Ben sothfastly lyke as ye shall here Truste me ryght well on god in trinite Ioyned in one by perfyte vnite Beleue this iustly and your wyttes dresse For lyfe or deth this article to confesse This is my fayth and I beleue thus Quod blessed Albon with all humylyte There is no god but my lorde Iesus whiche that come downe from his fathers see Mekely to take our humanyte For our helth and our saluation Lyst of his mercy to suffre passyon He with the father the holy goste these thre Amphibalus rehersyng vnto Albon They be all one god by ê‘fyte vnite And other god in all the worlde is none And this belefe loke ye not forgone This worde ofte rehersed in sentence Albon fell downe with deuoute reuerence Toforne the crosse and with great repentance And sayde O lorde Iesu on my mysdede O Iesu mercy receyue my penaunce whiche on the crosse lyst for my sake to blede And on his knees fast he gan hym spede with contryte herte great to god a lofte with wepyng teares the crosse he kyssed ofte with all his membres hath hym applyed As on the crosse Christ had be present And he with hym whan he was crucyfyed So of hole herte Albon was dilygent His face his eien with teares all be sprent This penitent his langour for to lysse was euer busye Christis fote to kysse His bytter teares from his eyen tweyne Lyke a christall well encreasyng at a floode Albon ay busy to make the water reyne To myngle his wepyng with Christis owne blode I mene the wounde grauen in the roode Vpon the crosse that was to hym shewed Of drery sobbyng the carectes all be dewed By grace enspired this Albon gan hym drawe To take the order of religion Of Christis fayth and bynde hym to that lawe with wyll and herte and hole affection And secretely made his professyon To Christe Iesu tyme and houre deuysed By Amphibalus whan he was baptysed with humble herte this was the langage Of holy Albon quod he I here forsake The pompe of Sathan and all his baronage And all the power of the vggely fendes blake My soule and body to Iesus I betake whiche for mankynde dyed it is no nay Thus I beleue and rose the thyrde day Quod Amphibalus with a glad visage Be stronge of fayth our lorde is holde with the He wyll not fayle to confyrme your corage By tokens shewed of his beningnyte In especiall reporteth this of me To other aforne you as I reherse can That they were taught they lerned it of man But your langage excellyng in vertue Experience hath yeue you knowlegyng By reuelation of our lorde Iesu whiche to you hath declared euery thyng His byrth his passyon his vprysyng Of all this thyng lyke as ye had in syght To call you to hym to be his chosen knyght whiche me semeth ought ynough suffice with the surplus of your auision To you expouned the maner and the gyse Of Christis fayth with full instruction Mekely of herte with supportation At my request your highnes not ye greue For to departe goodly to yeue me leue I am meued of veray conscience Other contrees to preache Christis lawe I hope to you it shall do none offence For a season though I me withdrawe It is a by worde and a full olde sawe whiche hath be sayd fyth gone many a yere Frendes alway may not ben in fere Frendes quod Albon neuer depart asonder Ioyned in vertue and knyt by grace Though one be here and a nother yonder Theyr hertes ben one euery houre and space In god combined ther parteth them no place Of one wyllaye in that they haue to done Of whiche I praye departeth not so sone To abyde a weke ye may do me great ease By your doctryne to haue instruction My lorde Iesu howe shall I hym please with ryght hole herte and true affection To serue hym duely lyke my profession And in his fayth wherin I moste delyte with your teachyng that I may be perfyte Amphibalus knowyng his entent Lyst in no wyse denye his askyng The longe nyght they to gether spent Only in prayer and deuoute praysyng For out of syght they chose theyr abydyng From noyse of folke they gan them selfe withdraw And all that whyle they spake of Christis law Of Christis fayth and of his religion was theyr fayth and theyr dalyance Amonge to god they mayde theyr orison Them to detende from fendes accombrance In this whyle god yafe them sory chaunce A cursed paynym of malyce and enuie where they met the place he dyd espie To auoyde them of comforte and refuge This paynym aforsayd of malyce lyst not spate For to accuse them bothe vnto the iudge Of theyr metyng the maner to declare And moreouer yuell mote he fare Of malycyous frowarde cursednes The iuge he set a fyre with wodenes with enuious sturdy violence Through the citie they serched were sought And coÌ„maunded to appere in the presence Toforne the iuge both two to be brought The towne serched but they founde them nought Blessed Albon meued of corage To kepe his maister saue hym from damage Vpon a nyght before the dawnyng This blessed Albon his maister gan conueye with heuy chere most pituously wepyng Out of the citie brought hym on the waye At the departyng fared as they wolde dye So were theyr hertes ioyned in one cheyne Not lyke to twynne tyl deth deê‘te them in twayne O faythfull loue standyng in suche a state By resemblaunce in comparyson As whylome dyd Dauyd and Ionathas Maugre kyng Saules persecution Faynyng was none nor dissimulation Lyke to endure playnly to termyne Tyll Antropos theyr lyues tryed atwyne Theyr loue more sad stable and vertous In comparyson than the poetes made Of Pyrothe or of Thedeus Of Norestes outher of Pylade Fresshe for a season that wolde sone fade As whylome dyd the loue of Achylles And Patroclus slayne amyd the prees whan that Ector the Troyan champyon Slowe Patroclus for his frowardnes Maugre Achylles for all his high renown To exemplifie there is no stablenes In worldly loue but chaunge and doublenes Be it of blode kynne or alye without vertue all standeth in ieoperdye Of these tweyne the loue was a nother By enterchaungyng betwene them set a lawe Albon to abyde and to dye for his brother Amphibalus his presens to withdrawe In theyr hertes the feruence dyd adawe Of perfyte loue to endure longe As Salamon writeth that loue as deth is stronge In all suche case the loue maketh hertes bolde And by ensample that loue auoydeth drede Albon for loue toke his cloth of golde And lyke a prince lyst to chaunge his wede Of entier herte he gan it for to sprede Ouer the shulders of Amphibali anone The houre whan they atwynne shulde gone From all his fone he iustly was assured who that euer had on this clothe of golde Tyll he the place fully haue recured To stande atlarge aforne as I haue tolde
