Gesta Francorum: Liber IX

[xxi] Curbaram princeps militiae soldani Persiae dum adhuc esset Corrozanum, quantocius Cassianus ammiralius Antiochiae legationem ei misit, quo sibi succurreret in tempore oportuno, quoniam gens fortissima Francorum eum impeditum grauiter obsidebat in Antiochia; et si adiutorium ei impenderet, urbem Antiochenam illi traderet, aut eum maximo munere ditaret; cumque iam habuisset maximum exercitum Turcorum, ex longo collectum tempore, et licentiam Christianos occidendi accepisset a Calipha illorum apostolico, ilico inchoauit iter longae uiae Antiochiae. Hierosolimitanus ammiralius in adiutorium cum suo exercitu uenit. Rex Damasci illuc uenit, cum maxima gente.

[21] Curbaram, chief of the militia of the sultan of Persia, while he was still at Corrozanum, as quickly as possible Cassianus, the admiral of Antioch, sent a legation to him, that he might succor him at an opportune time, since the very mighty nation of the Franks was heavily besieging him, impeded, in Antioch; and if he would expend aid for him, he would hand over the city of Antioch to him, or enrich him with a very great gift; and when he already had a very great army of Turks, gathered over a long time, and had received license to kill Christians from their Caliph, the apostolic (pontiff), immediately he began the journey of the long road to Antioch. The Jerusalemite admiral came with his army to aid. The king of Damascus came there, with a very great host.

Idem uero Curbaram congregauit innumeras gentes paganorum, uidelicet Turcos, Arabas, Saracenos, Publicanos, Azimitas, Curtos, Persas, Agulanos, et alias multas gentes innumerabiles. Et Agulani fuerunt numero tria milia; qui neque lanceas neque sagittas neque ulla arma timebant, quia omnes erant undique cooperti ferro et equi eorum, ipsique nolebant in bellum ferre arma nisi solummodo gladios.

The same Curbaram, indeed, gathered innumerable nations of pagans, namely Turks, Arabs, Saracens, Publicans, Azymites, Kurds, Persians, Agulans, and many other countless peoples. And the Agulans were in number three thousand; who feared neither lances nor arrows nor any weapons, because they were all covered with iron on every side, and their horses as well, and they themselves were unwilling to carry weapons into war except only swords.

Isti omnes uenerunt in obsidionem Antiochiae, ad dispergendum Francorum collegium. Et cum appropinquassent urbi, uenit obuiam illis Sensadolus filius Cassiani ammiralii Antiochiae, et continuo cucurrit ad Curbaram lacrimabiliter rogans eum et dicens: "Inuictissime princeps te supplex precor, quatinus modo mihi succurras, quoniam Franci undique obsident me in Antiocheno oppido, urbemque in suo tenent imperio; nosque alienare a regione Romaniae siue Syriae, adhuc autem et Corrozani, cupiunt. Omnia patrauere quae uoluerunt, patrem occidere meum, nichil aliud superest nisi ut me et te et omnes alios ex genere nostro interficiant.

All these came to the siege of Antioch, to disperse the company of the Franks. And when they had drawn near to the city, Sensadolus, son of Cassianus, the admiral of Antioch, came to meet them, and immediately ran to Curbaram, tearfully beseeching him and saying: "Most unconquered prince, I your suppliant beseech you, that you would now succor me, since the Franks on every side besiege me in the Antiochene town, and hold the city under their dominion; and they desire to alienate us from the region of Romania or Syria, and even of Chorasan. They have accomplished all the things they wished—to kill my father—nothing else remains except that they slay me and you and all the others of our lineage.

Ego namque iamdudum tuum exspecto auxilium, ut mihi succurras in hoc periculo." Cui ait ille: "Si uis ut ex toto corde in tuo sim proficuo, tibique fideliter in hoc succurram periculo, illud oppidum in meam trade manum; et tunc uidebis qualiter in tuo ero proficuo, idque faciam custodire meos homines." Ait illi Sensadolus: "Si potes omnes Francos occidere, michique capita eorum tradere, tibi dabo oppidum tibique faciam hominium, et in tua fidelitate custodiam illud oppidum." Cui Curbaram: "Non ita" inquit "erit; sed continuo in meam manum committe castrum." Tandem uolens siue nolens commisit illi castrum.

“For I, indeed, have long been expecting your aid, that you may succor me in this peril.” To whom he said: “If you wish that I may be, with all my heart, for your profit, and that I may faithfully succor you in this peril, hand over that town into my hand; and then you will see how I shall be for your profit, and I will have my men guard it.” Sensadolus said to him: “If you can kill all the Franks and hand over their heads to me, I will give the town to you and do you homage, and I will keep that town in your fidelity.” To which Curbaram: “Not so,” he says, “will it be; but at once commit the castle into my hand.” At length, whether willing or unwilling, he committed the castle to him.

Tertia uero die postquam intrauimus ciuitatem, eorum precursores ante urbem precurrerunt. Exercitus autem illorum ad pontem Farreum castrametatus est; et expugauerunt turrim, et occiderunt omnes quos illic inuenerunt; et nemo euasit uiuus nisi dominus illorum quem inuenimus ligatum in uinculis ferreis, facto maiore bello. Crastina uero die moto exercitu paganorum appropinquauerunt urbi, et castrametati sunt inter duo flumina, steteruntque ibi per duos dies.

But on the third day after we entered the city, their precursors ran on ahead before the city. Their army, moreover, encamped at the Farreus bridge; and they stormed the tower and killed all whom they found there; and no one escaped alive except their lord, whom we found bound in iron chains, a greater battle having been fought. But on the next day, the army of the pagans having been set in motion, they approached the city and encamped between two rivers, and they remained there for two days.

Recepto itaque castro, Curbaram conuocauit unum ammiralium ex suis, quem sciebat ueracem, mitem et pacificum, et ait ulli: "Volo ut intres in fidelitatem meam custodire hoc castrum, quoniam ex longissimo tempore scio te fidelissimum, ideoque precor te ut summa cautela hoc serues oppidum." Cui ait ammiralius: "Tibi unquam de tali nollem obedire officio. Sed tamen hoc faciam, illo tenore, ut si Franci eiecerint uos de mortali prelio et uicerint, eis continuo tradam hoc castrum." Dixitque illi Curbaram: "Tam honestum et prudentem te cognosco, ut omne quicquid boni uis agere ego consentiam."

Therefore, the castle having been received back, Curbaram summoned one admiral from among his own, whom he knew to be truthful, gentle, and peaceable, and said to him: "I wish you to enter into my fidelity to guard this castle, since for a very long time I have known you to be most faithful; and so I beseech you to keep this town with the utmost caution." To whom the admiral said: "I would not at all wish to obey you in such an office. Yet nevertheless I will do this, on this tenor: that if the Franks shall have cast you out from the mortal battle and shall have conquered, I will immediately hand over this castle to them." And Curbaram said to him: "So honest and prudent I know you to be, that whatever good you wish to do I will consent to."

Reuersus est itaque Curbaram ad suum exercitum; et protinus Turci deludentes Francorum collegium, detulerunt ante conspectum Curbaram quemdam uilissimum ensem rubigine tectum, et deterrimum arcum ligneum, et lanceam nimis inutilem, quae abstulerant nuper pauperibus peregrinis; dixeruntque: "Ecce arma, quae attulerunt Franci obuiam nobis ad pugnam." Tunc Curbaram coepit surridere, palam dicens omnibus: "Haec sunt arma bellica et nitida, quae attulerunt Christiani super nos in Asiam, quibus putant nos et confidunt expellere ultra confinia Corrozanae, et delere omnia nostra ultra Amazonia flumina; qui propulerunt omnes parentes nostros a Romania, et Antiochia urbe regia quae est honorabile caput totius Syriae?" Mox conuocauit suum notarium, et ait: "Scribe cito plures cartas quae in Corrozania sint legendae; uidelicet Caliphae nostro apostolico, ac nostri regi domino Soldano militi fortissimo, atque omnibus prudentissimis Corrozanae militibus, salus et immensus honor. Satis sint leti et gauisi iocunda concordia, et satisfaciant uentribus, imperent et sermocinent per uniuersam regionem illam, ut omnino dent sese ad petulantiam et luxuriam, multosque filios patrare congaudeant, qui contra Christianos fortiter pugnare preualeant; et libenter suscipiant haec tria arma, quae olim abstulimus a Francorum turma, et discant modo quae arma attulerunt super nos gens Francigena. Adhuc quoque sciant omnes, quoniam ego cunctos Francos intus in Antiochia conclusos habeo, et castrum in mea libera teneo uoluntate, illi uero deorsum sunt in ciuitate.

