The Martyrdom of Alban

Magnificavit igitur misericordiam suam nobiscum Deus volens omnes homines salvos fieri et vocans non minus peccatores quam eos qui se putant iustos. Qui gratuito munere, supra dicto ut conicimus persecutionis tempore, ne penitus crassa atrae noctis caligine Britannia obfuscaretur, clarissimos lampades sanctorum martyrum nobis accendit, quorum nunc corporum sepulturae et passionum loca, si non lugubri divortio barbarorum quam plurima ob scelera nostra civibus adimerentur, non minimum intuentium mentibus ardorem divinae caritatis incuterens: sanctum Albanum Verolamiensem, Aaron et Iulium legionum urbis cives ceterosque utriusque sexus diversis in locis summa magnanimitate in acie Christi perstantes dico. Quorum prior postquam caritatis gratia confessorem persecutoribus insectatum et iam iamque comprehendendum, imitans et in hoc Christum animam pro ovibus ponentem, domo primum ac mutatis dein mutuo vestibus occuluit et se discrimini in fratris supra dicti vestimentis libenter persequendum dedit, ita Deo inter sacram confessionem cruoremque coram impiis romana tum stigmata cum horribili fantasia praeferentibus placens signorum miraculis mirabiliter adornatus est, ut oratione ferventi illi Israeliticae arenti viae minusque tritae, stante diu arca prope glareas testamenti in medio Iordanis canali, simile iter ignotum, trans tamesis nobilis fluuii alueum, cum mille uiris sicco ingrediens pede suspensis utrimque modo praeruptorum fluvialibus montium gurgitibus aperiret et priorem carnificem tanta prodigia videntem in agnum ex lupo mutaret et una secum triumphalem martyrii palmam sitire vehementius et excipere fortius faceret. Ceteri vero sic diversis cruciatibus torti sunt et inaudita membrorum discerptione lacerati ut absque cunctamine gloriosi in egregiis Ierusalem ueluti portis martyrii sui trophaea defigerent. De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae, Sanctus Gildas Sapiens

God, therefore, magnified His mercy to us, wishing that all men should be saved, and He calls sinners no less than those who think themselves righteous. He who, of His own free gift, in the above mentioned time of persecution, as we understand it, lest Britain be utterly engulfed in the thick darkness of black night, kindled for us the bright lamps of holy martyrs, the tombs of whose bodies and the places of their passion, had they not, so many of them, been taken from us the citizens on account of our numerous crimes, through the woeful division of the barbarians, 1 would now inspire the minds of those who gazed at them with a far from feeble glow of divine love, Saint Alban of Verulamium, Aaron and Iulius, citizens of the city of the legion, and the rest of both sexes in different places, who were firm in the lofty spirit of the mind of Christ. The former of these, for the sake of charity, hid a confessor when he was hunted by persecutors and just about to be taken, imitating in this Christ laying down his life for the sheep. First in his house and then by exchanging clothing with him, he concealed him, in the clothes of the brother mentioned willingly exposing himself to being pursued. Thus being well pleasing to God, during the time between his holy confession and cruel death, in the presence of the impious, who bore the Roman marks with their hideous forms, he was wonderfully adorned with miraculous signs, so that by fervent prayer, like that dry little-trodden way of the Israelites, when the ark of the covenant stood long on the gravel in the middle of Jordan, he opened an unknown way through the bed of the noble river Thames, and with a thousand men walked through with dry foot, the rushing waters on either side hanging like abrupt precipices, and by sight of such wonders first transformed his executioner from a wolf into a lamb, and as one with himself caused him to thirst more eagerly for the triumphant palm of martyrdom and more bravely to achieve it. Others, in truth, were so tortured with diverse torments, and mangled with unheard of tearing of limbs, that without delay, as if at the illustrious gates of Jerusalem, they raised trophies of their glorious martyrdom. On The Destruction and Ruin of Britain, Saint Gildas the Wise 1 The Anglo-Saxon Invasion of Britain