Here begynnethe the glorious lyfe and passion of seint Albon prothomartyr of Englande, and also the lyfe and passion of saint Amphabel whicheconuerted saint Albon to the fayth of Christe.

¶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.

[illustration]

¶Here begynneth the seconde boke of the glo∣rious 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 falsely forge and lye Stopped his eares from all flaterye To foren quarelles lyst yeue no credence Tyll the partie come vnto audience

Enuious sclaunder be punyswed rygorously Cōpassed of malyce hatred and di••••ame To double tonges euer he was enmye whiche to say yuell of custome haue no shame And backbyters that haue theyr lyppes lame To say well / this prince yonge and olde Voyded all suche out of his householde

By discreeion he coulde punysshe and spare His harte ay voyde of all duplicite Large of custome / to naked folke and bare His gate ay open for hospitalite That if his vertues shulde rekened be Here in this boke tolde from yonge age I haue therto no connyng nor langage

Oot withstandyng as I haue behyght I wyll procede and not excuse me To declare howe god sawe to his knyght The tyme rehersed / the date also parde whan Amphibalus entred the citie Of Verolamy tolde eke the occasion Howe he and Albon met in the town

Amphibalus entred the citie Of auenture to seke herburgage By the stretes vp and downe wente he Lyke a pylgryme of chere and visage Tyll it fell so he met in passage The noble prince playnely to conclude Blessed Albon with a great multytude

This myghty prince by great fortune After custome vsed that tyme of olde Amyd the citie walked in his estate In a garment frenged all with golde Amphibalus vertuously made bolde with humble chere and meke visage Besought hym lowly to graunt hym herbergage

For whan that he on Albon cast his loke And hym behelde with euery circumstance By longe auyse of hym good hede he toke It fell anone into his remembrance Full yore agone of his acqueyntance Howe they in one of fortune dyd assent Out of Brytayn / and vnto Rome went

For gods sake this Amphibalus Of herborgage can lowly hym require To be receyued and take in to his hous Albon anone as the story doth vs lere was in suche case straunge in no manere Hauyng a custome to hye and lowe degree Frely to graunt hospitalite

In to his house hym goodly hath receyued This symple clerke lyst no lenger tary His porte his there benyngly receyued Mynystred to hym all that was necessary From Christis lawe though Albon dyd vary Lyke a prince benyng and vertuous Receyued hym full goodly into his hous

Not after longe onely by goddes grace Of knyghtly fauour sought oportunyte To get a tyme / a leysour / and a space To auoyde from hym his people and his mayne with this pylgryme alone for to be And secretely whan they were met in fere To hym he sayde anone as ye shall here

By many signes and tokens that I can Dyuers daungers straunge to recure In soth that ye be a christen man And of hardynes durst your selfe assure To put your body and lyfe in auenture Amonge paynyms your persone to ieoparte without dethe howe myght ye departe

Quod Amphibalus Christe Iesus of his grace Of his mercy / be it that I haue deserued From all daunger and euery peryllous place Christe goddes sonne my body hath preserued Ben my gyde / and my lyfe conserued To this citie brought me safe to preache His glorious lawe and his faythe to teache

Quod Albon than / howe may this trewe what that he is I wolde fayne lere The sonne of god / a straunge thynge and a newe Had god a sonne declare this mattiere Quod Amphiball / so ye lyst to here Paciently / for nothyng wyll I spare Curiously the trouthe to declare

Amphibalus is entreated by reason On the gospell to grounde his processe And to confirme his disputation Of holy writte he toke iustly wytnesse Howe our beleue recordeth in sothnesse Of god the father and god the sonne also This is our belefe take good hede therto

The sonne moste perfyte & moste good For mans helthe and saluation was incarnate and toke flesshe and blode And semblably for shorte conclusyon Of his moste benigne consolation Ryght so as he firste made man in dede So come he downe to take our manhede

And as hym lyste of grace and of mercy By his power / whiche that is deuine Ordayned maydens to lyue here parfytly So he agayn warde playnly to determyne Toke flesshe and bloude of a pure virgine The tyme come there was none obstacle But that he wroughte his maruaylous myracle

The tyme approched of grace and gladnes Towarde sommer whan the lustye quene Called Flora with motleis of swetenes Clothed the soyle all in newe grene And amerous Veer / agayne the son shyne By the cherysshynge of Apryll with his shores Bryngeth kalendes of May & of his flowres

So in the season heuenly and deuine Of wynter stormes was passed all outrage And in the rayne Phebus gan to shyne The same tyme to our great auauntage Downe from heuen was sent a message whiche concluded for our felicite A braunche shulde sprynge out of iesse

This newe tydynge to Nasereth was sent And Gabrell come on his message The trynyte hole beinge in one assent For to accomplysshe this gratious viage The holy goste holdynge his passage Downe descendyng ryght as any lyne In to the breste of a pure virgyne

Lyke as Luke in his gospell sayth As is remembred in the same place whan Gabryell lowly gan abrayde Mekely sayde: Hayle Mary full of grace Thou chosen of god euery houre and space The tabernable of the trinyte Amonge all women blessed mote thou be

whan she had herde the angell thus expresse Troubled in his wordes of femynyte Thought in her selfe of very chast clennesse This chosen myrrour of humylyte This salutation / what it myght be The angell seinge her aferde of womanhede Sayd: O Mary haue herof no drede

Afore god thou hast founden grace Thou shalt conceyue a chylde in all clennesse Of whose byrthe Bedleme shall be the place As the gospelll can bere herof wytnesse And his name playnly to expresse Thou shalt hym name of moste vertue whan he is borne and call hym Iesu

Howe may this be sayde this glorious mayde That knowe no man in wyll dede nor thought Thangell than vnto Mary sayde As I toforne haue the tydynges brought By the holy goste this myracle shalbe wrought The vertue also of hym that syt highest Shall ouershadowe and lyght into thy brest

For that lorde that shall of the be borne As thynge moste holy men shall hym call The son of god / as prophetes wrote beforne Suche heuenly grace is vpon the fall By a prerogatyue aboue women all with lyght surmountyng aboue the sterres seuen This message I haue brought the from heuen

Quod Mary fulfylled be the wyll After the worde / which thou hast brought vnto me Beholde this handmayde / & this humble ancille This was her answere with all humylyte Thoo god was pleased with her virginite yet was that lorde / doctours beare wytnesse Pleased more with her deuoute mekenes

