dedicated to Saints 



73 



Soon after, Amphibalus was traced to his re- 

 treat; he made his escape dressed in the clothes 

 of his entertainer and pupil. This, however, being 

 soon discovered, S. Alban was exposed to the 

 fury of the Pagans; and having refused to offer 

 sacrifice to the gods, was immediately beheaded. 

 The place where he suffered was the hill over- 

 looking the spot then occupied by the ancient 

 Verulam. 



It was a hill adorned, or rather clothed, with all 

 kinds of flowers ; having its sides neither perpen- 

 dicular, nor even, nor raggy, but sloping down into 

 a most beautiful plain, " worthy, from its lovely 

 appearance," says Bede, " to be the scene of a 

 martyr's sufferings " : — 



' ' Thus was Alban tried, 

 England's first martyr, whom no threats could shake. 



Self-offer'd victim ; for his friend he died, 

 And for the faith ; nor shall his name forsake 



That hill, whose flowery platform seems to rise, 



By nature deck'd for holiest sacritlce." 



Wordsworth. 



