William of Tyre: HISTORIA RERUM IN PARTIBUS TRANSMARINIS GESTARUM

Tradunt veteres historiae, et id ipsum etiam habent Orientalium traditiones, quod tempore quo Heraclius Augustus Romanum administrabat imperium, Mahumeth primogeniti Satanae (qui se prophetam a Domino missum mentiendo, Orientalium regiones, et maxime Arabiam seduxerat) ita invaluerat doctrina pestilens, et disseminatus languor ita universas occupaverat provincias, ut ejus successores jam non exhortationibus vel praedicatione, sed gladiis et violentia in suum errorem populos descendere compellerent invitos. Cum enim praedictus Augustus, victor reversus de Perside (unde crucem Domini cum gloria reportaverat) adhuc in Syria moram faceret, et per Modestum, virum venerabilem, quem Hierosolymis ordinaverat episcopum, ecclesiarum ruinas, quas Cosroe, Persarum satrapa nequissimus hostiliter dejecerat, in priorem statum, datis sumptibus necessariis, reformari praecepisset. Homar, filius Catab, a praedicto seductore tertius, erroris et regni successor, cum infinitis Arabum copiis, egregiam Palaestinorum urbem Gazam jam occupaverat violenter.

Ancient histories hand down, and the traditions of the Orientals likewise bear this very thing, that at the time when Heraclius Augustus was administering the Roman empire, Mahumeth, firstborn of Satan (who, by lying that he was a prophet sent by the Lord, had seduced the regions of the Orient, and most especially Arabia), had so prevailed by a pestilent doctrine, and the disseminated languor had so occupied all the provinces, that his successors now compelled peoples, unwilling, to descend into his error not by exhortations or by preaching, but by swords and by violence. For when the aforesaid Augustus, having returned victorious from Persia (whence he had brought back the Cross of the Lord with glory), was still making a stay in Syria, and through Modestus, a venerable man whom he had ordained bishop at Jerusalem, had commanded that the ruins of the churches, which Chosroes, the most wicked satrap of the Persians, had cast down in hostile fashion, be restored to their former state, the necessary expenses having been provided, Homar, son of Catab, the third after the aforesaid seducer, successor of the error and of the kingship, with innumerable forces of the Arabs, had already violently seized Gaza, the distinguished city of the Palestinians.

Unde postmodum Damascenorum fines cum suis legionibus et infinita multitudine, quam secum trahebat, ingressus, Damascum expugnaverat, praedicto imperatore adhuc in Cilicia rei exitum exspectante. Quod cum ei nuntiaretur quod Arabes in tantam elati superbiam, et e sua multitudine praesumentes, Romanorum fines invadere, et eorum urbes sibi vindicare non vererentur, videns quod ei vires non suppeterent ad occurrendum tantae multitudini, et ut eorum comprimeret insolentiam, maluit ad propria sospes redire, quam viribus imparibus, bellorum se dubiis committere casibus. Sic ergo eo discedente, qui afflictis civibus tenebatur patrocinium ministrare, Arabum invaluit violentia, ita ut subito et infra tempus modicum, a Laodicia Syriae usque in Aegyptum, universas occupaverint regiones.

Whence afterwards, having entered the borders of the Damascenes with his legions and the infinite multitude that he was dragging along with him, he had stormed Damascus, while the aforesaid emperor was still in Cilicia awaiting the issue of the affair. And when it was announced to him that the Arabs, exalted into such arrogance and presuming upon their multitude, did not fear to invade the borders of the Romans and to claim their cities for themselves, seeing that forces did not suffice him to meet so great a multitude and to check their insolence, he preferred to return safe to his own country, rather than to commit himself with unequal forces to the doubtful chances of wars. Thus therefore, as he departed—he who was held bound to furnish patronage to afflicted citizens—the violence of the Arabs prevailed, so that suddenly and within a short time, from Laodicea of Syria as far as into Egypt, they occupied all the regions.

Quis autem fuerit praedictus Mahumeth, et unde, et quomodo ad hanc proruperit insaniam, ut se prophetam mentiri et a Deo missum dicere praesumeret; cujus porro vitae et conversationis; quandiu regnaverit, et ubi; et quos demum habuerit successores; et quomodo pene orbem universum pestiferis ejus repleverint dogmatibus, qui eum in eodem errore secuti sunt, alibi disseruimus diligenter, sicut ex subsequentibus datur intelligi manifeste.

Who moreover that aforesaid Mahumeth was, and whence, and how he burst forth into this insanity, that he presumed to lie that he was a prophet and to say that he was sent by God; moreover of his life and conversation; how long he reigned, and where; and whom at length he had as successors; and how those who followed him in the same error have filled almost the whole world with his pestiferous dogmas—we have discussed elsewhere diligently, as from the things that follow it is given to be understood manifestly.

CAPUT II. Quae fuit occasio, quod ita subito Orientem occupavit; et quod idem Hierosolymam veniens, templum Domini reaedificari praecepit.

CHAPTER 2. What was the occasion, that he so suddenly occupied the Orient; and how the same man, coming to Jerusalem, commanded the Temple of the Lord to be re-edified.

Cooperabatur sane ad eorum propositum, quod paucis ante annis praedictus Cosroe, eamdem Syriam violenter ingressus, urbes dejecerat, concenderat suburbana; et ecclesias subvertens, populum captivaverat; et, Urbe sancta effracta, hostiliter in ea triginta sex civium millia gladio perimens, crucem Dominicam et loci ejusdem episcopum Zachariam, cum residuo populi tam urbis quam regionis universae secum transtulit in Persidem. Hic enim rex Persarum potentissimus, domini Mauritii Augusti (cujus adeo familiaris fuit beatus papa Gregorius, ut unum de liberis ejus de sacro fonte susciperet) filiam nomine Mariam in uxorem duxit; cujus gratia conjugii, lavacrum regenerationis adeptus est, fuitque Romanorum amicissimus, quandiu praedictus vixit imperator. Quo demum a Phoca Caesare, qui eidem postmodum in imperio successit, proditiose interfecto, abominatus eorum perfidiam, qui tam nefarium hominem, et adhuc domini sui caede cruentatum, super se regnare passi fuerant, quasi occultae societatis reos et illius sceleris habentes conscientiam: imperii fines violenter ingressus est, in res eorum violenter desaeviens, soceri necem, uxore stimulante, ultum iri desiderans: subactisque caeteris regionibus, quae Romanorum suberant ditioni, novissime Syriam, ut praemisimus, obtinuit, populis ejus aut peremptis gladio, aut secum in Persidem deductis.

It did indeed cooperate with their design that, a few years earlier, the aforesaid Khosrow, having violently entered that same Syria, had cast down the cities, burned the suburbs, and, overthrowing the churches, had taken the people captive; and, having broken into the Holy City, hostilely there killing with the sword 36 thousand citizens, he transferred the Lord’s Cross and the bishop of that same place, Zacharias, together with the remaining people both of the city and of the whole region, with him into Persia. For this king of the Persians, most powerful, took to wife Mary by name, the daughter of Lord Maurice Augustus (with whom Blessed Pope Gregory was so familiar that he received one of his children from the sacred font); by the grace of that marriage he obtained the laver of regeneration, and was most friendly to the Romans as long as the aforesaid emperor lived. But when he was at length treacherously slain by Phocas Caesar, who afterwards succeeded him in the empire, he abhorred the perfidy of those who had allowed so nefarious a man—still stained with his lord’s slaughter—to reign over them, as if guilty of a clandestine partnership and having consciousness of that crime; he violently entered the borders of the empire, raging against their goods with violence, desiring, at his wife’s instigation, that the death of his father-in-law be avenged: and, the other regions which were under Roman dominion being subdued, lastly he obtained Syria, as we premised, its peoples either slain by the sword or led with him into Persia.

Ingressi ergo Arabes, terram habitationibus reperientes vacuam, majorem subjiciendi eam sibi repererunt opportunitatem. Sic ergo urbem Deo amabilem, Hierosolymam videlicet, paribus calamitatibus involutam comprehendentes, populo, qui in ea orat modico, ut eis factus tributarius extremis conditionibus deserviret, pepercerunt, permittentes eis suum habere episcopum et ecclesiam, quae, ut praedictum est, dejecta fuerat, reparare, et religionem libere conservare Christianam. Dum autem in eadem civitate princeps supra nominatus moram faceret, coepit diligenter a civibus percunctari, et maxime a viro venerabili Sophronio, ejusdem loci episcopo (qui Modesto piae memoriae jam defuncto successerat) ubinam esset locus in quo templum Domini fuerat, quod a Tito Romano principe, cum ipsa urbe dirutum fuisse legitur: qui ostendentes ei locum designaverunt, aliqua vetusti operis exstantia vestigia demonstrantes, ubi sumptibus qui sufficere possent ad impensam designatis et convocatis artificibus, subjecta pro votis materia tam ex marmorum diversitate quam ex lignorum differentia multiplici, templum aedificari praecepit.

The Arabs therefore having entered, finding the land empty of habitations, found a greater opportunity to subject it to themselves. Thus then, seizing the city beloved by God, namely Jerusalem, involved in like calamities, they spared the people who were in it in small number, on condition that, being made tributary to them under the harshest terms, they should serve, allowing them to have their own bishop and to repair the church which, as aforesaid, had been cast down, and to preserve the Christian religion freely. But while in that same city the above-named prince made a stay, he began diligently to inquire of the citizens, and especially of the venerable man Sophronius, bishop of the same place (who had succeeded Modestus of pious memory, now deceased), where the place was in which the Temple of the Lord had been, which is read to have been torn down along with the city itself by Titus, the Roman prince; and they, pointing it out to him, designated the place, showing some standing vestiges of ancient work, where, with expenses allocated that could suffice for the outlay and the craftsmen summoned, material supplied according to desire, both from a diversity of marbles and from manifold varieties of woods, he ordered the temple to be built.

Quo postea infra modicum tempus, juxta conceptum mentis feliciter consummato, quale hodie Hierosolymis esse dignoscitur, multis et infinitis ditavit possessionibus, unde suppeterent facultates ad habenda perpetuo ejusdem sarta tecta, et vetera renovanda, et continenda luminaria per manum eorum qui in eodem templo deservirent. Quae autem sit illius forma, et quae operis elegantia, quoniam pene omnibus notum est, non est praesentis tractare negotii. Exstant porro in eodem templi aedificio, intus et extra, ex opere Musaico, Arabici idiomatis litterarum vetustissima monumenta, quae illius temporis esse creduntur: quibus et auctor, et impensarum quantitas, et quo tempore opus incoeptum, quoque consummatum fuerit, evidenter declaratur.

Afterwards, within a little time, the design having been happily consummated according to the conception of his mind, such as today is recognized to be at Jerusalem, he enriched it with many and innumerable possessions, whence resources might be at hand for keeping the same perpetually in repair, for renewing the old, and for maintaining the lights by the hand of those who should serve in the same temple. But what its form is, and what the elegance of the work, since it is almost to all known, is not the business of the present treatise to handle. Moreover, in that same building of the temple, within and without, there exist, in Mosaic work, most ancient monuments of letters of the Arabic idiom, which are believed to be of that time: by which both the author, and the quantity of expenditures, and at what time the work was incepted, and at what time also it was consummated, is clearly declared.

CAPUT III. Quanto tempore sub alternis dominiis Syria jugum passa est servitutis: et quomodo fidelibus, qui sub infidelium ditione degebant, utilis fuit amicitia magnifici imperatoris Caroli, cum Aarum rege Persarum contracta.

CHAPTER 3. For how long, under alternating dominions, Syria endured the yoke of servitude: and how to the faithful who dwelt under the rule of the unfaithful the friendship of the magnificent Emperor Charles, contracted with Aarum, king of the Persians, was useful.

Sic igitur civitate Deo amabili et sacrosancta, peccatis nostris exigentibus, infidelium subjecta hostium ditioni, jugum indebitae servitutis continuis passa est laboribus per annos quadringentos nonaginta; conditionibus tamen alternis. Nam frequenti rerum mutatione, dominos mutavit frequentius; secundum quorum dispositionem, plerumque lucida, plerumque nubila recepit intervalla; et aegrotantis more, temporum praesentium, gravabatur aut respirabat qualitate. Plenius tamen convalescere non poterat, quae infidelium principum et populi sine Deo, dominatione premebatur violenta.

Thus therefore the city, lovable to God and sacrosanct, with our sins demanding it, subjected to the dominion of unbelieving enemies, endured the yoke of undue servitude with continual labors for four hundred ninety years; yet under alternating conditions. For by frequent mutation of affairs, she more frequently changed lords; according to whose disposition she received intervals now lucid, now cloudy; and, after the manner of one ailing, by the quality of the present times she was weighed down or took breath. Yet she was not able to convalesce more fully, since she was pressed by the violent domination of infidel princes and a people without God.

Diebus tamen illius admirabilis et praedicandi viri, Aarum videlicet, qui cognominatus est Ressith, qui universo praefuit Orienti (cujus liberalitatem et urbanitatem praecipuam, et mores singulariter commendabiles, universus etiam usque hodie Oriens admiratur, et praeconiis attollit immortalibus) interventu piissimi et immortalis memoriae viri, domini videlicet imperatoris Caroli (qui mutuam, intercurrentibus nuntiis frequentibus, inter se gratiam et mirabili subnixam foedere, conciliaverant), plebi Dei tranquillitas praestita est, et favor principis clementer indultus ad multam consolationem; ita ut magis sub imperatore Carolo, quam sub dicto principe degere viderentur. De quo ita legitur in Vita praedicti viri gloriosi: Cum Aarum, rege Persarum, qui, excepta India, totum pene Orientem tenebat, talem habuit in amicitia concordiam, ut is gratiam ejus, omnium qui in toto orbe terrarum erant regum ac principum amicitiae praeponeret, solumque illum honore ac magnificentia sibi colendum judicaret. Ac proinde cum legati ejus, quos cum donariis ad sacratissimum Domini ac Salvatoris nostri sepulcrum locumque resurrectionis miserat, ad eum venissent, et ei domini sui voluntatem indicassent, non solum quae petebantur fieri permisit, sed etiam sacrum illum et salutarem locum, ut illius potestati ascriberetur, concessit, et revertentibus legatis suos adjungens, inter vestes et aromata, et caeteras Orientalium terrarum opes, ingentia illi dona direxit: cum ei ante annos paucos, eum quem tunc solum habebat, roganti mitteret elephantem. Nec solum iis qui Hierosolymis habitabant sub infidelium potestate fidelibus, verum et iis qui in Aegypto et in Africa sub impietate degebant Sarracenorum, suarum largitionum frequenter dirigebat solatia, et pietatis opera porrigebat; sicut in ejus Vita legitur, quae habet ita: Circa pauperes sustentandos, et gratuitam liberalitatem (quam Graeci eleemosynam vocant) devotissimus, ut non in patria solum et in regno suo id facere curaverit, verum trans maria, in Syria et Aegypto atque Africa, Hierosolymis, Alexandriae atque Carthagini, ubi Christianos in paupertate vivere compererat, penuriae eorum compatiens, pecuniam mittere solebat.

Nevertheless, in the days of that admirable and to-be-proclaimed man, namely Aarum, who was surnamed Ressith, who presided over the whole Orient (whose liberality and exceptional urbanity, and manners singularly commendable, the entire East even to this day admires and exalts with immortal proclamations), by the intervention of the most pious man of immortal memory, namely the lord emperor Charles (who between themselves, with frequent messengers running between, had conciliated mutual favor, propped up by a marvelous foedus), tranquility was afforded to the people of God, and the favor of the prince was graciously granted to much consolation; so that they seemed to live rather under emperor Charles than under the said prince. Concerning whom thus it is read in the Life of the aforesaid glorious man: With Aarum, king of the Persians, who, India excepted, held almost the whole Orient, he had such concord in friendship that he preferred his favor to the friendship of all the kings and princes who were in the whole orb of the lands, and judged that he alone should be honored by him with honor and magnificence. And accordingly, when his envoys, whom he had sent with donaries to the most sacred sepulcher of the Lord and our Savior and the place of the resurrection, had come to him, and had indicated to him their lord’s will, he not only permitted the things that were asked to be done, but also granted that that sacred and health-giving place should be ascribed to his power, and, adding his own men to the returning envoys, he sent to him immense gifts among garments and aromatics, and the other riches of the Oriental lands; whereas a few years before, at his request, he sent him an elephant, the only one which at that time he had. Nor only to the faithful who dwelt at Jerusalem under the power of the infidels, but even to those who were living in Egypt and in Africa under the impiety of the Saracens, he frequently directed the consolations of his largesses, and extended works of piety; just as it is read in his Life, which has thus: Most devout with regard to sustaining the poor, and gratuitous liberality (which the Greeks call eleemosyna), he took care to do that not in his fatherland only and in his own kingdom, but across the seas, in Syria and Egypt and Africa, at Jerusalem, at Alexandria, and at Carthage, where he had learned that Christians were living in poverty; pitying their penury, he was accustomed to send money.

Ob hoc maxime transmarinorum regum amicitias expetens, ut Christianis sub eorum dominatu degentibus, refrigerium aliquod ac relevatio proveniret. Quod autem et quantis rerum, temporum et dominiorum variis permutationibus hoc medio tempore flagellata fuerit, tam praedicta Dei cultrix civitas quam universa ei adjacens regio, si quis scire desiderat, eam relegat historiam, quam nos De gestis Orientalium principum, a tempore praedicti seductoris Mahumeth usque in hunc praesentem diem, qui est nobis ab Incarnatione Domini 1182, per annos quingentos septuaginta seriem rerum complexam, cum multo labore confecimus.

For this reason especially seeking the friendships of transmarine kings, so that for Christians dwelling under their dominion some refreshment and relief might accrue. But by what and how many various permutations of affairs, times, and dominions in the meantime both the aforesaid God-worshiping city and the whole region adjacent to it have been scourged, if anyone desires to know, let him reread that history which we have composed, On the Deeds of the Oriental Princes, from the time of the aforesaid seducer Mahomet up to this present day, which is for us from the Incarnation of the Lord 1182, a series of affairs comprising five hundred seventy years, completed with much labor.

CAPUT IV Quomodo in potestatem devenit Aegyptii caliphae, et quomodo Heque nequissimo regnante, servitutis jugum super fideles factum sit intolerabilius; et de ruina ecclesiae Hierosolymitanae.

CHAPTER 4 How it came into the power of the Egyptian Caliph, and how, with Heque the most wicked reigning, the yoke of servitude upon the faithful was made more intolerable; and about the ruin of the Church of Jerusalem.

Porro per idem tempus inter Aegyptios et Persas aemula nimis et pertinax erat de monarchia contentio. Ministrabat autem odiorum fomitem et incentivum majus, contradictoriarum observantia traditionum, qua usque hodie uterque populus contentionibus reciprocis sacrilegos se appellant, sibi non communicantes invicem, ita ut etiam nominibus velint habere differentiam. Qui enim Orientalium superstitionem sequuntur, lingua eorum Sunni dicuntur; qui vero Aegyptiorum traditiones praeferunt, appellantur Siha, qui nostrae fidei magis consentire videntur.

Moreover, at the same time between the Egyptians and the Persians there was a rivalry over the monarchy that was excessively emulous and pertinacious. And the observance of contradictory traditions supplied the fuel of hatreds and a greater incentive, whereby even to this day each people, in reciprocal contentions, calls the other sacrilegious, not communicating with one another, so that they even wish to have a difference in names. For those who follow the superstition of the Orientals are, in their tongue, called Sunni; but those who prefer the traditions of the Egyptians are called Siha, who seem to agree more with our faith.

Quae autem sit inter eos erroris differentia, non est praesentis temporis edocere. Tandem vero Aegyptiorum regno invalescente, et usque Antiochiam provincias et regiones occupante, cum caeteris in ejus Urbs sancta, legibus communibus, descendit potestatem. Sub quo principatu (sicuti captivis solent aliquando tempora indulgentiora concedi) a suis anxietatibus coepit aliquantulum esse remissius, quousque consummata hominum nequitia exigente, eidem regno Hequen calipha praefectus est.

But what the difference in error between them is, it is not for the present time to teach. At length, however, as the kingdom of the Egyptians was gaining in strength and occupying provinces and regions as far as Antioch, the Holy City, along with the rest, descended into its power, under common laws. Under which principate (just as to captives more indulgent times are sometimes wont to be granted) it began to be somewhat relaxed from its anxieties, until, with the wickedness of men brought to completion demanding it, to that same kingdom Hequen the caliph was appointed.

Hic et praedecessorum suorum et successorum pariter longe vincens malitiam, factus est posteris et ejus insaniam legentibus solemnis fabula. Adeo enim in omni impietate et nequitia singularis exstitit, ut ejus vita Deo et hominibus odibilis speciales exigat tractatus. Hic inter caetera, quae perniciosa plurima praeceperat, ecclesiam Dominicae Resurrectionis (quae per venerabilem virum Maximum, ejusdem loci episcopum, praecipiente domino Constantino Augusto aedificata fuerat, postea per reverendissimum Modestum tempore domini Heraclii reparata) funditus dejici mandavit.

This man, surpassing by far the malice of both his predecessors and his successors alike, became for posterity and for those reading of his insanity a solemn fable. For to such a degree he stood singular in every impiety and iniquity, that his life, odious to God and to men, demands special tractates. He, among the many other pernicious commands he had given, ordered the Church of the Lord’s Resurrection (which had been built, at the bidding of lord Constantine Augustus, by the venerable man Maximus, bishop of the same place, and afterwards, in the time of lord Heraclius, restored by the most reverend Modestus) to be cast down to the very foundations.

Cujus praecepti rescriptum quidam ejus procurator, praeses videlicet Ramulensis, Hyaroe nomine, ad se directum suscipiens, praedicta ecclesia usque ad solum diruta, jussionem regiam effectui mancipavit. Praeerat vero ea tempestate eidem ecclesiae vir venerabilis Orestus nomine, ejusdem nequissimi regis avunculus, matris ejusdem frater. Hoc autem ideo fecisse dicitur, ut suae perfidiae populis infidelibus daret argumentum.

The rescript of this command, a certain agent of his—namely the governor of Ramla, by the name Hyaroe—having received as addressed to him, committed the royal injunction to execution, the aforesaid church having been razed down to the very ground. At that time there presided over the same church a venerable man named Orestes, the maternal uncle of that same most wicked king, the brother of his mother. He is said to have done this for this reason: that he might give to the infidel peoples an argument of his perfidy.

Objiciebatur enim ei Christianitatis titulus, eo quod ex matre Christiana natus esset; quam quasi crimen a se volens depellere, praedictum facinus ausus est perpetrare, nihil arbitratus superesse calumniae, quod in ejus personam impingi posset, quodque ejus aemulis pateret ad morsum, ex quo religionis fontem Christianae, fidei catholicae cunabula dejecisset.

For the title of Christianity was being cast in his teeth, in that he had been born of a Christian mother; which, wishing to drive away from himself as if it were a crime, he dared to perpetrate the aforesaid deed, thinking that nothing of calumny remained which could be impinged upon his person, and that would lie open to the bite of his rivals, once he had cast down the fount of Christian religion, the cradle of the catholic faith.

CAPUT V. Quae erat conditio fidelium per illud tempus inter infideles.

CHAPTER 5. What was the condition of the faithful during that time among the infidels.

Ab ea die coepit fidelium in eadem civitate multo deterior esse conditio, tum ex dolore justissimo, quem ex casu sanctae Resurrectionis ecclesiae conceperant; tum ex multiplicatis angariis geminata molestia. Nam praeter enormitatem tributorum et vectigalium, quae ab eis praeter morem et contra privilegia a suis praedecessoribus indulta exigebantur, solemnitates etiam interdixerat, quas usque ad illum diem sub aliis principibus, et in occulto et palam satis libere celebraverant. Quoque dies erat celebrior, eo arctius domiciliorum suorum septis cohibebantur, nec in publicum audebant comparere, domi etiam non tutum dabatur eis habere refugium, sed jactu lapidum et sordium immissione, et violentis irruptionibus, quanto dies erat solemnior, tanto amplius molestabantur.

From that day the condition of the faithful in the same city began to be much worse, both from the most just grief which they had conceived from the downfall of the Church of the Holy Resurrection; and from multiplied press-services with doubled vexation. For besides the enormity of tributes and customs-duties, which were exacted from them contrary to custom and against the privileges granted by his predecessors, he had also interdicted the solemnities, which up to that day under other princes, both in secret and openly, they had celebrated quite freely. And the more notable the day was, by so much the more closely were they confined within the enclosures of their dwellings, nor did they dare to appear in public; not even at home was it granted them to have a refuge, but by the casting of stones and the infliction of filth, and by violent irruptions, the more solemn the day, the more they were harassed.

Ad haec et pro quolibet verbo levi, ad quamlibet accusatoris alicujus suggestionem, sine causae cognitione rapiebantur ad cruces et supplicia, bona confiscabantur, auferebantur possessiones, filiique eorum et filiae rapti de domibus parentum, flagellis aliquando, nonnunquam blandimentis et promissionibus apostatare cogebantur, aut patibulis affigi. Qui autem pro tempore erat illis patriarcha, is primum injurias excipiebat et opprobria; tum eos et publice et secretius ad longanimitatem invitans, pro temporalibus quae patiebantur malis, coronas promittebat sempiternas. Cujus verbis et exemplo commoniti, transitorias pro Christo contemnentes injurias, se invicem mutua charitate consolabantur.