Thus hath a mayde through her perfytnes To beare her lorde graciously deserued A chosen doughter by her pure clennes To beare her father / her chastite concerued By her merytes 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 he / if all thynge be trewe whiche ye haue preached of Christ & of his lawe Dyuers maruayles vnknowne straunge & newe Shewed to me this nyght or it can dawe I you beseche your witte ye nat withdrawe For to declare the exposition whan I haue tolde you myn auision

The whiche truly as I reherce can Lokyng vp to the heuenly mansion Me thought sothly that I sawe a man From that place to this worlde come down Of whose beautie was no comparysown Eke me thought of boystous folke & rude He was beset with a great multitude

This people enuious & frowarde of entent As it semed of malyce and hatered with many a sondry fell turment with sharpe scourges made his sydes blede Bounde his handes / I toke therof good hede And on a crosse they hynge hym vp full blyue with spere and nayles they yafe him woundes fyue

Naked he was / body / fote / and hondes On length and brede drawen with great peyne By the constreynt of myghty stronge bondes Drawen a sonder was euery narfe and veyne with a sharpe spere his herte clouen in twene Persed he was so depe and profounde That bloude and water ranne out of that wounde

with a reede spere they raught I toke hede To gyue hym drynke / eysell mengled with gall A crowne of thorne set vpon his heed And amonge his cruell paynes all Kynge of iewes in scorne they hym call And in despite malycyously cryenge Of Iewery saluted hym as kynge

As me thought they greately dyd offende To make all his body so for to blede And from the crosse downe bad hym discende If that he were gods sonne in dede His skynne to rent / all blody was his wede Lyke a meke lambe / myne herte dyd agryse To se hym turment in so cruell wyse

After these paynes greuous and intollerable And all his hydous mortall tourmentry with a great voyce pitous and lamentable Vpon the poynte / whan he shulde die To his father thus he gan to crye In to thyne handes father I commende My goste / my spirite / and thus he made an ende

And with that crye as he yafe vp the go•• From the crosse his body they toke downe Lyke well stremes vpon euery coost His grene woundes shed out great ••oyson Of blody droppes / and for a conclusyon Of all his paynes / his body was anone Closed and ensealed vnder a great stone

And whyle that he w^t stronge honde was kept close Maruayle of maruayles most I can maruayle The deed body / to lyfe agayne rose Maugre the knyghtes with all plate and mayle A soden slombre theyr hedes dyd assayle An angell moste souerayne of delyte I sawe appere / and he was clothed in whyte

Amonge other maruayles there was one whiche I behelde in myne auision Out of his graue closed with a stone He rose vp lyke a stronge champyon with open eien I had aspection Of all this thyng no parte lefte behynde From poynt to poynt all marked in my mynde

Rad nor songen amonge the Brytons layes was neuer herde so soote an heuenly sowne After the nombre full of forty dayes Folowed after the resurrection To the tyme of his assention what multytude of angels all in fere Conueyde hym aboue the sterres clere

I sawe this thyng and knewe it well ynowe By a maner vncouth apparence The garmentes whytter than mylke or snowe Of all thangels that dyd hym reuerence This was theyr songe and refret in sentence Blessed be the father / blessed mote he be The sonne eke blessed in his humanyte

These vncouth tydynges I sawe them in my slepe And many other thynges mo withall Secrete thynges I toke of them good kepe Not to be shewed to no man mortall And he tolde vnto Amphibell all whan he a woke in full humble entent Besechyng hym to declare what it ment

whiche thynges to here greatly was delyted within hym selfe of spirituall gladnes Saw that his herte was of god visited And full deuoutly a crosse he gan forth dresse Lo here quod he / this token beareth wytnesse Of all the signes clere as the sonne beame That were vnto you shewed in your dreame

The man whiche to you dyd appere Sent from heuen so fayre and glorious He was the same as I shall you lere My blessed lorde / myn owne lorde Christ Iesus Most benyng / moste meke / and most vertuous whiche on a crosse suffred passion As ye sawe clerely in your auision

Only by mercy by his gratious aduise Of the trespas to make redemption Touchyng the aple / whiche in paradise Adam ate of by false suggestion Of a serpent to great confusion Fyrst of hym selfe / nexte of all his lyne Tyll Christis passyon / that was our medycyne

Agayne Adam the serpent was so wode To staunche his venym was founde none obstacle Tyll on the crosse Christ Iesu spende his blode A medycyne bawme and chyefe triacle Lycour of lycours / dystyllyng by myracle From the cundytes of Christis woundes fyne Man to restore ayen from deth to lyue

whose blessed passyon is our restauratyfe Helth and diffence of moste excellence To asswage the bolynge of our mortall stryfe Bawme imperyall agaynst fendes violence The phylosophre celestiall queynt essence To all welfare mankynde to restore Helpeth all sykenesses / whan leches can no more

Our leche / our ypocras / our gostely galyent Our samson called that venquisshed the lyon Our myghty chāpyon the famous strōge Achilles That bare vp heuen for our saluation Hye on the crosse makyng our raunson He that ye sawe was the same man In your auision that ouercame Sathan

The multytude that aboue hym stoode were false iewes / his deth immagynyng Of cursed malyce / nayled hym to the rodde Lyst not receyue his gratious comyng Of theyr prophetes refused the wrytyng Knewe not theyr lorde / but as folke aduersary For his goodnes / were to hym contrary

Mercyfull Iesu gayn deth to stynte our stryfe Lyst suffre deth / from deth to make vs free Venquisshed deth / with deth to brynge in lyfe whan lyfe was slayne an high vpon a tree Forbode frute / brought immortalyte By a rounde aple was caused all this losse By frute refourmed / that henge vpon the crosse

Let me I praye you haue veray knowlegyng By your discrete faythfull diligence As ye that ben experte in many a thyng what obseruaunce / what due reuerence Vnto the father and his magnificence To the holy goost / tell on fyrste of those two And to the sonne / what seruice shall I do

whan Amphabell gan playnely to aduertise His faythfull askyng with all humylyte Gan reioyse in many sondry wyse This Albon where as he stode free was godly moued to aske of these thre By god enspired conceyued of reason Only of grace came this question

Thanked god / and goodly gan hym dresse To comforte the trewe affection Of blessed Albon / and truely to expresse Hym to quite for shorte conclusyon Of his demaunde made a solution His conceytes discretely to appese Thus he sayde to set his herte in ease

