XIX.
JUNE 22. PASSION OF ST. ALBAN, MARTYR.
There was a heathen emperor named Diocletian,
who was chosen to be emperor over all the earth,
though he was a destroyer of men, two hundred
and eighty-six years after Christ's incarnation;
and he reigned twenty years, a cruel murderer,
so that he killed, and bade kill,
all the Christians whom he could find out,
and burned churches, and robbed the innocent;
and this impious persecution spread unceasingly
over all the earth fully ten years,
until it came also even to England,
and there killed many who believed in Christ.
One of these was Alban, the noble martyr,
who was likewise killed in that persecution
for Christ's faith, even as we shall tell [you] here.
In those days came the murderous persecution
to England from the wicked emperor,
and the murderers seized the Christians everywhere
with exceeding fury; then a priest escaped from them
who ran secretly to Alban's house,
and there lay hid from his fierce persecutors,
and Alban received liim, though he was not baptized.
Then began the priest, forasmuch as he loved God,
to sing his offices, and fast strictly,
and day and night to praise his Lord,
and meanwhile to teach the true faith
to the honourable Alban, until he believed
