They have the Reed, the Sponge, the Crown of Thorns in so many places as gives them reason enough to believe, they have it in none, and yet they worship these in all. We must imagine (to have such things go down smoothly) that they grow more than any Thorn hedge does, not only in length, but in number. And something towards this, Gregory of Tours (c)writes of those Thorns, they are green still, and though the leaves wither sometimes, yet they revive again, and flourish. ⟨p. 197⟩But the old Bishop had not the good hap to see this, he had it only by rumour, and such rumours their Annalist is wont to make much of; for it is not amiss to abuse others into a belief of that, which they cannot believe themselves. The Lance which pierced Christ's side, was got into the West, before it had left the East (its proper place). Otto the great, presented Athelstan King of England with it, and other rarities in the tenth age(d). Yet the Dominical Spear (the same we may suppose, though some question it) was the same age in the possession of Rodulphus, Duke of Burgundy, (e)of which, Harry, Emperor of Germany, was so covetous, that he threatened the Duke to destroy his Country with Fire and Sword, if he would not give it him; and in fine, gave him a good part of his Country for it. Much worship it had, and brave feats it played then, and I know not how long before; for Charles the Great, they say, had it too(f); yet for all this, it was still in Asia (if any where) and not found there, till two hundred years after; for the Latins having taken (g)Antioch, were blest with the Revelation of it in St. Peters Church (for holy relics was the adventure which those Knights errant sought, and they were concerned in point of honour, either to find or make some); but this was confirmed by miracle (else it had not been worth a rush); Peter, the finder of it, to prove the truth thereof, (h)walked through a mighty fire with the Lance in his hand. 'Tis like, this Champion had something of the metal of that (i)Hermits marvellous pot; in which, though it was of wood, he boiled his Meat constantly, how hot soever the fire was, without burning; but that of the pot it seems, was better tempered, for that endured many years, do the fire what it could; but the man could not long survive that hot brunt, dying shortly after.
They have the Reed, the Spunge, the Crown of Thorns in so many places as gives them reason enough to believe, they have it in none, and yet they worship these in all. We must imagine (to have such things go down smoothly) that they grow more than any Thorn hedge does, not only in length, but in number. And something towards this, Gregory of Tours (c)writes of those Thorns, they are green still, and though the leaves wither sometimes, yet they revive again, and flourish. ⟨p. 197⟩But the old Bishop had not the good hap to see this, he had it only by rumour, and such rumours their Annalist is wont to make much of; for it is not amiss to abuse others into a belief of that, which they cannot believe themselves. The Lance which pierced Christ's side, was got into the West, before it had left the East (its proper place). Otto the great, presented Athelstane King of England with it, and other rarities in the tenth age(d). Yet the Dominical Spear (the same we may suppose, though some question it) was the same age in the possession of Rodulphus, Duke of Burgundie, (e)of which, Harry, Emperour of Germany, was so covetous, that he threatned the Duke to destroy his Country with Fire and Sword, if he would not give it him; and in fine, gave him a good part of his Country for it. Much worship it had, and brave feats it play'd then, and I know not how long before; for Charles the Great, they say, had it too(f); yet for all this, it was still in Asia (if any where) and not found there, till two hundred years after; for the Latines having taken (g)Antioch, were blest with the Revelation of it in St. Peters Church (for holy reliques was the adventure which those Knights errant sought, and they were concerned in point of honour, either to find or make some); but this was confirmed by miracle (else it had not been worth a rush); Peter, the finder of it, to prove the truth thereof, (h)walked through a mighty fire with the Launce in his hand. 'Tis like, this Champion had something of the mettal of that (i)Hermites marvellous pot; in which, though it was of wood, he boiled his Meat constantly, how hot soever the fire was, without burning; but that of the pot it seems, was better tempered, for that endured many years, do the fire what it could; but the man could not long survive that hot brunt, dying shortly after.
- (c)Vid. Spondan. an. 34. n. 27.
- (d)Ranulphus, lib. 6. cap. 6.
- (e)Luit prandus, l. 4. c. 12. Otho Frisingensis, l. 9. c. 8. in Cent Magd. 10. p. 336. vid. & Spondan. an. 929. n. 2.
- (f)Spondan. ibid.
- (g)Baron. an. 1099. Bellarm. de imagin, l. 2. c. 27. out of Guliel. Ty•ius, P•ulus, Aenilius, Dodechinus, &c.
- (h)M. Paris, in an. 1099.
- (i)Gregor. Turonens. de glor. confess. c. 98.
