read the account which William of Tyre gives of the entrance of the Crusaders into Jerusalem without emotion. "Having laid aside their arms, in the spirit of humility and with a contrite mind, with bare feet and washed hands and all splendid habits laid aside, with groans and tears, they began to go round devoutly, and to kiss with deep sighs the venerable places which the Saviour wished to render illustrious and to sanctify by his presence. It was a grateful sight, and full of spiritual joy, to behold with what devotion, with what pious fervor of desire, the faithful people approached the holy places, with what exaltation of mind and spiritual joy they kissed the memorials of our Lord's dispensation; every where were tears and sighs, not such as grief and anxiety excite, but such as fervent piety and the consummate joy of the interior man, are accustomed to offer up as a holocaust to the Lord: immediately they began to contend earnestly with each other, desiring to conquer in works of piety, having the divine grace before their eyes In another point of view it was an inspiring spectacle to behold the Christian army composed of so many different people united in one desire. "The strength of the nations," says a Crusader, * "" came to it, especially warlike men from France and Germany, the first more powerful at sea, the latter more renowned on land, the first more qualified for naval engagements and more ready to fight and act on water, the latter more experienced on land, most prudent in battle, and more expert to fight with sword and lance on horseback. The Italians were more grave and discreet and composed, more temperate in food and drink, rather too long in discourse, circumspect in council, diligent and attentive in public affairs, and having a watchful eye to their future advantage, before all things defending their freedom under one captain whom they chose, dictating and firmly observing their laws and institutions, they are greatly necessary to the holy land, not only in battle, but also in our commercial transactions, and in furnishing supplies for the host. The Britons, English, and other transmontane people, are less composed and more impetuous, less circumspect in action, and more intemperate * Gesta Dei per Francos, p. 760. in food and drink, and more profuse in expenditure, less courteous in words, hasty and less provident in council, but they are devout in church and more fervent in alms and other works of mercy; in battle also they are more daring, and to the defence of the holy land, especially the Britons, they are in the highest degree useful, and dreadfully formidable to the Saracens *" France and Italy were the most enthusiastic in the Crusades. Twenty-two Pilgrims left the small state of Forli, and one thousand went from Sienna. What a scene was that at Clermont, when the Pope Urban addressed these affecting words to the assembled chivalry of France. "Jerusalem, this ancient love of Israel, this nurse of the prophets, this city of the King who wore the crown of thorns, this cradle of our salvation, this fountain of the faith, Jerusalem, placed in the centre of the earth, to unite in its bosom the wandering nations, Jerusalem, which ought to attract the faithful as the magnet draws iron, as the sea receives rivers, Jerusalem is a prey to the cruel avidity of an impious and sacrilegious nation. The worshippers of Christ are driven away from its bounds; it is only by supporting a thousand injuries, it is only by dint of gold and prayers, that they can approach the tomb which has redeemed them. O sorrow, which tears cannot relieve! O sad predictions of Jeremiah! The places which ought to resound night and day with hymns and thanksgivings, hear only imprecations and blasphemy! Golgotha, which ought to be an altar for the universe, is polluted by the sect of an impostor!" This heroic history is full of examples to excite admiration. Jocelline, while inspecting the demolition of a certain tower near Alapia, was crushed by the falling of part of the building, so as to be confined to his bed for a long time. At length, the Sultan of Iconium came and laid siege to a camp belonging to Jocelline, called Croisson, who called his son, and charged him to collect a sufficient force to oblige the Sultan to abandon the siege. The son, being of little courage, declared that he was unequal to the task of resisting the Sultan. Then the dying war * Gesta Dei per Francos, 1086. rior understood what sort of person was about to succeed him he ordered himself to be carried in his bed against the Turks. While he was yet on the way, the news reached him that the Sultan, hearing of his resolution to be carried in his bed to meet him, had raised the siege, and was hastily departed. Jocelline, causing his litter to be set on the ground, raising up his hands and eyes to heaven, with a pious heart returned great thanks to God for all the honour and benefits which he had received during his life, and especially that, lying half dead in his bed, he had terrified the potent enemy of the Christian name. For he knew that all these things had only been brought about by the divine goodness and care. with such words he rendered up his spirit to heaven. And The fate of the brave Scanderbeg, in 1465, was similar. He was on his death-bed, surrounded by his soldiers, when the town of Alessio, where he lay, was alarmed by the sudden advance of the Turks. The hero, though weakened by fever, felt new strength from the enthusiasm of his soul. Rising up in his bed, he called for his arms, and ordered his charger to be saddled; but when he saw his limbs tremble under the weight which they were no longer able to support, falling