Curbaram therefore returned to his army; and straightway the Turks, mocking the company of the Franks, brought before the sight of Curbaram a certain most worthless sword covered with rust, and a very worst wooden bow, and a spear exceedingly useless, which they had lately taken from poor pilgrims; and they said: “Behold the arms which the Franks have brought to meet us for battle.” Then Curbaram began to smile, openly saying to all: “These are the warlike and shining arms which the Christians have brought over us into Asia, with which they think and trust to drive us out beyond the borders of Chorasan, and to destroy all our things beyond the Amazonian rivers—who have driven all our kinsmen from Romania, and from Antioch, the royal city which is the honorable head of all Syria?” Forthwith he called together his notary, and said: “Write quickly several letters to be read in Chorasan; namely, ‘To our apostolic Caliph, and to our king Lord Sultan, a most strong soldier, and to all the most prudent soldiers of Chorasan: health and immense honor. Let them be sufficiently glad and rejoicing in pleasant concord, and satisfy their bellies, let them command and converse throughout that whole region, that they wholly give themselves over to petulance and luxury, and rejoice together to beget many sons, who may prevail to fight bravely against the Christians; and let them gladly receive these three arms, which once we took from the band of the Franks, and let them now learn what arms the Frankish race has brought against us. Moreover let all also know that I have all the Franks shut up inside Antioch, and I hold the castle in my free will; they, however, are down below in the city.’”

Habeo etiam omnes illos iam in mea manu, eosque faciam aut capitalem subire sententiam, aut deduci in Corrozanam in captiuitatem nimiam, eo quod minantur nos suis armis propulsare et expellere ab omnibus finibus nostris; ceu eiecerunt omnes parentes nostros a Romania siue Syria. Amodo iuro uobis per Machomet et per omnia deorum nomina, quoniam ante uestram non ero rediturus presentiam, donec regalem urbem Antiochiam et omnem Suriam siue Romaniam atque Bulgariam usque in Apuliam adquisiero mea forti dextera, ad deorum honorem et uestrum, et omnium qui sunt ex genere Turcorum." Sic fecit finem dictis.

"I have also now all those in my hand, and I will make them either undergo a capital sentence, or be led off into Corrozana into excessive captivity, because they threaten to drive us back and expel us from all our borders; just as they cast out all our parents from Romania or Syria. From now on I swear to you by Mahomet and by all the names of the gods, that I will not return into your presence, until I shall have acquired by my strong right hand the royal city Antioch and all Syria or Romania and Bulgaria as far as Apulia, to the honor of the gods and yours, and of all who are of the race of the Turks." Thus he made an end to his words.

[xxii] Mater uero eiusdem Curbaram quae erat in Aleph ciuitate, denuo uenit ad eum, dixitque illi lacrimabiliter: "Fili, suntne uera quae audio?" Cui ait ille: "Quae?" Et dixit illa: "Audiui quia bellum uis committere cum Francorum gente." Ait ille: "Verum omnino scias." Dixit illa: "Contestor te, fili, per omnium deorum nomina, et per tuam magnam bonitatem, ne bellum cum Francis committas, quoniam tu es miles inuictus, et te e campo ab aliquo uictore fugientem quisquam minime inuenit. Diffamata est tua militia ubique, omnesque prudentes milites audito tuo nomine contremiscunt. Satis scimus, fili, quoniam tu es bellipotens et fortis, nullaque gens Christianorum uel paganorum ante tuum conspectum aliquam uirtutem habere potuit; sed fugiebant solummodo audito tuo nomine, sicut oues ante leonis furorem fugiunt, ideoque obsecro te karissime fili ut meis adquiescas consiliis, et ne unquam in tuo hesites animo, aut in tuo inueniatur consilio, ut bellum uelis incipere cum Christianorum gente." Tum Curbaram materna audiens monita feroci respondit sermone: "Quid est hoc mater quod mihi refers?

[22] But the mother of that same Curbaram, who was in the city Aleph, came again to him and said to him tearfully: "Son, are the things I hear true?" He said to her: "What things?" And she said: "I have heard that you wish to engage in war with the nation of the Franks." He said: "Know it altogether to be true." She said: "I adjure you, son, by the names of all the gods and by your great goodness, do not engage in war with the Franks, since you are an invincible knight, and no one has ever found you fleeing from the field before any victor. Your soldiery is everywhere renowned, and all prudent soldiers, when your name is heard, tremble. We know well, son, that you are mighty in war and strong, and that no nation of Christians or of pagans could have any valor before your presence; but they fled merely on your name being heard, as sheep flee before the lion’s fury. Therefore I beseech you, dearest son, to acquiesce in my counsels, and that you never in your mind hesitate, nor let it be found in your counsel, to wish to begin war with the Christian people." Then Curbaram, hearing his mother’s warnings, replied in a fierce speech: "What is this, mother, that you report to me?

Puto quod insanis, aut furiis es plena. Enimuero mecum habeo plures ammiralios, quam Christiani sint sive maiores sive minores." Respondit ei mater sua: "O dulcissime fili, Christiani nequeunt uobiscum bellare, scio namque quod non ualent uobis pugnam inferre, sed deus eorum pro ipsis cotidie pugnat, eosque die noctuque sua protectione defendit, et uigilat super eos sicut pastor uigilat super gregem suam; et non permittit eos laedi nec conturbari ab ulla gente, et quicumque uolunt eis obsistere, idem eorum deus conturbat illos, sicut ait ipse per os David prophetae: ",Dissipa gentes quae bella uolunt." Et alibi: ",Effunde iram tuam in gentes quae te non nouerunt, et in regna quae nomen tuum non inuocauerunt." Antequam uero preparati sint ad incipiendum bellum, eorum deus omnipotens et bellipotens simul cum sanctis suis omnes inimicos iam habet deuictos; quanto magis modo faciet circa uos qui eius estis inimici, et qui preparastis uos eis obsistere tota uirtute? Hoc autem, karissime, in rei ueritate scias, quoniam isti Christiani filii Christi uocati sunt; et prophetarum ore filii adoptionis et promissionis, et secundum apostolum heredes Christi sunt, quibus Christus hereditates repromissas iam donauit, dicendo per prophetas: ",A solis ortu usque ad occasum erunt termini uestri, et nemo stabit contra uos." Et quis potest his dictis contradicere uel obstare?

"I think that you are insane, or are full of furies. Indeed I have with me more admirals than there are Christians, whether greater or lesser." His mother answered him: "O sweetest son, the Christians are not able to war with you; for I know that they are not strong to bring battle against you, but their God fights daily for them, and defends them by his protection day and night, and keeps watch over them as a shepherd keeps watch over his flock; and he does not permit them to be harmed nor troubled by any nation, and whoever wishes to withstand them, that same their God confounds them, as he himself says through the mouth of David the prophet: ",Scatter the nations who want wars." And elsewhere: ",Pour out your wrath upon the nations who have not known you, and upon the kingdoms that have not invoked your name." Before they are even prepared to begin war, their God, omnipotent and war‑potent, together with his saints already has all enemies conquered; how much more now will he do concerning you who are his enemies, and who have prepared yourselves to withstand them with all your strength? This moreover, dearest one, know in the truth of the matter, that these Christians are called sons of Christ; and by the mouth of the prophets sons of adoption and of promise, and, according to the Apostle, they are heirs of Christ, to whom Christ has already given the re‑promised inheritances, saying through the prophets: ",From the rising of the sun unto the setting your boundaries shall be, and no one shall stand against you." And who can contradict or oppose these sayings?

Certe si hoc bellum contra illos incoeperis, maximum tibi erit dampnum ac dedecus, et multos fideles tuos milites perdes, et uniuersa spolia quae apud te habes amittes, et nimio pauore fugiendo euerteris. Tu autem in hoc bello non morieris modo, sed tamen in hoc anno, quoniam ipse deus non statim iudicat offendentem se exerta ira, sed quando uult punit eum manifesta uindicta, ideoque timeo ne te iudicet poenali tristitia. Non morieris, inquam, modo, uerumtamen perditurus es inpresentiarum habita."