that were come to hym of newe From Verolamy his preachyng for to here Lyke a doctour in Christis fayth most trewe Receyued them with all his herte entiere Enformed them and taught them the maniere Cf Christis lawe with busy diligence And they were glad to abyde in his presence Lytell and lytell in he gan them drawe To catche fayth and sauour in his doctryne Of hole herte forsoke the paynyms lawe And with great wyll theyr corage dyd enclyne So to perseuer and so theyr lyfe to fyne In Christis lawe as folke that lyst not tary So for to abyde and neuer more to vary Other there were whiche gan pursewe The sayde people of malyce and of hate This newe doctrine of Christis transâ—newe whiche come vpon armed with mayle and plate Sent from that citie of purpose to debate Agaynst them whiche that for Christis sake Fayth of paynyms vnwarely hath forsake Folowed after with rumour noyse and sowne To fall vpon them with sodeyn auenture Serchyng in wales aboute towne and towne Of Amphibalus the presence to recure whiche lyke a clerke grounded in scripture To that people at reuerence of our lorde Stode amoÌ„ges them and preached goddes worde And one there was for anger almost wode That brake fyrst out shewyng his conceyte To Amphibalus amonge them as he stode wherof that people was all and hole receyte O thou quod he grounde of all disceyte Rote of fraude falsenes and trechery To all our goddes traytour and ennemye That thou hast done thou mayst it not forsake Of frowarde contempte malyciously practised Agaynst our goddes a quarell for to take Theyr lawes olde presumptously dispised As these people contagiously disguysed To great damage of vs and of our cite whiche trust me well shall not vnpunysshed be It is no doubte it shall not abyde longe Of theyr iniury and theyr godly greuance As they be moste myghty and most stronge They sodenly shall take on the vengeance But if thou wylte eschewe theyr pusance Fyrst do repent the to fynde them more tretable And seche a meane to make them mercyfull Fyrst of all do thy busynesse Of theyr great ire to appese the rancour Afore these people shewe outwarde thy mekenes To louse the bondes whiche by thy labour Thou hast them brought in full great errour Be so besy agayne with faythfull attendance Them to counsell to fall in repentance Gyfe them counsell and make them to assent with herte and body no daunger for to make To axe mercy and sore repent Or sodeyn vengeance be on them take Of that they haue our goddes forsake For this no doubte but it be done in dede we shall agayne them vengeably procede For if they stande in theyr fyrst errour As they began frowarde and obstynate They shall of mercy fynde no fauour without exception of high or lowe estate But lyke as people most infortunate Dye vpon the sworde take this for full sentence As is concluded by marcyall violence yet there was one supprised with feruence Of Christis lawe stedfast in the fayth whiche had bothe connyng and eloquence And for his maister holy wryt he laythe To thylke paynym euen thus he saythe Our lorde god whiche called is Iesu Shall be this day our refuge and vertue And our chefe helpe in tribulation whiche shall percase shewe some myracle By his most myghty dominacion Therfore these folke an vnkouth spectacle That there ayen shalbe none obstacle Through goddes myght and mercyfull goodnes Some man to same of his sodeyn sykenes Our maister here whom that ye repreue In Christis name to shewe an euidence From all myschefe some syke man to releue whiche lyeth outraged by mortall violence But to declare the magnyfycence Of Christe Iesu anone without more To helth agayne suche one he shall restore Not incouert but in your alther syght we haue suche trust in his parfynesse Fro whose doctryne as we haue behyght we shall not chaunge for deth not distresse without faynyng or any doublenesse your counsellyng in Christis holy name Folowe his teachyng and to do the same ye threte fast to maken vs aferde But god alone he is our defence Iesu is stronge agayne spere and swerde Vnder whose pauise of parfyte pacience we shall abyde concludyng in sentence we forsake all false ydolatrye And for Christis sake redy for to dye Fauour of blode nor none allyaunce Cherysshyng of treasure nor promyse of kynred Experte kynred nor none acqueyntance Fayre behestes manaces nor hatered All set asyde both loue and drede The fayth of Christ of hole herte we haue take All false ydols and mawmettes we forsake Of this answere the paynyms almost wode Lyke tygrys fell vengeable as lyons Of innocentes to shede the christen blode with sharpe swerdes lyke rauenous felons They kyll and slee of all conditions As hongry wolfes in theyr beastiall rage whithout exception of olde or yonge of age The father ther agayn all skylle and ryght Of his sonne toke his deadly wounde Brother and brother was slayne in that fyght And with theyr speres that were square rounde Theyr nygh cosyns were glad to confounde There was none spared of blode nor kynred without mercy eche others blode to shed Of aged folke there was no reuerence In that vnkyndly sodeyn cruell shoure Myddell age nor age of innocence Nor blode of blode lyst knowe his neybour Nor none to other lyst