William of Tyre: HISTORIA RERUM IN PARTIBUS TRANSMARINIS GESTARUM

CAPUT PRIMUM. Describitur mons, et pars ejus ab hostibus occupatur, custodibus illuc locatis. Emittuntur ad mare qui populum evocent; et illatis victualibus civitas communitur.

CHAPTER ONE. The mountain is described, and a part of it is occupied by the enemies, with guards stationed there. Men are sent out to the sea to summon the people; and, victuals having been brought in, the city is fortified.

Sedato autem tumultu et gladiis inebriatis sanguine, fessis a caede continua victoribus, cum jam civitas quievisset, convenientes adinvicem principes; multum adhuc superesse laboris et nondum consummatum negotium intelligentes, per portas et moenia designatis custodibus, in montem ascendere decreverunt, et oppugnare praesidium. Et missa voce praeconia, cohortes universas, in montem praedictum ascendere certatim compellunt; quo pervenientes, cum praesidii constaret munitione, quod omnino esset insuperabilis et quod sola fame poterat expugnari; videntes quod inutiliter consumerent operam et studium, et res multorum dierum ferias exigeret, ad alia se convertunt argumenta. Mons enim iste, qui urbi praeeminet, valle quadam profundissima et devexo plurimum praecipitio divisus est, ita ut ejus pars quae in orientem respicit sit humilior, largam in sui vertice habens planitiem, vinetis aptam et agriculturae; tanta tamen est profundae intercapedinis distantia, ut potius montes duo quam unus in duo divisus videatur.

However, with the tumult stilled and the swords inebriated with blood, the victors wearied by continual slaughter, when now the city had come to rest, the leaders, coming together with one another, understanding that much labor still remained and that the business was not yet consummated, with guards designated for the gates and walls, decreed to ascend the mountain and to assault the garrison. And, the herald’s proclamations having been sent forth by voice, they compel all the cohorts to ascend the aforesaid mountain, in rivalry; on arriving there, since it was evident from the fortification of the garrison that it was altogether insuperable and that it could be stormed only by hunger, seeing that they would uselessly consume effort and zeal, and that the affair would demand the delay of many days, they turn themselves to other devices. For this mountain, which pre-eminent stands over the city, is divided by a certain most deep valley and a very sloping precipice, such that its part which faces the east is lower, having on its summit a broad plain, apt for vineyards and agriculture; yet so great is the distance of the deep interval that it seems rather two mountains than one divided into two.

Qui vero in occidentem protenditur, longe sublimior est et cacuminatus, in cujus parte sublimiore situm est praesidium, muro solido et turribus validioribus: ab oriente et a septentrione praedictum habens immane et in modum barathri praecipitium, ita ut nec excogitari possit quomodo ex illis duabus partibus praesidio noceatur. Ab occidente vero collis erat depressior, inter quem et praesidium vallis erat, sed modica, nec latitudine diffusa, nec profunditate praeceps, per quam volentibus a praesidio in urbem descendere, iter unicum et singulare, satis per se nemine impugnante periculosum. Hunc ergo collem nostris visum est principibus occupare, ne forte per portam praesidii hostibus immissis, in nostrorum laesionem, in urbem pateret descensus.

But the part which stretches toward the Occident is by far more sublime and peaked, and on its higher portion the stronghold is situated, with a solid wall and very sturdy towers: on the Orient and on the north it has the aforesaid immense precipice in the manner of a barathrum, such that it cannot even be conceived how from those two sides harm could be done to the garrison. From the west, however, the hill was lower, and between it and the stronghold there was a valley, but a modest one, spread out neither in latitude nor precipitous in profundity, through which those wishing to descend from the stronghold into the city had a single and singular route, quite perilous in itself even with no one attacking. Therefore it seemed good to our princes to occupy this hill, lest perhaps, enemies having been let in through the gate of the stronghold, a descent into the city should lie open to the lesion of our men.

Locatis ergo ibi viris prudentibus et strenuis, et relictis tam in armis quam in victu necessariis; factoque muro cum propugnaculis ex opere solido, et locatis super eum ordine congruo machinis, quibus a se hostium possent repellere molestias: principes de majoribus deliberaturi in urbem descenderunt, ad eumdem locum completis negotiis redituri. Omnes enim illic moram facere, quousque expugnaretur praesidium, decreverant: excepto domino duce, qui de communi principum consilio, portam Orientalem in suam receperat custodiam, simul et praesidium, quod nostri extra urbem firmantes, domino Boamundo commiserant. Audientes igitur, quod magnus princeps, de quo supra dictum est, Corbagath videlicet, in proximo venturus esset, et jam fines Antiochenos ingressus, innumerabiles infuderat copias: decernunt usque ad mare aliquem de principibus dirigere, ut eos de fratribus, qui illuc gratia alimentorum et colligendi victus se contulerant, revocent; et quidquid necessariorum illic repererint, totum ad urbem quantocius praecipiant comportari.

Therefore, having stationed there men prudent and strenuous, and having left behind the necessaries both in arms and in victual; and a wall having been made with bulwarks from solid workmanship, and machines placed upon it in fitting order, by which they might repel from themselves the molestations of the enemy: the princes, to deliberate about weightier matters, descended into the city, intending to return to the same place once the business was completed. For all had decreed to make a stay there until the stronghold should be taken: except the lord duke, who by the common counsel of the princes had taken into his own custody the Eastern Gate, and likewise the fortress which our men, strengthening it outside the city, had committed to lord Bohemond. Hearing therefore that the great prince, of whom it was said above, namely Corbagath, was about to come shortly, and that, having already entered the Antiochene borders, he had poured in innumerable forces: they resolve to send one of the princes as far as the sea, to recall those of the brothers who had betaken themselves thither for the sake of food and of collecting victuals; and that whatever of necessaries they should find there, they should order the whole to be transported to the city as quickly as possible.

Factum est autem, ut per illud biduum, quod usque ad adventum majorum copiarum superesse videbatur, in omni sollicitudine discurrentes; quidquid victus et pabulorum undecunque contrahere potuerunt, in urbem introducentes, ad ejus conductionem toto studio laborarent. Sed et suburbanorum incolae, et agrorum cultores, scientes Christianis urbem esse redditam, quaecunque inferre poterant, diligenti studio comportabant. Sed modicum erat et pene nihil quod undique inferebatur; nam diutina obsidio, quae mensibus novem continuis universam exhauserat regionem, nihil reliqui fecerat, unde vel ad paucos dies nostris posset subveniri.

However, it came to pass that during that two-day span, which seemed to remain until the arrival of the greater forces, they, running about with every solicitude, bringing into the city whatever victuals and fodder they were able to collect from anywhere, labored with total zeal at its conveyance. But the inhabitants of the suburbs and the cultivators of the fields, knowing that the city had been restored to the Christians, were carrying in with diligent zeal whatever they were able to bring in. But what was being brought in from every side was little and almost nothing; for the protracted siege, which for nine continuous months had exhausted the entire region, had left nothing remaining whence aid could be afforded to our men even for a few days.

CAPUT II. Trecenti a majore hostium praemissi exercitu, ante urbem discurrunt. Rogerius de Barnavilla incautius occurrens occiditur.

CHAPTER 2. Three hundred, sent ahead by the greater army of the enemy, run about before the city. Roger of Barnavilla, meeting them rather incautiously, is killed.

Altera vero die post urbem captam, cum nostri circa urbis custodiam et pro inferendis alimentis essent valde solliciti, ecce trecenti equites de exercitu Corbagath, studiose praemissi, si forte ex nostris aliquos extra urbem incaute se habentes reperire possent, armati ad unguem et equis invecti celeribus, juxta urbem se locant in insidiis. Ex quibus triginta, qui equos videbantur habere velociores, usque ad urbem coeperunt discurrere, ex industria ignorantiam praetendentes, et discurrentes incautius. Hos cum nostri qui in civitate erant, ita viderunt discurrere, aegre tulerunt, indignum omnino reputantes, nisi eis obviam procederetur.

On the next day after the city had been captured, when our men were very anxious about the guard of the city and about bringing in provisions, behold, three hundred horsemen from the army of Corbagath, diligently sent ahead, in case they might perhaps find some of ours outside the city conducting themselves incautiously, armed to the nails and borne on swift horses, place themselves in ambush near the city. Of these, thirty, who seemed to have swifter horses, began to run about up to the city, purposely pretending ignorance, and coursing about rather incautiously. When our men who were in the city saw them running about thus, they took it ill, deeming it altogether unworthy unless advance were made to meet them.

Unde vir in armis strenuus, cujus multa in eodem exercitu egregia fuerunt opera, Rogerus videlicet de Barnavilla, de comitatu domini Roberti Normannorum comitis, assumptis secum consortibus quindecim, eis in occursum ab urbe properat, more suo aliquid insigne gesturus. Qui dum laxis habenis in praedictos excursores irrueret animosius, subito, sed fraudulenter, in fugam versi sunt, tandiu fugam continuantes, quousque ad suorum pervenerunt insidias. Unde consurgentibus his qui latuerant, reintegrato suorum numero, in eos qui socios insectabantur, calle reciproco irruentes, in fugam adegerunt; dumque Rogerus et sui, viribus impares et numero, in urbem se contendunt recipere, hostilium equorum velocitate praeventus, ictu sagittae trans praecordia lethaliter confossus, equo lapsus interiit: vir suis perpetuo lugendus, expeditionis Christianae quantum in se erat, fidelissimus procurator.

Whence a strenuous man in arms, whose many excellent exploits had been in that same army, namely Roger of Barnavilla, of the retinue of lord Robert, count of the Normans, taking with him fifteen companions, hastens out from the city to meet them, minded, after his wont, to accomplish something signal. When, with loosened reins, he charged more boldly upon the aforesaid skirmishers, they suddenly—but fraudulently—turned to flight, continuing their flight until they reached the ambush of their own. Then those who had lain hidden, rising up and their numbers reintegrated, rushing back by the same track upon those who were pursuing their comrades, drove them to flight; and while Roger and his men, unequal in strength and in number, strive to betake themselves back into the city, he, anticipated by the speed of the enemy horses, pierced lethally by a shaft through the precordia, fell from his horse and perished: a man to be mourned forever by his own, the most faithful procurator of the Christian expedition, so far as in him lay.

Caeteris autem in urbem se recipientibus, in praesentia omnium qui in muro erant et turribus, nemine ex eis opem ferente, viri memorabilis capite amputato, hostes reversi sunt indemnes. Quibus abeuntibus, nostri corpus ejus cum honestis exsequiis, non sine lacrymis et universorum gemitu in urbem introducentes, in porticu basilicae apostolorum Principis, supremo humanitatis officio, praesentibus principibus et universo populo, sepulturae.

But while the rest were withdrawing into the city, in the presence of all who were on the wall and the towers, with none of them bringing aid, the enemies, the head of the memorable man having been cut off, returned unharmed. As they departed, our men, bringing his body into the city with honorable exequies, not without tears and the universal groan, laid it for burial in the portico of the basilica of the Prince of the Apostles, with the supreme office of humanity, the princes and all the people being present.

CAPUT III. Princeps major accedit, castra locat in montibus supra praesidium. Dux in porta Orientali prosternitur, ducenti pereunt de nostris.

CHAPTER 3. The senior prince approaches, he pitches camp on the mountains above the garrison. The duke is laid low at the Eastern Gate, two hundred of our men perish.

At vero sequenti die, quae ab urbis liberatione erat lux tertia, summo diluculo, circa solis exortum saepe dictus princeps potentissimus, cum infinitis et majoribus etiam quam prius diceretur copiis, regionem quantum ex sublimiore civitatis parte poterat quis intueri, suorum multitudine occupaverat universam; et, ponte superiore transito, inter lacum et fluvium, qui inter se quasi spatio unius milliarii distare videntur, castrametatus est. Erat autem tanta expeditionum ejus multitudo et militiarum numerus, ut etiam illa tam insignis planities, in qua sitam esse praediximus Antiochiam, vix eorum castris sufficeret, ut de collibus etiam vicinis locando tabernacula, nonnullos occuparent. Die demum tertia, postquam ante urbem castrametatus est, videns quia nimis esset ab urbe remotus, habito cum suis consilio, ut his qui praesidium tuebantur, de loco viciniore conferret solatium; et ut per eam portam, quae castro suberat, suos in civitatem posset immittere, solutis castris, ad montana conscendit, a porta Orientali usque ad Occidentalem universum australe latus continua vallans obsidione.

But indeed on the following day, which from the liberation of the city was the third day, at the very first dawn, around sunrise, the oft-mentioned most powerful prince, with infinite forces and even greater than previously was reported, had occupied with the multitude of his own the entire region, as far as one could look from the higher part of the city; and, the upper bridge having been crossed, between the lake and the river, which seem to be apart from each other by about the space of one mile, he encamped. Now so great was the multitude of his expeditions and the number of his soldiery, that even that so notable plain, in which we have previously said Antioch is situated, scarcely sufficed for their camps, so that by pitching tents even on the neighboring hills, they occupied some. On the third day at last, after he had encamped before the city, seeing that he was too far from the city, having held counsel with his own, in order that he might bring consolation from a nearer place to those who were defending the garrison; and so that through that gate which was beneath the fortress he might be able to send his men into the city, the camp having been broken, he ascended to the mountains, from the Eastern gate to the Western, palisading the whole southern side with a continuous siege.

Erat autem secus eamdem Orientalem portam praesidium quoddam in colle aliquantulum edito situm, quod ab initio ad castrorum tuitionem fundatum, domino Boamundo prius tradiderant conservandum; urbe vero capta, postquam generalem coepit gerere administrationem, praedictam munitionem, simul cum vicina porta, domini ducis custodiae deputaverunt. Circa quod praesidium, dum castra hostes locassent sua, et his qui erant in praesidio assultus darent cum multa instantia frequentissimos, dux eorum non ferens insolentiam, cum suo egressus est comitatu, ut his qui in praesidio erant pene deficientibus ministraret subsidium, et castra quae ante portam erant locata dissolveret; sed egredienti duci et suis volenti subvenire, occurrit Turcorum multitudo ingens, quam et viribus et numero longe superiorem dux sustinere non valens, vix eorum ereptus gladiis, fuga inita, in urbem se recepit: ubi hostibus proterve nimis insistentibus, dum plebs indiscreta comprimeretur acrius et mutuo sibi prae turba negarent introitum, ducenti pene partim oppressi, partim vulneribus saucii, nonnullis etiam captis, miserabiliter perierunt.

But there was, hard by that same Eastern gate, a certain praesidium set on a somewhat elevated hill, which, founded from the beginning for the tutelage of the camp, they had previously consigned to Lord Bohemond to conserve; but when the city was taken, after he began to bear the general administration, they deputed the aforesaid fortification, together with the neighboring gate, to the custody of the lord Duke. Around that praesidium, when the enemies had pitched their camp and were delivering very frequent assaults with much insistence upon those who were in the garrison, their duke, not bearing the insolence, went out with his comitatus, that he might minister succor to those who were in the garrison, now almost failing, and dissolve the camp which had been pitched before the gate; but as the duke was going out, wishing to bring relief to his own, there met him a huge multitude of Turks, which, being far superior both in forces and in number, the duke, not able to sustain, scarcely snatched from their swords, having entered upon flight, withdrew into the city: where, the enemies pressing too protervely, while the indiscriminate plebs was being more sharply compressed, and they were denying one another entry because of the crowd, almost two hundred—partly crushed, partly wounded with hurts, with some even taken captive—perished miserably.

CAPUT IV. Nostri infra urbem secus radicem montis vallum ducunt; pugnatur ibi; vincuntur hostes. Princeps hostium de monte descendit, urbem obsidet a parte inferiori.

CHAPTER 4. Our men, below the city along the foot of the mountain, draw a rampart; battle is fought there; the enemies are vanquished. The prince of the enemies descends from the mountain, and besieges the city on the lower side.

Sic igitur duce confuso, qui quasi omnium praecipuus videbatur. Turci in tantam elati sunt audaciam, ut per portam superioris praesidii, quibusdam notis compendiis, in urbem descendentes, in nostros subito irruerent; et reperientes improvidos, sagittis et gladiis plerumque multos interficerent; nostris autem eos insequentibus, subito montem corripientes, in arcem se recipiebant superiorem; aliunde vias habentes, quam per eum collem, quem nostri occupaverant et communierant diligentius. Dumque saepius ita contingeret, et multi de populo in civitate hac fraude deperirent, convenerunt in unum principes, ut huic tanto malo remedium procurarent.

Thus then, with the leader confounded, who seemed as it were the principal of all. The Turks were uplifted to such audacity that, through the gate of the upper garrison, by certain well-known shortcuts descending into the city, they would suddenly rush upon our men; and, finding them unwary, they mostly put many to death with arrows and swords; but when our men pursued them, suddenly seizing the mountain, they would withdraw into the higher citadel; having routes from elsewhere, other than by that hill which our men had occupied and had fortified more diligently. And since it happened thus rather often, and many of the people in the city were perishing by this fraud, the princes assembled into one, that they might procure a remedy for so great an evil.

Factumque est quod de communi consilio, dominus Boamundus et dominus comes Tolosanus, inter partem urbis inferiorem et clivum montis, vallum duxerunt profundum admodum et latitudinis competentis, quo impetus eorum qui descendere de monte consueverant, retardaretur et populus infra urbem posset tranquillus quiescere. Et ut etiam vallum ad sui tuitionem redderent habilius, munitionem ibi construunt, fidelem et devotam operam impendentibus, tanquam pro salute propria, universis legionibus. Turci vero, qui superius adhuc obtinebant praesidium et qui exterius erant in obsidione, per superiorem portam admissi, per occultas semitas descendentes, huic novae munitioni frequentes dabant assultus, et quanta poterant instantia, ut eam dejicerent, elaborabant.

