THE HOLY SPEAR. 
189 
perhaps, more properly slept, during his celestial vision ; and the 
spear-head, with which the soldier pierced the side of our Lord. 
The known antiquity of this weapon renders it an object of 
some interest, without any reference to its alleged sanctity ; for 
were there no other reasons against the latter pretension, the 
total improbability, would be sufficient, of the early Christians 
finding any consolation in collecting from the murderers of their 
Divine Master, the instruments of his sufferings ; and if the dis¬ 
ciples did not appropriate these reputed relics at that time, in 
the natural course of disuse and change they would be cast aside, 
and no more heard of. Yet old authors having affixed historical, 
as well as ideal, legends, to these things; and some of them 
being yet preserved, even through the course of so many cen¬ 
turies, we cannot but feel interest in their curious details, and 
the associations connected with them. For however false may 
be the pretensions of certain pieces of wood, to having been the 
cross of Calvary ; or of the crown of thorns, or the spear-head, to 
their similar assumptions ; still, when we look on them, we know 
them to have been the very supposed-relics, which were the 
objects of veneration to a train of heroes, and elevated on 
standards, were often carried before the greatest characters of 
the crusades, as the insignia of their faith and promised vic¬ 
tories. But with regard to the identity of the spear of Pilate’s 
soldier, these ancient writers are not at all agreed; for they give 
us notice of a weapon, claiming that distinction, being in two, if 
not in three places, at the same time. In the eleventh century, 
they tell us, the real spear-head was dug up at Antioch; and, 
after gaining a memorable battle before that city, for the re¬ 
nowned Raymond of Thoulouse, remained in the possession of 
that hero. Two hundred years after, we hear of another spear- 