Surely if you shall have begun this war against them, it will be for you a maximum damage and disgrace, and you will lose many of your faithful soldiers, and you will lose all the spoils which you have with you, and by excessive fear, fleeing, you will be overturned. But you yourself in this war will not die now, but yet in this year, since God himself does not straightway judge the one offending against himself with outstretched wrath, but when he wills he punishes him with manifest vengeance; and therefore I fear lest he judge you with penal sadness. You will not die, I say, now; nevertheless you are going to lose the things held at present."

Curbaram denique ualde dolens intimis uisceribus, auditis maternis sermonibus, respondit: ’Mater karissima, quaeso te quis dixit tibi ista de gente Christiana, quod deus eorum tantum eos amet, et quod ipse pugnandi uirtutem in se retinet maximam, et quod illi Christiani uincent nos in Antiochena prelia, et quod ipsi capturi sunt nostra spolia, nosque persecuturi magna uictoria; et quod in hoc anno moriturus sum morte subitanea?" Tunc respondit ei mater sua dolens: "Fili karissime, ecce sunt plus quam centum annorum tempora, de quibus inuentum est in nostra pagina et in gentilium uoluminibus, quoniam gens Christiana super nos foret uentura, et nos ubique uictura, ac super paganos regnatura; et nostra gens illis ubique erit subdita. Sed ignoro, utrum modo, an in futuro sint haec euentura. Ego utique misera sum te secuta ab Aleph urbe pulcherrima, in qua speculando atque ingeniose rimando respexi in caelorum astra, et sagaciter scrutata sum planetas, et duodecim signa, siue sortes innumeras.

Curbaram, at last greatly grieving in his inmost entrails, after hearing his mother’s speeches, replied: ’Dearest mother, I beg you, who told you these things about the Christian nation, that their god loves them so much, and that he himself retains within himself the greatest virtue of fighting, and that those Christians will conquer us in the Antiochene battles, and that they will capture our spoils and pursue us with great victory; and that in this year I am to die a sudden death?" Then his mother, grieving, answered him: "Dearest son, behold there are times of more than a hundred years, concerning which it has been found in our page and in the volumes of the gentiles, that the Christian nation would be about to come upon us, and would be victorious over us everywhere, and would be about to reign over the pagans; and our nation will everywhere be subject to them. But I do not know whether now, or in the future, these things are to befall. I indeed, wretched, have followed you from Aleph, a most beautiful city, in which, by observing and ingeniously probing, I looked upon the stars of the heavens, and I shrewdly scrutinized the planets, and the twelve signs, or the innumerable lots.

In eis omnibus repperi quoniam gens Christiana nos ubique est deuictura, ideoque de te ualde timeo nimis maesta, ne ex te remaneam orbata."

In all these I discovered that the Christian race is everywhere going to vanquish us, and therefore for you I very greatly fear, most sorrowful, lest because of you I remain bereft."

Dixit illi Curbaram: "Mater karissima, dic michi omnia quae in corde meo sunt incredula." Quae ait: "Hoc, karissime, libenter faciam, si sciero ea quae tibi sunt incognita." Cui ille dixit: "Non sunt igitur Boamundus et Tancredus Francorum dii, et non eos liberant de inimicis suis? et quod ipsi manducant in uno quoque prandio duo milia uaccas et quatuor milia porcos?" Respondit mater: "Fili karissime, Boamundus et Tancredus mortales sunt sicut alii omnes, sed deus eorum ualde diligit eos prae omnibus aliis, et uirtutem preliandi dat eis prae ceteris. Nam deus illorum, est Omnipotens nomen eius, qui fecit caelum et terram et fundauit maria et omnia quae in eis sunt; cuius sedes in caelo parata in aeternum, cuius potestas ubique est metuenda." Ait filius: "Si ita est causa, cum eis preliari non desinam." Itaque audiens mater eius quod nullo modo adquiesceret consiliis suis, maestissima recessit retrorsum in Aleph, deferens secum cuncta spolia quae conducere potuit.

Curbaram said to her: "Dearest mother, tell me everything about which my heart is incredulous." She said: "This, dearest, I will gladly do, if I shall know the things that are unknown to you." To whom he said: "Then Bohemond and Tancred are not the gods of the Franks, and do they not free them from their enemies? and that they eat at each and every luncheon 2,000 cows and 4,000 pigs?" His mother replied: "Dearest son, Bohemond and Tancred are mortals like all others, but their God greatly loves them before all others, and he gives them the virtue of battling before the rest. For their God is the Omnipotent, his name, who made heaven and earth and founded the seas and all things that are in them; whose seat is in heaven, prepared forever, whose power everywhere is to be feared." Said the son: "If the case is thus, I will not cease to do battle with them." And so, hearing that he would by no means acquiesce to her counsels, his mother, very mournful, withdrew backward to Aleph, bearing with her all the spoils which she was able to convey.

[xxiii] Tertia uero die armauit se Curbaram et maxima pars Turcorum cum eo, ueneruntque ad ciuitatem ex illa parte in qua erat castrum. Nos autem putantes resistere posse illis, parauimus bellum contra eos. Sed tam magna fuit uirtus illorum, quod nequiuimus illis resistere, sicque coacti intrauimus in ciuitatem, quibus fuit tam mirabiliter arta et angusta porta, ut illic fuerint multi mortui oppressione aliorum.

[23] On the third day, indeed, Curbaram armed himself, and the greatest part of the Turks with him, and they came to the city from that side on which the castle was. We, however, thinking we could resist them, prepared battle against them. But so great was their prowess that we were not able to resist them, and thus, compelled, we entered into the city, whose gate was so marvelously strait and narrow that many there died from the crushing pressure of others.

Interea alii pugnabant extra urbem, alii intus in quinta feria per totum diem usque ad uesperam. Inter haec Willelmus de Grentamenilg, et Albricus frater eius, et Wido Trursellus, et Lambertus Pauper, isti omnes timore perterriti de hesterno bello quod durauerat usque ad uesperam, nocte latenter demissi sunt per murum, fugientes pedibus contra mare, ita ut neque in manibus neque in pedibus remaneret aliquid nisi solummodo ossa. Multique alii fugerunt cum illis, quos nescio.

Meanwhile some were fighting outside the city, others inside, on Thursday, through the whole day until evening. In the midst of these things, William of Grentamenilg, and Alberic his brother, and Guy Trursellus, and Lambert the Poor—these all, terror-stricken with fear from the battle of yesterday which had lasted until evening—at night were secretly let down by the wall, fleeing on foot toward the sea, so that neither in their hands nor in their feet did anything remain except only bones. And many others fled with them, whom I do not know.

Venientes igitur ad naues qui erant ad Portum Sancti Symeonis, dixerunt nautis: "Quid hic miseri statis? Omnes nostri mortui sunt, et nos mortem uix euasimus, quia exercitus Turcorum undique obsident alios in urbe." At illi audientes talia, stabant stupefacti, ac timore perterriti cucurrerunt ad naues et miserunt se in mare. Deinde superuenientes Turci quos inuenerunt occiderunt, et naues quae in alueo fluminis remanserant, combusserunt igni et apprehenderunt spolia eorum.

Therefore, coming to the ships that were at the Port of Saint Symeon, they said to the sailors: "Why do you wretches stand here? All our men are dead, and we have scarcely escaped death, because the army of the Turks on every side are besieging the others in the city." But they, hearing such things, stood stupefied, and, terrified with fear, ran to the ships and threw themselves into the sea. Then the Turks, coming upon them, killed those whom they found, and the ships which had remained in the channel of the river they burned with fire, and seized their spoils.

Nos denique qui remansimus nequiuimus sufferre pondus armorum illorum, fecimusque murum inter nos et illos, quem custodiebamus diu noctuque. Interea tanta oppressione fuimus oppressi, ut equos et asinos nostros manducaremus.

We finally, who remained, were unable to suffer the weight of their arms, and we made a wall between us and them, which we guarded by day and by night. Meanwhile we were oppressed by so great an oppression that we ate our horses and our donkeys.

