The church-history of Brittany from the beginning of Christianity to the Norman conquest under Roman governours, Brittish kings, the English-Saxon heptarchy, the English-Saxon (and Danish) monarchy ... : from all which is evidently demonstrated that the present Roman Catholick religion hath from the beginning, without interruption or change been professed in this our island, &c. / by R.F., S. Cressy of the Holy Order of S. Benedict.

XIII. CHAP.* 1.1

1.2. The Martyrdome of the Converted Soldier, his name, &c.

3. The glorious assumption of S. Al¦banus his soule into heaven.

1. SAint Albanus had a companion in his death, the Soldier who was design'd to be his executioner. Concerning whom S. Beda thus writes. There was beheaded with him likewise the foresaid Soldier,* 1.2 who being moved by a divine instinct refused to kill the Holy Con∣fessour of our Lord. Concerning whom this may without all doubt be affirmed, that though he was not outwardly cleansed with the water of Baptism, yet being washed in the Laver of his own blood, he became worthy to be admitted into the kingdom of heaven.

2. The Acts of S. Alban doe affor'd us a more exact relation both of this Soldiers name,* 1.3 and occasion of his Martydom: Where we read how the said Soldier, by name Hera∣clius, who, as hah been declared, was left half dead by the people, afterward creeping on his hands and feet as he could, followed them up the Mountain.

To whom one of the Iudges then present said in scorn, Go to now, addresse thy prayers to thy Patron Albanus even now executed, that he would restore soundnes to thy bruised bones and limbs. Run, make hast, ioyn his head to his body, and no doubt thou wilt not fayle to obtain perfect health: why doest thou stay? bury the dead carkeise, and thou maist be assured that whilst it is in thy hands, it will bestow an entire cure on thee. The Soldier answered, I doe most firmly beleive that this Blessed Saint Albanus by his merits can restore unto mee my perfect health for that which you speak in derision, may in earnest be fullfill'd in mee. And having say'd this, he embraced the head, and adioyning it to the body, he became immediatly as sound as before.

When the Infidells saw this, they were filld with envy and malice, and said, what shall we doe? Sure no sword can kill this man. We have bro∣ken all his bones, and yet now his former strength

is restor'd him. Then laying hold on him, they bound him fast with chaines, and tore his body with severall sorts of tortures, and in the end with a sword cutt off his head.

3. Now how acceptable to Almighty God the Martyrdom of this glorious S. Alba∣nus was, was presently after declared from heaven in a wonderfull manner, for thus we read in his Acts,* 1.4 Behold, the night imme∣diatly following his suffring, a pillar of light was seen to raise it self from the sepulcher of S. Al∣banus up to heaven, by which Angells descended and ascended, spending the whole night in Hymns and praises of God, frequently also repeating these words, The illustrious Albanus is now a glorious Martyr of Christ. And hereto the an∣cient Christian Poet Venantius Fortunatus had regard,* 1.5 when in a Poem of his among other Saints celebrating the memory of S. Albanus and his companion suffring in Brittany, he says, that Quires of Angells from heaven did with songs wellcom them at their entrance into glory, and the glorified Saints enrich'd with the Crosse and blood of Christ did make hast to ioyn in Hymnes to God for them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  XIII. CH.
• * 1.2

  Bed. hist. l. 1. c. 7.
• * 1.3

  Act. S. Alb.
• * 1.4

  Ibid.
• * 1.5

  Ven. Fortun. l. 8 de Virg. c. 4.