gave their answer to the earl ; he was adjudged to be guilty of heresy, and immediately, with the most positive promises on the part of his relations, was consigned to the public place of confinement. Rumours of what had happened flew through the streets and suburbs of this most extensive city. The mouths of the faithful were opened, and the lips of the Catholic people were unsealed, Ο Christ, to thy praises ; then for the first time, as it were, did the brightness of faith burst forth in that city, and the state that had so shortly before been despaired of, breathed again to entertain hopes of everlasting salvation. From that moment the word of God waxed stronger, and was daily multiplied ; so that the whole face of the city seemed more joyous, in that it emerged from the darkness of error into the brilliancy of the light of truth. In the meantime, Peter, coming to himself, and being moved by the Lord who looked down upon him, on seeing that he was worthy of death in this as well as in a future world, having sent many mediators, asked to be allowed the means of making satisfaction, and promised to show the fruits of conversion, if he should be liberated from the fear of impending death to the profitable enjoyment of a better mode of life. He ^ame accordingly, was received by us, and was placed in sight of the contrite people with his body naked, thus putting off the corruption of his former infidelity. There, in the presence of all, he acknowledged himself a heretic, there, by his hands, he plighted his faith, there, he renounced his errors ; there, giving his right hand, he made oath in the presence of all, and gave sureties to the earl, as well as the knights and his principal fellowcitizens, that he would submit himself to every mandate of my lord the legate, and would in all things obey his com%nands. Upon this, proclamation was made to the people that they were all to meet on the following day, at the church of Saint Saturninus, to hear and to see in solemn form what mode of penance the said Peter •would have enjoined upon him to perform. Accordingly, on the following day, as they had been warned, all met together, and such a multitude, such dense crowds, that, without excessive squeezing, there hardly remained within the very horns of the altar a vacant place for my lord the legate when celebrating the solemn service of the mass. And, behold ! in the presence of this multitude so vast, Peter, who was now in our hands, was led through the