To these things, moreover, for any slight word, at whatever suggestion of some accuser, without cognizance of the case they were snatched to crosses and punishments, their goods were confiscated, possessions taken away, and their sons and daughters, seized from the houses of their parents, were at times by scourges, at times by blandishments and promises, compelled to apostatize, or to be affixed to gibbets. But he who for the time was their patriarch first received injuries and obloquies; then, inviting them both publicly and more secretly to longanimity, he promised sempiternal crowns in exchange for the temporal evils which they suffered. Admonished by whose words and example, despising transitory injuries for Christ, they consoled one another with mutual charity.

Referre per singula longum esset, quanta in propriis corporibus praedicti servi Dei pertulerint tormenta, ut haeredes fierent in domo Domini, et ut leges aemularentur paternas. Unum tamen de tot millibus, exempli gratia, producamus in medium, ut per haec deprehendat vestra dilectio, quam ex frivolis causis ad ultima supplicia rapiebantur. Quidam civis ex infidelibus nostros odio persequens insatiabili, vir perfidus et nequam, ut eis aliquid ad mortem moliretur, morticinum canis clam projecit in atrium templi, in cujus munditia conservanda, ejus custodes et universa civitas omnem impendebant sollicitudinem.

To recount through particulars would be long, how great torments the aforesaid servants of God have borne in their own bodies, that they might become heirs in the house of the Lord, and that they might emulate the paternal laws. Yet one, out of so many thousands, let us bring forward into the midst by way of example, that through these your Love may perceive how for frivolous causes they were being snatched away to ultimate punishments. A certain citizen from among the unbelievers, pursuing our people with insatiable hatred—a perfidious and wicked man—in order to contrive something unto death against them, secretly cast the carrion of a dog into the atrium of the temple, for the preservation of whose cleanliness its custodians and the whole city were expending every solicitude.

Mane facto, qui orationis gratia accesserunt ad templum, reperientes immundum cadaver et fetens, pene ad insaniam versi, universam urbem repleverunt clamoribus. Concurrit subito populus universus, et omnes asserunt pro constanti, Christianos hoc fecisse. Quid plura?

At daybreak, those who had come to the temple for the sake of oration (prayer), finding an unclean and fetid cadaver, almost turned to insanity, filled the whole city with clamors. The entire populace suddenly runs together, and all assert as a certainty that the Christians had done this. What more?

Decernitur interitus universis, et tam piaculare flagitium morte piandum judicatur. Fideles porro de sua confidentes innocentia, mortem pro Christo parati erant subire. Dumque adessent spiculatores eductis gladiis ut populum interimerent, obtulit se adolescens plenus spiritu, dicens: Periculosum est, fratres, si ita perit omnis haec ecclesia.

Destruction is decreed for all, and such a piacular outrage is judged to be atoned for by death. The faithful, moreover, confident in their own innocence, were ready to undergo death for Christ. And while the executioners were present, swords drawn, to slaughter the people, a youth, full of the Spirit, offered himself, saying: It is perilous, brothers, if in this way this whole church perishes.

Expedit magis ut unus moriatur pro populo, et non tota gens pereat. Concedite mihi, ut mei habeatis annuam in benedictione memoriam, et generi meo honor in perpetuum debitus conservetur; ego vero, auctore Domino, hanc a vobis stragem depello. Susceperunt igitur gratanter verbum, et quod ille petierat, ultro concedunt. Et ut in Ramis palmarum ad perennem ejus memoriam, contribules ejus olivam, quae Domini nostri Jesu Christi significativa est, introducant in civitatem, in processione solemni, confirmant.

It is expedient that one man die for the people, and that not the whole nation perish. Grant to me that you have an annual remembrance of me in the blessing, and that the honor owed to my lineage be preserved in perpetuity; but I, with the Lord as author, will drive away this slaughter from you. They therefore gladly received the word, and what he had asked they freely grant. And they confirm that, on Palm Sunday, for his perennial memory, his fellow-townsmen should bring the olive, which is significative of our Lord Jesus Christ, into the city in a solemn procession.

Quo facto, praedictus adolescens primatibus se offert civitatis, reum se confitetur, et omnes alios astruit innocentes. Quod audientes judices, aliis absolutis, illum gladio exposuerunt. Et ita pro fratribus animam ponens, cum pietate dormitionem accepit, optimam in Domino habens repositam gratiam.

With this done, the aforesaid youth presents himself to the primates of the city, confesses himself guilty, and affirms all the others to be innocent. Hearing this, the judges, the others having been absolved, exposed him to the sword. And thus, laying down his life for his brothers, he received dormition with piety, having his best grace laid up in the Lord.

CAPUT VI. Quomodo patri nequam, filius Daber egregius moderator regni successit: et precibus domini Romani, Constantinopolitani imperatoris, reaedificatur ecclesia, cooperante Joanne Carianite, Constantino monacho necessaria ministrante.

CHAPTER 6. How, to a wicked father, the son Daber, an excellent moderator of the realm, succeeded; and at the prayers of Lord Romanus, the Constantinopolitan Emperor, the church is re-edified, John the Carian co-operating, Constantine the monk ministering the necessities.

Adfuit tandem divina clementia, et afflictorum miserta, consolationem intulit non modicam rebus desperatis. Praedicto enim principe nequam rebus humanis exempto, cessavit ex parte quassatio, filio ejus Daher regnum obtinente. Hic siquidem ad petitionem domini Romani imperatoris Constantinopolitani (qui cognominatus est Heliopolitanus, cum quo etiam foedus quod pater ejus violaverat resarciens, contraxerat amicitiam) praedictam ecclesiam reaedificandi fidelibus concessit potestatem.

At last divine clemency was present, and, having pitied the afflicted, brought no small consolation to the desperate state of affairs. For the aforesaid wicked prince, removed from human affairs, the shaking ceased in part, his son Daher obtaining the kingdom. He indeed, at the petition of Lord Roman, the emperor of Constantinople (who was surnamed the Heliopolitan, with whom also, repairing the treaty which his father had violated, he had contracted friendship), granted to the faithful the power of re-edifying the aforesaid church.

Qua concessa, cognoscens plebs fidelium, quae Hierosolymis habitabat, quod ad tanti operis restaurationem eorum vires non sufficerent, missis nuntiis ad praedicti Romani successorem, dominum Constantinum monomachum, qui tunc agebat in sceptris, precibus porrectis, humiliter significant in quanto moerore et in quanta desolatione post ecclesiam dirutam populus consedisset: orant affectuosissime, ut ad reaedificationem ecclesiae, imperialis munificentiae liberalem porrigeret manum. Procurabat autem eorum legationem quidam Joannes cognomento Carianitis, Constantinopolitanus natione, nobilis quidem secundum carnem, sed moribus multo nobilior. Hic postposita saeculi dignitate, Christum secutus, religionis assumpto habitu, Hierosolymis pauper pro Christo habitabat.

This having been granted, the plebs of the faithful who dwelt at Jerusalem, recognizing that their forces did not suffice for the restoration of so great a work, sent messengers to the successor of the aforesaid Romanus, lord Constantine Monomachus, who then held the scepters; with prayers presented, they humbly signify in how great mourning and in what desolation the people had sat down after the church was torn down: they beg most affectuously that, for the re-edification of the church, he would extend the liberal hand of imperial munificence. Now a certain John, surnamed Carianitis, by nation a Constantinopolitan—noble indeed according to the flesh, but much more noble in morals—was managing their legation. He, with the dignity of the age set aside, following Christ, having assumed the habit of religion, was dwelling at Jerusalem as a pauper for Christ.

Missus ergo, debita instantia, sollicitudine non pigra, apud eumdem dominum imperatorem fideliter elaborans, obtinuit, ut ad opus praedicti aedificii de proprio fisco, idem Deo amabilis Augustus, sumptus necessarios et sufficientes ministrari praeciperet. Impetrata ergo pro voto fidelis populi postulatione, laetus Hierosolymam reversus est. Ubi nuntiato itineris successu, et precum porrectarum exauditione, universum clerum et populum, quasi de gravi aegritudine convalescentes recreavit.

Sent therefore, with due urgency and a solicitude not sluggish, laboring faithfully before that same lord emperor, he obtained that, for the work of the aforesaid edifice, that same Augustus lovable to God should order the necessary and sufficient expenses to be supplied out of his own fisc. The petition, then, of the faithful people having been obtained in accordance with their vow, he returned joyful to Jerusalem. There, the success of the journey having been announced, and the hearing of the prayers that had been presented, he refreshed the whole clergy and people, as though convalescing from a grave sickness.

Praeerat autem eidem ecclesiae tunc vir venerabilis, Nicephorus patriarcha. Sic ergo obtenta licentia, et sumptibus de imperiali aerario ministratis, eam quae nunc Hierosolymis est, sanctae Resurrectionis aedificaverunt ecclesiam, anno ab Incarnatione Domini 1048, ante urbis liberationem annis LI, tricesimo vero septimo postquam diruta fuerat. Qua constructa, contra imminentia pericula, et mille mortis discrimina consolationem receperunt.

At that time a venerable man was presiding over the same church, the patriarch Nicephorus. Thus then, the license having been obtained, and expenses furnished from the imperial treasury, they built the church of the Holy Resurrection which now is in Jerusalem, in the year from the Incarnation of the Lord 1048, 51 years before the liberation of the city, and indeed in the 37th after it had been torn down. When this had been constructed, against the imminent perils and a thousand hazards of death they received consolation.

Non tamen cessabant adversus eumdem populum fidelem frequentes injuriae et angariarum nova genera; sputa, colaphi, vincula, carceres; ad ultimum, suppliciorum omne genus, quibus populus Dei incessanter affligebatur. Nec solum iis qui in eadem urbe erant, sed etiam iis qui in Bethlehem et Thecua, ubi soli habitabant fideles, idem cauterium imprimebatur. Quoties enim novus accedebat praeses, et missus a calipha recens dirigebatur procurator, toties contra Dei populum novae struebantur calumniae, et varia extorquendi inveniebantur argumenta.

Nevertheless, frequent injuries and new kinds of angaries did not cease against that same faithful people: spittings, buffets, bonds, prisons; at the last, every kind of punishments, by which the people of God was incessantly afflicted. Nor only upon those who were in the same city, but also upon those in Bethlehem and Tekoa, where only the faithful dwelt, the same branding-iron was impressed. For as often as a new praeses came in, and a newly sent procurator was directed by the caliph, so often new calumnies were contrived against the people of God, and various pretexts for extortion were devised.

Et quoties a domino patriarcha et populo communiter aliquid volebant violenter exigere, si aliquo casu eorum differebatur postulatio, statim minabantur ecclesiam dejicere. Idque pene annis patiebantur singulis, confingentibus praesidibus se hujusmodi rescriptum a regia directum celsitudine habere prae manibus, ut si aliquam difficultatem vel moram in praestandis tributis aut vectigalibus praesumerent adnectere, eorum statim usque ad solum dirutae deponerentur ecclesiae. Quandiu tamen Aegyptiorum aut Persarum praevaluit regnum, sub eorum imperio fideles melioribus usi sunt conditionibus.

And as often as they wished to exact something by force from the lord patriarch and the people in common, if by any chance their petition was deferred, they immediately threatened to tear down the church. And this they endured almost every single year, with the governors feigning that they had at hand such a rescript sent from the royal highness, to the effect that, if they should presume to attach any difficulty or delay in paying tributes or taxes, their churches would at once be laid low, razed down to the ground. However, so long as the kingdom of the Egyptians or of the Persians prevailed, under their imperium the faithful enjoyed better conditions.

At vero postquam Turcorum invalescere iterum coepit regnum, et eorum viatus super Aegyptiorum et Persarum fines ampliari, et in eorum Urbs sancta decidit potestatem, per triginta octo annos, quibus eam detinuerunt occupatam, majoribus molestiis coepit populus Dei fatigari; ita ut leve ducerent, quod sub Aegyptiorum vel Persarum jugo pertulerant.

But indeed after the kingdom of the Turks again began to grow strong, and their sway to be enlarged over the borders of the Egyptians and Persians, and the Holy City fell into their power, for 38 years, during which they held it occupied, the people of God began to be wearied by greater molestations; so that they deemed light what they had borne under the yoke of the Egyptians or the Persians.

CAPUT VII De ortu et prima origine gentis Turcorum.

CHAPTER 7 On the birth and first origin of the nation of the Turks.

Et quoniam de gente Turcorum frequenter nobis in opere praesenti erant dicenda quamplurima, quae ipsi contra nostros, nostrique adversus eos viriliter magnificeque saepius gesserunt; et adhuc proterve nimis in nostrorum impugnatione perseverant: non videtur alienum a nostro proposito, de ortu et prima origine gentis hujus, et processu ad hunc excellentiae gradum, in quo jam multis annis stetisse leguntur, aliquid praesenti interserere narrationi. Gens igitur Turcorum, seu Turcomannorum (nam ab eodem habuerunt originem) ab initio septentrionalis fuit, inculta penitus, et certam non habens sedem. Vagabantur etenim, et passim circumferebantur, pascuorum sectantes commoditatem, non habentes urbes vel oppida, vel alicubi manentem civitatem.

And since, concerning the nation of the Turks, in the present work we have had very many things to say, which they themselves have more than once carried out manfully and magnificently against our own, and our own against them; and even now they persist too insolently in assailing our people: it does not seem alien to our purpose to interweave into the present narration something about the rise and first origin of this nation, and the process to this grade of excellence, in which they are read to have stood now for many years. The nation, therefore, of the Turks, or Turcomans (for they had their origin from the same), from the beginning was northern, utterly uncultivated, and not having a fixed seat. For they wandered, and were borne about everywhere, following the convenience of pastures, not having cities or towns, nor anywhere an abiding civic community.

Volentes autem proficisci, incedebant simul qui ex eadem tribu erant, aliquem de majoribus contribulium suorum habentes quasi principem, ad quem universae quae in eadem tribu simul emergebant, referebantur quaestiones; cujusque dicto ab utraque dissonantium parte parebatur; cujusque non impune licebat examen declinare. Migrantes autem, universam secum suam substantiam transferebant, equitia, greges, et armenta, servos et ancillas; nam in his eorum omne consistebat peculium: nusquam agriculturae dantes operam; emptionum et venditionum ignorantes contractus, sed solis permutationibus, vitae sibi comparantes necessaria. Volentes autem alicubi, locorum herbidorum amoenitate tracti, tabernacula figere, et ad tempus aliquod moram sine molestia facere, per quosdam ex suis, qui videbantur prudentiores, regionum principes solebant convenire et pactis initis sub placitis conditionibus, et certa tributorum praestatione, sub principe qui regioni praeerat, moram juxta condictum habebant in pascuis et nemoribus.

Wishing, however, to set out, those who were of the same tribe advanced together, having some one of the elders of their fellow-tribesmen as it were a prince, to whom all questions that arose together within the same tribe were referred; whose word was obeyed by each of the dissenting parties; and whose judgment it was not permitted to avoid with impunity. Migrating, moreover, they transferred with them their entire substance, cavalry-horses, flocks, and herds, slaves and maidservants; for in these their whole peculium consisted: nowhere giving labor to agriculture; ignorant of contracts of buying and selling, but by barters alone procuring for themselves the necessities of life. Wishing, however, somewhere, drawn by the amenity of grassy places, to pitch their tents, and to make a sojourn without molestation for some time, through certain of their own who seemed more prudent they were wont to approach the princes of the regions, and, pacts having been entered under agreed conditions, and with a fixed prestation of tributes, under the prince who presided over the region, they had a sojourn according to the covenant in the pastures and groves.

Accidit autem quod illius populi multitudo maxima ab aliis seorsum incedens, Persarum ingressi fines, regionem invenerunt sibi aptissimam. Datoque regi, qui erat pro tempore, secundum quod inter eos ab initio convenerat, tributo, per annos aliquot moram ibi habuerunt diuturniorem. Augebatur autem eorum populus in immensum, et multiplicationis eorum non erat finis; ita ut regi et indigenis, mentem quodammodo habentibus praesagam, suspecta nimis esset eorum embola.

It happened, moreover, that a very great multitude of that people, proceeding apart from the others, having entered the borders of the Persians, found a region most apt for themselves. And, having given to the king who was at the time, tribute according to what had from the beginning been agreed between them, they made there a more prolonged stay for several years. Meanwhile their people was increasing to the immeasurable, and there was no end of their multiplication; so that to the king and the natives, having in some manner a presaging mind, their inrush (embolê) was exceedingly suspect.

Unde factum est, quod habito consilio violenter a regni finibus eos per se propellere, decreverant. Sed mutato consilio visum est eis expedientius, ut multiplicatis angariis, et consuetis pressionibus, novis irregulariter superadditis eos fatigarent, usque dum sponte sine coactione discederent. Cumque jam annis pluribus injuriarum pondus et tributorum enormitatem exactorum sustinentes, diutius tolerare nolle, communicato decernerent consilio, et hoc regi esset compertum, missa voce praeconia, jussi sunt a regno infra certum tempus discedere universo.

Whence it came about that, counsel having been held, they had decreed to drive them by force from the borders of the kingdom. But with the counsel changed, it seemed to them more expedient to wear them out by multiplied angaries, and, to the customary pressures, irregularly superadding new ones, until they should depart of their own accord without coercion. And when now for many years they were sustaining the weight of injuries and the enormity of the tributes exacted, and, unwilling to endure longer, after shared counsel they resolved—and when this was found out by the king—a proclamation being sent forth by the herald’s voice, they were ordered to depart altogether from the kingdom within a fixed time.

Transeuntesque fluvium Cobar, qui regnum ex ea parte limitabat, ubi vident solito liberius et diligentius suorum infinitam multitudinem; nam prius seorsum habitantes, sui nec numerum noverant, nec potentiam: mirati sunt quomodo tantus tamque innumerabilis populus alicujus principum aliquando tolerare potuerit superbiam, et angariarum et tributorum acerbitatem portare. Visumque est eis absque dubio, quod et Persarum populo, et qualibet natione nec numero nec viribus essent impares; nihilque eis ad obtinendas violenter finitimas regiones deesset aliud, quam id quod more aliorum populorum sibi regem non haberent. Volentes igitur votis consonis sibi regem creare, describentes suorum universam multitudinem, repererunt in eis centum familias caeteris splendidiores; quarum quamlibet sagittam unam praeceperunt afferre, et juxta numerum familiarum centum sagittarum colligaverunt manipulum.

And crossing the river Cobar, which bounded the kingdom on that side, where they see, more freely and more diligently than usual, the infinite multitude of their own; for previously, living separately, they had known neither their own number nor their power: they marveled how so great and so innumerable a people could ever have endured the arrogance of any princes, and borne the bitterness of angaries and tributes. And it seemed to them, without doubt, that to the people of the Persians, and to any nation whatsoever, they were unequal in neither number nor strength; and that nothing else was lacking to them for forcibly obtaining the neighboring regions, except this: that, after the manner of other peoples, they did not have a king for themselves. Wishing therefore, with concordant vows, to create a king for themselves, enrolling the entire multitude of their own, they found among them one hundred families more splendid than the rest; of which they ordered each to bring one arrow, and, according to the number of the families, they bound together a bundle of one hundred arrows.

Quem operientes, vocaverunt quemdam puerulum innocentem, praecipientes ei, ut immissa manu sub velamento, quo praedictarum latebat manipulus sagittarum, eo unam educeret solam, ea conditione ut de ea familia rex assumeretur, cujus sorte sagitta exiret. Factumque est casu, quod puer eduxit sagittam familiae Selducorum. Unde constitit apud omnes, sicuti prius ordinatum fuerat, quod ex ea tribu princeps futurus crearetur.

Covering it, they called a certain innocent little boy, instructing him that, with his hand thrust under the veil beneath which the bundle of the aforesaid arrows lay hidden, he should draw out one arrow only, on the condition that from that family a king would be taken whose arrow should come out by lot. And it happened by chance that the boy drew the arrow of the family of the Selduks (Seljuks). Whence it was agreed among all, just as it had previously been ordained, that from that tribe the future prince would be created.

Praeceptum est iterum, ut ex eadem tribu centum eligerentur, qui et aetate et moribus, et virtute caeteros anteirent suos contribules; utque singuli singulas afferrent sagittas, offerentium habentes inscripta nomina. Factoque ex eis iterum manipulo, et diligenter cooperto vocatus est iterum puer, vel idem qui et prius, vel alius fortasse ejusdem innocentiae: cui similiter persuasum est, ut unam ex eis educeret: eduxitque unam cui inscriptum erat nomen Selduc. Erat autem is vir speciosus admodum, nobilis et in sua tribu praeclarus, provectae aetatis, sed integer viribus, et in re militari multam habens experientiam; quique tota corporis habitudine magni principis praetenderet elegantiam.

It was commanded again that from the same tribe a hundred be chosen, who in age, in morals, and in virtue outstripped the rest of their fellow-tribesmen; and that each should bring a single arrow, the arrows bearing the inscribed names of the offerers. And when a maniple had again been made from them and carefully covered, the boy was summoned again—either the same as before, or perhaps another of the same innocence—and he was similarly persuaded to draw one from them; and he drew one on which the name Selduc was inscribed. Now he was a very handsome man, noble and illustrious in his tribe, of advanced age, yet unimpaired in strength, and possessing much experience in the military art; and in the whole bearing of his body he displayed the elegance of a great prince.

Hunc ergo de communi decreto sibi praeficientes, in throno sublimaverunt regio, eam quae debetur regibus, ei exhibentes reverentiam, et ad ejus implenda imperia, foedere complacito et juramentis corporaliter praestitis se obligantes. Ille autem statim collata sibi satis pro imperio utens potestate, missa voce praeconia, edici publice mandat, ut retransito flumine et transmissis legionibus universis, Persarum fines, unde prius exierant, occupent violenter, et adjacentia sibi vindicent regna, ne de caetero compellantur regiones exteras errabundi circuire, et aliarum nationum tolerare fastus importabiles. Factumque est, quod infra paucos annos non solum Persarum, verum etiam universa Orientalium regna sibi subjugaverunt, subacta Arabum et aliarum nationum, quae principatus obtinebant, violentia.

Appointing him, therefore, over themselves by a common decree, they exalted him upon the royal throne, showing to him the reverence which is owed to kings, and binding themselves to fulfill his commands, with a pact agreed and oaths bodily rendered. He, however, straightway, using the power conferred upon him sufficient for imperial rule, the herald’s voice having been sent forth, orders an edict to be proclaimed publicly: that, the river having been crossed back and all the legions transported, they should violently seize the borders of the Persians, whence they had previously gone out, and should vindicate to themselves the adjacent kingdoms, lest hereafter they be compelled, as wanderers, to go around foreign regions and to endure the intolerable haughtiness of other nations. And it came to pass that within a few years they subjugated to themselves not only the lands of the Persians, but even all the kingdoms of the Orientals, the realms of the Arabs and of other nations which were holding principalities having been subdued by violence.

Sicque populus vilis et abjectus ad tantum subito culmen evolavit, quod universum occupavit Orientem. Idque factum est vix triginta aut quadraginta annis, antequam nostri Occidentales principes peregrinationis iter, de quo hic agendum est, arriperent. Utque aliqua esset differentia saltem nominis inter eos qui sibi regem creaverant, et per hoc ingentem erant gloriam consecuti; et eos, qui in suo ruditate adhuc permanent, priorem vivendi modum non deserentes, dicuntur isti hodie Turci; illi vero prisca appellatione Turcomanni.

And so a vile and abject people suddenly soared to so great a summit that it occupied the whole Orient. And this was accomplished in scarcely 30 or 40 years, before our Western princes seized upon the journey of pilgrimage, about which there is to be discourse here. And so that there might be some difference at least of name between those who had created a king for themselves, and by this had attained immense glory; and those who still remain in their rudeness, not abandoning their prior mode of living, the former today are called Turks; but the latter, by the ancient appellation, Turcomans.

Subactis itaque regnis Orientalibus, adjecerunt etiam, ut potentissimum Aegyptiorum regnum invaderent: descendentesque in Syriam, Hierosolymam cum quibusdam aliis finitimis urbibus, violenter subjugaverunt sibi, fideles quos in ea repererant habitatores, durioribus solito aggravantes molestiis, et angariarum multiplicitate fatigantes, ut praemisimus.

And so, the Eastern realms having been subdued, they moreover added to invade the most powerful kingdom of the Egyptians: and, descending into Syria, they violently subjugated to themselves Jerusalem together with certain other neighboring cities, aggravating the faithful inhabitants whom they found in it with vexations harsher than usual, and wearying them by a multiplicity of angaries, as we have premised.

CAPUT VIII. Quot et quantis vitiis per illud tempus subjectus esset mundus.

CHAPTER 8. How many and how great vices the world was subjected to during that time.

Nec solum in Oriente ita fideles ab impiis opprimebantur, verum in Occidente et in omni pene orbe terrarum, maxime inter eos qui fideles dicebantur, fides defecerat, et Domini timor erat de medio sublatus: perierat de rebus justitia, et aequitate subacta, violentia dominabatur in populis. Fraus, dolus et circumventio late involverant universa. Virtus omnis locum dederat et cesserat quasi inutilis, malitia subintrante.

Nor were the faithful being oppressed by the impious only in the Orient, but in the Occident and in almost the entire orb of the earth, most of all among those who were called faithful, faith had failed, and the fear of the Lord had been taken away from the midst: justice had perished from affairs, and, equity having been subjugated, violence was holding dominion among the peoples. Fraud, guile, and circumvention had widely enfolded everything. Every virtue had given place and had withdrawn as if useless, malice creeping in.