[xxiiii] Quodam uero die stantibus nostris maioribus sursum ante castellum tristibus ac dolentibus, uenit quidam sacerdos ante eos et dixit: "Seniores, si uobis placet audite rem quamdam, quam in uisione uidi. Cum nocte una iacerem in ecclesia Sanctae Mariae matris Domini nostri Iesu Christi, apparuit mihi Saluator mundi cum sua genitrice et beato Petro apostolorum principe; stetitque ante me et dixit mihi: Agnoscis me? Cui respondi: Non. His dictis, ecce apparuit integra crux in capita eius.

[24] On a certain day, as our elders were standing up above before the castle, sad and grieving, a certain priest came before them and said: "Seniors, if it pleases you, hear a certain matter which I saw in a vision. When on one night I was lying in the church of Saint Mary, mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world appeared to me with his genitrix and blessed Peter, prince of the apostles; and he stood before me and said to me: Do you recognize me? To whom I replied: No. After these words, behold, an entire cross appeared upon his head.

Iterum ergo interrogauit me Dominus dicens: Agnoscis me? Cui dixi: Te alio modo non agnosco, nisi quia crucem in capite tui cerno sicut Saluatoris nostri. Qui dixit: Ego sum. Statim cecidi ad pedes eius, rogans humiliter ut subueniret nobis in oppressione illa quae super nos erat.

Again therefore the Lord questioned me, saying: Do you recognize me? To whom I said: I do not recognize you in any other way, except that I discern a cross upon your head as of our Savior. He said: I am. Immediately I fell at his feet, humbly begging that he might succor us in that oppression which was upon us.

Respondit Dominus: Bene adiuui uos, et amodo adiuuabo. Ego permisi uos habere Niceam ciuitatem, et omnia deuincere bella, et conduxi uos huc usque, et condolui uestrae miseriae quam passi fuistis in obsidione Antiochiae. Ecce in auxilio oportuno, misi uos sanos et incolumes in ciuitatem, et ecce multam prauamque dilectionem operantes cum Christianis et prauis paganis mulieribus, unde immensus foetor ascendit in caelum.

The Lord answered: I have well helped you, and from now on I will help. I permitted you to have the city of Nicaea, and to vanquish all the wars, and I have led you thus far, and I have condoled with your misery which you suffered in the siege of Antioch. Behold, with opportune aid, I sent you safe and unharmed into the city, and behold, you are practicing much and perverse affection with Christian and depraved pagan women, whence an immense foetor ascends into heaven.

Tunc alma Virgo et beatus Petrus ceciderunt ad pedes eius, rogantes eum et deprecantes, ut suum in hac tribulatione adiuuaret populum. Dixitque beatus Petrus: Domine, per tot tempora tenuit paganorum gens domum meam, in qua multa et ineffabilia mala fecerunt. Modo uero expulsis inimicis inde, Domine, letantur angeli in caelis.

Then the gracious Virgin and blessed Peter fell at his feet, asking him and beseeching, that he would aid his people in this tribulation. And blessed Peter said: Lord, for so long a time the race of the pagans held my house, in which they did many and ineffable evils. But now, the enemies having been expelled from there, Lord, the angels rejoice in the heavens.

Dixitque mihi Dominus: Vade ergo et dic populo meo, ut reuertatur ad me, et ego reuertar ad illum, et infra quinque dies mittam ei magnum adiutorium; et cotidie decantet responsorium Congregati sunt, totum cum uersu. Seniores, si hoc non creditis esse uerum, sinite modo me in hanc scandere turrim, mittamque me deorsum; si uero fuero incolumis, credatis hoc esse uerum, sin autem ullam lesionem fuero passus, decollate me, aut in ignem proicite me."

And the Lord said to me: Go, then, and say to my people, that he return to me, and I will return to him, and within five days I will send him great aid; and let him daily chant the responsory Congregati sunt, whole, with the verse. Elders, if you do not believe this to be true, now allow me to climb up into this tower, and I will throw myself down; and if indeed I shall be unharmed, believe this to be true, but if I shall have suffered any lesion at all, behead me, or cast me into the fire."

Tunc Podiensis episcopus iussit ut adferentur euangelia et crux, quatinus iuraret ille si hoc esset uerum. Consiliati sunt omnes maiores nostri in illa hora, ut iurarent omnes sacramentum quod nullus illorum fugeret neque pro morte neque pro uita, quamdiu uiui essent. Primus dicitur iurasse Boamundus, deinde comes Sancti Egidii, et Rotbertus Nortmannus, ac dux Godefridus, et comes Flandrensis.

Then the Podiensian bishop ordered that the Gospels and the Cross be brought, so that he might swear if this were true. All our elders took counsel at that hour, that they all should swear an oath (sacrament) that none of them would flee, neither for death nor for life, as long as they were alive. Bohemond is said to have been the first to swear, then the Count of Saint-Gilles, and Robert the Norman, and Duke Godfrey, and the Count of Flanders.

Tancredus uero iurauit ac promisit tah modo, quia quamdiu secum quadraginta milites haberet, non solum ex illo bello sed etiam ab Hierosolimitano itinere non esset recessurus. Nimis autem exsultauit Christiana congregatio, hoc audiens sacramentum.

But Tancred indeed swore and promised in this manner: that, so long as he should have with him forty soldiers, he would withdraw not only not from that war, but not even from the Hierosolymitan journey. And the Christian congregation rejoiced exceedingly, hearing this oath.

[xxv] Erat autem ibi quidam peregrinus de nostro exercitu cui nomen Petrus, cui antequam ciuitatem intraremus apparuit sanctus Andreas apostolus dicens: "Quid agis, bone uir?" Cui ille respondit: "Tu quis es?" Dixit ei apostolus: Ego sum Andreas apostolus. Agnoscas fili, quia dum uillam intraueris, uadens ad ecclesiam beati Petri ibi inuenies lanceam saluatoris nostri Iesu Christi, ex qua in crucis pendens patibulo uulneratus fuit." Haec omnia dicens apostolus, continuo recessit.

[25] Now there was there a certain pilgrim from our army whose name was Peter, to whom, before we entered the city, Saint Andrew the apostle appeared, saying: "What are you doing, good man?" To whom he replied: "Who are you?" The apostle said to him: "I am Andrew the apostle. Acknowledge, son, that when you have entered the town, going to the church of blessed Peter, there you will find the lance of our Savior Jesus Christ, by which, as he hung upon the cross, he was wounded." Saying all these things, the apostle immediately withdrew.

Ipse autem timens reuelare consilium apostoli, noluit indicare nostris peregrinis. Estimabat autem se uisum uidere. Et dixit ad eum: "Domine quis hoc crediderit?" In illa uero hora accepit eum sanctus Andreas, et portauit eum usque ad locum ubi lancea erat recondita in terra.

But he himself, fearing to reveal the counsel of the apostle, did not wish to indicate it to our pilgrims. However, he supposed that he was seeing a vision. And he said to him: "Lord, who would believe this?" At that very hour Saint Andrew took him and carried him to the place where the lance was hidden in the earth.

Iterum cum essemus ita ut superius diximus, uenit sanctus Andreas rursus dicens ei: "Quare non abstulisti lanceam de terra ut ego tibi precepi? Scias reuera, quia quicunque hanc lanceam portauerit in bello, nunquam ab hoste superabitur." Petrus uero continuo reuelauit mysterium apostoli hominibus nostris. Populus autem non credebat, sed prohibebat dicens: "Quomodo possumus hoc credere?" Omnino enim erant pauentes, et protinus mori putabant.

Again, when we were as we have said above, Saint Andrew came again, saying to him: "Why did you not take away the lance from the earth as I instructed you? Know truly that whoever carries this lance in war will never be overcome by the enemy." But Peter straightway revealed the mystery of the apostle to our men. But the people did not believe, but were forbidding, saying: "How can we believe this?" For they were altogether panic-stricken, and thought they would die forthwith.

