This kind of work, which went on daily, did not increase the love of the people for the inquisition or the edicts.  It terrified many, but it inspired more with that noble resistance to oppression, particularly to religious oppression, which is the sublimest instinct of human nature.  Men confronted the terrible inquisitors with a courage equal to their cruelty:  At Tournay, one of the chief cities of Titelmann’s district, and almost before his eyes, one Bertrand le Blas, a velvet manufacturer, committed what was held an almost incredible crime.  Having begged his wife and children to pray for a blessing upon what he was about to undertake, he went on Christmas-day to the Cathedral of Tournay and stationed himself near the altar.  Having awaited the moment in which the priest held on high the consecrated host, Le Blas then forced his way through the crowd, snatched the wafer from the hands of the astonished ecclesiastic, and broke it into bits, crying aloud, as he did so, “Misguided men, do ye take this thing to be Jesus Christ, your Lord and Saviour?” With these words, he threw the fragments on the ground and trampled them with his feet.

[Histoire des Martyrs, f. 356, exev.; apud Brandt, i. 171,172.  It may be well supposed that this would be regarded as a crime of almost inconceivable magnitude.  It was death even to refuse to kneel in the streets when the wafer was carried by.  Thus, for example, a poor huckster, named Simon, at Bergen-op-Zoom, who neglected to prostrate himself before his booth at the passage of the host, was immediately burned.  Instances of the same punishment for that offence might be multiplied.  In this particular case, it is recorded that the sheriff who was present at the execution was so much affected by the courage and fervor of the simple-minded victim, that he went home, took to his bed, became delirious, crying constantly, Ah, Simon!  Simon! and died miserably, “notwithstanding all that the monks could do to console him.”]

The amazement and horror were so universal at such an appalling offence, that not a finger was raised to arrest the criminal.  Priests and congregation were alike paralyzed, so that he would have found no difficulty in making his escape.  Ho did not stir, however; he had come to the church determined to execute what he considered a sacred duty, and to abide the consequences.  After a time, he was apprehended.  The inquisitor demanded if he repented of what he had done.  He protested, on the contrary, that he gloried in the deed, and that he would die a hundred deaths to rescue from such daily profanation the name of his Redeemer, Christ.  He was then put thrice to the torture, that he might be forced to reveal his accomplices.  It did not seem in human power for one man to accomplish such a deed of darkness without confederates.  Bertrand had none, however, and could denounce none.  A frantic sentence was then devised as a feeble punishment for so much wickedness.