (AD 12) travelled with Joseph of Arimathea, he travelled to Cornwall on journeys to establish trading posts, the transport of Tin was of paramount importance to an ever-growing Roman army as was Salt. The sea voyage from Cornwall to Brest across the mouth of the English Channel was treacherous for four months of the year and so it is feasible to suggest the overland route through London and across Essex following the path of the Druid and pilgrim is not beyond comprehension. Considering the spiritual presence and quantity of hill top congregations, the lack of Romans North of the Thames and the fact that one of the biggest tribes of that era occupied one territory living in peace and the evidence mounts as to why Joseph of Arimathea would have brought Jesus through Essex as a young boy. To include the chariot riders and skill of the horseman within the Iceni and the Trinovante tribes and the protection that could be afforded to any goods in transit by these East Saxon Angles.

Joseph of Arimithea