Videbatur sane mundus declinasse ad vesperam; et Filii hominis adventus secundus fore vicinior. Nam multorum refrixerat charitas, et fides non inveniebatur super terram: confusis ordinibus cuncta ferebantur, et in chaos pristinum mundus videbatur redire velle. Majores enim principes, qui subjectos ad pacem tenebantur dirigere, neglecto pacis foedere, pro causis levibus contendentes ad invicem, regiones tradebant incendiis, praedas passim exercebant, pauperum bona impiis satellitibus suis exponebant ad rapinam; non erant tutae alicujus facultates inter tot insidias; causa sufficiens putabatur, ut ad carceres quis traheretur, aut vincula, et in proprio corpore indignos sustineret cruciatus, quod aliquid habere crederetur.

It truly seemed that the world had declined toward evening; and that the second Advent of the Son of Man was nearer. For the charity of many had grown cold, and faith was not found upon the earth: with the orders confounded, all things were being swept along, and the world seemed to wish to return into its primeval chaos. For the greater princes, who were bound to direct their subjects unto peace, with the covenant of peace neglected, contending with one another for slight causes, were handing regions over to conflagrations, were exercising plunder everywhere, were exposing the goods of the poor to their impious satellites for rapine; no one’s resources were safe amid so many ambushes; it was judged a sufficient cause that someone be dragged to prisons or to chains, and in his own body endure unworthy torments, because he was believed to possess something.

Ecclesiarum et monasteriorum non parcebatur praediis, nec sanctorum possessionibus conferebant aliquid a piis principibus indulta privilegia; sed nec immunitatem solitam, et pristinam sibi vindicabant dignitatem. Effringebatur sane sanctuarium, et usibus dedicata coelestibus vi rapiebantur utensilia. Non distinguebat sacrum a profano manus sacrilega; sed sublata differentia, praedae patebant altarium vestes, amictus sacerdotum et vasa Domini.

The estates of churches and monasteries were not spared, nor did the privileges granted by pious princes avail anything to the possessions of the saints; nor were they vindicating for themselves the accustomed immunity and their pristine dignity. The sanctuary, to be sure, was broken open, and the utensils dedicated to heavenly uses were by force snatched away. The sacrilegious hand did not distinguish the sacred from the profane; but the distinction being removed, the vestments of the altars, the vesture of the priests, and the vessels of the Lord lay open to plunder.

De gremio divinae domus, de adytis penitioribus, de basilicarum atriis, qui ad eas confugerant, ad mortem trahebantur et supplicia. Vias quoque publicas accincti gladio grassatores improbi obsidebant, iter agentibus praetendentes insidias, ubi nec peregrinis, nec viris parcebatur religiosis. Sed nec urbes nec oppida ab iis importunitatibus vacabant, in quibus sicarii vicos omnes et plateas suspectas reddebant innocentibus.

From the bosom of the divine house, from the deeper adyta, from the atria of the basilicas, those who had fled to them were dragged off to death and to punishments. The public ways, too, were beset by wicked brigands girded with the sword, setting ambushes for those on a journey, where neither pilgrims nor religious men were spared. Nor were cities or towns free from these importunities, in which sicarii made all the lanes and squares suspect to the innocent.

Quo quis erat insontior, eo pluribus subjacebat insidiis. Fornicationum etiam genus quodlibet, quasi res licita, passim et sine rubore exercebatur impune. Sed nec inter affines aut propinquos, tuta erant matrimoniorum foedera.

The more anyone was guiltless, the more he was subject to insidious plots. Every kind of fornication, as if a licit thing, was practiced everywhere and without shame, with impunity. But not even among in-laws or kin were the covenants of marriage safe.

Amica coelestibus et Deo placens, quasi res vilis, jussa migrare erat continentia. Nec parcimoniae aut sobrietati locus erat, ubi luxus, et ebrietas, et pernox alea praeoccupaverant aditus atque atria possidebant. Nec clerus a populo vita nobiliore differebat, sed sicut in propheta legitur: Sicut populus, ita et sacerdos (Osee IV, 9; Isa.

Friendly to the celestials and pleasing to God, continence was ordered to depart as though a cheap thing. Nor was there room for parsimony or sobriety, where luxury, and ebriety, and all‑night dice had preoccupied the entrances and possessed the atria. Nor did the clergy differ from the people by a nobler life, but as it is read in the prophet: Like the people, so also the priest (Hosea 4, 9; Isa.

XXIV, 2). Nam episcopi negligentes facti erant; canes muti, non valentes latrare (Isa. LVI, 10); personarum acceptores, oleo peccatoris impinguentes capita sua, commissa ovilia lupis venientibus, mercenariorum more, deserebant. Et illius verbi immemores Dominici, quo dicitur: Accepistis gratis, gratis date (Matth.

24, 2). For the bishops had become negligent; mute dogs, not able to bark (Isa. 56, 10); acceptors of persons, fattening their heads with the oil of the sinner, they were deserting the entrusted sheepfolds to the wolves as they came, after the manner of hirelings. And forgetful of that word of the Lord, wherein it is said: You received gratis, give gratis (Matt.

X, 8); Simoniacam non declinabant haeresim, Giezi sordibus et macula foedati. Quid plura? ut in summa dicatur: Omne in praecipiti vitium stetit, et: Omnis caro corruperat viam suam (Gen.

10, 8); they did not shun the Simoniac heresy, befouled with Gehazi’s filth and stain. What more? so that, in sum, it may be said: Every vice stood on the precipice, and: All flesh had corrupted its way (Gen.

VI, 12). Nec pronos ad malum revocare poterant Domini comminantis prodigia in coelo sursum, et signa in terra deorsum. Erant enim pestilentiae et fames, terroresque de coelo, et terraemotus magni per loca (Matth. XXIV, 7); et caetera quae Dominus in Evangelio diligenter enumerat.

6, 12). Nor could the prodigies of the Lord threatening recall those prone to evil, prodigies in heaven above, and signs on earth below. For there were pestilences and famines, and terrors from heaven, and great earthquakes through places (Matt. 24, 7); and the rest which the Lord diligently enumerates in the Gospel.

Sed obstinati in operibus mortuis, quasi sus in volutabro (II Petr. II, 22); et quasi jumenta putrescebant in stercore suo, pia Domini longanimitate abutentes; quasi quibus a Domino diceretur: Percussi eos, et non doluerunt; curavi eos, et non sunt sanati (Jer. V, 3).

But obstinate in dead works, as a sow in the wallow (2 Pet. 2, 22); and like beasts of burden they were putrefying in their own dung, abusing the pious longanimity of the Lord; as though to whom it would be said by the Lord: I struck them, and they did not grieve; I healed them, and they have not been healed (Jer. 5, 3).

CAPUT IX. Quomodo peccatis exigentibus, Persae usque ad Hellespontum universas occupaverunt regiones.

CHAPTER 9. How, sins demanding it, the Persians occupied all the regions up to the Hellespont.

His igitur et hujusmodi ad iracundiam provocatus Dominus, non solum eos qui in terra promissionis erant fideles, praedictae jugum servitutis patiebatur portare, et supra vires molestiis fatigari multiplicibus; verum et aliis qui adhuc sua videbantur libertate gaudere, et quibus certum erat omnia pro votis succedere, suscitavit adversarium, flagellum populorum, malleum universae terrae. Regnante enim apud Graecos Romano, qui cognominatus est Diogenes, et cum omni prosperitate Constantinopolitanum administrante imperium, egressus est de intimis finibus Orientis, Persarum et Assyriorum satrapa potentissimus, Belpheth nomine, infinitam incredularum nationum secum trahens multitudinem, quae numerum diceretur excedere, et universam terrae superficiem operiret. Ascendens ergo in curribus et equis, in gregibus et armentis, et magnifico nimis apparatu fines ingressus est imperii, cuncta sibi subjiciens a suburbanis campestribus, usque ad urbes muratas et oppida munitissima.

Therefore the Lord, provoked to wrath by these and suchlike things, not only allowed those who were faithful in the land of promise to bear the yoke of the aforesaid servitude, and to be wearied beyond their strength by manifold vexations; but even for others who still seemed to rejoice in their own liberty, and for whom it was sure that all things were succeeding according to their wishes, he raised up an adversary, a scourge of the peoples, a hammer of the whole earth. For while among the Greeks Romanus, who was surnamed Diogenes, was reigning, and as he was administering the Constantinopolitan empire with every prosperity, there went forth from the inmost borders of the East a most powerful satrap of the Persians and Assyrians, by the name Belpheth, drawing with him an infinite multitude of unbelieving nations, which was said to exceed number and to cover the whole surface of the earth. Mounting then in chariots and on horses, with flocks and herds, and with an exceedingly magnificent array, he entered the borders of the empire, subjecting to himself everything from the suburban plains to the walled cities and the most fortified towns.

Non erat qui resisteret; non erat qui pro salute, pro liberis et conjugibus, et (quod gravius est) pro libertate contendens, se opponeret. Interea nuntiatur imperatori gladius incumbens, vis major, et hostilis exercitus Christianum devastans imperium; qui, pro republica sollicitus, expeditiones convocat equitum, et peditum colligit copias, quantas imminens compellebat necessitas, et quantas universum imperium poterat ministrare. Quid plura?

There was no one to resist; there was no one who, contending for safety, for children and spouses, and (what is more grievous) for liberty, would set himself in opposition. Meanwhile it is announced to the emperor—the impending sword, the greater force, and that a hostile army is devastating the Christian empire; who, anxious for the republic, convenes expeditions of horsemen and collects forces of foot-soldiers, as many as the imminent necessity compelled, and as many as the whole empire could furnish. What more?

Congregatis legionibus et equitatu copioso, hostibus procedit obviam; et imperii penetralia jam tenenti, et ad interiora jam progresso, in manu forti, sed favore divino destitutus occurrit. Certatur utrinque acerrime, et copiis pene paribus, sed odiis majoribus, qualia sacrilegii dolor et zelus fidei solet suggerere. Quid multa?

With the legions assembled and a copious cavalry, he advances to meet the enemies; and to the one already holding the penetralia of the empire, and now advanced to the inner parts, he comes up with a strong hand, but bereft of divine favor. The contest is waged on both sides most keenly, and with forces almost equal, but with greater hatreds, such as the pain of sacrilege and the zeal of faith are wont to suggest. What more?

Perit Christianus exercitus, fidelium prosternitur acies; sanguis Christi redemptus sanguine ab impiis effunditur; quodque miserabilius est, capitur imperator. Redit qui evaserat particulatim exercitus, confusionem quae acciderat nuntians. Consternati sunt qui hoc audierunt, in gravia se dantes lamenta, et de vita et salute desperantes.

The Christian army perishes, the battle-line of the faithful is prostrated; the blood of Christ’s redeemed—redeemed by blood—is poured out by the impious; and what is more pitiable, the emperor is taken captive. The army that had escaped returns piecemeal, announcing the confusion that had occurred. Those who heard this were consternated, giving themselves to grievous laments, and despairing of life and safety.

Interea vir infidelis, sed magnificus, de tanto elatus successu et de collata victoria factus sublimior, imperatorem sibi praecepit praesentari; et in contumeliam nominis et fidei Christianae sedens in throno regio, eum mandat pedibus subjici; et scabelli vice, coram positis principibus, ascendens et descendens, corpore utitur imperiali; tandemque pro tanto obsequio eum libertati restituens, cum paucis ex suis magnatibus, qui cum eo capti fuerant, abire permisit. Hoc vero audientes principes imperii, alium sibi praeficiunt: indignum arbitrantes, ut qui tam indigna in proprio pertulerat corpore, in sceptris ageret et dignitate fungeretur Augustali: insuper privatum oculis et ignominiose tractatum, vitam vix indulserunt agere privatam. Princeps autem supra nominatus, proposito libere satisfaciens suo, universas a Laodicia Syriae usque ad Hellespontum, qui Constantinopoli praeterlabitur, itinere dierum triginta in longitudine, decem vero vel quindecim in latitudine, occupavit regiones, cum suis civitatibus et municipiis, universo populo captivato.

Meanwhile the man unfaithful, but magnificent, elated by so great a success and made more exalted by the victory conferred, ordered that the emperor be presented to himself; and, in contumely of the Christian name and faith, sitting on the royal throne, he commands that he be subjected to his feet; and, in the stead of a footstool, before the princes set in his presence, going up and going down, he uses the imperial body; and at length, in return for such service, restoring him to liberty, he permitted him to depart with a few of his own magnates who had been captured with him. Hearing this, in truth, the princes of the empire set another over themselves: judging it unworthy that he who had borne such unworthy things in his own body should wield the scepters and discharge the Augustan dignity: moreover, deprived of his eyes and treated ignominiously, they scarcely indulged him to live a private life. But the above-named prince, freely satisfying his own purpose, occupied all the regions from Laodicea of Syria as far as the Hellespont, which flows past Constantinople, a journey of thirty days in length, but ten or fifteen in breadth, with their cities and municipalities, the whole people being made captive.

Tradidit eos Dominus in manus inimici, et dominati sunt eorum qui oderunt eos (Psal. CV, 39). Inter quas nobilis et eximia provinciarum multarum moderatrix, princeps civitas, Principis apostolorum sedes prima, capta est; sed novissima; et facta est infidelibus serviens sub tributo (II Reg. VIII, 2). Sic igitur Celessyriam, utramque Ciliciam, Isauriam, Pamphyliam, Lyciam, Pisidiam, Lycaoniam, Cappadociam, Galatiam, et utrumque Pontum, Bithyniam, et Asiae Minoris partem, nobiles provincias, et omni commoditate insignes, plebibus refertas fidelibus, infra modicum tempus in suam jurisdictionem recepit; captivans populos, ecclesias dejiciens, et cultum Christianum furore persequens exterminato.

The Lord delivered them into the hands of the enemy, and those who hated them lorded it over them (Psalm 105, 39). Among which the noble and exceptional ruler of many provinces, the chief city, the first See of the Prince of the Apostles, was captured; but last; and it became to the unbelievers serving under tribute (2 Kings 8, 2). Thus then Coele-Syria, both Cilicias, Isauria, Pamphylia, Lycia, Pisidia, Lycaonia, Cappadocia, Galatia, and both Pontus, Bithynia, and a part of Asia Minor—noble provinces and distinguished by every convenience, filled with faithful peoples—within a short time he took back into his jurisdiction; taking peoples captive, casting down churches, and with fury persecuting Christian worship unto extermination. Moreover, the above-named prince, freely satisfying his purpose, occupied all the regions from Laodicea of Syria as far as the Hellespont, which flows past Constantinople, 30 days’ journey in length, and 10 or even 15 in breadth, with their cities and townships, the whole people being led into captivity.

Quod si copiam habuisset navium, ipsam urbem regiam sibi procul omni dubio subjecisset. Tantam enim Graecis incusserat formidinem, ut vix regiae civitatis se crederent moenibus, et maris interpositi non satis tutum arbitrarentur praesidium. Haec igitur et similia populo fideli, qui Hierosolymis et in finibus ejus habitabat, miseriarum addebant cumulum et in desperationis abyssum demergebant.

But if he had had a supply of ships, he would, beyond all doubt, have subjected the royal city itself to himself. For he had struck such dread into the Greeks that they scarcely trusted themselves to the walls of the royal city, and deemed the protection of the interposed sea not sufficiently safe. These things, therefore, and the like, were adding a heap of miseries to the faithful people who dwelt at Jerusalem and within its borders, and were plunging them into the abyss of desperation.

Nam imperio prius in prosperis constituto, sicut praemissum est, non deerat eis ab imperiali domo frequens in necessitatibus solatium; et imperii status integer et incolumis, et vicinarum urbium felix successus, et Antiochiae potissimum, spem aliquam libertatis aliquando futurae, in eis confovebant. At nunc tam suam quam aliorum gerentes sollicitudinem, et sinistris rumoribus usque ad supremum defectum fatigati, mortem magis quam vitam optantes, in se ipsis liquefientes tabescebant de perpetua servitute securi.

For with the empire previously established in prosperous circumstances, as has been set forth, there was not lacking to them from the imperial house frequent consolation in necessities; and the status of the empire intact and unharmed, and the felicitous success of the neighboring cities, and most of all of Antioch, were fostering in them some hope of a liberty sometime to come. But now, carrying solicitude both for their own and for others, and worn out by sinister rumors even to the utmost exhaustion, opting for death rather than life, melting within themselves they were wasting away, being assured of perpetual servitude.

CAPUT X. Quomodo per idem tempus fidelium turbae ad Urbem sanctam accedebant, et qua conditione habebantur tam intus quam extra: et quomodo in manus Turcorum iterum restituta est civitas.

CHAPTER 10. How at the same time crowds of the faithful were approaching the Holy City, and under what condition they were held both within and without: and how the city was again restored into the hands of the Turks.

Inter has tam periculosi temporis insidias, accedebat tam Graecorum quam Latinorum gratia devotionis, ad loca venerabilia multitudo nonnulla, quibus per mille mortis genera, perque hostium regiones ad urbem accedentibus, negabatur introitus, nisi in porta aureus, qui pro tributo constitutus erat, janitoribus daretur. Sed qui in itinere cuncta perdiderant, et vix cum incolumitate membrorum ad loca pervenerant optata, unde tributum solverent, non habebant. Sic ergo fiebat, ut ante urbem ex talibus, mille vel plures collecti, et exspectantes introeundi licentiam, fame et nuditate consumpti deficerent.

Amid the ambushes of so perilous a time, there was approaching, for the sake of devotion, a considerable multitude, both of Greeks and of Latins, to the venerable places; to whom, as they drew near to the city through a thousand kinds of death and through the regions of the enemies, entrance was denied, unless at the gate an aureus, which had been fixed as the tribute, were given to the doorkeepers. But those who on the journey had lost everything, and had scarcely reached the desired places with the soundness of their limbs, had nothing whence to pay the tribute. Thus it came to pass that before the city, from among such people, a thousand or more being gathered, and awaiting license to enter, consumed by hunger and nakedness, they failed and perished.

Hi, tam viventes quam mortui, miseris civibus intolerabili erant oneri. Nam et viventes alere, et cibo quocunque modo sustentare satagebant; et mortuos sepulturae tradere nitebantur, cum tamen eis supra vires sua essent negotia. Quibus autem solito pretio, urbem dabatur ingredi, hi majorem civibus ingerebant sollicitudinem, timentibus, ne forte deambulantes incaute, tanquam loca sancta visere volentes, sputis et alapis afficerentur; ad postremum autem, ne clam suffocati interirent.

These, both the living and the dead, were an intolerable burden to the wretched citizens. For they strove both to nourish the living and to sustain them with food in whatever way; and they endeavored to consign the dead to sepulture, although the tasks were beyond their strength. But for those to whom it was granted to enter the city at the customary price, these were imposing greater solicitude upon the citizens, who feared lest perhaps, perambulating incautiously, as though wishing to visit the holy places, they might be afflicted with spittle and slaps; and, at the last, lest they should perish, clandestinely suffocated.

Unde haec mala praevenire cupientes, peregrinos ad loca sancta volentes properare, cives de eorum vita et incolumitate, charitate fraterna solliciti, eorum sequebantur vestigia, timentes ne quid eis sinistri casus accideret. Erat tamen in civitate monasterium Amalfitanorum, quod usque hodie cognominatur Sanctae Mariae de Latina; et juxta illud xenodochium, ubi erat oratorium modicum, in honore beati Joannis Eleymon Alexandrini patriarchae, ad curam abbatis praedicti monasterii respiciens, in quo hujusmodi miseris sic advenientibus, tam de monasterio quam de fidelium largitionibus, eis utcunque alimonia ministrabatur. Nam de mille vix unus accedebat, qui sibi sufficere posset.

Whence, wishing to forestall these evils, the citizens, solicitous out of fraternal charity for the life and safety of pilgrims who were eager to hasten to the holy places, followed in their footsteps, fearing lest any sinister mishap should befall them. Yet in the city there was a monastery of the Amalfitans, which to this day is called Saint Mary of the Latina; and next to it a xenodochium (guest‑house), where there was a small oratory in honor of the blessed John the Almsgiver, patriarch of Alexandria, looking to the care of the abbot of the aforesaid monastery, in which, for such wretched people arriving in this way, nourishment was somehow supplied to them, both from the monastery and from the largesses of the faithful. For out of a thousand scarcely one came who was able to suffice for himself.

Amissis enim viaticulis, laborum immensitate consumpti, vix incolumes evadere poterant. Igitur nec foris nec domi quies erat civibus, quibus mors diebus imminebat singulis; et quolibet mortis genere deterior, servitus dura et intolerabilis incumbebat. Accedebat etiam ad miseriarum cumulum, quod ecclesias eorum, quas cum tot et tantis laboribus reparaverant et conservaverant, reparatas violenter ingressi, et dum divina celebrarentur, cum furore et strepitu terrorem fidelibus incutientes, super altaria sedebant, nullam facientes locorum differentiam; subvertebant calices et vasa divinis obsequiis mancipata pedibus conculcantes, confringebant marmora, clerum contumeliis et verberibus afficientes.

For, their viatic provisions having been lost, consumed by the immensity of labors, they could scarcely escape safe and sound. Therefore neither outside nor at home was there rest for the citizens, upon whom death was imminent every single day; and, worse than any kind of death, a hard and intolerable servitude pressed upon them. There was added also to the cumulus of miseries this: that their churches, which with so many and so great labors they had repaired and conserved—once repaired, having forced their way in—and while the divine rites were being celebrated, by fury and clamor striking terror into the faithful, they sat upon the altars, making no distinction of places; they overturned chalices and vessels mancipated to divine services, trampling them underfoot, they were shattering the marbles, afflicting the clergy with contumelies and beatings.

Ipsum quoque dominum patriarcham, qui erat pro tempore, quasi vilem et abjectam personam, de sede propria per barbam et capillum, in solum dabant praecipitem. Plerumque etiam raptum, et quasi vile mancipium tractum, sine causa detrudebant in carcerem, ut sic populum affligerent patri compatientem. Hoc igitur tam dirae servitutis genus, plebs Deo devota, per hos quadringentos, ut praemisimus, et nonaginta annos, pia longanimitate perferens, gemitibus et lacrymosis suspiriis, et jugi precum instantia, clamabat ad Dominum, ut correctis parcens, ab eis iracundiae suae flagella clementer averteret.

Ipsam also the lord patriarch, who was for the time, as though a vile and abject person, they would, by the beard and hair, hurl headlong from his own seat onto the ground. Very often too, having seized him and, as though a cheap mancipium, dragged him, they would without cause thrust him into prison, so that thus they might afflict the people compassionate toward their father. This, therefore, so dire a kind of servitude the people devoted to God, through these 490 years, as we have said above, enduring with pious longanimity, with groans and tearful sighs, and with the continual instancy of prayers, cried out to the Lord, that, sparing those corrected, he might mercifully turn away from them the scourges of his wrath.

In profundum enim malorum descenderant; unde et abyssus abyssum invocans (Psal. XLI, 8), abyssus miseriarum abyssum misericordiarum, ab eo qui Deus est totius consolationis, meruit exaudiri. Hos enim tandem de sede gloriae suae Dominus misericorditer respiciens, finem tantis laboribus volens imponere, consolationem eis juxta eorum desideria, paterna provisione, procurare disposuit.

For into the profundity of evils they had descended; whence also, abyss calls to abyss (Ps. 41, 8), the abyss of miseries calling upon the abyss of mercies, from him who is the God of all consolation, merited to be heard. For at length the Lord, looking mercifully upon them from the seat of his glory, willing to impose an end to such great labors, determined, by fatherly provision, to procure for them consolation according to their desires.

Cujus modum et divinae dispositionis ordinationem, qua diutinam plebi suae relevare voluit afflictionem, hoc praesenti opere, ad Christi fidelium perpetuam memoriam, scribere proposuimus.

The manner of which and the ordination of the divine disposition, by which he willed to relieve the long-continued affliction of his own people, we have proposed to write in this present work, for the perpetual memory of Christ’s faithful.

CAPUT XI. De adventu viri Dei, Petri Eremitae; et collatione ejus, et venerabilis viri Simeonis patriarchae Hierosolymorum.

CHAPTER 11. On the advent of the man of God, Peter the Hermit; and on his conference with the venerable man Simeon, patriarch of Jerusalem.

Per idem igitur tempus, cum Deo placens praedicta civitas tantis, ut praemisimus, subjecta esset molestiis, inter eos qui orationis gratia, et causa devotionis ad loca accedebant venerabilia, sacerdos quidam, Petrus nomine, de regno Francorum, de episcopatu Ambianensi, qui et re et nomine cognominabatur Eremita, eodem fervore tractus, Hierosolymam pervenit. Erat autem hic idem statura pusillus, et quantum ad exteriorem hominem, persona contemptibilis. Sed Major in exiguo regnabat corpore virtus. Vivacis enim ingenii erat; et oculum habens perspicacem, gratumque, et sponte fluens ei non deerat eloquium.

During the same time, then, when, as we have premised, the aforesaid city, pleasing to God, was subjected to such great molestations, among those who were approaching the venerable places for the grace of prayer and the cause of devotion, a certain priest, Peter by name, from the kingdom of the Franks, from the bishopric of Amiens, who both in fact and in name was surnamed the Hermit, drawn by the same fervor, reached Jerusalem. This same man, however, was small in stature, and, as regards the outward man, a person contemptible. But greater virtue reigned in a small body. For he was of a vivacious wit; and, having a perspicacious and pleasing eye, eloquence—flowing of its own accord—was not lacking to him.

Hic, lege communi semelque proposita Christianis introire volentibus, dato tributo, urbem ingressus, hospitio susceptus est apud quemdam fidelem, qui et ipse de numero erat Christi confessorum. A quo de eorum conditione diligenter percunctans (sicuti vir industrius erat) ab eo non solum de praesenti periculo temporis, verum etiam et de persecutione, quam passi fuerant progenitores, a multis retro temporibus, plenius edoctus est; et si quid defuit ad plenam verbo factam eruditionem, id postea fides oculata complevit. Nam moram faciens in civitate, et ecclesias circuiens, didicit ipse plenius, quod prius verbo referentibus aliis comprehenderat.