These thre persones / whiche ye haue named here The father the sonne the holy goste these thre 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 {per}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 cōmaunded 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 de{per}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 Thus with sobbyng and wepyng manyfolde God suffered them a sondry to deuyde Forsoke them not but was theyr bothes gyde

A symple sclauenne fortorne and threde bare Of Amphabals a full olde garment This noble prince Albon lyst not spare To cast vpon hym though it were all to rent So hole to Christe was set all his entent And in his pouert to shewe that he was playne To his Tygurry returned home agayne

Amphibalus northwarde to his passage There of herte / god to be his gyde For a tyme to eschewe the cruell rage Of paynyms as fortune lyst prouyde But holy Albon dyd the bront abyde To lyue and dye as goddis champyon Christ bare his standerd / the crosse was his penon

His sodayn chaunce he helde it was no losse Forsoke ryches toke hym to pouerte His treasure was to knele aforne the crosse His hertie ioye and his felicite And for a whyle thus I let hym be In his prayers / and tel I wyll in dede Howe his enemyes agaynst hym procede

There was a statute proclaymed in the towne who that wolde not do no reuerence Vnto theyr goddes / nor mekely knele downe In to theyr fyre for to cast ensence He shulde anone by cruell violence Be take and layde vpon an aulter bounde Toforne theyr goddes & slayne w^t many a wounde

Of his body to make sacrifice Superstitious was this oblation whiche of newe paynyms gan practise Agayne the doctryne and predication By Amphybalus brought into the towne By the iudge set in ordynaunce On hym and Albon fyrst to do vengeance

So to punysshe one and one by rowe without mercy or longe auisement To blessed Albon this statute was well knowe Bothe of theyr dome and cruell iugement And ay this prince / stable in his entent Made stronge in god / for lyfe or deth tendure The lordes hande / and his auenture

whan somer floures blowed whyte and redde And were in theyr highest lusty fresshe season And fyry Phebus / from the crabbes hedde Toke his passage towarde the lyon At Verolamy / in that royall towne The same tyme paynyms haue auerted To Christis fayth / howe Albon was conuerted

For whiche agaynst hym so obstynate they stode Lyke wylde boores or tygyrs in theyr rage Vengeable of herte furyous and wode Malancoly and pale of theyr visage And all the nyght with cursed fell langage Gan to manace lyke wolfes rauenous This blessed Albon and Amphibalus

The darke tydes of the cloudy nyght withdrough theyr shadowes and their skyes blake And Lucyfer gan shewe his beames bryght And Aurora hath the bedde forsake Of fyry Titan and her leue take And Phebus Chariot draweth vp w^t flegoute And gan illumyne all the Orisoute

The holsome bawme gan in meddowes flete Amonge the flowres and holsome leues grene The syluer dewe gan the soile to wete Lyke perles rounde as any christall shene whan nature of worldly thynges the quene Ordeyned a day of fresshenes plentous whan Albon was beseged in his hous

The paynyms gan make theyr selfe stronge This noble prince Albon to pursewe Vpon that houre whan the larkes songe In theyr leden and gan the day salewe Theyr purpose was specially to sewe Amphibalus but that he was gon In stede of hym they fyll vpon Albon

Aforne the crosse they founde hym knelyng In his prayer and they vpon hym went He rose vp and made no taryeng And the great multytude that the iuge sent Fell vpon hym and lyke wolfes hym rent In theyr furyous mortall fell deluge They hym present anon afore the iuge

Meke as a lambe of porte and chere benynge To done his batayle / lyke Christis owne knyght His banner was his standerde and his signe The crosse of Iesu / whiche he bare vpryght Magre paynyms in theyr alder syght Lyke a champyon agayn them to warrye Vnder that penon cast hym to lyue and dye

God was with hym to susteyn his partie Stedfast of herte / hardy as a lyon Put his lyfe for Christ in ieopertye Of body naked / trouthe was his habergon His shelde was fayth / his sworde and his burdon His spere his pollax / surer than stele to endure was only hope / the victorie to recure

His sabbatons set on grounde of trouthe And his greues forged with stabilnes And his polayns plyant without flouthe And his quisshews borne vp with high prowesse A payre of curesse / closed with ryghtwysenesse And his vauntbrace was truste that went beforne Rerebrace of charyte / which myght not be forlorne

Gloues of plate to beare of and defende was true affection medled with the dede A large pauice greatly to commende Of trewe meanyng to auoyde away all drede And thus in trouthe who so lyst take hede All in vertues enarmed for defence with a cote armour aboue of pacience

Charyte was chefe of his counsayle Taught hym the maner / agayn his cruell sone Howe that he shulde do to his great auayle Enter in to the felde / and knyghly to gone All that it so were / that he was but alone His banner splayed / full erly on the morowe Grace was his guyde with saynt Iohn̄ to borowe

Fyrst he was led by mortall violence Drawe and torne in moste cruell wyse The holy crosse vp borne for his defence And brought he was to do sacrifice Vnto theyr ydols / but he them dyd dispise Asclypiodot the iuge there present And all the citie gathered of entent

This goddes knyght holdyng the crosse in honde Inuisible by vertue of that signe And paynyms that aboute hym stonde Cruell and cursed agayn hym gan malygne Though they were there borne of one lyne The iuge troubled whan that he toke hede Of Christis crosse / & had in maner drede

Albon alway this prince full notable Stode ay vpryght with loke moste coragious Euer of one herte / as any centre stable The crosse afforne banner most gloryous Moste agreable and moste victorious And fyrste of all the story doth vs lere Of his maister / the iudge of hym dyd enquere

And asked of hym to what partie he was gone By his sleyght and his vncouth wyle whiche dispysed theyr goddes euery chone Come of nowe theyr citie to begyle At whose wordes Albon stynt a whyle And sayde at last with sobre countenaunce He was departed by goddes ordynaunce

Quod the iuge where euer that he be Either embesyled orels set a syde Touchyng the fayth that he hath taughte to the And therin ben thy maister and thy guyde And is nowe fledde / and durst not abyde By his doctryne a reason full notable His preachyng is nought or he is not stable

I trowe he wolde haue come to presence If in his fayth had be no varyance Other some remors of his conscience Hath cast his herte in newe repentance If he had had in his fayth constance Lyke a maister he shulde nat haue gone And his disciple in myschefe leaue alone

