William of Tyre: HISTORIA RERUM IN PARTIBUS TRANSMARINIS GESTARUM

Urbem sanctam et Deo amabilem Hierosolymam, in sublimibus sitam esse montibus certum est; et in tribu Benjamin positam veterum tradit auctoritas; habetque ab Occidente tribum Simeon, et Philisthiim regionem, et mare Mediterraneum: a quo ubi propius est, juxta vetustissimum oppidum Joppen, viginti quatuor distat milliaribus, inter se et praedictum mare habens castellum Emaus, quae postea dicta est Nicopolis, ut praemisimus, ubi post resurrectionem suam Dominus duobus discipulis apparuit; Modim etiam, sanctorum Machabaeorum felix praesidium; Nobe quoque vicum sacerdotalem, ubi David, esuriens cum pueris suis, tradente Abimelech sacerdote, panes propositionis comedit; et Dispolim, quae est Lidda, ubi Petrus Aeneam virum paralyticum ab annis octo in grabato jacentem saluti restituit; et Joppen praedictam, ubi idem Petrus, discipulam nomine Tabitham, plenam operibus bonis et eleemosynis, defunctam suscitavit, et sanctis ac viduis resignavit vivam: ubi et apud Simonem coriarium hospitatus, Cornelii nuntium suscepit, sicut in Actibus apostolorum continetur. Ab oriente vero Jordanis habens fluenta et ei adjacentem solitudinem, filiis prophetarum familiarem, quasi ad milliaria quatuordecim; et vallem silvestrem, ubi nunc est mare salis, quod et lacus Asfaltes, et mare Mortuum nuncupatur; quae omnis regio antequam Dominus subverteret Sodomam, ut in Genesi legitur, quasi paradisus Dei irrigabatur (Gen. XIII, 10). Citra vero Jordanem, urbem Jericho, quam Moysi successor Josue, magis orando quam pugnando subegit; ubi postea Dominus praeteriens, caeco lumen restituit (Matth.

It is certain that the Holy City, Jerusalem, beloved by God, is situated on lofty mountains; and authority of the ancients hands down that it is placed in the tribe of Benjamin; and it has on the West the tribe of Simeon, and the region of the Philistines, and the Mediterranean Sea: from which, where it is nearer, next to the most ancient oppidum Joppa, it is distant twenty-four miles, having between itself and the aforesaid sea the castellum Emmaus, which afterward was called Nicopolis, as we have premised, where after his resurrection the Lord appeared to two disciples; also Modin, the fortunate stronghold of the holy Maccabees; likewise Nob, the sacerdotal village, where David, being hungry with his boys, ate the loaves of the proposition by the handover of the priest Abimelech; and Diospolis, which is Lydda, where Peter restored to health Aeneas, a paralytic man, who had been lying on a pallet for 8 years; and the aforesaid Joppa, where that same Peter raised to life a disciple by name Tabitha, full of good works and alms, and gave her back alive to the saints and to the widows: and there, being hosted with Simon the tanner, he received the message of Cornelius, as is contained in the Acts of the Apostles. But on the east it has the streams of the Jordan and the adjacent solitude, familiar to the sons of the prophets, at about 14 miles; and a woody valley, where now is the sea of salt, which is also called Lake Asphaltites and the Dead Sea; which whole region, before the Lord overthrew Sodom, as is read in Genesis, was irrigated like the paradise of God (Gen. 13, 10). On this side, however, of the Jordan, the city of Jericho, which Joshua, the successor of Moses, subdued more by praying than by fighting; where afterward, as the Lord was passing by, he restored sight to a blind man (Matth.

XX); Galgala quoque Elisaei receptaculum. Ultra Jordanem vero Galaad, Basan, Ammon et Moab, quae postmodum Ruben, Gad et dimidia tribus Manasse susceperunt in sortem, quae omnis hodie regio generali appellatione dicitur Arabia. Ab Austro vero, habens sortem Juda, in qua est Bethlehem, familiare Domini reclinatorium, et felix nativitatis Dominicae et cunarum locus; et Thecua urbs, prophetarum Habacuc et Amos domicilium; et Ebron, quae alio nomine dicitur Cariatharbe, sanctorum patriarcharum sepulcrum venerabile.

20); Galgala too, Elisha’s lodging-place. Beyond the Jordan indeed, Gilead, Bashan, Ammon and Moab, which afterwards Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh received in lot, which whole region today by a general appellation is called Arabia. From the South, moreover, having the lot of Judah, in which is Bethlehem, the Lord’s familiar reclining-place, and the happy place of the Lord’s Nativity and of the cradle; and Tekoa, a city, the domicile of the prophets Habakkuk and Amos; and Hebron, which by another name is called Kiriath-arba, the venerable sepulcher of the holy patriarchs.

A septentrione vero urbem habens Gabaon, Josue, filii Nun, insignem victoria, et defixi solis miraculo praeclaram; tribum quoque habens Ephraim, in qua est Silo, tabernaculi Domini custos aliquando; Sichar, confabulatricis Domini Samaritanae patria; Bethel, aureorum cultrix vitulorum, et peccati Jeroboam testis. Sed et Sebastea Joannis Baptistae, Elisaei quoque et Abdiae tumulus, quae olim dicta est a monte Somer, in quo sita est Samaria, regum Israel thronus sublimior, unde et tota praedicta regio usque in praesentem diem dicitur Samaria. Neapolis quoque, quae olim dicta est Sichem, conditoris nomen habens; in qua, secundum lectionem libri Geneseos (cap.

And on the north it has the city Gabaon, notable for the victory of Joshua, son of Nun, and renowned for the miracle of the sun fixed; and it also has the tribe of Ephraim, in which is Shiloh, once the keeper of the Lord’s tabernacle; Sychar, the homeland of the Samaritan woman who conversed with the Lord; Bethel, a cultivator of golden calves and a witness of Jeroboam’s sin. But also Sebaste, the tomb of John the Baptist, and likewise of Elisha and Obadiah, which once was named from Mount Somer, on which Samaria is situated, the more exalted throne of the kings of Israel, whence also the whole aforesaid region to the present day is called Samaria. Neapolis likewise, which once was called Sichem, bearing the founder’s name; in which, according to the reading of the book of Genesis (chap.

XXXIV), filii Jacob Simeon et Levi, in ultionem stupri, quod filius Sichem, Hemor, sorori eorum Dinae, amore illius captus, intulerat, tam ipsum quam filios ejus in ore gladii percusserunt, urbem eorum succendentes.

34), the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, in vengeance for the rape which Shechem, son of Hamor, captivated by love of her, had inflicted upon their sister Dinah, struck down both him and his sons by the edge of the sword, setting their city on fire.

CAPUT II. Quibus nominibus et quot appelletur civitas, et quod David eam regni solium constituerit. Quomodo Aelius Adrianus, de clivo, in montis verticem transtulerit. Et quaedam iterum de situ ejus.

CHAPTER 2. By what names and how many the city is called, and that David established it as the throne of the kingdom. How Aelius Hadrian transferred it from the slope to the summit of the mountain. And certain things again about its site.

Est autem Hierusalem, Judeae metropolis, in loco rivis, silvis, fontibus et pascuis penitus carente, sita. Haec, juxta veteres historias et orientalium populorum traditiones, primum dicta est Salem; deinde Jebus; postmodum tempore David, qui ejecto inde Jebusaeo ejus habitatore, postquam septem annis regnaverat in Ebron, eam ampliavit, et regni constituit solium, dicta est Hierusalem. Unde ita legitur in Paralipomenon: Abiit ergo David et omnis Israel in Hierusalem, hoc est Jebus, ubi erant Jebusaei habitatores terrae; dixeruntque qui habitabant Jebus ad David: Non ingredieris huc.

Now Jerusalem, the metropolis of Judea, is situated in a place utterly lacking streams, woods, springs, and pastures. This, according to ancient histories and the traditions of the oriental peoples, was first called Salem; then Jebus; afterward in the time of David—who, with the Jebusite, its inhabitant, cast out from there, after he had reigned seven years in Hebron, enlarged it and established it as the throne of the kingdom—it was called Jerusalem. Whence thus it is read in the Paralipomena: Therefore David and all Israel went into Jerusalem, that is, Jebus, where the Jebusites were, inhabitants of the land; and those who dwelt in Jebus said to David: You shall not enter here.

Porro David cepit arcem Sion, quae est civitas David; dixitque: Omnis qui percusserit Jebusaeum in primis erit princeps et dux. Ascendit igitur primus, Joab filius Sarviae, et factus est princeps. Habitavit autem David in arce, et idcirco appellata est civitas David, aedificavitque urbem in circuitu a Mello usque ad gyrum; Joab autem reliqua urbis exstruxit (I Par.

Moreover David captured the citadel of Sion, which is the City of David; and he said: Whoever shall strike the Jebusite shall be first a prince and leader. Therefore Joab, son of Zeruiah, went up first, and became prince. David, however, dwelt in the citadel, and therefore it was called the City of David; and he built the city in a circuit from the Mello as far as the ring; but Joab constructed the rest of the city (1 Par.

XI, 4 et seq.). Postea vero, regnante filio ejus Salomone, dicta est Hierosolyma, quasi Hierusalem Salomonis. Hanc vero, ut referunt egregii scriptores et illustres historiographi, Hegesippus et Josephus, Judaeorum id exigentibus meritis, quadragesimo secundo post passionem Domini anno, Titus Vespasiani filius, Romanorum princeps magnificus, obsedit; obsessam expugnavit, et expugnatam dejecit funditus, ita ut, juxta verbum Domini: Non remaneret in ea lapis super lapidem (Matth. XXIV, 2). Hanc eamdem postea Aelius Adrianus, quartus ab eo Romanorum augustus, reparavit, unde et ab eodem dicta est Aelia, sicut in Nicaea synodo legitur: Episcopus Aeliae ab omnibus honoretur, et caetera.

11, 4 and following). Afterwards indeed, while his son Solomon was reigning, it was called Hierosolyma, as if Jerusalem of Solomon. This city, moreover, as the distinguished writers and illustrious historiographers Hegesippus and Josephus relate, the deserts of the Jews requiring it, in the 42nd year after the Passion of the Lord, Titus, son of Vespasian, a magnificent prince of the Romans, besieged; the besieged city he stormed, and having stormed it he cast it down to the foundations, so that, according to the word of the Lord: There should not remain in it a stone upon a stone (Matt. 24, 2). This same city afterwards Aelius Hadrian, the fourth Roman Augustus after him, repaired, whence also from him it was called Aelia, as is read in the Nicene synod: Let the Bishop of Aelia be honored by all, and so forth.

Cumque prius in clivo sita esset praecipiti, ita ut in orientem partim, partim in austrum tota devexa respiceret, in latere tam montis Sion, quam Moriae constituta, ut solum templum et praesidium, cui nomen Antonia erat, in sui haberet fastigio et parte superiore; ab eodem imperatore in montis verticem tota translata est, ita ut Dominicae passionis et resurrectionis locus, qui prius extra urbem fuerat, urbe reaedificata infra murorum ambitum clauderetur. Est autem civitas et minor maximis et mediocribus major; forma quidem oblonga, et parte altera longiore, tetragona tamen vallibus profundis admodum, ex tribus partibus circumsepta. Nam ab oriente vallem habet Josaphat; hujus mentionem facit propheta Joel, dicens: Cum convertero captivitatem Juda et Jerusalem, congregabo omnes gentes, et deducam eas in vallem Josaphat; et disceptabo ibi cum eis super populo meo, et haereditate mea Israel (Joel.

And whereas previously it had been set on a precipitous slope, such that, slanting wholly, it faced partly to the east, partly to the south, positioned on the flank both of Mount Sion and of Moriah, so that only the temple and the fortress whose name was Antonia lay upon its crest and upper part; by that same emperor it was wholly transferred to the summit of the mountain, such that the place of the Lord’s Passion and Resurrection, which previously had been outside the city, once the city was rebuilt was enclosed within the circuit of the walls. The city, moreover, is both smaller than the greatest and larger than the middling; indeed of oblong form, and with one side longer, yet tetragonal, hemmed in by very deep valleys on three sides. For on the east it has the Valley of Jehoshaphat; the prophet Joel makes mention of this, saying: When I shall turn the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations, and I will lead them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and there I will dispute with them concerning my people and my inheritance Israel (Joel.

III, 2). Cujus in imo constructa est nobilis ecclesia in honore Dei Genitricis, ubi et sepulta creditur; et gloriosum ejus usque hodie, accedentibus populis, monstratur sepulcrum. Sub qua etiam torrens Cedron, aquis pluvialibus factus tumidior, hibernis mensibus defluere consuevit, cujus mentionem beatus Joannes evangelista facit dicens: Egressus Jesus trans torrentem Cedron, ubi erat hortus (Joan. XVIII, 1), et caetera.

3, 2). At its lowest part a noble church has been constructed in honor of the Mother of God, where she also is believed to have been buried; and her glorious tomb, with peoples coming, is shown even to this day. Beneath which also the torrent Cedron, made more swollen by rainwaters, is accustomed to flow down in the winter months; mention of it the blessed John the Evangelist makes, saying: Jesus went out across the torrent Cedron, where there was a garden (John 18, 1), and so forth.

Ab austro vero vallem habet praedictae contiguam, cui nomen Ennon, quae sortis Benjamin et Juda, in funiculo distributionis limes fuit, sicuti in Josue scribitur (cap. XV, 8): Ascenditque per convallem filii Ennon, ex latere Jebusaei ad meridiem, hoc est Jerusalem; et inde se erigens ad verticem montis qui est contra Gehennon ad occidentem; in qua hodie de pretio Salvatoris, pro quo Judas, mercator pessimus, Dominum Judaeis tradidit, ager emptus ostenditur, in sepulturam peregrinorum deputatus, cui nomen Acheldemac. De hac etiam valle in Paralipomenon scribitur ita, fitque sermo de Achaz: Ipse est qui adolevit incensum in valle Ennon, et lustravit filios suos in igne juxta ritum gentium, quas interfecit Dominus in adventu filiorum Israel (II Par.

But on the south it has a valley contiguous to the aforesaid one, whose name is Ennon, which was the boundary of the lot of Benjamin and Judah, in the cord of distribution, just as it is written in Joshua (chap. 15, 8): And it went up by the valley of the son of Ennon, from the side of the Jebusite to the south—that is, Jerusalem; and from there rising to the summit of the mountain which is over against Gehenna to the west; in which today a field bought with the price of the Savior—on account of which Judas, a most wicked merchant, betrayed the Lord to the Jews—is shown, appointed for the burial of foreigners, whose name is Acheldemac. Of this valley also it is written in Chronicles thus, and the discourse is about Achaz: He it is who burned incense in the valley of Ennon, and purified his sons in the fire according to the rite of the nations whom the Lord destroyed at the coming of the sons of Israel (2 Par.

XXVIII, 3). Ab occidente vero, ejus vallis partem, in qua vetus piscina, quae tempore regum Juda celebris fuit, designatur: indeque protenditur ad superiorem piscinam, quae hodie vulgari appellatione dicitur Lacus Patriarchae, quod est juxta vetus coemeterium, in spelunca quae cognominatur Leonis. A septentrione vero plano itinere ad urbem acceditur, ubi usque hodie locus in quo protomartyr Stephanus a Judaeis lapidatus, et pro persecutoribus orans positis genibus, emisit spiritum, designatur.

XXVIII, 3). From the west, indeed, a part of its valley is designated, in which the old pool, which was celebrated in the time of the kings of Judah, is located: and from there it stretches toward the upper pool, which today, in the vulgar appellation, is called the Lake of the Patriarch, which is next to the old cemetery, in the cave which is surnamed “of the Lion.” From the north, indeed, by a level route one approaches the city, where even to this day the place is designated in which the protomartyr Stephen, stoned by the Jews, and praying for his persecutors with knees set, breathed out his spirit.

CAPUT III. Quod partem duorum montium intra muri ambitum contineat, et quod sit Dominicae Resurrectionis, in alto vero templum Domini, et quae sit forma utriusque ecclesiae.

CHAPTER 3. That it contains a part of two mountains within the wall’s ambit, and that there is the Lord’s Resurrection, but on the height indeed the Temple of the Lord, and what the form of each church is.

Sita est autem in montibus duobus, sicut David commemorat, dicens: Fundamenta ejus in montibus sanctis (Psal. LXXXVI, 1); quorum fastigia infra muri ambitum ex parte plurima continet, modica valle distincta, quae etiam urbem per medium dividit. Horum alter qui ab occidente est, Sion appellatur, unde plerumque et tota denominatur civitas, ut ibi: Diligit Dominus portas Sion, super omnia tabernacula Jacob (Psal.

Moreover, it is situated on two mountains, as David commemorates, saying: Its foundations are in the holy mountains (Psalm 86, 1); the summits of which it contains for the greater part within the circuit of the wall, being distinguished by a modest valley, which also divides the city through the middle. Of these, the one which is to the west is called Sion, whence very often even the whole city is denominated, as there: The Lord loves the gates of Sion, above all the tabernacles of Jacob (Psal.

LXXXVI, 1). Alter vero qui ab oriente est, mons Moria dicitur, cujus mentio fit in Paralipomenon secundo, hoc modo: Et coepit aedificare Salomon domum Domini in Jerusalem in monte Moria, qui demonstratus fuerat David patri ejus, in loco quem paraverat David in area Orna Jebusaei (II Par. III, 1). In occidentali ergo quasi in supremo montis vertice ecclesia est, quae nomine montis dicitur Sion; et non longe ab ea turris David, opere constructa solidissimo quae quasi praesidium civitatis cum turribus, muris et antemuralibus sibi annexis, universae sub se positae praeeminet civitati. In eodem quoque, sed in devexo quod ad orientem respicit, sita est sanctae Resurrectionis ecclesia, forma quidem rotunda; quae quoniam in declivo praedicti montis sita est, ut clivus eidem eminens et contiguus, Ecclesiae pene superest altitudinem, et eam reddit obscuram; tectum habet, erectis in sublime trabibus, et miro artificio in modum coronae contextis, apertum et perpetuo patens, unde lumen ecclesiae infunditur necessarium; sub quo hiatu patulo Salvatoris positum est monumentum.

86, 1). The other, however, which is to the east, is called Mount Moriah, whose mention is made in the Paralipomena second, in this way: And Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, which had been shown to David his father, in the place which David had prepared, in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite (2 Par. 3, 1). On the western, then, as it were on the highest summit of the mount, there is a church which, by the name of the mount, is called Sion; and not far from it the Tower of David, constructed with most solid workmanship, which, as a bulwark of the city with towers, walls, and outworks annexed to it, overtops and stands preeminent over the whole city placed beneath it. On the same, too, but on the slope that looks toward the east, is situated the church of the holy Resurrection, of a round form indeed; which, since it is set on the declivity of the aforesaid mount, so that the slope projecting and contiguous to it nearly surpasses the Church in height, renders it obscure; it has a roof, with beams raised on high, and by wondrous craftsmanship woven in the manner of a crown, open and perpetually gaping, whence the necessary light of the church is poured in; beneath which broad opening the Savior’s tomb is placed.