Accessit itaque ille, et iurauit hoc totum ueracissimum esse; quoniam ei sanctus Andreas bis in uisione apparuerat, eique dixerat: "Surge, uade, et dic populo Dei ne timeat, sed firmiter toto corde credat in unum uerum Deum; eruntque ubique uicturi, et infra quinque dies mandabit eis Dominus talem rem, unde laeti et gauisi manebunt; et si certare uoluerint, mox ut exierint unanimiter ad bellum, omnes inimici eorum uincentur, et nemo stabit contra illos." Audientes itaque quod inimici eorum ab eis omnino essent uincendi, protinus coeperunt sese uiuificare, et confortabant se adinuicem dicentes: "Expergiscimini, et estote ubique fortes ac prudentes, quoniam in proximo erit nobis Deus in adiutorium, et erit maximum refugium populo suo quem respicit in merore manentem."

Therefore that man approached and swore that all this was most veracious; since Saint Andrew had appeared to him twice in a vision, and had said to him: "Rise, go, and say to the people of God not to fear, but to believe firmly with their whole heart in the one true God; and they will be victors everywhere, and within five days the Lord will ordain for them such a thing, whence they will remain glad and rejoicing; and if they should wish to contend, as soon as they go out unanimously to war, all their enemies will be conquered, and no one will stand against them." Hearing, therefore, that their enemies were altogether to be conquered by them, forthwith they began to revive themselves, and were strengthening one another, saying: "Awake, and be everywhere strong and prudent, since God will be at hand to us for help, and he will be the greatest refuge for his people, whom he regards as remaining in sorrow."

[xxvi] Turci denique qui erant seorsum in castello, undique tam mirabiliter coangustabant nos, ut quadam die incluserint tres milites ex nostris in turrim quae erat ante castellum. Exierant namque gentiles et irruerant super illos tam acriter, ut nequirent sufferre pondus eorum. Duo ex militibus exierunt de turri uulnerati, et tertius per totum diem uiriliter defendebat se de Turcorum inuasione, tam prudenter ut in ipsa die duos Turcos strauerit super aditum muri caesis hastis.

[26] Finally the Turks who were apart in the castle hemmed us in on every side so marvelously that on a certain day they shut in three of our knights in a tower which was before the castle. For the gentiles had come out and had rushed upon them so sharply that they could not endure the weight of their onset. Two of the soldiers came out from the tower wounded, and the third for the whole day manfully defended himself from the incursion of the Turks, so prudently that on that very day he laid low two Turks upon the approach of the wall, with spears shattered.

Nam tres hastae detruncatae sunt illi illa die in manibus suis. Illi uero acceperunt capitalem sententiam. Erat nomen illi Hugo Insanus, de exercitu Gosfredi de Monte Scabioso.

For three spears were shorn off in his hands that day. But they indeed received the capital sentence. His name was Hugh the Insane, from the army of Godfrey of Monte Scabioso.

Videns autem uir uenerabilis Boamundus quia nullatenus posset conducere gentes sursum in castellum ad bellum - nam qui erant inclusi in domibus timebant alii fame alii timore Turcorum - iratus est ualde iussitque confestim mitti ignem per urbem, in illa parte in qua erat Cassiani palatium. Quod uidentes illi qui erant in ciuitate, dereliquerunt domos et omnia quae habebant fugiebantque alii in castellum, alii ad portam comitis Sancti Egidii, alii ad portam ducis Godefridi, unusquisque ad suam gentem. Tunc nimia tempestas uenti subito surrexit, ita ut nemo posset se regere rectum.

But seeing that the venerable man Bohemond could in no way lead the peoples up into the castle for war - for those who were shut up in the houses feared, some from hunger, others from fear of the Turks - he was very angry and ordered at once that fire be sent through the city, in that part in which Cassian’s palace was. Which when those who were in the city saw, they abandoned the houses and everything that they had, and were fleeing, some into the castle, some to the gate of the Count of Saint-Gilles, some to the gate of Duke Godfrey, each to his own people. Then a very great tempest of wind suddenly arose, so that no one could keep himself upright.

Boamundus itaque uir sapiens contristatus est ualde, timens pro ecclesia sancti Petri et sanctae Mariae aliisque ecclesiis. Haec ira durauit ab hora tertia usque in mediam noctem, fueruntque crematae fere duo milia ecclesiarum et domorum. Veniente autem media nocte, statim omnis feritas ignis cecidit.

Therefore Bohemond, a wise man, was greatly sorrowed, fearing for the church of Saint Peter and Saint Mary and the other churches. This wrath lasted from the third hour up to midnight, and nearly two thousand churches and houses were burned. But when midnight came, at once all the ferocity of the fire subsided.

Itaque Turci habitantes in castello, intra urbem bellabant nobiscum die noctuque, et nichil aliud disseparabat nos nisi arma. Videntes hoc nostri, quod non possent diu haec pati, quoniam qui habebat panem non licebat ei manducare, et qui habebat aquam non licebat bibere, fecerunt murum inter nos et ipsos petra et calce, et edificauerunt castellum et machinas, ut securi essent. Pars autem Turcorum remansit in castello agendo nobiscum bellum, alia uero pars hospitata erat prope castellum in una ualle.

Thus the Turks dwelling in the castle, within the city, were warring with us day and night, and nothing else separated us except arms. Seeing this, our men, that they could not endure these things for long, since he who had bread was not permitted to eat, and he who had water was not permitted to drink, made a wall between us and them of stone and lime, and built a castle and engines, so that they might be secure. But a part of the Turks remained in the castle waging war with us, while another part was quartered near the castle in a certain valley.

Nocte quippe superueniente, ignis de caelo apparuit ab occidente ueniens, et appropinquans cecidit intra Turcorum exercitus. Vnde mirati sunt et nostri et Turci. Mane autem facto, tremefacti Turci fugerunt omnes pariter pro ignis timore, ante domini Boamundi portam, illicque hospitati sunt.

When night indeed had supervened, a fire from heaven appeared, coming from the west, and, drawing near, fell within the army of the Turks. Wherefore both our men and the Turks were amazed. But when morning had come, the Turks, trembling, all fled together for fear of the fire, before Lord Bohemond’s gate, and there they lodged.

Pars uero quae erat in castello, agebat bellum cum nostris die noctuque, sagittando, uulnerando, occidendo. Alia autem pars undique obsedit ciuitatem, ita ut nullus nostrorum ciuitatem auderet exire aut intrare, nisi nocte et occulte. Ita uero eramus obsessi et oppressi ab illis, quorum numerus fuit innumerabilis.

The part, however, which was in the castle, waged war with our men by day and by night, shooting arrows, wounding, killing. But another part besieged the city on all sides, so that none of ours dared to go out of or to enter the city, except by night and in secret. Thus indeed we were besieged and oppressed by them, whose number was innumerable.

Isti autem prophani et inimici Dei ita tenebant nos inclusos in urbe Antiochiae, ut multi mortui fuerint fame, quoniam paruus panis uendebatur uno bisantio. De uino non loquar. Equinas namque carnes aut asininas manducabant, et uendebant.

But these profane ones and enemies of God held us enclosed in the city of Antioch in such a way that many died of hunger, since a small loaf of bread was sold for one bezant. Of wine I will not speak. For they were eating—and selling—equine or asinine flesh.

Vendebant quoque gallinam quindecim solidis, ouum duobus solidis, unam nucem uno denario; omnia enim ualde erant cara. Folia fici et uitis et cardui, omniumque arborum coquebant et manducabant, tantam famem immensam habebant. Alii coria caballorum et camelorum et asinorum atque boum seu bufalorum sicca decoquebant, et manducabant.

They were also selling a hen for fifteen solidi, an egg for two solidi, a single nut for one denarius; for everything was very dear. They were cooking and eating the leaves of the fig and the vine and the thistle, and of all the trees, so immense a famine did they have. Others were boiling down dry hides of horses and camels and donkeys and oxen or buffaloes, and were eating them.

Istas et multas anxietates ac angustias quas nominare nequeo passi sumus pro Christi nomine et Sancti Sepulchri uia deliberanda. Tales quoque tribulationes et fames ac timores passi sumus per uiginti sex dies.

These and many anxieties and straits, which I cannot name, we suffered for the name of Christ and for the way of the Holy Sepulchre to be delivered. Such tribulations also, and hungers and fears, we suffered for twenty-six days.