And it came to pass that, by common counsel, Lord Bohemond and the Lord Count of Toulouse drew a rampart—very deep and of adequate breadth—between the lower part of the city and the slope of the mountain, so that the onset of those who were accustomed to descend from the mountain might be slowed, and the people within the city might be able to rest in tranquility. And that they might also render the rampart more apt for its own defense, they constructed a fortification there, all the legions expending faithful and devoted labor, as though for their own salvation. But the Turks, who still held the upper garrison and those who were outside in the siege, having been admitted through the upper gate, descending by hidden paths, delivered frequent assaults upon this new fortification, and with all the urgency they could, strove to cast it down.

Accidit autem die quadam, quod erumpens a superioribus partibus, per solita compendia Turcorum manus solito numerosior, circa praedictum et de novo conditum praesidium, tanta coepit eos qui intus erant oppugnare instantia, quod nisi principes qui aliis urbis partibus erant ad custodiam deputati, et universus qui per urbem dispersus erat populus, maturius subvenisset, pene dominum Boamundum et Evrardum de Pusato, Radulphum de Fontanis, Reibaldum Creton, Petrum filium Gilae, Albericum et Ivonem, viros strenuos et nobiles, qui ad ejus tuitionem intro se contulerant, expugnassent; sed advenientes cum multo impetu dux, et comes Flandrensis, et princeps Normannorum, eorum adeo represserunt insolentiam, ut interemptis pluribus et captivatis nonnullis, non solum a praesidio, verum ab urbe universa, conversos in fugam et male tractatos sub omni celeritate fugere compellerent: qui ad dominum suum reversi, nostrorum vires et admirabilem animorum constantiam praedicabant, ita ut in eis videretur completum illud vaticinium: Lingua canum tuorum ex inimicis (Psal. LXVII, 25); nam fidelis populi extollebant praeconium, qui erant ejus persecutores. Corbagath vero, cum per dies quatuor in montanis, ut praediximus, moram fecisset continuam, videns quod non proficeret, et quod equis pabula deficerent, solutis castris, iterum cum universis legionibus suis denuo descendit ad campestria; et transito flumine per vadum inferius, partitis agminibus aequipollentibus spatiis et locatis in gyrum principibus suis, urbem vallat obsidione: ubi dum die sequente, quidam ab exercitu divisi, nostros ad conflictum provocarent, contigit ut de equis descendentes et his qui in muro erant instantes protervius suorum jacturam incurrerent.

It happened, moreover, on a certain day, that a band of Turks, bursting out from the upper parts by their customary shortcuts and more numerous than usual, began to assault with such urgency those who were inside the aforesaid and newly founded stronghold, that, unless the princes who had been deputed to the guard of the other parts of the city, and the whole people who were dispersed through the city, had come to aid more speedily, they would almost have stormed Lord Bohemond and Evrard of Puiset, Ralph of Fontaines, Reibald Creton, Peter the son of Gilae, Alberic and Ivo—valiant and noble men—who had gathered within for its defense; but the Duke, and the Count of Flanders, and the Prince of the Normans, arriving with great impetus, so repressed their insolence that, many being slain and some taken captive, they compelled them, turned to flight and roughly handled, to flee with all speed not only from the stronghold but from the whole city: who, having returned to their lord, were proclaiming our men’s strength and the admirable constancy of their spirits, so that in them that vaticinium seemed fulfilled: The tongue of your dogs from enemies (Psal. 67, 25); for they were exalting the renown of the faithful people, who were their persecutors. Corbagath, however, when for four days he had made continuous delay in the mountains, as we have said, seeing that he was not making progress, and that fodder was failing for the horses, having broken camp, again with all his legions descended anew to the level grounds; and, the river crossed by the lower ford, with the battalions divided into bodies of equal intervals and his princes posted in a ring, he girds the city with a siege: where, on the following day, while certain men detached from the host were provoking our men to conflict, it befell that, dismounting from their horses and pressing too insolently upon those who were on the wall, they incurred losses of their own.

Dominus enim Tancredus per portam egressus Orientalem, in hos tales irruit subitus, et antequam ad equos possent habere recursum, sex ex eis interimens, reliquos in fugam adegit; quorum amputans capita, in urbem intulit ad consolationem populi, qui pro defectu Rogeri de Barnavilla, qui ibidem occisus fuerat, gravi moerore concutiebatur.

For Lord Tancred, having gone out through the Eastern gate, suddenly rushed upon such men, and before they could have recourse to their horses, killing six of them, he drove the rest into flight; and cutting off their heads, he brought them into the city for the consolation of the people, who, on account of the loss of Roger of Barnavilla, who had been slain there, was shaken with grievous mourning.

CAPUT V. Populus infra urbem multa laborat inedia. Quidam nobiles clam inde aufugiunt; Boamundus universis praeficitur.

CHAPTER 5. The people within the city suffers much from hunger. Certain nobles secretly flee from there; Boamundus is put in charge of all.

Interea populus, qui paucis ante diebus eamdem urbem obsederat et obsessam vindicaverat violenter, nunc versa vice, sicut et rerum solet esse vicissitudo, obsidionem sustinens, gravi supra modum molestabatur inedia et immensis supra vires fatigabatur laboribus. Foris erat gladius, et intus pavor. Nam, praeter eam, quam de numerosis expeditionibus quae ab exterioribus urbem obsederant, merito conceperant formidinem; hostibus adhuc praesidium detinentibus, unde fiebant saepissime, ut dictum est, irruptiones, non erat illis tranquillitas.

Meanwhile the people, who a few days before had besieged that same city and had violently vindicated it while it was besieged, now, the turn reversed, as there is wont to be a vicissitude of things, enduring a siege, were vexed beyond measure by famine and were wearied by immense labors beyond their strength. Outside was the sword, and inside terror. For, besides the fear which they had rightly conceived from the numerous expeditions which from the exterior had besieged the city, with the enemies still holding the garrison, whence very often, as has been said, irruptions were made, there was no tranquility for them.

Fiebat igitur, peccatis eorum exigentibus, quod multi in desperationem lapsi, professionis immemores et juramentorum quae exhibuerant prodigi, clam funibus et in sportis per murum demissi, derelictis sociis, aufugerent ad mare: ex quibus nonnulli in manus hostium devenientes, perpetuae mancipati sunt servituti; alii vero ad mare pervenientes, eos qui in navibus erant, praecisis anchoris, in fugam compulerunt, dicentes: Princeps hic magnus, qui cum innumerabilibus advenit copiis, urbem quam nos expugnaveramus, exstincto universo nostrorum numero et principibus interemptis, violenter recepit; nos autem, opitulante Domino, gladios eorum evasimus. Vos igitur funes praecidite et maturate fugam, ne ad mare descendentes, pari vos involvant periculo. Ipsi autem cum eis conscendentes, fugam inierunt. Erant autem qui sic aufugerant, non solum de popularibus et plebeiis, verum etiam viri nobiles, et multa generositate insignes: Willelmus videlicet de Crantemaisnil, vir inclytus de Apulia, qui sororem domini Boamundi habebat uxorem, et Albericus frater ejus; Willelmus Carpentarius, Guido Trussellus et Lambertus Pauper, et alii multi, quorum nomina non tenemus, quia deleta de libro vitae, praesenti operi non sunt inserenda.

It came about, therefore, their sins requiring it, that many, fallen into desperation, forgetful of their profession and prodigal of the oaths which they had exhibited, secretly, lowered by ropes and in baskets over the wall, abandoning their companions, fled away to the sea: of whom some, coming into the hands of the enemy, were mancipated to perpetual servitude; but others, reaching the sea, drove into flight those who were in the ships, the anchors having been cut, saying: This great prince, who arrived with innumerable forces, violently retook the city which we had stormed, our whole number extinguished and our princes slain; but we, the Lord helping, escaped their swords. Therefore cut the ropes and make haste in flight, lest, as they descend to the sea, they involve you in equal danger. They themselves, moreover, boarding with them, entered upon flight. Now those who thus fled were not only from the commoners and plebeians, but also men noble and distinguished by much generosity: to wit, William of Crantemaisnil, a renowned man from Apulia, who had the sister of lord Boamund as wife, and Alberic his brother; William the Carpenter, Guy Trussel and Lambert the Poor, and many others, whose names we do not retain, because, erased from the book of life, they are not to be inserted into the present work.

Nonnulli etiam, quod multo erat abominabilius, futuri timore periculi, famis et laborum impatientia, ad hostes se conferebant, Christi doctrinam et ejus fidem cum impietate abnegantes. Hi de statu nostro certificantes adversarios, supremum eodem modo pene nostris intulerunt periculum. Alii vero qui in civitate remanserant, spem diffugii nihilominus ex parte plurima conceperant.

Some also, which was far more abominable, from fear of future danger and from impatience of famine and labors, were betaking themselves to the enemies, impiously denying the doctrine of Christ and his faith. These, certifying the adversaries about our state, brought almost the utmost peril upon our people in like manner. Others, however, who had remained in the city, had nonetheless for the most part conceived a hope of escape.

Sed vir vitae venerabilis, Podiensis episcopus et dominus Boamundus princeps illustris eorum praevenerunt molimina. Nam, designatis per portas singulas viris prudentibus, et de quorum experientia simul et fide merito praesumerent; turribus quoque per singulos nobiles collocatis, ita nocte et die studio indefesso servabant excubias, ut nemini penitus, quantumcunque properanti et arguto, ulla pateret via subterfugii. Et ut liberius generalem, quae eis concessa fuerat, exercere possent jurisdictionem, juraverunt omnes, a majore usque ad minimum, quod usque ad consummationem negotii Antiocheni, et bellum quod sperabatur futurum, completum, domini Boamundi mandatis devote et fideliter obedirent: unde ille incessanter nocte ac die, suis comitatus domesticis et familiaribus, et de his quibus ampliorem habebat fidem, vicos et plateas, muros et turres civitatis cum multa circuibat sollicitudine, diligenter investigans, ne quis incaute se haberet, ne quis hostium introitus pateret insidiis.

But a man of venerable life, the bishop of Le Puy, and lord Bohemond, an illustrious prince, forestalled their undertakings. For, having appointed at each several gate prudent men, upon whose experience and fidelity they might with reason presume; and with nobles likewise stationed at each of the towers, they kept vigils night and day with indefatigable zeal, so that for no one at all, however swift and shrewd, any way of subterfuge lay open. And that they might more freely exercise the general jurisdiction which had been granted to them, all swore, from the greatest to the least, that until the completion of the Antiochene business, and until the war which was expected should be brought to completion, they would devoutly and faithfully obey the mandates of lord Bohemond: wherefore he, incessantly by night and by day, accompanied by his domestics and familiars, and by those in whom he had fuller confidence, went about with much solicitude the streets and squares, the walls and towers of the city, carefully investigating, lest anyone should conduct himself incautiously, lest any entrance for the enemy should lie open to ambushes.

Erant autem praesidia quatuor, in quibus major exigebatur custodiae diligentia; superius videlicet, quod contra arcem superiorem e regione positum erat; secundum item, quod inferius, infra urbem supra vallum erat constitutum, contra eorum irruptiones, qui a porta castri superioris in urbem consueverant descendere; tertium extra portam Orientalem positum, quod ad castrorum custodiam ante urbem captam fuerat fabricatum; quartum quoque, quod in capite pontis constructum fuerat, per quod porta pontis novissime fuerat obsessa, cujus curam dominus comes Tolosanus, ex quo civitas capta fuerat, cum aliis in urbem se conferens, dereliquerat. Urbe autem capta, Flandrensium comes praedictum ingressus castrum, cum quingentis viris fortibus et strenuis diligenter communierat, timens ne, si in manus forte hostium deveniret, nostris per pontem introitus negaretur et exitus; in quo fieret obsessorum deterior multo conditio.

There were, moreover, four garrisons, in which a greater diligence of guard was required: the upper one, namely, which was set opposite the upper citadel; likewise a second, which lower down, beneath the city, above the rampart had been established, against the irruptions of those who from the gate of the upper castle were accustomed to descend into the city; a third, placed outside the Eastern Gate, which had been constructed for the custody of the camps before the city was captured; and also a fourth, which had been built at the head of the bridge, through which the gate of the bridge had most recently been besieged, the care of which the lord Count of Toulouse, from the time the city was taken, withdrawing himself with others into the city, had abandoned. But when the city was taken, the Count of the Flemings, entering the aforesaid castle, had carefully fortified it with five hundred brave and strenuous men, fearing lest, if perchance it should come into the hands of the enemy, entrance and exit might be denied to our men across the bridge; whereby the condition of the besieged would become much worse.

CAPUT VI. Comes Flandrensis praesidium ante Pontis portam, quoniam conservare non poterat, ultro deserit et incendit. Princeps hostium quosdam de nostris captos in Persidem dirigit.

CHAPTER 6. The Count of Flanders, since he could not conserve the garrison before the Bridge Gate, of his own accord deserts it and sets it on fire. The prince of the enemy directs certain of our captured men into Persia.

Contigit autem die quadam, quod videns Corbagath, nostros nimiam egrediendi et ingrediendi habere licentiam, et praedictum juxta pontem praesidium, multum suis obstare conatibus, praecipit de suis ad duo millia loricatorum armari et praedictum cum omni instantia impugnare praesidium. Illi autem dicto citius parentes, circa praedictae munitionis vallum congruis locatis stationibus, quanta possunt instantia, immissa sagittarum grandine, praedictum locum, ab hora diei prima usque in undecimam continuis infestant assultibus et congressionibus impugnant: comite cum suis resistente viriliter, et locum, cujus tuitionem assumpserat, totis viribus protegente. Cumque circa solem jam occiduum et vesperam imminentem viderent impugnatores, quod non multum proficerent, soluto assultu in castra reversi sunt.

It happened, moreover, on a certain day, that Corbagath, seeing that our men had excessive license of going out and coming in, and that the aforesaid garrison near the bridge was greatly obstructing his undertakings, ordered about two thousand loricate men to be armed and to assail the aforesaid garrison with all instancy. They, obeying more quickly than the word, having placed stations in suitable positions around the rampart of the aforesaid fortification, with as much instancy as they could, sending in a hail of arrows, harassed that place from the first hour of the day up to the eleventh with continual hostile assaults and engagements: the count with his men resisting manfully, and protecting with all his strength the place whose tutelage he had undertaken. And when, about the setting sun and the imminent evening, the assailants saw that they were not making much progress, the assault having been broken off, they returned to the camp.

At vero comes timens ne, multiplicatis viribus, in crastino ad opus simile accingerentur; sciensque quod nullatenus posset contra tantum exercitum, praedictam tueri munitionem, intempestae noctis silentio ignem adhibens et incendio tradens universa, in urbem cum suis ejusdem rei consortibus se contulit. Mane autem facto, redeuntes in id ipsum qui hesterna die castrum impugnaverant, assumptis sibi duobus aliis millibus, iterum ad idem opus se accingunt; et ad praedictum locum properantes, ubi desertum reperiunt et ex parte plurima dirutum, infecto negotio reversi sunt ad propria. Per eosdem dies accidit quod quidam de hostium exercitu latenter egressi, quosdam de nostris casu obviam habentes, viros egenos et inopes, proficiscentes incautius, ceperunt: quos ante principem suum deductos statuerunt, ut ei tanquam domino, successus sui et manubiarum dedicarent primitias.

But in truth the count, fearing lest, their forces multiplied, on the morrow they should gird themselves to a similar task; and knowing that he could by no means, against so great an army, protect the aforesaid fortification, in the dead-of-night’s silence applying fire and consigning all things to conflagration, betook himself into the city with his associates in the same affair. But when morning came, those who the day before had assaulted the fortress, returning to the selfsame business, and having taken to themselves two other thousands, again gird themselves to the same work; and hurrying to the aforesaid place, where they find it deserted and for the greater part demolished, with the business unfinished they returned each to his own. In those same days it befell that certain men of the enemy’s host, having gone out secretly, by chance meeting some of ours—men needy and destitute, setting out too incautiously—took them; whom, led before their prince, they resolved to dedicate to him, as to a lord, the firstfruits of their success and of their spoils.

Ille autem in captivis et armorum, et habitus contemnens vilitatem (erant enim eis arcus lignei, enses quoque sordebant operti rubigine; vestes etiam prae continuis laboribus lacerae et assiduitate utendi praetendentes vetustatem; non enim erant populo peregrinanti, diversa, quibus alternatim uterentur, mutatoria) dixisse fertur: Ecce populus qui regna debeat sollicitare aliena; cui pro multis divitiis deberet sufficere, ut in quocunque terrarum angulo panis eis quasi vilibus daretur mercenariis. Ecce arma, quibus Orientalium ingenuitas debeat flagellari, quibus vix passer ictus periret. Alligate eos et compeditos cum armis suis, et isto suo habitu, domino meo qui me misit repraesentate, ut ex istis colligat quam nullius momenti sit de talibus triumphare: qualesque habendi sint, quos tam miserabilis populus se gloriatur subegisse.

But he, despising in the captives both the cheapness of their arms and of their attire (for they had wooden bows, and the swords too were filthy, covered with rust; their garments also, on account of continual labors, were torn and, by the assiduity of use, displaying antiquity; for to a wandering people there were not diverse changes of clothing, mutatories, which they might use alternately), is said to have said: Behold the people who ought to trouble alien kingdoms; for whom, instead of many riches, it should suffice that in whatever corner of the earth bread be given to them as to cheap hirelings. Behold the arms with which the freeborn dignity of the Orientals ought to be scourged, by which scarcely a sparrow, when struck, would perish. Bind them, and, fettered with their arms and in this their outfit, present them to my lord who sent me, that from these he may gather how of no moment it is to triumph over such men, and of what sort those must be accounted whom so miserable a people boasts it has subdued.