Porro ante nostrorum Latinorum introitum, locus Dominicae passionis qui dicitur Calvariae sive Golgotha; et ubi etiam vivificae crucis lignum repertum fuisse dicitur; et ubi etiam de cruce depositum Salvatoris corpus, unguentis et aromatibus dicitur delibutum et sindone involutum, sicut mos erat Judaeis sepelire, extra praedictae ambitum erant ecclesiae, oratoria valde modica. Sed, postquam nostri opitulante divina clementia, urbem obtinuerunt in manu forti, visum est eis praedictum nimis angustum aedificium: et ampliata ex opere solidissimo et sublimi admodum ecclesia priore, intra novum aedificium veteri continuo et inserto, mirabiliter loca comprehenderunt praedicta. In altero vero monte, qui in parte est orientali, in declivo ejus, quod in austrum respicit, templum Domini est in eo loco ubi, juxta lectionem libri Regum (II Reg.

Furthermore, before the entry of our Latins, the place of the Lord’s Passion, which is called Calvary or Golgotha; and where also the wood of the life-giving cross is said to have been found; and where also the body of the Savior, taken down from the cross, is said to have been anointed with unguents and aromatics and wrapped in a shroud, as it was the custom for the Jews to bury, were outside the circuit of the aforesaid church, very small oratories. But after our men, with divine clemency helping, obtained the city with a strong hand, it seemed to them that the aforesaid building was too narrow: and the earlier church, enlarged by a most solid and very lofty work, the old being made continuous with and inserted within the new building, they marvelously encompassed the aforesaid places. On the other mountain, which is on the eastern side, on its slope which looks toward the south, the Temple of the Lord is in that place where, according to the reading of the Book of Kings (2 Kings

XXIV) et Paralipomenon, David rex, ab Aureuma sive Orna homine Jebusaeo aream emit. Ubi et praeceptum est ei altare Domino aedificare, in quo postmodum obtulit holocausta et pacifica; et invocavit Dominum, et exaudivit eum in igne de coelo, super altare holocausti. Ubi etiam de mandato Domini, filius ejus Salomon, post patris obitum templum aedificavit, cujus quae forma fuerit, et quomodo sub Nabuchodonosor Babyloniorum rege ceciderit, iterumque sub Cyro rege Persarum a Zorobabel et Jesu sacerdote magno reaedificatum fuerit; et quomodo illud idem cum universa urbe postmodum sub Tito, Romanorum principe, deletum fuerit, veteres tradunt historiae.

24) and the Paralipomena, King David bought the threshing-floor from Areuna or Orna, a Jebusite man. Where also it was commanded to him to build an altar to the Lord, upon which afterward he offered holocausts and peace-offerings; and he invoked the Lord, and He heard him by fire from heaven, upon the altar of the holocaust. Where also, by the command of the Lord, his son Solomon, after his father’s death, built the temple—what its form was, and how under Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Babylonians, it fell, and again under Cyrus, king of the Persians, it was rebuilt by Zerubbabel and Jeshua the great priest; and how that same structure together with the whole city afterward under Titus, a Roman princeps, was destroyed—the ancient histories relate.

Hujus autem quis auctor fuerit, et quae compositionis sit forma, in praesenti sufficit edocere. Porro, in principio hujus voluminis, aedificii hujus auctorem diximus Homar filium Catab, qui tertius a seductore Mahometh, erroris et regni successor exstitit: et ita esse, antiqua litterarum monumenta in eodem aedificio intus scripta, et de foris, manifeste declarant. Forma vero hujusmodi est: platea quaedam, quantum arcus vix jacere potest habens longitudinis et latitudinis tantumdem, quadrangula et aequidistantibus contenta lateribus, muro circumdata est valido, altitudinis moderatae; in quam ab occidente, duabus portis introitur, quarum altera dicitur speciosa; ubi secundum quod in Actibus apostolorum continetur, claudum ex utero matris suae, eleemosynam a transeuntibus petentem, consolidatis basibus erexit Petrus; alterius vero certum nomen non tenemus.

But as to who was the author of this, and what the form of its composition is, it suffices at present to instruct. Moreover, at the beginning of this volume we said that the author of this building was Homar, son of Catab, who was the third, after the seducer Mahomet, to stand forth as successor of the error and of the kingdom; and that it is so, ancient monuments of letters written within the same edifice, and also on the outside, clearly declare. The form is of this kind: a certain plaza, having in length as much as a bow can scarcely cast, and the same in breadth, quadrangular and contained by equidistant sides, is surrounded by a strong wall of moderate height; into which from the west one enters by two gates, of which one is called the Beautiful; where, according to what is contained in the Acts of the Apostles, Peter raised up, with his bases made firm, the man lame from his mother’s womb, asking alms from those passing by; but the certain name of the other we do not possess.

A septentrione vero una; ab oriente quoque alia, quae usque hodie Porta aurea dicitur. Ab austro vero domum habet regia quae vulgari appellatione templum Salomonis appellatur. Super singulas autem portas, quae urbi sunt conterminae, et per angulos praedictae superficiei turres erant sublimes admodum, in quibus certis horis superstitionis Saracenorum sacerdotes, ut populum ad orationem invitarent, ascendere consueverant: quarum quaedam adhuc supersunt, quaedam vero variis casibus sunt depositae.

On the north indeed one; from the east also another, which to this day is called the Golden Gate. From the south, moreover, it has a royal house which in the vulgar appellation is called the Temple of Solomon. Above each of the gates that are conterminous with the city, and at the corners of the aforesaid surface, there were towers exceedingly lofty, in which, at fixed hours, the priests of the superstition of the Saracens, so as to invite the people to prayer, were accustomed to ascend: of which some still remain, while others have been taken down by various accidents.

Infra haec igitur septa nemini habitare, nemini etiam introire, nisi nudis et lotis pedibus permittebatur, janitoribus per singulas portas constitutis, qui hujus rei curam haberent diligentem. Porro in medio hujus sic circumseptae areae, planities iterum quaedam est eminentior, eodem modo quadrilatera a lateribus subjectae ex omnibus partibus aequidistans; ad quam a parte occidentali, duobus locis per gradus et ab austro totidem, ab oriente vero uno tantum ascenditur: in cujus singulis angulis, singula erant oratoriola, quorum quaedam adhuc exstant, quaedam vero, ut alia ibi construerentur, deposita sunt. In hujus superioris areae medio templum aedificatum est, forma quidem octogonum et laterum totidem; intus et deforis marmoreis tabulis et opere musaico decoratum; tectum habens sphaericum, plumbo artificiose coopertum.

Within these enclosures, therefore, it was permitted to no one to dwell, to no one even to enter, unless with bare and washed feet, with janitors stationed at each gate, who had diligent care of this matter. Moreover, in the middle of this area thus enclosed, there is again a certain more elevated plain, in like manner quadrilateral, equidistant on all sides from the sides of the space lying beneath; to which from the western side one ascends by steps in two places, and from the south by as many, but from the east by only one: in each of whose corners there were little oratories, some of which still exist, while some have been taken down, that others might be built there. In the middle of this upper area a temple has been built, of octagonal form and with as many sides; adorned within and without with marble panels and mosaic work; having a spherical roof, skillfully covered with lead.

Harum utraque platearum tum continens et inferior, quam superior et contenta, albo strata est lapide, ita ut hibernis temporibus aquae pluviales, quae plurimae de templi descendunt aedificio, quasque aliunde non pauciores excipiunt, limpidissimae et absque coeno in cisternas defluant, quae plurimae infra septa praedicta continentur. Intus vero in medio templi, infra interiorem columnarum ordinem, rupes est aliquantulum eminentior, cum subjecta ex eodem saxo spelunca, supra quam sedisse angelus dicitur, qui propter dinumerationem populi a David incaute factam, percussit populum, quousque praeceptum est ei a Domino, ut parcens populo gladium suum converteret in vaginam. Ubi postmodum empta sexcentis siclis auri justissimi ponderis area, altare, ut praemisimus, construxit.

Of these two courts, both the surrounding and lower, as also the upper and enclosed, are paved with white stone, so that in winter-time the rainwaters—of which very many descend from the building of the temple, and which from elsewhere they receive no fewer—may flow down, most limpid and without mud, into the cisterns, very many of which are contained within the aforesaid enclosures. Inside, however, in the middle of the temple, within the inner order of columns, there is a rock somewhat higher, with a cave beneath, of the same stone, above which an angel is said to have sat, who, on account of the enumeration of the people incautiously made by David, struck the people, until it was commanded to him by the Lord that, sparing the people, he should turn his sword into its sheath. Where afterwards, the threshing-floor having been bought for 600 shekels of gold of most just weight, he constructed the altar, as we have premised.

Haec autem ante nostrorum introitum, et postmodum annis quindecim nuda patuit et aperta; postea vero, qui eidem praefuerunt loco, albo eum cooperientes marmore altare desuper et chorum, in quo clerus divina celebrat, construxerunt.

These things, however, before our entrance, and afterward for 15 years, lay bare and open; afterward, indeed, those who presided over the same place, covering it with white marble, constructed above it an altar and a choir, in which the clergy celebrates the divine services.

CAPUT IV Quod in loco arido et inaquoso sita sit civitas. De fonte Siloe. Et quomodo cives, audito nostrorum adventu, lacus dissipaverint, et obstruxerint fontes.

CHAPTER 4 That the city is situated in an arid and waterless place. On the spring of Siloam. And how the citizens, on hearing of our arrival, have destroyed the pools and have stopped up the springs.

Dicitur autem regio, in qua praedicta Dei cultrix civitas cita est, Judaea; dicitur nihilominus et Palaestina prima. Judaea sane ab eo, ex quo decem tribus Jeroboam filium Nabath secutae, a Roboam filio Salomonis discesserunt, solaeque duae tribus, Benjamin videlicet et Juda, adhaeserunt ei. Unde a cognomento Judae, utriusque tribus regio, Judaea dicta est. Unde et illud est de Evangelio: Revertere in terram Juda. Unde etiam tam ipse Roboam, quam ejus successores, reges Juda dicti sunt, cum reliquarum decem tribuum reges, reges Israel vel Samariae dicerentur.

It is said, moreover, that the region in which the aforesaid city, a worshipper of God, is sited, is Judaea; it is nonetheless also called First Palestine. Judaea, to be sure, from the time when the ten tribes followed Jeroboam son of Nebat and departed from Rehoboam son of Solomon, and the two tribes alone—namely Benjamin and Judah—adhered to him. Whence, from the cognomen of Judah, the region of the two tribes was called Judaea. Whence also that from the Gospel: Return into the land of Juda. Whence likewise both Rehoboam himself and his successors were called kings of Judah, whereas the kings of the remaining ten tribes were called kings of Israel or of Samaria.

Palaestina autem quasi Philisthina a Philisthiim deducto nomine dicitur. Dicuntur autem tres esse Palaestinae, quarum prima est quae propriae Judaea dicitur, cujus metropolis est Hierosolyma; secunda, cujus metropolis est Caesarea maritima; tertia, cujus metropolis est Bethsan, sive Scythopolis, cujus hodie dignitatem obtinet Nazaraea Ecclesia. Sive autem sic, sive sic dicatur, certum est, terrae promissionis et Syriae portionem esse, quod ex ea homelia datur intelligi, qua dicitur: Familiare est Syris, et maxime Palestinae regioni, quae pars Syriae est, in qua Dominus corporaliter apparere dignatus est, ad omnem pene sermonem suum parabolas jungere. Sed et quasi in umbilico terrae promissionis eadem posita est regio, secundum hoc quod in Josue terrae promissionis termini describuntur, in quo ita legitur: A deserto et Libano, et flumine magno Euphrate, usque ad mare Occidentale, erunt termini vestri (Jos.

Palestina, moreover, is said, as it were, to be Philistina, with the name derived from the Philistines. And it is said that there are three Palestines, of which the first is that which is properly called Judaea, whose metropolis is Jerusalem; the second, whose metropolis is Caesarea Maritima; the third, whose metropolis is Bethshan, or Scythopolis, whose dignity today the Nazarene Church holds. And whether it be said thus or thus, it is certain to be a portion of the land of promise and of Syria, which is given to be understood from that homily in which it is said: It is familiar to the Syrians, and especially to the region of Palestine, which is a part of Syria in which the Lord deigned bodily to appear, to join parables to nearly every discourse of his. But also, as if in the navel of the land of promise, that same region is set, according to this, that in Joshua the boundaries of the land of promise are described, in which it is read thus: From the desert and Lebanon, and the great river Euphrates, as far as the Western Sea, shall be your boundaries (Josh.

I, 4). Est autem locus in quo civitas sita est, aridus et inaquosus, rivos, fontes ac flumina non habens penitus, cujus habitatores aquis tantum utuntur pluvialibus. Mensibus enim hibernis, in cisternis quas in civitate habent plurimas, imbres solent sibi colligere, et per totum annum ad usus necessarios conservare. Unde miramur plurimum quod Solinus Judaeam aquis dicit esse illustrem; ait enim in suo Polyhistore: Judaea illustris est aquis; sed natura non eadem aquarum. Nec aliquid nobis pro solutione occurrit, nisi dicamus; aut eum rei veritatem non esse assecutum, aut terrae pristinam faciem postmodum immutatam.

1, 4). Now, the place in which the city is situated is arid and waterless, having in no way brooks, springs, and rivers, whose inhabitants use only rainwaters. For in the winter months, in the very many cisterns which they have in the city, they are accustomed to gather the rains for themselves, and to conserve them through the whole year for necessary uses. Hence we marvel greatly that Solinus says Judaea is illustrious for waters; for he says in his Polyhistor: Judaea is illustrious with waters; but the nature of the waters is not the same. Nor does anything occur to us as a solution, unless we say either that he did not attain the truth of the matter, or that the land’s pristine face was afterward changed.

Certum est tamen quod amicus Domini, Ezechias rex Juda, cognito adventu Sennacherib, filii Salmanassar regis Assyriorum, fontes qui erant extra urbem, obturavit. De quo ita legitur in secundo Paralipomenon: Quod cum audisset Ezechias, venisse scilicet Sennacherib, et totum belli impetum verti contra Hierusalem, inito cum principibus consilio virisque fortissimis, ut obturarent capita fontium quae erant extra urbem, et hoc omnium decernente sententia, congregavit plurimam multitudinem, et obturaverunt cunctos fontes, et rivum qui fluebat in medio terrae, dicentes: Ne veniant reges Assyriorum, et inveniant aquarum abundantiam (II Par. XXXII, 2). Inter quos praecipuus erat qui dicebatur fons Gion, de quo in eodem legitur: Hic est Ezechias, qui obturavit superiorem fontem aquarum Gion, et avertit eas subter ad occidentem urbis David (ibid., XXX). Gion autem locus est ab austro, in valle Ennon media Jerusalem positus, ubi hodie est in honore Beati Procopii martyris ecclesia, ubi Salomon in regem inunctus fuisse dicitur, juxta quod in tertio Regum libro legitur ita: Tollite vobiscum servos Domini vestri, et imponite Salomonem filium meum super mulam meam, et ducite eum in Gion, et ungat eum ibi Sadoch sacerdos et Nathan propheta, in regem super Israel et Judam, et canetis buccina, atque dicetis: Vivat rex Salomon (III Reg.

It is certain, nevertheless, that the friend of the Lord, Hezekiah king of Judah, when he learned of the coming of Sennacherib, son of Shalmaneser king of the Assyrians, stopped up the springs which were outside the city. Concerning this it is read thus in Second Chronicles: When Hezekiah heard that Sennacherib had come, and that the whole onset of war was being turned against Jerusalem, having taken counsel with the princes and the most valiant men to stop up the heads of the springs which were outside the city, and this being the decision of all, he gathered a very great multitude, and they stopped up all the springs, and the brook which flowed through the midst of the land, saying: Lest the kings of the Assyrians come and find an abundance of waters (2 Chron. 32, 2). Among these the chief was the spring called Gihon, of which in the same place it is read: This is Hezekiah, who stopped the upper spring of the waters of Gihon, and diverted them underground toward the west of the City of David (ibid., 30). Now Gihon is a place to the south, set in the Valley of Hinnom, in the middle of Jerusalem, where today there is a church in honor of Blessed Procopius, martyr, where Solomon is said to have been anointed king, according to what is read thus in the Third Book of Kings: Take with you the servants of your lord, and set Solomon my son upon my mule, and lead him to Gihon, and there Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet shall anoint him king over Israel and Judah, and you shall blow the trumpet, and you shall say: Long live King Solomon (3 Kings

I, 33). Id tamen ante praedicti Solini tempora fuisse certum est; nam eum et post Titum Romanorum principem, qui urbem delevit, et ante Aelium Adrianum, qui eamdem reparavit, fuisse, evidenter ex ejusdem Polyhistoris lectione colligitur, in cujus quadragesimo capitulo ita legitur: Judaeae caput fuit Hierosolyma, sed excisa est; successit Hiericus, et haec caput esse desiit, bello Artaxerxis subacta. Extra urbem ad duo vel tria milliaria, fontes sunt nonnulli; sed et pauci numero, et modicam nimis ministrantes aquarum commoditatem, juxta urbem tamen a parte australi, ubi duae valles praedictae se continuant, quasi milliario distans ab urbe, fons est quidam famosissimus, Siloe; ad quem, eum qui a nativitate caecus fuerat, Dominus misit, ut ibi lavaretur et videret (Joan. IX): fons quidem modicus, in imo vallis scaturiens, et qui nec sapidas, nec perpetuas habet aquas; interpolatum enim habens fluxum, die tantum tertia aquas dicitur ministrare. Porro cives, praecognito nostrorum adventu, ora fontium et cisternarum quae in circuitu urbis erant, usque ad quinque vel sex milliaria, ut populus siti fatigatus, ab urbis obsidione desisteret, obstruxerant: unde postmodum in ejus obsidione, infinitas molestias noster passus est exercitus, sicut in sequentibus dicetur.

1, 33). It is certain, however, that that was before the times of the aforesaid Solinus; for that he lived both after Titus, the Roman emperor, who destroyed the city, and before Aelius Hadrian, who repaired the same, is clearly gathered from a reading of his Polyhistor, in whose fortieth chapter it is read thus: Jerusalem was the head of Judea, but it was cut down; Jericho succeeded, and this too ceased to be the head, subdued in the war of Artaxerxes. Outside the city, at two or three miles, there are some springs; but both few in number and supplying a very meager convenience of waters. Yet near the city on the southern side, where the two aforesaid valleys run together, at about a mile’s distance from the city, there is a certain most famous spring, Siloam; to which the Lord sent the man who had been blind from birth, that he should wash there and see (John 9): a modest spring, bubbling up in the bottom of the valley, and one that has waters neither sweet nor perpetual; for it has an intermittent flow, and is said to supply waters only every third day. Moreover, the citizens, having learned beforehand of our coming, had obstructed the mouths of the springs and the cisterns which were in the circuit of the city, up to five or six miles, so that the people, wearied with thirst, might desist from the siege of the city: whence thereafter, in its siege, our army suffered countless hardships, as will be said in what follows.

Qui autem intus erant, praeter aquarum pluvialium, quam habebant, ubertatem maximam, fontes etiam a partibus deductos exterioribus et aquaeductis invectos, in piscinas duas maximae quantitatis, quae circa templi ambitum, exterius tamen, sed infra urbem continentur recipiebant; quarum altera usque hodie Probatica piscina reputatur, in qua olim immolatitiae lavabantur hostiae, quae in Evangelio quinque porticus dicitur habere (Joan. V) et in quam angelus dicebatur descendere et aquam movere, illo effectu, ut qui primus post motionem aquae descenderet in piscinam, sanaretur: in qua et Dominus paralyticum curatum, grabatum jussit tollere.