In this doctryne as to myne entent There is disceyte vnder some falsenes Or in his teachyng he is fraudolent whiche the brought in so great wodenes To forsake thy treasure and ryches Of all our goddes in so frowarde wyse Of wylfulnes / and malyce them to dispise

Thou standist nowe in a full perlous poynt The clerke hath brought the in so great a snare And set thy reason so farre out of ioynt And made thy wyt so naked and so bare That thou arte pleynly to declare In Christis cause / and so from our fayth to erre Agayne all our goddes to begyn mortall warre

whiche thynge consydered / as it is skylle & ryght And egally paysed in balaunce wronge to do them by any maner wyght Nother by fauour / frendshyp / nor suffraunce May not passe without great vengeaunce Vpon blasphemy the lawe doth ordeyne Agayn the goddes / deth to be theyr peyne

Vnto a foole thou gafe hasty credence And by his foly he hath the begyled Fyrst to the goddes / thou dost no reuerence Of despite wylte not be reconsyled Thou farest as a man whiche is vnabyled Stondyng as nowe from grace desolate Vyle and abiecte out of thyne olde estate

In suche case eche man may be disceyued By suche false foren information But nowe thyne errour is clery ap{per}ceyued So by counsell / for thy saluation Or thou incurre the indignation And or iugement by rygour the manare Forsake that seete / fall downe and axe grace

To thyne estate thou mayst thus be restored with humble herte / do them sacrifyce And thy treasure & thy ryches shalbe mored And encreased in many a sondry wyse To great worshyp / and sodeynly aryse Of townes / castels / lorde we shall the make So thou wylte the fayth of Christe forsake

Of herte and thought very indiuisybel Albone stode hole and kept his grounde & place The iuges promysse flateryng and fallybel Boystous threatnynges / w^t whiche he gan manace Voyde of drede / of one chere / and one face This manly prince / this hardy knyght Albon Stode betwene bothe / stable as any stone

To the iuge sayde as ye shall here Thy manaces nor promys of pleasance In frowarde speche / nor thy frownyng chere Shall me not meue on poynt from my constaunce In Christ Iesu / is hole my suffisance For me lyst not here longe processe to deuise Thy golde thy treasure thy goddes I despise

And where thou hast my maister eke accused Of inconstance / and duplicite Be ryght well sure god hath hym excused That he dyd / the counsell come of me He fled not god wote for feare of the I was assented to kepe hym absence And elles he had come to audience

From the trouthe me lyst not to declyne All thy wordes be sayde but in vayne Of my maister / I confesse the doctryne For lyfe nor deth / neuer to turne agayne From Christis fayth / whiche standeth in certeyne For it causeth folkes lame to go vpryght And folkes blynde to recure theyr syght

This fayth so hole infyxed is in my mynde Vnto me more precious and more dere Than all the stones / that comen out of Inde Or all the ryches that thou rehersyst here Golde or treasure / rekened all in feare worldly worshyps / pompe or veynglorye To fayth compared be thynges transytorye.

This faythe in god maketh me so ryche and strōge All worldely good for it I do despise what shulde lenger drawe the alonge To false goddes in no maner of wyse I wyll not do worshyp nor sacrifise Echon ben false and haue nother wit nor wynde ye that serue them be very mad or blynde

Most deceyuable whan a man hath nede Ben your goddes with all your mawmetrye It hath ben proued aforne in my kynred And many other borne of myn allye All suche rascayle of purpose I defye False and faylyng of olde tyme and newe To all theyr seruauntes of custome most vntrewe

I cast neuer with them to haue a do Nor make fyre vpon theyr aulteris This is myn answere take good hede therto Nor none ensence cast in theyr senseres Nor knele aforne them this .C.M. yeres This is in somme for one worde and all My last wyll and answere fynall.

with this answere ther rose vp a sodeyn crye Noyse of the people clamour and wepyng Aboute the martyr they wente busylye Lyke wodemen vpon hym gauryng He herde all theyr speche / spake agayn nothyng The iuges manace / the peoples violence He suffred all / and kept his pacience

The people agayne hym vengeable and cruell Vnto theyr temples brought hym anone ryght By violence they gan hym to compell To theyr goddes to offre and to set vp lyght Blessed Albon as goddes owne knyght Stable of herte / and hole in his entent To sacrifice wolde neuer assent

The people then in theyr furyous hete By the iewes cruell commaundement They strypte hym fyrst / and with scourges bete Tyll his body and skynne was all to rent But he with glad chere sufferde his torment His eien vplyfte / to god began abrayde And to the lorde deuoutly thus he sayde

Lorde god quod he kepe myn inwarde thought Graunt of thy grace in my greuous payne Pacience / that I ne grudge nought Of thy mercy O Iesu not disdeyne My freyle flesshe / from murmour to restreyne Syth that my wyll stant hole without stryfe To the to offre my soule and eke my lyfe

Remembre the lorde on thy seruant Albone For nother flody stormes / wynde / nor reyne May hurte that house bylte on stable stone And semblably it is full selde seyne who byldeth in Christe / byldeth not in veyne Syth my byldyng stant holy in thy grace Suffre not my wyll remeue from this place

My voyce / my tonge / my wyll fully record All of assent without excepcion For lyfe for dethe they neuer shall discord But thou Iesu madest our redemption Nowe by the vertue of thy passyon O blessed lorde graunt me constance Amonge the paynes hole wyll and meke suffrance

whyles the martyr was scourged and bete This was his voyce / on Christ Iesu to cry To call his helpe wolde neuer lete Nother for smerte / nor paynfull tormentrye Vnto paynyms lawe / he wolde neuer applye Nother for manace rebuke nor rygour For fayre speche / for promysse nor fauour

Lyke a dyamande he wolde not be broke Nor restreyned from his olde constance From Christis fayth they myght not reuoke with all theyr fayned wordes of pleasance Than was he put vnder gouernance Of the iuge / as a lambe amonge houndes Full syxe wekes not to passe his boundes

Duryng this tyme the boke maketh mention He streytly kept of moo than one or twayne Lyke a martyr holde in streyte pryson Myght not reche further than his cheyne The elementes his wronges gan to compleyne In theyr maner agaynst natures lawe Theyr benefytes of kynde to withdrawe

Vpon the erthe / on herbe / grasse / nor floure On all these thre was no dewe sene The grounde to cherysshe come nother rayne nor shoure For no moisture fell vpon the grene Flora slepte / that is the floures quene Eolus the smothe wyndes softe All this whyle enspired not alofte