shewe his fauour Echon were slayne the story telleth thus And were conuerted by Amphibalus Frowarde tyrantes that this people sleeth Most mercyles with pollar swerde and knyfe Eche preased in aforne other towarde the deth So ametous was that charytable stryfe Lyke folke that were glad to lese theyr lyfe Of one corage and of one pacience To dye for Christe so hole was theyr feruence Amonge these holy seyntes euerychone That forsoke theyr towne and theyr cite There was none lefte alyue but one Of all that come Amphibalus to see whiche by occasyon of his infirmyte Abode behynde feble and impotent whiche at theyr dyenge myght not be present whan Anphibalus sawe them all deed Lyggyng in the felde turned vp set downe with pitous chere sawe theyr woundes blede Of wofull herte and compassyon Deuoutly made his commendation Prayenge Iesu with voyce full pytously On all tho soules to haue mercy At Lychefelde fyll all this auenture This great slaughter and made is mention Of whiche flaughter recorde of olde scripture By dayes olde named was the towne This worde Lychefelde by interpretation Is to say in that tonge as I rede A felde that lyeth full of bodyes deed There these martyrs suffered passyon Of one corage and of one stablenes The paynyms in theyr opinion Most obstinate in theyr cursednes Made a vowe in theyr wodenes Neuer to eate for none occasyon Tyll Amphibalus were brought to theyr towne Lyke wodemen they about hym ryde The holy man playnly to declare with speres wounded body backe and syde went aforne them with his fete all bare The more
that shulde be made a knight By a decree concludyng in sentence with faith assured as she statute bonde First they shulde appere in the presence Of themperour sent thither of eche londe Than take theyr othe next by touche of honde Toforne the goddes assuraunce made of new For life or dethe to themperour to be trew This statute kept in euery region Beynge subiect to Rome the citie Stretchynge theyr lordshyp and dominion with theyr Imperiall marciall dignitie Ouer the boundes of many countree So prouided by prudent policy To them was subiect all worldly chiualry Hauynge all kyngdomes redy to theyr honde Voide of rebellion whan they had ought a do A prince of knighthood they set in euery londe For gouernaunce A stewarde eke also Euery region to be ruled by hem two In rightwisnes lawes they dyd ordaine From wilfull surfettes the comons to restraine First prouided of high discretion As Argus iyed in theyr inwarde intent To se there were no werre nor conspiration Against the Emperour neither thought nor ment To redresse all thyng by iugement These two estates of prudence to attende At prime face all outrages to amende It hath ben sayn and writen here beforne By olde expert Poesy called doctrine without principles Leest aboue the corne The wede wex ayenst good graine to maligne To late amonge is made a medicine whan that a sore wexith ded and corrumpable For lacke of surgiens is waxen incurable Semblably in kyngdomes and cities Stormy troubles for to set aside Meued sodeinly amonge the comenties At the begynnyng in all haste to prouide Them to reforme no lenger to abide For first meuers as law and right obserued Punysshe them duely as they haue deserued Like theyr desertes receiue theyr rewarde Cherisshe the trew robbers to redresse The prince of knightes and also the stewarde Ordeined were by law of rightwisnesse As the statute plainly dyd expresse Like true Iuges and kepers of the law Of high prudence all riot to withdraw And the reporte of Cronicles that ben olde Auctorised by great aduisement As a Diademe or a crowne of golde Is of a kynge called the ornament So to a prince doth long a garment Frengid with golde that people high and lowe By that difference theyr stewarde might knowe The prince of knightes vsed a pallion For a prerogatife in especiall He and the Stewarde by election Of themperour in party and in all Toke theyr charge priuate and generall No man so hardy paine of dethe rebell Against theyr power to vsurpe no quarell That same tyme was reignyng in Britaine Kyng Seuerus a famouse knightly man who cast hym fully to do his busy paine To please the Emperour Dioclesian Sent his sonne named Bassian with a thousande and fiue hondred yonge of age Lordes sonnes fresshe and lusty of courage Som of this nombre were borne in Britaine Some in wales some in Cornewaile And amonge all if I shall nat fame There was one of stature and entaile As ferre as kinde coulde her crafte preuaile By her fauour gaue to his person A prerogatife to be set asoon A goodly man and but yonge of age A princes sonne of wales as I fynde Called Amphiball gracious of visage In whom there was non errour founde in kynde By disposition nought was left behynde In myn Author as it is compiled To all languages his tongue was filed And for he was borne of high kynred He was sent furth with notable apparaile Like his estate with many a riche wede Not forgettyng harnesse of plate and maile Curiously forged after moost fresshe entaile As was moost likely in euery mannes sight To them that shulde receiue the order of knight And while they were assembled euerichone It was a paradise vpon hem to se Lyke as I fynde amonge hem there was one A lordes sonne excellyng in beautie Borne in the citie of Verolamy Called Albanus right semely of stature To all vertue disposed by nature The said Albon by discent of lyne Borne to be gentill of condition By aspectes of grace whiche is diuine Predestinate by election For to be called of his region Prothomartyr whan he the faith hath take And shed his blood for Iesu Christes sake Gracious he was in euery mannes sight well beloued and a likely man with his felowship toke the way aright Towarde Rome rode with Bassian Come to the presence of Dioclecian And for they weren so likely in shewynge He passingly was glad of theyr cummynge