By the common law once set forth for Christians wishing to enter, the tribute having been paid, having entered the city he was received with hospitality at the house of a certain faithful man, who also himself was of the number of Christ’s confessors. From him, diligently inquiring about their condition (as he was an industrious man), he was more fully instructed by that same man not only concerning the present peril of the time, but also concerning the persecution which their progenitors had suffered from many times past; and if anything was lacking for the full instruction made by word, thereafter ocular faith completed it. For delaying in the city and making the rounds of the churches, he himself learned more fully what previously he had comprehended by word from others reporting it.

Audiens vero quod ejusdem civitatis patriarcha vir esset religiosus et timens Deum, volens cum eo conferre de praesenti rerum statu, et de quibusdam aliis ab eodem perfectius edoceri, accessit ad eum, praeseusque constitutus per fidelem interpretem mutuis sunt confabulationibus recreati. Erat autem nomen patriarchae Simeon; qui ex verbo Petri colligens, quod vir esset circumspectus et rerum multarum habens experientiam, potens quoque in opere et sermone, familiarius coepit exponere universa, quae populum Dei in civitate commorantem acrius affligebant. Dumque Petrus, fraterno compatiens dolore, lacrymas continere non posset, quaereretque diligentius, utrum aliqua salutis via contra haec mala ingruentia reperiri possit; respondit vir justus: Petre, lacrymas nostras, gemitus et suspiria peccatis nostris praepedientibus, exaudire dedignatur justus et misericors Dominus; nondum enim ad plenum purgata est nostra iniquitas, unde necdum flagella quiescunt.

Hearing, moreover, that the patriarch of that same city was a religious man and one fearing God, wishing to confer with him about the present state of affairs, and to be more perfectly instructed by him concerning certain other things, he approached him; and, being present and set before him, through a faithful interpreter they were refreshed by mutual confabulations. Now the name of the patriarch was Simeon; who, gathering from Peter’s word that he was a circumspect man and having experience of many matters, powerful also in work and in word, began more familiarly to set forth all the things which were more sharply afflicting the people of God dwelling in the city. And while Peter, sympathizing in fraternal sorrow, could not restrain his tears, and was inquiring more diligently whether some way of safety might be found against these impending evils, the just man replied: Peter, our tears, groans, and sighs, with our sins hindering, the just and merciful Lord deigns not to hear; for our iniquity is not yet purged to the full, whence the scourges do not yet cease.

Sed si vester verus Dei cultor populus (cujus per superabundantem Domini misericordiam vires sunt adhuc integrae; et nostris hostibus formidabile, longe lateque floret imperium) praesentibus fraterna pietate compati vellet, et remedium procurare his quae nos premunt calamitatibus; aut saltem pro nobis apud Christum vellet intercedere; spes esset nobis, afflictionem nostram in proximo finiri. Nam de Graecorum imperio, licet et consanguinitate et loco nobis sint propinquiores, et divitiis abundent amplius, nulla nobis spes est de caetero, ut inde nobis aliquam habeamus consolationem. Vix enim sibi sufficiunt: omnisque eorum, ut audivisse potest vestra fraternitas, virtus emarcuit, ita ut infra paucos annos plus quam dimidium amiserint imperii. Cui Petrus: Noveris, Pater sancte, quod si Ecclesia Romana et Occidentis principes, hujus calamitatis quam patimini, diligentem et fide dignum habuerint instructorem, procul omni dubio, et verbo quantocius et opere his malis vestris tentarent remedia procurare.

But if your people, true worshipers of God (whose strength, through the superabundant mercy of the Lord, is still intact; and, formidable to our enemies, its imperium flourishes far and wide), were willing in fraternal piety to sympathize with the present circumstances, and to procure a remedy for the calamities that press upon us; or at least were willing to intercede for us with Christ; there would be hope for us that our affliction would end before long. For as to the empire of the Greeks, although by consanguinity and by location they are nearer to us, and abound more in riches, there is for us henceforth no hope that from there we might have any consolation. For they scarcely suffice for themselves: and all their virtue, as your fraternity can have heard, has withered, such that within a few years they have lost more than half of the empire. To which Peter: Know, Holy Father, that if the Roman Church and the princes of the West should have a diligent and trustworthy instructor of this calamity which you suffer, beyond all doubt, both in word as quickly as possible and in deed they would attempt to procure remedies for these your evils.

Scribe ergo diligentius tam domino papae et Ecclesiae Romanae, quam regibus et principibus Occidentis, et scriptum sigilli tui auctoritate corrobora. Ego vero, pro remedio animae meae, hunc laborem mihi assumere non refugio; sed, auctore Domino, paratus sum omnes convenire, omnes sollicitare, instantius aerumnarum vestrarum immensitatem protestari, et ad properandum remedium diligenter singulos invitare. Placuit sermo, et visus est bonus in oculis tam domini patriarchae, quam eorum qui assistebant fidelium; et depensis ingentibus gratiarum actionibus viro Dei, pro sua compassione, tradunt scriptum postulatum.

Therefore write more diligently both to the lord pope and to the Roman Church, and to the kings and princes of the West, and strengthen the writing by the authority of your seal. But I, for the remedy of my soul, do not refuse to assume this labor for myself; rather, with the Lord as author, I am prepared to visit all, to solicit all, to protest more insistently the immensity of your hardships, and to invite each one diligently to hasten the remedy. The discourse pleased, and seemed good in the eyes both of the lord patriarch and of those of the faithful who were standing by; and, after vast thanksgivings had been rendered to the man of God for his compassion, they hand over the requested document.

CAPUT XII. Revelatio quae facta est eidem Petro, in ecclesia Sanctae Resurrectionis.

CHAPTER 12. Revelation which was made to the same Peter, in the church of the Holy Resurrection.

Vere magnus es, Domine Deus noster, et misericordiarum tuarum non est finis. Vere, Jesu bone, non erit in te sperantibus confusio. Nam unde huic egeno et inopi, et rerum necessariarum suffragiis destituto peregrinanti, et a patriis finibus longe posito, tanta fiducia, ut supra vires negotium sibi audeat assumere et de voti consummatione habeat fiduciam?

Truly great are you, Lord our God, and of your mercies there is no end. Truly, good Jesus, there will not be confusion for those hoping in you. For whence to this needy and indigent one—deprived of the supports (suffrages) of necessities—being a pilgrim and set far from his native borders, such confidence, that he dares to assume to himself an undertaking beyond his strengths and has confidence concerning the consummation of the vow?

nisi quod in te, protectorem suum, jactaverat cogitatum; nisi quod charitatis ardore succensus, fratribus compatiens, proximum tanquam se ipsum diligens, legem implere satagebat? Vires non suppetunt, suadet tamen charitas. Et licet durum et impossibile videretur, quod fratres injungebant, amor Dei et proximi leve facit, quia fortis est, ut mors, dilectio (Cant.

except that upon you, his protector, he had cast his thought; except that, inflamed with the ardor of charity, compassionate toward his brothers, loving his neighbor as himself, he was striving to fulfill the law? Strength does not suffice; yet charity persuades. And although what the brothers enjoined might seem hard and impossible, the love of God and of neighbor makes it light, because strong as death is love (Cant.

VIII, 6). Fides igitur per dilectionem operans est (Gal. V, 6), quae apud te meretur: et merita, apud te non sunt otiosa. Unde nec diu fluctuare permittis servum tuum; sed te ipsum manifestas ei et tua eum revelatione solidas, ne vacillet, Apocalypsim insinuans, per quam exsurgat fortior ad opus charitatis implendum.

8, 6). Faith therefore works through love (Gal. 5, 6), which merits with you; and merits with you are not idle. Whence you do not permit your servant to waver long; but you manifest yourself to him and make him firm by your revelation, lest he totter, intimating the Apocalypse, through which he may rise stronger to fulfill the work of charity.

Accidit enim quadam die, dum praedictus Dei famulus pro reditu ad propria et pro implenda legatione assumpta, amplius solito esset sollicitus, ad fontem misericordiarum tota devotione recurrens, ecclesiam Dominicae Resurrectionis ingressus est. Ubi cum pernoctans, orationibus vigiliisque fatigatus esset impendio, labore victus, in pavimento decubuit, ut somno satisfaceret irruenti. Cumque sopor (ut solet) se infudisset altius, visus est ei Dominus noster Jesus Christus, quasi coram positus astitisse, et eamdem injunxisse legationem dicens: Surge, Petre, propera; et quae tibi sunt injuncta, intrepidus perage: ego enim tecum ero.

For it happened on a certain day that, while the aforesaid servant of God, on account of his return to his own and for the fulfilling of the legation undertaken, was more than usual solicitous, returning with all devotion to the font of mercies, he entered the church of the Lord’s Resurrection. There, when, passing the night, he had been exceedingly wearied by prayers and vigils, overcome by toil, he lay down on the pavement, to satisfy the sleep rushing upon him. And when slumber (as it is wont) had poured itself in more deeply, our Lord Jesus Christ seemed to him to have stood, as if set before him, and to have enjoined the same legation, saying: Arise, Peter, make haste; and the things that have been enjoined upon you, carry through unafraid: for I will be with you.

Tempus est enim ut purgentur sancta, et servis meis subveniatur. Expergefactus Petrus, et visione quam viderat confortatus in Domino, factus ad obediendum proclivior, et divinam admonitionem secutus, moras rumpit impiger, ad redeundum accinctus. Peractis igitur de more orationibus, sumptaque a domino patriarcha licentia et impetrata benedictione ad mare descendit, navem ibi reperiens mercatorum, qui in Apuliam transfretare proposuerant. Quam ingressus, et prospera usus navigatione, Barum pervenit.

For it is time that the holy things be cleansed, and that help be given to my servants. Peter, awakened and strengthened in the Lord by the vision he had seen, made more inclined to obey and following the divine admonition, breaks off delays untiringly, girded for the return. Therefore, the prayers having been performed according to custom, and leave having been taken from the lord patriarch and a blessing obtained, he went down to the sea, finding there a ship of merchants, who had proposed to cross over into Apulia. Having gone aboard it, and enjoying a favorable voyage, he arrived at Bari.

Inde Romam profectus, dominum papam Urbanum circa partes illas reperit, cui domini patriarchae et fidelium qui Hierosolymis habitabant, litteras porrigit; eorumque exponit miserias et abominationes quae in locis sanctis fiebant a gentibus immundis; et injunctam sibi tam fideliter, quam prudenter, exsequitur legationem.

Thence setting out for Rome, he found Lord Pope Urban around those parts, to whom he proffers letters of the lord patriarch and of the faithful who were dwelling at Jerusalem; and he sets forth their miseries and the abominations which were being done in the holy places by unclean nations; and he executes the legation enjoined upon him as faithfully as prudently.

CAPUT XIII. De controversia inter imperatorem Henricum, et Gregorium papam septimum: et quomodo Urbanus ejus successor, Petrum ab Jerosolymis reversum, benigne suscepit.

CHAPTER 13. On the controversy between Emperor Henry, and Pope Gregory the Seventh: and how Urban, his successor, kindly received Peter, returned from Jerusalem.

Porro per annos ante aliquot, Henricus Teutonicorum rex, et idem Romanorum imperator, a domino Gregorio papa septimo, hujus Urbani praedecessore passus fuerat quaestionem et controversiam non modicam, super annulo defunctorum episcoporum, et baculo. Inoleverat enim consuetudo, praesertim in imperio, quod defungentibus ecclesiarum praelatis, annulus et virga pastoralis ad dominum imperatorem dirigebatur. Unde postmodum unumquemlibet de familiaribus et capellanis suis investiens, ad ecclesiam vacantem dirigebat, ut ibi pastoris fungeretur officio, non exspectata cleri electione.

Moreover, some years before, Henry, king of the Teutons and likewise emperor of the Romans, had endured a not small question and controversy from Lord Gregory, Pope the Seventh, the predecessor of this Urban, concerning the ring and the staff of deceased bishops. For a custom had taken root, especially in the empire, that when the prelates of the churches passed away, the ring and the pastoral rod were sent to the lord emperor. Whence thereafter, investing some one of his familiars and chaplains, he would dispatch him to the vacant church, that there he might perform the office of a shepherd, the election of the clergy not being awaited.

Quod dominus papa contra omnem fieri honestatem considerans, et jura in eo facto conculcari ecclesiastica perpendens, semel, secundo ac tertio eumdem imperatorem commonuit, ut a tam detestabili desisteret praesumptione. Quem praececeptis salutaribus commonitum, cum revocare non posset, vinculo anathematis innodavit. Quod factum nimis indigne ferens imperator, Romanam coepit Ecclesiam persequi, et domino papae Guibertum Ravennatem archiepiscopum, virum litteratum et locupletem nimis, suscitavit adversarium.

Considering that this was being done against all propriety, and weighing that in that deed the ecclesiastical rights were being trampled, the lord pope admonished that same emperor once, a second time, and a third, to desist from so detestable a presumption. When, though admonished by salutary precepts, he could not recall him, he bound him with the bond of anathema. The emperor, bearing this act most indignantly, began to persecute the Roman Church, and against the lord pope he stirred up Guibert, archbishop of Ravenna, a man very lettered and exceedingly wealthy, as an adversary.

Qui de viribus imperatoris praesumens et de multitudine divitiarum confisus, excluso violenter praedicto venerabili viro, sedem invasit apostolicam: ita delirus et ab intellectus sinceritate deficiens, ut id se esse crederet, quod falso dicebatur. Cumque prius infelix mundus in maligno positus, vias sequeretur periculosas, ut praediximus, et inutiles, hujus schismatis occasione ad deteriora declivis, omnem Dei et hominum post tergum dederat reverentiam, noxia sequens et declinans salutaria. Capiebantur pontifices; et quilibet ecclesiarum praelati, tanquam homicidiorum rei, mancipabantur carceribus, bonis eorum confiscatis, quicunque imperatori in hac sua perversitate non erant consentientes.

Who, presuming on the forces of the emperor and confiding in the multitude of riches, with the aforesaid venerable man violently excluded, invaded the apostolic see: so delirious and failing from the sincerity of intellect that he believed himself to be that which was falsely being said. And whereas previously the unhappy world, set in the malign, was following perilous and useless ways, as we have fore-declared, on the occasion of this schism, inclined downwards to worse things, it had put all reverence of God and of men behind its back, following noxious things and declining salutary ones. Pontiffs were seized; and every prelate of the churches, as if defendants of homicides, were consigned to prisons, their goods confiscated—whoever were not consenting to the emperor in this his perversity.

Nec solum ad tempus eis irrogabantur injuriae, verum exclusis in perpetuum, intrudebantur successores. Fugiens igitur dominus papa Gregorius imperatoris indignationem, in Apuliam secesserat, ubi a domino Roberto Guischardi, Apuliae duce honeste susceptus est, et benigne tractatus, cujus etiam beneficio praedicti imperatoris manus evaserat. Tandem Salernum veniens, ibi diem vitae clausit extremum: ubi et sepultus est.

Not only were injuries inflicted upon them for a time, but, they being excluded in perpetuity, successors were intruded. Fleeing therefore the emperor’s indignation, lord pope Gregory had withdrawn into Apulia, where by lord Robert Guiscard, duke of Apulia, he was honorably received and benignly treated, by whose benefit he even escaped the hand of the aforesaid emperor. At length coming to Salerno, there he closed the last day of life: where he was also buried.

Cui, post dominum Victorem, qui solis duobus mensibus post eum sedem obtinuerat, successit dominus praedictus Urbanus, qui Henrici nihilominus, praedicti Henrici successoris, in eadem malitia obstinati, furorem declinans, locis munitioribus apud suos fideles delitescebat, nusquam plene securus. Hic in illa sua adversitate constitutus, praedictum Petrum virum venerabilem ab Hierosolymis reversum, jam dictae legationis fungentem officio benigne suscepit; et ei in verbo, cujus bajulus erat, se fidelem cooperatorem tempore accepto repromisit. Petrus autem omnem transcurrens Italiam, zelo divino succensus, Alpes transiens, Occidentales principes omnes singulatim circuit, instat sollicitus, increpat, arguit; atque cooperante gratia, monendo quibusdam persuadet, ut fratribus in tanta afflictione positis subvenire non differant; et loca sancta, quae Dominus propria dignatus est illustrare praesentia, infidelium spurcitiis diutius profanari non permittant.

To whom, after lord Victor, who had obtained the See for only two months after him, there succeeded the aforesaid lord Urban, who, shunning the fury of Henry—Henry, the aforesaid successor—obstinate in the same malice, was hiding in more fortified places among his faithful, nowhere fully secure. He, stationed in that his adversity, kindly received the aforesaid Peter, a venerable man, returned from Jerusalem, discharging the office of the already-mentioned legation; and to him, in the Word of which he was the bearer, he promised that in due season he would be a faithful cooperator. But Peter, running through all Italy, inflamed with divine zeal, crossing the Alps, goes around all the Western princes one by one, presses anxiously, rebukes, argues; and, grace cooperating, by admonishing he persuades certain men that they should not delay to come to the aid of the brethren placed in so great affliction; and that they should not permit the holy places, which the Lord deigned to illumine by his own presence, to be profaned any longer by the filths of the infidels.

Nec visum ei sufficere, quod hoc apud principes disseminaret, nisi etiam et plebes et inferioris manus homines, ad id ipsum piis exhortationibus animaret. Percurrens ergo nationes, pie sollicitus, et regna, pauperibus et abjectissimis personis, legationi suae fideliter satisfaciens, id ipsum evangelizabat. Cui tantam gratiam, ejus fidei meritum respiciens, contulerat Dominus, ut raro unquam sine fructu populus conveniret.

Nor did it seem sufficient to him to disseminate this among the princes, unless he also animated the plebs and men of the lower hand to that same thing by pious exhortations. Therefore, traversing nations and realms, devoutly solicitous, and to the poor and most abject persons faithfully discharging his legation, he evangelized that very thing. To whom the Lord, having regard to the merit of his faith, had conferred such grace that rarely ever did the people assemble without fruit.

Fuitque domino papae, qui eum ultra montes sine dilatione sequi decreverat, in eodem verbo plurimum necessarius. Nam praecursoris functus officio, auditorum mentes ad obediendum praeparaverat, ut facilius idem persuadere volens, obtineret propositum, et universorum animos ad se compendiosius inclinaret.

And he was very necessary to the lord pope—who had decreed to follow him beyond the mountains without delay—in that same word. For, discharging the office of a forerunner, he had prepared the minds of the hearers to obey, so that, wishing to persuade the same more easily, he might obtain his purpose, and more expeditiously incline the spirits of all toward himself.

CAPUT XIV. De ingressu domini Urbani papae ad partes ultra montanas, et synodo apud Clarummontem habita.

CHAPTER 14. On the entry of Lord Pope Urban to the regions beyond the mountains, and on the synod held at Clermont.

Anno igitur ab Incarnatione Domini 1095, indictione IV, regnante domino Henrico quarto, Teutonicorum rege, et eodem Romanorum imperatore, anno regni ejus quadragesimo tertio, imperii vero duodecimo: illustri quoque Francorum rege domino Philippo, Henrici filio, regnante in Francia, praedictus dominus Urbanus, videns hominum malitiam modum excessisse, et cuncta ferri deorsum, quasi ad malum prona, post concilium quod ex universa Italia, ad corrigendos excessus hominum necessarium valde, apud Placentiam celebraverat, imperatoris praedicti indignationem fugiens, discedens ab Italia, Alpes transcendit, regnum Francorum ingressus. Ubi videns, sicut et prius audierat, divina passim conculcari monita, doctrinam Evangelii sordere, fidem periisse, charitatem et omnem periclitari virtutem; econtrario autem adversae potestatis et principis tenebrarum longe lateque nimis patere imperium: anxius plurimum, sicut ex officii debito tenebatur, quomodo tot vitiorum monstris, tot peccatorum prodigiis posset occurrere, quae ita miserabiliter pullulabant, et orbem involverant universum concilium generale, prius apud Vigiliacum, deinde apud Podium, convocare disposuit. Sed novissime apud Clarummontem Alverniae civitatem, divina comite gratia, ex universis transalpinarum partibus provinciarum, mense Novembre, episcoporum et abbatum convenit sacer conventus, in nomine Domini, praesentibus etiam praedictarum partium nonnullis principibus. Ubi, ordinatis de praelatorum Ecclesiae et virorum Deum timentium consilio institutionibus, quae ad erigendum labentis Ecclesiae statum videbantur respicere; et promulgatis canonibus, qui ad morum aedificationem et corrigendam delictorum enormitatem poterant proficere; et qui pacem, suggerente Petro Eremita, quae de rebus perierat, reformarent, qui verbo sibi injuncto debitam gerebat sollicitudinem; novissime ad hanc exhortationem se convertit, dicens:

Therefore in the year from the Incarnation of the Lord 1095, indiction 4, with lord Henry the Fourth reigning, king of the Teutonics, and the same man emperor of the Romans, in the 43rd year of his reign, but the 12th of the empire; and with the illustrious king of the Franks, lord Philip, the son of Henry, reigning in France, the aforesaid lord Urban, seeing that the malice of men had exceeded the measure, and that all things were being borne downward, as if prone to evil, after the council which, from all Italy and very necessary for correcting the excesses of men, he had held at Piacenza, fleeing the indignation of the aforesaid emperor, departed from Italy, crossed the Alps, and entered the kingdom of the Franks. Where, seeing, just as he had earlier heard, the divine admonitions everywhere trampled underfoot, the doctrine of the Gospel defiled, faith perished, charity and every virtue in peril; but on the contrary the sway of the adverse power and of the prince of darkness to lie open far and wide: being very anxious, as he was held by the debt of his office, how he might be able to meet so many monsters of vices, so many prodigies of sins, which were thus miserably sprouting and had enwrapped the whole world, he resolved to convoke a general council, first at Vigiliacum, then at Podium. But at last at Clarummont, a city of Auvergne, with divine grace as companion, from all parts of the transalpine provinces, in the month of November, there convened a sacred assembly of bishops and abbots, in the name of the Lord, with certain princes also of the aforesaid regions being present. Where, with institutions ordered by the counsel of the prelates of the Church and of men fearing God, which seemed to look to the raising up of the fallen state of the Church; and with canons promulgated which could profit for the edification of morals and the correction of the enormity of crimes; and which, at the suggestion of Peter the Hermit, would restore the Peace—which had perished as to property—he who, for the charge enjoined upon him, was bearing the due solicitude; at last he turned himself to this exhortation, saying:

CAPUT XV. Exhortatio domini papae ad populum, pro via Hierosolymitana.

CHAPTER 15. Exhortation of the lord pope to the people, for the Jerusalem way.

Nostis, fratres dilectissimi, et vestram nosse id expedit charitatem, quomodo humani generis Reparator, pro nostra omnium salute carnem assumens, et homo inter homines conversatus, terram promissionis, quam pridem patribus promiserat, propria illustravit praesentia; et assumptae dispensationis operibus, et crebra simul miraculorum exhibitione reddidit specialiter in ignem. Id enim et Veteris et Novi, pene in omnibus syllabis, docet series Testamenti. Quadam sane dilectionis praerogativa certum est eam dilexisse, ita, quod eam orbis partem, imo particulam, haereditatem suam dignatus est appellare, cum ejus sit omnis terra et plenitudo ejus (Isa.

You know, most beloved brothers, and it is expedient that your charity know, how the Restorer of the human race, assuming flesh for the salvation of us all, and, having conversed as a man among men, illumined the land of promise, which long before he had promised to the fathers, with his own presence; and by the works of the assumed dispensation, and at the same time by the frequent exhibition of miracles, he made it especially illustrious. For this the series of the Old and the New Testament teaches, almost in every syllable. By a certain prerogative of love, it is certain that he loved her, in such wise that he deigned to call that part of the world—nay, that particle—his inheritance, though his is all the earth and its fullness (Isa.

XXXIV, 1). Unde per Isaiam ait: Haereditas mea Israel (Isa. XIX, 25); et item: Vinea Domini Sabaoth, domus Israel est (Isa. V, 7). Et licet totam, in partem praecipuam, sibi dedicaverit ab initio, peculiarius tamen Urbem sanctam sibi adoptavit in propriam, testante Propheta, qui ait: Diligit Dominus portas Sion super omnia tabernacula Jacob (Psal.

34, 1). Whence through Isaiah he says: My inheritance is Israel (Isa. 19, 25); and likewise: The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel (Isa. 5, 7). And although he dedicated the whole, as a principal part, to himself from the beginning, yet more particularly he adopted the Holy City to himself as his own, the Prophet bearing witness, who says: The Lord loves the gates of Zion above all the tabernacles of Jacob (Psal.

LXXXVI, 1). De qua gloriosa dicuntur, videlicet quod in ea docens, passus, et resurgens Salvator, salutem operatus est in medio terrae: ad hoc a saeculis praeelecta, ut tantorum esset conscia, et cella familiaris mysteriorum. Electa nimirum: quod ipse qui elegit, testatur, dicens: Et de Hierusalem civitate quam elegi, veniet vobis Salvator. Quam etsi peccatis inhabitantium id exigentibus, justo judicio suo in manus impiorum saepius tradi permiserit Deus, et durae jugum servitutis ad tempus eam sustinere passus sit; non tamen arbitrandum est, quod eam quasi a se repudiatam abjecerit.