The erthe scaldeth with the feruence of the sonne Hete on nyghtes was intollerable There grewe no frute / the skyes were so donne Greynes come none / vplande was not erable Thus by a 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 great discention

Seinge theyr stewarde that was so noble a knight And a man fre borne of that citie His famous lyne downe descendyng ryght From the Romayns of olde antiquite By comparyson the cronycle who lyst se The stocke conueyed of hym that was so good First from Troyans and from Romayn blode

Fyrst from the partye / for to speake of Troye He had with Ector magnanimyte Of whose noblesse all Brytayne may haue ioye Sad a Scipion voyde of duplicite And Verolamy that famous olde citie May well reioyse / renewed euer in lyche with his relyques that it is made so ryche

And to reherse of his conditions A ryghtfull prince in all his gouernance In hym was neuer founde occasyons Of frowarde meanyng / nor double varyance Neuer ment to no man displeasance Peysed all this alas voyde of refuge Nowe lyke a thefe he stande aforne the iuge

But to refourme his byrth and lyberte The chefe of the citie dyd theyr busy payne This noble prince amonge them to go free From bonde or fetters / or noyse of any chayne But therupon the martyr gan complayne within hym selfe leste suche noyse and sown In any wyse shulde let his passyon

That kynde of mercy / whiche they dyd hym shewe Of his paynes by a maner of allegeaunce The martyr 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to speake in wordes fewe It was to hym moste odious vengeaunce For his desyre and his herty pleasance was only this shorte processe to make To suffre dethe only for Christis sake

with herty sobbyng profounde and depe Towarde heuen mekely he kest his syght Of inwarde constreynt pitously can wepe The crosse aforne hym deuoutly helde vpryght Cryenge to Iesu haue mercy on thy knyght Let not the fende by no collusyon Stere the people to let my passyon

To the people turnyng his knyghtly face Sayd vnto them of herte and hole corage your fayned fauour your dissymuled grace May in this case do me none auauntage Fully disposed to perfourme my viage For to accomplysshe lyke as I haue begon In Christ Iesu my tryumphe may be won

Syth I am redy for to endure payne Of my free wyll why suffre ye so longe Of my desyre I desyre moste souerayne For Christis sake to endure paynes stronge My martyrdome / why do ye so prolonge In your ententagayne me ye do erre That I do couet so longe to differre

I maruayle howe ye may susteyne Of neglygence so longe to abyde whyle the martyr is newe fresshe and grene Execution for to set a syde Loke your statutes and therupon prouyde Vnto your goddes reporteth how that I Of all the worlde am theyr most ennemy

Syth they be wrought of men that ben mortall Vnworthy preued to beare any dignitie But forged ydols of stones and metall Falsely vsurped agayne the deyte Foles do wronge to knele vpon theyr knee For who calleth to them they yeue none audience Domme as a stocke / voyde of intelligence

A fole is he amonge foles all To a blynde stocke / that kneleth to haue syght And so is he that doth for strength call To hym that hath no power nor no myght Can not discerne betwene darkenes and lyght Large lypped wordes haue they none Of tonge meued / as any stocke or stone

O fruteles hope / O false trust dispayred O vanyte / O rudenes detestable O apparence with manhode foule appared O ignorance passyng abhomynable O Idolaters of corage most vnstable why worshyp ye in your conceytes blynde Cursed mawmets / y^t haue nother wyt nor mynde

They be proued worse of condition Lasse of power sothely than be ye Of worldly thynges ye haue inspection They haue great eien yet they may not se Boistous handes / they fele nothyng parde Theyr armes longe they make no diffence with theyr defe eares may haue none audience

what thynge is worse than yeue the souereynts Of your handwarke to forge fals ymages Defe blynde and dombe / vnto whose deyte Though ye call ay afforne theyr visages They knowe nothyng thentent of your langages Of all fyue wyttes they be so defectyfe what causeth this / but lacke of soule and lyfe

For howe myght he verrayle in dede without felyng of ioye or heuynes Restore to lyfe folkes that ben deed Or make them hole that playne of theyr sykenes For all distresse disceyte or doublenes Of worldely myscheues sought on eche partie was fyrst brought in by false ydolatrye

A man that hath memory of reason whom god hath made lyke to his ymage Is foule blent in his discretion To fals ydols to knele or do homage wo be to them ruyne and damage Trouble myschyefe vnto one and all To suche mawmettry that for helpe call

whan the paynyms herde and vnderstode That they myght not remoue his conscience From Christ Iesu that dyed vpon the rode For fayre nor foule / for fauour nor violence To do by theyr counsell and all of one sentence A place assigned lyke theyr opinion Shulde at Holmehurst suffre his passyon

In theyr opinion by controuersye Stode at debate as they were applyed what maner deth Albon shulde dye whiche hath theyr goddes and theyr secte denyed Some of a crosse wolde haue hym crucyfyed Other there were / that dyd in malice raue wolde haue hym quicke karued in his graue

Some also aforne or he were deed Of false enuie and furyous wodenes wolde haue his eien out of his heed That he shulde in myschefe of blyndnes All desolate and abiecte in darkenes Folowe his maister with his eien blynde Of auenture tyll he myght hym fynde

Echeon concludyng that he shall be deed And fynally thus was theyr iugement Lad to Holmehurst there smyte of his heed The cruell iuges with paynyms of assent Lyke a lambe / monges wolfes all to rent Towarde his dethe and pitous passyon In cheynes bounde led hym through the towne

No fauour shewed lettyng nor obstacle But cruell rygour voyde of all pitie Lyke as men gone to some vncouth spectacle People come downe his martyrdome to se The iuge alone lefte in the citie Lyke turmentours this was theyr furyous cry Out of this towne drawe forth our ennemy

By experience at eye ye may deme Lyke his desert so foloweth hym his chaunce To our goddes moste odious blaspheme Grounde and gynnyng of our sodeyn greuance On whom they lyst to shewe theyr vengeance This was theyr noyse far from all reason As they hym lad towarde his passyon

There was so great concors of folkes aboute The multytude gan alway to multiplie Of paynyms contagious was the route The grounde so full on euery partie Men myght vnneth any space espie To stande vpon / myn auctor lyst not feyne whā blessed Albon was led towarde his peyne

The feruent hete of the sommer sonne Hath with his streames / the soile so clad & brent Vp in the lyon as his course hath ronne with his brennyng the grounde was almost shent Vnder the fete where as the people went The soyle so hote of sodeyn auenture For enchaufynge they myght not endure