[xxvii] Imprudens itaque Stephanus Carnotensis comes quem omnes nostri maiores elegerant ut esset ductor nostrorum, maxima finxit se deprimi infirmitate priusquam Antiochia esset capta, turpiterque recessit in aliud castrum, quod uocatur Alexandreta. Nos itaque cotidie prestolabamur eum quatinus subueniret nobis in adiutorio qui eramus inclusi in urbe, salutifero carentes auxilio. At ille postquam audiuit gentem Turcorum circumcingentem et obsidentem nos, latenter ascendit super proximam montaneam quae stabat prope Antiochiam uiditque innumerabilia tentoria, uehementique captus timore recessit, fugitque festinanter cum suo exercitu.

[27] Imprudently, therefore, Stephen, Count of Chartres, whom all our magnates had elected to be the leader of our men, pretended himself to be oppressed by a very great infirmity before Antioch was taken, and disgracefully withdrew to another castle, which is called Alexandretta. Therefore we daily awaited him, that he might come to our assistance, we who were enclosed in the city, lacking life-bringing aid. But he, after he heard that the nation of the Turks was encircling and besieging us, secretly ascended a nearby mountain which stood near Antioch and saw innumerable tents, and, seized with vehement fear, he drew back, and fled hastily with his army.

Veniens autem in suum castrum, exspoliauit illud, et celeri cursu retro uertit iter. Postquam uero uenit obuiam imperatori ad Philomenam, seorsum uocauit eum secreto dicens: "Scias reuera quoniam capta est Antiochia, et castrum minime captum est; nostrique omnes graui oppressione obsessi sunt et, ut puto, a Turcis modo interfecti sunt. Reuertere ergo retro quam citius potes, ne et ipsi inueniant te et hanc gentem quam tecum ducis." Tunc imperator timore perterritus, clam uocauit Widonem fratrem Boamundi et quosdem alios, et ait illis: "Seniores, quid faciemus?

Coming, however, into his own camp, he despoiled it, and with swift course turned his route back. But after he came to meet the emperor at Philomena, he called him apart in secret, saying: "Know in truth that Antioch has been taken, and the citadel not at all taken; and all our men are beset under grievous oppression and, as I think, have just now been killed by the Turks. Therefore turn back as quickly as you can, lest they too find you and this nation which you are leading with you." Then the emperor, thoroughly terrified with fear, secretly called Guy, the brother of Bohemond, and certain others, and said to them: "Elders, what shall we do?"

Ecce omnes nostri districta obsessione impediti sunt, et forsitan in hac hora omnes a Turcorum manibus mortui sunt, aut in captiuitatem ducti, sicut iste infelix comes turpiter fugiens narrat. Si uultis reuertamur retro celeri cursu, ne et nos moriamur repentina morte quemadmodum et illi mortui sunt."

"Behold, all our men are hindered by a tightened siege, and perhaps at this very hour all have died at the hands of the Turks, or have been led into captivity, as this unhappy count, shamefully fleeing, relates. If you will, let us turn back with swift speed, lest we too die a sudden death, just as they have died."

Cum Wido miles honestissimus talia audisset, cum omnibus statim coepit plorare, atque uehementissimo ululatu plangere; unaque uoce omnes dicebant: "O Deus uerus, trinus et unus, quamobrem haec fieri permisisti? Cur populum sequentem te in manibus inimicorum incidere permisisti et uiam tui itineris tuique Sepulchri liberare uolentes tam cito dimisisti? Certe si uerum est hoc uerbum quod ab istis nequissimis audiuimus, nos et alii Christiani derelinquemus te; nec te amplius rememorabimur, et unus ex nobis non audebit ulterius inuocare nomen tuum." Et fuit hic sermo ualde mestissimus in tota militia, ita ut nullus illorum siue episcopus siue abbas, seu clericus seu laicus, auderet inuocare Christi nomen per plures dies.

When Wido, a most honorable knight, had heard such things, he at once began to weep with them all, and to lament with a most vehement ululation; and with one voice all were saying: "O true God, threefold and one, why have you permitted these things to happen? Why have you permitted the people following you to fall into the hands of enemies, and those wishing to free the way of your journey and your Sepulcher you dismissed so quickly? Surely, if this word is true which we have heard from those most wicked men, we and the other Christians will abandon you; nor will we remember you any more, and not one of us will dare any further to invoke your name." And this speech was very most mournful in the whole soldiery, so that none of them, whether bishop or abbot, whether cleric or layman, dared to invoke the name of Christ for many days.

Nemo namque poterat consolari Widonem plorantem et ferientem se manibus suosque frangentem digitos et dicentem: ’Heu mihi domine mi Boamunde honor et decus totius mundi, quem omnis mundus timebat et amabat! Heu mihi tristis! Non merui dolens tuam uidere honestissimam speciem, qui nullam rem magis uidere desiderabam.

For no one could console Wido, weeping and striking himself with his hands and breaking his own fingers, and saying: ’Alas for me, my lord Bohemond, the honor and ornament of the whole world, whom the whole world feared and loved! Alas for me, wretched! I, grieving, did not merit to behold your most honorable countenance, I who desired to see nothing more.

Quis mihi det ut ego moriar pro te, dulcissime amice et domine? Cur ego ex utero matris meae exiens, non statim mortuus fui? Cur ad hanc lugubrem diem perueni?

Who would grant me that I might die for you, sweetest friend and lord? Why, coming forth from my mother’s womb, did I not immediately die? Why have I come to this lugubrious day?

Cur non demersus fui in mare? Cur non ex equo cecidi fracto collo, ut recepissem repentinum interitum? Vtinam tecum recepissem felix martyrium, ut cernerem te gloriosissimum suscepisse finem!" Cumque omnes cucurrissent ad eum quatinus consolarentur eum, ut iam finem daret planctui, in se reuersus ait: "Forsitan creditis huic semicano imprudenti militi.

“Why was I not sunk in the sea? Why did I not fall from a horse with my neck broken, so that I might have received a sudden death? Would that I had received with you a blessed martyrdom, so that I might behold that you had undertaken a most glorious end!” And when all had run to him so that they might console him, that he might now put an end to the lamentation, having returned to himself he said: “Perhaps you believe this half-gray, imprudent knight.”

Vnquam uere non audiui loqui de militia aliqua, quam idem fecisset. Sed turpiter et inhoneste recedit, sicut nequissimus et infelix, et quicquid miser nuntiat, sciatis falsum esse."

I have never truly heard him speak of any military service which he himself had performed. But he recedes shamefully and dishonorably, like a most wicked and ill-fated man, and whatever the wretch announces, know that it is false."

Interea iussit imperator suis hominibus dicens: "Ite et conducite omnes homines istius terrae in Bulgariam, et explorate et deuastate uniuersa loca, ut cum uenerint Turci, nichil possint hic reperire." Voluissent noluissent nostri reuersi sunt retrorsum, dolentes amarissime usque ad mortem; fueruntque mortui multi ex peregrinis languentes nec ualentes fortiter militiam sequi; remanebantque morientes in uia. Omnes uero alii reuersi sunt Constantinopolim.

Meanwhile the emperor ordered his men, saying: "Go and conduct all the men of this land into Bulgaria, and explore and devastate all the places, so that when the Turks shall have come, they may be able to find nothing here." Willing or unwilling, our people turned back, grieving most bitterly unto death; and many of the pilgrims died, languishing and not able stoutly to follow the military campaign; and they remained, dying, on the road. But all the others returned to Constantinople.

[xxviii] Nos igitur auditis sermonibus illius qui nobis Christi reuelationem retulit per uerba apostoli, statim festinantes peruenimus ad locum in sancti Petri ecclesia, quem ille demonstrauerat. Et foderunt ibi tredecim homines a mane usque ad uesperam, sicque homo ille inuenit lanceam sicut indicauerat. Et acceperunt illam cum magno gaudio et timore, fuitque orta immensa laetitia in tota urbe.

[28] Therefore we, having heard the speeches of the one who reported to us the revelation of Christ through the words of the apostle, straightway, hastening, arrived at the place in the church of Saint Peter which he had pointed out. And thirteen men dug there from morning until evening, and thus that man found the lance as he had indicated. And they received it with great joy and fear, and an immense rejoicing arose in the whole city.