But those who were inside, besides the very great abundance of rain-waters which they had, also received springs led down from the outer parts and brought in by aqueducts into two pools of the greatest capacity, which are contained around the ambit of the temple—on the outside, however, yet within the city; one of which even to this day is reckoned the Probatica Pool, in which formerly the sacrificial victims were washed, which in the Gospel is said to have five porticoes (John 5), and into which an angel was said to descend and to move the water, with this effect: that whoever first, after the motion of the water, went down into the pool was healed; and in which also the Lord, having cured the paralytic, ordered him to take up his pallet.

CAPUT V. Quo tempore noster exercitus ante urbem advenerit; et quis fuerit nostrorum, hostiumve numerus; et quo ordine castra sunt locata.

CHAPTER 5. At what time our army came before the city; and what the number of our men, or of the enemy, was; and in what order the camps were pitched.

Anno igitur ab Incarnatione Domini 1099, mense Junio, septima die mensis, nostrorum ante praedictam urbem castrametatae sunt legiones; diciturque fuisse advenientium numerus promiscui sexus, aetatis et conditionis, quasi ad quadraginta millia, inter quos expeditorum vix poterant esse viginti millia peditum; equites autem mille quingenti; reliqui autem omnes, aut inerme vulgus, aut valetudinarii et debiles. In urbe autem dicebantur esse virorum fortium et optime armatorum quadraginta millia; convenerat enim ex vicinis oppidis et suburbanis adjacentibus in urbem maxima multitudo, tum ut a facie exercitus in urbem se conferentes, propriae saluti consulerent; tum ut urbem regiam ab imminentibus protegerent periculis, eam armis et victualibus communientes. Postquam ad urbem accesserunt, habito diligenti tractatu, unde facilius et commodius urbem possent impugnare, cum his qui locorum habebant peritiam, videntes quod neque ab oriente, neque ab austro propter vallium praedictarum profunditatem possent proficere, a septentrione eam obsidere decreverunt.

Therefore, in the year from the Incarnation of the Lord 1099, in the month of June, on the seventh day of the month, our legions pitched camp before the aforesaid city; and the number of those arriving, of mixed sex, age, and condition, is said to have been about 40,000, among whom there could scarcely be 20,000 foot-soldiers fit for service; but horsemen 1,500; while all the rest were either an unarmed crowd, or sickly and weak. In the city, moreover, there were said to be 40,000 brave men and excellently armed; for from the neighboring towns and the adjacent suburbs a very great multitude had convened into the city, both that, betaking themselves to the city from before the face of the army, they might consult their own safety, and that they might protect the royal city from the imminent dangers, supplying it with arms and victuals. After they approached the city, a careful discussion having been held, whence more easily and more conveniently they might attack the city, with those who had expertise of the places, seeing that neither from the east nor from the south they could make progress on account of the depth of the aforesaid valleys, they resolved to besiege it from the north.

Ab ea igitur porta, quae hodie dicitur Sancti Stephani, quae ad aquilonem respicit, usque ad eam quae turri David subjecta est et ab eodem rege cognominabatur, sicuti et turris quae in parte ejusdem civitatis sita est occidentali, nostri principes castrametati sunt. In quorum ordine dominus Lotharingiae dux Godefridus primus fuit; post eum, dominus Flandrensium comes Robertus; tertium vero locum dominus item Robertus Normannorum comes; quartum vero locum circa turrim angularem, quae ab eodem cognominata est, dominus Tancredus, et alii quidam nobiles obtinuerunt; ab eadem vero turri usque ad portam Occidentalem, comes Tolosanus cum suo comitatu urbem obsedit; verum postea, tum propter turrim, quae castris ejus imminebat, praedictam portam quasi sub se positam potenter tuebatur; et propter vallem nihilominus quae inter urbem et castra ejus erat media, videns quod in eo parte urbem impugnando non multum posset proficere, de consilio quorumdam prudentum, et qui locorum habebant peritiam, super montem in quo civitas aedificata est, inter urbem et ecclesiam, quae dicitur Sion, quae ab urbe distat quantum arcus semel potest jacere, in parte septentrionali, castrorum partem transtulit; parte etiam ibidem, ubi prius fuerat derelicta. Hoc autem ea dicitur intentione fecisse, ut et facilius ad urbem expugnandam sui possent accedere, et praedictam ecclesiam ab hostium injuria tueri.

From that gate, therefore, which today is called Saint Stephen’s, which looks toward the north, as far as that which is set under the Tower of David and was surnamed from the same king—just as also the tower which is situated on the occidental side of the same city—our princes encamped. In their order Lord Godfrey, Duke of Lotharingia, was first; after him, Lord Robert, Count of the Flemings; in the third place, likewise Lord Robert, Count of the Normans; in the fourth place, around the corner tower, which was eponymously named from the same, Lord Tancred and certain other nobles held positions; but from that same tower as far as the Western Gate, the Count of Toulouse with his retinue besieged the city; yet afterward, both on account of the tower which overhung his camp, which powerfully guarded the aforesaid gate as if placed beneath him, and likewise on account of the valley which was between the city and his camp, seeing that by attacking the city in that quarter he could not make much progress, by the counsel of certain prudent men and of those who had knowledge of the places, upon the mount on which the city is built, between the city and the church which is called Sion, which is distant from the city as far as a bow can shoot once, on the northern side, he transferred part of the camp; with a part also left there in the same place where it had been before. He is said to have done this with the intention both that his men might more easily approach the city to storm it, and to protect the aforesaid church from the injury of the enemy.

Is enim locus erat, in quo Salvator cum discipulis coenasse, et eorum lavisse pedes dicitur; ibidem etiam et Spiritus sanctus super discipulos in linguis igneis die sancto Pentecostes descendisse: ibi etiam et piam Dei Genitricem mortis solvisse debitum, veterum habent traditiones, ubi etiam protomartyris Stephani sepulcrum usque hodie designatur.

For that was the place in which the Savior is said to have supped with the disciples and to have washed their feet; in the same place also the Holy Spirit is said to have descended upon the disciples in fiery tongues on the holy day of Pentecost: there also, the traditions of the ancients hold, the pious Mother of God paid the debt of death, where also the sepulcher of the protomartyr Stephen is designated even to this day.

CAPUT VI. Quinta post obsidionem die urbem impugnant: ductu cujusdam fidelis in silvas descendunt, trabes deferunt, erigunt machinas.

CHAPTER 6. On the fifth day after the siege they assail the city: under the guidance of a certain faithful man they go down into the woods, they bear beams, they erect machines.

Locatis igitur, ut praediximus, castris a porta septentrionali, quae vulgo dicitur Sancti Stephani, usque ad turrem angularem, quae valli Josaphat praeeminet; et inde usque ad oppositum ejusdem civitatis angulum, qui super clivum ejusdem vallis ab australi situs est parte, et inde usque ad portam australem, quae hodie dicitur montis Sion, civitas remansit inobsessa, vix ejus dimidium obsidione claudente. Quinta igitur die, postquam ante urbem noster constitit exercitus, indictum est generaliter, et voce significatum praeconia, quatenus omnes unanimiter a majore usque ad minimum armis instructi, et protecti clypeis, ad urbem impugnandam se accingerent: quod et factum est. Consurgentes enim omnes unanimes, tanta circa partes urbis obsessas irruerunt instantia, tantaque cura et virtute continuantes congressum, cives impugnabant, ut effractis antemuralibus, infra muros interiores eos se cum timore recipere compellerent et de resistendo diffidere cogerentur: quod si illa die, in eo urbem impugnandi fervore, scalas habuissent aut ad occupanda moenia machinas aptassent, procul omni dubio civitatem sibi poterant vindicasse.

Therefore, with the camps, as we have fore-said, placed from the northern gate, which is commonly called St. Stephen’s, up to the corner tower which overlooks the Valley of Josaphat; and thence up to the opposite corner of the same city, which is situated upon the slope of the same valley on the southern side, and thence up to the southern gate, which today is called of Mount Zion, the city remained unbesieged, the blockade scarcely enclosing its half. Therefore on the fifth day, after our army had taken position before the city, it was proclaimed generally, and by a herald’s voice signified, that all unanimously, from the greatest down to the least, equipped with arms and protected by shields, should gird themselves to assault the city: and so it was done. For all, rising with one mind, rushed with such urgency upon the besieged parts of the city, and, continuing the engagement with such care and virtue, attacked the citizens, that, the ante-murals having been broken, they forced them to withdraw in fear within the inner walls and were compelled to despair of resisting: and if on that day, in that fervor of assaulting the city, they had had ladders or had fitted machines to seize the walls, beyond all doubt they could have vindicated the city to themselves.

Cumque a summo mane circa horam diei septimam in eo facto desudassent, videntes quod absque machinis non multum possent proficere, propositum ad tempus distulerunt, opus auctore Domino, consummatis machinis, felicius repetituri. Dumque circa id principes plena deliberarent sollicitudine, ubi apta instrumentis ligneis posset reperiri materia (nam adjacens universa regio nullam hujusmodi videbatur opportunitatem ministrare) casu adfuit quidam fidelis indigena, natione Syrus, qui in valles quasdam secretiores, sex aut septem ab urbe distantes milliaribus, quosdam de principibus direxit, ubi arbores, etsi non ad conceptum opus aptas penitus, tamen ad aliquem modum proceras invenerunt plures. Ubi habentes artifices et lignorum caesores, quantum ad opus praedictum necessarium videbatur, camelis et plaustris impositis, ad urbem detulerunt.

And when from the first light until about the seventh hour of the day they had sweated at that task, seeing that without machines they could not make much progress, they postponed the plan for a time, about to repeat the work, with the Lord as author, more happily once the machines were consummated. And while the princes were deliberating with full solicitude about where material apt for wooden engines might be found (for the whole adjacent region seemed to furnish no opportunity of this kind), by chance there was present a certain faithful native, by nation a Syrian, who directed some of the princes into certain more secluded valleys, six or seven miles distant from the city, where they found many trees, although not entirely apt for the conceived work, yet in some measure tall. There, having artisans and cutters of wood, they loaded as much as seemed necessary for the aforesaid work onto camels and wagons, and bore it to the city.

Convocatis ergo artificibus, et qui in hujusmodi exercitio majorem habebant peritiam, omnem operam adhibent et studium indefessum, in securi et ascia, et in hujusmodi omnimodo instrumentorum genere, ex subjecta materia, castella et machinas jaculatorias, quas mangana vel petrarias vocant, arietes quoque simul et scrophas ad suffodiendum murum, certatim et summa contexunt diligentia. Dabatur autem artificibus, quibus propriae non supputebant facultates, ut gratis operam possent impendere, merces, de symbolis quos populi offerebat devotio. Nam nullius principum ad hoc sufficiebant copiae, ut architectis possent ministrare salarium, excepto comite Tolosano, qui perpetuo plus caeteris abundabat.

Therefore, the artificers being called together, and those who had greater expertise in this kind of exercise, they apply every effort and indefatigable zeal—with axe and adze, and with every kind of such instruments—and out of the material provided they construct, vying with one another and with the utmost diligence, castles (siege‑towers) and hurling‑machines, which they call mangana or petraries, and likewise battering‑rams and “sows” for undermining the wall. Moreover, to the craftsmen whose own resources did not suffice, pay was given—so that they might be able to expend their labor gratis—from the contributions which the devotion of the people offered. For the resources of none of the princes sufficed for this, to furnish a salary to the architects, except the Count of Toulouse, who continually abounded more than the rest.

Ipse enim de proprio aerario absque collatione populi, suis artificibus impensas ministrabat necessarias; sed et multis nobilibus, quibus sua defecerant viatica, stipendia ministrabat. Dumque sic circa majora negotia majores principes essent solliciti, alii nobiles et praeclari viri, erectis vexillis, populum educebant ad loca ubi aliquid frutectorum et silvae humilis esse, per indigenas compererant, ut equis, asinis, et omnium jumentorum genere virgulta deferrent inde, et vimina, ut inde crates contexerentur et majora supplerentur opera. Fervebat igitur opus, et omnium invigilabat studium, nec erat in tanto populo deses quispiam, aut qui otio torpescere permitteretur; sed quisque aliquid muneris impendebat, sublata differentia, quid quemque secundum suam deceret conditionem.

For he, from his own treasury, without any contribution of the people, supplied the necessary expenses to his own artificers; and he also furnished stipends to many nobles whose viaticum had failed. And while the greater princes were thus anxious about the greater affairs, other nobles and illustrious men, with standards raised, led the people out to places where through the indigenes they had learned there was some underbrush and low wood, so that with horses, asses, and every kind of beast of burden they might carry thence brushwood and withies, in order that from these hurdles might be woven and the larger works supplied. Thus the work boiled, and the zeal of all kept vigil; nor in so great a people was there anyone idle, or one permitted to grow torpid in leisure; but each expended some service, the distinction removed as to what might befit each according to his condition.

Quidquid enim usui esse poterat, id totum tractare reputabatur honestum. Instabant operi simul in unum dives et pauper, nec conditionis reputabatur imparitas, ubi par erat studium, et in exsequendo opere fervor non dissimilis, qui major erat meritis, magis sollicitus erat circa frequens ministerium; qui vero inferior, ad aliquod tamen obsequium admittebatur. Pro nihilo reputabant quidquid in toto itinere pertulerant, nisi tanti laboris fructum liceret carpere, et urbem introire, pro qua tot casus sustinuerant adversos: leve judicabant quidquid mandari poterat, dum ad id tantum modo cooperari crederetur, ut voti compotes fieri mererentur.

Whatever could be of use, it was reckoned altogether honorable to handle. Upon the work both rich and poor pressed together as one, nor was inequality of condition accounted, where zeal was equal and, in executing the work, the fervor not dissimilar; he who was greater in merits was more solicitous about frequent ministry, but he who was inferior was nevertheless admitted to some service. They reckoned as nothing whatever they had endured on the whole journey, unless it were permitted to pluck the fruit of so great labor and to enter the city for which they had sustained so many adverse chances: they judged light whatever could be mandated, provided only it was believed to cooperate to this end, that they might merit to become possessors of their vow—its fulfillment.

CAPUT VII. Siti populus fatigatur; dumque aquas quaerunt longe positas, et reliqua vitae necessaria, ab hostibus perimuntur frequenter.

CHAPTER 7. The people are fatigued by thirst; and while they seek waters set far away, and the remaining necessaries of life, they are frequently slain by enemies.

Interea siti fatigabatur exercitus vehementissima. Nam, ut praediximus, locus civitati adjacens aridus est et inaquosus, rivos aut fontes, vel etiam puteos aquarum viventium nisi remotos, non habens aliquos: eosque ipsos, audito nostrorum adventu, ut locus ad continuandam obsidionem redderetur ineptior, jactu pulveris et modis aliis quibus poterant, oppilaverant, universos; sed et cisternas et pluvialium aquarum receptacula dissipaverant, ut aquas non valerent cohibere; aut de malitia occultaverant, ne indigentibus et populo sitienti remedium ministrarent. Cives tamen Bethlehemitae et qui apud Thecuam prophetarum urbem habitabant viri fideles, frequentes erant in exercitu, quorum ductu utebatur populus egrediens ad fontes, qui per quatuor vel quinque ab obsidione distabant milliaria: unde cum difficultate nimia; invicem se comprimentibus et undas haurire prohibentibus, post moras longissimas, quas sibi mutuis improbitatibus innectebant, aquas in utribus deferebant lutulentas, quarum haustu, quo vix sitiens semel refocillari posset anima, multo pretio vendebatur.

Meanwhile the army was wearied by most vehement thirst. For, as we have foretold, the place adjoining the city is arid and waterless, having no streams or springs, nor even wells of living waters, except those far off; and these very ones, upon hearing of our arrival, in order that the place might be rendered more unfit for continuing the siege, they had stopped up, all of them, by a casting of dust and by other methods as they could; and even the cisterns and the receptacles of rain-waters they had broken up, so that they were not able to confine the waters; or out of malice they had concealed them, that they might not minister a remedy to the needy and to the thirsting people. Yet the Bethlehemites, and those who dwelt at Tekoa, the city of the prophets—faithful men—were frequent in the army, whose guidance the people used when going out to the springs, which were distant from the siege by four or five miles: whence, with exceeding difficulty, as they pressed upon one another and hindered each other from drawing the waters, after very long delays, which they wove for themselves by mutual unscrupulousness, they carried back in skins muddy waters, the draught of which—by which a soul thirsting could scarcely be refreshed even once—was sold at a great price.

Sed et Siloe fons urbi conterminus, de quo supra fecimus mentionem, cum neque perpetuas aquas haberet, et easdem certo tempore funderet insipidas, populo non poterat laboranti sufficere. Augebat denique sitis importunitatem et angoris geminabat molestiam, aestatis inclementia et ardens Junius: labor quoque et excitatus pulvis, oris et pectoris ariditatem provocabat. Dispersi ergo et seorsim egredientes, aquas diligenti perscrutabantur indagine; et, dum cum paucis se arbitrarentur quaesitos invenisse latices, subito ingens occurrebat turba, idem habens propositum, ita ut inventis fontibus inter eos nonnunquam oriretur seditio; et dum mutuo se praepedirent, plerumque ad pugnam veniretur.

But also the spring of Siloë, contiguous to the city, of which we made mention above, since it neither had perpetual waters, and those same it poured forth at a fixed time insipid, could not suffice for the laboring people. The inclementness of summer and burning June, finally, augmented the importunity of thirst and doubled the annoyance of anguish; labor also, and the stirred-up dust, provoked dryness of mouth and chest. Scattered therefore and going out separately, they searched out waters with diligent inquiry; and, while they supposed that with a few they had found the sought-for waters, suddenly a huge crowd would run up, having the same purpose, so that, the springs having been found, sometimes sedition would arise among them; and while they mutually hampered one another, for the most part it would come to a fight.

Qui tamen pedites erant, hi sibi quocunque modo aquis inventis parce utentes, poterant procurare remedium; verum hi quibus equorum ingens erat numerus, cum difficultate maxima, sitibundos equos per tria vel quatuor milliaria educentes, adaquare poterant. Neglecta porro animalia, et quibus domini sui providere non poterant per campos lento gradu et deficientibus viribus vagantia, equi videlicet, muli, asini, sed et greges et armenta, siti et ariditate consumpta, in se ipsis deficiebant, tabescentia; et liquefacta interius moriebantur; unde in castris fetor erat maximus, et pestilens, et periculosa nimis aeris corruptela. Non videbatur in hac obsidione, improbae sitis molestia minus populum fatigare, quam circa Antiochiam victus inopia maceraverat eumdem.

Those who were foot-soldiers, however, using sparingly for themselves, in whatever way, the waters discovered, were able to procure a remedy; but those for whom there was an immense number of horses, with the greatest difficulty, leading out the thirsty horses for three or four miles, were able to water them. The animals moreover, neglected, and those for which their masters were not able to provide—horses, namely, mules, asses, but also flocks and herds—wandering through the fields with slow step and with failing forces, consumed by thirst and aridity, were failing in themselves, wasting away; and, liquefied within, they were dying; whence in the camp there was a very great fetor, pestilent, and a most dangerous corruption of the air. It did not seem in this siege that the molestation of immoderate thirst fatigued the people less than around Antioch the want of victuals had macerated that same people.