Lastynge this hete / whan Phebus shone so clere The people in nombre waxed more then lasse Tyll that they come to a great ryuere whose sturdy wawis wolde not suffre them passe The great depenes gan them to manasse The brydge streite / the people so great and huge That many one were dreynt in that diluge

Great preace of people downe to the water cam The ryuer depe / the brydge narowe & small They that coude ouer the ryuer swam who that coude not turned ouer as a ball The comberous preace caused many a fall The noyse was great the rumour & complaynt In his passage of people that was dreynt

Fauour was none of brother vnto brother They were so busy to passe the ryuer In that great pryde eche man oppressed other To passe the brydge there was so great daungere The hete importable that tyme of the yere Caused many one / whiche on the brydge stode For great fayntnes / to fall in to the flode

This great myschefe whan Albon gan beholde Moued of mercy and of compassyon with wepyng eyen as they water wolde Vnto the erthe fyll on his knees downe His loke vpcast with great deuotion Towarde heuen makyng his prayere To Christ Iesu sayde as ye shall here

O lorde Iesu out of whose blessed syde whan thou for man were nayled on the rode Through whose herte / there dyd a spere glyde At whiche wounde ranne water out and blode O blessed lorde moste mercyfull and good So as I sawe in myn auisyon Out of thyn herte two lycours ranne adown

That is to say / red bloud and water clere Those two lycours of our redemption At my request drye vp this ryuer Staunche the floode and here myn oryson And take this people vnder thy protection Suffre that they with dry fete may wende Of my passyon to se an ende

And whyls the teares from his eien ranne Downe by his chekes on eche partie By deuout prayer of this holy man All sodeynly the ryuer was made drye The flode staunched and vanysshed as a skye He neded not the maner out to serche whan god by grace lyst any thynge to werche

For he that made maugre Pharao The people of Israell passe the red see with drye fete / the same lorde euen so was that Albon kneled vpon his knee Prayeng the lorde of grace and pitie Graunt the people to haue inspection And passe the ryuer to sen his passyon

An vncouth maruayle / a gracious myracle Folkes drounde / lowe at the bottom sayne with goddes myght / where may be none obstacle The ryuer drye / founde was agayne Voyde of moysture / smothe was and playne Of the holy martyr / the vertue alway mored Folke aforne drownde / to lyfe were restored

No token of deth was in theyr faces sayne But quicke and lyuely to euery mannes syght These great myracles notable in certayne Fyrst of the ryuer / dryed by goddes myght All this consydered the selfe same knyght whiche was assigned for to do vengeaunce On blessed Albon / fyll in repentance

The same knyght astonyed and aferde whiche through Albon towarde his passyon Of god visited / cast away his swerde Afore the martyr / mekely kneled adowne And vnto god made his confessyon Besechyng Albon of comforte and socour In humble wyse beknowyng his errour

Seruant of god / O blessed man Albon Thy god only / is very god certayne There is no god sothly but he alon All other goddes bere here name in veyne By the myracles / whiche that I haue seyne I dare affirme / the trouth it doth well preue He is very god / on whom that I beleue

I wote ryght wele he is myghty and is good For in a moment / through his magnyfycence At thy request voyded hath the flood As lorde of lordes moste digne of reuerence None lyke to hym of power and potence whiche on this erthe as souerayne lorde and kynge Passyng all other / doth maruayles in werchynge

Set all a syde the dede beareth wytnes Of no collusyon nor of no false apparaunce Of godly myght shewyng his greatnes Ryght as it is in very existence For whiche I aske of all olde neglygence Mercy / and pray for my trespace O glorious martyr / that lorde to do me grace

There is no lorde / but only Christe Iesus He is my lorde and I wyll be his knyght whiche made these stremes to departe thus A great myracle wrought in the peoples syght His power is great / and he is moste of myght All fals goddes here I do forsake And to his mercy all holy I me take

This knyght by grace thus sodeynly conuerted The name of whom was Araclius whiche thynge whan paynyms haue aduerted They fell vpon hym as wolfes dispitous Touchyng the ryuer / sayd it was not thus It weren theyr goddes and none other wyght That wrought this myracle by theyr great myght

Our myghty goddes most famous and most good Of theyr benyngne gracious influence They haue auoyded this ryuer and this flood Of whose secretes we haue experience And in effecte full notable euidence whiche for our sake / if it be well sought For our passage this myracle haue we wrought

For to accomplysshe that we haue begon Agayn our moste enemy lyke to our entention Our god most myghty the fyry feruent sonne with his great hete and beames yuyronne Hath rauysshed with a shorte conclusyon This gloryous Phebus with his streames clere The watry moysture of this great ryuere

They haue consydered our great deuotion whiche we haue towarde theyr deyte Howe we labour for execution Agayne theyr moste ennemy founde in the citie But for hynder theyr magnanymytie Though thou in contrary accordyst with Albon Hast an opinion agaynst vs euerychone

Thus was theyr langage and theyr dalyance Of hatefull malyce agaynst this trewe knyght with great rebukes for his repentance Fyll vpon hym lyke wolfes anone ryght And called hym in all the peoples syght To theyr goddes he was a fals blaspheme worthy to dye / of malyce thus they deme

Ranne vpon hym with paynes full vncouth Of great malyce they had vnto Albon Fyrst they smyten the tethe out of his mouthe And there they brake his bones euerychone without wounde membre was lefte none Of mynde of herte alway hole he stode For in his brest the fayth of Christe abode

Only by grace he had this auantage In his belefe so holy dyd he stande whiche for his fayth myght suffre no damage Kepte his promyse / whiche he toke in hande He lefte halfe deed lyeng vpon the strande Fro wycke or worse / fro cryme to cryme in dede Lyke homycydes the paynyms gan procede

with broke bones / this pytous wounded knyght was on the stronde lefte with deedly chere Pale of hewe / myght not syt vpryght As the story in order doth vs lere By many a stubbe and many a sharpe brere Barefote they led hym / voyde of compassyon This blessed Albon towardes his passyon

That he was bare the traces were welll seyne For with his blode the soile was dyed redde Made his passage towarde a hygh mounteyne Through sharpe stones / quare as speres hedde Thus entreated aforne or he was deed without wepyng / what erthely creature Myght se a prince / suche deadly payne endure