Ab illa hora accepimus inter nos consilium belli. Porro statuerunt omnes maiores nostri concilium, quatinus nuntium mitterent ad inimicos Christi Turcos, qui per aliquem interpretem interrogaret eos securo eloquio dicens quamobrem superbissime in Christianorum introissent terram, et cur castrametati sint, et quare Christi seruos occidant et conquassent. Cumque iam finis esset dictis, inuenerunt quosdam uiros, Petrum scilicet Heremitam et Herluinum, illisque dixerunt haec omnia: "Ite ad execratum Turcorum exercitum, et diligenter narrate eis haec omnia, interrogantes eos, cur audacter et superbissime introierint terram Christianorum et nostram."

From that hour we took among ourselves counsel of war. Furthermore all our elders established a council, to the end that they might send a messenger to the enemies of Christ, the Turks, who through some interpreter would question them with safe speech, saying for what reason they had most arrogantly entered the land of the Christians, and why they have encamped, and why they slay and crush the servants of Christ. And when now there was an end to the words, they found certain men, namely Peter the Hermit and Herluin, and to them they said all these things: "Go to the accursed army of the Turks, and diligently relate to them all these things, asking them why they have boldly and most arrogantly entered the land of the Christians and ours."

His dictis, recesserunt nuntii, ueneruntque ad prophanum collegium, dicentes omnia missa uerba Curbaram et aliis, ita: "Satis multumque mirantur nostri maiores et seniores, quamobrem temere ac superbissime in Christianorum introistis terram et illorum. Putamus forsitan et credimus, quia ideo huc uenistis, quoniam per omnia uultis effici Christiani; aut propterea igitur huc uenistis, ut per omnia Christianos afficiatis? Rogant uos igitur omnes pariter nostri maiores, ut uelociter recedatis a terra Dei et Christianorum, quam beatus Petrus apostolus iam dudum predicando ad Christi culturam conuertit.

With these things said, the envoys withdrew, and they came to the profane council, saying to Curbaram and the others all the sent words, thus: "Our elders and seniors marvel very much and greatly why you have rashly and most arrogantly entered into the land of the Christians and theirs. We suppose perhaps and believe that for this reason you have come here, since in every respect you wish to be made Christians; or therefore have you come here to afflict the Christians in every respect? Our elders therefore all together ask you to withdraw swiftly from the land of God and of the Christians, which the blessed apostle Peter long ago, by preaching, converted to the worship of Christ."

At illi permittunt adhuc uobiscum deduci omnia uestra, scilicet equos et mulos, et asinos et camelos; oues quoque et boues, et omnia alia ornamenta permittunt uobiscum quocumque uolueritis ferre."

But they permit that still all your possessions be led with you, namely horses and mules, and asses and camels; sheep also and oxen, and all the other ornaments they permit to carry with you whithersoever you will."

Tunc Curbaram princeps militiae Soldani Persidis, cum omnibus aliis, pleni superbia feroci responderunt sermone: "Deum uestrum et uestram christianitatem nec optamus nec uolumus, uosque cum illis omnino respuimus. Huc usque iam uenimus eo, quod ualde miramur quamobrem seniores ac maiores quos memoratis, cur terram quam abstulimus effeminatis gentibus illi uocant esse suam. Vultis namque scire quid uobis dicimus?

Then Curbaram, the princeps of the militia of the Sultan of Persia, together with all the others, full of pride, answered with a ferocious speech: "We neither desire nor wish your God and your Christianity, and we utterly repudiate you along with them. We have already come thus far for this cause, that we greatly marvel why the seniors and elders whom you mention call the land which we have taken from effeminate peoples to be theirs. For do you wish to know what we say to you?

Reuertimini ergo quantocius, et dicite uestris senioribus, quia si per omnia cupiunt effici Turci, et deum uestrum quem uos inclini colitis abnegare uolunt et leges uestras spernere, nos illis hanc et satis plus dabimus de terra, et ciuitates et castella adhuc autem quod nemo uestrorum remanebit pedes, sed erunt omnes milites sicut et nos sumus; et habebimus semper eos in summa amicitia. Sin autem, sciant se per omnia capitalem subire sententiam, aut deducti in uinculis Corrozanam in captiuitate perpetua seruient nobis nostrisque infantibus per sempiterna tempora."

Return therefore as quickly as possible, and say to your elders that, if they desire in all respects to be made Turks, and wish to deny your God whom you worship bowing, and to spurn your laws, we will give them this and more than enough of land, and cities and castles; furthermore, that none of yours will remain a footman, but all will be knights just as we are; and we will always hold them in highest friendship. But if not, let them know that they will in every way undergo the capital sentence, or, led in chains to Khorasan, in perpetual captivity they will serve us and our children for sempiternal times."

Nuntii uero nostri uelociter reuersi sunt retrorsum, referentes omnia quae respondisset eis gens crudelissima Fertur Herluinus utramque scisse linguam, fuitque interpres Petro Heremitae. Interea exercitus noster in utraque tremefactus parte, ignorabat quid faceret. Ex una enim parte coangustabat eos cruciabilis fames, in alia constringebat timor Turcorum.

But indeed our messengers quickly returned back, reporting all that the most cruel people had answered to them. It is said that Herluin knew both languages, and he was interpreter to Peter the Hermit. Meanwhile our army, shaken on both sides, did not know what it should do. For on the one side excruciating famine was hemming them in, on the other the fear of the Turks was constricting them.

[xxix] Tandem triduanis expletis ieiuniis, et processionibus celebratis, ab una ecclesia in aliam, de peccatis suis confessi sunt et absoluti, fideliterque corpori et sanguini Christi communicauerunt, datisque elemo sinis fecerunt celebrari missas. Deinde stabilitae sunt sex acies ex eis, intra ciuitatem. In prima uero acie in primo uidelicet capite fuit Hugo Magnus, cum Francigenis et Flandrensi comite.

[29] At last, the three-day fasts having been completed, and processions celebrated, from one church to another, they confessed their sins and were absolved, and faithfully communicated in the body and blood of Christ, and, alms having been given, they caused masses to be celebrated. Then six battle-lines were established from among them within the city. In the first battle-line, at the first, namely the head, was Hugh the Great, with the Franks and the count of Flanders.

In secunda dux Godefridus cum suo exercitu. In tertia uero fuit Rotbertus Nortmannus cum suis militibus. In quarta fuit Podiensis episcopus, portans secum lanceam Saluatoris cum sua gente, et cum exercitu Raimundi comitis Sancti Egidii; qui remansit sursum custodire castellum pro timore Turcorum, ne descenderent in ciuitatem.

In the second, Duke Godfrey with his army. In the third, indeed, was Robert the Norman with his soldiers. In the fourth was the Bishop of Le Puy, carrying with him the lance of the Savior with his people, and with the army of Raymond, count of Saint-Gilles; who remained above to guard the castle for fear of the Turks, lest they descend into the city.

In quinta acie fuit Tancredus, cum sua gente. In sexta fuit Boamundus, cum sua militia. Episcopi nostri et presbyteri et clerici ac monachi, sacris uestibus induti, nobiscum exierunt cum crucibus, orantes et deprecantes Dominum, ut nos saluos faceret et custodiret et ab omnibus malis eriperet.

In the fifth battle-line was Tancred, with his own people. In the sixth was Boamund, with his soldiery. Our bishops and presbyters and clerics and monks, clothed in sacred vestments, went out with us with crosses, praying and beseeching the Lord, that he might make us safe and guard us and deliver us from all evils.

Alii stabant super murum portae, tenentes sacras cruces in manibus suis, signando et benedicendo nos. Ita nos ordinati et signo crucis protecti, exiuimus per portam quae est ante machomariam.

Others stood upon the wall of the gate, holding sacred crosses in their hands, signing and blessing us. Thus we, ordered and protected by the sign of the cross, went out through the gate which is before the mosque.

Postquam Curbaram uidit Francorum acies tam pulchre ordinatas exire unam post aliam, dixit: "Sinite eos exire, ut melius eos habeamus in potestate nostra." Postquam uero fuerunt foris de urbe, uiditque Curbaram ingentem Francorum gentem, ualde timuit. Mox mandauit suo ammiralio qui omnia habebat in custodia, ut si ille uideret ignem accensum in capite hostis, protinus preconari faceret, omnem exercitum redire, sciens Turcos amisisse bellum.

After Curbara saw the battle-lines of the Franks going out so beautifully ordered, one after another, he said: "Allow them to go out, that we may have them the better in our power." But after they were outside the city, and Curbara saw the immense nation of the Franks, he was greatly afraid. Straightway he commanded his admiral, who had everything in his custody, that if he should see a fire kindled on the head of the enemy, at once he should have it proclaimed that the whole army return, knowing that the Turks had lost the battle.