Porro victum et ad opus equorum pabula per adjacentia suburbana disquirentes, incaute dispersi, secure nimis per regionem vagabantur; unde cognitis eorum discursionibus, urbani per partes inobsessas clam egredientes, his talibus occurrebant aliquoties, multosque ex eis interficiebant, saepius equos secum deducentes: nonnullos etiam plerumque saucios, fuga lapsos, casus eripiebat prosperior. Imminuebatur diebus singulis nostrorum numerus; et ei quod hesterna dies habere videbatur, sequens aliquid detrahebat, dum casibus variis, quibus mortalis subjacet infirmitas, pene quotidie multi deperirent: nec accederent aliunde, qui loca deficientium supplerent, vel officia. Hostium vero versa vice augebantur vires, multiplicabantur auxilia, quae per partes inobsessas liberum in urbem habebant introitum, et in nostrorum perniciem civibus adjungebantur.

Moreover, seeking victuals and fodder for the service of the horses through the adjacent suburban areas, incautiously scattered, they were wandering too securely through the region; whence, their excursions being known, the townsmen, slipping out secretly through the unbesieged parts, would at times meet such men, and killed many of them, more often leading the horses away with them: also a more propitious chance would rescue some, for the most part wounded, who had fallen in flight. The number of our men was diminished day by day; and from what the day before seemed to possess, the next would subtract something, while by various chances, to which mortal infirmity is subject, almost every day many were perishing; nor were there coming from elsewhere those who might fill the places or the duties of the failing. But for the foe, the case being reversed, their forces were increasing, their auxiliaries were multiplying, which through the unbesieged parts had a free entrance into the city, and were being joined to the citizens for the destruction of our men.

CAPUT VIII. Cives machinas construunt; ad resistendum se praeparant; fideles, qui cum eis erant, angariis afficiunt.

CHAPTER 8. The citizens construct machines; they prepare themselves to resist; they subject the faithful who were with them to angaries (forced services).

Cum igitur circa construendas machinas, contexendas crates, scalas connectendas, universus noster desudaret exercitus, et circa id plurimum sollicitaretur, cives nihilominus, ut argumentis argumenta repellerent omnem impendebant vigilantiam; et tota cura se erigebant, ut viam invenirent, per quam possent resistere. Habentes itaque sufficientem lignorum et arborum procerarum materiam, quam cum multa diligentia ante nostrorum adventum, ad urbem communiendam satis abundante cautela comportaverant, machinas interius nostris aequipollentes, sed meliore compactas materia, certatim erigebant; id toto studio procurantes, ne in hujusmodi instrumentorum genere, vel arte vel materia reperirentur inferiores; sed et continuas super murum et in turribus habentes excubias, universa pene quae fiebant in exercitu, maxime quae ad hujusmodi instrumentorum spectabant artificia, diligentissime considerantes, majoribus pandebant civitatis, ut, arte aemula et cuncta imitari satagente, ipsi nostrorum moliminibus exaequo responderent: eratque satis facile. Nam et artificium et instrumentorum fabrilium, Terri quoque et aeris et funium et caeterorum, quae ad hujusmodi solent esse necessaria, multo majores habebant intus, quam nostri deforis copias; nec solum in eo cives, edicto publico, compellebantur laborare, verum etiam fidelibus, qui cum eis habitabant, servilem et extremam conditionem sustinentibus, angarias infligebant insolitas et gravibus affligebant parangariis.

Accordingly, while our whole army was sweating over constructing machines, weaving lattices, joining ladders, and was most anxiously occupied with this, the citizens nonetheless were expending every vigilance, so that they might repel engines by engines; and with total care they bestirred themselves to find a way by which they could resist. Therefore, having a sufficient material of timbers and tall trees, which, with much diligence before our coming, for strengthening the city, with more than ample foresight they had conveyed, they were vying to set up machines inside equal in power to ours, but compacted of better material; attending to this with all zeal, lest in this kind of instruments they be found inferior either in art or in material; and, keeping continual watches upon the wall and in the towers, most diligently observing almost all the things that were being done in the camp, especially what pertained to the crafts of instruments of this sort, they would disclose them to the magnates of the city, so that, with rival art and with everything striving to imitate, they themselves might answer our exertions on equal terms: and it was quite easy. For both workmanship and smiths’ instruments, and iron too and bronze and ropes and the rest which are wont to be necessary for things of this sort, they had far greater supplies inside than our people outside; nor were the citizens compelled by public edict to labor in this alone, but they even inflicted unusual angaries upon the faithful who were dwelling with them, who were enduring a servile and extreme condition, and afflicted them with heavy parangaries.

Nec solum praestationibus eos macerabant violentis; verum ad vincula trahebant et carceres, suspectos eos habentes tanquam nostris faverent, et eis statum et secreta reserarent civitatis: nec erat de fidelium numero ausus quispiam murum ascendere, aut comparere in publico, nisi aliquibus onustus necessariis, quasi jumentum traheretur; hi enim cogebantur et onera portare; et qui alicujus artificii habebat experientiam, operas compellebantur impendere fabriles. Ad levem etiam cujuslibet delatoris calumniam, rapiebantur ad supplicia; et eos qui ex vicinis oppidis et finitimis civitatibus se in urbem contulerant, hospitio cogebantur recipere et eis ministrare necessaria; cumque domesticis et familiaribus, eorum substantia ad victum tenuem et miserum non sufficeret, angariabantur tamen exteris bona communicare sua, ita ut ipsi indigerent primi. Ad hoc, etsi ad opera publica aliquid erat necessarium, primum ante omnia fidelium domus effringebantur, ut si in eis tale quid reperiretur, violenter extorqueretur ab eo cujus erat domicilium.

Not only were they wasting them away with violent exactions; indeed, they were dragging them off to chains and prisons, holding them suspect as though they favored our men and would unlock for them the condition and secrets of the city: nor did anyone of the number of the faithful dare to ascend the wall or appear in public, unless laden with certain necessities, as if a pack-beast were being dragged; for these were compelled also to carry burdens; and whoever had experience of any craft was forced to expend fabril labors. At the slightest calumny of any delator, they were snatched away to punishments; and those who had betaken themselves into the city from neighboring towns and contiguous cities, they were compelled to receive with hospitality and to minister to them the necessities; and though for their households and kinsfolk their substance did not suffice for a meager and miserable sustenance, nevertheless they were impressed to share their goods with outsiders, so that they themselves were the first to be in need. Moreover, if anything was necessary for the public works, first before all else the houses of the faithful were broken open, so that, if anything of the kind were found in them, it might be violently extorted from the one whose dwelling it was.

Vocati porro quocunque loco vel tempore, sive nocte sive interdiu, sive quocunque ex casu moram innecterent, ut primam citationem sine temporis intervallo minus sequerentur, rapiebantur ignominiose per barbam et capillum, ita ut etiam hostium eorum misera conditio posset lacrymas excitare: miseriarum denique et laborum ponderis immensi neque numerus erat, neque finis. Unde et supra modum fatigati, in supremum jam devenerant defectum ita ut magis mori optarent in Domino, quam vitam continuare temporalem; vita enim eorum miserabilis nimium distabat a morte, cum nec sumendae refectioni semel in die tempus indulgeretur, nec sopori necessario vel ad modicum requies praestaretur; quidquid sinistri accedebat, id illis imputabatur totum: non erat illis a propriis penatibus in publicum exitus, aut introitus in propria, a suscipione liber, quorumlibet patebant calumniis et cuilibet dabatur ad eorum accusationem locus.

Called, moreover, in whatever place or time—whether by night or by day—and if by any chance they interwove a delay, so as not to follow the first citation without any interval of time, they were ignominiously dragged by the beard and the hair, so that even in their enemies their wretched condition could rouse tears: finally, of miseries and of labors of immense weight there was neither number nor end. Whence, fatigued beyond measure, they had already come into the utmost failure, so that they preferred rather to die in the Lord than to continue temporal life; for their pitiable life stood too little apart from death, since time was granted neither for taking refection even once in the day, nor was rest afforded to necessary sleep even for a little; whatever sinister thing befell, the whole of it was imputed to them: there was for them no exit from their own household into public, nor entry into their own place free from suspicion; they lay open to the calumnies of anyone, and to anyone an occasion was given for their accusation.

CAPUT IX. Classis Januensium apud Joppen applicat; mittuntur de exercitu, qui eos ad obsidionem deducant; patiuntur in itinere, qui missi fuerant, hostium insidias.

CHAPTER 9. The fleet of the Genoese puts in at Joppa; men are sent from the army to lead them to the siege; those who had been sent suffer the enemy’s ambushes on the journey.

Interea dum haec circa Hierosolymam in obsidione geruntur, adfuit nuntius qui naves Januensium in portu Joppensi applicuisse nuntiaret, petens a principibus, ut de exercitu aliqua dirigeretur militia, cujus ducatu et viribus ii, qui appulerant, ad urbem possent accedere. Est autem Joppe civitas maritima, de qua Solinus in XXXIX. De memorabilibus mundi capitulo, sic ait: Joppe oppidum antiquissimum orbe toto, utpote ante terrarum inundationem conditum.

Meanwhile, while these things are being carried on around Jerusalem in the siege, there arrived a messenger to announce that the ships of the Genoese had put in at the port of Joppa, requesting from the princes that some soldiery from the army be dispatched, by whose leadership and strength those who had made landfall might be able to reach the city. Now Joppa is a maritime city, about which Solinus in 39. On the Memorables of the World chapter thus says: Joppa, the most ancient town in the whole world, inasmuch as it was founded before the inundation of the lands.

Id oppidum saxum ostentat, quod vinculorum Andromedae vestigia adhuc retinet, quam expositam belluae non irritus rumor circumtulit. Quippe ossa monstri illius M. Scaurus inter alia miracula, in aedilitate sua Romae publicavit. Annalibus nota res est.

That town displays a rock which still retains the traces of Andromeda’s fetters, about whom—exposed to the beast—no empty rumor circulated. For Marcus Scaurus, among other miracles, made public at Rome in his aedileship the bones of that monster. The matter is noted in the annals.

Mensurae quoque veracibus libris continentur, scilicet, quod costarum longitudo excesserit pedes quadraginta, sublimitas autem elephantis indicis eminentior fuerit; porro verticuli spinae ipsius, latitudine semipedem sunt supergressi. Id ipsum et Hieronymus in epitaphio sanctae Paulae testatur his verbis: Vidit et Joppen, fugientis portum Jonae; et, ut aliquid perstringam de fabulis poetarum, religatae ad saxum Andromedae spectatricem. Accidit autem ut, juxta eorum postulationem, de communi consilio, dominus comes Tolosanus, qui caeteris amplius abundabat, quemdam nobilem de suo comitatu, cui nomen Galdemarus, cognomento Carpinnelle, cum triginta equitibus et peditibus quinquaginta illuc dirigeret; qui, postquam profecti sunt, videntes principes quod qui missi erant, ad tantum onus non sufficerent, iterum eumdem comitem rogaverunt, ut illuc dirigeret plures; qui eorum monitis acquiescens, viros egregios et insignes, Raymundum Pelet et Willelmum de Sabran, cum quinquaginta equitibus post eos, qui prius egressi fuerant, iterum ad opus praedictum destinavit. Galdemaro vero, qui prius egressus fuerat, postquam in campestria, quae circa Liddam et Ramulam sunt, descenderat, occurrerunt hostium sexcenti; qui in eos protinus irruentes, de ejus equitibus interemerunt quatuor et de peditibus multo plures; dumque nostri quocunque modo resisterent, et se, licet pauci essent, ad conflictum hortarentur mutuo, accidit ut qui subsequebantur praedicti duo nobiles viri, cum omni celeritate adessent, et antequam eorum dissolveretur congressus, praedicto se inferrent negotio: unde factum est ut, conjunctis nostris adinvicem, adfuerit virtus divina, et hostibus insistentes, caesis ex eorum numero ducentis, reliquos in fugam adegerunt. Ceciderunt tamen in eo conflictu viri nobiles Gillebertus de Treva et Aicardus de Montmerla, quorum casus, postquam innotuit nostris expeditionibus, non mediocrem intulit moestitiam.

The measures also are contained in veracious books, namely, that the length of the ribs exceeded forty feet, and the height was more eminent than Indian elephants; moreover the little vertebrae of its spine surpassed by a half‑foot in breadth. The same also Jerome attests in the epitaph of Saint Paula with these words: She saw also Joppa, the harbor of fleeing Jonah; and, to touch on something from the fables of the poets, a spectator of Andromeda bound to the rock. It happened, moreover, that, according to their request, by common counsel, the lord Count of Toulouse, who abounded more than the others, sent a certain noble from his company, whose name was Galdemar, surnamed Carpinnelle, with thirty horsemen and fifty footmen thither; who, after they had set out, the princes, seeing that those who had been sent were not sufficient for so great a burden, again asked the same count to send more thither; who, acquiescing in their admonitions, dispatched distinguished and notable men, Raymond Pelet and William of Sabran, with fifty horsemen after those who had gone out before, again for the aforesaid task. But to Galdemar, who had gone out earlier, after he had descended into the plains which are around Lydda and Ramla, there met them six hundred of the enemy; who, rushing upon them at once, slew four of his horsemen and many more of the footmen; and while our men were resisting in whatever way, and, although they were few, were mutually exhorting themselves to the conflict, it befell that the aforesaid two noble men who were following came up with all speed, and, before their encounter was broken, threw themselves into the aforesaid business: whence it came about that, our men having been joined together, divine valor was present, and, pressing upon the enemies, with two hundred of their number cut down, they drove the rest into flight. Nevertheless in that conflict the noble men Gilbert of Treva and Aicard of Montmerla fell, whose fall, after it became known to our expeditions, brought no moderate sadness.

Nostri vero palma sibi concessa divinitus, Joppen, juxta eorum propositum, pervenerunt incolumes: ubi a praedictis nautis cum ingenti suscepti laetitia, mutua charitate et gratis confabulationibus recreati sunt ad invicem. Dumque ibi moram facerent aliquam, quousque illi qui in navibus advenerant, sarcinas composuissent et se aptassent ad iter, subito et de nocte, Aegyptiorum classis, quae apud Ascalonam delitescebat, nocendi locum operiens, circa eamdem urbem adfuit: quod cum nostris compertum est, ad mare accedentes, naves prius tentaverunt ab hostium insidiis protegere; sed, cognoscentes postmodum quod eorum multitudini non valerent resistere, sumptis velis et funibus et caeteris earum armamentis, et cum omni supellectili sua egressi, in praesidium loci se contulerunt. Una autem ex eis, quae praedatum abierat, dum onusta spoliis in locum rediret eumdem, cognoscentes quia classis hostium portum Joppensem occupaverat, flatibus acta prosperis Laodiciam pervenit.

Our men, however, the palm granted to them divinely, reached Joppa safely, according to their plan: where, received by the aforesaid sailors with immense joy, they were mutually refreshed by reciprocal charity and agreeable confabulations. And while they made some delay there, until those who had arrived by the ships had packed their baggage and prepared themselves for the journey, suddenly and by night the Egyptian fleet, which was lying hidden near Ascalon, covering an opportunity for harming, appeared around that same city: when this was discovered by our men, approaching the sea they first tried to protect the ships from the enemies’ ambushes; but, learning thereafter that they could not withstand their multitude, taking the sails and ropes and the rest of their tackle, and going out with all their equipment, they withdrew into the stronghold of the place. But one of them, which had gone out for plunder, while, laden with spoils, it was returning to that same place, learning that the enemy fleet had occupied the port of Joppa, driven by favorable breezes reached Laodicea.

Erat autem Joppe per idem tempus versa in solitudinem et habitatoribus vacua; ejus enim cives modico ante nostrorum adventum tempore, de ejus munimine diffidentes, locum deseruerant; nostri vero nonnisi arcem tantum conservabant. Rebus igitur compositis ad iter succincti, praevia militia quae ad eum usum descenderat, ut ejus ducatum impenderet, cum omni substantia sua Hierosolymam profecti sunt: ubi a legionibus gaudenter excepti, maximam castris consolationem attulerunt. Erant enim viri prudentes et nautarum more architectoriae habentes artis peritiam, in caedendis, dolandis et copulandis trabibus, erigendisque machinis, expeditissimi.

However, Joppa at that same time had been turned into a solitude and was empty of inhabitants; for its citizens, a little before the arrival of our men, distrusting its muniment, had deserted the place; our people, however, were preserving only the citadel. Therefore, matters set in order and girt for the journey, the advance soldiery which had come down for that use, to furnish its escort, set out for Jerusalem with all their substance: where, gladly received by the legions, they brought very great consolation to the camp. For they were prudent men and, after the manner of sailors, possessing skill in the architectonic art—most expeditious in cutting, hewing, and coupling beams, and in raising machines.

Sed et alia multa, his qui in expeditione erant modis omnibus profutura, secum attulerant argumenta: ita ut quod ante eorum adventum, vix et cum difficultate sperabatur effectui posse mancipari, per eorum operam facile compleretur.

But also many other things—apparatus that would in every way be advantageous to those on the expedition—they had brought with them; so that what before their arrival had scarcely and with difficulty been hoped to be brought to effect was easily completed through their effort.

CAPUT X. Qui in classe advenerant, ad exercitum se conferunt, et in erigendis machinis plurimas praestant commoditates. Pacificantur ad invicem Tolosanus et Tancredus.

CHAPTER 10. Those who had arrived in the fleet betake themselves to the army, and in the erecting of machines they furnish very many commoditates. The Toulousan and Tancred are reconciled with one another.

At vero qui expeditione remanserant, coepto fideliter instantes operi, et in erigendarum studio machinarum se tota diligentia continuantes, opus jam ex parte maxima peregerant. Dux enim et duo comites, Normannorum videlicet et Flandrensis, quemdam egregium et magnificum virum, dominum videlicet Gastonem de Beart, operi praefecerunt; et super artifices ne se haberent negligentius circa propositum, curam eum rogaverant impendere diligentem. Ipsi vero egrediebantur saepius populum educentes in manu forti, ut ligna caederent et caesa ad opus aedificiorum comportarent.

But indeed those who had remained from the expedition, pressing faithfully upon the begun work and, in zeal for the erecting of machines, devoting themselves with total diligence, had already accomplished the work in its greatest part. For the Duke and two Counts, namely of the Normans and of Flanders, set over the work a certain distinguished and magnificent man, to wit Lord Gaston de Beart; and with respect to the artificers, lest they should conduct themselves more negligently concerning the plan, they had asked him to expend diligent care. They themselves, moreover, were going out frequently, leading the people forth with a strong hand, that they might fell wood and carry the felled timber for the work of the buildings.