Abjiciat ergo a se curam, et omnem istam super me projiciat sollicitudinem; in proximo enim erit, quod canes eae immundae comparere desinant, et consumptae penitus nequeant in populis numerari. His dictis, tradi praecipit quibusdam ad hoc deputatis, qui eos juxta ejus definitionem ad majorem Soldanum vinctos deducerent in Persidem. Levissimum enim judicabat, eos sibi posse subjicere, quorum virtutem nondum expertus fuerat: quod quia sibi pro gloria putaverat ascribendum, ut eos apud dominum suum vilipenderet, id in ejus postea confusionem retorsum est: quanto sane a contemptibilioribus, suo judicio, victus abiit et confusus, tanto illi major est inflicta contumelia; tantoque major irrogata confusio. Solet enim esse victis quasi pro solatio et casum reddere leviorem, si a viris fortibus et strenuis dicantur superati, sicut e diverso, ruborem ingeminat et adauget ignominiam, ab indignis et vilibus obtenta victoria.

Let him therefore cast off care from himself, and cast all that solicitude upon me; for it will be soon at hand that those unclean dogs will cease to appear, and, consumed utterly, will be unable to be numbered among the peoples. With these things said, he orders them to be handed over to certain men deputed for this, who, according to his determination, would lead them bound to the greater Soldan into Persia. For he judged it a very slight thing that he could subject to himself those whose valor he had not yet tested: because he had thought that ought to be ascribed to him for glory, so that he might vilipend them before his lord, that was afterward turned back to his confusion: in proportion as, indeed, by more contemptible men, in his own judgment, he went away vanquished and confounded, by so much the greater an affront was inflicted upon him; and so much the greater a confusion imposed. For it is wont to be for the vanquished as a sort of solace and to render the mischance lighter, if they are said to have been overcome by strong and strenuous men; just as, conversely, it redoubles the blush and augments the ignominy, when the victory has been obtained by unworthy and base men.

CAPUT VII. Fame invalescente, populus ad immundos invitus convertitur cibos.

CHAPTER 7. As famine grows strong, the people turn unwillingly to unclean foods.

Urbe igitur sic ex omni parte obsidione vallata, cum jam populo egredi vel ingredi et sua exterius procurare negotia non liceret, facta est nostrorum multo deterior conditio; nam cum nihil inferretur alimentorum, exorta est fames in civitate solito vehementior, ita ut prae defectu victualium et famis importune urgentis acerbitate, jejuna plebs propagandi cibi gratia, ad turpia nimis declinaret compendia. Non erat in escis, etiam apud delicatos, differentia; non erat mundorum ab immundis legalis illa distinctio; sed quod casus offerebat, sive gratis sive cum pretio, id in cibum vertebatur: inde venter rugiens et famelicus, si tamen ad hoc sufficiebat quod assumptum fuerat, implebatur. Non erat rubor nobilibus, non ingenuis verecundia, mensis alienis importunos se convivas ingerere, avide manibus alienis inhiare, importune petere quod saepius negabatur.

Therefore, with the city thus girdled on every side by siege, since it was now no longer permitted for the people to go out or come in and to procure their affairs outside, our condition became much worse; for since no provisions were being brought in, a famine arose in the city, more vehement than usual, so that, because of the lack of victuals and the bitterness of hunger importunately pressing, the fasting plebs, for the sake of procuring food, resorted to shortcuts all too shameful. There was no difference in foods, even among the delicate; that legal distinction of the clean from the unclean did not exist; but whatever chance offered, whether gratis or for a price, that was turned into food: thence the roaring and famished belly, if indeed what had been taken sufficed for this, was filled. There was no blush in nobles, no modesty in the freeborn, to thrust themselves as importunate guests upon others’ tables, to gape greedily at others’ hands, to ask importunately for that which was more often denied.

Fugerat a matronis, quibus aliquando familiaris fuerat, pudor; a virginibus reverentia: et suorum oblita natalium, exhausta facie, vocibus flebilibus, et quae saxa possent movere pectora, non timentes repulsam, passim victum quaeritabant; quas autem famis acerbitas expugnare non poterat, ut rubore deposito, fronte indurata ad mendicandum descenderent, hae in abditis delitescentes, in seipsis tabescebant; mori magis eligentes quam se dare in publicum ut aliquid postularent. Erat denique intueri viros robustiores prius, quos virtus praecipua et nobilitas praeclara cunctis reddiderant conspicuos et insignes, innixos prae nimia debilitate baculis, per vicos et plateas artus circumferre semineces; vultu dejecto, etsi non voce, eleemosynam petere a transeuntibus. Intueri erat nihilominus pueros vagientes et adhuc lactis egentes alimonia, per compita passim expositos, quibus quae eos genuerant, materna denegabant obsequia, dum sibi non sufficerent ad hoc saltem, ut sibi aliquid peterent necessarium.

Shame had fled from the matrons, to whom it had once been familiar; from virgins, reverence: and, forgetful of their birth, with faces exhausted, with tearful voices—voices which could move hearts of stone—not fearing repulse, they everywhere sought sustenance; but those whom the bitterness of hunger could not overcome to the point that, shame laid aside and brow hardened, they would descend to begging—these, hiding in concealed places, were wasting away within themselves; choosing rather to die than to expose themselves in public that they might ask for anything. Finally, it was a sight to behold men formerly more robust, whom outstanding virtue and illustrious nobility had made conspicuous and distinguished to all, leaning on staffs from excessive debility, carrying their half-dead limbs through lanes and squares; with downcast face, if not with voice, begging alms from passers-by. It was likewise a sight to behold babies wailing and still needing milk for nourishment, set out everywhere at crossroads, to whom those who had borne them denied maternal services, since they did not suffice even so far as to ask something necessary for themselves.

Vix erat in tanto populo qui sibi sufficeret: universis pene sumptus defecerant; omnibusque, quasi in usum venerat mendicare. Aut si cui res adhuc domestica suppetebat, dum non occurrebat venale quod erat necessarium, nihilominus indigebat; quique apud suos in largiendis dapibus prius liberales judicabantur, et profusi, hi secessus quaerentes abditissimos et loca inaccessa caeteris, qualemqualem sumentes refectionem, his quae undecunque collegerant incumbebant avidius, nemini quod eis erat pro cibo communicantes. Quid plura?

There was scarcely, in so great a populace, anyone who sufficed for himself: for almost all, the means had failed; and for all, begging had, as it were, come into use. Or if to anyone domestic resources still supplied, yet, since what was necessary did not occur as venal—available for sale—he nonetheless was in want; and those who among their own had formerly been judged liberal and profuse in dispensing banquets, these, seeking the most hidden secessions and places inaccessible to others, taking whatever refection they could, pressed more greedily upon such things as they had gathered from wherever, sharing with no one that which they had for food. What more?

Camelos, equos, asinos, mulos et immunda quaelibet et indigna relatu, suffocata et morticina, quoties dabatur ex his aliquid habere, pro summis reputabant deliciis; et ex his importunam repellentes esuriem, miseram quocunque modo sustentabant vitam. Nec solum plebeios et mediae manus homines hujus tam miserabilis inediae calamitas involverat, verum et majoribus nimis importune se ingesserat principibus; eratque eis tanto molestior, quanto pluribus providentes, indigebant amplioribus; et suam, petentibus, negare non poterant munificentiam. Referre vero quid singulis acciderit majoribus, licet hoc habeant adhuc veterum traditiones, et quanta egestate pii pro Christo laboraverint principes, longe esset ab historiae compendio et speciales tractatus exigeret.

Camels, horses, asses, mules, and whatever unclean and unworthy of relation—things suffocated and carrion—whenever it was granted to have something of these, they reckoned as the highest delicacies; and by these, repelling importunate hunger, they sustained their miserable life in whatever way they could. Nor had the calamity of so pitiable a fast seized only plebeians and men of the middle hand, but it had very inopportunely thrust itself upon the greater princes as well; and it was so much the more vexatious to them, as, providing for more persons, they were in need of ampler supplies; and to petitioners they could not deny their munificence. To relate, indeed, what befell each of the great men—though the traditions of the ancients still preserve this—and with how great want the pious princes labored for Christ, would be far from a compendium of history and would require special treatises.

Sed ut in summa dicatur, vix est quod aliqua contineat historia, tantos principes, tantumque exercitum, tantas alibi sine defectu et tam patienter pertulisse molestias.

But, to speak in sum, there is scarcely anything that any history contains: that so many princes, and so great an army, have elsewhere endured such great hardships without failure and so patiently.

CAPUT VIII. Hostes clam unam pene de turribus occupant; Henricus de Ascha resistit viriliter, et pluribus occisis arcem obtinet violenter.

CHAPTER 8. The enemies secretly almost seize one of the towers; Henry of Ascha resists manfully, and, with many slain, he forcibly obtains the citadel.

Interea dum ita civitas per studium et operam Corbagath et suorum, ex omni parte circumdata esset obsidione; et populus inclusus nusquam egredi, nullusque ad eos introire posset; insuper et congressionibus pene continuis, tam in urbe quam extra supra vires fatigati essent, accidit ut prae laboris diuturnitate et famis angustia in se ipsis deficientes, minus vigiles, minusque solliciti urbem custodirent; quibus cura circa corporis alimentum pene tota versabatur, necesse erat, ut ad caetera tractanda consurgerent remissiores. Unde factum est, ut die quadam turris una, juxta eam per quam nostris datus fuerat in civitate introitus, custodita negligentius, hostibus paulo minus ad urbem iterum impugnandam occasionem praestitisset. Quidam enim de hostibus sperantes, quod in noctis silentio potuissent eam occupare, ut inde sibi, sicuti et nostris prius in urbem pateret descensus, ad eam obtinendam scalas muro clam adhibuerunt, quibus jam circa noctis crepusculum, quasi triginta super murum ascenderant, turrim vacuam ingressuri; in quo negotio dum ferventius desudarent, casu contigit, quod qui vigilum administrabat praefecturam, moenia perlustrans, ad eam partem pervenit, ubi haec talia gerebantur.

Meanwhile, while the city, by the zeal and effort of Corbagath and his men, was surrounded on every side by a siege; and the enclosed people could go out nowhere, and no one could enter to them; moreover, by encounters almost continual, both in the city and outside, they had been wearied beyond their strength, it befell that, because of the long duration of toil and the straits of famine, failing within themselves, they guarded the city less vigilantly and less solicitously; since their care was turned almost wholly to the nourishment of the body, it was necessary that they rose up more remiss to handle the other matters. Whence it happened that, on a certain day, one tower, next to that by which an entrance into the city had been granted to our men, being kept more negligently, had all but furnished the enemies an opportunity to assail the city again. For certain of the enemies, hoping that in the silence of the night they might be able to seize it, so that from there for themselves, as previously for our men, a descent into the city might be open, secretly applied ladders to the wall to obtain it, by which already around the night’s twilight about 30 had gone up over the wall, about to enter the empty tower; and while they were sweating more fervently at this business, it happened by chance that the man who administered the prefecture of the watches, scanning the walls, came to that part where such things were being done.

Cognitisque eorum moliminibus, multa vociferatione eos qui in vicinis erant turribus excitavit, turrim denuntians, fraudulenter ab hostibus occupatam. Ad quem tumultum excitati sunt, qui in ea regione observabant excubias; inter quos vir strenuus et insignis Henricus de Ascha cum duobus aliis, Francone videlicet, et Sigemaro, cognatis, de villa quae dicitur Machela, super Mosam fluvium, ad partes illas impiger convolat: timens ne forte ab aliquibus pecunia corruptis, civitas proditione tradita esset hostibus. Quo perveniens cum confluentibus ad eum qui in vicinis erant turribus, hostes invadit viriliter; et strenuitate solita, in momento, licet perplurimum resistentes, a praedicta turri depulit, quatuor ex eis peremptis gladio; reliqui viginti sex (triginta enim jam ascenderant, alios postmodum introducturi), fractis cruribus et brachiis et cervicibus, de muro praecipitati sunt.

And when their exertions were recognized, with much vociferation he roused those who were in the neighboring towers, announcing that the tower had been fraudulently occupied by the enemies. At this tumult those who were keeping watch in that quarter were aroused; among whom the valiant and distinguished man Henry of Ascha, with two others, namely Franco and Sigemar, kinsmen, from the villa which is called Machela, above the river Meuse, swiftly rushes to those parts, fearing lest perhaps, some being corrupted by money, the city had been delivered to the enemies by treachery. Arriving there, together with those flocking to him from the towers that were near, he manfully assails the enemies; and with his accustomed strenuousness, in a moment, although they resisted very greatly, he drove them from the aforesaid tower, four of them slain by the sword; the remaining twenty-six (for thirty had already climbed up, intending thereafter to introduce others), with legs and arms and necks broken, were hurled headlong from the wall.

Amisit tamen vir strenuus socium suum Sigemarum, transverberatum gladio; Franconem vero lethaliter saucium, quasi seminecem, domum fecit reportari.

Nevertheless the valiant man lost his companion Sigemar, run through with the sword; but he had Francon, lethally wounded, as if half-dead, carried home.

CAPUT IX. Hostes ad mare descendunt, incendunt naves, et in via multos de nostris perimunt.

CHAPTER 9. The enemies descend to the sea, ignite the ships, and on the way slay many of our people.

Perurgente igitur obsessos singulis diebus majore inedia et fame periculosius invalescente, affligebatur populus vehementius: unde prae angustiarum multitudine et quotidianae afflictionis pondere intermisso, quidam vitae negligentes et salutis, urbe clam egressi, per medias hostium acies, per mille discrimina, ad mare, ubi adhuc aliquot tam Graecorum quam Latinorum erant naves, descendebant, ut cibos emerent et iterum referrent in urbem venales; alii vero, ut se tantorum eximerent casibus periculorum, abibant non redituri; nullam spem habentes, quod eorum qui in urbe relicti fuerant, in melius possent procedere negotium, aut hostium saltem gladios declinare. Quod postquam Turcis compertum est, clandestinis itineribus et nocturnis causa quaerendi victus nostros ad mare descendere, et circa urbem evagari; missis nonnullis locorum habentibus peritiam, qui eis praetenderent insidias, saepissimas ex eis operati sunt strages. Et quoniam saepius eis in eo successerat facto, duo millia electorum equitum ad oram maritimam dirigunt, qui peremptis nautis et institoribus, et classe succensa, omne de caetero commerciorum genus amputarent; ut et ea praecisa negotiandi semita, omnis omnino Christianis deficeret alimonia et salutis spes intercluderetur: quod et factum est.

Therefore, with the besieged being pressed hard, and a greater inedia each single day and a famine waxing more perilously strong, the people were afflicted more vehemently; whence, their restraint laid aside by reason of the multitude of straits and the weight of daily affliction, certain men, careless of life and safety, slipped out of the city secretly, and through the midst of the enemy battle-lines, through a thousand hazards, went down to the sea, where there still were some ships both of Greeks and of Latins, to buy provisions and then bring them back into the city for sale; but others, that they might exempt themselves from such great occurrences of dangers, departed never to return, having no hope that the business of those who had been left in the city could proceed for the better, or even that they could at least avoid the swords of the enemy. After the Turks learned that our men, by clandestine and nocturnal routes for the sake of seeking victuals, go down to the sea and wander around the city, sending certain men who had knowledge of the places to spread ambushes before them, they worked very frequent slaughters among them. And since that deed had more often succeeded for them, they sent two thousand chosen horsemen to the seacoast, who, with the sailors and peddlers slain and the fleet set on fire, might cut off every kind of commerce thereafter; so that, the path of trading being cut off, all sustenance might altogether fail the Christians and their hope of safety be shut in—which also was done.

Nam mandatum exsequentes, succensis ex parte navibus, et earum nautis, quos incautos repererant, ex plurima parte interfectis, reliquos in fugam adegerunt: quo rumore, qui a Cypro, Rhodo et aliis insulis, quique de Cilicia, Isauria et Pamphilia, et aliis maritimis regionibus gratia commerciorum solebant accedere, plurimum deterriti, jam illuc redire et merces inferre formidabant, nec audebant accedere; unde nostris, etsi nimis periculosa prius, periculosior tamen facta est conditio, rerum venalium penitus cessante commercio. Nam, dum institoribus liber per mare patebat accessus, etsi modicum erat quod per eos inferebatur, nec tanto poterat sufficere populo; tamen ad nonnullam nostris erat consolationem, et eorum aliquatenus relevabat inopiam. Hostes vero redeuntes ab ora maritima, de nostris etiam in via quosdam reperiunt, quos omnes gladiis interimunt, exceptis paucis, qui per dumos et fruteta et speluncarum latebras delitescere potuerunt; quae fama mali nuntia, nostros non minus quam ipsa famis enormitas molestavit: quoties enim suorum casum audiebant, toties eorum dolor renovabatur.

For, executing the mandate, with the ships in part set on fire, and their sailors, whom they had found off their guard, for the most part slain, they drove the rest into flight; at which report those who from Cyprus, Rhodes, and other islands, and those who from Cilicia, Isauria, and Pamphylia, and other maritime regions were accustomed to come for the sake of commerce, being greatly deterred, already feared to return thither and to bring in merchandise, nor did they dare to approach; whence for our people, although too perilous before, the condition nevertheless was made more perilous, with commerce of vendible goods entirely ceasing. For, while free access by sea lay open to the dealers, although it was but a small amount that was brought in by them, nor could it suffice for so great a people; nevertheless it was some consolation to our men, and in some measure relieved their need. But the enemy, returning from the sea-shore, also found certain of ours on the road, whom all they slew with the sword, save a few, who were able to lurk among the brambles and shrubs and in the hiding-places of caves; which rumor, a messenger of ill, annoyed our people no less than the very enormity of the famine: for as often as they heard of the mischance of their own, so often was their grief renewed.

Unde tot molestiis et laboris immensitate, et quotidiana suorum ruina, et infortuniorum acerbitate supra vires fatigati, jam de vita desperare; jamque minus pro sua tuitione sollicitari, minusque obedire principibus incipiebant.

Whence, fatigued beyond their strength by so many vexations and the immensity of labors, and by the daily ruin of their own people, and by the bitterness of misfortunes, they now began to despair of life; and now to be less solicitous for their own protection, and to obey their princes less.

CAPUT X. Stephanus comes Carnotensium ad imperatorem Constantinopolitanum proficiscitur.

