in the true God, and renounced heathenism,
and became verily a Christian, and exceeding full of faith.
Then the priest dwelt with the honourable man
until the magistrate who persecuted the Christians
discovered him there, and with great wrath
commanded him to be fetched before him speedily.
Then came the messengers to Alban's house,
but Alban went out unto the persecutors
with the priest's cloak, as if he were he,
and would not betray him to the wicked persecutors.
He was thereupon bound, and brought straightway
to the impious judge, where he was offering to his gods
the devilish sacrifices, with all his associates,
Then became the judge fiendishly angry,
as soon as he beheld the steadfast martyr,
because he had received the fugitive priest,
and given himself up to be slain for him.
Then he bade men lead him to the heathen sacrifice, and said
that he himself should receive the heavy punishment
which he had meant for the priest if he could have taken him,
unless he quickly submitted to his shameful gods;
but Alban was not affrighted by his fiendly threats,
because he was girded about with God's weapons
unto the ghostly fight, and said that he would not
obey his best, nor bow to his idolatry.
Then asked the judge immediately, and said,
'Of what family art thou, or of what rank among men?'
Then Alban answered the wicked man thus:
'What concerneth it thee, of what family I may be?
but if thou desire to hear the truth, I tell thee quickly
that I am a Christian, and will ever worship Christ.'