Alii vero virgulta, frutices, et vimina, et minorum ramos arborum caedentes, ut ex eis crates fierent, ex quibus machinae operirentur exterius, certatim congerebant; alii animalium tam occisorum quam prae sitis ariditate deficientium detrahebant coria, mundorum sive immundorum indifferenter; ut ex eis super crates protegerentur machinae, ne forte ab hostibus ignis immissus aedificia posset consumere. Nec solum circa partem septentrionalem ducis studio, et praedictorum comitum duorum opus ita fervebat, verum etiam et a turri angulari usque ad portam occidentalem, quae est sub arce David, dominus Tancredus, et alii nobiles plurimi, qui in ea parte castra locaverant, non inferiore sollicitudine eidem instabant operi, curam impendentes diligentissimam. Sed in parte australi domini comitis Tolosani exercitus, et cuncta familia, indefesso studio, et cum omni diligentia circa idem sollicitabatur negotium: eoque ferventius, quo et ditior erat, et majores ei de novo tam hominum quam rerum necessariarum accesserant copiae: quotquot enim de navibus advenerant, ejus se adjunxerant castris, et supellectilem intulerant ad opus aedificiorum valde necessariam.

But others, cutting brushwood, shrubs, withes (osiers), and the branches of smaller trees, so that from them hurdles might be made, with which the machines might be covered on the outside, were eagerly heaping them up in rivalry; others were stripping the hides from animals both slain and those failing from the drought of thirst, of clean or unclean indiscriminately, so that from them the machines might be overlaid above the hurdles and protected, lest perchance fire sent in by the enemies could consume the edifices. And not only around the northern quarter, by the zeal of the duke and of the aforesaid two counts, did the work thus boil, but also from the corner tower as far as the western gate, which is under the Citadel of David, Lord Tancred, and very many other nobles who had pitched their camp in that sector, with no lesser solicitude were pressing upon the same work, expending most diligent care. But on the southern side, the army of the lord Count of Toulouse, and the whole household, with indefatigable zeal and with every diligence, were being busied about the same business—and the more fervently, in that it was richer, and greater supplies had newly come to it both of men and of necessary things; for all who had arrived from the ships had joined his camp, and had brought in equipment very necessary for the work of the edifices.

Funes enim et malleos et alia instrumenta ferrea secum habentes; sed et optimos artifices qui in construendis erigendisque machinis, ut praediximus, multam habebant experientiam, ad consummationem operis plurima praestiterunt compendia. Praeerat autem Januensibus, qui advenerant, quidam nobilis Willelmus nomine, cognomento Ebriacus, cujus in operis artificio multa pollebat industria. Cumque jam per quatuor hebdomadas circa id universus desudasset exercitus, multo labore ad consummationem jam pervenerat negotium.

Indeed, having with them ropes and mallets and other iron instruments; and also the best craftsmen, who in constructing and erecting machines, as we said above, had much experience, they supplied many expedients toward the consummation of the work. Moreover, over the Genoese who had arrived there presided a certain nobleman, William by name, surnamed Ebriacus, whose industry greatly excelled in the artifice of the work. And when now for four weeks the whole army had sweated at it, the business, with much labor, had already come to its consummation.

Unde et communicato consilio, principes urbis oppugnationi diem praefixerant; sed, quia inter dominum Tolosanum comitem et dominum Tancredum gravis intercesserat simultas, et inter caeteros etiam nonnullos, ex causis quibusdam exortae erant inimicitiae, placuit episcopis, principibus quoque et universo populo, ut prius reformata inter eos plenius charitate, divinum sinceris mentibus implorare possent auxilium.

Whence also, counsel having been communicated, the princes had fixed a day for the assault of the city; but, because a grave quarrel had intervened between the Lord the Count of Toulouse and Lord Tancred, and among certain others as well enmities had arisen from certain causes, it pleased the bishops, the princes too, and the whole people, that, first, with charity between them more fully restored, they might be able to implore divine help with sincere minds.

CAPUT XI. Indicantur populo Litaniae. In montem Oliveti ascendit universus populus.

CHAPTER 11. The Litanies are indicated to the people. The whole people ascends Mount Olivet.

Die igitur statuta, de publico decreto indictae sunt universo populo Litaniae, et assumptis crucibus et sanctorum patrociniis, episcopi et clerus universus induti sacerdotalibus et leviticis indumentis, nudis pedibus et cum multa devotione populum subsequentem, usque ad montem Oliveti praecesserunt. Ubi vir venerabilis Petrus Eremita, et Arnulphus comitis Normannorum familiaris, vir litteratus, exhortationis sermonem habentes ad populum, in quantum poterant ad longanimitatem animabant. Est autem mons Oliveti urbi ab Oriente oppositus, ab urbe quasi milliario distans, valle Josaphat interjecta: unde est, quod a beato Luca dicitur: Ab Hierosolymis iter habens Sabbati (Act.

Therefore, on the appointed day, by public decree Litanies were proclaimed to the whole people, and, crosses and the patronages of the saints having been taken up, the bishops and the whole clergy, clothed in sacerdotal and levitical garments, barefoot and with much devotion, went before as far as the Mount of Olives, the people following. There the venerable man Peter the Hermit, and Arnulf, the familiar of the Count of the Normans, a lettered man, delivering a discourse of exhortation to the people, encouraged them to longanimity as far as they could. Now the Mount of Olives is set opposite the city on the East, at a distance of about a mile from the city, the valley of Jehoshaphat intervening: whence it is that it is said by blessed Luke: From Jerusalem having a Sabbath day’s journey (Acts.

I, 12). Unde et Salvator noster, cernentibus discipulis, quadragesimo resurrectionis suae die est elevatus in coelum, et nubes suscepit eum ex oculis eorum. Ad quem locum cum pervenisset plebs fidelis, in spiritu humilitatis et in animo contrito, implorato cum gemitu et lacrymis de supernis auxilio, reconciliatis ad invicem principibus praedictis et omni populo in mutuam charitatem revocato, de monte descendentes, ad ecclesiam Montis Sion, quae in australem ejusdem civitatis partem, secus urbem, ut praediximus, in montis fastigio sita est, ascenderunt. Cives autem in turribus et muro positi admirantes, quid sibi vellet hujusmodi populi circuitus, arcubus et balistis tela in turmas jaculabantur: unde nonnulli ex nostris, incautius se habentes, vulnera susceperunt.

1, 12). Whence also our Savior, the disciples seeing, on the fortieth day of his resurrection was lifted up into heaven, and a cloud received him from their eyes. And when the faithful people had come to that place, in a spirit of humility and a contrite mind, having implored with groaning and tears help from on high, the aforesaid princes having been reconciled to one another and all the people recalled into mutual charity, descending from the mount, they ascended to the church of Mount Sion, which is situated in the southern part of the same city, beside the city, as we have said, on the summit of the mount. But the citizens, posted on the towers and the wall, wondering what such a circuit of the people might mean for them, were hurling missiles with bows and ballistae into the ranks; whence several of ours, conducting themselves incautiously, received wounds.

Sed et cruces in nostrorum opprobrium et contumeliam, quas super murum locaverant, sputis et aliis immundis actionibus ignominiose tractantes, in Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum et ejus salutiferam doctrinam convicia et verba blasphemiae impudenter congerebant. Populus tamen cum omni devotione votum prosequens, ira succensus, qualem sacrilegii dolor poterat ministrare, ad praedictam pervenit ecclesiam. Ubi, completis iterum orationibus, et indicta die qua urbem unanimiter impugnarent, circumdata urbe, in castra reversi sunt.

But also, treating ignominiously with spittings and other unclean actions the crosses which they had placed upon the wall, to the opprobrium and contumely of our people, they impudently heaped insults and words of blasphemy against our Lord Jesus Christ and his salutiferous doctrine. Nevertheless the people, pursuing the vow with all devotion, inflamed with wrath such as the pain of sacrilege could supply, came to the aforesaid church. Where, the prayers having again been completed, and a day appointed on which they would assail the city with one mind, the city having been surrounded, they returned to the camp.

Si quid autem operis consummationi deerat, cum multa celeritate id maturari praecipitur, ne quid impedimenti ex aliqua imperfectione, urbem impugnare volentibus, occurreret.

If anything, however, was lacking for the consummation of the work, it is commanded that it be hastened with much celerity, lest any impediment, from some imperfection, should occur to those wishing to assault the city.

CAPUT XII. Dux et duo majores comites de noctu castra sua transferunt; per gyrum ante urbem eriguntur machinae.

CHAPTER 12. The Duke and two greater counts transfer their camp by night; in a ring before the city, machines are erected.

Adveniente igitur die ad impugnandam urbem praefixa, ea nocte quae diem proximam praecedebat, dux et duo saepedicti majores comites, videntes quod ea pars civitatis, quam ipsi obsederant, a civibus esset machinis, armis et viris fortibus maxime communita, eoque fortius quo magis ex ea parte timendum arbitrabantur; et quod in ea parte die sequenti, ob loci munimen, non multum sperarent se posse proficere, mirabili providentia et stupendo labore machinas et castellum antequam connecterentur ad invicem membra, ad eam regionem, quae est inter portam S. Stephani, et turrem angularem, quae a septentrione super vallem Josaphat posita est, particulatim transtulerunt, castris etiam illuc delatis. Videbatur enim eis, et vere sic erat, quod quia ex illa parte civitas remanserat inobsessa, idcirco et a civibus minore diligentia servaretur; factumque est, ut translatae machinae, continuatis tota nocte vigiliis, ante solis exortum cum multo labore compactae sunt et congruis stationibus collocatae. Sed et castellum in ea parte, qua murus videbatur humilior, et deforis planior et commodior accessus, moenibus ita est applicatum, ut qui erant in turribus et qui in machina pene posse pugnare cominus viderentur: nec fuit sane labor modicus.

Therefore, with the day appointed for assaulting the city approaching, on that night which preceded the next day, the duke and the two oft-mentioned greater counts, seeing that that part of the city which they themselves had besieged was most strongly fortified by the citizens with machines, arms, and brave men, and all the more strongly the more they judged there was to be feared from that side; and that on that side on the following day, on account of the site’s fortification, they did not hope they could make much progress, by wondrous providence and astounding labor transferred the engines and the siege-tower, before the members were connected to one another, to that region which is between the Gate of St. Stephen and the angle-tower which is set to the north above the Valley of Josaphat, piece by piece, with the camp also carried thither. For it seemed to them—and so indeed it was—that because on that side the city had remained unbesieged, therefore it was guarded by the citizens with less diligence; and it came to pass that the engines, once transferred, with the watches continued through the whole night, before the rising of the sun were with much labor compacted and placed in suitable stations. But the siege-tower also, in that part where the wall seemed lower, and outside the approach flatter and more convenient, was so applied to the walls that those who were on the towers and those on the engine seemed almost able to fight at close quarters; nor indeed was the toil small.

Nam pene per dimidium milliare ab eo loco, in quo prius castra locaverant, praedicta transtulerant instrumenta, et ibidem ea antequam sol exoriretur, compactis ad invicem membris, erexerant. Sole autem exorto, accedentes ad murum cives, ut quid extra molirentur nostri conspicerent, partem castrorum et omnem apparatum bellicum, qui heri et nudius tertius ibi visus fuerat, abesse cum stupore admirati sunt, et circumspicientes cum diligentia adjacentem regionem, et muri ambitum perlustrantes, cognoverunt castra ducis translata esse; et erectas in parte, qua praediximus, machinas speculati sunt. Eadem quoque nocte, et circa alias urbis partes, prout in diversis, ut praediximus, locis castra posuerant, vigilias et laborem continuantes, machinas suas erexerant; nam pene eodem momento, et comes Tolosanus castellum, quod cum multo studio fabricaverat, inter praedictam ecclesiam montis Sion et urbem, muro applicaverat: et reliqui principes, qui secus turrim angularem, quae hodie Tancredi dicitur, eadem diligentia et pari laboris pondere, ejusdem pene altitudinis et soliditatis ligneam turrim juxta murum locaverant.

For almost half a mile from the place where they had previously pitched their camp, they had transferred the aforesaid instruments, and in that same place, before the sun should rise, with the members fastened to one another, they had erected them. But with the sun risen, the citizens, approaching the wall to see what our men were contriving outside, were amazed with astonishment that a part of the camp and all the warlike apparatus which yesterday and the day before yesterday had been seen there was absent; and, looking with diligence around the adjacent region and traversing the circuit of the wall, they learned that the duke’s camp had been transferred; and they espied the engines raised in the part which we have mentioned. That same night also, and around the other parts of the city, according as in diverse places, as we have said, they had pitched camps, continuing their watches and their toil, they had erected their engines; for at almost the same moment the Count of Toulouse had applied to the wall the castellum which he had constructed with much zeal, between the aforesaid church of Mount Sion and the city; and the remaining princes, who beside the angle-tower which today is called Tancred’s, with the same diligence and with an equal weight of labor, had placed a wooden tower of almost the same height and solidity next to the wall.

Erat autem par praedictarum machinarum effectus, et non dissimile artificium; cum enim quadrilatera essent aedificia, latus quod urbi erat oppositum, duplici erat textura munitum, et exterior arte quadam deponi poterat, ita ut muro superpositum, vicem pontis introire volentibus posset exhibere. Nec tamen ex ea parte immunita erat machina; sed quod suberat, anteriore deposito, castellum non minus quam latera reliqua communiebat.

Moreover, the effect of the aforesaid machines was equal, and the artifice not dissimilar; for since the edifices were quadrilateral, the side which was opposed to the city was fortified with a double texture, and the exterior could, by a certain contrivance, be lowered, so that, when superposed upon the wall, it could exhibit the function of a bridge for those wishing to enter. Nor, however, was the machine unprotected on that side; but the part beneath, when the anterior had been let down, secured the tower no less than the remaining sides.

CAPUT XIII. Oppugnatur civitas et vehementissimus hinc inde fit conflictus; sed nox interposita litem dirimit.

CHAPTER 13. The city is assailed, and a most vehement conflict is waged on both sides; but night, intervening, breaks off the quarrel.

Adolescente igitur die, juxta condictum ad urbem impugnandam adfuit nostrorum universa armis accincta multitudo, omnes unum et idem habentes propositum, aut animas pro Christo deponere, aut urbem Christianae restituere libertati. Non erat in tanto populo senex aut valetudinarius aut aetate minor, quem non moveret zelus, et devotionis fervor non accenderet ad pugnam; sed et mulieres, oblitae sexus, et inolitae fragilitatis immemores, tractantes virilia, supra vires, armorum usum apprehendere praesumebant. Accedentes igitur ad pugnam unanimes, praeparatas machinas muro nitebantur propius adjungere, ut facilius eos qui a turribus et muro resistebant, animosius possent impugnare.

Therefore, as the day advanced, according to the agreement our whole multitude, girded with arms, was present to assault the city, all having one and the same purpose: either to lay down their souls for Christ, or to restore the city to Christian liberty. There was not, in so great a people, an old man, an invalid, or a minor whom zeal did not move and the fervor of devotion did not inflame to battle; but even women, forgetful of their sex and unmindful of their inborn fragility, handling manly implements, beyond their strength, presumed to take up the use of arms. Therefore, approaching the fight of one mind, they strove to bring the prepared engines closer to the wall, so that they might more easily, and with greater spirit, assail those who were resisting from the towers and the wall.

At vero cives propositum habentes adversantibus omnino resistere, telorum ictu, sagittarum immissione innumerabilium, contorsione lapidum, tam de manibus emissarum quam qui ex machinis jaculatoriis cum horrendo impetu torquebantur, nostros ab accessu muri propellere satagebant. Nostri vero nihilo segnius protecti clypeis, et objectis cratibus, tam arcubus quam balistis tela immittentes frequentia et pugillaria contorquentes saxa, ad murum accedere nitebantur imperterriti, his qui in turribus erant requiem denegantes et resistendi audaciam. Alii vero, infra machinas constituti, aut castellum contis promovere nitebantur, aut jaculatoriis molares maximos ad moenia dirigentes, ipsa, collisione frequenti et ictibus continuis, debilitare et ad casum impellere nitebantur.

But indeed the citizens, having the purpose to resist utterly those opposing them, strove to drive our men from approach to the wall by the blow of missiles, by the discharge of innumerable arrows, by the whirling of stones, both such as were thrown from the hand and such as, from projectile engines, were twisted forth with dreadful impetus. Our men, however, none the slower, protected by shields and with mantlets set before them, sending missiles both from bows and from ballistas, and hurling stones numerous and fist-sized, strove undaunted to come up to the wall, denying to those who were in the towers both respite and the audacity of resistance. Others, stationed beneath the machines, either strove to advance the siege-tower with levers, or, directing with projectile engines very great millstones toward the ramparts, endeavored by frequent collision and continual blows to weaken the walls themselves and drive them to a fall.

Alii vero minoribus tormentis, quae mangana vocantur, minores immittendo lapides, eos qui erant in propugnaculis a nostrorum infestatione compescere satagebant. Verum neque hi qui ad promovendum castrum dabant operam, juxta votum satis poterant proficere, cum vallum ingens et profundum quod antemurali erat suppositum, accessum machinae plurimum impediret; nec qui tormentis moenia perforare nitebantur, satis eorum labor proderat; nam cives a propugnaculis, stramine plenos et palea saccos suspenderant, restes quoque et tapetia, trabes ingentis magnitudinis, et culcitras refertas bombice, a turribus et muro aliquantulum dimiserant, ut per eorum mollitiem et mobilitatem, contortorum molarium ictus eluderent, et laborantium evacuarent conatum. Praeterea et ipsi interius machinas erexerant nostris multo plures, quibus sagittando et immittendo lapides, nostros ab opere deterrebant incepto.

Others indeed, with smaller engines, which are called mangana, by launching smaller stones, strove to restrain those who were in the battlements from harrying our men. But neither could those who were giving their effort to advance the tower make sufficient progress according to their wish, since a huge and deep ditch, which had been set before the antemural, very greatly impeded the machine’s approach; nor did the labor of those who were striving to pierce the walls with engines sufficiently avail; for the citizens from the battlements had hung up sacks filled with straw and chaff, and they had also let down somewhat from the towers and the wall ropes and tapestries, beams of enormous size, and mattresses stuffed with bombax (cotton), so that by their softness and mobility they might elude the blows of the hurled millstones and void the endeavor of those laboring. Moreover, they themselves inside had erected machines far more numerous than ours, with which, by shooting arrows and sending stones, they deterred our men from the work begun.

Instantibus igitur tota animositate hinc inde partibus et omni decertantibus conatu, horrendus et supra hominum opinionem, protervus a mane usque ad vesperam se continuavit conflictus, et congressio pertinax, ita ut instar grandinis super utrumque populum telorum et sagittarum descenderet multitudo, et emissi cautes in ipso aere mutuo se colliderent, et causas mortis varias et multiplices irrogarent pugnantibus. Porro par labor et idem periculum erat, tam iis qui sub duce quam qui sub Tolosano et sub aliis etiam militabant principibus. Nam in locis tribus, ut praemissum est, pari studio et fervore non dissimili civitas impugnabatur.

Accordingly, as from this side and that they pressed on with total animosity and contended with every endeavor, a horrendous and—beyond the opinion of men—headlong conflict, and a pertinacious encounter, continued from morning until evening, so that, after the fashion of hail, a multitude of missiles and arrows descended upon both peoples, and the hurled boulders collided with one another in the very air and imposed various and manifold causes of death upon the combatants. Furthermore, the toil was equal and the same peril for those who were serving under the Duke as for those under the Toulousan and even under the other princes. For in three places, as was premised, with equal zeal and not dissimilar fervor the city was being assaulted.

