C.2.12 The Legend of St. Alban

The Legend of the Craft, starting with the Cooke M.S., mentions also that St. Alban, who lived in the third century, introduced Masonry in England. St. Alban was born in Hertfordshire. He went to Rome where he was a soldier for seven years at the time of Emperor Diocletian. He came back to England with a companion and preceptor called Amphibalus. Both these men were put to death because they were Christians. The Masonic Legend adds to this that St. Alban was the steward of King Carausius for whom he erected town walls. He became the head of the Craft and gave a charter and a Constitution to its members. It is historically known that, like in any land they conquered, the Romans introduced architecture in England.