A chosen people out piked for the nones Right well besene and manly of theyr chere Arayed in golde perle and precious stones As princes children souereigne and intere Them demeanynge in porte and in maner That if it shall shortly be comprehended In them was nothynge for to be amended This Briton people likely for the werres Stode in comparison amyd all nacions As dothe the sonne amonge heuenly sterres Alike to theyr birthe weren theyr condicions High blood requireth thrugh all nacions To resemble in high or low parage Fully accordynge like to theyr lignage To high kynred longeth high noblesse On high mountaines stande Cedrysse grene To princes children perteineth high prowesse As amonge stones the Ruby is moost shene The tarage of trees by the frute is sene Semblably nature dyd so ordeine There to make knowen the blood of Britaine Vpon the Emperour this people as I tolde were a waityng as they were of degree Beynge pope in those dayes olde zepherinus whiche kept in Rome his see And whan that he behelde the great beaute Of thls people that comen were of newe within hym selfe sore he gan to rew Musynge in his hert thus he gan complaine Full secretly with sighes lamentable Halas quod he this people here of Britaine In all theyr port and maners moost notable So fresshe so semely and so honourable Halas full ofte vpon the day he saith why stant this people in errour from our faith The Pope of ruthe and compassion Considerynge with mercifull pitie Ganseke wayes fyndynge occasion To get leyser and oportunitie How this people excellyng in beautie Might by his labour thrugh spirituall vertue Receiue baptisme by grace of Christe Ihesu The lorde aboue consideryng thentent Of zepheryn in especiall Suche a grace to hym he hath sent By influence very celestiall To further his purpose that he hath Amphiball In Christes faith grounded by his saw And conuerted vnto Christes law Amphibalus as ye haue herde the case A semely man god beyng then his guide First by the pope when he baptised was Lefte his treasure his pompe and his pride For Christes sake with pouertie chose to abide Forsoke the worlde kept hym selfe secree Of great perfection lyued in pouerte Other there weren that made no delayes Of zepheryn herynge his preachynge To be baptised deuoutly in thoo dayes But whan the rumour and the knowlegyng Cam to the Emperour without more tarienge Thrugh all the citie commaunded them be sought To his presence by force to be brought By londe and see his ministers left nought To
whiche of antiquitie was in Britaine a great famous citie Verbi autores OF this place here nowe I am aduerted Of this matter for to stynte a whyle And to procede howe Albon was conuerted To christen fayth the processe to compyle The holy martyr directe shall my style To whose worshyp first I vndertoke The translation of this lyttell boke At the request and vertuous byddyng Of my father thabbot of that place A clerke noble perfyte of lyuyng Hauyng in custome euery houre and space To auoyde slouth and vertue to purchace Lyke any Ampte all seasons of the yere To gader grayne and stuffen his garner By whose notable compylations Illumyned is not only his gaye library By also full diligent occupations Agaynst ydlenes to all vertue contrary Hat set in order in his famous grauery A boke compyled rycher than golde in coffers Lyues of poetes and prudent philosophers Of his name the Ethymologie Is sayd of am Home or stede of whete Of god prouyded doth clerely signifie whete gleues of the mouthe of tholde poete Greyne frute and floure with rhetoriques swete Of philosophers callyng to memory Of his labour the laureat reportory And as I sayde by his cōmaundement I toke vpon me this translation First to compyle it in all my best entent His famous knyghthode and renowne And nowe to tell of his conuersation To Christis lawe I cast me for to wryte Folowynge the storye his passyon to endite To procede lyke as I am bounde For to accomplysshe brefly in substance This lyttell boke and call it the seconde Of his martyrdome and meke suffraunce And put aforne clerely in remembraunce Howe Amphiball as the cronycle sayth Tourned Albon vnto Christis fayth Eche of them by recorde of writynge was plainely without others remembraunce For Albon had lost the knowlegynge Of Amphabell and all olde acqueintaunce But by the meane of goddes ordynaunce I wyll declare as I am bounde of det In Verolamy to tell how they met Plainly procede as I vndertoke The residue to accomplysshe for his sake Make here an ende of the first boke But now forsothe my penne I fele quake Voide of all colour saue of letters blake In this processe my dulnesse to acquite The martirdome of Albon to endite Finis ¶ Here endeth the first boke whiche treateth of the lyfe of Albon before he was conuerted to the faythe ¶ Here begynneth the prologue of the secunde boke treatynge of the conuersion of the blessed prothomaptyr of Englande called Sainct Albon SO as Aurora parteth the derke night Towarde the tyme of Phebus vprisynge And Lucifer with agreable light Bryngeth kalendes of a glad mornynge So by ensample the true lyuynge Of olde tyme in saint Albon vsed Caused the lorde whiche guerdoneth euery thynge That the merites of hym were nat refused Euery thynge draweth to his nature Like as kynde gyueth heuenly influence For to disposen euery creature Some to profite some to do offence Some to encreace by perfite prouidence where vertue hath the dominacion Of god ordeined by intere diligence That sensualitie be bridled with reason Amonge painems Iues haue be saine That vertue hath many of them gouerned Taught by nature wrought nothynge in vaine But as kynde and reason hath vs lerned Good graine from chaf was discerned Thus hath he proued in many a sondry place Good from yuell by them truely conserned Recorde vpon Cornelly and on saynt Eustace who taughte Troyan whylom to