CHAPTER 10. Stephen, Count of the Carnotensians, sets out to the Constantinopolitan emperor.

Interea Willelmus de Grentemaisnil et alii qui cum eo aufugerant, pervenientes Alexandriam Minorem, ubi dominus Stephanus Carnotensium et Blesensium comes, cujus reditum tam principes quam universus populus, per dies singulos ardentibus praestolabantur desideriis, adhuc suam simulabat aegritudinem: quae apud Antiochiam gerebantur, exponunt; et ne ipsi etiam ob levem et frivolam causam, et tanquam timidi socios deseruisse viderentur, aerumnarum et afflictionis modum qui erat, amplificant. Et licet magnus esset et incomparabilis, tamen studiosa relatione majorem efficiunt, et de magnis majora loquuntur. Nec erat difficile ei persuadere quidquid timiditatem augere poterat, cum ipse prius ejusdem rei gratia socios deseruerat et fugerat a consortibus, aegritudine simulata.

Meanwhile William of Grantmesnil and the others who had fled with him, arriving at Lesser Alexandria, where Lord Stephen, count of Chartres and of Blois, whose return both the princes and the whole people, day by day with burning desires, were awaiting, was still feigning his illness: they set forth what was being done at Antioch; and lest they themselves also might seem, for a light and frivolous cause, and as though timid, to have deserted their comrades, they amplify the measure, such as it was, of hardships and affliction. And although it was great and without compare, yet by painstaking narration they make it greater, and from great things they speak greater things. Nor was it difficult to persuade him of whatever could increase timidity, since he himself earlier, for the sake of the same thing, had deserted his companions and fled from his fellows, with an illness feigned.

Factum est itaque, quod communicato adinvicem consilio, naves habentes paratas, mare ingressi sunt; qui, dum aliquandiu navigassent, pervenientes in unam ex urbibus maritimis, sicuti solliciti erant, ut ubinam imperator esset diligenter investigarent, didicerunt per quorumdam dissonam relationem et veridicam, quod imperator cum infinitis legionibus tam Graecorum quam Latinorum, apud urbem Finiminis castra locaverat, Antiochiam proficiscens, quasi nostris subsidium collaturus, sicuti ex compromisso tenebatur. Exceptis autem exercitibus quos ipse ex universis nationibus collegerat, erant ei adjuncti, quasi ad quadraginta millia Latinorum, qui a legionibus quae praecesserant, aut paupertatis causa, aut sua suorumque valetudine, aut ex quibusdam aliis urgentibus causis, per terram imperatoris derelicti fuerant; nunc vero resumptis viribus et animo de imperatoris praesentia, et ejus innumerabilibus copiis, transeundi fiduciam habentes, ad viae consortes toto spiritu, totaque mente festinare satagebant. Audiens ergo praedictus comes Stephanus, quod illic residens imperator, vires majores praestolaretur et ad proficiscendum se accingeret, assumpto cum his qui secum erant, itineris compendio, versus imperatoris exercitum cum omni celeritate contendit; quo perveniens, ab imperatore honeste satis, sed cum admiratione susceptus est; noverat enim eum imperator; et ab initio dum cum aliis transiret, ejus sibi contraxerat amicitiam.

It came to pass, therefore, that, counsel having been communicated mutually, having ships prepared, they entered the sea; and when they had sailed for some time, arriving at one of the maritime cities, being anxious to investigate carefully where the emperor might be, they learned, by the discordant yet truthful report of certain men, that the emperor, with infinite legions both of Greeks and of Latins, had pitched camp near the city of Finiminis, proceeding to Antioch, as if to confer a subsidy of aid upon our men, as he was held by his compact. But besides the armies which he himself had gathered from all nations, there were joined to him about forty thousand Latins, who, from the legions that had gone before, either by reason of poverty, or of their own and their kinsmen’s health, or from certain other urgent causes, had been left behind through the emperor’s land; but now, strength and spirit resumed from the emperor’s presence and his innumerable forces, having confidence for the crossing, they were striving to hasten with all breath and all mind to the consorts of the way. Hearing, therefore, Count Stephen aforesaid that the emperor, residing there, was awaiting greater forces and was girding himself to set out, taking, with those who were with him, a shortcut of the journey, he hurried with all speed toward the emperor’s army; and arriving there, he was received by the emperor honorably enough, but with astonishment; for the emperor knew him, and from the beginning, while he was crossing with the others, he had contracted friendship with him.

Interrogans igitur ab eo imperator diligenter de vita et salute et statu principum; et quaenam esset causa quod ab aliis rediret separatus, respondit:

Therefore the emperor, diligently inquiring from him about the life and safety and condition of the princes; and what the cause was that he was returning separated from the others, he replied:

CAPUT XI. Oratio ejus ad eumdem imperatorem, mendacio plena, perniciosa fidelibus.

CHAPTER 11. His oration to that same emperor, full of mendacity, pernicious to the faithful.

Fideles tui, imperator invictissime, qui paulo ante per tuam habuerant transitum eminentiam, et de tua plenitudine, te largiente, facti sunt locupletiores, capta Nicaea, usque Antiochiam satis prospero cursu pervenerunt, urbemque ipsam jugi obsidione quasi per novem continuos menses expugnatam, praevia Domini misericordia, violenter sibi, excepto urbis praesidio, quod in monte sublimiori situm, urbi praeminet nullis superabile viribus, vindicaverunt. Cumque crederent rem esse consummatam, quodque se periculis exemissent universis, urbe jam recepta, factus est error novissimus pejor priore, et in multo majora quam passi fuerant, inciderunt discrimina. Vix enim ab urbe capta tertia dies elapsa fuerat, cum ecce Corbagath Persarum princeps potentissimus, cum infinitis Orientalium copiis, et in multitudine omnem numerum excedente, eamdem obsidione vallavit urbem; et ex omni parte obsessis introitum negans et exitum, principes et omnem populum tot et tantis molestiis affligit, quod nec etiam de eorum vita sperare liceat.

Your faithful ones, most invincible emperor, who a little before, through your Eminence, had had passage, and from your plenitude, you bestowing, were made more opulent, with Nicaea captured, came with a sufficiently prosperous course as far as Antioch; and the city itself, assaulted by an unbroken siege for, as it were, nine continuous months, with the Lord’s mercy going before, they forcibly claimed for themselves—except for the city’s citadel, which, set upon a more elevated mountain, overhangs the city, conquerable by no forces. And when they believed the matter to be consummated, and that they had removed themselves from all dangers, the city now recovered, the last error proved worse than the former, and they fell into far greater crises than they had suffered. For scarcely had the third day elapsed after the city was taken, when behold, Corbagath, a most powerful prince of the Persians, with infinite forces of the Orientals, and in a multitude exceeding every number, girded that same city with a siege; and, from every side denying to the besieged both entrance and exit, he afflicts the princes and all the people with troubles so many and so great that one may not even hope for their life.

Multitudinis autem eos obsidentium non est facile numerum comprehendere; nam ut in summa dicatur, omnem adjacentem urbi regionem, locustarum more operuerunt eorum agmina, ita ut etiam tabernaculis videatur locus deesse. Noster autem populus, fame, frigore simul et aestu, caedibus et clade, ita comminutus est, quod totus infra urbem se collegerit, et vix ad ejus tuitionem sufficere posse videatur. Praeterea et id solatii, quod de regno tuo, tam de insulis quam de aliis urbibus maritimis, navigio inferri consueverat, noveris funditus esse praecisum.

But as for the multitude of those besieging them, it is not easy to comprehend the number; for, to speak in sum, their battalions covered all the region adjacent to the city in the manner of locusts, so that even space seems to be lacking for tents. Our people, moreover, by hunger, by cold and heat together, by slaughters and by calamity, have been so ground down that all have gathered within the city, and scarcely seem able to suffice for its defense. Furthermore, even that solace which from your realm—both from the islands and from the other maritime cities—was wont to be brought in by ship, you should know has been utterly cut off.

Nam emissa copiarum parte, omnem inter Antiochiam et mare regionem, ita occupaverunt, ut classe penitus consumpta, nautis et institoribus gladio peremptis, omnem commerciorum spem et obtinendi victus fiduciam nostris amputaverint. Sed nec in civitate tantum alimentorum dicitur superesse, ut vel unius diei subvenire possit necessitati. Ad haec, ad majorem aerumnarum cumulum, nec in urbe etiam tutum habent refugium; nam irruentibus iis qui per castrum superius in urbem clam et saepius immittuntur, in ipso civitatis medio per vicos et plateas periculosae fiunt congressiones; nec minorem curam intestinorum habentes conflictuum, quam eorum quae ab exterioribus inferebantur.

For, a part of their forces having been sent out, they so occupied the whole region between Antioch and the sea that, the fleet utterly consumed and the sailors and traders slain by the sword, they have cut off from our people every hope of commerce and the confidence of obtaining victual. But nor is there said to remain in the city so much in the way of provisions as could relieve the necessity even of a single day. Moreover, to heap up their miseries the more, they have not even in the city a safe refuge; for, as those who are secretly and repeatedly admitted into the city through the upper fortress make irruptions, dangerous engagements occur in the very midst of the city through the lanes and squares; having no less concern for intestine conflicts than for those that were being inflicted from the exterior.

Unde nos, et qui hic nobiscum sunt praesentes capitanei et nobiles viri, videntes confratrum negotia non posse procedere, eos convenimus, saepius et fraterne monentes, ut sibi consulerent; et invita divinitate rem impossibilem comprehendere velle desisterent; quos cum a suo non possemus revocare proposito, nos, ne paribus imprudenter involveremur calamitatibus, nostrae curavimus saluti providere. Et nunc, si placet, et tuis ita visum fuerit illustribus, desiste procedere, ne tuae felices quas tecum trahis expeditiones, paribus involvantur periculis; nam a facie tantae multitudinis, quam universus ministravit Oriens, consultius est intentato negotio, re adhuc integra, discedere; quam temere, casu fortuito, cum tot et tantis experiri. Testes sunt eorum quae loquimur praesentes inclyti viri, ejusdem sortis participes; sed etiam et Tatinus vir prudens et vafer, quem nobiscum tua direxit amplitudo, qui nostrorum cognoscens defectum, prudenter nimis ab eorum se subtraxit collegio, ut haec tuae nota faceret majestati. Erat autem in praedicto imperatoris exercitu, quidam domini Boamundi frater, Guido nomine; qui hoc audiens, pene ad insaniam motus est, fratris et amicorum casum deplorans.

Whence we, and the captains and noble men here present with us, seeing that the affairs of the brethren could not proceed, met with them, admonishing them often and fraternally to look to themselves; and to desist from wishing to grasp a thing impossible, with divinity unwilling; and when we could not recall them from their purpose, we took care to provide for our own safety, lest we be imprudently involved in equal calamities. And now, if it pleases, and it has so seemed to your Illustriousness, desist from advancing, lest your happy expeditions which you draw along with you be involved in equal dangers; for before the face of so great a multitude, which the whole Orient has furnished, it is more advisable, with the business unattempted, the matter still intact, to withdraw, than rashly, by fortuitous chance, to try conclusions with so many and so great. Witnesses of the things we speak are illustrious men here present, participants of the same lot; but also Tatinus, a prudent and wily man, whom your amplitude sent with us, who, recognizing our deficiency, very prudently withdrew himself from their company, that he might make these things known to your majesty. Moreover, in the aforesaid emperor’s army there was a certain brother of Lord Bohemond, by name Guy; who, hearing this, was moved almost to madness, lamenting the mischance of his brother and friends.

Hic, licet primum comitis narrationi obvium se daret, timoris causam objiciens, quod a tantorum coetu principum se subtraxisset imprudenter; compescuit eum praedictus vir, secundum carnem inclytus, et si moribus non ita, Willelmus de Grentemaisnil, qui suam et domini Boamundi sororem habebat uxorem.

He, although at first he put himself in the way of the count’s narration, alleging fear as the cause, because he had imprudently withdrawn himself from the company of so many princes, was curbed by the aforesaid man, renowned according to the flesh, though not so in morals, William of Grandmesnil, who had as wife their sister, that is, the sister of himself and of Lord Bohemond.

CAPUT XII. Revertitur imperator ad propria: expeditiones quas in nostrorum subsidium collegerat, dissolvit, verbo credens praedicti comitis.

CHAPTER 12. The emperor returns to his own domains: he dissolves the expeditions which he had gathered for the aid of our men, trusting the word of the aforesaid count.

His igitur auditis, convocato principum suorum consistorio, deliberat, utrum procedendum sit ei, an domum exercitus oporteat revocare; habitaque pro tempore et negotio deliberatione argumentosa, tandem de communi consilio visum est expedire, tutius esse, incolumes domum exercitus revocare, quam universi in se excitare Orientis regna; et se dubiis inconsiderate committere fortunae casibus, et praeliorum. Tantam igitur imperator verbis praedicti comitis fidem adhibuit, ut non solum ita fore, prout asseruerat; verum etiam ut timeret apud se, ne princeps praedictus, nostris, ut dicebatur, interemptis, cum universa multitudine quam secum trahere dicebatur, in regnum ejus introiret; et quam, de opera et studio peregrinantium principum, Nicaeam cum universa Bithynia receperat, iterum cogeretur amittere. Unde huic providens articulo, universas provincias ab Iconio usque Nicaeam rediens, a dextra laevaque incendiis et rapina mandari praecipit, ut si casu quolibet suas adversus ejus imperium hostes vellent expeditiones dirigere, regio vastata alimentis carens, et habitatoribus viduata, aliquod saltem ministraret impedimentum.

Therefore, these things having been heard, with a consistory of his princes convoked, he deliberates whether he should proceed, or whether it were meet to recall the army home; and, a reasoned deliberation being held in view of the time and the business, at length by common counsel it was seen to be expedient, that it was safer to recall the army home unscathed than to rouse against himself all the kingdoms of the Orient; and to commit himself inconsiderately to the doubtful chances of fortune and of battles. The emperor, therefore, put such faith in the words of the aforesaid count, that he not only believed it would be thus, as he had asserted; but even feared within himself lest the aforesaid prince, our men, as it was said, having been slain, with the whole multitude which he was said to draw along with him, would enter into his realm; and that what, by the work and zeal of the pilgrim princes, he had recovered—Nicaea with all Bithynia—he would again be compelled to lose. Wherefore, providing for this crisis, as he returned, through all the provinces from Iconium as far as Nicaea, he orders that on the right and on the left fire and rapine be commanded, so that, if by any chance enemies should wish to direct their expeditions against his empire, the region, devastated, lacking provisions, and bereft of inhabitants, might at least furnish some impediment.

Sicque factum est, ut per operam praedicti comitis, subsidium, quod ex compromisso conferre paratus erat imperator, Christianus eo plurimum indigens non haberet exercitus. Considerantibus tamen interius, et rem perscrutantibus diligenter, videri potest, etsi praedicti comitis opus nullatenus valeat excusari, utpote vitiosam habens originem et causam primam ab honestate dissentientem, tamen quod ex eo subsecutum est, eo procurante qui solus potest et novit ad meliores exitus, etiam quae malo sunt inchoata principio pertrahere, in eorumdem principum et plebis Dei, quae ita cecidisse videbatur, certum est gloriam redundasse. Nam qui portaverant pondus diei et aestus, et relictis uxoribus et liberis, peregrinantes Domino decreverant militare, dignum erat, ut gloriam pro suis laboribus reportarent; quam si praesens fuisset imperator, caeteris omnibus invidisset.

And so it came about that, through the agency of the aforesaid count, the aid which by compact the emperor was prepared to confer, the Christian army, which most greatly needed it, did not have. Yet, to those considering inwardly and diligently searching into the matter, it can seem that, although the deed of the aforesaid count can by no means be excused—inasmuch as it has a vicious origin and a first cause dissentient from honesty—nevertheless what followed from it, with Him procuring who alone can and knows how to draw even things begun from an evil principle to better outcomes, has surely redounded to the glory of those same princes and of the people of God, which seemed thus to have fallen. For those who had borne the burden of the day and the heat, and, their wives and children left behind, had resolved as pilgrims to soldier for the Lord, it was worthy that they should carry back glory for their labors; which, if the emperor had been present, he would have begrudged to all the others.

Videretur enim, si cum suis expeditionibus abfuisset, ob praecipuam sui auctoritatem et copiarum majorem numerum, negotium consummasse; et ita sibi merito palmam competere. Unde creditur a Domino procuratum, ut qui fideliter, et devote et cum innumerabilibus desudaverant periculis, laboris fructum et victoriae titulum reportarent.

For it would have seemed, if he had been present with his own expeditions, that, by reason of his preeminent authority and the greater number of his forces, he had consummated the business; and thus that the palm rightly belonged to himself. Whence it is believed to have been provided by the Lord, that those who had toiled faithfully and devoutly, and amid innumerable perils, might carry back the fruit of their labor and the title of victory.

CAPUT XIII. Hostes, cognito imperatoris recessu, instant amplius. Desperant nostri, obsequia negant.

CHAPTER 13. The enemies, on learning of the emperor’s retreat, press all the more. Our men despair, they refuse obedience.

Boamundus urbem incendit, ut eos de latebris eliciat, principes fugam meditantur, dux resistit.

Bohemond sets the city on fire, to draw them out from their hiding-places, the princes are planning flight, the duke resists.

Rumor interea de recessu imperatoris, multorum relationibus urbem repleverat, qui et molestiis quibus premebantur incessanter, adjecit cumulum et in desperationis barathrum omnes pene dedit praecipites. Abominantur praedicti comitis et in perpetuum damnant memoriam, exsecrantur Willelmum de Grentemaisnil et omnes illius impietatis participes, imprecantes ut cum proditore Juda in aeternis incendiis habeant portionem; qui non solum communibus se subtraxerunt laboribus, verum etiam tanto, quod eis videbatur Dominus praeparasse, Dei populum defraudaverunt subsidio. At vero Corbagath, et qui in castris ejus erant principes maximi, sicuti cognito per exploratores imperatoris adventu, suspensi merito tenebantur, viresque ejus suspectas habentes, robur imperii non immerito formidabant; ita nunc notum per eosdem ejus habentes discessum, in majorem se erigunt insolentiam; et quasi de victoria certa spe concepta, nostros animosius comprimebant, et coangustabant attentius.

