Such outspoken defiance only made the judge more angry. Alban was interrogated, then whipped, and when this proved useless, taken for execution on a nearby hill.
The way to the place of execution was barred by a stream; and as the only bridge was crowded with onlookers, Alban stepped towards the running waters. They obligingly slowed to a trickle, and he crossed dry-shod.* When he reached the top of the rise, which was crowned with flowers, Alban prayed for water and a living spring welled up beside him;* then it subsided, and the onlookers saw that down below the pent-up river had begun to flow strongly once more.
At that, Alban’s executioner threw his sword aside, declaring himself ready to die beside him. Another was found to take his place; and there upon the hill, on the twenty-second of June, Alban was beheaded. The brave man who refused to do the deed was beheaded immediately after. But the judge, much chastened by the wonders he had seen, resolved that no more Christians would be punished with death.
There is more than a hint here of Moses leading the Israelites dry-shod across the Red Sea.
Again, we are reminded of Moses, who brought water from a standing stone in the desert. Bede indicates that the water in the stream was miraculously dammed, so that it would allow Alban to cross and later burst out above on the hill in answer to his prayers. The river then resumed its course.