before that magistrate. The noble freedom with which he behaved, and the declaration he made of his conversion to Christianity, so enraged the judge, that he ordered him immediately to be beheaded. It happened at the time that Alban was brought before the judge, that magistrate was standing by an altar and offering sacrifice to his gods. When he saw Alban, and perceived the cheat he had put upon him, he ordered him to be dragged before the image of his gods, saying to him, because you have chosen to conceal a sacrilegious person and a blasphemer, rather than deliver him up to suffer the just reward of his blasphemy, the punishment due to him shall be inflicted on you if you refuse to comply with the ceremonies of our religion. Alban, not in the least terrified with these threats, boldly declared he would not obey the judge's commands. The magistrate then asked him of what family he was? Alban replied, to what purpose do you enquire of my family? if you would know my religion, I am a Christian. Then the judge asked him his name; to which he answered," my name is Alban, and I worship the only true and living God, who created all things." The magistrate returned, "if you would enjoy the happiness of life, delay not to sacrifice to the great gods." Alban answered, "the sacrifices you offer are made to devils; neither can they help the needy, nor grant the petitions of their votaries." The judge was now enraged beyond measure, and commanded the holy confessor to be

beaten, in hopes thereby to shake his constancy, but finding all means ineffectual, he ordered him to be taken away, and led to immediate execution. St. Amphiabalus himself afterwards suffered martyrdom at Rudburn, three miles distant from Verulam. Offa, king of the Mercians, built a monastery in the place where St. Alban suffered martyrdom. St. Alban was put to death in the year of Christ 303, during the tenth and last persecution of the Church, under the emperor Dioclesian*.

ST. BASIL.

Born 326. Died 379, aged about 53.

HE succeeded Eusebius as Bishop of Cæsarea, in Cappadocia, and was surnamed the Great, on account of his learning and piety. As his body became enfeebled by increasing distempers, his mind seems to have collected more vigour. Finding himself rapidly declining, after he had governed the Church of Cæsarea eight years and some months, he ordained some of his followers, and then was obliged to take to his bed. The people flocked about his house, sensible of the value of such a Pastor. For a time he discoursed piously to those about him, and sealed his last breath with the ejaculation, "Into thy hands I commend my spirit +."

GREGORY NAZIANZEN.

Died A.D. 389, aged 65.

THE friend of St. Basil, and Bishop of Constantinople. He probably received his surname from Nazianzum, a city of Cappadocia, near which he was born. Falling sick he was visited by crowds of his friends, who all departed when they had made their compliments, except a young man with a pale look, long hair, in squalid and tattered clothes, who standing at the bed's feet made all the dumb signs of the bitterest sorrow and lamentation. Nazianzen starting, asked him, "Who he was? whence he came? what he wanted?" to which he returned no answer, but expressed so much the more passion and resentment, howling, wringing his hands, and beating his breast, in such a manner that the bishop himself was moved to tears. Being at length forced aside by one who stood by, he told the bishop, "This, Sir, is the assassin whom some had suborned to murder you; but his conscience has molested him, and he is here come ingenuously to confess his fault, and to beg your pardon." The bishop replied, "Friend, God Almighty be propitious to you; his gracious preservation of me obliges me freely to forgive you; the desperate attempt you designed has made you mine, nor do I require any other reparation than that henceforth you desert your party, and sincerely give up yourself to God." At vacant hours he re

freshed the weariness of old age with poetry. He

died in 389, aged 65 *.

FIFTH CENTURY.

ST. AUGUSTIN.

Born A.D. 354. Died A.D. 430, aged 76.

BISHOP of Hippo, and one of the most eminent Fathers of the Christian Church. In the year 418, a general council was held at Carthage against the Pelagians. Augustin, who had formerly refuted their errors, now prepared nine articles against them, and evinced a zeal on the subject which procured him the title of the Doctor of Grace. After having thus triumphed over the enemies of the Church, he had to contend with those of the empire. The Vandals, who had passed from Africa into Spain, under the conduct of their king Genseric, in the year 428, made themselves masters of a considerable part of that country, but Carthage and Hippo resisted them a long time. Augustin, when consulted by his associates whether they ought to escape by flight, or wait for the barbarians, gave his opinion for the latter, as more becoming their duty; and when the episcopal city was besieged by a great army, he encouraged his flock by his example and exhortations. He dreaded, nevertheless, lest Hippo should fall into the hands of the enemy, and prayed to God that he might be taken away before that

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calamity happened. His prayer it would appear was answered, as he was cut off during the siege by a violent fever, in the year 430, aged 76 *.

SEVENTH CENTURY.

ST. AUGUSTIN, OR ST. AUSTIN.

Died A.D. 604-8, or 16.

SOMETIMES called the Apostle of the English. Gregory the First formed the design of converting the Anglo-Saxons, and sent Augustin with forty monks to execute his plan. St. Augustin therefore landed in the isle of Thanet, and obtained an audience with Ethelbert, surrounded by his attendants. The procession, speeches, and the nature of the reception, are described by Southey, in his "History of the Church." St. Augustin having been successful, was appointed the first Archbishop of Canterbury. He died about the year 604, at Canterbury, and was buried in the Church-yard of the monastery that was called after his name, the cathedral not being then finished; but after the consecration of that church, his remains were taken up and deposited in the north porch, where they lay, till in 1091, they were removed, and placed in the church, by Wido, abbot of Canterbury .

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+ Bede. Chalmers. Gorton.