Meanwhile the rumor of the emperor’s retreat, by the reports of many, had filled the city, which also, to the annoyances by which they were incessantly pressed, added a heap and hurled almost all headlong into the barathrum of desperation. They abominate the aforesaid count and condemn his memory forever, they execrate William of Grentemaisnil and all participants in that impiety, imprecating that with the traitor Judas they may have a portion in the eternal fires; who not only withdrew themselves from the common labors, but also defrauded the people of God of the succor so great which the Lord seemed to have prepared for them. But indeed Corbagath, and the very great princes who were in his camp, just as—when the emperor’s advent had been learned through scouts—they were rightly held in suspense, and, holding his forces suspect, not without cause feared the strength of the Empire; so now, his departure being known through those same scouts, they raise themselves into greater insolence; and, as though a sure hope of victory had been conceived, they were pressing our men more boldly and hemming them in more closely.

Unde fiebat, ut in tanta essent, fideles qui in urbe erant, calamitate, et multiplicis miseriae novissimo constituti, ut jam nec salutis spes, nec consolationis via ulla superesse videretur. Adeoque invaluerat et omnes occupaverat desperatio ut, circumeunte domino Boamundo civitatem, cui super omnes universi exercitus cura commissa erat generalis, nec verbo, nec verberibus quidquam proficeret, ut vel unum de domibus in quibus latitabant, posset avellere; et ad peragendas excubias, vel ad occurrendum hostibus, sive intus sive extra, quorum multiplices patiebantur insidias, destinare. Unde die quadam, defatigatis vociferando praeconibus et apparitoribus, infecto negotio reversis, cum videret quod inutiliter operam consumerent, nec aliquem de latebris posset educere, in locis plurimis incendia per ministros suos procurari jubet et urbem succendi, ut saltem incendiorum metu prodirent in publicum, qui congelatis visceribus, obsequio divino studium negabant et operam, unde factum est, ut quorum prius non poterat habere copiam, eos postmodum ad prosequenda munera certatim inveniret praecipites.

Whence it came about that the faithful who were in the city were in so great a calamity, and placed in the last extremity of manifold misery, that now neither the hope of salvation nor any way of consolation seemed to remain. And so far had despair prevailed and seized upon all that, with lord Boamund making the circuit of the city—upon whom above all the general care of the whole army had been committed—he advanced nothing either by word or by beatings, so as to be able to tear even one man from the houses in which they were hiding, and to assign them to the performance of the watches, or to meet the enemies, whether within or without, whose manifold ambushes they were suffering. Wherefore on a certain day, when the criers and apparitors, worn out with shouting, had returned with the business undone, seeing that they were consuming their effort to no purpose, and that he could not lead anyone out of the hiding-places, he orders fires in very many places to be procured by his agents and the city to be set ablaze, so that at least by fear of the conflagrations they might come forth into public—those who, with their vitals frozen, were denying zeal and effort for the divine service—whence it happened that those of whom previously he could not have a supply, them afterward he found, for the prosecution of the duties, headlong and vying with one another.

Dicitur etiam, quod principes de vita desperantes et salute, habito invicem familiari consilio occulte decreverant ut, relicto populo et plebe universa, ipsi clam de nocte aufugerent, ad mare properantes. Quod postquam duci innotuit et viro venerabili Podiensi episcopo, convocantes eos ad se, justis in eos increpationibus invecti sunt, ponentes prae oculis, quam perennem infamiae notam sibi et posteritati suae in perpetuum meruerint praedicti nobiles viri, qui contra honestatem morum, generositatis suae titulos denigrantes, tanto fidelium Christi se collegio subtraxerant. Erat igitur in populo Dei tantus alimentorum defectus, tanta famis angustia, tot et tantae, tam exterius quam interius, hostium importunitates, ut nusquam contra ea solatium, nusquam contra remedium inveniretur.

It is said also that the princes, despairing of life and of safety, having held among themselves a familiar counsel, had secretly decreed that, leaving behind the people and the entire plebs, they themselves would steal away by night, hastening to the sea. But when this became known to the duke and to the venerable man, the Podiensian bishop, summoning them to themselves, they inveighed against them with just reproaches, setting before their eyes how perpetual a mark of infamy the aforesaid noble men had merited for themselves and for their posterity forever, who, contrary to the honesty of morals, denigrating the titles of their nobility, had withdrawn themselves from so great a college of the faithful of Christ. There was therefore among the people of God such a defect of provisions, such a straitness of famine, so many and so great importunities of the enemies, both outward and inward, that nowhere was solace to be found against them, nowhere remedy.

Majores et minores, paribus involuti calamitatibus, nullam sibi adinvicem consolationis gratiam impendebant: memores uxorum et liberorum quos domi reliquerant, amplissima quae ob Christi charitatem dimiserant patrimonia, mente recolunt, et de Domini quasi conqueruntur ingratitudine, eo quod labores eorum et devotionis sinceritatem non respiciat; sed quasi a Deo alienum populum, in manus hostium tradi patiatur.

The greater and the lesser, wrapped in equal calamities, were expending no favor of consolation upon one another: mindful of the wives and children whom they had left at home, they call to mind the very ample patrimonies which they had abandoned for the charity of Christ, and they, as it were, complain of the Lord’s ingratitude, on the ground that he does not regard their labors and the sincerity of their devotion, but suffers a people, as if alien from God, to be handed over into the hands of enemies.

CAPUT XIV. Petro cuidam fit revelatio; lancea Domini reperitur. Iterum confortatur populus.

CHAPTER 14. To a certain Peter a revelation is made; the Lord’s lance is found. Again the people are strengthened.

Dum ergo sic affligeretur Dei populus, respexit eum Dominus, et gemitus eorum audivit, mittens eis consolationem de sede majestatis suae. Quidam enim Petrus clericus, ut dicitur, de regione quae dicitur Provincia, ad episcopum Podiensem, et dominum comitem accessit Tolosanum, asserens quod ei beatus Andreas apostolus in somnis apparuerat; et eum ter vel quater commonuerat diligentissime; quatenus ad principes loqueretur et nuntiaret ut lanceam, qua Domini nostri Jesu Christi latus fuerat perforatum, in ecclesia Principis apostolorum occulte repositam, cum omni studio perquirerent eique locum certis designaverat indiciis. Qui accedens ad praedictos Deo amabiles viros, verbum sicut ei injunctum fuisse testabatur, ex ordine pandit, asserens se ab eodem apostolo multis terroribus ad hoc compulsum.

While therefore the people of God were thus afflicted, the Lord regarded them and heard their groans, sending them consolation from the seat of his Majesty. For a certain Peter, a cleric, as it is said, from the region which is called the Province (Provence), approached the bishop of Puy and the lord count of Toulouse, asserting that the blessed apostle Andrew had appeared to him in dreams, and had three or four times most diligently admonished him that he should speak to the princes and announce that the lance with which the side of our Lord Jesus Christ had been perforated was laid up secretly in the church of the Prince of the Apostles, and that to him he had designated the place by sure indications. He, drawing near to the aforesaid God‑beloved men, unfolds in order the message as it had been enjoined upon him, averring that by the same apostle he had been compelled to this by many terrors.

Nam, cum saepe legationem hanc sibi assumere, quoniam pauper et nullius prudentiae erat, detrectasset, urgentissimam apostoli jussionem, nisi cum mortis periculo, declinare se non posse profitebatur. Hi autem reliquis principibus verbum secretius communicantes, eumdem clericum praesentem constituunt ut ab eodem modum et formam jussionis acciperent. Quibus verbis fidem habentes, ad locum quem eis infra septa praedictae ecclesiae designaverat, conveniunt: ubi effossa terra in altum aliquatenus, lanceam, sicuti praedixerat, reperiunt.

For, since he had often refused to assume this legation for himself, because he was poor and of no prudence, he professed that he could not decline the most urgent injunction of the apostle, except with the peril of death. But they, communicating the word more secretly to the other princes, appoint the same cleric to be present, that they might receive from him the mode and form of the injunction. Giving credence to these words, they come together to the place which he had designated for them within the enclosure of the aforesaid church: where, the earth having been excavated somewhat deep, they find the lance, just as he had foretold.

Quod audiens populus, tanquam immissa de supernis consolatione, ad ecclesiam cucurrit unanimis; et donis muneribus tam pretiosum multo honore praevenientes inventum, coeperunt quodammodo a suis anxietatibus respirare, et in obsequiis divinis reparari fortiores. Fuerunt et alii nonnulli, qui se dicebant visiones angelorum et sanctorum apostolorum vidisse, quibus quasi in invicem consonantibus fides habebatur amplior, et populus a sua dejectione resurgebat in immensum. Factum est igitur, ad suggestionem venerabilium et Deum timentium virorum, quod principes universi, iterum voto concepto et juramentis corporaliter praestitis, se obligaverunt mutuo, ut si Dominus eos de praesenti casu clementer eriperet, et de hostibus suis optatam indulgeret victoriam, quod ipsi ab invicem non discederent, quousque auctore Domino, urbem sanctam, et gloriosum ejus sepulcrum Christianae fidei et pristinae restituerent libertati.

Hearing this, the people, as though consolation had been sent down from the supernal, ran with one mind to the church; and, anticipating the discovery with gifts and presents and with much honor, they began in a certain manner to breathe again from their anxieties, and to be repaired stronger in the divine obsequies. There were also some others who said that they had seen visions of angels and of the holy apostles, to which, as being mutually consonant, larger credence was given, and the people rose up from their dejection immeasurably. It was done therefore, at the suggestion of venerable and God-fearing men, that all the princes, again with a vow conceived and oaths bodily rendered, bound themselves mutually, that if the Lord should mercifully snatch them from the present case, and should grant the longed-for victory over their enemies, they would not depart from one another until, the Lord being the author, they should restore the holy city and its glorious sepulcher to the Christian faith and to their former liberty.

CAPUT XV. De communi principum consilio mittitur Petrus Eremita legatus ad hostes: intrepidus peragit legationem.

CHAPTER 15. By the common counsel of the princes Peter the Hermit is sent as legate to the enemies: intrepidly he carries through the legation.

Cum autem diebus viginti sex continuis hac tam intolerabili afflictione laborassent, coepit iterum populus ad cor rediens fortitudine lumbos suos accingere, et longanimitate plus solito abundare, quadam spe immissa divinitus se confortans: ita ut omnes unanimiter a majore usque ad minimum his molestiis finem imponendum consonarent, et cum hostibus pugnandum ut subito, per divinae virtutis auxilium, eos de suis viribus praesumentes, a se possent repellere, et urbem quam eis contulerat Dominus, liberam vindicare. Utilius enim judicabant belli semel fortunam experiri quam perpetua tabescere inedia, et ingruentium molestiarum jugi sarcina torqueri. Hic igitur erat, et in omnium ore sermo vertebatur, ut extra urbem egredientes, cum hostibus decertarent: nec erat ea mens nobilium tantum sed etiam populares eodem desiderio succensi, principum arguebant desidiam et moras increpabant.

But when for twenty-six days continuously they had labored under this so intolerable affliction, the people, coming back to heart, began again to gird their loins with fortitude, and to abound in longanimity more than usual, strengthening themselves with a certain hope divinely sent: so that all unanimously, from the greater to the least, were in accord that an end must be imposed upon these molestations, and that there must be fighting with the enemies, in order that, suddenly, by the help of divine virtue, they might be able to repel from themselves those who were presuming on their own forces, and to vindicate as free the city which the Lord had bestowed on them. For they judged it more useful to try the fortune of war once than to waste away with perpetual inanition, and to be tormented by the continual burden of the annoyances pressing in. This, therefore, was the talk, and it was on everyone’s lips, that, going forth outside the city, they should contend decisively with the enemies: nor was that the mind of the nobles only, but the commoners also, enkindled with the same desire, were accusing the princes of sloth and were inveighing against the delays.

Convenientes igitur principes in unum, et populi immissum divinitus cognoscentes fervorem, de communi decernunt consilio, ut missa legatione ad principem hostium, alterutrum duum proponant: Quod aut cedat, urbem nostris perpetuo possidendam derelinquens, sicut juris eorum ab initio fuerat, et nunc, auctore Domino, in idipsum est reversa; aut ad pugnam se praeparet, gladii judicium subiturus. Electus est igitur ad id muneris prosequendum, Petrus Eremita, vir vitae venerabilis, de quo in superioribus multa diximus, adjunctusque est ei socius et comes quidam Herluinus, Persarum idiomatis, et Parthicae linguae aliquam habens peritiam, vir itidem prudens et discretus: quibus datum est in mandatis id quod praemisimus, cum subdivisione tamen hac, ut, si pugnam praeeligere inveniretur, esset in ejus optione, utrum singulariter ipse cum uno ex principibus experiri vellet an certum numerum suorum, nostrorum totidem opponere, an simul hinc inde universos confligere exercitus, et legiones unanimiter ad pugnam convenire. Impetrato igitur ad tempus foedere, et gratia mittendae legationis pace petita, profecti sunt duo praedicti viri, cum sibi destinatis consortibus, usque ad tentorium principis: ubi eum reperientes cum suis ducibus et satrapis, Petrus Eremita, sicuti vir magnanimus erat, licet statura pusillus esset, munus injunctae legationis strenue et fideliter procuravit. Accedens enim ad praefatum Persarum satrapam, nullamque ei omnino exhibens reverentiam, constanter et imperterrite verba proposuit, dicens: Direxit nos ad tuam nobilitatem Deo amabilium qui in Antiochia sunt principum sacer conventus, monens ut ab eorum infestatione, et ab urbis, quam eis restituit divina clementia, impugnatione desistas: hanc enim apostolorum princeps Petrus, nostrae fidei fidelis et prudens dispensator, verbi sui virtute, et exhortationis qua praeminebat gratia, sed et signorum magnitudine ab idololatria revocans, ad fidem Christi convertit, nobis eam reddens peculiarem. Nunc vero a vobis violenter, sed indebite occupatam, nobis restituit fortis et potens Dominus: unde pro avita haereditate, et Christi domicilio familiari debitam gerentes sollicitudinem, unum tibi ex pluribus proponunt: ut aut ab urbis obsidione, et eorum molestatione quiescas; aut tertia ab hac die cum eis gladiis decernentibus experiaris.

Therefore the princes, coming together into one, and recognizing the fervor sent divinely into the people, decree by common counsel that, an embassy being sent to the prince of the enemies, they should propose a choice of two: That either he yield, leaving the city to be possessed by our men in perpetuity, as it had been their right from the beginning and now, with the Lord as author, has returned to the selfsame; or let him prepare himself for battle, about to undergo the judgment of the sword. Peter the Hermit, a man of venerable life, of whom we have said much above, was therefore chosen to carry out that function; and there was joined to him as associate and companion a certain Herluin, having some skill in the Persian idiom and the Parthian tongue, likewise a prudent and discreet man: to whom the mandate was given which we have premised, with this subdivision nevertheless, that, if he should be found to prefer battle, it should be at his option whether he would try it singly himself with one of the princes, or oppose a certain number of his men to just as many of ours, or at once on both sides let the whole armies clash, and the legions convene unanimously to battle. A truce having therefore been obtained for a time, and peace sought for the grace of sending the embassy, the two aforesaid men set out, with companions appointed for them, as far as the tent of the prince: where, finding him with his dukes and satraps, Peter the Hermit, as he was a magnanimous man, although he was small in stature, vigorously and faithfully managed the task of the imposed embassy. For, approaching the aforesaid satrap of the Persians, and showing him no reverence at all, he firmly and undauntedly set forth the words, saying: The sacred assembly of the princes beloved of God who are in Antioch has directed us to your nobility, warning that you desist from harassing them and from assaulting the city which divine clemency has restored to them: for Peter, the prince of the apostles, the faithful and prudent dispenser of our faith, by the power of his word and the grace of exhortation in which he excelled, and also by the greatness of signs, recalling it from idolatry, converted it to the faith of Christ, rendering it to us as peculiar. Now indeed, though seized by you violently yet without right, the strong and mighty Lord restores it to us: whence, bearing due solicitude for the ancestral inheritance and the familiar dwelling of Christ, they propose to you one out of many: that either you rest from the siege of the city and from molesting them; or on the third day from this day you make trial with them, determining it by swords.

Ac ne forte oblatum certamen causeris, et subterfugii causam justam invenias, optionem tibi proponunt, ut unum e pluribus eligere possis: an solus cum uno ex principibus tantum congrediaris, et victor totum obtineas, aut victus conquiescas; aut plures cum totidem eisdem conditionibus decertent; aut universae hinc legiones bellicis eventibus experiantur. Ille vero, spreta ejus legatione, respondisse dicitur: Non videtur, mi Petre, quod principum qui te huc miserunt, res sit in eo statu collocata, quod mihi debeant optiones proponere; vel quod ego tenear, pro eorum arbitrio, aliquid eligere cum ad hoc per nostrum devenerint gladium, ut neque sibi liberam habeant optandi facultatem, sed pro nostro arbitrio eos oporteat sumere et deponere voluntatem Vade ergo, et dic imprudentibus qui suam adhuc non intelligunt conditionem, qui te huc ad nos direxerunt, quod omnes quotquot integrae aetatis ex utroque sexu reperire potero, domini mei obsequiis deputatos, vitae reservabo; omnes vero alios, tanquam arbores inutiles, gladio succidam, ita ut neque eorum aliqua supersit memoria. Quod nisi satius duxissem eos famis acerbitate consumi quam gladiis interire, jampridem effractis moenibus et urbe violenter occupata, viarum suarum fructus collegissent, gladiis ultoribus subjecti.