86, 1). Concerning which glorious things are said, namely that in it, teaching, suffering, and rising again, the Savior wrought salvation in the midst of the earth: for this it was pre-elected from the ages, that it might be conscious of such great things, and a familiar cell of mysteries. Chosen indeed: as he himself who chose bears witness, saying: And from the city of Jerusalem which I have chosen, a Savior will come to you. Which, although God, the sins of the inhabitants requiring it, by his just judgment has often allowed to be handed over into the hands of the impious, and has suffered her to endure for a time the yoke of hard servitude; nevertheless it is not to be supposed that he has cast her away as if repudiated by himself.

Cum scriptum sit: Flagellat Deus omnem filium quem recipit (Hebr. XII, 6); illi vero thesaurizat iram, cui dicit: Recessit zelus meus a te, jam amplius non irascar tibi (Ezech. XVI, 42). Diligit ergo eam, nec intepuit erga eam dilectionis fervor, cui dicit: Eris corona gloriae in manu Domini, et diadema regni in manu Dei tui; et non vocaberis amplius desolata, sed vocaberis voluntas mea in ea, quia complacuit Domino in te (Isa.

Since it is written: God scourges every son whom he receives (Heb. 12, 6); but he treasures up wrath for him to whom he says: My zeal has departed from you, I will no longer be angry with you (Ezek. 16, 42). Therefore he loves her, nor has the fervor of love toward her grown tepid, to whom he says: You will be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a diadem of the kingdom in the hand of your God; and you will no longer be called Desolate, but you will be called My delight is in her, because it has pleased the Lord in you (Isa.

LXII, 3). Haec igitur salutis nostrae incunabula, Domini patriam, religionis matrem, populus absque Deo, ancillae filius Aegyptiae, possidet violenter; et captivatis liberae filiis, extremas imponit conditiones, quibus versa vice merito servire tenebatur. Sed quid scriptum est? Ejice ancillam, et filium ejus (Gen. XXI, 10). Sarracenorum enim gens impia, et mundanarum sectatrix traditionum, loca sancta, in quibus steterunt pedes Domini, jam a multis retro temporibus violenta premit tyrannide, subactis fidelibus et in servitutem damnatis.

62, 3). Therefore these cradles of our salvation, the Lord’s homeland, the mother of religion, a people without God, the son of the Egyptian handmaid, holds by violence; and, with the freeborn sons taken captive, he imposes extreme conditions upon them, by which in turn he was rightly bound to serve. But what is written? Cast out the handmaid and her son (Gen. 21, 10). For the impious nation of the Saracens, and a follower of worldly traditions, has for many times past pressed with violent tyranny the holy places in which the feet of the Lord stood, the faithful being subdued and condemned into servitude.

Ingressi sunt canes in Sancta, profanatum est sanctuarium; humiliatus est cultor Dei populus; angarias patitur indignas genus electum; servit in luto et latere regale sacerdotium; princeps provinciarum, facta est sub tributo, civitas Dei. Cujus non liquefiat anima? cujus non tabescant praecordia, his ad animum recurrentibus?

Dogs have entered into the Sancta; the sanctuary has been profaned; the people, the worshipper of God, has been humbled; the chosen race suffers unworthy angaries; the royal priesthood serves in mud and brick; the princess of the provinces, the City of God, has been made subject to tribute. Whose soul does not melt? whose very inmost parts do not waste away, as these things recur to mind?

Quis haec siccis oculis audire potest, fratres charissimi? Templum Domini, de quo zelans Dominus vendentes ejecit et ementes, ne domus Patris ejus fieret spelunca latronum (Matth. XXI), factum est sedes daemoniorum.

Who can hear these things with dry eyes, most beloved brothers? The temple of the Lord, concerning which the Lord, in zeal, cast out the sellers and the buyers, lest his Father’s house be made a den of robbers (Matt. 21), has been made a seat of demons.

Id ipsum enim et Mathathiam sacerdotem magnum, sanctorum progenitorem Machabaeorum, ad zelum accendit commendabilem, sicut ipse testatur, dicens: Templum Domini quasi vir ignobilis; vasa gloriae ejus abducta sunt captiva (I Mach. II, 8). Civitas Regis regum omnium, quae aliis regulas intemeratae tradidit fidei, gentium superstitionibus cogitur invita deservire. Sanctae Resurrectionis ecclesia, requies dormientis Domini, eorum sustinet imperia, foedatur spurcitiis, qui resurrectionis non habebunt participium, sed stipula ignis aeterni, perennibus deputabuntur incendiis.

For that very thing also set ablaze to commendable zeal Mattathias the high priest, progenitor of the holy Maccabees, as he himself testifies, saying: The Temple of the Lord like an ignoble man; the vessels of his glory have been carried off captive (1 Maccabees 2, 8). The City of the King of kings of all, which handed down to others the rules of inviolate faith, is compelled, unwilling, to serve the superstitions of the nations. The Church of the Holy Resurrection, the rest of the sleeping Lord, endures their dominations, is defiled by the filths of those who will not have participation in the resurrection, but, as stubble of the eternal fire, will be assigned to everlasting conflagrations.

Loca venerabilia divinis deputata mysteriis, quae Dominum in carne susceperunt hospitem, signa viderunt, senserunt beneficia, quorum omnium in se plena fide praetendunt argumenta, facta sunt gregum praesepia, stabula jumentorum. Laudabilis populus, cui benedixit Dominus exercituum, sub angariarum et sordidarum praestationum pondere gemit fatigatus; rapiuntur eorum filii, matris Ecclesiae chara pignora, ut gentium immunditiis deserviant, et nomen Dei vivi abnegent vel ore blasphement sacrilego, compelluntur; aut impia detestantes imperia, caeduntur gladiis more bidentium, sanctis martyribus sociandi. Non est sacrilegis locorum differentia, non est personarum respectus: in sanctuariis occiduntur sacerdotes et levitae; coguntur virgines fornicari, aut per tormenta perire; nec matronis aetas maturior suffragatur.

Venerable places deputed to the divine mysteries, which received the Lord in the flesh as a guest, saw signs, felt benefactions—of all which they in themselves, with full faith, hold forth proofs—have been made mangers of flocks, stables of beasts of burden. The praiseworthy people, whom the Lord of hosts blessed, groans, wearied under the weight of angaries and sordid exactions; their sons are snatched away, the dear pledges of Mother Church, that they may serve the uncleannesses of the nations, and they are compelled either to deny the name of the living God or to blaspheme it with sacrilegious mouth; or, detesting impious commands, they are hewn down by swords after the manner of sacrificial sheep, to be associated with the holy martyrs. There is for the sacrilegious no distinction of places, there is no respect of persons: in the sanctuaries priests and Levites are slain; virgins are forced to fornicate or to perish by torments; nor does a more mature age avail the matrons.

Vae nobis, qui in hanc tam periculosi temporis descendimus miseriam, quam in spiritu praevidens electus a Domino David rex fidelis, deplorat dicens: Deus, venerunt gentes in haereditatem tuam, polluerunt templum sanctum tuum (Psal. LXXVIII, 1). Et item: Populum tuum humiliaverunt, et haereditatem tuam vexaverunt (Psal. XCIII, 5). Utquid, Domine, irasceris in finem, accendetur velut ignis ira tua?

Woe to us, who have descended into this misery of so perilous a time, which, foreseeing in spirit, David, chosen by the Lord, the faithful king, laments, saying: O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have polluted your holy temple (Psal. 78, 1). And likewise: They have humiliated your people, and have vexed your heritage (Psal. 93, 5). Why, O Lord, are you angry unto the end? Will your wrath be kindled like fire?

(Psal. LXXVIII, 5; LXXXVIII, 47.) Ubi sunt misericordiae tuae antiquae, Domine? (Psal.

(Ps. 78, 5; 88, 47.) Where are your ancient mercies, O Lord? (Ps.

LXXXVIII, 50.) Verumne est quod dicitur: Non obliviscetur misereri Deus, non continebit in ira sua misericordias suas? (Psal. LXXVI, 10.) Recordare quid acciderit nobis; intuere, et vide opprobrium nostrum (Thren.

88, 50.) Is it true what is said: Has God forgotten to show mercy? Will he restrain his mercies in his wrath? (Psal. 76, 10.) Remember what has happened to us; look, and see our reproach (Thren.

V, 1). Vae nobis, ut quid nati sumus videre corruptionem populi nostri, et contritionem civitatis sanctae; et sedere illic cum dantur in manibus inimicorum sancta? (I Mach. II, 7.) Vos igitur, dilectissimi, armamini zelo Dei.

5, 1). Woe to us, why were we born to see the corruption of our people, and the shattering of the holy city; and to sit there when the holy things are given into the hands of enemies? (1 Macc. 2, 7.) You therefore, most beloved, arm yourselves with the zeal of God.

Accingimini unusquisque gladio suo super femur suum potentissime (Psal. XLIV). Accingimini, et estote filii potentis. Melius est enim mori in bello, quam videre mala gentis nostrae et sanctorum.

Gird yourselves, each one with his sword upon his thigh, O Most Mighty (Ps. 44). Gird yourselves, and be sons of the Mighty One. For it is better to die in war than to see the evils of our nation and of the holy things.

Si quis zelum legis Dei habet, adjungat se nobis. Subveniamus fratribus nostris. Disrumpamus vincula eorum, et projiciamus a nobis jugum ipsorum (Psal. II, 3). Egredimini, et Dominus erit vobiscum.

If anyone has zeal for the Law of God, let him join himself to us. Let us come to the aid of our brothers. Let us burst their bonds, and cast from us their yoke (Ps. 2, 3). Go forth, and the Lord will be with you.

Arma quae caede mutua illicite cruentastis, in hostes fidei et nominis Christiani convertite. Furta, incendia, rapinas, homicidia, et caetera qualia qui agunt, regnum Dei non possidebunt, hoc Deo beneplacito redimite obsequio; ut delictorum, quibus Dominum ad iracundiam provocastis, celerem indulgentiam pro vobis obtineant haec pietatis opera, et deprecatio collata sanctorum. Monemus igitur et exhortamur in Domino, et in remissionem peccatorum injungimus, ut fratribus nostris, et coelestis regni cohaeredibus (omnes enim sumus invicem membra, haeredes quidem Dei, cohaeredes autem Christi [Rom.

Turn the arms which you have illicitly bloodied by mutual slaughter against the enemies of the faith and of the Christian name. Thefts, arsons, rapines, homicides, and other such things—those who do such will not possess the kingdom of God—redeem by this service well-pleasing to God; so that for the offenses by which you have provoked the Lord to wrath, these works of piety and the intercession bestowed by the saints may obtain on your behalf swift indulgence. We therefore admonish and exhort in the Lord, and we enjoin for the remission of sins, that to our brothers, and coheirs of the heavenly kingdom (for we all are members of one another, heirs indeed of God, but coheirs, however, of Christ [Rom.

VIII, 17]) qui Hierosolymis et in finibus ejus habitant, afflictioni et laboribus compatientes, infidelium insolentiam (qui sibi regna, principatus et potestates subjicere contendunt) debita compescatis animadversione; et illis totis viribus occurratis, quibus est propositum, nomen delere Christianum. Alioquin futurum est, ut in proximo Ecclesia Dei jugum indebitae perferens servitutis, fidei sentiat dispendium, praevalente gentilium superstitione. In quanta enim positi sint afflictione, noverunt ex vobis nonnulli, qui haec quae loquimur, oculata conspexerunt fide, et praesens illorum per manum Petri, viri venerabilis, qui praesens est, ad nos delata docet epistola.

8, 17]) who dwell in Jerusalem and in its borders, sympathizing with their affliction and labors, you should restrain with due animadversion the insolence of the unbelievers (who strive to subject to themselves kingdoms, principalities, and powers); and you should confront with all your forces those whose purpose it is to efface the Christian name. Otherwise it will come to pass that shortly the Church of God, bearing the yoke of undue servitude, will feel a detriment to the faith, the superstition of the Gentiles prevailing. For how great an affliction they are set in, some among you know, who have beheld with eye-witness faith the things we speak; and their present epistle, delivered to us by the hand of Peter, a venerable man, who is present, makes this known.

Nos autem, de misericordia Domini et beatorum Petri et Pauli apostolorum auctoritate confisi, fidelibus Christianis, qui contra eos arma susceperint, et onus sibi hujus peregrinationis assumpserint, injunctas sibi pro suis delictis poenitentias relaxamus. Qui autem ibi in vera poenitentia decesserint, et peccatorum indulgentiam et fructum aeternae mercedis se non dubitent habituros. Interim vero eos qui ardore fidei ad expugnandos illos laborem istum assumpserint, sub Ecclesiae defensione, et beatorum Petri et Pauli protectione, tanquam verae obedientiae filios recipimus; et ab universis inquietationibus, tam in rebus quam in personis statuimus manere securos.

We, however, trusting in the mercy of the Lord and in the authority of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, to faithful Christians who shall have taken up arms against them and have assumed upon themselves the burden of this pilgrimage, relax the penances enjoined upon them for their own offenses. But as for those who shall have died there in true penitence, let them not doubt that they will have both indulgence of sins and the fruit of eternal reward. Meanwhile, indeed, those who by the ardor of faith shall have undertaken this toil to take them by storm, we receive under the defense of the Church and the protection of the blessed Peter and Paul, as sons of true obedience; and we decree that they remain secure from all disturbances, both in their goods and in their persons.

Si vero quisquam molestare eos interim ausu temerario praesumpserit, per episcopum loci excommunicatione feriatur: et tandiu sententia ab omnibus observetur, donec et ablata reddantur, et de illatis damnis congrue satisfiat. Episcopi vero et presbyteri, qui talibus fortiter non restiterint, officii suspensione multentur, donec misericordiam sedis apostolicae obtineant. His dictis, finem dicendi fecit, praecipiens iis qui aderant, ecclesiarum praelatis, ut ad propria reversi, cum omni instantia et debita sollicitudine plebes suas ad idem hortentur et invitent diligentius. Iis dictis finem dicendi fecit, et soluta synodo valedicentes ad invicem, ad propria sunt reversi: ante omnia, juxta statuta synodi fideliter laborantes, ut pax (quae verbo vulgari treuga dicitur) ab omnibus observetur illibata, ne ire volentibus, et ad necessaria discurrere, ullum ministraretur impedimentum.

But if indeed anyone shall have presumed in the meantime, with rash daring, to molest them, let him be struck with excommunication through the bishop of the place: and let the sentence be observed by all so long, until both the things taken away are returned, and fitting satisfaction is made for the damages inflicted. But bishops and presbyters who shall not have stoutly resisted such men are to be penalized with suspension from office, until they obtain the mercy of the apostolic see. These things said, he made an end of speaking, enjoining those who were present, the prelates of the churches, that, returned to their own places, with all urgency and due solicitude they should exhort and invite their peoples more diligently to the same. These things said, he made an end of speaking, and the synod being dissolved, bidding farewell to one another, they returned to their own places: before all, laboring faithfully according to the statutes of the synod, that the peace (which in the common word is called truce) be kept inviolate by all, lest to those wishing to go, and to travel about for necessities, any impediment be afforded.

CAPUT XVI. Qui de principibus ad iter se obtulerunt; et de signo crucis, quod ituri vestibus suis in signum voti et futurae peregrinationis imprimebant.

CHAPTER 16. Which of the princes offered themselves for the journey; and on the sign of the cross, which those about to go imprinted upon their garments as a sign of their vow and of the future pilgrimage.

Dedit ergo Dominus fideli servo suo evangelizanti virtute multa, et excelso in verbo gloriae, pro fidei meritis verbum efficax, et sermonem omni acceptione dignum in oculis universorum. Et visa est a Domino res egressa, ita ut mandatum ejus, licet arduum nimis et difficile videretur, cum omni aviditate tam majores quam minores amplecterentur. Nec solum praesentes ex illius verbo succensus hujus desiderii fervor ad iter armaverat; verum longe lateque sermo idem egrediens, absentes etiam pari voto ferventes accendebat ad idem.

Therefore the Lord granted to his faithful servant, evangelizing with much power and exalted in the word of glory, on account of the merits of faith, an effectual word and a discourse worthy of all acceptance in the eyes of all. And it was seen that a matter had gone forth from the Lord, such that his command, although it seemed exceedingly arduous and difficult, both great and small embraced with all avidity. Nor had the fervor of this desire, kindled by his word, armed for the journey only those present; but the same discourse, going forth far and wide, was also kindling those absent, fervent with an equal vow, to the same.

Episcopi vero; prout in mandatis acceperant, fideles se cooperantes exhibebant, plebes suas ad id ipsum invitantes, et circumeuntes parochias suas, verbum vitae disseminabant in populis, nec cadebat vel unus apex sine fructu super terram: ita ut vere dici posset, quod vere illud verbum Domini impleretur: Non veni pacem mittere, sed gladium (Matth. X, 34). Dividebatur enim maritus ab uxore, uxor a marito; patres a filiis, filii a parentibus; nec erat charitatis vinculum, quod huic fervori posset praejudicium facere: ita ut de claustris multi egrederentur monachi; et inclusi de carceribus, in quibus se incluserant spontanei propter Dominum. Nec tamen apud omnes erat in causa Dominus; et virtutum mater discretio votum excitabat; sed quidam ne amicos desererent, quidam ne desides haberentur, quidam sola levitatis causa, aut ut creditores suos (quibus multorum debitorum pondere tenebantur obligati) declinantes eluderent, aliis se adjungebant.

The bishops indeed, as they had received in their mandates, showed themselves cooperating faithfully, inviting their peoples to that very thing; and going around their parishes, they disseminated the word of life among the peoples, nor did even a single apex fall upon the earth without fruit: so that it could truly be said that that word of the Lord was truly fulfilled: I did not come to send peace, but a sword (Matt. 10, 34). For the husband was divided from the wife, the wife from the husband; fathers from sons, sons from parents; nor was there any bond of charity that could prejudice this fervor: so that from the cloisters many monks went forth, and recluses from the cells in which they had enclosed themselves of their own accord for the Lord. Yet the Lord was not the motive in all; and discretion, the mother of virtues, was arousing the vow in some; but certain men, lest they abandon their friends, others, lest they be accounted slothful, others for the mere cause of levity, or to evade their creditors (to whom they were held bound under the weight of many debts), joined themselves to others.

Omnes igitur ex causis variis properabant. Non erat in regnis occidentalibus, qui aut aetatis, aut sexus, aut conditionis, aut status vellet esse memor; aut aliquibus persuasionibus deterritus ab incoepto desisteret; sed omnes indifferenter manus dabant; omnes unanimiter corde et ore votum profitebantur. Videbatur ad litteram impleri quod in Tobia scriptum est: Jerusalem civitas Dei, nationes ex longinquo ad te venient, et munera deferentes, adorabunt in te Dominum: et terram tuam in sanctificatione habebunt, nomen magnum invocantes in te (Tob.

Therefore all were hastening from various causes. There was not in the western kingdoms anyone who would wish to be mindful either of age, or sex, or condition, or rank; or who, deterred by any persuasions, would desist from the undertaking; but all without distinction gave their hands; all unanimously with heart and mouth professed the vow. It seemed to be fulfilled to the letter which is written in Tobit: Jerusalem, city of God, nations from afar will come to you, and, bringing gifts, will worship the Lord in you; and they will hold your land in sanctification, calling upon the great name in you (Tob.

XIII, 13). De praesentibus igitur qui concilio interfuerant, multi cum gaudio susceperunt insitum verbum, quorum primus fuit dominus Ademarus, bonae memoriae Podiensis episcopus, vir vitae venerabilis, qui postea apostolicae sedis legatione functus, in eadem expeditione populo Dei tam fideliter quam prudenter praefuit: Dominus quoque Willelmus Aurasicensis episcopus, vir vere religiosus, ac timens Deum. De absentibus vero utriusque regni principibus, eodem fervore succensi, ad iter se accingebant, mutuo se et frequenter exhortantes; et certum praefigentes diem, ut collectis necessariis, et viae consortibus convocatis, iter arriperent. Videtur vere divinitus procuratum praesens, unde loquimur, negotium, et verbum vere egressum a Domino.

13, 13). Therefore, of those present who had taken part in the council, many received with joy the ingrafted word, whose first was Lord Adhemar, of good memory, Bishop of Le Puy, a man of venerable life, who afterwards, having discharged a legation of the Apostolic See, in that same expedition presided over the people of God as faithfully as prudently: likewise Lord William, Bishop of Orange, a truly religious man and God-fearing. But as to the absent princes of both realms, inflamed with the same fervor, they were girding themselves for the journey, mutually and frequently exhorting one another; and fixing a set day, so that, the necessities having been collected and the companions of the way convoked, they might take up the journey. The present business, of which we speak, seems truly to have been divinely procured, and the word truly to have gone forth from the Lord.

Nam catervatim concurrebant populi, unum ubicunque de principibus iter vovisse audierant, ut se illius comitatui sociarent; ejusque super se in toto itinere invocarent nomen, obsequia promittentes et fidem. Et quia verbum illud publice diceretur: Occupet extremum scabies, mihi turpe relinqui; laborabant certatim, se necessariis communire, mutuo se praevenire cupientes. Vere divinitus procuratum; necessarius enim erat hic ignis purgatorius, quo praeterita, quae nimia erant, diluerentur commissa; et occupatio ista utilis, qua declinarentur futura.

For the peoples flocked in crowds, wherever they had heard that one of the princes had vowed the journey, that they might join themselves to his retinue; and they would invoke his name over themselves throughout the whole journey, promising obediences and fealty. And because that saying was being publicly repeated: Let scabies seize the hindmost; for me it is shameful to be left behind; they strove in rivalry to furnish themselves with necessities, eager to forestall one another. Truly divinely procured; for this purgatorial fire was necessary, by which the past offenses, which were excessive, might be washed away; and this occupation was useful, by which future ones might be averted.

Non enim erat inter mortales respectus Dei, nec ad homines reverentia. Convenerat autem apud omnes et id ipsum de mandato domini papae injunctum fuerat, ut quotquot praedictae viae voto se obligarent, vivificae crucis salutare signum vestibus imprimerent; et in humeris illius sibi portarent memoriam, cujus passionis locum visitare proposuerant; illum imitantes, cui ad nostram redemptionem properanti, Factus est principatus ejus super humerum ejus (Isa. IX, 6). De quo etiam non immerito videtur posse intelligi illud Isaiae: Levabit Dominus signum in nationibus, et congregabit dispersos Israel (Isa.

For there was not among mortals respect toward God, nor reverence toward men. Moreover, it had been agreed among all, and this very thing had been enjoined by mandate of the lord pope, that as many as bound themselves by vow to the aforesaid way should imprint upon their garments the saving sign of the life-giving cross; and on their shoulders they should carry for themselves the memorial of him, whose Passion’s place they had purposed to visit; imitating him, who, hastening to our redemption, The principality was made upon his shoulder (Isa. 9, 6). Concerning whom also, not without reason, that word of Isaiah seems able to be understood: The Lord will lift up a sign among the nations, and he will gather the dispersed of Israel (Isa.

XI, 12). Sed et illud mandatum Domini juxta litteram videbatur impleri: Qui vult venire post me, abneget semetipsum; et tollat crucem suam, et sequatur me (Matth. XVI, 24).

11, 12). But even that command of the Lord seemed to be fulfilled to the letter: Whoever wishes to come after me, let him deny himself; and let him take up his cross, and follow me (Matt. 16, 24).

CAPUT XVII. Nomina principum qui de regno Francorum et Teutonicorum iter assumpserunt.

CHAPTER 17. The names of the princes who from the kingdom of the Franks and the Teutons undertook the journey.

De utroque itaque regno, in arrham futurae peregrinationis, signo crucis se communiverant, vir illustris dominus Hugo Magnus, domini Philippi Francorum regis frater; dominus Robertus, Flandrensium comes; dominus item Robertus, comes Normannorum, domini Willelmi Anglorum regis filius; dominus Stephanus, Carnotensium comes et Blesensium, senioris Theobaldi comitis pater; dominus Ademarus, Podiensis episcopus; dominus Willelmus, Aurasicensis episcopus; dominus Raimundus, comes Tolosanus et Sancti Aegidii; cum aliis multis inclytis et nobilioribus viris: vir quoque strenuus et insignis, dominus Godefridus, Lotharingiae dux, et cum eo fratres ejus, dominus videlicet Balduinus, et dominus Eustachius: Balduinus itidem, qui cognominatus est de Burgo, praedictorum consanguineus, domini Hugonis comitis de Retest filius: item comes Garnerus de Gres; Balduinus, comes Hamaucorum; Isuardus, comes Diensis; Rainbaldus, comes Aurasicensis; Willelmus, comes de Foreis; comes Stephanus de Albamarla; Retrodus, comes Perticensis; comes Hugo de Sancto Paulo. Sed et de viris majoribus, qui tamen comites non erant, ad id ipsum Deo placitum obsequium sponte se obtulerunt inclyti viri et nobiles: Henricus de Ascha, Radulfus de Bagentiaco, Hebrardus de Pusato, Gentonius de Bear, Willelmus Amanen, Guastus de Bederz, Willelmus de Montepessulano, Gerardus de Russelun, Gerardus de Ceresiaco, Rogerus de Barnavilla, Guido de Possessa, et Guido de Garlanda, Francorum regis dapifer; Thomas de Feria, Galo de Calvo monte; praedictus quoque Petrus Eremita cum ingenti multitudine, quam tum ex regno, tum ex imperio multo labore contraxerat. Circa Alpes vero dominus Boamundus, Tarentinorum princeps, domini Roberti Guiscardi Apuliae ducis filius; dominus quoque Tancredus, ejus ex sorore nepos; et alii multi, quorum numerum vel nomina non tenemus.