Nostris vero ut vallum jactu ruderum, lapidum quoque et terrae implere possent; et iter dirigere, ut procedere possent machinae, cura erat propensior. Civibus e converso, ut eorum impedirent propositum, labor erat praecipuus et magis urgens sollicitudo. Unde et his qui ad praedictum opus accingebantur, quanta poterant resistebant instantia; et in ipsas machinas, torres incensos, tela ignita sulphure, pice, pasta et oleo, et iis quae incendio solent fomitem ministrare, ut eas exurerent, certatim jaculabantur.

Our men, indeed, were more intent that they might be able to fill the ditch by the casting of rubble, and also of stones and earth; and to straighten a way, that the machines might be able to advance. The citizens, conversely, had as their principal labor and more urgent solicitude to hinder their purpose. Whence they resisted, with as much urgency as they could, those who were girding themselves to the aforesaid work; and at the machines themselves they hurled, vying with one another, burning brands, and fire-missiles ignited with sulfur, pitch, paste, and oil, and those things which are wont to furnish fuel to a conflagration, that they might burn them up.

Praeterea et ingentium quae intus paraverant tormentorum ictus in castella nostra tanta dirigebant arte, ut machinarum pene crura confringerent, perforarent latera, et eos qui in coenaculis, ut inde urbem impugnarent, ascenderant, pene ad terram dejicerent attonitos. Nostri vero, injectis ignibus occurrentes, aquas desuper fundebant copiosius, ut incendiorum comprimerent importunitatem.

Moreover, the blows of the huge engines which they had prepared inside they were directing with such art against our towers, that they almost shattered the legs of the machines, perforated the sides, and nearly cast down to the ground, thunderstruck, those who had ascended into the upper rooms, that from there they might assail the city. Our men, however, meeting the fires that had been thrown in, were pouring waters copiously from above, so as to repress the importunity of the conflagrations.

CAPUT XIV. Nocte illa, in multa anxietate tam obsidentes quam obsessi permanent.

CHAPTER 14. That night, in great anxiety, both the besiegers and the besieged remain.

Hunc igitur tam periculosum procacemque nimis, et adhuc ancipitem utriusque partis conflictum, nox diremit interveniens. Et licet corpora qualemqualem per noctis intempestum viderentur habere requiem, animi tamen cura immoderata pervigiles nihilo remissius laborabant. Fatigabantur interius mordaci mentes sollicitudine, et propositi memores aestuabant, lucem exspectantes avidissime, ut iterum redirent ad certamen, et praeliorum experirentur fortunam; spem habentes in Domino, quod palmam et meliorem essent reportaturi calculum.

Therefore the night, intervening, broke off this conflict so perilous and too procacious, and still two‑edged for both parties. And although the bodies seemed to have some sort of rest through the dead of the night, yet the minds, through immoderate care, kept all‑wakeful, labored none the less. Inwardly the minds were wearied by a biting solicitude, and, mindful of their purpose, they seethed, most eagerly awaiting the light, that they might again return to the contest and try the fortune of battles; having hope in the Lord that they would carry back the palm and the better tally.

Angebantur tamen plurimum, timentes ne clam in eorum machinas hostes quocunque pacto procurarent incendia: unde continuas exegerunt vigilias, noctem illam penitus trahentes insomnem. Cives autem nihilominus curis torquebantur edacibus, formidantes plurimum, ne quos pridie tanta viderant protervitate instantes, sumpta occasione ex noctis intempestae silentio, effracto muro, vel scalis adhibitis, clam urbem ingrederentur. Unde sollicitudine non pigri, sed diligenti vigilantia, tanquam quibus res erat pro capite, ferventes, tota nocte muri circumibant peribolon, praefectis vigilum in singulis turribus constitutis.

Nevertheless they were greatly distressed, fearing lest the enemies should by any means whatsoever clandestinely procure incendiaries against their engines; whence they kept continuous watches, making that night wholly sleepless. The citizens, however, were likewise racked by devouring cares, greatly dreading lest those whom on the previous day they had seen pressing on with such protervity, taking occasion from the silence of the dead of night, should, the wall having been broken, or ladders being applied, secretly enter the city. Whence, not slothful through solicitude, but glowing with diligent vigilance, as those for whom the matter was a question of life, they spent the whole night going round the peribolon of the wall, the prefects of the watches having been stationed on each tower.

Praeterea et qui majores erant natu, et quibus reipublicae erat cura propensior, plateas civitatis circuibant, alios admonentes, pro uxoribus et liberis, pro rebus domesticis, et statu publico se exhiberent pervigiles; portas et vicos perlustrarent, ne qua hostium via pateret in insidiis. His igitur curis pars angebatur utraque, nec quietis locum sollicitudo pervigil patiebatur adesse. Deterius erat partibus, cessante conflictu, animis aestuantibus, nec habentibus requiem, quam pridie fuerat, dum in praelio desudaretur.

Moreover, both those who were elders by birth, and those whose concern for the commonwealth was more inclined, went about the city’s streets, admonishing others that, for their wives and children, for domestic affairs, and for the public status, they should show themselves pervigilant; that they should thoroughly survey the gates and the neighborhoods, lest any way for the enemies lie open in ambush. With these cares, therefore, each party was tormented, nor did wakeful solicitude allow room for rest to be present. It was worse for the parties, the conflict ceasing, with minds seething and having no rest, than it had been the day before, while they were sweating it out in battle.

CAPUT XV. Sequenti die redeunt in idipsum, et solito vehementius impugnatur civitas. Pereunt veneficae, quae nostram machinam fascinatum venerant.

CHAPTER 15. On the following day they return to the same thing, and the city is attacked more vehemently than usual. The sorceresses perish, who had come to “fascinate” our machine.

Nocte igitur circa diem procliviore, cum jam aspirantis diei aurora nuntiaret exortum, excitus est cum omni aviditate populus iterum ad certamen. Revertebatur porro quisque ad officium, cui hesterna die fuerat deputatus. Quidam enim infra machinas positi jaculatorias, ingentis molares magnitudinis et soliditatis exquisitae in moenia contorquebant; alii in castello inferius positi, ad ipsum promovendum tam arte quam viribus operam dabant omnimodam; alii in supremo constituti coenaculo, arcubus et balistis, et quolibet missilium genere eos qui erant in turribus lacessentes, quanto poterant studio et indefessa instantia, ut nec manum auderent exerere, infra propugnacula coercebant; alii vero, ut vallo complanata, et effracto antemurali, castellum moenibus propius posset applicari, omnem habebant sollicitudinem.

Therefore in the night, as it sloped toward day and the dawn of the breathing day was already announcing its rise, the people were roused with all eagerness again to the contest. Each, moreover, returned to the duty to which he had been assigned the day before. For some, posted beneath the throwing machines, were hurling huge millstones, of vast size and of exquisite solidity, against the walls; others, stationed lower in the castellum, were giving every effort, as much by art as by strength, to move it forward; others, positioned in the upper story (coenaculum), with bows and ballistae and with every kind of missile, assailing those who were in the towers with all the zeal they could and untiring persistence, kept them constrained beneath the battlements, so that they did not dare to extend a hand; others, indeed, took every care that, the rampart being leveled and the antemural broken through, the castellum might be brought nearer to the walls.

Alii porro, quorum erat turba plurima, sagittis et jactu lapidum cives arcebant a propugnaculis, ne per eos his qui in producenda machina desudabant, ministraretur impedimentum. Cives autem, quo majorem nostrorum videbant instantiam, eo diligentius in contraria se attollebant argumenta, ut et vim viribus, et artem simili repellerent artificio. Nam et impugnantibus aequipollenter tela remittebant et lapides; et his qui castellum promovere satagebant, admirabili strenuitate praestabant impedimentum.

Others again, whose throng was very great, with arrows and the casting of stones were keeping the citizens away from the battlements, lest through them a hindrance be supplied to those who were sweating to exhaustion in bringing forward the machine. The citizens, however, the greater the urgency of our men they saw, with so much the more diligence raised up countermeasures, so that they might repel force with forces, and skill with a similar artifice. For they sent back missiles and stones to the assailants in equal measure; and for those who were striving to advance the siege-tower, they furnished impediment with admirable strenuousness.

Et, ut semel omnium nostrorum eluderent molimina, ignem incessanter in ollis fragilibus, et quibuscunque modis poterant, cum sulphure et pice, arvina et adipe, stupa,, cera, lignis aridis et stipula, et quaecunque solent incendium irritare, et ignibus ministrare fomitem, jaculabantur. Fiebat igitur in utroque populo strages maxima, et de utraque classe, variis casibus et eventibus inopinatis plurimi sternebantur. Alii enim machinarum jactu in frusta conterebantur munitissima; alii trans loricas et clypeos, sagittis et telorum multiplicitate confossi, subito deficiebant corruentes; alii pugillaribus, manu missis vel funda, cautibus elisi, aut moriebantur protinus, aut attritis membris, per multos dies, aut in perpetuum reddebantur inutiles.

And, so that they might at once elude all our endeavors, they were hurling fire incessantly in fragile pots, and by whatever means they could, with sulfur and pitch, suet and adipose fat, tow, wax, dry wood and straw, and whatever things are wont to irritate a conflagration and minister fuel to fires. Therefore in both peoples there was very great carnage, and from either rank, by various chances and unforeseen events, very many were strewn down. For some, by the cast of the engines, the most strongly protected, were crushed into fragments; others, pierced through cuirasses and shields by arrows and the multiplicity of missiles, suddenly failed, collapsing; others, by fist-sized missiles, sent by hand or by sling, shattered by rocks, either died forthwith, or, with limbs crushed, were rendered useless for many days, or forever.

Nec tamen his omnibus periculis ab opere deterrebantur incepto, nec congrediendi fervor his omnibus in eis poterat mitigari: nec erat facile discernere uter cum majore studio decertaret populus Sed nec silentio praetereundum credimus, quod eadem die relatione dignum dicitur accidisse. Erat sane nostris exterius una inter caeteras machina, quae saxa miri ponderis in urbem multa violentia et impetu immittebat horribili, quae stragem in populo civium operabatur multiplicem: contra quam cum nulla arte possent proficere, duas adduxerunt maleficas, ut eam fascinarent et magicis carminibus redderent impotentem; quae dum suis praestigiis instarent super murum, et incantationibus, repente ex eadem machina molaris immissus utramque illarum cum tribus puellis, quae illarum gressum fuerant comitatae, obtrivit, et excussis animabus, de muro inferius dejecit exanimes: unde in castris factus est plausus et ingens exsultatio; civibus autem ingens ex adverso accrevit moestitia.

Nor yet by all these perils were they deterred from the undertaken work, nor could the fervor of engaging be mitigated in them by all these things; nor was it easy to discern which people contended with the greater zeal. Yet we do not think it should be passed over in silence that on the same day something is said to have happened worthy of report. There was, indeed, outside among our forces, one engine among the rest, which was launching into the city with much violence and impetus stones of marvelous weight, horrible, which was working manifold slaughter among the populace of the citizens; against which, since they could not make headway by any art, they brought two sorceresses, that they might bewitch it and by magical chants render it impotent. While these women pressed on with their prestiges upon the wall and with incantations, suddenly from that same engine a millstone, launched, crushed both of them together with three girls who had accompanied their steps, and, their souls shaken out, cast them lifeless down from the wall below; whence in the camps there arose applause and great exultation, but for the citizens, on the other hand, there increased great mourning.

CAPUT XVI. Datur signum a monte Oliveti divinitus; et populus qui fatigatus erat, redit in pugnam acrius.

CHAPTER 16. A sign is given divinely from the Mount of Olives; and the host that had been fatigued returns into the combat more keenly.

Cum igitur usque in horam diei septimam, sine certa victoria anceps et dubium satis protractum esset negotium, desperantes nostri et immensitate laboris defatigati supra vires, coeperunt instare remissius, ita ut jam propositum haberent castellum continuis pene ictibus confractum, et alias machinas igne recepto jam fumantes, reducere pusillum, et conflictum usque in diem differre crastinam; et jam paulatim diffidens dilabebatur populus, animis pene dissolutis, et hostibus insultantibus et provocantibus ultro ad praelia nimis procaciter et amplius solito, cum ecce adfuit virtus divina, quae rebus desperatis necessariam, et pro votis fidelium intulit consolationem. Nam de monte Oliveti miles quidam, qui tamen postea non comparuit, splendidum et refulgentem ventilando clypeum, signum dabat nostris legionibus, ut redirent in id ipsum et congressionem iterarent. Quo signo exhilaratus animo dux Godefridus, qui cum fratre suo Eustachio, in superiori castelli nostri coenaculo ad urbem impugnandam et ad cautius tuendum aedificium erat constitutus, populum et majores coepit ingentibus revocare clamoribus.

Therefore, when up to the seventh hour of the day the business had been drawn out, hazardous and quite uncertain without a sure victory, our men, despairing and worn out beyond their strength by the immensity of the labor, began to press the matter more slackly, so that they now had it purposed to draw back a little the tower, almost broken by well-nigh continuous blows, and the other machines, now smoking, having taken fire, and to defer the conflict until the morrow; and already little by little the people, losing confidence, was slipping away, their spirits almost dissolved, while the enemies were insulting and provoking them moreover to battles too impudently and more than was usual, when lo, the divine power was present, which, when things were despaired of, brought the necessary consolation, and according to the vows of the faithful. For from the Mount of Olives a certain soldier, who thereafter did not appear, by brandishing a splendid and refulgent shield, was giving a signal to our legions to return to the same and to renew the engagement. By which sign gladdened in spirit Duke Godfrey, who, with his brother Eustace, had been stationed in the upper room of our little castle for assaulting the city and for guarding the structure more cautiously, began to recall the people and the leaders with huge shouts.

Factumque est, praevia Domini misericordia, quod universus cum exsultatione ad pugnam reversus est populus, cum tanto fervore, ut tanquam viribus integris de novo videretur incipere praelium. Denique qui prius aut fessi, aut laesi vulneribus, operam subtraxerant, nunc receptis animis et viribus geminatis ultro se offerebant, instantes animosius. Porro principes, et qui columnae videbantur exercitus, hi alios praecedebant et suo exemplo reddebant animosiores.

And it came to pass, with the Lord’s mercy going before, that the whole people returned to the fight with exultation, with such fervor that it seemed as though, with strength intact, they were beginning the battle anew. Finally, those who earlier, either weary or wounded by wounds, had withdrawn their effort, now, spirits recovered and forces doubled, were of their own accord offering themselves, pressing on more spiritedly. Moreover, the princes, and those who seemed the columns of the army, went before the others and by their example rendered them more courageous.

Sed et mulieres, ne tanti expertes laboris esse viderentur, viris in agone desudantibus, potum, ne deficerent, ministrabant in vasculis et verbis efficacibus eos ad certamen animabant. Porro tanta erat in castris laetitia, ut jam quasi certi de victoria, infra horae spatium vallo complanato et effracto antemurali, castellum muro violenter applicarent. Cives autem, ut praediximus, trabes procerae longitudinis, et soliditatis multae a muro suspenderant, ut machinarum ictus eliderent, quarum duas nostri qui erant in castello, praecisis funibus, quibus erant religatae, dejecerunt in terram: quas, qui erant inferius, cum multo periculo suscipientes, infra machinam detulerunt, easque demum ponti, quem statim, ut dicetur in sequentibus, de castello super murum erexerunt, ad majorem subjecerunt soliditatem.

But even the women, lest they should seem to be without a share in so great a labor, while the men were sweating it out in the agony, were ministering drink in little vessels so that they might not fail, and with efficacious words were heartening them to the contest. Moreover, so great was the joy in the camp that now, as if already certain of victory, within the span of an hour, the rampart having been leveled and the fore-mural broken through, they violently applied the tower to the wall. The citizens, however, as we said above, had suspended from the wall beams of tall length and of much solidity, to ward off the blows of the engines; two of which our men who were in the tower, the ropes by which they had been bound having been cut, cast down to the ground. Those who were below, receiving them with much peril, carried them beneath the machine, and finally they placed them beneath the bridge—which straightway, as will be said in what follows, they raised from the tower over the wall—for greater solidity.

Ex fragilibus enim pons contextus erat lignis, nec nisi horum subjecto adminiculo, populum transeuntem sustinere potuisset.

For the bridge had been woven from fragile timbers, and not unless, with the support of these laid beneath, could it have sustained the people passing over.

CAPUT XVII. In parte australi Tolosanus cum suis urbem nihilo cegnius impugnat.

CHAPTER 17. In the southern part the Toulousan, with his men, attacks the city none the less vigorously.

Interea vero, dum haec in septentrionali plaga tanto studio tractarentur, comes Tolosanus, et qui cum eo erant in parte australi, quanta poterant instantia, eodem zelo ferventes, urbem impugnabant, completoque vallo, circa quod opus per continuum desudaverant triduum, castellum in manu forti, juxta murum locaverant, ita ut qui in turribus erant et in machina, pene possent se mutuo lanceis vulnerare. Erat ergo par utrobique populi fervor, et instantia non dissimilis; eoque diligentius instabant operi, quod ea esset dies, qua quidam Christi servus, qui in monte Oliveti habitabat, confidenter promiserat urbem esse capiendam. Sed et signum, quod et ipsi agitati clypei ab eodem monte Oliveti viderant, eos, vehementer accenderat et reddiderat de obtinenda victoria securiores.

Meanwhile indeed, while these things were being handled with such zeal in the northern quarter, the Count of Toulouse, and those who were with him in the southern part, with as much urgency as they could, burning with the same zeal, were assaulting the city; and when the rampart was completed, at which work they had sweated for a continuous three days, they had placed a small fortress with a strong hand next to the wall, such that those who were in the towers and in the machine could almost wound one another with lances. Therefore the people’s fervor was equal on both sides, and the urgency not dissimilar; and they pressed the work all the more diligently because it was the day on which a certain servant of Christ, who dwelt on the Mount of Olives, had confidently promised that the city would be taken. But also the sign of a shaken shield, which they themselves had seen from that same Mount of Olives, had greatly inflamed them and had made them more secure about obtaining the victory.

Videbatur porro utriusque exercitus aequis passibus procedere negotium, tanquam quod ab eodem auctore pari diligentia procurabatur, qui mercede condigna, servorum suorum devotionem remunerare decreverat. Tempus enim erat, ut tanti laboris fructum, et militiae fideliter exhibitae stipendia reportarent.

Moreover, the enterprise of both armies seemed to proceed with equal steps, as though it were being managed by the same author with equal diligence, who had decreed to remunerate, with condign wage, the devotion of his servants. For it was time that they should carry back the fruit of so great labor, and the stipends of military service faithfully rendered.

CAPUT XVIII. Dux et qui cum eo erant, a castello ligneo pontem super murum deponunt; suos immittunt. Urbs capitur, porta aperitur, et noster introducitur exercitus.

CHAPTER 18. The Duke and those who were with him let down a bridge over the wall from the wooden castle; they send their men in. The city is captured, the gate is opened, and our army is led in.