And lest perhaps you allege a pretext about the proffered contest and find a just cause of subterfuge, they propose to you the option, that you may choose one out of several: whether you alone should meet only with one of the princes, and, if victor, obtain the whole, or, if vanquished, acquiesce; or that several should contend with as many under the same conditions; or that the entire legions here should make trial of the events of war. But he, his embassy scorned, is said to have replied: It does not seem, my Peter, that the affair of the princes who sent you hither is placed in such a state that they ought to propose options to me; nor that I am bound, at their arbitrium, to choose anything, since they have come to this by our sword, so that they do not have a free faculty of choosing for themselves, but that at our arbitrium it behooves them to take up and lay down their will Go therefore, and tell the imprudent who do not yet understand their own condition, who sent you hither to us, that all, as many as I shall be able to find of full age of either sex, appointed to my lord’s services, I will reserve alive; but all the others, like useless trees, I will cut down with the sword, so that not any memory of them may remain. And had I not deemed it better that they be consumed by the bitterness of famine than to perish by swords, long since, the walls having been broken and the city violently occupied, they would have gathered the fruits of their ways, subjected to avenging swords.

CAPUT XVI. Revertitur Petrus ad proceres; hostium superbiam nostris insinuat; bellum indicitur.

CHAPTER 16. Peter returns to the nobles; he insinuates to our men the pride of the enemies; war is declared.

At vero Petrus intellecta principis, ad quem missus fuerat, mente et superbia cognita, quam ex multitudine suorum et incomparabilibus divitiis collegerat, sumpta licentia ad suos revertitur. Quem infra urbem receptum, et quae secum deferebat responsa volentem edere, et significare his qui eum miserant principibus, adfuit universa tam patrum quam plebis multitudo, cum summa aviditate audire gestientes responsi formam et legationis finem. Dumque Petrus secundum verborum seriem, principis ad quem missus fuerat, superbiam, minas et immoderatum fastum, praesente populo universo, seriatim proponere decrevisset timens vir illustris dux Godefridus, ne si cuncta ex ordine populo continuis afflicto laboribus, et jam prae aerumnarum immensitate deficienti panderentur, plebs nimis deterreretur, et timore deficeret, volentem in narratione procedere compescuit, seorsum ducens eum a turba frequentiore, suggerens ut omissis aliis, id solum breviter et in summa significetur, quod bellum exigant hostes, et ad id omnino se praeparent.

But indeed Peter, the mind of the prince to whom he had been sent having been understood, and the pride recognized which he had amassed from the multitude of his own and from incomparable riches, having obtained leave returns to his own. When he had been received within the city, and, wishing to publish the replies which he was bringing with him and to signify them to the princes who had sent him, the entire multitude both of the fathers and of the plebs was present, with the highest avidity eager to hear the form of the response and the end of the legation. And while Peter had resolved, according to the series of the words, to set forth serially, with all the people present, the pride, threats, and immoderate haughtiness of the prince to whom he had been sent, the illustrious man Duke Godfrey, fearing lest, if everything were laid open in order to the people—afflicted by continual labors and now failing by reason of the immensity of hardships—the plebs would be overly deterred and would fail through fear, restrained him as he wished to proceed in the narration, leading him apart from the more crowded throng, suggesting that, the other things omitted, this alone be signified briefly and in sum: that the enemies demand war, and that for this they should wholly prepare themselves.

Populus ergo juxta Petri verbum intelligens quod hostes pugnam deposcerent, unanimiter omnes a majore usque ad minimum, paribus accensi desideriis, id ipsum votis expetunt ardentibus, cum tanta hilaritate verbum suscipientes, ut jam omnino pressurarum quas pertulerant viderentur immemores, et de victoria securi. Acclamantibus ergo universis et tam voce quam signis consonantiam et omnium conniventiam significantibus, bellum crastina die futurum indicitur. Gavisus igitur reversus est populus ad propria, totamque illam noctem prae pugnae desiderio ducunt insomnem: dum arma exerunt, dum equos praeparant, loricas detergunt et galeas, aptant clypeos, gladios acuunt, somno locus non datur, nec indulgetur sopori.

Therefore the people, according to Peter’s word, understanding that the enemies were demanding combat, unanimously, all from the greatest to the least, inflamed with equal desires, crave that very thing with ardent vows, receiving the word with such hilarity that they already seemed altogether unmindful of the pressures they had endured, and secure about victory. Accordingly, with all acclaiming, and signifying both by voice and by signs the consonance and the concurrence of all, it is proclaimed that the battle will take place on the next day. Rejoicing, therefore, the people returned to their own, and they pass all that night sleepless for desire of battle: while they draw out arms, while they prepare horses, wipe cuirasses and helmets, fit shields, sharpen swords—no place is given to sleep, nor is slumber indulged.

Edicitur praeterea publice, et voce praeconia nuntiatur quatenus summo mane, ante solis exortum, unusquisque armis correptis et instructus ad praelium, suis associetur legionibus; et proprii principis vexillum sequatur. Mane autem facto, circa primum diei crepusculum, sacerdotes et ministri Domini, per ecclesias divina celebrantes, et consummantes sacrificium, plebes monent ut, peractis de more confessionibus in spiritu humilitatis et animo contrito, contra mundi pericula corpore et sanguine Domini se communiant; et indultis offensis, et rancore deposito, si quis erat, reformata plenius charitate, cum majore fiducia ad praelium egrediantur, et ejus vere sint auditores et membra qui dixit: In hoc cognoscent omnes quia mei estis discipuli, si dilectionem habueritis ad invicem (Joan. XIII, 35). Celebratis ergo divinis et legionibus universis coelesti munere satiatis, tanta est eis divinitus infusa gratia, ut qui heri et nudius tertius quasi segnes et abjecti, macilenti et exsangues, prae defectu virium vix poterant attolere lumina, frontes erigere et jejuniis attenuati, victi laboribus quaerebant latibula, pristinae honestatis immemores, nunc ultro in publicum prodeuntes, abjecta ignavia, quasi resumptis viribus, arma bajulant viriliter, et de bellicis tractare animositate praesumunt solita, palmam sibi promittentes.

It is further proclaimed publicly, and by the herald’s voice it is announced that at the very first light, before the sun’s rising, each man, having seized arms and equipped for battle, should be joined to his own legions; and follow the standard of his proper prince. But when morning was come, about the day’s first crepuscule, the priests and ministers of the Lord, celebrating the divine rites through the churches and consummating the sacrifice, admonish the plebs that, confessions performed according to custom in a spirit of humility and a contrite mind, they should receive communion in the Body and Blood of the Lord against the perils of the world; and, offenses pardoned and rancor laid aside, if there was any, with charity more fully restored, they should go forth to battle with greater confidence, and truly be hearers and members of Him who said: By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you shall have love among one another (John 13, 35). Therefore, the divine rites having been celebrated and all the legions satiated with the heavenly gift, such grace was divinely infused in them that those who yesterday and the day before, as if sluggish and abject, gaunt and bloodless, from failure of strength could scarcely lift their eyes, raise their brows, and, attenuated by fasts, overcome by labors, were seeking hiding-places, forgetful of their former honor—now, of their own accord coming forth into public, sloth cast aside, as if strength had been resumed, manfully bear arms and presume to handle matters of war with their wonted spiritedness, promising the palm to themselves.

Vix reperiebatur in tanto populo conditionis aut aetatis cujuspiam qui non meditaretur fortia, qui ad arma non consurgeret, qui non sibi praesagiret victoriam. Sacerdotes vero sacris induti vestibus turmas circumeuntes et conventus, cruces deferebant in manibus, et sanctorum patrocinia, peccaminum promittentes indulgentiam, et plenam delictorum remissionem his qui fortiter in acie desudarent, et paternarum traditionum et Christianae fidei vellent esse defensores. Episcopi nihilominus, principes, et exercitus primicerios tam seorsum quam in publico exhortantes, quanta eis divinitus dabatur exhortationis gratia instabant, benedicentes populum, et Domino commendantes: inter quos praecipuus Christi cultor dominus Podiensis episcopus, exhortationibus jugiter insistens, jejuniis, et orationibus et larga eleemosynarum liberalitate seipsum Domino dabat in holocaustum.

Scarcely in so great a people was there found anyone of condition or of age who did not meditate brave deeds, who did not rise to arms, who did not forebode victory for himself. But the priests, clothed in sacred vestments, going around the troops and gatherings, were bearing crosses in their hands and the patronages of the saints, promising indulgence of sins and full remission of offenses to those who would sweat bravely in the battle-line, and who would wish to be defenders of the paternal traditions and of the Christian faith. The bishops nonetheless, the princes, and the primicerii of the army, exhorting as much privately as in public, pressed on with as much grace of exhortation as was given to them divinely, blessing the people and commending them to the Lord: among whom the lord Bishop of Le Puy, a foremost worshiper of Christ, continually insisting on exhortations, by fastings and prayers and the ample liberality of alms was giving himself to the Lord as a holocaust.

CAPUT XVII. Ordinatis aciebus, urbem egrediuntur, Tolosano comite ad urbis tutelam derelicto.

CHAPTER 17. With the battle-lines ordered, they go forth from the city, the Count of Toulouse left behind for the city’s tutelage.

Convenientes igitur summo diluculo, quarto Kalendas Julii, ante portam quae ponti erat contermina, invocato de supernis auxilio, omnes unanimiter quasi vir unus, antequam urbem egrediantur, acies instruunt, et instructis ordinem et modum assignant procedendi. In prima igitur acie, Hugonem Magnum, fratrem regis Franciae, ducem et signiferum constituunt; eique associant virum per omnia commendabilem, Anselmum de Riburgismonte, cum aliis nobilibus, quorum numerum vel nomina non tenemus. Secundae praeficiunt dominum Robertum, qui cognominatus est Friso, Flandrensium comitem, cum his qui ab initio castra ejus secuti fuerant.

Coming together therefore at the very break of day, on June 28, before the gate which was conterminous with the bridge, with aid from on high invoked, all unanimously as if one man, before they go out of the city, draw up the battle-lines, and, the ranks having been set, assign the order and the manner of proceeding. In the first battle-line, then, they constitute Hugh the Great, brother of the king of France, as duke and standard-bearer; and to him they associate a man in all respects commendable, Anselm of Riburgismount, with other nobles, whose number or names we do not possess. Over the second they set Lord Robert, who was surnamed the Frisian, count of the Flemings, with those who from the beginning had followed his camp.

Tertiam jussus est regere dominus Robertus Northmannorum dux, et cum eo vir inclytus, nepos ejus, comes Stephanus de Albamarla, et alii nobiles, qui in ejus advenerant comitatu. Episcopus vero Podiensis, dominus Ademarus, bonae memoriae, cum sua et domini comitis Tolosani familia, quartae praeerat aciei, Dominicam secum deferens lanceam. Quintam vero Rainardus comes Tullensis, et Petrus de Stadeneis frater ejus, comes Garnerus de Gres, Henricus de Ascha, Rainardus de Ammerbac, Galterus de Dommedart, suo moderamine jussi sunt producere.

The third was ordered to be governed by lord Robert, duke of the Normans, and with him a renowned man, his nephew, Count Stephen of Albemarle, and other nobles who had come in his retinue. The Bishop of Le Puy, lord Adhemar, of good memory, with his own household and that of the lord Count of Toulouse, was commanding the fourth battle-line, carrying with him the Lord’s Lance. The fifth, moreover, Count Rainard of Toul, and Peter of Stadeneis his brother, Count Garner of Gres, Henry of Ascha, Rainard of Ammerbach, Walter of Dommedart, were bidden to lead forth under their own governance.

Sextae vero aciei de mandato principum praefecti sunt Rainboldus comes de Oringis, Ludovicus de Moncons, Lambertus filius Cononis de Monteacuto. Septimam vero vir illustris et magnificus, dominus Lotharingiae dux Godefridus, cum viro venerabili fratre suo Eustachio, juxta militarem disciplinam disposuit. Octavae vero vir in armis strenuus et morum generositate insignis praefuit Tancredus.

Sextae, however, battle-line, by mandate of the princes, were appointed as commanders Rainbold, count of Orange, Louis of Moncons, Lambert, son of Cono of Monteacuto. The seventh, moreover, the illustrious and magnificent man, lord Godfrey, duke of Lorraine, together with his venerable brother Eustace, arranged in accordance with military discipline. Over the eighth, indeed, the man strenuous in arms and distinguished by nobility of character, Tancred, presided.

Nonam vero comes Hugo de Sancto Paulo, et Engelrandus filius ejus, Thomas de Feria, Balduinus de Burgo, Robertus filius Gerardi, Rainoldus Belvacensis, Galo de Calvomonte disponere jussi sunt. Decimae vero praefecti sunt Rotoldus comes Percensis, Everardus de Pusato, Drogo de Monci, Radulphus filius Godefridi, Conanus Brito. Undecimam vero Iscardus comes Diensis, Raimundus Piletus, Gastus Biterensis, Girardus de Roseilon, Wilhelmus de Montepessulano, Guilhermus Amaneus tenuerunt.

The ninth, indeed, Count Hugh of Saint-Pol, and Enguerrand his son, Thomas of Feria, Baldwin of Burg, Robert son of Gerard, Reynold of Beauvais, Galo of Calvomont were ordered to array. The tenth, indeed, Rotold, Count of Perche, Everard of Puiset, Drogo of Moncy, Ralph son of Godfrey, Conan the Breton were set as prefects. The eleventh, indeed, Iscard, Count of Die, Raymond Pilet, Gaston of Béziers, Girard of Roussillon, William of Montpellier, William Amanius held.

In duodecima vero, quae erat novissima, et caeteris refertior, constitutus est princeps et moderator dominus Boamundus, jussusque est postremus incedere, ut praecedentibus tempore opportuno ministraret subsidium, et pro his qui amplius ab hostibus gravarentur providam gereret sollicitudinem. Dominum autem comitem Tolosanum aegritudine valida periculosius laborantem, in urbe dimiserunt ad ejus custodiam, contra illos qui adhuc rebelles erant in praesidio, ne forte in absentia principum, urbem arbitrantes vacuam, super debiles et infirmos, senes et mulierculas, et imbellem populum, irruptiones molirentur. Fecerunt autem et in colle qui praesidio erat oppositus, murum ex calce et lapidibus cum propugnaculis solidissimum, super quem machinas jaculatorias constituerunt nonnullas, ducentos viros, robustos viribus et armis instructos, qui locum tuerentur, ibi relinquentes.

But in the twelfth, which was the last and more replete than the others, lord Bohemond was appointed as prince and moderator, and he was ordered to proceed last, so that he might minister succor to those preceding at an opportune time, and might bear provident solicitude for those who were more grievously pressed by the enemies. But the lord Count of Toulouse, laboring more perilously with a strong illness, they left in the city for its custody, against those who were still rebellious in the garrison, lest perhaps, in the absence of the princes, judging the city empty, they should contrive irruptions upon the weak and the sick, the old men and the womenfolk, and the unwarlike populace. They also made, on the hill which was opposite the stronghold, a wall of lime and stones with most solid battlements, upon which they set several engines for hurling; leaving there two hundred men, robust in strength and equipped with arms, to guard the place.

CAPUT XVIII. Hostium princeps exitum parat impedire, sed nostri viriliter erumpunt.

CHAPTER 18. The enemies’ prince prepares to impede the exit, but our men erupt manfully.

Sic ergo dispositis suorum ordinibus, et in aciem redactis, de communi decernunt consilio quod dominus Hugo Magnus, dominus quoque comes Flandrensis, et dux Northmannorum reliqua praecedant agmina: universisque praecipiunt hunc observare proficiscendi ordinem, ut praemissis peditibus equites subsequerentur, et eis diligentem adhiberent custodiam. Cautum est etiam edicto publico, et lege communi promulgatum, ne quis hostium spoliis inhiare praesumat; sed omnes hostium caedi unanimiter incumbant, quousque, obtenta victoria et prostratis hostibus, licite possint ad spolia colligenda redire. Porro Corbagath suspectum habebat ab initio, et maxime postquam ad eum Petrus missus fuerat, nostrorum subitum in castra sua egressum: unde et cum iis qui in praesidio erant, convenerat, ut si quando nostri de exitu cogitarent, et se praepararent ad egressum, oppidani dato signo castris id significare properarent. Factum est igitur circa horam diei primam, dum nostri acies suas disponerent, qui in praesidio erant, id compertum habentes, signo dato de quo inter eos convenerat, id castris cominus significaverunt.

Thus therefore, with their ranks of their own disposed and drawn up into a battle-line, by common counsel they decree that Lord Hugh the Great, and likewise the lord count of Flanders, and the duke of the Northmen should precede the remaining columns: and they enjoin upon all to observe this order of setting out, that, the foot-soldiers having been sent ahead, the horsemen should follow after and apply diligent guardianship to them. It was also provided by a public edict, and promulgated by common law, that no one presume to gape after the spoils of the enemy; but that all unanimously apply themselves to the slaughter of the enemy, until, victory obtained and the foes laid low, they may lawfully be able to return to gather the spoils. Moreover Corbagath held as suspect from the beginning, and especially after Peter had been sent to him, the sudden egress of our men into his camp: whence also it had been agreed with those who were in the garrison, that if ever our men should think about a sally and prepare themselves for going out, the townspeople, a sign having been given, should hasten to signify that to the camp. It came about therefore about the first hour of the day, while our men were arranging their battle-lines, that those who were in the garrison, having discovered this, with the sign given about which it had been agreed among them, signified this to the camp from close at hand.