done ryghte whan the wydowe complayned her greuaunce To her grefe themperour cast his sighte Reason taught hym for all his great puissaunce To her request to holde the balaunce Of ryghtwysenes to se though he were stronge In her pouerte to perswade her perturbance By egall dome he to redresse her wronge The storye of olde it put in memorye For ryghtwysenes in especiall Howe that Troyan by prayers of Gregorye was preserued from the paynes eternall From dampnation and cloyster infernall To exemplifie howe god taketh hede Of his greattest power moste imperiall Of ryght and mercy acquiteth eche good dede And to the purpose of my mattiere Durynge his lyfe of great power and myght This blessed Albon who so lyste to here Though lyke a prince his power yafe great lyght Fostred trouthe dyd wronge to no wyght For whiche the lorde his hande hath nat w tdrawe To call and clepe hym his owne chosen knyght To be conuerted and turned to his lawe His trouthe his vertue his natife gentylnes Of custome stable grounded in many wyse Caused god of his mercifull goodnes To the this prince into his seruice All fals y dols manly to despise This choson chapyon borne of the breton tyne This newe Tytan whose beames dyd auise Out of orient to lorde to enlemyne Nowe hensforth shall be my processe with gods helpe my penne to apply Howe in his tyme he keped ryghtwysenes And lyke a prince howe he dyd hym gye To set his citie vpon eche partie In gouernaunce from ryght they not twynne Vnder the reignes of prudent polycye whiche to reherse thus I wyll begynne ¶ Here endeth the prologe of the seconde boke ¶ Here begynneth the seconde boke of the glorious Prothomartyr saynt Albon howe he was made gouernour of the citie of Verolamye VNder the Romaynes chefe and principall with great auise it lyked them to ordayne By commyssyon and titell imperiall Prince and stewarde thorughout all Bretayne To chefe Albon whiche dyd first his payne Lyke a prince not slowe nor recheles To auoyde all trouble and rule the people in peas By polecy he hath so prouyded Set statutes so myghtye and so stronge And his lawes so vertuously deuyded For cōmon profyte to endure longe That no man shulde do other wronge And where he sawe innocentes oppressed Set a payne inhaste to be redressed The ryche he made lyue to theyr estate without extorcion do to the portayle Repressed ryot suffered no debate Idell people constrayned to trauayle Aforne prouyded for plente of vitayle Lyke his office with vertuous diligence By suffisaunce there were none indigence Beloued and drad with hygh and lowe degre For frende nor soo declyued not fro trouth The good hym loued for his benignite The ryche drad hym on the pore he had reuth wronges to redresse there was in hym no slouth In his domes stedfast as a wall Not singuler founde nor yet parciall Nature taught hym all vices for to flee Lyke the lawes to whiche he was bounde A chastiser of all dishoneste Gafe neuer dome tyll trouthe were out founde Nother to heuy nother to iocounde But as tyme and mater gaue hym occasyon So was demened his disposition He had also of his acqueyntance Foure vertues called Cardynall The reine of his brydell led temperance Ryghtwysenes with mercy ruled all Trouthe to defende and manhod marcyall By force also through hygh prowes Spared not to chastise all falsenes He coulde appese folke that lyste debate Refourme all rancour where he coude it espye Lyke a prince knyghtly he dyd hate Suche as coulde
that were to her reserued As I sayde erst by a prerogatyue She amonge women was mayden mother wyfe To god a mayde to fulfyll his wyll And to the lorde a seruant by mekenes Doughter mother eke faythfull ancyll whiche to remembre hath brought gostly gladnes Of all welfare our daungers to represse Aforne by recorde of prophetes in substaunce Vs to defende agayne all mortall greuaunce For whiche dere host sith it may auayle To my doctrine yeueth hartily credence God hath me sent to teache you and counsayle So that ye lust with humble diligence Become his knyght and do hym reuerence Obeye his lawe his preceptes all Taketh good hede to you what shall befall His fayth to you shall gyue so great vertue That blynde folke ye shall make for to see By inuocation only of Christe Iesu Delyuer the people from all aduersite Leprous folke and tho that lame be To be made clene and make them go vpryght And euery sykenes recouer thrugh his myght ye shall escape by his prouydence All myscheues to you that ben contrary Lyue longe tyme go free from pestilence From Christis fayth if that ye wyll not vary To graunt your askynge the lorde shall not tary But at last or ye hens wende By martyrdome ye shall make an ende By martyrdome ye shall ende your lyfe And blessedly from this worlde shall passe Out of all trouble and transitory stryfe whiche day by day doth you here manasse Thrugh Christis myght and influence of grace ye shall to god to your great auantage By meke suffraunce make your passage This was chefe cause and grounde of my cōmyng Sent by Iesu vnto this towne As a bedyll to brynge you tydyng Howe by his myghty visitation ye shall endure payne and passyon For Christis fayth in his moste pacient wyse As knyght and martyr chosen to his seruice That is his wyll ye shall fynde in dede To recompence the great humanyte whiche ye haue vsed of fredome and manhede To indigent folke and people in pouerte And specially for hospitalite with other dedes in nombre called seuen Dedes of mercy registred nowe in heuen To fede the pore whiche had no vitayle And to viset folkes in prison Receyue them that herburgh dyd fayle Bedred folkes that lay in myschiefe downe Comforte the syke mynystre them foysowne Parte with them of that they had nede And vury them that laye in myschiefe dede To his seruantes all that ye haue mynystred Cronycled ben in the heuenly consistory In his boke perpetually registred Eche