How Algerius was Offered Up

This Algerius,** though very young in years, was a student from the kingdom of Naples, and studied at Padua, where a brother who spoke his language came to him, of whom he diligently asked the way and the will of the Lord, listening very earnestly, [n783-2]

and was immediately baptized into the Lord's death, which soon afterward, as a bold hero and young soldier of Christ, he manfully, undauntedly and forcibly proved by the deed, and sealed with his blood, and so became like his Master; for he too, like Christ when He came up out of the Jordan, was at once assailed by the enemy, the tempter and his instruments, and thrown into prison, where he went through and endured many severe conflicts, but was always greatly strengthened and comforted with great joy by the Lord, whom he had set before his eyes, as his present writing abundantly shows, which he wrote in prison at Padua to the brothers in Italy, to strengthen and comfort them in their sorrow, which had come upon them on his account, because they were anxious for him as being a novice in the faith. But the Lord clothed him with great power, and so, through him, as one of His chief weapons, glorified His name. For after many temptations he was sent to Venice, where the whole senate or nobility tried to prevail on him, as the tempter tried at the last with Christ, and meant, by solemn pleading, flattery, and the offer of every kind of worldly help and friendship, certainly to catch him and draw him away, which was not one of the least of the darts; but, as an immovable pillar, he rejected it all and despised it for Christ's sake, so that with Moses and Paul he might win and keep Christ alone. Matthew 4, verse 8; Ephesians 6, verse 16; Philippians 3, verse 8; Hebrews 11, verse 26.

When they could not prevail on him, though they tried for a long time, he was therefore sent to Rome and handed over to the pope, where at last, after severe and hard imprisonment, he offered up his life in great steadfastness, as a sweet savor, to the Lord, following very eagerly and joyfully in the footsteps of all his forefathers and of the glorious confessors of Christ; and so he rightly shared in the sufferings of his Lord and Master. Indeed, his end was crowned with great triumphant praise even also by all his despisers, and so the desired cup was drained.

Many different means having been tried with him, he was at last sentenced to be burned, but not in the same way as others, who, also for the sake of the faith, were put to death with shortened pain, according to the Italian or French custom of being first hanged and strangled, and then burned. But this pious Algerius was held in greater honor by the Lord Christ, and for this reason also had to begin, and bring to a triumphant end, a far more exalted and honorable conflict.

Having been brought in a wagon to the place called Mercado, a final attempt was made on him. A Carthusian monk in Rome called Capadocines*, and holy people was appointed to take him in hand. [n783-3] This monk continually held a crucifix before him, and urged him to remember once more, before his departure, his Lord and Redeemer, and not to die thus hardened and desperate in error. At the same time he constantly held the crucifix before his eyes, and Algerius vigorously pushed it aside with his hands, which had not been bound, as I understand, saying aloud in his language, with his eyes lifted up to heaven: "My Lord and God lives above in heaven." And so on.

At this the spectators cried with a loud voice, and said: "Oh, he struck it," meaning the crucifix. "Oh, away, away with him; he is utterly hardened and blinded, all is lost on him." For at Rome it is considered a great thing when these Carthusians cannot convert someone; and so they are generally kept for the last. Then he was stripped to the waist, and boiling oil was first poured over his head and bare body, which the good and pious Algerius suffered patiently, though he doubtless felt it severely. He rubbed his hand over his face, and pulled off the skin and the hair. Only then was he burned to ashes, an unusual thing in Italy, since I have seen with my own eyes that they were only roasted and singed in the fire, after which the dead body was carried to the grave. But as has been said, this blessed Algerius had to glorify our Lord and God much more highly. To Him and to the Lord Jesus Christ, who worked this through him, by the power of the Holy Ghost, be praise and glory forever. May He help us poor and weak mortals to follow Him. Amen. Yes, O Lord Jesus, Amen.

Brother Da. Gr., who wrote this account, as the old copy shows, also writes: "This was done with him in the year 1557, a little while before I came to Rome, since at that time Algerius was still on everybody's tongue. I have also heard with my own ears, from the mouth of some who counted themselves good papists and witnessed his execution, how wonderfully steadfast he died; and that he truly believed in his heart what he there confessed with his mouth, in his severe martyrdom and pain, before all the people. So there is no doubt that he went up immediately to heaven, and was saved. In this way the adversaries must bear witness to the saints of God, even against their will. Deuteronomy 32, verse 31.

Shortly afterward the flood happened at Rome, when the Tiber overflowed and did great damage, so that some Romans say that Rome suffered as much damage as if it had been plundered in haste; which I for my part found to be true indeed, having never seen a greater famine of bread. It is impossible for me to tell how fearful the sight and the distress were, especially among the poor people. But they do not recognize that it was a just [recompense]. Wisdom 19, verse 13.