volume one

HISTORY OF THE CRUSADES. ]93
•were convoked to be witnesses of tlie judgment of Grod. On
the day fixed (it was Grood I^riday), a funeral pile, made of
branches of olive, was erected in the middle of a vast plain.
Most of the Crusaders were assembled, and evervthing: was
prepared for the terrible ordeal. The flames had already
mounted to a height of twenty cubits, when Barthelemi
was seen advancing, accompanied by the priests, who w'alked
in silence, barefooted, and clothed in their sacerdotal habits.
Covered by a simple tunic, the priest of Marseilles bore the
holy lance, surrounded with floating streamers. AVhen he
arrived within a few paces of the pile, one of the principal
of the clergy pronomiced in a loud voice the following
words :— " If this man has seen Jesus Christ face to face,
and if the apostle Andrew did reveal tlie divine lance to
him, may he pass safe and sound through the flames ; but if,
on the contrary, he is guilty of falsehood, may he be burnt,
together with the lance which he bears in his hands." At
these words all the spectators bowed, and answered as with
one voice, " Be the will of Grod accomplished." Barthelemi
threw himself on his knees, took Heaven to witness the
truth of all that lie had said, and, after recommending himself
to the prayers of the bishops and priests, rushed through
the funeral pile at a part where an opening of two feet wide
had been made for his passage.
The numerous spectators lost sight of him for a moment,
and many pilgrims, says Eaymond d'Agiles, were beginning
to lament him, when they saw him appear on the side opposite
to that by which he had entered. He was immediately surrounded
and pressed upon by an innumerable crowd, who
cried out "miracle," and were eager to touch his vestments.
But Barthelemi was covered with mortal wounds. He was
carried in a dying state to the tent of the count of Thou-
louse, where he expired a few days after, still protesting his
innocence and veracity. He was buried beneath the spot
where the funeral pile had been erected. Eaymond of St.
Gilles and the Proven9als persisted in regarding him as an
apostle and a martyr. The greater number of the pilgrims
allowed themselves to be satisfied with the judgment of God*
* Videns quid actum est, populus, calliditate verbosa seductum ee
Rad. Cad. cap. 109.
fatetur, errasse poenitet.
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