good dede the lorde hath in memory It to guerdon with a palme of victorie Perpetually with hym to reigne in ioye Greatter conquest than was the sege of Troye Sith ye your handes haue not withdrawe From hospitalite pore folkes for to fede whyle ye haue lyued in this paynym lawe Causes of the poore to promote and to spede God forgetteth not to quite your mede If this be done after ye be baptised A double palme for you shalbe deuysed Lyke a prince in moste knyghty wyse Albon obeyed with entiere diligence All these wordes gan wysely aduertise Answerynge these wordes in sentence what maner worshyp what maner reuerence Shall I do than whan I am withdrawe From ydolatry and turned to Christis lawe Amphibalus yafe answere to Albon ye must beleue in no doubte be There is no god in this worlde but one The father the sonne the holy gost these thre Ioyned in one by perfyte vnite The foundation as I can well preue Firste article grounde of our beleue This fayth in soth shall clerely you directe If that you lyst gyue therto credence All olde errours to auoyde correcte If ye so done with humble reuerence I dare affirme and conclude in sentence That your begynnyng to god is acceptable And to your soule treasure moste profytable Of the father the power eternall Of the sonne souerain sapience Of the holy gost in especiall Grace dothe procede by vertuous prouidence And to descryue the magnificence Of all the thre called thre and one Vndeuided they neuer asonder gone And if ye lyste vnto this lawe tourne Of his most dignē imperiall maieste He shall you make with hym to soiourne This blessed lorde this blessed trinite where ioye is euer and all felicite Tofore whose face eternally lastynge Thre Ierarchies one Osanna synge Of this matiere be nothyng in doute Set asyde all ambiguyte Forsake your mawmettes and all that false route For they be made of metall stone tree whiche may not helpe nor forther in no degree Saturne Iubiter Mars and Appollo with the false goddessis Dyana and Iune Though they haue eares in trouth they may not here with eien great of lokyng they do fayle They be forged in golde stones clere who calleth to them they may nothyng auayle Nowe dere host forsake all this rascayle As I haue sayde and do in Christ delyte And he by grace shall make you perfyte A large space Albon kepte hym close Fayned in maner as he had disdayne From his place in great hast arose yet or he went he gan to sayne ye be not wyse your doctrine is in vayne If it were wyst ye were in this citie ye shulde endure full great aduersitie For your sake there shulde be practysed Dyuers tourmentes for your destruction For your blasphemye cruelly chastised without fauour or remyssyon At the last for shorte conclusyon your heed smyten of without grace If ye were knowne or founden in this place In this mater I can none other fele For your persone somwhat I stande in doute you ben here yet I shall counsayle And you preserue that no man shall take hede Of your consayte nor what ye mene in dede And with that worde out of the place he goth Sheweth a chere lyke as he had bene wroth By grace of god and fauour of fortune All that he sayde was done with reuerence Of gentylnes he was not importune Suffered all thynge with humble pacience Albeit so he gafe no full credence To his doctrine of thynges whiche he tolde Stode in doute what partie he shulde holde Albon in hast thought for the best whan Lucyna shone full shene and bryght with slepe oppressed for to take his rest Amphibalus satte all that longe nyght Vpon his knees as gods owne knyght For loue of Albon with great deuotion Makyng full mekely his orison To whose prayer of grace god toke kepe And lyste to consydre his affection And in this whyle as Albon lay and slepe The same nyght he had a vision Straunge and dyuers by manyfolde reason And wonder fer from his intelligence what it ment or what was the sentence Towarde morowe whan Albon dyd abrayde Out of his slepe and Phebus shone full shene Gan to maruayle and no worde he sayde Touchyng his dreame newe fresshe and grene Vnderstode not what it shulde mene Rose vp in haste and to the pylgryme went Besechyng hym to declare what it ment My frende quod
maner complaynt lamentable Heuen and erthe complayned them of ryght The iniurie done vnto goddes knyght The people playned for lackyng of vitayle Demed it cause of some sorsery That Thelementis lyst to holde a batayle For Christis knyght to holde vp his partye Agayne myscreantes with theyr tormentrye Magre theyr malyce to make the martyr stronge To shewe by signes the paynyms dyd him wronge Astlepeodet syttyng as iuge than Though he to Albon had great hatered yet bicause of Dioclesyan To slee the martyr durst not procede Tyll he had sent letters as I rede To themperour rehersyng howe Albon Forsaken had theyr goddes euery chone Enformyng hym of his obstinacy Howe all theyr goddes he set also at nought And howe theyr power pleynly he doth defye And was made christen of herte wyll and thought And hath also subtylly wayes thought The peoples hertes from our goddes withdrawe In theyr despyte to folowe a newe lawe But the great and kynde famylyaryte whiche Albon had with the emperour Bycause also of his great dignite And of his kynne had so great fauour That the iudge drad for to do rygour Vpon this prince of deth or cruelte Tyll from the emperour he had auctorite And but there done great execution By hygh aduise of all the hole empire To punysshe all tho from false rebellyon whiche to destroye your goddes so desyre with whiche letters the emperour set a fyre Abode no lenger but hastyly gan ordeyne To sende his felowe downe into Brytayne And in great hast the story telleth expresse Dioclesyan hath sent a great power with Maxymyan called Herculesse Into Braytayne to serche out the mattier wher that any were founde farre or nere Of Christis fayth to sleyne euerychone