486 ANNALS OF ROGER DE HOVEDEN. A.D. 1178. tears, to invoke the presence of the Holy Ghost, an evident tremor and paleness came over the said Peter ; insomuch, that both the colour of his countenance forsook him, and his strength of mind departed. Por how, on the approach of the Holy Ghost, was any spirit to remain in its adversary ? You might have seen the man shaking as though with a paralytic attack, no longer retaining his power of language nor his senses, although he was said by all to be a person of such great eloquence that he had been accustomed to excel all others in speaking. Why say more ? All standing by, the unhappy man making oath that he would explain the truth as to his belief on all the articles of faith on which we should question him, a wondrous thing took place, and one in such a scene most agréable, by reason of the pious delight it afforded us. The book was open upon which he had sworn ; and one of the persons standing by, as a sort of pious amusement desiring to obtain a presage of what was to come by means of the expression he should hit upon, the following text of Scripture met his view : ' "What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God ? Hast thou come to torment us before the time ?'2 3 Truly, Lord Jesus, they had nothing to do with Thee, whom the heavenly Father had cut off from the true vine as unfruitful branches, and had thrown abroad that they might wither away! But with us, who were assembled in Thy name, the increase of our gladness was multiplied, and the glories of Thy might resounded in thanksgivings and in the voice of praise. At length, Peter was simply required on the strength of his oath to confess to us his belief as to the sacrament of the altar without any concealment thereon ; however, he did not with his lips confess to the court for the purpose of procuring safety that which he did not believe in his heart ; but on the contrary, whereas he had made a determination to lie on all points, he made a true disclosure of his own falseness ; and by a new doctrine of his, proceeded to assert that the holy bread of eternal life, when consecrated by the ministration of the priest with the word of God, does not become the body of the Lord. "Upon this, all arose, overwhelming him in a manner with the tears, whieh his contempt for the sacraments of Christ produced, and the Christian compassion that was felt for the wretched man, summoned forth. No more was needed. They 2 3 Matt. viii. 29.