480 ÀNNAXS OF ROGER DE HOVEDEN. A.D. 1178. again stoutly maintained to their faces, that they had heard from them that baptism was of no use to infants, and the utterance of numerous other blasphemies against God and the Holy Church and the Catholic faith, whieh, by reason of their abominable enormity, we would rather be silent upon than disclose. But," whatever they stated in their former confession, which seemed to be sufficient unto salvation; if they did believe the same in heart, and did so affirm with all their heart, still, Uke men of distorted minds, and of crooked intentions, they were at length unwilling to abandon their heresy, when any seeming authority seemed to aid their crass and drowsy intellects, using as an excuse the words 'which our Lord is mentioned in the Gospel as having used ; ' Swear not at aB, but let your words be yea, yea, nay, nay ;' and asserting thatihey ought not to swear, whereas the Lord Himself is often read of as having sworn, as it is written, ' The Lord hath sworn and wiB not repent ;' and again the Lord says, ' I have sworn by myself.' The Apostle also says, ' An oath for confirmation is the end of aB strife.' Many other passages also are found to present themselves to those who read the holy Scriptures, to the Bke effect ; in which, by reason of the infirmity of nature, we are afiowed to make an use of oaths to those whom we would persuade to anything. However, Bke idiots, not understanding the Scriptures, they fell into the snare whieh they had concealed ; for whereas they at first abhorred an oath as being an execrable thing, and forbidden by the Lord, they were, by the very paper of their confession, convicted of having sworn, as they had said, ' We do believe in the truth, which is God, and do say that this is our belief;' not being aware that to adduce the truth and the word of God in testimony- of the truth of their assertion, is beyond a doubt taking an oath ; as we read of the Apostle, when he says, ' Por this we say unto you by the word of the Lord ;' and again, ' God is my witness ;' and as other passages of a like nature prove, which can be easily found by those who understand, and have read, the holy Scriptures. When therefore they had been convicted by many and competent witnesses, and many persons were stiB preparing to bear witness against them ; because the Church was not wont to deny the bosom of mercy to those who return thereto, we carefully warned them, laying aside all 2 2 This passage is corrupt, and it is pretty clear that some words are omitted.