Unde nostrorum volentes praepedire propositum, praemiserunt de suis quasi ad duo millia, qui circa pontem nostris occurrerent, et eos egredi non paterentur: qui, ut instarent protervius et ad sagittandum essent habiliores; descendentes de equis pedites se constituerunt, pontis partem ulteriorem occupantes. At vero nostri, compositis aciebus et juxta rei militaris disciplinam ordine congruo digestis, reserata porta, observatis stationibus et legionibus impermistis seriatim egrediuntur. Dumque praedicti hostes qui ad cohibendum nostris exitum convenerant, in eo proposito fortius desudarent, dominus Hugo Magnus, qui primae praeerat, ut praemisimus, cohorti, praemissis turbis pedestribus et sagittariis, in eos irruens animosius, primo tentantes resistere, sed tandem nostrorum impetum ferre non valentes, violenter dissolutos adegit in fugam, tanta instans animositate, ut vix equos ex quibus descenderant, recipere possent: quibus fugam ingressis, vir memoria dignus Anselmus de Riburgismonte, qui in prima constitutus erat acie, protinus irruens, saeculis memorabile virtutis suae dedit experimentum; nam in mediis eorum cuneis salutis immemor, audaciter involutus, dum hos dejicit, illos perforat, et in eorum strage desudat animosius, universorum ordinum in se provocavit et oculos et favorem.

Whence, wishing to pre-hamper our men’s purpose, they sent forward of their own about two thousand, to meet ours around the bridge and not allow them to go out: who, that they might press more pertly and be more habilitated for shooting, dismounting from their horses set themselves on foot, occupying the farther part of the bridge. But our men, with the battle-lines composed and, according to the discipline of the military art, arranged in a fitting order, the gate unbarred, with the stations observed and the legions intermingled, go out in series. And while the aforesaid enemies, who had come together to restrain our egress, were sweating more strenuously in that design, Lord Hugh the Great, who, as we premised, was in command of the first cohort, having sent forward the foot throngs and the archers, rushing upon them more spiritedly, they at first tried to resist, but at length, not able to bear our onset, he drove the violently broken ranks into flight, pressing with such animosity that they could scarcely recover the horses from which they had dismounted: and when they had taken to flight, a man worthy of memory, Anselm of Riburgismont, who had been placed in the first battle-line, rushing in at once, gave to the ages a memorable proof of his virtus; for, in the midst of their wedges, forgetful of safety, boldly entangled, while he casts down these, he pierces those, and toils the more eagerly in their slaughter, having drawn upon himself both the eyes and the favor of men of every order.

Quod videntes Hugo Magnus, et Robertus comes Flandrensium, Robertus quoque Northmannorum comes, et Balduinus comes Hemaucorum, et Eustachius ducis frater, praedicto nobili viro ut subsidium administrent, advolant celerius, viri strenuitatem admirantes; et collatis viribus irruentes, si quid adhuc erat roboris, potenter confringunt, et stragem ex eis operantes innumeram, pene usque ad eorum castra insectati sunt fugientes.

Seeing this, Hugh the Great, and Robert, count of the Flemings, Robert likewise, count of the Northmen, and Baldwin, count of the Hainauts, and Eustace, the duke’s brother, to render aid to the aforesaid noble man, fly up more swiftly, admiring the man’s strenuous valor; and, with forces brought together, rushing in, whatever strength there still remained they mightily shatter, and working an innumerable slaughter among them, they pursued the fleeing almost up to their camp.

CAPUT XIX. Nostris egredientibus ros de supernis infunditur, in quo consolationem receperunt universi.

CHAPTER 19. As our men were going forth, dew from the supernal heights is poured down, wherein all received consolation.

Accidit autem in exitu nostrorum ab urbe quidam memoria dignum, quod, dum essent in procinctu, et jam extra portam acies dirigerent, hostibus qui aditum praepedire proposuerant, partim interemptis, partim in fugam versis, ros quidam suavissimus immissus de supernis, modicus, sed gratissimus, super nostrum exercitum descendit ita placidus, ut quasi in eo benedictionem et gratiam suam videretur Dominus infudisse. Quicunque enim eo imbre coelitus immisso conspersus est, ita plenam mentis et corporis, suscepit hilaritatem et integritatem sospitatis, tanquam nihil laboris, nihil molestiae tota illa expeditione passus esset; nec solum hominibus, verum etiam equis vigor pristinus a Deo restitutus est in integrum, ut qui per multos ante dies non nisi folia et cortices arborum habuerant pro pabulo, hostium equos et hordeo pastos et palea, tota illa die et celeritate vincerent et laboris patientia. Tanta ergo ex illius benedictionis rore nostris legionibus victoriae spes et fortitudinis gratia videbatur accessisse, ut de eis videretur esse dictum: Pluviam voluntariam segregabit Deus haereditati suae (Psal.

However, something worthy of memory happened at our men’s departure from the city, which was this: while they were in readiness for battle, and already outside the gate were arranging the battle-line, the enemy who had proposed to hinder the approach being partly slain, partly put to flight, a certain most sweet dew, sent from on high—slight, but most welcome—descended upon our army so gentle, that it seemed as though in it the Lord had poured His blessing and grace. For whoever was sprinkled by that shower sent from heaven received such full cheerfulness of mind and body and such integrity of soundness, as if he had suffered no toil, no trouble in that whole expedition; and not only to men, but even to the horses their former vigor was restored in full by God, so that they who for many days before had had nothing for fodder except leaves and the bark of trees, outstripped the enemies’ horses—fed on barley and chaff—throughout that whole day both in speed and in endurance of labor. So great, then, from the dew of that blessing seemed to have been added to our legions the hope of victory and the grace of fortitude, that it seemed to have been said of them: God will set apart a freewill rain for His inheritance (Ps.

LXVII, 10), et Spiritus sancti gratiam manifeste se non dubitarent accepisse. Eductis autem extra urbem legionibus, decernunt esse utilius versus montana acies dirigere, quae ab eadem urbe quasi distabant duabus milliaribus et ita universam occupare planitiem, ne forte hostes infinitas habentes copias inter eos et urbem clam vel violenter transeuntes, sicuti facere consueverant in praeliis, nostros possent ex omni parte vallare, et aditum ad urbem intercludere fugientibus. Procedebant autem gradu lento, ita tamen ut non permiscerentur acies, neque ordines confunderentur.

67, 10), and they did not doubt that they had manifestly received the grace of the Holy Spirit. But with the legions led out beyond the city, they decide it is more useful to direct the battle line toward the highlands, which were, as it were, two miles distant from the same city, and thus to occupy the whole plain, lest perchance the enemy, having infinite forces, passing between them and the city secretly or by violence, just as they were accustomed to do in battles, might be able to hem our men in from every side and to cut off the approach to the city for those fleeing. They were proceeding, however, at a slow pace, yet in such a way that the battle lines were not mingled, nor were the ranks confused.

Factumque est divinae virtutis operatione ut qui intra urbem hostibus pauciores, imo pene nulli eorum comparatione crederentur, tot et tanti, quot et quanti extra urbem, aut plures aut non pauciores esse viderentur. Qui enim quinque panes post quinque millium refectam esuriem in tantam fragmentorum quantitatem novit prius multiplicare (Matth. XIV, 17); idem populum sibi acceptabilem et sectatorem bonorum operum, ad nominis sui gloriam, non inferiori miraculo voluit augere.

And it came to pass by the operation of divine power that those who within the city were believed to be fewer than the enemy—nay, almost none in comparison with them—appeared to be just as many and as great as those outside the city, or even more, or at least not fewer. For he who formerly knew how to multiply the five loaves, after the hunger of five thousand had been refreshed, into so great a quantity of fragments (Matt. 14, 17), that same one willed, by no inferior miracle, to augment a people acceptable to himself and a follower of good works, to the glory of his name.

Erant autem immisti procedentibus ad praelium, Deo devoti sacerdotes et levitae stolis amicti albis, signum crucis mirabile deferentes in manibus. Qui vero in urbe remanserant super muros ascendentes, vestibus induti sacerdotalibus, in lacrymis et oratione perseverantes, expansis manibus pro fideli populo sine intermissione orabant ad Dominum, ut parceret populo suo, et ne daret gentibus in opprobrium haereditatem suam.

Now, intermingled with those advancing to the battle were priests and levites, devoted to God, clothed in white stoles, bearing in their hands the wondrous sign of the cross. But those who had remained in the city, ascending upon the walls, dressed in sacerdotal garments, persevering in tears and in prayer, with hands outstretched were praying without intermission to the Lord for the faithful people, that He would spare His people, and not give His inheritance to the nations for reproach.

CAPUT XX. Curbagath suas instruit acies; pugnatur cominus. Solimannus a tergo irruens, aciem Boamundi graviter opprimit; subveniunt principes. Turci deficientes ignem subjiciunt, ut fumum excitent.

CHAPTER 20. Curbagath arrays his own battle-lines; they fight at close quarters. Solimannus, rushing in from the rear, presses the line of Bohemond hard; the princes come to the rescue. The Turks, failing, put fire beneath, to excite smoke.

Interea princeps hostium intellecto nostrorum egressu, tum ex signo quod in praesidio urbis conspexerat, tum ex eorum relationum qui ab egredientibus devicti aufugerant, convocatis senioribus et expeditionum primiceriis, jam incipit habere pro seriis, quae prius quasi ludicra reputaverat; et quorum prius arma et tenuitatem negligere videbatur, jam incipit habere suspecta. De communi igitur consilio, Antiochenorum tamen maxime usus experientia, acies instruit, disponit agmina; et qui praecedere, qui subsequi debeant, diligenti studio distinguit, et debita digerit sollicitudine. Inter caetera vero antequam nostri universa inter urbem et montes occupassent campestria, aciem unam, viris prudentibus et robustis insignem, cui praeesse dicebatur vir illustris Solimannus Nicaenorum princeps, de quo superius mentionem fecimus saepissimam, versus mare dirigit, eo intuitu ut, nostris devictis et conversis in fugam, volentibus ad mare descendere vel in urbem ingredi, illi occurrerent, et ita inter molares duos, videlicet inter subsequentes et occurrentes a fronte, Dei populus contereretur.

Meanwhile the prince of the enemies, once he understood the egress of our men—both from the signal which he had seen in the garrison of the city and from the reports of those who, defeated by the ones going out, had fled—having called together the elders and the primicerii of the expeditions, now begins to take as serious the things which previously he had reckoned as if ludicrous; and those whose arms and slightness he had earlier seemed to neglect, he now begins to hold as suspect. Therefore by common counsel, yet especially employing the experience of the Antiochenes, he arrays the battle-line, disposes the columns; and who ought to precede, who ought to follow, he distinguishes with diligent study, and marshals with due solicitude. Among other things, indeed, before our men had occupied all the level ground between the city and the mountains, he directs one battle-line—distinguished by prudent and robust men, over which the illustrious man Solimannus, prince of the Nicaeans, of whom above we have made most frequent mention, was said to preside—toward the sea, with this intention: that, our men being vanquished and turned to flight, for those wishing to descend to the sea or to enter the city, they might run to meet them; and thus, between two millstones, namely between those following behind and those meeting from the front, the people of God might be crushed.

Reliquas autem a dextris locans et a sinistris, sub singulis principibus, sub obtentu gratiae suae, districte praecipit, quatenus pristinae virtutis memores, strenue et viriliter decertare contendant, frivolum reputantes quidquid tam imbellis populus, vulgus famelicum, plebs inermis et inconsulta, niteretur moliri. Occupata igitur universa planitie, et proviso diligentius ne ab hostibus possent circumdari. monentibus lituis, et praecedentibus legionum vexilliferis, nostri versus acies hostium gradatim prodeunt: quibus cum appropinquassent, adeo ut jam in eos, hostes sagittas suas contorquere possent, facto impetu, tres primae acies unanimiter in eos irruunt, lanceis et gladiis instantes cominus. Sed et nostri pedites qui arcubus utebantur et balistis, equitum praecedentes manipulos, votis ardentibus ultro et certatim se ingerebant; quibus subsequentes equitum turmae, quantam poterant, adhibebant custodiae diligentiam.

Placing the remainder on the right and on the left, under individual princes, under the pretext of his favor, he strictly commands that, mindful of their pristine virtue, they strive to contend strenuously and manfully, reckoning as frivolous whatever such an unwarlike people, a famished rabble, an unarmed and ill-advised plebs, should endeavor to attempt. Therefore, the whole plain having been occupied, and with careful provision made lest they could be encircled by the enemy, with the war-trumpets giving the signal and the standard-bearers of the legions going before, our men advance by degrees toward the battle-lines of the enemy; and when they had approached so near that the foes could now hurl their arrows into them, the onset being made, the first three battle-lines with one mind rush upon them, pressing at close quarters with lances and swords. But our infantry also, who were using bows and crossbows, preceding the maniples of horse, of their own accord and in rivalry thrust themselves forward; to whom the squadrons of cavalry following gave, as much as they could, diligent protection.

Dumque primae acies viriliter in agone desudant, ecce subsequentes eis, adjunctae et illatae impetu non inferiore, eos qui se praecesserant reddunt tam audacia quam viribus praestantiores. Cumque jam omnes, excepta novissima, cui praeerat dominus Boamundus, ad hostes pervenissent acies, et cum eis decertarent viriliter, ita ut pluribus interfectis, jam pene dissolutis agminibus hostes in fugam verterentur, duxque cum suo comitatu validiorem et densissimam hostium cohortem jam penitus in fugam adegisset, ecce Solimannus, cum ea legione quam supra diximus eum versus loca maritima deduxisse, rediens, in aciem domini Boamundi audacter et cum multo impetu a tergo irruit, tantam immittens sagittarum multitudinem, ut instar grandinis totam aciem operiret; moxque depositis arcubus, et eorum neglecto officio, clava instans et gladiis, ita ut importunam eorum instantiam dominus Boamundus vix sustineret: dumque iis premeretur atrocius, et pene dissolveretur legio cui praeerat, licet ipse strenui more et fortis viri, in hostes medios cum paucis consortibus decertaret, dux subito cum suis copiis evocatus, unaque cum eo vir spectabilis dominus Tancredus, impiger advolat, domino Boamundo subsidium ministraturi: quorum opportuno adventu, statim hostium enervatae sunt vires, et omnis eorum virtus emarcuit, instantibus nostris animosius, vulneraque et mortem ministrantibus. Dumque vident se viribus impares, irruentium pondus se non posse sustinere diutius, ad alia se convertunt argumenta; et ignem solito excutientes artificio, subjiciunt in stipulam; erat enim fenum multum in loco aridum valde, et stipula apta prorsus incendio; quae subjectum ignem suscipientia gratum ministraverunt fomitem, et licet flammam quidem modicam, tetram tamen atque densam fumi dederunt caliginem, qua involutae acies, minus quidem instabant hostibus, fumo plurimum officiente luminibus, et pulvere nihilominus, qui equorum et peditum excitabatur frequentia.

And while the first battle-lines were sweating it out manfully in the contest, behold, those following them, joined on and brought against the foe with no lesser impetus, made those who had gone before them appear superior both in daring and in strength. And when now all the lines, except the very last, which was commanded by lord Boamundus, had reached the enemy and were fighting manfully with them, so that, with many slain and the enemy’s ranks now almost dissolved, they were being turned to flight, and the duke with his retinue had already driven utterly into flight the stronger and densest cohort of the enemy, behold, Solimannus, returning with that legion which we said above he had led toward the maritime places, rushed audaciously and with much impetus from the rear upon the battle-line of lord Boamundus, sending in such a multitude of arrows that, like hail, it covered the whole line; and soon, laying aside their bows and neglecting their office, they pressed on with club and swords, so that lord Boamundus could scarcely sustain their importunate onset: and while he was being more cruelly pressed by them, and the legion he commanded was almost being dissolved, although he himself, in the manner of a strenuous and brave man, was fighting in the midst of the enemy with a few companions, the duke, suddenly summoned with his forces, and together with him the notable man lord Tancredus, flew in untiring, to furnish succor to lord Boamundus: at whose opportune arrival the enemy’s forces were straightway enervated, and all their valor withered, as our men pressed on more spiritedly, delivering wounds and death. And when they see themselves unequal in strength, unable to bear longer the weight of those rushing upon them, they turn to other stratagems; and, striking fire by their wonted artifice, they apply it to stubble; for there was much hay in the place, very dry, and stubble altogether apt for kindling; which, taking up the fire set beneath, supplied a welcome fomes, and, though indeed a modest flame, yet gave forth a foul and dense murk of smoke, by which the battle-lines, wrapped round, pressed the enemy less, the smoke greatly hindering their sight, and likewise the dust, which was stirred by the multitude of horses and footmen.

In hac igitur tanta fumi caligine studiosius excitata, hostes nostros insecuti, de peditibus, nonnullos occiderunt; equites autem equorum rapti beneficio periculosam illam declinantes nebulam, redeuntes in idipsum, et divino freti adminiculo agonem continuantes, reintegratis divino munere viribus, hostes in fugam gladiis persecutoribus convertunt; nec desistunt insequi, quousque ad suorum jam dissoluta agmina, eos recurrere violenter compulerunt.

In that therefore so great murk of smoke, more zealously stirred up, the enemies, pursuing our men, killed several of the foot-soldiers; but the horsemen, carried off by the benefit of their horses, shunning that dangerous mist, returning to the selfsame place, and relying on divine aid, continuing the agon, their forces reintegrated by a divine gift, turn the enemies to flight with their swords as persecutors; nor do they desist from pursuing, until they violently compelled them to run back to the ranks of their own, now dissolved.

CAPUT XXI. Fugit hostium princeps; legiones eorum perimuntur; qui evaserunt, versi sunt in fugam.

CHAPTER 21. The leader of the enemy flees; their legions are slain; those who escaped were put to flight.