Continuo Curbaram coepit paulatim redire retro, contra montaneam; nostrique paulatim persequebantur illos. Denique diuisi sunt Turci; una pars iuit contra mare, et alii steterunt illic, putantes nostros includere inter se. Videntes hoc nostri, fecerunt similiter. Illic fuit ordinata acies septena, ex acie ducis Godefridi et comitis Nortmanniae, et caput illius fuit comes Rainaldus.

Immediately Curbaram began little by little to fall back, toward the mountain; and our men little by little were pursuing them. Finally the Turks were divided: one part went toward the sea, and others stood there, thinking to enclose our men between them. Seeing this, our men did likewise. There a sevenfold battle-line was arrayed, from the line of Duke Godfrey and the Count of Normandy, and the head of it was Count Rainald.

Hanc miserunt obuiam Turcis, qui ueniebant a mari. Turci autem preliati sunt cum illis, et sagittando multos occiderunt ex nostris. Aliae autem turmae ordinatae sunt a flumine usque ad montaneam, quod distat per duo miliaria.

This one they sent to meet the Turks, who were coming from the sea. But the Turks fought with them and, by shooting arrows, killed many of our men. Other troops were arrayed from the river all the way to the mountain ridge, which lies at a distance of 2 miles.

Coeperunt uero turmae ex utraque parte exire, nostrosque undique circumcingere, iaculando, sagittando, uulnerando.

Indeed the squadrons began to come out from both sides, and to encircle our men on every side, by casting javelins, by shooting arrows, by wounding.

Exibant quoque de montaneis innumerabiles exercitus, habentes equos albos, quorum uexilla omnia erant alba. Videntes itaque nostri hunc exercitum, ignorabant penitus quid hoc esset et qui essent; donec cognouerunt esse adiutorium Christi, cuius ductores fuerunt sancti, Georgius, Mercurius et Demetrius. Hec uerba credenda sunt, quia plures ex nostris uiderunt.

Likewise there were coming out from the mountain regions countless armies, having white horses, whose vexilla all were white. Our men, therefore, seeing this army, were utterly ignorant what this was and who they were, until they recognized it to be the aid of Christ, whose leaders were the saints George, Mercury, and Demetrius. These words are to be believed, because many of our men saw.

Turci autem qui stabant in parte maris uidentes quod non possent sufferre amplius, miserunt ignem in herbam, ut uidentes illi qui erant in tentoriis fugerent. At illi cognoscentes illud signum, arripuerunt omnia honorabilia spolia, et fugerunt. Nostri uero paulatim militabant ubi maxima uirtus eorum erat, scilicet ad tentoria illorum.

But the Turks who were standing on the seaward side, seeing that they could no longer endure, set fire to the grass, so that those who were in the tents, seeing it, might flee. But they, recognizing that sign, seized all the honorable spoils, and fled. Our men, however, were little by little fighting where their greatest virtus was, namely at their tents.

Dux Godefridus, et Flandrensis comes, et Hugo Magnus, equitabant iuxta aquam, ubi uirtus illorum erat. Isti primitus signo crucis muniti, unanimiter inuaserunt illos. Videntes hoc aliae acies, simili modo inuaserunt illos.

Duke Godfrey, and the Flemish count, and Hugh the Great, were riding near the water, where their strength was. These men, first fortified with the sign of the cross, with one mind invaded them. Seeing this, the other battle lines, in like manner, invaded them.

Exclamauerunt autem Persae et Turci. Nos itaque, inuocantes Deum uiuum et uerum, equitauimus contra illos; et in nomine Iesu Christi et Sancti Sepulchri incepimus bellum, et Deo iuuante deuicimus eos.

But the Persians and the Turks cried out. We, therefore, invoking the living and true God, rode against them; and in the name of Jesus Christ and the Holy Sepulchre we commenced the battle, and, God aiding, we defeated them.

Turci uero tremefacti arripuerunt fugam, nostrique illos persequebantur iuxta tentoria. Itaque milites Christi magis amabant persequi illos, quam ulla spolia quaerere. Et persecuti sunt eos usque ad pontem Farreum, ac deinde usque ad castellum Tancredi.

However, the Turks, trembling, took to flight, and our men were pursuing them near the tents. And so the soldiers of Christ preferred to pursue them rather than to seek any spoils. And they pursued them as far as the Farrean bridge, and then to the Castle of Tancred.

Illi uero dimiserunt ibi papiliones suos, et aurum, et argentum, multaque ornamenta; oues quoque et boues, equos et mulos, camelos et asinos, frumentum et uinum, farinam et alia multa quae nobis erant necessaria.

They, however, left there their pavilions, and gold, and silver, and many ornaments; sheep also and oxen, horses and mules, camels and asses, grain and wine, flour and many other things which were necessary for us.

Hermenii et Surani qui habitabant in illis partibus, audientes nos superasse Turcos, cucurrerunt ad montaneam obuiantes illis; et quantos comprehenderunt ex illis interfecerunt. Nos autem reuertentes ad ciuitatem cum magno gaudio, laudauimus et benediximus Deum, qui uictoriam dedit populo suo.

The Armenians and the Syrians who were dwelling in those parts, hearing that we had overcome the Turks, ran to the mountain region to meet them; and as many of them as they seized, they slew. But we, returning to the city with great joy, praised and blessed God, who gave victory to his people.

Ammiralius itaque qui castellum custodiebat, uidens Curbaram et omnes alios fugientes e campo ante Francorum exercitum, magis timuit. Statim uero cum magna festinatione petebat Francorum uexilla. Comes igitur Sancti Egidii qui illic astabat ante castellum, iussit ei portari suum uexillum.

The Ammiral, therefore, who was guarding the castle, seeing Curbaram and all the others fleeing from the field before the army of the Franks, feared the more. Straightway indeed, with great festination, he made for the banners (vexilla) of the Franks. The Count, therefore, of Saint-Gilles, who was standing there before the castle, ordered his own banner (vexillum) to be carried to him.

Ille autem accepit illud, et diligenter misit in turrim. Statim dixerunt Longobardi, qui illic stabant: "Hoc uexillum non est Boamundi." Interrogauit ille et dixit: "Cuius est?" Qui dixerunt: "Sancti Egidii comitis." Accessit ille, et apprehenso uexillo reddidit comiti. Ipsa uero hora uenit uir uenerabilis Boamundus, deditque illi suum uexillum.

He, however, received it and carefully had it sent into the tower. Immediately the Lombards, who were standing there, said: "This vexillum is not Bohemond’s." He asked and said: "Whose is it?" They said: "Of the Count of Saint Giles." He approached, and, seizing the vexillum, returned it to the count. But at that very hour the venerable man Bohemond came and gave him his own vexillum.

Ille autem illud accepit cum magno gaudio; et iniit pactum cum domino Boamundo, ut pagani qui uellent Christianitatem recipere essent cum eo, et qui uellent abire, sanos et absque ulla laesione abire permitteret. Consensit ille quicquid ei ammiralius postulauit, et continuo misit suos seruientes in castellum. Non post multos dies baptizatus est ammiralins, cum illis qui Christum recognoscere maluerunt.

He, however, received it with great joy; and he entered into a pact with lord Bohemond, that the pagans who wished to receive Christianity should be with him, and that those who wished to depart he would permit to depart safe and without any injury. He agreed to whatever the admiral asked of him, and immediately sent his servants into the castle. Not many days later the admiral was baptized, together with those who preferred to recognize Christ.

Illos uero qui suas uoluerunt tenere leges, fecit dominus Boamundus conduci in Saracenorum terram.

But those who wished to keep their own laws, Lord Boamund had conducted into the land of the Saracens.

Hoc bellum factum est in IIII kalendas Iulii, uigilia apostolorum Petri et Pauli; regnante domino nostro Iesu Christo, cui est honor et gloria in sempiterna secula. Amen.

This war was fought on the 4th day before the Kalends of July, the vigil of the apostles Peter and Paul; our Lord Jesus Christ reigning, to whom is honor and glory in sempiternal ages. Amen.

[Explicit liber IX. Incipit liber X.]

[Here ends book 9. Here begins book 10.]