304 THE DECLINE AND FALL was dismayed by the assurance of their hopeless condition They expected 'their' fate in silent despair; oaths and punishments were tried without effect ; and, to rouse the soldiers to the defence of the Avails, it was found necessary to set fire to their Legend of t.e'^Tor 'their sahation and victory, they were indebted to the Holy Lance ^^^^ fonaticism which had led tliem to the brink ot rum. In such a cause, and in such an army, visions prophecies and miracles were frequent and familiar. In the distress of Antioch, they were repeated with unusual energy and success ; bt Am- brose had assured a pious ecclesiastic that two years of trial must precede the season of deliverance and grace > the deserters were stopped by the presence and approaches of Christ Inmseit ; the dead had promised to arise and combat with their brethren ; the Virgin had obtained the pardon of their sins ; and their con- fidence was revived by a visible sign, the seasonable and splendid discovery of the holy lance. The policy of their chiefs has on this occasion been admired and might surely be excused ; but a pious fraud is seldom produced by the cool conspiracy ot many persons ; and a voluntary impostor might depend on the support of the wise and the credulity of the people. Of the diocese of Marseilles, there was a priest of low cunning and loose manners and his name was Peter Bartholemy. He presented himself at the door of the council-chamber, to disclose an apparition ot bt. Andrew which had been thrice reiterated in his sleep, witii a dreadful menace if he presumed to suppress the commands ot Heaven " At Antioch," said the apostle, " in the church ot my brother St. Peter, near the high altar, is concealed the steel head of the lance that pierced the side of our Redeemer. In three days, that instrument of eternal, and now of temporal, salvation' will be manifested to his disciples. Search, and ye shall find : bear it aloft in battle ; and that mystic weapon shall penetrate the souls of the miscreants." The pope s legate, the bishop of Puy, affected to listen with coldness and distrust ; but the revelation was eagerly accepted by count Raymond, whom his faithful subject, in the name of the apostle, had chosen tor the guardian of"the holy lance. The experiment was resolved ; and on the third day, after a due preparation of prayer and fasting, the priest of Marseilles introduced twelve trusty spec- tators, among whom were the count and his chaplain; and the church doors were barred against the impetuous multitude. The ground was opened in the appointed place ; but the A^ork- men/who relieved each other, dug to the depth of twelve feet