Of both kingdoms, therefore, as an earnest of the future pilgrimage, they had fortified themselves with the sign of the cross, the illustrious man Lord Hugh the Great, brother of Lord Philip, king of the Franks; Lord Robert, count of the Flemings; likewise Lord Robert, count of the Normans, son of Lord William, king of the English; Lord Stephen, count of the Carnotenses (Chartres) and of the Blesenses (Blois), father of the elder Count Theobald; Lord Adhemar, bishop of Le Puy; Lord William, bishop of Orange; Lord Raymond, count of Toulouse and of Saint-Gilles; with many other renowned and more noble men: also a strenuous and distinguished man, Lord Godfrey, duke of Lotharingia, and with him his brothers, namely Lord Baldwin and Lord Eustace: Baldwin likewise, who is surnamed “of Bourcq,” a kinsman of the aforesaid, son of Lord Hugh, count of Rethel; likewise Count Garner of Grez; Baldwin, count of Hainaut; Isuard, count of Die; Rainbald, count of Orange; William, count of Forez; Count Stephen of Aumale; Rotrou, count of Perche; Count Hugh of Saint-Pol. But also of greater men, who nevertheless were not counts, to that same God-pleasing service there of their own accord offered themselves renowned and noble men: Henry of Ascha, Ralph of Baugency, Ebrard of Le Puiset, Gentonius of Béarn, William Amanenus, Gaston of Béziers, William of Montpellier, Gerard of Roussillon, Gerard of Cérisy, Roger of Barneville, Guy of Possesse, and Guy of Garlande, steward (dapifer) of the king of the Franks; Thomas of Feria, Galo of Calvus-Mons; the aforesaid also Peter the Hermit with an enormous multitude, which he had gathered with much labor both from the kingdom and from the empire. Around the Alps indeed Lord Bohemond, prince of the Tarentines, son of Lord Robert Guiscard, duke of Apulia; also Lord Tancred, his nephew by his sister; and many others, whose number or names we do not hold.

Hi omnes tempus exspectantes opportunum, cum ingentibus militarium virorum copiis, ad militiam parati Christianam erant accedere; et se tantae peregrinationis laboribus pro Christi nomine devote mancipare. Transcursa itaque hieme, cum prima veris subsequentis se obtulerunt initia, et frigore depulso, grata terris reddita est temperies, equos praeparant, arma exerunt, componunt sarcinas, et mutuis se, qui simul erant profecturi, invitant legationibus: diligenter praeordinantes, quando oporteat eos iter arripere, ubi convenire, et qua via tutius commodiusque possint incedere. Nec enim poterant tot tamque infinita populorum millia in una qualibet regione sibi reperire necessaria.

All these, awaiting an opportune time, with enormous companies of military men, were prepared to accede to the Christian militia; and to devote themselves devoutly to the labors of so great a pilgrimage for the name of Christ. Winter therefore having been traversed, when the first beginnings of the subsequent spring presented themselves, and the cold being driven away, a welcome temperateness was rendered to the lands, they prepare horses, draw forth arms, arrange their packs, and, by mutual legations, invite one another, they who were about to set out together: carefully pre‑ordinating when they ought to seize the road, where to convene, and by what way they might proceed more safely and more commodiously. For so many and such almost infinite thousands of peoples could not in any one region find for themselves the things necessary.

Unde studiose procuratum est, ut singuli majorum principum, seorsim legiones suas traherent, et non eodem tramite proficiscerentur. Sed neque antequam ad urbem Niceam pervenirent, eorum exercitus convenerunt. Nam, sicut dicetur inferius, dux cum suis legionibus per Hungariam; comes Tolosanus et episcopus Podiensis, per Dalmatiam; reliqui vero principes per Apuliam, sed variis temporibus, Constantinopolim pervenerunt.

Whence it was diligently provided that each of the greater princes should, separately, draw along his own legions, and not set out by the same route. Nor did their armies come together before they reached the city of Nicaea. For, as will be said below, the duke with his legions went through Hungary; the Count of Toulouse and the Bishop of Le Puy through Dalmatia; but the remaining princes reached Constantinople through Apulia, yet at various times.

Parabatur interim quod ad tantum iter sufficere posse credebatur; et viaticula sua, cum viae quantitate metiri nitebantur, ignorantes quod non sunt in manu hominis viae illius. Ignorat enim mortalis infirmitas quid sibi crastina pariat dies. Non erat uspiam in tot provinciis, quot habet Occidens, domus otiosa vel una. Cuique juxta suam conditionem familiaria suberant, circa quae sollicitabantur, negotia, dum hic paterfamilias, ibi filius, illuc vero tota domus ad migrandum se componeret.

Meanwhile, that which was believed able to suffice for so great a journey was being prepared; and they strove to measure their travel-funds by the quantity of the way, ignorant that the ways of that man are not in the hand of man. For mortal infirmity is ignorant what the morrow’s day will bring forth for itself. Nowhere in so many provinces as the West possesses was there even a single idle house. To each, according to his condition, familiar affairs were pressing, matters about which they were anxious, while here the paterfamilias, there the son, and in another place indeed the whole household was composing itself to migrate.

Dirigebantur frequentes epistolae, quibus qui simul profecturi erant, se mutuo exhortabantur, attentius moram increpantes et monentes properare celerius. Vocantibusque caeteros his, qui turmarum erant duces designati, cum singultibus et suspiriis dividebantur ab invicem charorum amplexus, et supremum sibi valedicentes, separabantur in osculis. Mater filium, parentem filia, soror fratrem, uxor maritum, in ulnis deportantes parvulos, et suggentes ubera, cum lacrymis et ejulatu comitabantur abeuntes: et dicto vale, quos gressu non poterant, defixis obtutibus prosequebantur.

Frequent epistles were sent, in which those who were about to set out together exhorted one another, more earnestly reproving delay and admonishing to hasten more swiftly. And as those who had been designated leaders of the troops were summoning the rest, with sobs and sighs the embraces of their dear ones were torn apart from one another, and, bidding one another a last farewell, they were separated in kisses. The mother the son, the daughter the parent, the sister the brother, the wife the husband, carrying little ones in their arms and those sucking at the breasts, with tears and wailing accompanied the departing; and, with “farewell” said, those whom they could not follow with their steps they followed with eyes fixed.

CAPUT XVIII. Galterus Sensaveir primus viam ingressus, Constantinopolim pervenit.

CHAPTER 18. Walter Sensaveir, first to enter upon the road, arrived at Constantinople.

Anno igitur ab Incarnatione Domini 1096, mense Martio, octava die mensis, quidam Galterus, cognomento Sensaveir, vir nobilis et in armis strenuus, cum ingenti multitudine pedestrium turmarum (nam paucissimos secum habebat equites) primus iter arripuit, et pertransiens Teutonicorum regnum, in Hungariam descendit. Est autem regnum Hungariae paludibus interjectis, et magnis fluminibus praecinctum, et inaccessibile; ita ut nisi certis locis, et iis vehementer angustis, volentibus introire vel egredi, non pateat introitus vel exitus. Eidem autem regno tunc praeerat vir Christianissimus, rex Calemannus, qui cognito praedicti Galteri adventu, et de ejus edoctus proposito, piam illius commendans intentionem, eum benigne admisit, et transitu suis expeditionibus per Hungariam concesso, publicorum commerciorum gratiam non negavit.

In the year therefore from the Incarnation of the Lord 1096, in the month of March, on the eighth day of the month, a certain Walter, by surname Sans-Avoir, a noble man and strenuous in arms, with a huge multitude of foot companies (for he had with him very few horsemen), was the first to seize the road, and, passing through the realm of the Teutons, descended into Hungary. Now the kingdom of Hungary, with marshes interposed and girded by great rivers, is inaccessible; so that, save at certain places, and those exceedingly narrow, for those wishing to enter or to go out, an entrance or an exit is not open. Over the same kingdom there then presided a most Christian man, King Coloman, who, having learned of the arrival of the aforesaid Walter and being informed of his purpose, commending his pious intention, kindly admitted him, and, granting passage for his expeditions through Hungary, did not refuse the favor of public commerce.

Ille vero regno ejus cum omni tranquillitate transcurso, usque ad fluvium Maroe, qui ejusdem regni limes ab Oriente dignoscitur esse, pervenit incolumis. Quo transito, Bulgarorum fines cum suis legionibus attigit, ad locum perveniens qui dicitur Bellegravia. Eo tamen ignorante, trans eumdem fluvium in loco cui nomen Malavilla, de comitatu ejus quidam remanserant, ut cibos emerent, et ad iter colligerent quaedam necessaria; quos Hungari comprehendentes, nudatos, et affectos verberibus, ablatis omnibus, remiserunt ad suos.

He indeed, having traversed his realm with all tranquility, came unharmed as far as the river Maroe, which is distinguished as the boundary of the same kingdom on the East. This crossed, he reached the confines of the Bulgars with his legions, arriving at a place that is called Bellegravia. He, however, being unaware that beyond that same river, in a place whose name is Malavilla, certain men of his retinue had remained behind to buy food and to gather certain necessities for the journey, these men the Hungarians, seizing them, stripped, and afflicted with beatings, and, with everything taken away, sent back to their own.

Et licet eorum adversitati universus plena charitate compateretur exercitus, et sinistro, qui acciderat, casui plurimum sociis condoleret; tamen videntes quia durum erat nimis, et pene impossibile fluvium retransire, et occasione emergentium negotiorum iter differre propositum, satius arbitrati sunt dissimulare ad tempus injuriam, quam ad id quod assequi non possent, temere aspirare; spem habentes in eo, cui militare proposuerant, quod Christi servis illata gratis injuria non praeteriret impunita, sed condignam ab eo reciperent mercedem, qui suis fidelibus repromisit dicens: Et capillus de capite vestro non peribit; in patientia vestra possidebitis animas vestras (Luc. XXI, 18). Continuantes igitur iter, Bellegraviam pervenerunt, ut praemisimus, ubi Galterus a duce Bulgarorum, qui eidem loco praeerat, emendi licentiam postulans, et impetrare non valens, ante urbem castrametatus est; ubi exercitum suum victus inopia laborantem, cohibere non valens, grave nimis populi sui passus est dispendium. Nam cum a Bulgaris omnino venalium nihil, aliquo pretio interveniente, obtinere possent, egressus est ejus exercitus, ut sibi modo quocunque alimenta compararent; ne prae necessarii victus deficere cogerentur inopia.

And although the whole army, full of charity, sympathized with their adversity, and greatly condoled with their comrades for the sinister mishap that had occurred, yet, seeing that it was too hard and almost impossible to recross the river, and that to defer the purposed journey on the occasion of emergent negocios was not fitting, they judged it better to dissemble the injury for a time than rashly to aspire to that which they could not achieve; having hope in him to whom they had purposed to soldier, that the injury gratuitously inflicted upon the servants of Christ would not pass unpunished, but that they would receive condign recompense from him who promised to his faithful, saying: And not a hair of your head will perish; in your patience you will possess your souls (Luke 21, 18). Continuing therefore their journey, they reached Bellegravia, as we have said, where Walter, asking from the duke of the Bulgars, who presided over that place, permission to buy, and not being able to obtain it, pitched camp before the city; where, not being able to restrain his army, suffering from scarcity of victuals, he endured a very grievous loss of his people. For since they could obtain from the Bulgars absolutely nothing of things for sale, with any price interposed, his army went out, that they might procure food for themselves by any manner whatsoever, lest they be forced to fail for lack of necessary sustenance.

Qui greges Bulgarorum invenientes, et armenta, violenter ex eis coeperunt abducere, et castris inferre suis. Quod audientes Bulgari, correptis armis, ad eos qui eorum abducebant animalia, hostiliter egressi, praedam revocare volentes, bellum raptoribus inferunt. Et facti superiores, centum quadraginta ex eis a praecedentium comitatu separatos incautius, in oratorio quodam (quo se gratia consequendae salutis contulerant) igne supposito, combusserunt, reliquis in fugam adactis.

Those who, finding the Bulgars’ flocks and herds, began violently to lead them off and bring them into their own camp. Hearing this, the Bulgars, having seized arms, went out in hostile fashion against those who were carrying off their animals, wishing to call back the prey, and they bring war upon the plunderers. And having gained the upper hand, they burned one hundred forty of them—men who, having been incautiously separated from the company of the vanguard, had betaken themselves into a certain oratory (whither they had withdrawn for the sake of obtaining salvation)—by setting fire beneath; the rest they drove into flight.

At vero Galterus sciens quod populum secum traheret durae cervicis, et indiscretum, relictis his qui suo proprio spiritu ducebantur, incorrigibiles facti, cum reliquis agminibus Bulgarorum silvas, longe lateque diffusas, prudenter circumspecteque pertransiens, Straliciam Daciae mediterraneae metropolim egregiam pervenit, ubi ejusdem civitatis praesidi de damno et injuria plebi Dei injuste a Bulgaris illata conquestus, plenam super omnibus commissis justitiam consecutus est. Insuper ab eodem duce, viro egregio, et timente Deum, humanissime tractatus, commerciorum legem obtinuit communem, ut sibi, et populo suo aequa mensura et justo pretio necessaria venderentur; et ut legibus humanis in ejus obsequio nihil videretur deesse, duces etiam itineris, qui eis usque ad urbem praeessent regiam, concessit. Quo perveniens, et in praesentiam domini imperatoris introductus, ab ejus obtinuit magnificentia, ut usque ad adventum Petri, de cujus praecepto iter arripuerat, exercitum suum in locis urbi finitimis, indulta emendi vendendique licentia, habere permitteretur: quod ei concessit imperator.

But indeed Galterus, knowing that he was dragging along with him a stiff-necked and indiscreet people, leaving behind those who were being led by their own proper spirit, having become incorrigible, with the remaining columns, prudently and circumspectly passing through the forests of the Bulgars, spread far and wide, came to Stralicia, the distinguished metropolis of inland Dacia, where, having lodged a complaint with the governor of that same city concerning the damage and injury unjustly inflicted upon the people of God by the Bulgars, he obtained full justice for all the offenses committed. Moreover, by that same duke, an excellent man and one who fears God, he was treated most humanely, and he obtained the common law of commerce, that the necessaries should be sold to himself and to his people by equal measure and at a just price; and that nothing might seem to be lacking of human laws in his service, he also granted guides for the journey, who would preside over them as far as the royal city. Arriving there, and introduced into the presence of the lord emperor, he obtained from his Magnificence that, until the arrival of Peter, at whose command he had undertaken the journey, he be permitted to keep his army in places bordering the city, with license granted to buy and to sell: which the emperor granted to him.

CAPUT XIX. Petrus Eremita subsecutus, per Hungariam transiens, Hungarorum sentit perfidiam.

CHAPTER 19. Peter the Hermit, following after, while passing through Hungary, experiences the perfidy of the Hungarians.

At vero Petrus, post haec non multo interjecto temporis intervallo, [cum innumerabili exercitu transcursa Lotharingia, Franconia, Bavaria, et ea regione quae Austria dicitur, cum universa multitudine, quam ex omni populo, et tribubus, et linguis, et nationibus collegerat, quasi ad quadraginta millia, fines Hungarorum attigerat. Unde missa legatione ad dominum regem, impetravit, ut si pacificum vellet habere introitum, et sine tumultu et scandalis regnum ejus pertransire, ei sine difficultate aditus praestetur. Qua suscepta licentia, et conditionem approbans interpositam, cum universis legionibus, quae eum sequebantur, regnum ingressus est.

But indeed Peter, after these things, with not much interval of time interposed, [with an innumerable army, Lotharingia, Franconia, Bavaria, and that region which is called Austria having been traversed, with the entire multitude which he had gathered from every people, and tribes, and tongues, and nations, to nearly forty thousand, had reached the borders of the Hungarians. Whence, a legation sent to the lord king, he obtained that, if he should wish to have a peaceable entry, and to pass through his kingdom without tumult and scandals, access be afforded to him without difficulty. Which license having been received, and approving the condition interposed, with all the legions that were following him, he entered the kingdom.

Quod cum omni tranquillitate transcurrens, alimentorum multa copia, justo pretio, et bonis conditionibus ab indigenis ministrata, usque ad superius memoratam Malevillam pervenit. Ubi intellecto quod consortibus eorum, qui Galterum secuti, eos praecesserant, multam illius loci habitatores intulerant injuriam, et impietatem non modicam in eos exercuerant; videntes etiam eorum spolia et arma nihilominus in muro civitatis, quasi pro tropaeo dependentia, justa ira succensi, protinus arma corripiunt, et se invicem exhortantes, urbem violenter infringunt, incolis pene omnibus aut interemptis gladio, aut in vicino flumine submersis. In quo tumultu, eorum meritis id exigentibus, illa die cecidisse dicuntur de Hungaris quasi ad quatuor millia; de expeditione vero Petri, centum dicuntur occubuisse.

Passing through this with all tranquility, with a great abundance of provisions, ministered by the indigenes at a just price and on good conditions, he came as far as the above-mentioned Malevilla. There, having understood that to their associates who, following Walter, had preceded them, the inhabitants of that place had inflicted much injury and had exercised no small impiety against them; seeing also their spoils and arms nonetheless hanging on the city wall as if for a trophy, kindled with just wrath they forthwith seize arms, and, exhorting one another, violently break into the city, the inhabitants almost all either slain by the sword or submerged in the nearby river. In which tumult, their deserts requiring it, on that day the Hungarians are said to have fallen to about 4,000; but of Peter’s expedition, 100 are said to have perished.

Sic igitur urbe correpta violenter, quinque diebus continuis manserunt in ea, propter alimentorum, quam in ea repererunt opulentiam. At vero Bulgarorum dux, Nichita nomine, qui Galtero et ejus legionibus rerum venalium forum prius interdixerat, intelligens quod Malevillanis pro eo quod in praecedentes ipse quoque deliquerat, subsequentes in eum vellent refundere, relicta Bellegrava, cui praeerat, de loci diffidens munitione, aufugit. Loci vero incolae cum sua quisque familia oppidum nihilominus deserentes, cum gregibus et armentis in opaca silvarum, et nemorum abdita, longe interius se contulerunt.

Thus therefore, the city having been seized by force, they remained in it for five continuous days, on account of the opulence of provisions which they found in it. But indeed the duke of the Bulgars, by name Nichita, who had previously interdicted to Walter and his legions the forum of vendible things, understanding that the Malevillans—because he too had offended against those who had preceded—wanted the ones following to pour it back upon him, leaving Bellegrava, over which he presided, and diffident of the fortification of the place, fled away. But the inhabitants of the place, each with his own family, deserting the town nonetheless, with flocks and herds betook themselves far more inward into the shady places of the forests and the hidden retreats of the groves.

Petrus autem dum adhuc in expugnato praesidio moram faceret, relatione quorumdam edoctus, quod rex Hungariae suorum stragem, quam audierat, nimis aegre ferens, militares ex universo regno convocaret copias, et in suorum ultionem accingeretur animosius, congregatis navibus quotquot ex utraque fluminis ripa invenire potuit, legiones suas sub omni celeritate transferri praecepit, secum trahens greges et armenta, spoliaque uberrima, quae de loco violenter effracto usque ad redundantem copiam eduxerat: Quibus in ulteriore ripa collatis, ante Bellegravam, quam tamen vacuam repererunt, castrametati sunt. Unde cum plaustris et vehiculis, cum gregibus et armentis, et universo comitatu, itinere dierum octo, nemorum late patentium condensa pertransiens, ante urbem Niz, turribus et muro valido munitissimam, et viris fortibus refertam, cum suis astitit legionibus; et flumine quod eamdem urbem praeterfluit, per quemdam pontem lapideum transmisso, castra ibidem metatus est. Dumque ejus exercitus.

Peter, however, while he was still making a delay in the captured stronghold, having been informed by the report of certain men that the king of Hungary, taking very ill the slaughter of his own people which he had heard of, was convoking military forces from the whole kingdom and was girding himself the more spiritedly for the avenging of his men, having gathered as many ships as he could find from either bank of the river, ordered his legions to be transferred with all speed, dragging with him flocks and herds, and most abundant spoils, which from the place violently broken open he had brought out even to overflowing plenty: these having been brought together on the farther bank, before Bellegrava, which nevertheless they found empty, they encamped. Whence, with wagons and vehicles, with flocks and herds, and the whole retinue, by a journey of eight days, passing through the dense thickets of widely spreading woods, he stood with his legions before the city of Niz, most strongly fortified with towers and a strong wall, and filled with brave men; and the river which flows past that same city having been crossed by a certain stone bridge, he pitched camp there. And while his army—

jam deficiente viatico, victus inopia laboraret, missa legatione ad praesidem civitatis, amice postulat ut rerum venalium, et eorum maxime quae vitae sunt necessaria, bonis conditionibus, et justo pretio, populo peregrinanti, et obsequiis divinis mancipato fiat commercium. Ille vero id nullatenus posse fieri respondit, nisi prius datis obsidibus se obligaret exercitus, ut indigenis forum ministrantibus nec injuria, nec vis major ulla inferatur. Qua conditione utrinque placita, datis obsidibus, egressi sunt cives secum deferentes venalia.

now, the viaticum failing and they laboring under want of victuals, a legation having been sent to the governor of the city, they amicably request that commerce in things for sale, and especially in those which are necessary for life, on good terms and at a just price, be granted to the peregrinating people, mancipated to divine services. But he replied that this could by no means be done, unless first, hostages being given, the army would bind itself that upon the natives supplying the market neither injury nor any greater violence at all should be inflicted. With this condition agreed upon on both sides, hostages having been given, the citizens came out, carrying with them wares for sale.

CAPUT XX. Apud Niz urbem Bulgariae, inter peregrinos et Bulgaros tumultus oritur periculosus.

CHAPTER 20. At Niz, a city of Bulgaria, a perilous tumult arises between the pilgrims and the Bulgars.

Facta est igitur expeditionibus universis alimentorum plenior abundantia, emendi vendendique contractibus mutua charitate inter utrumque populum celebratis; nocteque illa in omni tranquillitate et mutua charitate transcursa, summo mane receptis obsidibus, ad iter accinguntur. Dumque essent in proficiscendo, et major pars praecessisset, imo pene omnis exercitus; quidam turbati capitis homines, et divina animadversione digni, memores satis frivolae contentionis, quam hesterna nocte cum quodam Bulgaro habuerant occasione vendendi emendique, separati aliquantulum a praecedentibus agminibus, septem molendinis, quae juxta praedictum pontem in flumine volvebantur, ignem supponentes, subito converterunt in favillam. Erant praedicti filii Belial natione Teutonici, numero quasi centum: qui etiam, cum eorum non sufficeret furori, quod commiserant, adjecerunt etiam, ut quorumdam domicilia, quae extra muri erant ambitum, non dispari nequitia succenderent.

Therefore, for all the expeditions a fuller abundance of aliments was furnished, the contracts of buying and selling being transacted with mutual charity between both peoples; and that night having been passed in all tranquillity and mutual charity, at earliest dawn, the hostages having been received back, they gird themselves for the journey. And while they were in the act of setting out, and the greater part had gone on before, indeed almost the whole army; certain men of a disturbed head, and worthy of divine animadversion, mindful of a quite frivolous contention which the previous night they had had with a certain Bulgar on the occasion of buying and selling, separated a little from the columns going before, applying fire to seven mills which were revolving in the river next to the aforesaid bridge, suddenly turned them into cinders. The aforesaid sons of Belial were by nation Teutons, in number about one hundred: who also, when what they had committed did not suffice their fury, added besides that they set on fire certain dwellings which were outside the ambit of the wall, with no less iniquity.

Consummatoque scelere, turbis innocentibus, tanquam commissi maleficii conscientiam non habentes, cursu maturato adjungere se sategerunt. At vero dux, qui eos benigne satis nocte tractaverat hesterna, videns quod non satis ei responderant digne pro meritis; scilicet pro collato beneficio, supplicium reportare cogebatur: paucorum commissum, non aequo satis judicio, refundens in omnes, universos praedones reputans, et incendiarios: cives evocat, arma monet corripere; et ipse praevius cum ingenti multitudine, verbo suos exhortatur et exemplo, praedictas insequi expeditiones; et tanquam de sacrilegis vindictam reposcere persuadet. Egressi ergo unanimiter, praecedentes insectantur; et partes praecedentis exercitus posteriores invadunt hostiliter, gladiis instantes atrocius.

And the crime having been consummated, the innocent crowds, as though not having consciousness of the misdeed committed, strove with hastened pace to rejoin the rest. But indeed the duke, who had treated them kindly enough the night before, seeing that they had not responded to him worthily enough according to his deserts—in short, for the benefit conferred, he was compelled to exact punishment—by a judgment not quite equitable transfers the offense of a few onto all, reckoning all as robbers and incendiaries. He calls out the citizens, urges them to seize arms; and he himself, going before with an immense multitude, by word and by example exhorts his men to pursue the aforesaid expeditions, and persuades them to demand vengeance as upon sacrilegious men. Going out therefore with one accord, they harry those in advance, and they attack in hostile fashion the rear parts of the preceding army, pressing more savagely with swords.

Praedictos itaque malefactores, qui necdum castris se adjunxerant, seorsum a turbarum frequentia reperientes, justissima indignatione, morti tradiderunt. Sed sive casu, sive ex industria involventes justum cum impio, multos de immeritis pari poena confoderunt. Currus autem et vehicula, quibus tam alimenta quam omnimodam eorum supellectilem deferebant, senes quoque et valetudinarios, matronas quoque cum pueris et puellis, quae passibus aequis caeteros subsequi non poterant, comprehendentes, vinculis alligatos secum deduxerunt: consummata strage, interemptorum sanguine satiati et spoliis onerati, redeuntes ad propria.

