Diocletian
DiocletianDiocletian
There was a heathen emperor named Diocletian, who was chosen to be emperor over all the earth, though he
was a destroyer of men, two hundred and eighty-six years after Christ's incarnation; and he reigned twenty years,
a cruel murderer, so that he killed, and bade kill, all the Christians whom he could find out, and burned churches,
and robbed the innocent; and this impious persecution spread unceasingly over all the earth fully ten years, until
it came also even to England, and there killed many who believed in Christ.
One of these was Alban, the noble martyr, who was likewise killed in that persecution for Christ's faith, even as
we shall tell you here.
In those days came the murderous persecution to England from the wicked emperor, and the murderers seized
the Christians everywhere with exceeding fury; then a priest escaped from them who ran secretly to Alban's
house, and there lay hid from his fierce persecutors, and Alban received him, though he was not baptized. Then
began the priest, forasmuch as he loved God, to sing his offices, and fast strictly, and day and night to praise his
Lord, and meanwhile to teach the true faith to the honorable Alban, until he believed in the true God, and
renounced heathenism, and became verily a Christian, and exceeding full of faith. Then the priest dwelt with the
honorable man until the magistrate who persecuted the Christians discovered him there, and with great wrath
commanded him to be fetched before him speedily.
Then came the messengers to Alban's house, but Alban went out unto the persecutors with the priest's cloak, as if
he were he, and would not betray him to the wicked persecutors. He was therefore bound, and brought
straightway to the impious judge, where he was offering to his gods the devilish sacrifices, with all his associates.
Then became the judge fiendishly angry, as soon as he beheld the steadfast martyr, because he had received the
fugitive priest, and given himself up to be slain for him. Then he bade men lead him to the heathen sacrifice, and
said that he himself should receive the heavy punishment which he had meant for the priest if he could have
taken him, unless he quickly submitted to his shameful gods; but Alban was not affrighted by his fiendly threats,
because he was girded about with God's weapons unto the ghostly fight, and said that he would not obey his hest,
nor bow down to his idolatry.
Then asked the judge immediately, and said, 'Of what family art thou, or of what rank among men?' Then Alban
answered the wicked man thus: 'what concerneth it thee, of what family I may be? But if thou desire to hear the
truth, I tell thee quickly that I am a Christian, and will ever...
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