without mercy except only Albon His lyfe to saue by a condition If to theyr sectes he wolde agayne restore From Christis loore turne his opinion Of theyr goddes the stantes to support To Dioclesyan that they may report Howe that Albon doth hym sore repent To Christis fayth that he dyd assent Made hym promyse so that he wolde turnen To theyr idols with fayned fayre langage Amonge with thretninges they dayly him adiuren To peruerte his herte and his corage But euer ylyche of chere and of visage Betwen fyre water now harde now blādysshyng From his constance they myght hym neuer bryng Lyke a stronge towre bylte on a hygh mountayne Toke none hede of theyr monitions Stode in our fayth so stable and so certayne Theyr ryche promysse of castels and of towns with many lordshyps in dyuers regyons He set at nought by grace and by vertue His grounde to stable he abode in Christ Iesue Than by precepte of Dioclesyan If he not chaunge for fayrenes nor for drede The charge was yeuen to Maxymyan By iugement and dome to taken hede To assigne a knyght to smyten of his hede Suche one as had in knyghthode hygh renoune Shulde on this prince done executioune This was so commaunded by sentence Of the emperour that Amphibalus If he were take by notable violence without mercy shulde be serued thus By iugement cruell and furyous Made naked fyrst and to a stake bounde At his nauyll made a large wounde He compelled amonge the cruell route At the nauyll his bowels to be take And his guttes serched rounde aboute Lyke a longe rope tyed to a stake And of his lyfe so an ende make And at laste voyde of all pytye Smyte of his heed by furyous cruelty This was the dome touchyng the tormentes Of blessed Albon and Amphibalus Falsely concluded in the iugementes Of Maxymyan myn auctor telleth thus with Asclepeodet wode and contraryus In that citie bothe two there present In Verolamy whiche yafe this iugement The citezyns gathered enuiron For this matter with great diligence Bothe of London and many other towne Of iugement to here that sentence youen vpon Albon in open audience Vnder these wordes put in remembrance As ye shall here rehersed in substaunce Tyme of the emperour Dioclesyan whan he stode hyest in his maiestie At Verolamy the story tell can whan Albon was lorde of that citie Tho days called for his dignitie Recorde of cronycles whiche lyst not feyne Prince of knyghtes and stewarde of Bretayne Duryng his lyfe to haue possession All his power aforne hath be practysed But nowe for he by false rebellyon Of wylfulnes and malyce hath despysed Beforne these dayes by antiquite deuised The olde worshyps notable and famous Done to Iubyter Appollo and Venus For whiche cause let euery man take hede Lyke as the lawe concludeth of ryght By iugement in hast he to be dede His hede smyten of fyrst in the peoples syght By the handes of some olde worthy knyght Bycause the martyr was of high renowme There shulde a knyght done execution By dome also after whan he were deed The place assigned by sorte or auenture From the body whan parted was the heed The corps there shulde haue his sepulture Passyng an other priuate creature There to be grauen the body with the heed Ioyned to gether in a great chest of leed with hym buryed his crosse and his sclaueyne A large tombe for a memoryall This was the dome of the iuges tweyne In Verolame citie full royall To auenge theyr goddes infernall Vpon Albon whan they dyd deme Agayne theyr lawes for a false blaspheme Dempte he was cause of mysauenture That theyr landes brought forth no grayne The benefytes withdrawen of nature To cherisshe theyr frute come noder dew nor reyne By sodeyn vengeance as ye haue herde me seyne Diuersely theyr sorowes were made double To fynde the cause what made all this trouble Either it come by some frowarde aduenture By wytchecrafte or by sorcery whiche so longe vpon them doth endure Either by artmagyke or by nygramancy Eche dempt after his fantasy within the citie they sayd eke many one It come for vengeance of saynt Albone with this sodeyn vnware aduersite I troubled was all the regyon Of Verolamy the greattest of that citie Made amonge them a conuocation Of all the countre citie borough and towne The wysest come downe from eche partie Agaynst this myschefe to shape a remedye Amonge them selfe cast a prouydence wronge that was don to Albon in that towne Agaynst trouthe and good conscience Of this myschefe was chefe occasyon And by assent to relece his prison Theyr aduersite so myght be amended By meane of hym to whom they had offended Barefote and bare whan that he was take Lyke a prisoner brought to theyr presence Of this matter a counsell they gan make Dempt of reason in hym was none offence For at them selfe began the violence And he stode quite in theyr opinion Of his iniury hauyng compassyon They consydered his blode and his kynred His alyaunce and his hygh noblesse For they stode a parcell in great drede All the citie troubled with heuynesse To se theyr lorde brought in suche distresse Causyng that citie and that famous towne To stande in rumour and