Accordingly, finding apart from the crowding of the throngs the aforesaid malefactors, who had not yet rejoined the camp, they consigned them to death in most just indignation. But whether by chance or by design, involving the just with the impious, they ran through many undeserving ones with an equal penalty. And the carts and vehicles, by which they were carrying both provisions and every manner of their furnishings, as well as old men and invalids, and matrons with boys and girls, who were not able to follow the others with equal steps—seizing them, they led them away with them, bound in chains: the slaughter completed, satiated with the blood of the slain and burdened with spoils, they returned to their own.

CAPUT XXI. Petrus fugientem suum revocat exercitum, et iterum cum Bulgaris quaerit pacifice convenire; sed factus est error novissimus pejor priore, et dissipatae sunt ejus legiones.

CHAPTER 21. Peter recalls his fleeing army, and again seeks to convene peaceably with the Bulgars; but the newest error was worse than the prior, and his legions were scattered.

Interea vir venerabilis, Petrus, et universa quae praeibant agmina, majoresque cuncti expeditionis viri, hujus infortunii, quod suis acciderat, ignari penitus, iter continuabant inceptum. Cum ecce quidam equo raptus velocissimo, cursu praecipiti festinans, casum nuntiat, stragem suorum et captivitatem ex ordine pandens. Quo cognito, de communi prudentium consilio, viam, qua tota die venerant, relegentes, revocatis legionibus, factae caedis argumenta, et fratrum interemptorum funera non sine lacrymis et gemitu contuentes, ante urbem, ubi hesterna nocte castra locaverant, constiterunt.

Meanwhile the venerable man, Peter, and all the columns which were going before, and all the greater men of the expedition, wholly unaware of this misfortune which had befallen their own, were continuing the journey begun. When behold, a certain man, carried off on a most swift horse, hastening at headlong speed, announces the disaster, unfolding in order the slaughter of their men and their captivity. This learned, by the common counsel of the prudent, retracing the road by which they had come the whole day, with the legions recalled, beholding with tears and groaning the evidences of the slaughter that had been wrought, and the funerals of the brothers who had been slain, they halted before the city where the previous night they had pitched their camp.

Erat autem Petro, et his qui secum erant sensus habentes magis exercitatos, in eo facto simplex oculus, et pura intentio. Ideo redierant, ut causa mali cognita, et scandalorum amputata materia, inter utrumque populum pax plenior reformaretur; et ad propositum tutius purgata redirent conscientia. Missis igitur viris prudentibus et honestis ad praesidem et majores civitatis, diligenter discutiunt quaenam causa intercesserit, ut ad tantum tumultum et tantam sanguinis innocentis effusionem ita subito veniretur.

Now Peter, and those who were with him, having senses more exercised, had in that deed a single eye and a pure intention. Therefore they had returned, so that, the cause of the evil known and the material of scandals amputated, a fuller peace might be re-formed between the two peoples; and that they might return to their purpose more safely with conscience purged. Accordingly, men prudent and honorable having been sent to the governor and the chiefs of the city, they diligently examine what cause had intervened, that one had come so suddenly to such a tumult and so great an effusion of innocent blood.

Causa itaque cognita, intelligentes qui missi fuerant, quod satis juste indignatione concepta, ad arma convolaverant; et quod non erat tempus satis idoneum ad hoc, ut super illatis reposceretur vindicta, modis omnibus competentibus, et tota instant sollicitudine, ut pace reformata, praedam, sarcinas, socios, et universa quae amiserant, cum integritate reciperent. Dumque in eo perseverarent, pactis pene ad placitam utrinque redactis consonantiam, excitatus est casu, inconsulto quorumdam calore et ausu temerario, in castris tumultus: volentibus indiscretis quibusdam injuriam, quam sustinuerant, violenter vindicare. Porro Petrus eorum insaniam volens compescere, et causam caedis declinare quaerens, missis quibusdam prudentibus et magnae auctoritatis hominibus, ab impetu et furore, quo civibus instabant hostiliter, eos revocare nitebatur.

Accordingly, the cause being known, those who had been sent understood that, with indignation quite justly conceived, they had rushed to arms; and that it was not a time sufficiently apt for vengeance to be demanded for the injuries inflicted, they urged by all competent modes, and with entire pressing solicitude, that, peace being reformed, the booty, baggage, companions, and all the things they had lost might be recovered intact. And while they were persevering in this, the terms on both sides being almost reduced to the desired consonance, there was, by a mishap, stirred up in the camp a tumult, through the unadvised heat of certain men and a rash audacity: as certain indiscreet persons were wishing violently to vindicate the injury which they had sustained. Moreover Peter, wishing to restrain their insanity and seeking to decline the cause of slaughter, by sending certain prudent men and men of great authority, strove to recall them from the impetus and fury with which they were pressing upon the citizens in a hostile manner.

Cumque non proficeret, neque ejus, licet salutaribus, acquiescere vellent monitis, exercitui missa voce praeconia sub promissae obedientiae debito, praecepit districtius ut nemo illis qui sua temeritate pacem reformatam ausi fuerant violare, opem ferat, aut ministret auxilium. Cui verbo acquiescens exercitus, sedebat quasi arbiter, finem inchoati tumultus, et rei exitum praestolantes. Qui autem pro bono pacis missi fuerant ad praesidem, videntes quod excitus in populo tumultus sedari non valeret, sed magis ac magis augebatur, et quod juxta propositum proficere non poterant, reversi sunt ad castra infecto negotio, elaborantes cum Petro viro Dei, ut turba comprimeretur.

And when he was not making progress, nor were they willing to acquiesce in his counsels, though salutary, proclamations were sent by voice to the army under the debt of the promised obedience; he more strictly commanded that no one should bring help, or minister assistance, to those who by their own temerity had dared to violate the peace re-formed. The army, acquiescing to this word, sat as if an arbiter, awaiting the end of the initiated tumult and the issue of the matter. But those who had been sent to the praeses for the good of peace, seeing that the tumult excited among the people could not be calmed, but was being increased more and more, and that they were not able to advance according to the plan, returned to the camp with the business left undone, laboring with Peter, the man of God, that the crowd might be restrained.

Sed neque id effectui mancipare dabatur. Erant autem quasi mille, qui ad hanc proruperant temeritatem. Quibus totidem de urbanis egressis obviam, bellum ingens ante urbem utrinque committitur.

But neither was it granted to deliver that to effect. There were, however, about one thousand who had burst forth to this temerity. To meet whom just as many of the townsmen, having gone out, came; and a huge battle is joined before the city on both sides.

Videntes autem qui in urbe erant quod quasi schisma ortum erat in populo exteriore, sperantes quod, quia invito et contradicente Petro, rixam concitaverant, reliqua pars exercitus nullatenus eis vellet ministrare subsidia, reseratis aditibus, omnes unanimiter egressi, ex nostris pene quingentos supra pontem occiderunt: reliquis pene omnibus, dum vada nesciunt, tanquam locorum ignari, submersis in flumine. Quod videns exercitus, et tantam suorum non ferens injuriam, ad arma convolant universi: et confligentibus inter se agminibus fit strages infinita, ita ut esset error novissimus pejor priore. Populares ergo, et vulgus indocile, Bulgarorum non ferentes instantiam, fugam ineunt; aliosque qui in certamine viriliter desudabant, exemplo suo et impetu, terga dare compellunt.

But those who were in the city, seeing that as it were a schism had arisen in the outer populace, hoping that, because they had stirred up a brawl with Peter unwilling and gainsaying, the remaining part of the army would by no means be willing to minister succor to them, with the approaches unbarred, all went out unanimously, and slew almost 500 of ours upon the bridge: with almost all the rest, while they did not know the fords, as though ignorant of the places, being submerged in the river. Which the army seeing, and not bearing so great an injury to their own, they all rush to arms: and, the columns conflicting among themselves, a boundless slaughter is made, so that the latest error was worse than the former. The townsmen therefore, and the unteachable rabble, not bearing the instancy of the Bulgars, betake themselves to flight; and others who were sweating manfully in the contest, by their example and their onrush, they compel to turn their backs.

Fugit itaque universus exercitus, et turbatis ordinibus, non erat qui resisteret. In quo tumultu saepe dictus Petrus universam pecuniam, quam de fidelium largitione principum, ut inde pauperibus et egenis in itinere necessaria ministraret, collegerat, retento curru in quo universa ejus deferebatur substantia, penitus amisit. Bulgari autem instantes animosius, ex eis quasi ad decem millia gladio peremerunt, retentis vehiculis et sarcinis universis; mulierum quoque et puerorum ingenti multitudine captivata.

Accordingly the entire army fled, and with the ranks thrown into disorder, there was no one to resist. In that tumult the oft-mentioned Peter utterly lost all the money which, from the largess of the faithful princes—so that from it he might minister the necessaries to the poor and needy on the journey—he had collected, the wagon being detained in which all his substance was being conveyed. But the Bulgars, pressing on more boldly, slew with the sword almost ten thousand of them, retaining the wagons and all the baggage; and a huge multitude of women and children was taken captive.

Qui autem evaserant, silvarum latebras et devia secuti, vix tertia die, monentibus lituis et strepentibus tubis revocati, circa Petrum et illos qui cum eodem evaserant, et in collem se receperant sublimem aliquantulum, convenerunt.

But those who had escaped, having followed the hiding-places and byways of the woods, scarcely on the third day, recalled by admonishing clarions and blaring trumpets, gathered around Peter and those who had escaped with him, and who had withdrawn onto a hill somewhat lofty.

CAPUT XXII. Petrus, recollecto profligatarum legionum suarum residuo, Constantinopolim pervenit; et transito Bosphoro, castrametatur in Bithynia.

CHAPTER 22. Peter, with the residue of his routed legions recollected, arrived at Constantinople; and, the Bosphorus having been crossed, he encamps in Bithynia.

Die tandem quarta, recollectis adinvicem eis qui dispersi fuerant, et ex occultis in quibus triduo latuerant prodeuntibus, conglobati iterum quasi ad triginta millia rursus ad iter se accingunt. Et licet plaustra currusque, quasi ad duo millia, imprudenter amisissent, tamen a proposito deficere ignominiosum reputantes, viam, licet multa difficultate, continuant. Dumque essent in proficiscendo, alimentorum multam sustinentes inopiam, ecce domini imperatori nuntius castris eorum se intulit, qui Petrum et alios ejusdem exercitus capitaneos, regiam proferens jussionem, publice convenit, dicens: Sermo gravis et verbum satis absonum, viri nobiles et inclyti, fama referente, de vobis ad imperialem pervenit audientiam, quod in imperio suo violentiam regionis habitatoribus et ejus subditis inferatis enormem, rixas et tumultus concitantes.

At length on the fourth day, those who had been scattered having been gathered again among themselves, and those who for three days had lain hidden in covert places coming forth, massed again to about 30,000, they again gird themselves for the journey. And although they had imprudently lost wagons and carts, to about 2,000, yet, reckoning it ignominious to fall away from their purpose, they continue the road, albeit with much difficulty. And while they were setting out, sustaining a great lack of provisions, behold, a messenger of the lord emperor entered their camp, who, bringing forth the royal command, publicly convened Peter and the other captains of the same army, saying: A grave discourse and a word sufficiently dissonant, noble and renowned men, as report relates, has come about you to the imperial hearing, that within his empire you inflict enormous violence upon the inhabitants of the region and his subjects, stirring up quarrels and tumults.

Quapropter ejus auctoritate, si in conspectu majestatis ejus gratiam aliquando invenire quaeritis, vobis injungimus, quatenus in aliqua urbium ejus ultra triduum moram facere non praesumatis, sed continuato itinere congruo, tamen moderamine temperato, versus Constantinopolim expeditiones vestras quantocius dirigatis. Nos autem exercitum vestrum praeeuntes, victui necessaria justo pretio vobis ministrari faciemus. Quo audito, revixit spiritus eorum, qui prae victus inopia jam contabuerant; et intellecta erga se domini imperatoris clementia, in spem majorem erecti, postquam apud eum qui regios detulerant apices, de sua innocentia, et supportata patienter, quam eis immeritis Bulgari gratis intulerant injuria, pro tempore sufficienter allegaverunt; ducem praedictum sequentes, ab omni abstinentes enormitate, maturato. itinere Constantinopolim pervenerunt.

Wherefore by his authority, if you seek at any time to find favor in the sight of his majesty, we enjoin upon you that you do not presume to make a delay beyond three days in any of his cities, but, with the journey continued at a fitting, yet tempered moderation, direct your expeditions toward Constantinople as soon as possible. We, however, going before your army, will cause the things necessary for sustenance to be supplied to you at a just price. On hearing this, the spirit of those who, because of want of food, had already wasted away, revived; and, understanding the clemency of the lord emperor toward them, raised into greater hope, after, in the presence of those who had brought the royal letters, they had sufficiently for the time alleged concerning their innocence, and the gratuitous injury which the Bulgars, they being undeserving, had inflicted, which had been patiently borne; following the aforesaid duke, abstaining from every enormity, with the hastened. journey they reached Constantinople.

Ubi reperto praedicto Galtero, qui cum suis legionibus eorumdem praestolabatur adventum, junctis exercitibus, castra in loco sibi deputato metati sunt. Petrus vero a domino imperatore vocatus, urbem ingressus est; et in ejus praesentia constitutus, sicuti vir magnanimus erat et eloquens, de sua intentione, et tanti laboris causa interrogatus, plene disseruit: et quod eum maximi Occidentalium partium et Deo digni principes, in proximo subsequerentur, edocuit: tanta mentis constantia, et verborum usus ornatu, ut et palatii principes, viri admirarentur animositatem et prudentiam, et ipse dominus imperator eum propensius commendaret. Benigne igitur habitum, et donis cumulatum uberioribus, ad suos redire praecepit imperator.

When the aforesaid Walter was found, who with his legions was awaiting their arrival, the armies having been joined, they pitched camp in a place deputed to them. But Peter, summoned by the lord emperor, entered the city; and placed in his presence, since he was a magnanimous man and eloquent, being asked about his intention and the cause of so great a labor, he discoursed fully; and he instructed that the greatest princes of the Occidental parts and worthy of God would shortly follow him; with such constancy of mind and ornament of verbal usage, that even the princes of the palace, men, admired his animosity and prudence, and the lord emperor himself commended him more propensely. Therefore, having been benignly received and heaped with more abundant gifts, the emperor commanded him to return to his own.

Ubi cum dies aliquot, ejus et victualibus, et requie refocillatus esset exercitus, paratis navibus ex imperiali mandato, transito Hellesponto, in Bithyniam, quae prima, de Asiana dioecesi, provincia eodem mari terminatur, descenderunt: demumque ad locum supra idem mare situm, cui nomen Civitot, pervenientes, castrametati sunt.

There, when for several days the army had been re-comforted both with victuals and with rest, with ships prepared by imperial mandate, the Hellespont having been crossed, they descended into Bithynia, which, the first province of the Asiatic diocese, is bounded by the same sea: and at length, coming to a place situated above the same sea, whose name is Civitot, they pitched camp.

CAPUT XXIII. Exercitus ejus, eo absente, a finibus Nicaenis praedas agit, et juxta urbem Nicaenam oppidum expugnat.

CHAPTER 23. His army, in his absence, carries off booty from the Nicaean borders, and near the city of Nicaea takes a town by storm.

Erat autem idem locus in hostium confinio positus; ubi cum in multa rerum opulentia quasi duobus mensibus continuis consedisset exercitus, non defuit eis pene quotidie rerum venalium copia, et refectio pro tempore necessaria. Qua rerum ubertate simul et otio dissolutus miser et durae cervicis populus, prodeuntibus ex adipe stimulis insolentiae (Psal. LXXII, 7), coepit seorsum invitis magistratibus turmas agere, et ad decem vel amplius milliaria perlustrare regionem, greges et armenta secum trahentes.

Moreover, the same place was situated on the enemies’ confine; where, when the army had sat down in great opulence of resources for, as it were, two continuous months, there was not lacking to them almost daily a supply of things for sale, and a refection necessary for the season. By which abundance of things together with leisure the wretched and stiff‑necked people, with the goads of insolence coming forth from fat (Psalm 72, 7), began, separately and the magistrates being unwilling, to drive bands, and to explore the region to ten miles or more, dragging along flocks and herds with them.

Receperant tamen saepius ex parte domini imperatoris litteras commonitorias, quatenus ante adventum majorum principum, qui subsequi dicebantur, longius evagari, aut in se hostes provocare non praesumerent; sed in loco designato moram facerent, circumspecte se habentes. Petrus autem pro plebe sibi commissa valde sollicitus, ad urbem regiam profectus erat, ut rerum venalium, si posset, alleviaret pretium, et humaniorem commerciis obtineret conditionem. Unde populus contumax et calcitrosus, sumpta occasione ex ejus absentia, coepit insanire vehementius; et conglobati seorsum ab exercitu ejusdem factionis complices, quasi ad peditum septem millia, adjunctis sibi equitibus trecentis, aliorum interdictum auribus surdis praeeuntes, versus Nicaeam ordinatis agminibus profecti sunt.

They had nevertheless often received admonitory letters from the lord emperor, to the effect that, before the arrival of the greater princes who were said to be following, they should not presume to wander farther afield or to provoke the enemies against themselves; but should make a delay in the designated place, conducting themselves circumspectly. Peter, however, being very solicitous for the people committed to him, had set out to the royal city, that he might, if he could, alleviate the price of commodities and obtain a more humane condition for commerce. Whence the contumacious and recalcitrant populace, taking occasion from his absence, began to run mad more vehemently; and, massed together apart from the army as accomplices of the same faction, to about 7 thousand infantry, with 300 horsemen joined to them, pressing on with deaf ears to the interdict of others, set out toward Nicaea with their ranks arrayed.

Unde de locis praedictae urbis conterminis, greges et armenta ad maximum numerum contrahentes, in castra reversi sunt incolumes. Porro videntes Teutonici et illius linguae homines, quod Latinis in eo negotio ad quod exierant, prospere successerat, rapinarum amore concepto, adjiciunt et ipsi simile aliquid attentare, unde et nomen obtineant, et vires inferant rebus domesticis. Tandem vero colligati ex eadem natione quasi ad tria millia cum ducentis equitibus, versus Nicaeam contendunt.

Whence, from the places conterminous with the aforesaid city, gathering flocks and herds to a very great number, they returned to the camp unharmed. Moreover, the Teutonics and men of that tongue, seeing that the Latins had prospered in the business for which they had gone out, with a love of rapine conceived, they likewise add to attempt something similar, whence they might both obtain a name and bring strength to their domestic affairs. At length, however, gathered from the same nation to about 3,000 with 200 horsemen, they press toward Nicaea.

Erat autem in eadem regione oppidum ad radicem montis situm, a Nicaea quatuor vix milliarium distans spatio, ad quod accedentes, impetu vehementissimo et totis viribus oppugnant undique; et, licet plurimum resistentibus oppidanis, expugnatum occupant violenter, et ibidem, interemptis habitatoribus et occupatis quae eorum fuerant universis, loci amoenitate tracti simul et opulentia, castrum communiunt, proponentes usque ad adventum principum in eodem loco commanere.

Moreover, in the same region there was a town situated at the foot of a mountain, scarcely distant from Nicaea by a space of four miles, to which, approaching, they assail with a most vehement impetus and with all their forces from every side; and, although the townsmen resisted greatly, having stormed it they seize it violently, and there, the inhabitants having been slain and all the things which had been theirs occupied, drawn by the amenity of the place and likewise its opulence, they fortify a camp, proposing to remain in the same place until the advent of the princes.

CAPUT XXIV Solimannus Turcorum princeps praedictum recuperat oppidum; et quotquot in eo reperit, gladio perimit.

CHAPTER 24 Soliman, prince of the Turks, recovers the aforesaid town; and all whom he finds in it, he puts to the sword.

Solimannus vero illius regionis dux et moderator, audito longe ante Christianorum principum adventu, ex universo interim Orientis tractu, tam prece quam pretio, et modis quibus poterat, infinitas virorum fortium colligens copias, ad easdem partes redierat, ut contra hostiles impetus civibus et regioni optata praeberet solatia. Qui audiens quod Teutonicorum praedicta manus oppidum ejus expugnasset, et expugnatum detinere praesumeret, illuc sub omni celeritate festinat, et castrum obsidens, violenter expugnat, omnibus quotquot intus reperit, gladio peremptis. Interea rumor in castris personuit, et celebri fama pervulgatum est, Teutonicorum cohortes, quae recenter de castris exierant, in manu Solimanni penitus cecidisse.

But Solimannus, the duke and moderator of that region, having heard long before of the arrival of the Christian princes, meanwhile gathering from the entire tract of the East, as much by entreaty as by price, and by whatever means he could, countless forces of brave men, had returned to those same parts, to provide the citizens and the region with the hoped-for solace against hostile assaults. Hearing that the aforesaid band of the Teutonics had stormed his town, and presumed to detain it after it had been stormed, he hastens thither with all speed; and, besieging the fortress, he violently takes it by storm, all, whoever he found within, being slain by the sword. Meanwhile a rumor resounded in the camp, and it was spread abroad by famous report that the cohorts of the Teutonics, which had recently gone out from the camp, had utterly fallen at the hand of Solimannus.

Unde mente plurimum consternati, gemitu et lacrymis, quas prae spiritus angustia cohibere nequeunt, dolorem protestantur. Tandem comperta plenius veritate, exoritur tumultus popularium in castris; vociferante plebe, et id summa exigente precum instantia, ut illatam fratribus tam enormem non dissimularent injuriam; sed correptis armis, omnes unanimiter, tam equites quam pedites, interemptorum fratrum sanguinem vindicaturi procederent. Quod verbum majores exercitus, et qui in talibus pleniorem habebant experientiam, domini imperatoris consilio parere volentes, cum vellent comprimere et furentis populi indiscretum mitigare fervorem, insurrexit plebs adversus eos indomita; et cujusdam Godefridi, qui cognominabatur Burel, qui princeps erat factionis, usa patrocinio, majoribus contumelias coepit irrogare, timiditati ascribens, et non prudentiae, quod fratrum interfectores, ultore gladio non persequerentur.

Whence, exceedingly dismayed in mind, with groaning and tears—which by reason of the constriction of breath they cannot restrain—they protest their grief. At length, the truth having been learned more fully, a tumult of the populace arises in the camp; the plebs vociferating, and with the utmost urgency of prayers demanding this: that they should not dissemble so enormous an injury inflicted upon their brothers; but, arms having been snatched up, all with one mind, both horsemen and footmen, should advance to avenge the blood of the slain brothers. This proposal the greater men of the army, and those who in such matters had fuller experience, wishing to obey the counsel of their lord the emperor—when they wished to repress and to mitigate the indiscriminate fervor of the raging people—the plebs, untamed, rose up against them; and, making use of the patronage of a certain Godefrid, surnamed Burel, who was the princeps of the faction, began to inflict contumelies upon the magnates, ascribing to timidity, and not to prudence, that they did not pursue the slayers of their brothers with an avenging sword.

CAPUT XXV Concitatur adversus eumdem Solimannum ob caedem fratrum universus exercitus, et pugnans adversus eum consumitur.

CHAPTER 25 The whole army is stirred up against that same Soliman on account of the slaughter of the brothers, and, fighting against him, is consumed.

Praevaluit tandem deterius affectorum sententia; et arma corripientes universi, relictis debilibus cum mulieribus et parvulis, et his quibus arma non erant, congregati sunt ad viginti quinque millia peditum armatorum, quingentos equites optime loricatos habentes. Ordinatis ergo agminibus et in acies digestis, versus montana per silvam praedictam, ad partes Niceas contendunt. Vixque ad tria milliaria processerant, cum ecce Solimannus cum innumera suorum multitudine eamdem silvam ingressus, ut in castra nostrorum, quae in loco erant supra nominato, subitus irrueret, accelerabat.

At length the worse counsel of the eager prevailed; and all, snatching up arms, leaving the weak with the women and the little ones, and those who had no arms, were gathered to twenty-five thousand armed footmen, having five hundred horsemen most excellently loricated. Therefore, the columns being ordered and drawn up into battle-lines, they press toward the mountain regions through the aforesaid forest, toward the parts of Nicaea. And they had scarcely advanced to three miles, when—behold—Soliman, with an innumerable multitude of his own, entering that same forest, was hastening, that he might make a sudden rush upon the camp of our men, which was in the above-named place.

Audiensque per eamdem silvam clamores insolitos, ut primum comperit quod a castris egressae nostrorum sibi occurrerent legiones, relictis montibus et silva, ad patentes campos se contulit. Quo etiam nostri pervenientes, adventus hostium ignari penitus, postquam eorum in vicino constitutum cognoverunt exercitum, mutuis se vocibus exhortantes, in hostes irruunt, gladiis instantes cominus, interemptorum fratrum sanguinem de manu hostium requirentes. Hostes vero votis omnibus et ardente proposito nostros in se irruentes gladiis excipiunt; et, compertum habentes quod res pro capitibus ageretur, resistunt viriliter, justa indignatione succensi, et de sua multitudine praesumentes.

And hearing through that same forest unusual clamors, as soon as he learned that legions of our men, having gone out from the camps, were meeting him, leaving the mountains and the forest, he betook himself to the open fields. Thither also our men, arriving, utterly ignorant of the enemy’s coming, after they learned that their army had been stationed nearby, encouraging themselves with mutual shouts, rush upon the foes, pressing hand-to-hand with swords, demanding from the enemy’s hand the blood of their slain brothers. But the enemies, with every vow and with ardent purpose, receive our men rushing upon them with swords; and, having it ascertained that the matter was being conducted for their very heads, they resist manfully, inflamed with just indignation, and presuming upon their multitude.