Igitur ducis et comitum legiones, quae, ut praediximus, in parte septentrionali urbem impugnabant, eousque opitulante Domino profecerant, quod hostibus defatigatis et jam resistere non valentibus, effractis antemuralibus et vallo penitus complanato, ad murum impune poterant accedere, raro audentibus adversariis eis per cancellos aliquid irrogare injuriae. Qui vero in castello erant, hortante duce, in culcitram bombice plenam, et saccos plenos stramine ignem injecerant, qui flante Borea accensus, fumum infra urbem intorquebat caliginosum: quo instante protervius, qui murum defendere tenebantur, ora vel oculos non valentes aperire, stupidi et fumidae caliginis turbati voragine, muri deseruere custodiam. Quo cognito dux, sub omni celeritate trabes, quas ab hostibus eripuerant, sursum ferri praecepit, quibus ex una parte in machina, ex altera super murum locatis, latus castelli, quod moveri poterat, deponi praecepit: quo super trabes praedictas collocato, vicem pontis praebuit congrua soliditate subnixum.

Therefore the legions of the duke and his companions, which, as we have foretold, were assaulting the city on the northern side, had advanced thus far with the Lord helping, that, the enemies wearied and now unable to resist, the outworks broken and the rampart thoroughly leveled, they could approach the wall with impunity, the adversaries but rarely daring to inflict any injury upon them through the embrasures. But those who were in the tower, the duke encouraging them, had cast fire upon a mattress full of cotton (bombyx) and sacks full of straw, which, kindled with Boreas blowing, was twisting a sooty smoke down within the city: as this pressed them the more insolently, those who were bound to defend the wall, not able to open their mouths or eyes, dazed and disturbed by the whirl of smoky murk, abandoned the guard of the wall. Which being known, the duke, with all speed, ordered beams, which they had snatched from the enemies, to be carried up, and with these placed on one side on the engine, on the other upon the wall, he ordered the side of the tower, which could be moved, to be let down: and when this was placed upon the aforesaid beams, it furnished the function of a bridge, supported by suitable solidity.

Sic ergo quod hostes pro se introduxerant, in eorum versum est laesionem. Ponte igitur sic ordinato, primus omnium vir inclytus et illustris dux Godefridus, reliquos ut subsequantur exhortans, cum fratre suo Eustachio urbem ingressus est; quem continuo subsecuti sunt Ludolfus et Gislebertus uterini fratres, viri nobiles et perpete digni memoria, ortum habentes de civitate Tornaco; consequenter vero infinita tam equitum quam peditum manus: ita ut nec machina, nec pons praedictus plures posset sustinere. Videntes ergo hostes, quod nostri murum jam occupaverant, et dux suum jam introduxerat exercitum, turres deserunt et moenia, ad vicorum angustias se conferentes.

Thus therefore what the enemies had introduced on their own behalf was turned into harm against them. With the bridge thus ordered, first of all the renowned and illustrious man, Duke Godfrey, exhorting the rest to follow, entered the city with his brother Eustace; whom straightway Ludolf and Gislebert, uterine brothers, noble men and worthy of perpetual memory, having their origin from the city of Tournai, followed; thereafter indeed a countless band of both horsemen and foot-soldiers: so that neither the engine nor the aforesaid bridge could support more. Seeing therefore that our men had already occupied the wall, and that the duke had already brought in his army, the enemies abandon the towers and the walls, betaking themselves to the narrow passages of the streets.

Porro nostri videntes, quod dux, et maxima pars nobilium turres sibi vindicaverant, jam non exspectato per machinam ascensu, scalas certatim ad murum applicant, quorum illis maxima erat copia; nam bini et bini equites ex edicto publico singulas sibi praeparaverant, per quas ascendentes unanimiter, aliis qui supra murum erant, ducis mandatum praestolantes, se adjungebant. Ingressi sane statim post ducem sunt, Flandrensium comes et dux Normannorum; vir strenuus et per omnia commendabilis, dominus Tancredus, Hugo senior, comes de Sancto Paulo, Balduinus de Burgo, Gasto de Beart, Gastus de Beders, Girardus de Rosseillon, Thomas de Feria, Conanus Brito, comes Raimboldus de civitate Oringis, Ludovicus de Monson, Conon de Monte acuto et Lambertus filius ejus, et alii plures, quorum numerum et nomina non tenemus. Quos omnes, postquam dux cognovit se infra urbem recepisse incolumes, quosdam ex eis ad portam septentrionalem, quae hodie dicitur Sancti Stephani, cum honesto dirigit comitatu, ut portam aperiant et populum introducant, deforis exspectantem: qua sub omni celeritate reserata, ingressus est passim, et sine delectu universus exercitus.

Moreover our men, seeing that the duke and the greatest part of the nobles had claimed the towers for themselves, now, not waiting for the ascent by the machine, eagerly set ladders against the wall, of which they had a very great supply; for two by two the knights, by public edict, had prepared single ladders for themselves, by which, ascending unanimously, they joined themselves to the others who were upon the wall, awaiting the duke’s mandate. Indeed, they entered immediately after the duke: the count of the Flemings and the duke of the Normans; a strenuous and in all ways commendable man, lord Tancred, Hugh the elder, the count of Saint-Pol, Baldwin of Bourcq, Gaston of Béarn, Gastus de Beders, Girard of Roussillon, Thomas of Feria, Conan the Breton, Count Raimbold of the city of Orange, Louis of Monson, Conon of Montacute and Lambert his son, and many others, whose number and names we do not hold. All of these, after the duke learned that he had received them within the city unharmed, he sends some of them to the northern gate, which today is called St. Stephen’s, with an honorable retinue, that they might open the gate and lead in the people waiting outside: which, being unbarred with all celerity, the entire army entered everywhere and without distinction.

Erat autem feria sexta et hora nona. Videturque procuratum divinitus, ut qua die et qua hora pro mundi salute in eadem urbe passus est Dominus, eadem et pro Salvatoris gloria fidelis decertans populus, desiderii sui felicem impetraret consummationem. Eadem enim die et primus homo conditus et secundus pro primi salute morti traditus esse dicitur.

It was, moreover, Friday and the ninth hour. And it seems to have been divinely provided that on the very day and at the very hour on which, for the salvation of the world, the Lord suffered in the same city, likewise the faithful people, contending for the Savior’s glory, might impetrate the happy consummation of their desire. For on the same day both the first man is said to have been created, and the second to have been handed over to death for the salvation of the first.

Unde et decuit ut ejus membra et imitatores in ipsius nomine de hostibus ejusdem triumpharent.

Whence it was also fitting that his members and imitators should triumph, in his name, over his enemies.

CAPUT XIX. Dux cum suis per civitatem discurrens, stragem operatur innumeram. Tolosanus a parte Australi violenter ingreditur, et suas introducit legiones.

CHAPTER 19. The Duke, running through the city with his own men, works an innumerable slaughter. The Toulousan from the southern side violently enters, and introduces his legions.

Civium pars in praesidium civitatis se recipiunt.

A part of the citizens take refuge in the city's stronghold.

Porro dux et qui cum eo erant per vicos civitatis et plateas, strictis gladiis, clypeis tecti et galeis, juncto agmine discurrentes, quotquot de hostibus reperire poterant, aetati non parcentes, aut conditioni, in ore gladii indifferenter prosternebant. Tantaque erat ubique interemptorum strages et praecisorum acervus capitum, ut jam nemini via pateret aut transitus, nisi per funera defunctorum. Jamque pene ad urbis medium diversis itineribus stragem operantes innumeram, nostri principes pervenerant; et subsequentis populi infinita multitudo, infidelium cruorem sitiens, et ad caedem omnino proclivis: cum comes adhuc Tolosanus et principes alii, qui cum eo erant, circa montem Sion decertantes, urbem captam, et nostrorum victoriam ignorabant; sed excito de nostrorum introitu et strage civium, ingenti clamore et horrendo sonitu, admirantibus qui in ea parte resistebant civibus, quidnam sibi vellet clamor insolitus et populi vociferantis tumultus, cognoverunt urbem violenter effractam et nostrorum immissas legiones: unde, relictis turribus et muro, ad diversa fugientes loca, saluti propriae consulere satagebant.

Moreover the leader and those who were with him, through the lanes and squares of the city, with swords drawn, covered with shields and helmets, running in a joined column, were casting down without distinction, upon the edge of the sword, as many of the enemy as they could find, sparing neither age nor condition. And so great everywhere was the slaughter of the slain and the pile of severed heads that already the way or passage was open to no one, save through the funerals of the dead. And now, almost to the city’s middle by diverse routes, working an innumerable carnage, our princes had come; and an infinite multitude of the people following, thirsting for the blood of the unfaithful, and wholly prone to slaughter: when the Count of Toulouse, however, and the other princes who were with him, fighting around Mount Sion, were unaware that the city had been taken and of our men’s victory; but, a mighty outcry and horrendous sound having been raised at the entry of our men and the slaughter of the citizens, while the citizens who were resisting on that side were wondering what the unwonted shouting and the tumult of a vociferating people might mean, they learned that the city had been violently broken open and that our men’s legions had been sent in: whence, leaving the towers and the wall, fleeing to diverse places, they were striving to consult for their own safety.

Hi, quoniam praesidium civitatis in vicino constitutum erat, ex parte plurima se in arcem contulerunt; at vero exercitus pontem libere et sine difficultate super murum aptantes, et scalas applicantes moenibus, certatim in urbem nemine obstante ingressi sunt. Intromissi autem, portam Australem, quae illis erat contermina, statim aperuerunt, ut reliquus sine difficultate populus admitteretur. Ingressus est igitur vir insignis et strenuus Tolosanus comes, et Isoardus comes Diensis, Raimundus Pelez, Wilelmus de Sabran, episcopus Albariensis, et alii multi nobiles, quorum numerum vel nomina nulla nobis tradit historia.

These, since the garrison of the city had been stationed in the vicinity, for the greatest part betook themselves into the citadel; but the army, fitting a bridge freely and without difficulty over the wall, and applying ladders to the fortifications, entered the city in rivalry, with no one opposing. Once admitted, they straightway opened the Southern gate, which was adjoining to them, so that the remaining people might be admitted without difficulty. Accordingly there entered the distinguished and strenuous Count of Toulouse, and Isoard, Count of Die, Raymond Pelet, William of Sabran, the Bishop of Albara, and many other nobles, whose number or names no history transmits to us.

Hi omnes unanimiter, junctis agminibus, ad unguem armati, per mediam urbem discurrentes, stragem operati sunt horrendam; nam qui ducem et suos effugerant, putantes se mortem quocunque modo declinasse si ad alias se conferrent fugiendo partes, hos sibi habentes obviam, occumbebant periculosius; et Scyllam evitantes, incurrebant Charybdim. Tanta autem per urbem erat strages hostium, tantaque sanguinis effusio, ut etiam victoribus posset taedium et horrorem ingerere.

All these, unanimously, with their formations joined, armed to the nail, running through the midst of the city, wrought a horrendous slaughter; for those who had fled the leader and his men, thinking they had by any means avoided death if by fleeing they transferred themselves to other quarters, meeting these as they came opposite, fell more perilously; and, avoiding Scylla, they ran into Charybdis. So great throughout the city was the slaughter of the enemy, and so great the effusion of blood, that it could even infuse into the victors tedium and horror.

CAPUT XX. Cives in atrium templi se conferunt. Tancredus illuc eos persequitur. Fit strages innumera, et sanguis ibidem funditur infinitus.

CHAPTER 20. The citizens betake themselves into the atrium of the temple. Tancred pursues them thither. An innumerable slaughter is wrought, and blood is poured out there without end.

Confugerat porro in atrium templi populi pars maxima, eo quod locus in parte urbis esse videretur secretior, muro quoque et turribus, et portis validioribus apprime communitus; verum eis nihil fuga talis contulit ad salutem. Nam statim cum parte maxima exercitus universi, illuc dominus Tancredus se contulit, et templum violenter ingressus, post stragem innumeram, infinitas auri et argenti, et gemmarum copias inde secum dicitur abstulisse; quae tamen postmodum, sedato tumultu, restituisse creditur in integrum. Porro reliqui principes, interemptis his, quos sibi per reliquas urbis partes repererant obviam, audientes quod infra septa templi populus fugiens se contulerat, illuc descendunt unanimes, et intromissa tam equitum quam peditum multitudine, quotquot ibi reperiunt, nemini parcentes, obtruncant gladiis, sanguine replentes universa; justoque Dei judicio id certum est accidisse, ut qui superstitiosis ritibus Domini sanctuarium profanaverant, et fidelibus populis reddiderant alienum, id proprii cruoris luerent dispendio et morte interveniente piaculare solverent flagitium.

Moreover the greatest part of the people had fled for refuge into the atrium of the temple, because the place seemed to be more secluded in a part of the city, and especially fortified by a wall and towers and stronger gates; but such a flight brought them nothing for safety. For immediately, with the very great part of the whole army, Lord Tancred betook himself thither, and, having violently entered the temple, after innumerable slaughter, is said to have carried off from there with him infinite stores of gold and silver, and of gems; which, however, afterwards, the tumult having been calmed, he is believed to have restored in full. Moreover the other princes, after killing those whom they had found meeting them through the remaining parts of the city, hearing that the people fleeing had betaken themselves within the enclosures of the temple, go down thither with one mind, and, the multitude of both horsemen and foot-soldiers having been let in, all whom they find there, sparing no one, they cut down with swords, filling everything with blood; and by the just judgment of God it is certain to have happened that those who by superstitious rites had profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, and had rendered it alien to the faithful peoples, should atone for it at the cost of their own blood, and, death intervening, should discharge the piacular flagitious offense.

Horror erat denique caesorum intueri multitudinem, et humanorum artuum passim fragmenta conspicere, et effusi sanguinis aspergine cunctam redundare superficiem. Nec solum defunctorum corpora membris potioribus lacera et abscisis mutilata capitibus, intuentibus erat angustia; verum et ipsos victores a planta pedis usque ad verticem cruore madentes periculosum erat conspicere, et horrorem quemdam inferebant occurrentibus. Cecidisse dicuntur infra templi ambitum ex hostibus ad decem millia, exceptis aliis qui passim per urbem obtruncati, vicos replebant et plateas, quorum non minor dicebatur esse numerus.

In fine, it was a horror to behold the multitude of the slaughtered, and to see fragments of human limbs everywhere, and the whole surface to overflow with the aspersion of effused blood. Nor was there anguish only for the onlookers at the bodies of the dead, torn in their principal members and mutilated with their heads cut off; but it was perilous to look upon the victors themselves, dripping with gore from the sole of the foot to the crown, and they brought a certain horror to those who met them. They are said to have fallen, within the temple’s circuit, of the enemies about 10,000, except for others who, cut down everywhere through the city, were filling the lanes and squares, whose number was said to be no less.

At vero exercitus pars reliqua per urbem discurrens, per angiportus et viarum diverticula latentes miseros, et mortis periculum declinare cupientes, pecudum more raptos in publicum, detruncabant. Alii divisi per manipulos ingrediebantur domicilia, raptumque patremfamilias cum uxoribus et liberis, et universa familia, aut gladiis transverberabant, aut de locis superioribus in terram dabant praecipites, ita ut confractis cervicibus interirent; quam vero quisque domum effregerat, eam sibi cum universa ejus substantia jure perpetuo vindicabat; id enim prius ante urbem captam inter eos convenerat, ut urbe violenter impugnata, quod sibi quisque acquireret, id jure proprietatis sine molestia possideret in perpetuum. Unde urbem perlustrantes diligentius, et stragi civium protervius instantes, urbis diverticula, secessus quoque et secretiora civium effringebant penetralia, clypeos vel quodlibet armorum genus in introitu defigentes, ut esset signum accedentibus, ne gressum ibi figerent; sed loca praeterirent, quasi jam ab aliis occupata.

But indeed the remaining part of the army, running through the city, through alleys and the bypaths of the streets, seized the wretches who were hidden and wished to decline the peril of death, and, dragged into the open like cattle, they were hewing them down. Others, divided into maniples, were entering dwellings, and the paterfamilias seized for plunder together with wives and children and the entire household, they either were running through with swords, or were casting headlong from the higher places to the ground, so that, their necks broken, they perished; and whatever house anyone had broken open, he claimed it for himself together with all its substance by perpetual right; for this had previously been agreed among them before the city was captured: that, the city being violently assaulted, whatever each should acquire for himself, that he should possess by a proprietary right without molestation in perpetuity. Whence, traversing the city more diligently, and pressing more arrogantly upon the slaughter of the citizens, they were breaking open the byways of the city, retreats also and the more secret penetralia of the citizens, fixing shields or whatever kind of arms at the entrance, so that it might be a sign to those approaching not to set their step there, but to pass the places by, as if already occupied by others.

CAPUT XXI. Urbe composita sedatur tumultus; et armis depositis orationis gratia, loca circumeunt venerabilia, diem agentes solemnem.

CHAPTER 21. With the city set in order the tumult is calmed; and with arms laid down, for the sake of prayer, they go around venerable places, keeping a solemn day.

Subjugata igitur penitus civitate et interemptis civibus, tumultu aliquantulum sedato, convenerunt principes ad invicem, antequam arma deponerent, ordinantes ut per turres singulas ad majorem cautelam custodes deputarentur; et per portas urbis singulas viri honesti constituerentur janitores, quousque de communi conniventia et publico decreto principum, aliquis urbi praeficeretur, qui ejus curam gereret, et pro libero cuncta dispensaret arbitrio. Hostium enim circumpositorum merito suspectas habebant insidias et impetus non imprudenter formidabant repentinos. Tandem vero urbe ad hunc modum ordinata, armis depositis, in spiritu humilitatis et in animo vere contrito, nudis vestigiis, lotis manibus et sumptis mundioribus indumentis, cum gemitu et lacrymis loca venerabilia, quae Salvator propria voluit illustrare et sanctificare praesentia, coeperunt cum omni devotione circuire, et cum intimis deosculari suspiriis; specialiter autem Dominicae passionis et resurrectionis ecclesiam, ubi clerus et populus fidelium, qui per tot annos durae nimis et indebitae servitutis jugum portaverant, de restituta libertate, Redemptori gratias exhibentes, cum crucibus et sanctorum patrociniis, principibus occurrentes, eos in praedictam cum hymnis et canticis spiritualibus introduxerunt Ecclesiam.

Thus, with the city thoroughly subjugated and the citizens slain, the tumult having been somewhat calmed, the princes assembled with one another, before they laid down their arms, ordaining that for greater caution guards should be deputed upon each single tower; and that at each single gate of the city honorable men should be appointed as doorkeepers, until by common connivance and by the public decree of the princes someone should be set over the city to bear its care and to dispense all things by free discretion. For they held the ambushes of the enemies stationed around as justly suspect and not unwisely feared sudden assaults. At length, however, the city having been ordered in this way, their arms laid down, in a spirit of humility and a truly contrite soul, with bare feet, with hands washed and cleaner garments taken up, with groaning and tears they began with all devotion to go around the venerable places which the Savior willed to illumine and to sanctify by His own presence, and to kiss them with inmost sighs; but especially the Church of the Lord’s Passion and Resurrection, where the clergy and the people of the faithful, who for so many years had borne the yoke of most hard and undue servitude, for the restored liberty, giving thanks to the Redeemer, with crosses and the patronages of the saints, going to meet the princes, ushered them with hymns and spiritual songs into the aforesaid Church.