Stedfast of herte his trust wolde neuer fayle Grounded in god and in his fayth so stable Goth vp the hyll to accomplysshe his batayle And there were people veryly innumerable The sonne was hote / the hete importable In poynt almost with feruence and with dust To slee the people with a sodeyn thurst

Constrayned with hete gan cry eche one Of cursed malyce and great malyncoly Vpon the martyr made assaute anone And sayde through his magyke and his sorcery That they were lyke through mortall thurst to dye Agaynst whose deedly furyous cruelte Blessed Albon gan shewe his charyte

To pray for them that dyd hym moste turment This was his custome and his olde vsage with hole herte and humble trewe entent Prayed god with teares in his visage Of this myschefe to stynt the great rage That the people shulde in no degre Bicause of hym to suffre aduersyre

O lorde quod he / for thy heuenly empire Lyke as thou arte most myghty of pusance Thy smothe wynde by grace let enspire Called zepherus to do them allegeance This rygours eyre with dewe of attemperance Betwene hote and colde set a meane in dede Or thou do vengeance mercy may procede

Of this myschefe ordeyne a relece without vengeance suffre people gone That whylom madest thy seruant Moyses with his yerde to smyte vpon a drye stone At whose touchyng come water out anone Nowe gracious lorde with newe stremes fresshe On this hyll these people do refresshe

Thy gratious mercy from them do not expelle Of blessed Albon rehersed this prayer At his tete anone sprange vp a well Full plentous with cristall stremes clere A wonders thynge / and a maruaylous to here From a drye hyll of moystyr voyde at all To se spryng a well clerer than cristall

Of whiche water there was so great foyson And of that sprynge so gracious habundance That from aboue there came a ryuer downe This holsom streme was of so great pleasaunce To staunche theyr thurst founde ther suffisance The hete aswaged the people out of dispreyre By goddes grace so temperate was the eyre

Thus was the people refresshed at theyr lust By the holy martyr mercyfull and good yet of false malyce they had a frowarde thurst In theyr corages lyke furyous folke and wode Agayne nature for to shede blode The blode of hym / whiche in theyr disease By his prayer theyr myschefe dyd appese

Theyr thurste was staunched / they were refresshed wele But a false thurst of malyce and hatered In theyr desyres / was staunched neuer a dele They were besye the blys full blode to shed Of hym that holpe them in great nede Lyke blasphemous / makyng a false obstacle Gaue vnto the sonne thanke for this myracle

with voyce vpraysed falsely they began Thus they sayde of outragyous clamour Praysyng and laude be to you the sonne whiche in this myschefe hath be our sauiour Staūched our thurst / with his gracious lycour By his beames moste fresshe and clere shynyng Vs to releue made a well vp spryng.

Verba translatoris

O people vnkynde blynded with fals errour O frowarde people / rude / dull / and obstinate O beastiall folke / forthest from all sauour Of grace and vertue / o people infortunate In your conceyte / o folke moste indurate That god hath shewed for loue of Albon ye gyfe thankes to ymages made of stone

O most vnhappy / o people vngratious worse than beastis / o voyde of all reason O cruell tygrys / o wolfes furyous O folysshe asses / dull of discretion Falsely to deme in your opinion Thynge that Albon by grace of god hath wonne ye yefe the laude other to sterre or sonne

ye set a syde the southfast sonne of lyfe The sonne of grace that doth all the worlde gye whiche may you saue agayn all mortall stryfe To all our sores may do best remedy ye do great wronge for to defye This worldly sonne from temporall bryghtnes And to forsake the sonne of ryghtwysenes

Lyke false blasphemus forsoke your creature And do worshyp to a creature The sonne of lyfe may clyppis no shoure whose heuenly beames by recorde of scripture yeueth lyght of grace to euery creature But ye arne frowarde his influence to take And for your ydols his lordshyps to forsake

what may auayle Iupiter or Saturne Or cruell Mars / that causeth stryfe or warre Or worldely Phebus / y^e one day doth her soiurne The nyght cometh on / the lyght is fro you farre And eke your Venus / called the day sterre All these rekened in your mad wodenesse Called of your custome goddes and goddesse

God that this day shewed here To magnifie his gloryous knyght Albon with a fresshe well / and dryed the ryuer Reken vp your goddes and forget neuer one Of these myracles / forsoth his parte is none A fole is he that of them dothe retche Sith vnto suche thīg their power may not stretche

Of theyr power me lyst no more to entreate whiche leadeth men vnto theyr dampnation Mars nor Iupiter / nor Phebus with his hete May do no fauour nor mytigation Agayne the myschefe lyke your opinion The sayde myracles were wrought by vertue For loue of Albon by grace of Christ Iesue

your disctetions ben so foule blent your conceyt derke / and false in your opinion Magre your mawmettes in all my best entent I woll procede with hole affection To accomplysshe vp the holy passyon Of seynt Albon by grace of his fauour In his translation folowyng myn auctour.

After these myracles shewed at the well A gratious treasure a yefte of great price Lyke here toforne as ye haue herde me tell yet for all that folowyng theyr olde auice The people abode styll in theyr malyce From the mounteyne / cast not for to wende Of the martyr tyll they haue made an ende

Fyrst hent his lockes that were longe and large Malycyously bounde them to a stake Chose out a knyght / and on hym layde the charge Tha•• in all hast he shulde hym redy make And a sworde sherpe in his hande take And they hym bad hauyng of god no drede with a great stroke to smyte of his hede

The hede hynge styll / the body fell to grounde His crosse also all besprent with blode Kepte for a relyque / whan it was after founde Maugre paynyms contagious and wode For amonges them secretely there stode A christen man / the whiche toke kepe The sayde crosse deuoutly for to kepe

This turmentour this cursed paynym knyght He that smote of the hede of saynt Albon By vengeance he hath lost his syght Bothe his eien fyll from his hede anone without recure his worldly ioye was gone whiche fyrste was glad to make the martyr blede Lyke his disceyt deserued hath his mede

This wounded knyght / whiche in the valey abode Araclius as ye haue herde me deuise The deth of Albon whan he vnderstode whiche for feblenes myght not aryse Gan peyne hym selfe in full pitous wyse Amonge paynyms as he myght hym kepe with honde and fote vpon the hylle to crepe

Vpon the monition of the same knyght Aforsayd hym selfe on hande and fote to gone The iuge hym met and spake to hym thus ryght Thou that hast so many a broke bone Clymbe vp fast and praye to thyn Albone Ceasse not / but crye vpon hym sore Thy broke bones and woundes to restore

