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Illus
-1
BLONDEL HEARS THE VOICE OF RICHARD
Book VIII .. Joseph-Francois Michaud .. Illustrated by Gustave Dore
" A long captivity awaited Richard on his return to Europe. The
vessel in which he embarked was shipwrecked on the coast of Italy,
and fearing to pass through France, he took the route of Germany,
concealed under the habit of a simple pilgrim. His liberality betrayed
the monarch, and as he had enemies everywhere, he was seized by
the soldiers of the Duke of Austria. It was not known in Europe
what had become of King Richard, when a gentleman of Arras, named
Blondel, set out in search of his master, and traversed Germany
in the dress and with the lyre of a minstrel. On his arrival before
a castle, in which, it was said, languished an illustrious captive,
Blondel began to sing the first couplet of a song which he had composed
in conjunction with Richard. From the top of a high tower a voice
answered him, and sang the second couplet. Then the faithful troubadour
returned into England to announce that he had discovered the prison
of the king. - Book II History
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Illus
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HOSPITALITY OF THE BARBARIANS TO PILGRIMS
Tissue When the world was ravaged by the goths, the Huns and the
Vandals, the pilgrimages to the Holy land were not interrrupted.
Pious travellers were protected by the hospitable virtues of the
Barbarians, who began to respect the cross of Christ, and sometimes
even followed the pilgrims to Jerusalem. In these times of trouble
and desolation a poor pilgrim, who bore his scrip and staff, often
passed through fields of carnage, and travelled without fear amidst
armies which threatened the empires of the East and West. - Book
I .
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Illus
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FOULQUE-NERRA ASSAILED BY THE PHANTOMS OF HIS VICTIMS
Foulque-Nerra, Count of Anjou, charged with crimes, and stained
with blood, thought to efface all his cruelties by a voyage to
Jerusalem. His brother, whom he had caused to perish in a dungeon,
presented himself, wherever he went, before his eyes; it appeared
to him that the numerous victims sacrificed to his ambition in
unjust war issued from their tombs to disturb his sleep, and reproach
him for his barbarity. - Book I
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Illus
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PETER THE HERMIT PREACHING THE CRUSADES
The singularity of his appearance was a spectacle for the people,
whilst the austerity of his manner, his charity, and the moral doctrines
that he preached, caused him to be revered as a saint. . . They
who touched his vestments exteemed themselves happy, and a portion
of hair pulled from the mule he rode was preserved as a holy relic.
At the sound of his voice differences in families were reconciled,
the poor were comforted, the debauched blushed at their errors.
- Book I
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Illus
-5
THE WAR CRY OF THE CRUSADES
As soon as the spring appeared nothing could restrain the impatience
of the Crusaders, and they set forward. . . . The crowd presented
a whimsical and confused mixture of all ranks and all conditions;
women appeared in arms in the midst of warriors, prostitution not
being forgotten in the austerities of penitence; old age was to
be seen with infancy, opulence nest to misery; the helmet was confounded
with the frock, the mitre with the sword. . . . On all parts resounded
the war cry of the Crusaders --"It is the will of God! It is the
will of God!" - Book I
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Illus
-6
WALTER THE PENNILESS IN HUNGARY
When the vanguard entered Hungary, they were only disturbed in their
march but by a few insults, which Walter had the prudence not to
avenge; but the resignation of the pilgrims could not hold out long
against the misery which everyday increased. Want and its attendant
evils soon dispersed all the sentiments of moderation to which religion
had for a moment given birth in the hearts of its defenders. The
governor of Bulgaria not having been able to furnish provisions,
they spread themselves about over the country, carried off the flocks,
burnt the houses, and massacred several of the inhabitants who opposed
their violence. The irritated Bulgarians ran to arms, and fell upon
the soldiers of Walter, loaded with their booty. - Book II
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Illus
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THE ARMY OF PRIEST VOLKMAR AND COUNT EMICIO ATTACK MERSBOURG
Mersbourg shut its gate upon them, and refused them provisions.
They were indignant that so little respect should be shown to the
soldiers of Christ, and deemed it their duty to treat the Hungarians
as they had treated the Jews. Mersbourg, situated on the Leytha,
a river which flows into the Danube, was defended by marshes. The
Crusaders crossed the river, cut down a forest, and formed a causeway,
which conducted them close under the walls of the place. After some
preparation the signal was given, the ladders were raised against
the ramparts, and the general assault was begun. The besieged opposed
a spirited resistance, and showered upon their enemies a tempest
of darts and arrows, with torrents of boiling oil. The besiegers,
encouraging each other, redoubled their efforts. Victory appeared
to be about to declare for them, when suddenly several ladders yeilded
to the weight of the assailants, and dragged down with them in their
fall the parapets and the fragments of the towers that the ram had
shaken. The cries of the wounded and the rattling of the falling
ruin spread a panic among the Crusaders. - Book II
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Illus
-8
THE SECOND CRUSADERS ENCOUNTER THE REMAINS OF THE FIRST CRUSADERS
Peter the Hermit and Walter the Penniless crossed the Bosphorus
with an army which might amount to about a hundred thousand combatants.
. . After a march of some hours, in a country which was unknown
to them, the Christians were unexpectedly attacked by the Turks,
whom they believed to be in flight. They formed in haste, and at
first defended themselves valiantly. But the enemy had the advantage,
of position and numbers, and they were soon surrounded on all sides
and completely routed. The carnage was horrible; Walter, who was
worthy of commanding better soldiers, fell pierced by seven arrows.
With the exception of three hundred men, who took refuge in a castle
close to the sea, the whole army perished in a single battle, and
there soon remained no more of them than a confused heap of bones,
piled up in the plains of Nicea, as a deplorable monument to point
to other Crusaders the road to the Holy Land. - Book II
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Illus
-9
CELESTIAL PHENOMENA
In a superstitious age the sight of a prodigy or of an extraordinary
phenomenom had more influence over the minds of men han the oracles
of wisdom or reason. Historians inform us that whilst the barons
were assembled, the moon, which was in eclipse, appeared of the
color of blood. When the eclipse was over, its disc was surrounded
by an unprecedented splendor. Some weeks after, says the Abbe' Guibert,
the northern horizon was seen to be all on fire, and the terrified
people rushed from the houses and cities, believing that the enemy
was advancing, fire and sword in hand. At another time the stars
assembled in the form of a cross and a wreath of thorns, and appeared
to rise in the sky in conjunction with the moon. These phenomena,
with several others, were regarded as signs of the will of God,
and the presages of the terrible war about to be made in his name.
They everywhere redoubled the enthusiasm of the Crusade. Men who
had hitherto remained indifferent now partook of the general delirium.
All Frenchman called to the profession of arms, and who had not
yet taken the oath to fight against the infidels, hastened now to
take the cross. - Book II
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Illus
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ASTONISHMENT OF THE CRUSADERS AT THE WEALTH OF THE EAST
At the sight of an apartment filled with riches, Bohemond, prince
of Tarentum, said; "There is here enough to conquer kingdoms with
." The Emperor Alexis, wished to bribe him, immediately ordered
them to be conveyed to the tent of ambitions Bohemond, who at first
refused them with a kind modesty, and finished by accepting them
with joy. . . . An abode at Byzantium might become otherwise dangerous
for the Crusaders; the spectacle of the luxury of the East, which
they beheld for the first time, was calculated to corrupt them.
The Christian knights were never weary of admiring the palaces,
the splendid edifices, the riches, and perhaps the beautiful women
of whom Alexis had spoken in his letters addressed to the princes
of the West. - Book II
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