back on his sad pillow, he said to his soldiers, "Go on, my friends; fight the barbarians; you shall not be long before me. I shall soon have strength to follow you." A squadron sallied out of the city, towards the brook Clerus, where the Pacha Anamathius was ravaging the country. The Turks believed that Scanderbeg was coming against them, and they fled precipitately over the mountains covered with snow, leaving immense booty, and losing many men. The news of this advantage was hardly brought to Scanderbeg when, after receiving devoutly the sacraments of the Church, he expired on the 17th of January, aged sixty-three. But to return to the early crusaders. Vinisauf gives a lively description of the English and French crusaders, under Richard and Philip, as they marched to Lyons. "Passing through the different towns and villages with all the pomp of arms, the inhabitants were struck with admiration at their beautiful and martial appearance. 'Papæ !' they exclaimed, who can resist such bravery? What a goodly and handsome band of youths? Were their pa 15 66 rents sad on their departure? What lands ever produced such a number of fine young men*?' The question now," he observes, was not, who would take the Cross, but who had not as yet taken it." He mentions, that it was the custom every night, before retiring to rest, for a herald to cry out in the midst of the camp, "Sanctum sepulchrum adjuva," to which every tongue replied in the same words, while all hands were stretched to heaven, to supplicate the mercy and help of God. Three times was this cry repeated, "Help the holy sepulchre :" and it is said that the army was profoundly affected by this usage. The eloquence of these brave men is enough to inspire enthusiasm even at this distance of time. Thus Pons de Capdueil exclaims, referring to the crusade of Philip Augustus and Henry II. "From henceforth let Him be our guide who led the three kings to Bethlehem. Infatuated is the man who, by a vile attachment to his lands or his riches, shall neglect to take the Cross, since by his fault and cowardice he forfeits at once both his honour and his God. Behold, what is the madness of him who will not take up arms. Jesus, the God of Truth, has told his Apostles, that we must follow him; and rather than not follow him, that we must renounce our riches and all our earthly affections. The moment is come to accomplish literally his holy commands. To die beyond seas for his sacred name, is better than to live in these regions with glory. Yes, life here is worse than death there. What is a life of infamy? But to die braving glorious perils, is to triumph over death, and to secure an eternal felicity. Humble yourselves with zeal before the Cross, and by its merits you will obtain the pardon of your sins. It is by the Cross that our Lord has cancelled your faults and crimes, as his holy pity forgave the good thief, while his justice lay heavy on the wicked. By his Cross he saved those who were in the ways of perdition: in fine, he suffered death, and he suffered it only for our salvation. Woe to him who does not repay the generosity of a God! To what end serve the conquests of ambition; in vain might you subdue all the kingdoms on this side the sea, if you were faithless and ungrateful to your * Lib. 11. c. 9. apud Gale Scriptores Hist. Anglicanæ, vol. ii. God. Alexander had conquered all the world; what did he take away with him when he died? A winding-sheet. O what folly to see the good and to choose the evil, and to renounce for vain and perishable objects a happiness which never faileth night or day! Such is the effect of covetousness; it blinds mortal men, it misleads them, and they do not perceive their error. Let not any baron flatter himself that he will be reckoned amongst the brave, who does not raise the Cross, and march to deliver the holy sepulchre. This day, arms, battle, honour, chivalry, all that the world can offer that is lovely and seducing, can procure for us the glory and the happiness of the celestial mansion." To the like effect spake Aimeri de Peguilain, on a subsequent occasion. "We shall soon know what brave men have the noble ambition of gaining at once the glory of the world and the glory of heaven. Yes; you can obtain both, you who devote yourselves to the pious pilgrimage for the deliverance of the holy sepulchre. Great God, what grief! The Turks have conquered and profaned it. Let us feel this mortal infamy at the bottom of our hearts; let us clothe ourselves with the sign of the Cross, and pass beyond the sea; we have a conveyance and safe guide in the sovereign Pontiff Innocent. Ah! ought we to hesitate to brave, to suffer death, for the service of God, who deigned to suffer it for our deliverance? Yes, with St. Andrew shall they be saved, who shall plant the victorious Cross on Thabor. Let no one in this voyage fear the death of the body, it is the death of the soul that we should fear, as St. Matthew teaches. The time is come when we shall see who are the men that obey the laws of the Eternal: know ye, that he calls only the valiant and the preux: he will receive for ever into his glory those heroes who, knowing how to suffer for their faith, how to devote themselves, and to combat for their God, shall consecrate to him with frankness, their generosity, their loyalty, their valour. Let them stay behind who love life, those who are the slaves of riches; God only desires the good and the brave.-Valiant Marquis of Malespina! you were always the honour of the age, and you prove this well in the eyes of God, now that this day you are the first to take the Cross to succour the holy sepulchre and the fief of God. What a shame for |