Saint Alban

Alban was the first Christian martyr in England. In the third century (dates given range from 209 and 304), it is said by Bede that Alban, a pagan living in Verulamium, met a Christian priest who was evading persecutors. Alban sheltered the priest, and was converted by his pious faith, and baptized. When the hunt reached them, Alban took the priest's cloak and gave himself up, as the man they sought. His disguise being penetrated, he was sentenced to the same fate as threatened the priest, unless he abjured Christianity. He would not, and was scourged and beheaded.

There is little evidence for the truth or otherwise of thie story - as with the legends of nearly all early saints. The date is vague; the place is disputed (it may have been south of the Thames); and details (such as the priest's name 'Amphibalus' (a Latin word for 'cloak') was the name of the priest whose cloak Alban wore) are later interpolated inventions.

• Two miracles are related of him in connection with water for his thirst: the first that a spring opened up at the place where he was to be killled; the second that where his head rolled down the hill after the decapitation, a well appeared. (There was another miracle at the river [?the Ver?] which they had to cross to reach the hill: Alban caused it to dry up so that the execution party might cross with dry feet.) This well is said to have been on the current Holywell Hill in St Albans city - the successor to Verulamium, named after the martyr.