Intueri erat amoenissimum, et spirituali plenum jucunditate, quanta devotione, quanto pii fervore desiderii, ad loca sancta fidelis accederet populus; quanta mentis exsultatione et spirituali gaudio Dominicae dispensationis deosculabantur memoriam. Ubique lacrymae, ubique suspiria, non qualia moeror et anxietas solet extorquere, sed qualia fervens devotio et interioris hominis consummata laetitia, solet Domino in holocaustum incendere. Erat porro tam in ecclesia quam per urbem universam, tantus populi, gratias Domino exhibentis, clamor, ut jam quasi usque ad sidera tolli sonus videretur, et de eis merito dictum crederetur: Vox laetitiae et exsultationis in tabernaculis justorum (Psal.

It was most delightful to behold, and full of spiritual jocundity, with how much devotion, with what pious fervor of desire, the faithful people would approach the holy places; with how much exultation of mind and spiritual joy they were devoutly kissing the memory of the Lord’s dispensation. Everywhere tears, everywhere sighs—not such as grief and anxiety are wont to extort, but such as fervent devotion and the consummate joy of the inner man are accustomed to enkindle to the Lord as a holocaust. Moreover, both in the church and throughout the whole city, there was so great a clamor of the people rendering thanks to the Lord, that now the sound seemed as if to be lifted even to the stars, and of them it might rightly be believed that it was said: A voice of joy and exultation in the tents of the righteous (Psal.

CXVII, 15). Fervebant sane pio succensa desiderio, per urbem universam opera misericordiae. Hi Domino confitebantur deflenda quae commiserant, voto se obligantes ne de caetero deflenda committerent; illi in senes valitudinarios et egentes profusa liberalitate cunctam erogabant substantiam; pro summis et sufficientibus reputantes divitiis, quod hunc vidisse diem sibi fuerat concessum divinitus; illi flexis nudisque genibus, cum singultibus et praecordialibus suspiriis loca circuibant venerabilia, lacrymarum cuncta replentes aspergine; quorum vere sermo dirigebatur ad Dominum: Exitus aquarum deduxerunt oculi mei (Psal. CXVIII, 136). Quid plura?

(Psal. 117, 15). They were indeed seething, kindled by pious desire, with works of mercy throughout the entire city. These were confessing to the Lord the things to be wept over which they had committed, binding themselves by a vow that henceforth they would not commit things to be wept over; those, upon the elderly, the ailing, and the needy, with profuse liberality were disbursing their entire substance; accounting as the highest and sufficient riches that it had been granted to them by divinity to have seen this day; those, with knees bent and bare, with sobs and with precordial sighs, were circling the venerable places, filling all things with the sprinkling of tears; whose word indeed was being directed to the Lord: Outflows of waters have my eyes led down (Psal. 118, 136). What more?

Difficile est, ut nostro comprehendatur sermone, quanta in plebe fideli sanctae devotionis esset immensitas. Certatim enim se mutuo vincere cupientes, in operibus pietatis unanimiter desudabant, coelestis memores beneficii, et gratiam prae oculis habentes divinam, quae tantos eorum labores remunerare dignata est. Quis enim tam ferrei pectoris, quis tam mentis adamantinae, cujus interiora non liquefierent, cum liceret tantae peregrinationis fructum carpere dignissimum, et exhibitae militiae numerare stipendia?

It is difficult for it to be comprehended by our speech, how great was the immensity of holy devotion in the faithful plebs. For, vying in rivalry and desiring to surpass one another, they labored together in works of piety, mindful of the heavenly benefaction and holding the divine grace before their eyes, which deigned to remunerate their so great labors. For who is of so iron a breast, who of so adamantine a mind, whose inner parts would not be melted, when it was permitted to reap the most worthy fruit of so great a peregrination, and to number the stipends of the service exhibited?

Quibus tamen mens erat altior, in arrham futurae retributionis, qua sanctos suos se remuneraturum promisit Dominus, id muneris videbatur exhibitum, ut per collationem praesentium munerum, firma sit exspectatio futurorum, et per eam quae hic peregrinatur Hierusalem, ad eam perveniatur, cujus participatio est in idipsum (Psal. CXXI, 3). Porro episcopi et sacerdotes in ecclesiis consummantes, sacrificia, orabant pro populo, pro collato beneficio gratias exhibentes.

To those, however, whose mind was higher, as an earnest of the future retribution, with which the Lord promised that he would remunerate his saints, this seemed to have been offered as a gift: that through the collation of present gifts there might be a firm expectation of things to come, and through that Jerusalem which here sojourns, one might come to that [Jerusalem], whose participation is in the selfsame (Psal. 121, 3). Moreover, the bishops and priests, consummating the sacrifices in the churches, were praying for the people, offering thanks for the benefit bestowed.

CAPUT XXII. Podiensis episcopus, et alii quidam qui in itinere dormitionem acceperant, visi sunt in civitate et apparuerunt multis.

CHAPTER 22. The Bishop of Le Puy, and certain others who had received dormition on the journey, were seen in the city and appeared to many.

Ea die dominus Ademarus, vir virtutum et immortalis memoriae, Podiensis episcopus, qui apud Antiochiam, ut praediximus, vita decesserat, a multis in sancta visus est civitate, ita ut multi viri venerabiles et fide digni eum super civitatis murum, primum omnium ascendisse et caeteros animasse ad ingressum, oculis corporeis se vidisse constanter assererent: et postmodum plurimis, loca venerabilia circumeuntibus, eadem die manifestus apparuit. Aliique quam plures, qui in toto itinere divinis obsequiis mancipati, piam in Christo dormitionem acceperant, in eadem civitate apparuerunt multis, loca sancta cum aliis ingredientes. In quo manifeste dabatur intelligi, quia, etsi vita decessissent temporali, ad aeternam vocati beatitudinem, non sunt fraudati a desiderio suo; sed quod pio expetierant studio, pleno sunt effectu consecuti, magnum nobis futurae resurrectionis argumentum praetendentes.

On that day Lord Ademarus, a man of virtues and of immortal memory, the bishop of Le Puy, who at Antioch, as we have previously said, had departed this life, was seen by many in the Holy City, to such a degree that many venerable men and worthy of faith steadfastly asserted that with bodily eyes they had seen him upon the city’s wall, that he, first of all, had ascended and had animated the rest to enter; and afterward, to very many, as they were going around the venerable places, he appeared manifest the same day. And many others besides, who throughout the whole journey had been devoted to divine obsequies and had received a pious dormition in Christ, appeared in that same city to many, entering the holy places with the others. In which it was plainly given to be understood that, although they had departed from temporal life, called to eternal beatitude, they were not defrauded of their desire; but what they had sought with pious zeal, they obtained with full effect, presenting to us a great argument of the future resurrection.

Dignumque erat, ut sicut resurgente Domino multa corpora sanctorum qui dormierant surrexerunt, et in civitate sancta apparuerunt multis; ita fidelibus populis sanctae Resurrectionis locum, a gentili superstitione mundantibus, priscum renovaretur miraculum, ut et ipsi in spiritu resurrexisse crederentur, qui resurgentis Domini tam piis se manciparant obsequiis. His igitur et hujusmodi per superabundantem coelestem gratiam, plebi Dei in civitate sancta, miraculose magis quam mirabiliter exhibitis, tanta erat in populo mentis hilaritas, et interna cordis exsultatio, ut laborum immemores, quos pertulerant infinitos, felices se dicerent, quibus id divini muneris datum erat intueri. Clamor erat spiritualiter exsultantis civitatis ad Dominum, et quasi praecipiente Domino, solemnitas agebatur celebris: ita ut illud prophetae impletum ad litteram videretur oraculum: Laetamini cum Hierusalem, et exsultate in ea, omnes qui diligitis eam (Isa.

And it was worthy that, just as when the Lord rose again many bodies of the saints who had slept arose and appeared to many in the holy city, so too for the faithful peoples cleansing the place of the holy Resurrection from gentile superstition, the ancient miracle should be renewed, that they also might be believed to have risen in spirit, who had mancipated themselves to the services of the rising Lord with such piety. Therefore, with these and such things exhibited to the plebs of God in the holy city by superabundant celestial grace, more miraculously than marvelously, so great was the cheerfulness of mind among the people, and the inner exultation of heart, that, forgetful of the labors without number which they had endured, they called themselves happy, to whom it had been given to behold that gift of God. There was a clamor of the city spiritually exulting to the Lord, and, as if at the Lord’s command, a famous solemnity was being celebrated: so that that oracle of the prophet seemed to be fulfilled to the letter: Rejoice with Jerusalem, and exult in her, all you who love her (Isa.

LXVI, 10).

66, 10).

CAPUT XXIII. Viri fideles, qui in urbe habitabant, Petro Eremitae, cui suam commiserant legationem, ingentes gratias exsolvunt et honore debito prosequuntur.

CHAPTER 23. Faithful men, who were inhabiting the city, render enormous thanks to Peter the Hermit, to whom they had entrusted their legation, and attend him with due honor.

Denique fideles, qui virum venerabilem Petrum Eremitam, quarto vel quinto prius anno in eadem civitate viderant; et cui tam dominus patriarcha quam alii, tam de clero quam de populo majores, pro excitandis occidentalium regnorum principibus epistolas suas tradiderant, iterum cognoscentes, flexis genibus cum omni humilitate venerabantur, referentes ad memoriam priorem ejus adventum, et familiaritatis gratiam, quam cum ipsis contrahere dignatus fuerat; gratias exsolventes, quod tam sedule tamque fideliter solo pietatis intuitu eorum procuraverat legationem; Dominum etiam super omnia collaudantes, qui in servis suis gloriosus est; qui ita praeter spem hominum, praedicti viri vias direxerat et sermonem in manu ejus dederat efficacem, ut et gentes et regna ad tantos labores pro Christi nomine tolerandos, sine difficultate converteret. Vere namque videbatur sermo hic egressus a Domino, qui ait: Verbum quod egredietur de ore meo, non revertetur ad me vacuum, sed prosperabitur in omnibus ad quae mittam illud (Isa. LV, 11). Itaque, singillatim et in communi, multiplici nitebantur eum honore praevenire, ei soli post Dominum ascribentes, quod durae servitutis, quam per tot annos passi fuerant, soluta erat conditio et civitas sancta pristinae restituta libertati.

Finally the faithful, who had seen the venerable man Peter the Hermit, four or five years earlier in the same city; and to whom both the lord patriarch and others, both of the clergy and the leading men of the people, had handed their letters for rousing the princes of the western kingdoms, recognizing him again, with knees bent, were venerating him with all humility, recalling to memory his earlier arrival and the grace of familiarity which he had deigned to contract with them; rendering thanks, because so sedulously and so faithfully, with the sole regard of piety, he had managed their legation; praising the Lord above all as well, who is glorious in his servants; who, beyond the hope of men, had so directed the ways of the aforesaid man and had given an efficacious word in his hand, that he converted both nations and kingdoms, without difficulty, to endure such toils for the name of Christ. For truly this utterance seemed to have gone forth from the Lord, who says: The word that shall go out from my mouth shall not return to me empty, but shall prosper in all the things for which I shall send it (Isa. 55, 11). And so, individually and in common, they strove to forestall him with manifold honor, ascribing to him alone after the Lord that the condition of the hard servitude which they had suffered through so many years had been loosed, and that the Holy City had been restored to its former liberty.

Dominus autem patriarcha, ut praediximus, pro reipublicae statu et salute civium, multo pretio comparanda in Cyprum navigaverat, eleemosynas a fidelibus illius regionis mendicaturus, unde tributa et imposita extraordinarie et supra vires vectigalia persolveret, ne pro eorum defectu aut ecclesias dejicerent tributorum exactores, aut populum gladiis manciparent, sicut anterioribus consueverant temporibus. Nam omnium eorum quae circa urbem gerebantur, prorsus erat ignarus, et ad consueta quasi rediturus pericula timebat; cui Dominus interim, praeter spem, quietem procuraverat tranquillam.

The lord patriarch, however, as we have said before, for the status of the commonwealth and the safety of the citizens—things to be procured at great price—had sailed to Cyprus, to beg alms from the faithful of that region, whence he might discharge the tributes and the imposts imposed extraordinarily and the taxes beyond their strength, lest for want of them either the exactors of tributes should tear down the churches, or mancipate the people to the swords, as they had been accustomed in earlier times. For of all the things which were being done around the city he was utterly ignorant, and he feared, as if about to return, the accustomed dangers; for whom the Lord meanwhile, beyond hope, had procured a tranquil quiet.

CAPUT XXIV. Civitas mundatur de interemptorum cadaveribus. Qui in arcem se contulerant, Tolosano comiti se dedunt.

CHAPTER 24. The city is cleansed of the corpses of the slain. Those who had withdrawn into the citadel surrender themselves to the Count of Toulouse.

Dies illa in perpetuum celebris constituitur.

That day is constituted as celebrated in perpetuity.

Completis igitur orationibus et locis venerabilibus cum omni devotione visitatis, visum est expedire principibus, ne ex interemptorum cadaveribus, aeris pestilentis generetur corruptela, urbem et maxime templi ambitum ante omnia mundari: unde civibus qui casu mortem evaserant, compedibus alligatis id muneris injungitur; sed quia ad tantum onus non videbantur posse sufficere, pauperibus etiam de exercitu, merces quotidiana proponitur, ut praedictae rei dent operam et sine dilatione urbem expediant. Quo disposito, principes ad propria reversi, domos quales interim familia discurrens praeparaverat, pro hospitiis habuerunt. Urbem autem reperientes commoditatibus plenam et bonis omnibus redundantem, omnes a majore usque ad minimum coeperunt copiosius abundare.

With the prayers therefore completed, and the venerable places visited with all devotion, it seemed expedient to the princes, lest from the corpses of the slain there be generated a corruption of pestilent air, that the city, and most of all the precinct of the temple, be cleansed before all things: whence to the citizens who by chance had escaped death, shackled in fetters, this duty is enjoined; but because they did not seem able to suffice for so great an onus, a daily wage is also proposed to the poor from the army, that they may apply themselves to the aforesaid matter and without delay expedite the city. This arranged, the princes, having returned to their own places, had as lodgings such houses as meanwhile their household, running about, had prepared. And finding the city full of conveniences and overflowing with all goods, all, from the greater down to the least, began to abound more copiously.

Reperiebantur enim in effractis domibus, auri et argenti, gemmarum et pretiosarum vestium, frumenti, vini et olei, sed et aquae, cujus obsidione passi fuerant penuriam, ingentes copiae: unde et ipsi qui domos sibi vindicaverant, poterant habere ad omnem sufficientiam, et indigentibus fratribus charitative ministrare. Factumque est, ut secunda et tertia et deinceps die, in foro publico, rerum venalium optimis conditionibus exhiberetur commercium, ita etiam, ut plebs inferior, necessariis omnibus abundaret. Dies igitur solemnes et dies agentes laetitiae, cibum et requiem, quibus maxime indigebant, corporibus indulgentes, recreati sunt aliquantulum; divinae muneris largitatem admirantes, et coelestis gratiae, qua erga eos dignatus est Dominus abundare perpetem prae oculis habentes memoriam.

For in the broken-open houses there were found huge supplies of gold and silver, of gems and precious garments, of grain, wine, and oil, but also of water, of which, by the siege, they had suffered a lack; whence even those who had claimed the houses for themselves could have for every sufficiency, and minister charitably to their indigent brothers. And it came to pass that on the second and the third and the days thereafter, in the public forum, commerce in vendible things was exhibited on the best conditions, in such wise too that the lower populace abounded in all necessities. Therefore the festal days and the days spent in gladness, indulging their bodies with food and rest, of which they most of all stood in need, somewhat refreshed them; admiring the largess of the divine gift, and keeping before their eyes the perpetual memory of the heavenly grace with which the Lord deigned to abound toward them.

Ad majorem autem tanti facti memoriam, ex communi decreto sancitum et communi omnium voto susceptum et approbatum est, ut hic dies apud omnes solemnis et inter celebres celebrior perpetuo habeatur, in qua ad laudem et gloriam nominis Christiani, quidquid in prophetis de hoc facto quasi vaticinium praedictum fuerat, referatur; et pro eorum animabus fiat ad Dominum intercessio, quorum labore commendabili et favorabili apud omnes, praedicta Deo amabilis civitas, et fidei Christianae et pristinae est restituta libertati. Interea vero pars hostium ea quae in arce David, a facie gladii fugiens se contulerat, videntes quod urbem universam sibi populus noster vindicaverat et quod ipsi diutius obsidionem tolerare non possent, petita et impetrata a domino comite Tolosano fiducia, qui circa partes illa turri vicinior hospitatus erat, quod cum uxoribus et liberis et omni substantia quam secum intuterant, liberum haberent exitum, et securum usque Ascalonam conductum, arcem ei resignaverunt. Qui vero urbi purgandae curam susceperant, adhibita diligentia, et ferventes in opere, partim igne consumptis cadaveribus, partim sepulturae traditis, prout temporis patiebatur angustia, subito et infra paucos dies, urbem reddiderunt expeditam, ad solitam eam redigentes munditiam.

For the greater memory of so great a deed, it was sanctioned by common decree, and received and approved by the common vote of all, that this day be held among all as solemn, and among the celebrated more celebrated, in perpetuity; on which to the praise and glory of the Christian name whatever in the prophets had been foretold about this deed as a kind of vaticinium is to be referred; and that intercession be made to the Lord for the souls of those by whose commendable labor, and favorable standing with all, the aforesaid city lovable to God was restored both to the liberty of the Christian faith and to its pristine liberty. Meanwhile, that part of the enemy which, fleeing from the face of the sword, had betaken itself to the Citadel of David, seeing that our people had claimed the whole city for themselves and that they could not longer endure the siege, having sought and obtained a pledge of safe-conduct from the lord Count of Toulouse—who was quartered in those parts nearer to that tower—that with their wives and children and all the substance which they had brought with them they should have free exit and a secure escort as far as Ascalon, surrendered the citadel to him. But those who had undertaken the care of purging the city, diligence applied and fervent in the work, with the corpses partly consumed by fire, partly given over to sepulture, as the straitness of time permitted, quickly and within a few days rendered the city cleared, reducing it to its accustomed cleanliness.

Unde confidentius locorum venerabilium populus frequentabat limina; et per vicos et plateas civitatis convenire, et confabulari poterat liberius. Capta est autem praedicta civitas, anno ab Incarnatione Domini 1099, mense Julio, quinta decima die mensis, feria sexta, circa horam diei nonam; anno tertio, ex quo fidelis populus, tantae peregrinationis sibi onus assumpserat: praesidente S. Romanae Ecclesiae domino Urbano papa secundo; Romanorum vero imperium administrante domino Henrico IV; in Francia vero regnante domino Philippo; apud Graecos autem in sceptris agente domino Alexio; praevia Domini misericordia, cui honor et gloria per infinita saeculorum saecula. Amen.

Whence the people of the venerable places more confidently frequented the thresholds; and through the lanes and plazas of the city they could convene and confabulate more freely. Now the aforesaid city was captured, in the year from the Incarnation of the Lord 1099, in the month of July, on the fifteenth day of the month, on Friday, about the ninth hour of the day; in the third year since the faithful people had taken upon themselves the burden of so great a pilgrimage: with the Lord Pope Urban the Second presiding over the Holy Roman Church; and the empire of the Romans being administered by Lord Henry 4; in France, Lord Philip reigning; among the Greeks, Lord Alexios holding the scepters; the mercy of the Lord going before, to whom be honor and glory through the infinite ages of ages. Amen.