to take yet and thou woldest repent and forsake Thy Christis secte and fro thy fayth withdrawe And of hole herte turne to our lawe worshyp our god whom thou hast offended And be in wyll to do so no more Of thyn hurtes thou myghtest be amended And axe grace as I haue tolde before To helth agayne they myght wele restore Thy woundes greuous whiche seme incurable Make them full hole they be so merciable Vpon wretches benyngnly to rewe Suche as lyst falle in theyr grace And wyll repent lowly and be trewe Aske mercy of theyr olde trespas They may not fayle within a lyttell space To be accepte wounded halte and lame By my counsell do thy selfe the same whiche standest nowe as a spectacle Afforne the people whiche haue them in disdeyne Praye our goddes to shewe some myracle By theyr power that it may be sene That thou maiste be restored newe agayne To that mercy and afterwardes be assured Of all thy woundes for to be recured If thou thus do they wyll be gracious To modifie theyr vengable violence Let be thou paynym quod Amphibalus Feble is theyr myght and mortall in sentence In thy langage thou dost great offence To yefe laude worshyp or praysyng To fals ydoles that haue no seing For they be voyde of grace and all vertue Haue nother tyme nor immaginatyfe There is no god but my lorde Iesu That deed bodyes restoreth agayne to lyfe He is my helth and my restoratife All your goddes of whiche nowe ye tell Ben but fendes that suffre payne in hell Them to prayse and worshyp ye be blynde For depe in hell is theyr abydyng ye do great wronge them to haue in mynde whiche euer endure in complaynt and wepyng And were tyrantes here in theyr lyuyng And of false drede toke theyr originall To be defied knowyng they be mortall In hell is nowe theyr habitation Perpetually ordeyned to abyde Of your false goddes the commemoration Is holden therwith all theyr pompe and pride with fyre beset on euery syde whiche neuer is queynte of infernall feruence Nor the worme deed of theyr conscience All they that serue them in theyr lyue Shall of theyr paynes be with them partable Out of charyte folke that lyst to stryue False aduoutrers detractours detestable And homycydes most abhomynble That weren or ben here of theyr assent Haue and shall haue parte of theyr turment Lyke theyr desertes they must haue theyr mede And thou paynym shalte haue thy parte in payne For thy false errour but thou repent in dede Shalte eke with them I tell them certeyne Ben embrased in a fyrye chayne with Sathan stocked amyd the smokes blake But if thou wylte thy mawmettry forsake Forsake the ryghtes of false ydolatry Thy secte thyn errour of olde vanyte Dispayre the not for great is the mercy Of Christe Iesu whiche wyll accepte the with all other that here present be So that they wyll of fayth and hole entent Receyue of baptisme the holy sacrament Fyrst of baptisme the vertue to deuise Lyke as it is grounded in scripture It wassheth away who so lyst aduertise Of mannes synne all fylthe and all odure Causeth a man all grace to recure Openeth heuen as sayen these clerkes Forsaketh sathan and all his mortall workes Tho that were children of perdition Vnder the fende by synne and wretchednes By grace of baptisme as made is mention Our fayth receyued standeth in sykernesse Flete to the grace and doth your busynesse As I to forne haue to you deuised Forsake your goddes and beth in hast baptised water of baptisme doth synnes puryfye water of confort and consolation Clenseth the fylthe of all ydolatrye Originall well of our sauation Condite and ryuer of our redemption Called in scripture water regeneratyfe whiche restoreth a man vnto gostly lyfe It is the heed springe and the gostly streme whiche conueyeth a man to paradise Ryuer and porte vnto Ierusalem Of all ryuers this ryuer beareth the price As to folkes that be prudent and wyse Suche as wasshe them in this holsome ryuer Auoydeth from them all infernall daunger And scoureth away all venym serpentyne And spottis blacke called originall By grace causeth whiche that is deuine Renewyng men to be celestiall And for a conclusion in this mater fynall To forsake your goddes whiche may do you no goode By my counsell be bathed in this flode The streme therof shall glad your citie And race away the rust of olde outrages And with a flowe of all prosperite Renewe both your herte and your corages And you preserue from infernall damages ye stande free cheseth nowe of tweyne Eternall lyfe or euerlastyng peyne After these notable exhortations Grounded on fayth and perfyte charyte The paynyms lyke tygrys or lyons In theyr hasty furyous cruelte Fyllen vpon the martyr bounde to a tree On eche syde assayled hym at ones with rounde kalyons and with sharpe stones A great myracle god lyst that day to shewe And this martyr lyke goddes champyon Beset all aboute with paynyms not a fewe Stode aye vpryght no partye downe Stable in prayer and in orison Erecte to god not turnyng north ne southe The worde of god neuer out of his mouthe Saue the word of god his grace was impossible To abyde that bronte where he had force or might In soule and spirite stondyng inuisible The eien vp lyfte of his inwarde syght Towarde heuen Phebus was neuer so bryght At mydsomer in his myd day spere As he sawe Iesu in the heuen appere On the ryght syde of his father dere Fyne of his tryumphe and of his turmentry Herde of angels with sugred notes clere Celestiall songe whiche in theyr melody Gan prayse the lorde and there he gan espy His blessed Albon clad in purple wede Token of Christ he lyst his blode to blede To that martyr amonge martyrs all Of trust assured whylom betwene them twayne Amphibalus for helpe began to call O blessed Albon that sufferdist great payne For Christis sake of mercy not disdeyne To pray Iesu that lyst for vs to dye To sende his angels my iournay to conueye That cruel Sathan trouble not my passage Nor that his malyce may clayme in me no ryght By the martyr rehersed his langage Come two angels from heuen with great lyght This voyce eke herde in all the peoples syght There as he stode bounden to a stake Vpon the poynt to dye for goddes sake O Amphibalus after thy deuise with thy disciple glorious prince Albon Thou shalte this day be in paradyse Ryght in erthe as ye were both one with your triumphe ye shall together gone And with your palmes ye shall be in glorie with a tytle of euerlastyng victorie Amonge martyrs receyue this your mede Lyke your deserte of eternall guerdon A crowne of golde and a purple wede Forged with saintes in the heuenly mansion Lyke to rubies most souerayne of renowne Albon and thou perpetually shall shyne In Verolamy the citie to enlumyne In this whyle two angels