Tandem confligentibus adinvicem hinc inde cohortibus strenue, satisque viriliter, oppressi nostrates ab eorum multitudine, et pondus belli non valentes ferre diutius, dissolutis agminibus, in fugam versi sunt: quibus nihilominus Turci gladiis incumbentes, usque in eorum castra, stragem operantes infinitam, eos insectati sunt. Ceciderunt in ea congressione de viris nobilibus, qui Petri castra sequebantur, Galterus Sensaveir, Rainaldus de Breis, Fulcherus Aurelianensis, et alii innumerabiles. Nam de viginti quinque millibus peditum, qui de castris egressi fuerant, et de quingentorum numero equitum, vix vel unus superfuit, qui aut mortem effugerit, aut vincula.

At length, with the cohorts on both sides stoutly and quite manfully clashing with one another, our men, overborne by their multitude and not able to bear the weight of the war any longer, with their columns dissolved, were turned to flight; the Turks nonetheless, pressing upon them with swords, pursued them even to their camp, inflicting boundless carnage. Among the noblemen who were following Peter’s camp, there fell in that encounter Walter Sensaveir, Renaud of Breis, Fulcher of Orléans, and countless others. For of the 25,000 foot-soldiers who had gone out from the camp, and of the number of 500 horsemen, scarcely even one survived who escaped either death or chains.

CAPUT XXVI. Sotimannus victor nostrorum castra diripit: residuum populi aut captivum trahit, aut perimit; castrum Civitot obsidet; sed, audita imperatoris legatione, recedit.

CHAPTER 26. Sotimannus, victor over our men, plunders the camp: the remainder of the people he either leads away captive or puts to death; he besieges the castle of Civitot; but, on hearing the emperor’s legation, he withdraws.

Tandem vero hac potitus victoria, et praesenti successu Solimannus factus elatior, in castra violentus irruit; id residuum quod supererat, nemine jam qui resistere posset invento, gladiis abolet; senes, valetudinarios, monachos et clerum universum, matronas quoque grandaevas ferro perimens; solis pueris et puellis, adhuc impuberibus, quorum pro eis aetas intercedebat, et facies, ad hoc parcens, ut servituti manciparet. Erat autem juxta nostrorum castra, in littore maris situm, praesidium vetus, semirutum, habitatoribus vacuum, ita ut nec seras haberet, nec ostia; in quod, necessitate compulsi, salutem in eo posse consequi arbitrantes, peregrinorum quidam se contulerunt, quasi ad tria millia. Qui objectis clypeis, et magnorum advolutione molarium aditus obstruunt, et ad sui tuitionem, prout necessitatis articulus imperabat, accinguntur.

At length indeed, having gotten this victory, and made more elated by the present success, Soliman violently rushes into the camp; that residue which remained, with no one now found who could resist, he abolishes with the sword—seniors, valetudinarians, monks and the entire clergy, and also matronly women of great age, slaying with iron; sparing only boys and girls, as yet prepubescent, for whom their age and appearance interceded on their behalf in this matter, to this end that he might consign them to servitude. Now there was next to our men’s camp, set on the shore of the sea, an old stronghold, half-ruined, void of inhabitants, such that it had neither bars nor doors; into which, compelled by necessity, judging that they could obtain safety in it, certain of the pilgrims betook themselves, about three thousand. These, with shields set up, and by rolling up great millstones, block the entrances, and they gird themselves for their own defense, as the crisis of necessity enjoined.

Dumque Turcos instantes vehementius, spe obtinendae salutis, qui obsessi erant, a se repellunt longius, pro vita et libertate totis viribus decertantes, nuntius quidam sub omni celeritate ad Petrum accedens, stragem suorum indicat; et residuos de populo jam consumpto, in oppido quodam semiruto arctissima obsidione vallatos edocet, armorum et victus inopia laborantes. Qui ad dominum imperatorem accedens, fusis humiliter precibus, obtinet ut missa illuc sub omni velocitate militia reliquias populi ab imminentibus periculis praecipiat liberari: quod et factum est. Turci enim, audita domini imperatoris jussione, ab oppidi protinus destiterunt impugnatione, et trahentes secum quos in vincula conjecerant, cum tentoriis et papilionibus, equis, mulis, et omnimoda nostrorum supellectile optima spolia deferentes, Niceam reversi sunt.

And while the Turks were pressing more vehemently, those who were besieged, in the hope of obtaining safety, drove them farther off from themselves, fighting it out with all their strength for life and liberty, when a certain messenger, approaching Peter with all speed, reported the slaughter of his own men; and informed him that the survivors of the people, now all but consumed, were ringed round by a most tight siege in a certain half-ruined town, suffering from a lack of arms and victuals. He, approaching the lord emperor and pouring out humble prayers, obtains that, the soldiery being sent thither with all speed, he should order that the remnants of the people be freed from the imminent dangers: and so it was done. For the Turks, on hearing the command of the lord emperor, at once desisted from the assault of the town, and, dragging with them those whom they had cast into chains, returned to Nicaea, carrying off as choice spoils the tents and pavilions, the horses, mules, and every sort of our equipment.

Sic ergo cervicosus populus et intractabilis, dum monitis nesciunt acquiescere melioribus, suo lapsus impetu, totus descendit in interitum; et dum disciplinae salutaris nescit jugum portare, suarum viarum fructus inutiles collegit, hostium gladiis deputatus.

Thus therefore the stiff-necked and intractable people, while they do not know how to acquiesce in better admonitions, having fallen by their own impetus, wholly descends into destruction; and, while it does not know how to bear the yoke of salutary discipline, it gathered the unprofitable fruits of its own ways, assigned to the swords of the enemies.

CAPUT XXVII. Godescalcus, sacerdos quidam Teutonicus, iterum exercitum ducens, in Hungariam pervenit; qui turpia in Hungaros operari non veretur.

CHAPTER 27. Godescalcus, a certain Teutonic priest, leading an army again, arrived in Hungary; who does not scruple to perpetrate turpitudes against the Hungarians.

Post Petri vero transitum in Bithyniam, consequenter non multo temporis intervallo, quidam sacerdos, Godescalcus nomine, natione Teutonicus, Petri sequens vestigia, ejusdem peregrinationis accensus desiderio, exhortationis habens gratiam, multos ex universo Teutonicorum regno ad idem opus animaverat. Collectisque viae consortibus, quasi ad quindecim millia, Hungariae fines, sine difficultate admissus, ingressus est. Ubi cum ejus exercitui venalia de mandato regio bonis conditionibus ab Hungaris exhiberentur, alimentorum abutentes opulentia et ebrietati vacantes, ad inferendas enormes indigenis se contulerunt injurias: ita ut praedas exercerent, venalia foris illata publicis violenter diriperent, et stragem in populo committerent, neglectis legibus hospitalitatis.

But after Peter’s passage into Bithynia, consequently, not long thereafter, a certain priest, by name Godescalcus, by nation Teutonic, following Peter’s footsteps, inflamed with the desire of the same pilgrimage, having the grace of exhortation, had animated many out of the whole kingdom of the Teutons to the same work. And, companions of the way having been gathered, to almost fifteen thousand, he entered the borders of Hungary, being admitted without difficulty. Where, when things for sale were supplied to his army by royal mandate on good terms by the Hungarians, abusing the opulence of provisions and giving themselves to drunkenness, they set themselves to inflicting enormous injuries upon the natives: so that they practiced plundering, violently snatched in public the wares brought to market, and committed slaughter among the people, the laws of hospitality being neglected.

Quod domino regi postquam innotuit, ira succensus, regnum universum praecipit convocari; et in ultionem tantarum injuriarum armari populum imperat, et majores etiam regionis. Commiserunt enim gravia in locis quampluribus, turpiaque nimis, et relatione indigna, quae nonnisi cum subjectorum odio et timiditatis nota, rex poterat dissimulare. Convocata igitur totius regni militia, tanquam in hostes et suprema dignos animadversione, unanimiter ruunt praecipites, pro tantis excessibus mortem irrogaturi.

After this became known to the lord king, inflamed with wrath, he orders the whole kingdom to be convoked; and for the avenging of such great injuries he commands the people to be armed, and even the greater men of the region. For they had committed grave deeds in very many places, and things too disgraceful and unworthy of relation, which the king could dissimulate only with the hatred of his subjects and the mark of timidity. Therefore, the militia of the whole kingdom having been called together, as against enemies and worthy of supreme animadversion, they rush headlong with one mind, intending to inflict death for such great excesses.

Tandemque apud locum cui nomen Bellegrava est, qui locus in umbilico regni eorum positus est, praedictorum insensatorum confusam reperiunt multitudinem, qui praecognito regis adventu, et de ejus indignatione non ignari, verentes quam laesam portabant conscientiam, arma corripuerant, quasi vim vi repellere, et a se propulsare injurias parati. Quos postquam Hungari armis incumbentes viderunt et ad resistendum animatos, perpendentes quod non sine suorum multa strage poterant eis vim inferre, erant quippe fortes viri, armorum usum habentes, quique non facile vellent gratis animas ponere, more suo dolis tentant peragere quod viribus nequeunt. Missa enim legatione ad praedictum Godescalcum, et exercitus primates, verbis pacificis eis locuti sunt in dolo, dicentes:

And at length, at the place whose name is Bellegrava, which place is set in the umbilicus of their kingdom, they find the confused multitude of the aforesaid insensate men, who, the king’s arrival being foreknown and not unaware of his indignation, fearing the guilty conscience they bore, had snatched up arms, as if ready to repel force by force and to propulse injuries from themselves. Whom, after the Hungarians saw bent upon arms and animated to resist, weighing that they could not inflict force upon them without much slaughter of their own—for they were strong men, having the use of arms, and who would not easily wish to lay down their lives for nothing—after their fashion they attempt to accomplish by wiles what they cannot by forces. For, a legation having been sent to the aforesaid Godescalcus and to the chiefs of the army, with pacific words they spoke to them in guile, saying:

CAPUT XXVIII. Epistola regis Hungarorum ad praedictum Godescalcum, et ejus exercitum; et interitus eorumdem miserabilis.

CHAPTER 28. The epistle of the king of the Hungarians to the aforesaid Godescalc, and his army; and the miserable destruction of the same.

Pervenit ad dominum regem de vestro exercitu gravis querimonia, quod populo sibi subdito graves nimis et enormes intuleritis molestias, iniqua lege vestros hospites, qui vos benigne tractaverunt, remunerantes. Tamen domini regis plenius novit prudentia, quod non estis omnes horum commissorum rei; sed certum habet inter vos viros prudentes et timentes Deum, quibus aliorum displicet enormitas, et quibus invitis et renitentibus commissa sunt quae dominum regem merito ad iracundiam provocarunt. Unde aliquorum crimen timens in omnes refundere, ne justum involvat cum impio, decrevit irae suae modum imponere et Christianae consortibus professionis parcere in praesenti.

A grave complaint has come to the lord king concerning your army, that you have inflicted upon the people subject to him annoyances most grievous and enormities, requiting your hosts—who treated you benignly—by an unjust law. Yet the prudence of the lord king knows more fully that you are not all guilty of these deeds committed; but he holds that among you there are prudent men and God-fearing, to whom the enormity of others is displeasing, and against whose will and resistance were done the things which have rightly provoked the lord king to wrath. Wherefore, fearing to pour back the crime of some upon all, lest he involve the just with the impious, he has decreed to impose a measure upon his ire and to spare for the present the consorts of the Christian profession.

Unde consulimus ut ejus omnino quiescat indignatio, quod et personas vestras, et omnem, quam hic habetis substantiam, arma quoque in manus domini regis sine aliqua conditione tradatis. Alioqui nec unus solus ex vobis mortem poterit evadere; cum in medio regni ejus constituti, nec viribus pares sitis, nec fugiendi habeatis potestatem. Godescalcus igitur, et legionum primicerii, quibus ab initio contumacis populi displicebat insania, de regia benignitate praesumentes, in simplicitate spiritus, populum totis viribus renitentem, et pro vita decertare paratum, in eam quasi violenter traxerunt sententiam, ut cum armis et omni eorum substantia in potestatem domini regis se traderent, pro his omnibus quibus eum offenderant, satisfacientes. Acquievit tandem populus universus, et armis traditis, universaque eorum substantia, regis primiceriis et suis procuratoribus resignata, dum veniam exspectant, mortem inveniunt.

Whence we advise that his indignation be wholly quieted, namely that you hand over your persons, and all the substance which you have here, and your arms too, into the hands of the lord king without any condition. Otherwise not even a single one of you will be able to escape death; since, situated in the midst of his kingdom, you are neither equal in forces nor have the power to flee. Godescalcus therefore, and the primicerii of the legions, to whom from the beginning the insanity of the contumacious people was displeasing, presuming upon royal benignity, in simplicity of spirit, drew the people, resisting with all their forces and prepared to fight for their life, as if by force into this sentence: that they should deliver themselves, with their arms and all their substance, into the power of the lord king, making satisfaction for all those things by which they had offended him. The whole people at length acquiesced, and their arms having been handed over, and all their substance resigned to the king’s primicerii and his procurators, while they await pardon, they find death.

Irruentes enim in populum nil tale verentem, armorum solatio destitutum, et de regis clementia non immerito praesumentem, non distinguentes justum ab impio, stragem immanissimam exercuerunt, ita ut interemptorum funeribus, et cruore occisorum locus pollueretur universus, et tantae multitudinis vix superessent vestigia. Evaserunt tamen aliqui commune periculum; et praevia Domini misericordia, Hungarorum gladios declinantes, et ad propria reversi, de suorum strage, et sinistro casu qui acciderat, eos qui profecturi erant, et ejusdem viae votis tenebantur obligati, reddiderunt instructiores: monentes ut praedicti nequam populi suspectam semper habentes malitiam, prudentius incedant et cautius discant negotiari.

For rushing upon the people fearing nothing of the sort, bereft of the solace of arms, and not without cause presuming upon the king’s clemency, not distinguishing the just from the impious, they exercised a most monstrous slaughter, such that by the funerals of the slain and the gore of the killed the whole place was polluted, and of so great a multitude scarcely the traces survived. Yet some escaped the common peril; and the Lord’s mercy going before, turning aside the swords of the Hungarians, and having returned to their own, from the slaughter of their kin and the sinister mishap which had occurred, they rendered those who were about to set out, and were held bound by vows of the same way, more instructed: warning that, always having in suspicion the malice of the aforesaid wicked people, they should proceed more prudently and learn to negotiate more cautiously.

CAPUT XXIX. Quomodo praecedentes exercitus subsecuta est insensatorum hominum multitudo infinita, Judaeorum interimens populum, et absque disciplina incedens.

CHAPTER 29. How an infinite multitude of witless men followed the preceding armies, killing the people of the Jews, and proceeding without discipline.

Per idem tempus, modico interjecto intervallo, convenerant eodem studio ex occidentalibus finibus turbae innumerabiles, et peditum manus infinita absque duce et rectore, passim et imprudenter incedentes. Erant tamen inter eos viri quidam nobiles, Thomas de Feria, Clarenbaldus de Vendoliolo, Willelmus Carpentarius, comes Hermanus, et alii nonnulli, quibus in nullo, disciplinae impatiens, subjiciebatur populus; sed neglecta prudentium et melius affectorum doctrina, passim et sine delectu per omnia libere discurrebant illicita. Unde factum est, ut cum in timore Domini iter debuissent inceptum peragere, et divinorum memores mandatorum, observata evangelica disciplina, pro Christo peregrinari, converterunt se ad insanias, et Judaeorum populum in civitatibus et oppidis per quae erat eis transitus, nil tale sibi verentem, et se habentem incautius, crudeliter obtruncabant.

At the same time, with a small interval interposed, innumerable crowds had come together with the same zeal from the western borders, and an infinite band of foot-soldiers without a leader or director, proceeding here and there and imprudently. Yet among them were certain noble men, Thomas of Feria, Clarenbald of Vendoliolum, William the Carpenter, Count Herman, and several others, to whom the people, impatient of discipline, in no way subjected itself; but, the doctrine of the prudent and better-disposed neglected, they ran freely everywhere and without selection into illicit things. Whence it came about that, whereas they ought to have accomplished the journey they had begun in the fear of the Lord, and, mindful of the divine commandments, with evangelical discipline observed, to peregrinate for Christ, they turned themselves to insanities, and cruelly cut down the Jewish people in the cities and towns through which their passage lay—who feared nothing of the sort for themselves and conducted themselves too incautiously.

Hoc autem maxime factum est in urbibus Colonia et Magontia, ubi etiam vir potens et nobilis comes Emico, in eadem regione praeclarus, eorum coetibus cum multo se adjunxit comitatu, non solum prout ejus decebat generositatem, nec morum censor, nec correptor enormitatis; sed maleficiorum particeps et flagitiorum incentor. Qui omnes, transcursa Franconia et Bavaria, postquam fines attigerunt Hungariae, pervenientes ad locum cui nomen Meeszeburg, arbitrati quod libere, et sine difficultate eis liceret introire, clausum reperientes aditum, citra pontem substiterunt. Erat autem is locus praesidium, munitum valde fluminibus maximis, Danubio et Lintace, et profundis circumseptum paludibus, ita etiam ut majori multitudini, invitis his qui observabant introitum, non esset facile irrogare violentiam.

This, however, was done most especially in the cities of Colonia and Magontia, where also a powerful and noble man, Count Emicho, illustrious in the same region, joined himself to their gatherings with a great retinue, not in the way that befitted his nobility, nor as a censor of morals nor a corrector of enormity, but as a participant in misdeeds and an inciter of shameful crimes. All of these, Franconia and Bavaria having been traversed, after they reached the borders of Hungary, arriving at a place whose name is Meeszeburg, thinking that it would be permitted for them to enter freely and without difficulty, finding the access closed, halted on this side of the bridge. Now that place was a stronghold, strongly fortified by very great rivers, the Danube and the Lintace, and surrounded by deep marshes, so also that for a larger multitude, against the will of those who were keeping the entrance, it was not easy to do violence.

Dicebatur tamen esse eorum qui advenerant numerus ad ducenta millia peditum; equitum vero, quasi tria millia. Porro rex Hungariae transire volentibus aditum prohiberi mandaverat, timens ne injuriarum, quas Godescalci legionibus intulerat, memores, in ultionem armari cuperent intromissi. Recens enim factum, et cruentae caedis enormitas, longe lateque divulgata, regem sibi timere compellebant.

Yet it was said that the number of those who had arrived was up to 200,000 foot-soldiers; but of horsemen, about 3,000. Moreover, the king of Hungary had ordered that the passage be denied to those wishing to cross, fearing lest, mindful of the injuries which he had inflicted upon the legions of Godescalc, once admitted they would desire to arm for vengeance. For the deed was recent, and the enormity of the bloody slaughter, divulged far and wide, compelled the king to fear for himself.

Obtinuerunt tamen ab his qui ad praedicti municipii deputati erant custodiam, et a principibus legionum, qui in ea parte regionem observabant, ut legatos ad regem dirigerent, qui, pro impetranda pace et obtinenda transeundi libertate, regem suppliciter convenirent. Ipsi vero interim citra paludes in locis pascuis castrametati sunt, rei praestolantes eventum.

They nevertheless obtained from those who had been deputed to the custody of the aforesaid municipality, and from the chiefs of the legions who were observing the region in that quarter, that they should direct legates to the king, who, for procuring peace and obtaining the liberty of crossing, might humbly approach the king. They themselves meanwhile, on this side of the marshes, encamped in pasture-lands, awaiting the outcome of the matter.

CAPUT XXX. Quomodo castrum Meeszeburg obsederunt, et septingentos ex Hungaris interfecerunt, et tandem divinitus in fugam versi, pene omnes ab Hungaris interfecti sunt

CHAPTER 30. How they besieged Meeszeburg castle, and killed seven hundred of the Hungarians, and at length, by divine agency, turned to flight, almost all were slain by the Hungarians

Interea, qui missi fuerant ad regem, infecto prorsus negotio, paucis evolutis diebus, reversi sunt. Quorum relatione majores edocti, qui erant in exercitu, quod nullam apud regem gratiam poterant invenire, proponunt terras, quas citra fluvios et paludem rex possidebat, depopulari, et suburbana succendere, et in rebus ejus hostiliter versari. In quo dum desudarent attentius, accidit, die quadam, quod septingenti ex regis supradicti militia navigio transeuntes occulto, peregrinis ex insperato, ut ab illatis regionem tuerentur injuriis, casu se dederunt obviam: quos cum declinare non possent, nec redire ad propria, aquis impedientibus, pene omnes interfecti sunt, paucis exceptis, qui in carecto et paludibus, equis amissis, vitae consuluerunt et saluti.

Meanwhile, those who had been sent to the king, with the business altogether unfinished, returned after a few days had elapsed. Instructed by their report, the leaders who were in the army, because they could find no favor with the king, propose to ravage the lands which the king possessed on this side of the rivers and the marsh, to set the suburbs on fire, and to conduct themselves in a hostile manner with respect to his affairs. While they were sweating at this more intently, it happened, on a certain day, that seven hundred of the aforesaid king’s soldiery, crossing secretly by boat, unexpectedly ran into the pilgrims, in order to protect the region from the injuries being inflicted: and since they could not avoid them, nor return to their own, the waters impeding, nearly all were slain, save a few who, in the reed-bed and marshes, their horses lost, looked to their life and safety.

Qua erecti victoria, adjiciunt etiam ut, pontibus fabricatis, praesidium expugnent; et iter ferro aperientes, in regnum violenter ingrediantur. Juxta hoc propositum cohortes excitant, et per pontes, quos de novo erexerant, moenibus applicantes, protecti clypeis, ad muri suffossionem, et violentum introitum animosius se accingunt. Eoque jam per eorum diligentem instantiam ventum erat, ut muro in locis pluribus perforato, jamjam peregrinis pateret introitus.

Uplifted by that victory, they further add that, with bridges having been built, they should storm the garrison; and, opening a way with iron, they should forcibly enter the kingdom. According to this plan they rouse the cohorts, and, applying to the walls the bridges which they had newly raised, protected by shields, they gird themselves more boldly for the undermining of the wall and a violent entry. And it had already come, through their diligent persistence, to the point that, the wall having been pierced in several places, the entrance was just now lying open to the pilgrims.

Et qui intus erant in municipio, omnino in desperationem descenderant, de vita penitus diffidentes; cum ecce repente immisso divinitus timore, relicto assultu, et maxima impedimentorum parte neglecta, versi sunt in fugam qui victores videbantur, fugae causam penitus ignorantes. Nec aliud in causa dicitur exstitisse, nisi quod peccatis multiplicibus Dominum ad iracundiam provocaverant, impietatem secuti, quae suis cultoribus terrorem solet incutere. Fugit enim impius, juxta verbum Sapientis, nemine persequente (Prov.

And those who were inside in the municipality had altogether descended into desperation, utterly distrusting of life; when behold, suddenly, with a fear sent in by divinity, the assault being abandoned, and the greatest part of the impediments neglected, they who had seemed victors were turned to flight, wholly ignorant of the cause of the flight. Nor is anything else said to have stood as the cause, except that by multiple sins they had provoked the Lord to wrath, having followed impiety, which is wont to instill terror in its own worshipers. For the impious flees, according to the word of the Wise, with no one pursuing (Prov.

XXVIII, 1). Hungari vero meliore facta conditione, videntes hostium cuneos terga dedisse, insecuti sunt eos tanquam victores, quos prius habuerant formidini; et quos infra moenia vallati paludibus vix poterant sustinere, ultro insequuntur, vice versa, non solum formidinem, verum et mortem irrogantes. Ex quibus comes Emico, cum maxima parte dissolutarum turmarum fugiens, in patriam suam reversus est. Alii vero nobiles quos supra nominavimus, per Carinthiam declinantes, in Italiam pervenerunt, qua decursa Apuliae se intulerunt finibus: unde et eos de principibus, idem iter agentibus, qui Durachium navigare proposuerant, secuti, in Graeciam se contulerunt.

28, 1). But the Hungarians, their condition having become better, seeing the enemy formations give their backs, pursued them as victors, those whom previously they had held in fear; and those whom, fenced within the walls and girded by marshes, they could scarcely withstand, they, vice versa, of their own accord pursue, inflicting not only fear but even death. Of these, Count Emicho, fleeing with the greatest part of the broken bands, returned into his own country. But the other nobles whom we named above, turning aside through Carinthia, came into Italy; and, that traversed, they entered the borders of Apulia: whence also some of the princes, making the same journey—who had proposed to sail to Dyrrachium—following them, betook themselves into Greece.

His ergo et hujusmodi motibus pene totus concutiebatur Occidens, et seorsum turmas agebant pene nationes universae, et aliae sub principibus, aliae quasi acephalae iter aggrediebantur. Viae tamen compendium, quod qui per Hungariam descenderant, certum erat reperisse, propter insolentiam eorum et enormitates nimias, quas frequenter et praeter meritum, regionis inferebant habitatoribus, transeuntes qui praecesserant, eis penitus negabatur. Unde et eos, qui subsequebantur, reddiderunt magis sollicitos, ut regis Hungarorum sibi gratiam conciliarent.

By these movements, therefore, and suchlike, almost the whole West was shaken, and almost all the nations were driving their troops separately; and some under princes, others as if acephalous undertook the journey. Yet the shortcut of the road, which those who had descended through Hungary had surely found, was utterly denied to them because of their insolence and excessive enormities, which they frequently, and beyond desert, inflicted upon the inhabitants of the region, the passers-by who had gone before having caused this. Whence they made those who were following more anxious to conciliate for themselves the favor of the king of the Hungarians.