Erat autem in eadem regione vallis modica, per quam horis hiemalibus torrens de monte defluens descendere consueverat, cursuque praecipiti alveum in vallem subegerat, ultra quam cum hostes confugere noster compulisset exercitus, in colle quodam eminentiori aliquantulum, dum tentarent resistere, et tubarum sonitu et strepitu tympanorum dissolutas iterum revocare conarentur legiones, sine intermissione eos subsecuti, nostri principes advolant celerius: tam qui in postremis, ubi majus exercebatur negotium, cum Solimanno laboraverant, dominus dux Godefridus, dominus Boamundus, Tancredus quoque, et alii quidem nobiles, auctore Domino, victoria potiti; quam qui in prima fronte, obvias sibi jam contriverant acies, Hugo Magnus videlicet, et uterque Robertus, tam Flandrensium quam Northmannorum comes, et alii multi perpete digni memoria: vallo transmisso hostes a praedicto colle dejiciunt violenter; et iterum ab invicem dissolutos, nostrorum constantiam sustinere non valentes, fugam inire compulerunt. Corbagath autem ab initio turbam declinans, in colle quodam constitutus frequentes dirigebat nuntios, qui ad eum recurrentes saepius, de belli eventu eum edocebant. Hic dum praestolaretur anxius quo fine tantum terminaretur negotium, repente suas dissipatas penitus et in nullo sibi cohaerentes, diffluere conspicit legiones.

Now in the same region there was a modest valley, through which in the winter hours a torrent, flowing down from the mountain, was wont to descend, and by its headlong course had forced a channel into the valley; beyond which, when our army had compelled the enemies to take refuge, upon a certain somewhat more eminent hill, while they were trying to resist and, by the sound of trumpets and the clatter of tympana, were attempting again to recall the dissolved legions, our chiefs, following them without intermission, fly up more swiftly: both those who in the rear, where the greater business was being transacted, had toiled with Soliman—lord duke Godfrey, lord Bohemond, Tancred too, and certain other nobles—by the Lord as author, obtained victory; and those who in the foremost front had already crushed the battle-lines meeting them, Hugh the Great, namely, and each Robert, both the count of the Flemings and of the Northmen, and many others worthy of perpetual memory: having crossed the bank, they violently cast the enemies down from the aforesaid hill; and again, being broken apart from one another, unable to endure the constancy of our men, they compelled them to enter upon flight. But Corbagath, from the beginning avoiding the crowd, stationed on a certain hill, was dispatching frequent messengers, who, running back to him repeatedly, informed him of the outcome of the war. Here, while he waited anxiously with what end so great a business would be terminated, suddenly he perceives his legions wholly scattered and in no respect cohering to him, flowing asunder.

Quo facto perterritus, monentibus suis qui eum comitabantur, ut saluti consuleret, relictis castris et suorum immemor, fugam iniit quantocius, tanta correptus formidine, ut neminem exspectans, et equos permutans alternatim, ut fugae possent sufficere, transito Euphrate vix tutum se reputaret. Relictae vero acies, principis destitutae solatio, resistendi animo simul et viribus vacui, quibus equi sufficere poterant, eadem via saluti consulentes, fuga elapsi, insequentium gladios evaserunt. Nostri autem equorum timentes defectum, non multum insequi praesumpserunt, excepto domino Tancredo, et paucis aliis, qui usque ad occasum solis, tribus aut quatuor milliaribus eos sternendo prosecuti sunt.

When this had been done, thoroughly terrified, and with his attendants advising him to look to his safety, he abandoned the camp and, forgetful of his own men, took to flight as quickly as possible, seized by such fear that, waiting for no one and exchanging horses in alternation so that they might suffice for the flight, he scarcely reckoned himself safe even after the Euphrates had been crossed. But the battle-lines left behind, deprived of the solace of their prince, empty alike of the will to resist and of strength, those whose horses were able to suffice, providing for their safety by the same course, slipped away in flight and escaped the swords of the pursuers. Our men, however, fearing the failure of their horses, did not presume to pursue far, except for lord Tancred and a few others, who, until sunset, following and strewing them to the ground, pursued them for three or four miles.

Tantum siquidem divina virtus eis timorem immiserat, ut vel resistere, vel a se insectantium propulsare injurias nec attentarent; decem enim ex nostris videbantur eis quasi multa millia; nec erat qui a facie nostrorum fugientibus ministrare posset consolationem. Hic plane innotuit quia non est consilium contra Dominum (Prov. XXI, 30): quamque vere dicatur quod non deserit Dominus sperantes in se (Judith.

So great indeed was the fear which the divine virtue had sent into them, that they did not even attempt either to resist or to repel from themselves the injuries of those pursuing; for ten of ours seemed to them as if many thousands; nor was there anyone who could minister consolation to those fleeing from the face of our men. Here plainly it became known that there is no counsel against the Lord (Prov. 21, 30): and how truly it is said that the Lord does not desert those who hope in him (Judith.

XIII, 17), ipso rerum experimento factum est evidens et manifestum, cum populus inops et famelicus tantam virorum fortium multitudinem, Dei fretus auxilio, potuit superare; et praeter spem propriam, in uno praelio universum a Deo destitutum Orientem confundere.

13, 17), by the very experience of events it became evident and manifest, when an indigent and famished people, relying on the aid of God, was able to overcome so great a multitude of valiant men; and beyond its own hope, in a single battle, to confound the entire East, forsaken by God.

CAPUT XXII. Redeuntes a caede hostium nostri, de castris eorum infinita reportant spolia.

CHAPTER 22. Our men, returning from the slaughter of the enemy, bring back countless spoils from their camp.

Consummato igitur praelio, et divinitus concessa nostri principes potiti victoria, in castra hostium redeunt: ubi tantam rerum necessariarum reperiunt opulentiam, tantas Orientalium divitiarum copias, ut jam auri, argenti, gemmarum, holosericorum et pretiosarum vestium, nec non et vasorum, tam artificio quam materia commendabilium, neque numerus esset, neque mensura: equorum etiam, sed et gregum et armentorum, annonae quoque nihilominus et victualium tanta ibi reperta est abundantia, ut jam nescirent quid eligerent, etiam qui suprema prius laboraverant inopia. Colligentes itaque hostium papiliones et tentoria, quibus plurimum indigebant (sua quippe vetustas et imbrium quos saepe pertulerant intemperies corruperant, ut jam essent inutilia) gazas in eis reperiebant multiplices; sed et ancillas et parvulos quos fugientes dimiserant, secum in urbem detulerunt. Inter caetera autem, et majoris eorum principis admirabile reperiunt tabernaculum, in modum civitatis, turribus, propugnaculis et moenibus, ex optimo serico et variis coloribus contextum: a cujus medio quasi a triclinio principali, in partes plures adnexa defluebant diversoria, quae quasi per vicos distinguebantur, quibus duo hominum millia spatiose considere posse dicebantur.

The battle therefore consummated, and victory by divine concession obtained by our leaders, they return to the enemy’s camp: where they find such opulence of things necessary, such stores of Oriental riches, that now of gold, silver, gems, all-silk fabrics and precious garments, and also of vessels commendable both for artifice and for material, there was neither number nor measure: of horses too, and likewise of flocks and herds, and of grain-supply and victuals no less, so great an abundance was there found that now they knew not what to choose, even they who before had labored under the utmost want. Gathering therefore the enemy’s pavilions and tents, of which they were in great need (for their own, their age and the inclemency of the rains which they had often endured having corrupted, were now become useless), they found multiple treasures stored in them; and they also bore with them into the city maidservants and little children whom the fugitives had left behind. Among the rest, moreover, they find the admirable tabernacle of their greatest prince, fashioned after the manner of a city, with towers, bulwarks, and walls, woven of the finest silk and in various colors: from the midst of which, as from the principal triclinium, lodgings annexed flowed down into many parts, which were distinguished as it were by streets, wherein two thousand men were said to be able to sit spaciously.

Onerati igitur spoliis et manubiis ditati, cuncta in urbem deferunt, diem agentes solemnem in laetitia et exsultatione, gratias illi exhibentes de cujus munere venerat, ut tot casibus superatis, tot decursis laboribus, optatam consecuti essent victoriam. Qui autem erant in praesidio videntes quod sui defecerant, et necessariam subsidii spem haberent nullam, interpositis conditionibus, quod cum salute liceret egredi, uxoresque ac liberos simul et omnem eorum substantiam libere possent educere, arcem nostris resignant principibus, eorum vexillis in summis turribus collocatis. Sic igitur factum est per Domini superabundantem gratiam, ut recepto urbis praesidio, et obtenta victoria, qui heri et nudius tertius tenues erant et pene famelici, bonis inciperent omnibus abundare.

Laden therefore with spoils and enriched with booty, they carry everything into the city, keeping a solemn day in joy and exultation, rendering thanks to Him by whose gift it had come to pass that, so many mishaps overcome, so many labors run through, they had attained the desired victory. But those who were in the garrison, seeing that their own had failed, and that they had no necessary hope of succor, upon the interposition of conditions—that it should be permitted to go out with safety, and that they might freely lead out their wives and children together, and all their substance—resign the citadel to our princes, our standards being placed upon the highest towers. Thus therefore it was brought to pass through the Lord’s superabundant grace, that, the city’s stronghold being recovered and victory obtained, they who yesterday and the day before were of slender means and almost famished began to abound in all good things.

Ad hoc enim jam devenerant etiam qui inter eos erant potentissimi et eximii nominis, ut etiam mendicare compellerentur. Nam ut de gregariis taceamus, comes Harmannus vir nobilis de regno Teutonico, ad eam deductus est paupertatem, ut ei de mensa ducis, panis pro quotidiano stipendio, quasi magnum, deputaretur. Henricus quoque, de Ascha, vir probitate singularis, inedia penitus consumptus esset, nisi ab eodem domino duce assumptus esset in convivam.

For even those who among them were most potent and of eminent name had already come to this point, that they were even compelled to beg. For, to be silent about the rank-and-file, Count Harmannus, a noble man from the Teutonic realm, was reduced to such poverty that from the duke’s table bread was assigned to him for his daily stipend, as if it were something great. Henry too, of Ascha, a man of singular probity, would have been utterly consumed by starvation, had he not been taken up by that same lord duke as a table-companion.

Sed et ipse etiam dux, dum civitas obsideretur, antequam egrederentur ad praelium, tanta laborabat inopia ut equos non habens, eum cui insedit in praelio a comite Tolosano multis precibus vix extorserit. Jam enim tam ipse quam alii principes quidquid pecuniarum secum detulerant, in larga eleemosynarum liberalitate et pietatis operibus, et his maxime quae ad communem respiciebant utilitatem, prona devotione consumpserant. Unde factum est quod multi nobiles, et apud suos tam genere quam strenuitate praeclari, ea die qua bellum indictum est, consumptis opibus inopes facti, et equos non habentes, partim pedites, partim super asinos et vilia jumenta, egressi sunt ad pugnam: quorum inopiam benigne respiciens consolator Dominus, antequam sol vergeret ad occasum, devictis hostibus, opes contulit redundantes.

But even the duke himself, while the city was under siege, before they went out to the battle, labored with such want that, not having horses, he scarcely extorted by many entreaties from the Count of Toulouse the very horse on which he sat in the battle. For already both he and the other princes had consumed, in a large liberality of alms and in works of piety, and especially in those things which looked to the common utility, with ready devotion, whatever monies they had brought with them. Whence it came to pass that many nobles, illustrious among their own both by birth and by strenuous valor, on the day when war was proclaimed, their resources consumed and made destitute, and not having horses, went out to the fight partly on foot, partly upon asses and cheap beasts of burden: whose poverty, kindly regarding, the Lord the Consoler, before the sun inclined to its setting, the enemies having been vanquished, bestowed riches overflowing.

Renovatum est ibi evidentius illud Samariae antiquum et vetus negotium, de mensura similaginis et hordei, quae statere uno accipiebatur. Nam qui mane vix sibi sufficere poterat, vespere habuit unde multos aleret. Factum est autem hoc, anno ab Incarnatione Domini 1098, mense Junio, vicesima octava die mensis.

There was renewed there, more evidently, that ancient and old business of Samaria, concerning the measure of fine flour and of barley, which was obtained for one stater. For he who in the morning could scarcely suffice for himself, in the evening had means whereby to feed many. Moreover this came to pass, in the year from the Incarnation of the Lord 1098, in the month of June, on the twenty-eighth day of the month.

CAPUT XXIII. Civitate composita, ecclesias mundant et reparant; clericum in eis ordinant studiose.

CHAPTER 23. With the city set in order, they cleanse and repair the churches; a cleric in them they ordain studiously.

Reversis igitur principibus de praelio, et urbe jam in omni tranquillitate composita, curae fuit omnibus, et praecipue patrono exercitus, viro venerabili domino Podiensi episcopo, cooperantibus aliis qui in eodem exercitu erant pontificibus, et plebe suffragia ministrante, tam majorem urbis ecclesiam, quae in honore Principis apostolorum dedicata erat, quam reliquas, quae per urbem erant constitutae, in pristinum decorem reformare basilicas, et in eis clerum restituere, qui divinis jugiter se manciparet obsequiis. Gens enim Turcorum impia, loca profanaverat venerabilia; et ejectis inde cultuum divinorum ministris, usibus profanis ea deputaverant; in aliis equos et jumenta, quasi in stabulis collocantes; in aliis vero indigna locis exercentes negotia. Venerabiles quoque sanctorum imagines (quibus simplex populus, et plebs Dei cultrix pia ruditate commendabilis, quasi pro libris utitur, quae vice lectionis simpliciores ad devotionem excitant), ex ipsis corraserant parietibus; et quasi in viventes personas desaevientes, oculos effoderant, mutilaverant nares, et luto sumpto de immundis obduxerant, dejecerant altaria, et nefandis operibus inquinaverant Domini sanctuarium.

Accordingly, when the princes had returned from the battle, and the city now had been settled in all tranquility, it was a concern for all, and especially for the patron of the army, the venerable man, lord Bishop of Le Puy, with the other bishops who were in the same army cooperating, and with the plebs supplying suffrages, both to restore to their pristine adornment the basilicas—the greater church of the city, which had been dedicated in honor of the Prince of the Apostles, as well as the others which had been established throughout the city—and to restore in them a clergy who would continually devote themselves to the divine offices. For the impious nation of the Turks had profaned the venerable places; and, the ministers of the divine cults having been cast out from there, they had assigned them to profane uses: in some placing horses and beasts of burden, as if in stables; in others indeed conducting businesses unworthy of the places. The venerable images of the saints (which the simple people, and the plebs of God, cultivators of piety, praiseworthy for their simple rusticity, use as if for books, which, in place of reading, stir the simpler to devotion) they had scraped off from the very walls; and, raging against them as though against living persons, they had gouged out the eyes, mutilated the noses, and, taking mud from filth, had smeared them over; they had cast down the altars, and had defiled the Lord’s sanctuary with unspeakable deeds.

Placuit igitur de communi consilio ut statim sine dilatione in eis clerus restitueretur et pristina reformaretur dignitas, designatis stipendiis unde possent sustentari qui in eis Domino militarent. Obtulerunt itaque de spoliis hostium aurum et argentum, unde fierent candelabra, cruces, calices, et textus Evangeliorum, et caetera ecclesiasticis necessaria usibus utensilia, holoserica quoque ad opus sacerdotalium indumentorum, et altarium operimenta. Dominum quoque patriarcham, Joannem nomine, qui tanquam verus Christi confessor, post nostrorum adventu, infinita ab infidelibus pertulerat supplicia, in sede propria cum multo honore locaverunt, per urbes finitimas, quae cathedralem consueverant habere dignitatem, constituentes episcopos.

It therefore pleased by common counsel that at once, without delay, in them the clergy be restored and the former dignity be reformed, stipends being designated whence those who would militate for the Lord in them might be sustained. They accordingly offered from the spoils of the enemies gold and silver, whence candelabra, crosses, chalices, and texts of the Gospels might be made, and the other utensils necessary for ecclesiastical uses, holoseric fabrics also for the work of sacerdotal vestments, and coverings of the altars. They likewise placed the lord patriarch, John by name, who, as a true confessor of Christ, after the arrival of our men had endured countless torments from the unfaithful, in his own seat with much honor, appointing bishops throughout the neighboring cities which had been accustomed to have cathedral dignity.

Nostrae vero Latinitatis patriarcham, eo vivente qui pridem ibi ordinatus fuerat, eligere vel consecrare non praesumpserunt, ne duo unum et eumdem obtinere thronum viderentur: quod manifeste contra sacros canones et contra sanctorum constituta Patrum esse dignoscitur. Sed tamen postmodum vix evoluto biennio, videns ipse quod non satis utiliter praeesset Graecus Latinis, urbe cedens, Constantinopolim abiit. Post cujus discessum convenientes ejusdem civitatis clerus et populus, Artasiensem episcopum Bernardum nomine, natione Valentinum, qui in eadem expeditione dominum Podiensem episcopum secutus, fuerat capellanus ejus, sibi praefecerunt patriarcham.

But as for a patriarch of our Latinity, they did not presume to elect or to consecrate one, while he who earlier had been ordained there was living, lest two should seem to hold one and the same throne: which is recognized to be manifestly against the sacred canons and against the constitutions of the holy Fathers. Yet afterwards, scarcely with two years elapsed, he himself, seeing that the Greek did not preside over the Latins sufficiently usefully, departing the city went to Constantinople. After whose departure, the clergy and people of the same city assembling, they set over themselves as patriarch Bernard by name, bishop of Artasia, by nation a native of Valence, who in the same expedition, having followed the lord Bishop of Le Puy, had been his chaplain.

Urbis autem potestatem et dominium sicuti ab initio promiserant, omnes unanimiter domino Boamundo concesserunt, excepto comite Tolosano, qui portam ponti conterminam cum adjacentibus turribus, suis munitam satellitibus detinebat: quas postmodum post discessum comitis ex urbe, ejectis inde militibus, sicuti inferius dicetur, recepit. Quoniam autem apud suos nomine dignitatis princeps dictus fuerat, obtinuit consuetudo, ut de caetero Antiochiae dominus, princeps appelletur.

However, the power and dominion of the city, just as they had promised from the beginning, they all unanimously granted to lord Bohemond, except for the Count of Toulouse, who was holding the gate conterminous with the bridge, with the adjacent towers, fortified by his own retainers: which afterward, after the count’s departure from the city, the soldiers having been ejected from there, as will be said below, he received back. And since among his own he had been called by the name of dignity “prince,” the custom prevailed that henceforth the lord of Antioch be called “prince.”