Fyrst of all renne to hym and take hede To be made hole of thyne infirmyte vnto the body / ioyne agayne the hede And in all hast thou shalte recured be From all sykenes and aduersyte And after that oo thy busy cure To ordeyne for his sepulture

And syth thou arte a knyght of his doctryne Let se what he may nowe do the auayle To make the hole by crafte of medycyne Call vnto hym fast / & loke that thou not fayle And thou shalte fynde an vnkouth meruayle If thou not cesse vpon hym for to crye Agaynst all sykenes / thou shalte fynde remedye

This maymed knyght yafe good audience To that the iuge sayde in derysyon All set in fyre with sodeyn hote feruence Gan to abrayde of great deuotion I truste quod he of hole affection Only by vertue and merytes of Albon God vnto helthe me may restore anone

Through his power and his magnyfycence The eternall lorde may by his great myght By the prayer and mercyfull clemence Of hym that is his maister / and he his knyght I that am lame to make me go vpryght And these wordes sayde / with great loue & drede So as he myght crope vp to the hede

with great deuotion he gan the heed embrace To the heed he brought it anone ryght All bedewed with wepyng was his face Of wofull herte to se that pytous syght That holy prince albon Christis owne knyght By whose meryte / whan he crepte on the grounde All sodeynly he rose vp hole and sounde

And whan he was restored agayne to his strength He yafe praysyng laude and reuerence with humble chere fyll prostrate in length Thankyng god of entier diligence And in the peoples open audience Seased not saynt Albon for to prayse For loue of whom Christ Iesu dyd hym rayse

His force agaynst Christe made hym to recure The people present myght se and knowe Than he deuoutly made a sepulture Gadryng stones lyenge on a rowe Layed the martyr in the grounde downe lowe And all a lofte his labour was wele sene He couered it with torues fresshe and grene

wherof paynyms had great enuie whan they behelde howe the same knyght Restored was and hole in eche partye So sodeynly to his force and myght wherof astonyed was euery man and wyght Thought in them selfe it was agayn nature A brosed man so soone forto recure

Agayne this knyght they toke theyr consayle Amonge them gan his deth conspyre Thought it shulde be to them great auayle To slee this man they were so set a fyre His hasty deth so greately they desyre Some sayd that he had in his entent Some wychecrafte or some experiment

Some other sayde in theyr iugement Lyke theyr owne false immagynatyfe This was wrought by inchauntement Or by some magyke had a preseruatyfe Not to be slayne with dagger / sworde / nor knyfe But so were / the story doth remembre That he were hew in peces euery membre

Amonge them selfe was great controuersy And eche of them gan his verdyte shewe Tyll it befell of malyce and enuye Fals paynyms in nombre not a fewe In peces smale / haue hym all to hewe Of his recuryng hauyng no maner of drede All of one assent they smote of his hede

This blessed knyght as the story sayth Stode alway in one in his perseuerance Of wyll / of herte / stedfast in the fayth Lyst not chaunge for turment nor penance To holy Albon egall inconstance As he was made felowe of his victorye So is he nowe partable of his glorye

After all this vengeable cruelte And all this mortall furyous violence For to go home agayne to theyr citie To all the people the iuge yafe lycence At theyr departyng all of one sentence And with one voyce / homwarde as they resorte Theyr langage was as the story doth reporte

wo that iuge that doth none equite wo be to hym that doth no ryghtwysenes And wo to hym that can haue no pitie wo to that iuge gouerned with wodenes And wo to hym that of false hastynes worketh vpon wyll by false collusyon without tytle of trouthe or of reason

This was the noyse the rumour and the crye whan they departed home from the mountayne Trouthe wyll out magre fals enuie Ryghtwysenes may not be hyd it is certayne As for a tyme it may be ouerlayne By ensample as passed is the daungere Of stormy weders / Phebus is most clere

Our gracious lorde Iesu most benyngne whiche all gouerneth by eternall myght Lyst to shewe many a gracious sygne Folowyng vpon the selfe same nyght After the passyon of his blessed knyght Out of whose tombe was sene an heuenly stre•••• Assendyng vpwarde bryght as the sonne beam••

The same tyme whan folkes to bed went Ouer the citie / this bryght streme gan shyne Last all the nyght no man knewe what it ment Vpwarde erecte ryght as any lyne The people sawe / howe it dyd enlumyne The longe nyght as god dyd ordayne To all four partes stretchyng of Bretayne

with this vncouth maruaylous myracle was sene and herde duryng all the nyght People gathered to loke vpon that spectacle Betwene ioye and drede / reioysyng of that lyght As they coude discerne and knowe of ryght This was the ditie / which in that lyght was songe As folowyng is wrytten in latyn tonge

Albanus vir egregius martir extat gloriosus

And were there sene assendyng vp and downe In the celestiall glorious bryght skye Heuenly angels that made noyse and sowne with this refret in this armonye Let vs with songe vpreyse and magnyfye The laude of Albon notable and glorious This day with martyrs made victorious

Albanus vir egregius martyr extat gloriosus

This songe was herde by reporte through y^e towne And remembred vpon eche partie For a synguler commendation Of hym that was prince of his chyualrye Stewarde of Bretons to gouerne them and gye whose synguler laude and tryumphe glorious This day with martyrs is made viccorious

Albanus vir egregius martyr extat gloriosus

This noble prince of Brutis Albion Hath suffered deth and mortall turmentrye Stable of herte this Christis champyon Hauynge dispite of all idolatrye This blessed martyr crowned aboue so hygh with angels songe soete and melodious This day with martyrs is made victorious

Albanus vir egregius martyr extat gloriosus.

O prothomartyr full famous of renown Amonge paynyms hauyng the maistrye To be cause grounde and destruction In Verolamy of all false mawmettrye Thy lyfe for Christe hath put in ieopartye For whiche this day with songe melodyous Thou arte with martyrs made victorious

Be vnto that citie supportour and patron Kepe them from sorowe / sykenes / and malady From pestilence and yll infection And of theyr ennemyes represse all tyrannye whiche be fraunchised with the regallye Of thy presens / o martyr glorious with all that longeth to the and to thyn hous

And blessed martyr most lowly I the requere whiche abydest in the heuenly mantion with laurer crowned aboue the sterres clere Only of mercy to haue compassyon If ought be sayde in this translation