Henry and Alfuard, Two Pious Christians, in the Year 1067

In the year 1067 there was a God-fearing man whose name was Henry, and whom the Romish historian calls a stranger, perhaps because he had to live secretly, or as a stranger, among the Romanists. It is stated of him that he preached the Gospel of Christ in the uttermost parts of Sweden, and that he was arrested for this cause and beheaded for the name of Christ.

Another pious Christian, named Alfuard, after living for a long time secretly, yet leading a pure and holy life among the Normans, could not thus even in secret remain Christ's own. Because he sought to protect, or to do good to, his enemy, he was killed by his friends, or at least by those who should have been his friends. Adam., in Histor. Sued., 1067, compared with Abr. Mell., folio 384, column 3.

The records of these two martyrs, Henry and Alfuard, are very brief, because the writer, as he states, would neither add to nor take from the truth of the matter, but wanted to record it just as it was told to him, which is evidence of the truth of that matter. Therefore we also did not feel free to lengthen the account of it, or to add the opinions of other authors to fill it out. However, this is not necessary, since in that account all that is needed for the knowledge of these martyrs is briefly, yet sufficiently, shown. For of Henry it is stated that he preached the Gospel of Christ (not papal traditions), and that he was arrested on this account. Of Alfuard the author writes that he lived for a long time secretly, though leading a pure and holy life, among the Normans; also, that he could no longer secretly remain Christ's own; understand, not the pope's, or the so-called mother, the Roman church's own, but Christ's own. More might be added, but for the well-disposed we consider this sufficient.