III。Buttheholywarswhichhavebeenwagedineveryclimateoftheglobe，fromEgypttoLivonia，andfromPerutoHindostan，requirethesupportofsomemoregeneralandflexibletenet。Ithasbeenoftensupposed，andsometimesaffirmed，thatadifferenceofreligionisaworthycauseofhostility；thatobstinateunbelieversmaybeslainorsubduedbythechampionsofthecross；andthatgraceisthesolefountainofdominionaswellasofmercy。Abovefourhundredyearsbeforethefirstcrusade，theeasternandwesternprovincesoftheRomanempirehadbeenacquiredaboutthesametime，andinthesamemanner，bytheBarbariansofGermanyandArabia。TimeandtreatieshadlegitimatedtheconquestoftheChristianFranks；butintheeyesoftheirsubjectsandneighbors，theMahometanprinceswerestilltyrantsandusurpers，who，bythearmsofwarorrebellion，mightbelawfullydrivenfromtheirunlawfulpossession。^21
　　[Footnote*:"God，"saystheabbotGuibert，"inventedthecrusadesasanewwayforthelaitytoatonefortheirsinsandtomeritsalvation。"Thisextraordinaryandcharacteristicpassagemustbegivenentire。"Deusnostrotemporepraeliasanctainstituit，utordoequestrisetvulgusoberransquivetustaePaganitatisexemploinmutuasversabaturcaedes，novumreperirentsalutispromerendaegenus，utnecfundituselecta，utfieriassolet，monasticaconversatione，seureligiosaqualibetprofessionesaeculumrelinquerecongerentur；sedsubconsuetalicentiaethabituexsuoipsorumofficioDeialiquantenusgratiamconsequerentur。"Guib。Abbas，p。371。SeeWilken，vol。
　　i。p。63。—M。]
　　[Footnote21:ThevithDiscourseofFleuryonEcclesiasticalHistoryp。223—261containsanaccurateandrationalviewofthecausesandeffectsofthecrusades。]
　　AsthemannersoftheChristianswererelaxed，theirdisciplineofpenance^22wasenforced；andwiththemultiplicationofsins，theremediesweremultiplied。Intheprimitivechurch，avoluntaryandopenconfessionpreparedtheworkofatonement。Inthemiddleages，thebishopsandpriestsinterrogatedthecriminal；compelledhimtoaccountforhisthoughts，words，andactions；andprescribedthetermsofhisreconciliationwithGod。Butasthisdiscretionarypowermightalternatelybeabusedbyindulgenceandtyranny，aruleofdisciplinewasframed，toinformandregulatethespiritualjudges。ThismodeoflegislationwasinventedbytheGreeks；
　　theirpenitentials^23weretranslated，orimitated，intheLatinchurch；and，inthetimeofCharlemagne，theclergyofeverydiocesewereprovidedwithacode，whichtheyprudentlyconcealedfromtheknowledgeofthevulgar。Inthisdangerousestimateofcrimesandpunishments，eachcasewassupposed，eachdifferencewasremarked，bytheexperienceorpenetrationofthemonks；somesinsareenumeratedwhichinnocencecouldnothavesuspected，andotherswhichreasoncannotbelieve；andthemoreordinaryoffencesoffornicationandadultery，ofperjuryandsacrilege，ofrapineandmurder，wereexpiatedbyapenance，which，accordingtothevariouscircumstances，wasprolongedfromfortydaystosevenyears。Duringthistermofmortification，thepatientwashealed，thecriminalwasabsolved，byasalutaryregimenoffastsandprayers:thedisorderofhisdresswasexpressiveofgriefandremorse；andhehumblyabstainedfromallthebusinessandpleasureofsociallife。Buttherigidexecutionoftheselawswouldhavedepopulatedthepalace，thecamp，andthecity；theBarbariansoftheWestbelievedandtrembled；butnatureoftenrebelledagainstprinciple；andthemagistratelaboredwithouteffecttoenforcethejurisdictionofthepriest。Aliteralaccomplishmentofpenancewasindeedimpracticable:theguiltofadulterywasmultipliedbydailyrepetition；thatofhomicidemightinvolvethemassacreofawholepeople；eachactwasseparatelynumbered；and，inthosetimesofanarchyandvice，amodestsinnermighteasilyincuradebtofthreehundredyears。Hisinsolvencywasrelievedbyacommutation，orindulgence:ayearofpenancewasappreciatedattwenty—sixsolidi^24ofsilver，aboutfourpoundssterling，fortherich；atthreesolidi，ornineshillings，fortheindigent:
　　andthesealmsweresoonappropriatedtotheuseofthechurch，whichderived，fromtheredemptionofsins，aninexhaustiblesourceofopulenceanddominion。Adebtofthreehundredyears，ortwelvehundredpounds，wasenoughtoimpoverishaplentifulfortune；thescarcityofgoldandsilverwassuppliedbythealienationofland；andtheprincelydonationsofPepinandCharlemagneareexpresslygivenfortheremedyoftheirsoul。Itisamaximofthecivillaw，thatwhosoevercannotpaywithhispurse，mustpaywithhisbody；andthepracticeofflagellationwasadoptedbythemonks，acheap，thoughpainfulequivalent。Byafantasticarithmetic，ayearofpenancewastaxedatthreethousandlashes；^25andsuchwastheskillandpatienceofafamoushermit，St。DominicoftheironCuirass，^26thatinsixdayshecoulddischargeanentirecentury，byawhippingofthreehundredthousandstripes。Hisexamplewasfollowedbymanypenitentsofbothsexes；and，asavicarioussacrificewasaccepted，asturdydisciplinarianmightexpiateonhisownbackthesinsofhisbenefactors。^27Thesecompensationsofthepurseandthepersonintroduced，intheeleventhcentury，amorehonorablemodeofsatisfaction。ThemeritofmilitaryserviceagainsttheSaracensofAfricaandSpainhadbeenallowedbythepredecessorsofUrbantheSecond。InthecouncilofClermont，thatpopeproclaimedaplenaryindulgencetothosewhoshouldenlistunderthebannerofthecross；theabsolutionofalltheirsins，andafullreceiptforallthatmightbedueofcanonicalpenance。^28Thecoldphilosophyofmoderntimesisincapableoffeelingtheimpressionthatwasmadeonasinfulandfanaticworld。Atthevoiceoftheirpastor，therobber，theincendiary，thehomicide，arosebythousandstoredeemtheirsouls，byrepeatingontheinfidelsthesamedeedswhichtheyhadexercisedagainsttheirChristianbrethren；andthetermsofatonementwereeagerlyembracedbyoffendersofeveryrankanddenomination。
　　Nonewerepure；nonewereexemptfromtheguiltandpenaltyofsin；andthosewhoweretheleastamenabletothejusticeofGodandthechurchwerethebestentitledtothetemporalandeternalrecompenseoftheirpiouscourage。Iftheyfell，thespiritoftheLatinclergydidnothesitatetoadorntheirtombwiththecrownofmartyrdom；^29andshouldtheysurvive，theycouldexpectwithoutimpatiencethedelayandincreaseoftheirheavenlyreward。TheyofferedtheirbloodtotheSonofGod，whohadlaiddownhislifefortheirsalvation:theytookupthecross，andenteredwithconfidenceintothewayoftheLord。Hisprovidencewouldwatchovertheirsafety；perhapshisvisibleandmiraculouspowerwouldsmooththedifficultiesoftheirholyenterprise。ThecloudandpillarofJehovahhadmarchedbeforetheIsraelitesintothepromisedland。MightnottheChristiansmorereasonablyhopethattheriverswouldopenfortheirpassage；thatthewallsoftheirstrongestcitieswouldfallatthesoundoftheirtrumpets；andthatthesunwouldbearrestedinhismidcareer，toallowthemtimeforthedestructionoftheinfidels?
　　[Footnote22:Thepenance，indulgences，&c。，ofthemiddleagesareamplydiscussedbyMuratori，Antiquitat。ItaliaeMediiAevi，tom。v。dissert。lxviii。p。709—768，andbyM。Chais，LettressurlesJubilesetlesIndulgences，tom。ii。lettres21&22，p。
　　478—556，withthisdifference，thattheabusesofsuperstitionaremildly，perhapsfaintly，exposedbythelearnedItalian，andpeevishlymagnifiedbytheDutchminister。]
　　[Footnote23:SchmidtHistoiredesAllemands，tom。ii。p。211—
　　220，452—462givesanabstractofthePenitentialofRheginointheninth，andofBurchardinthetenth，century。Inoneyear，five—and—thirtymurderswereperpetratedatWorms。]
　　[Footnote24:Tillthexiithcentury，wemaysupporttheclearaccountofxii。denarii，orpence，tothesolidus，orshilling；
　　andxx。soliditothepoundweightofsilver，aboutthepoundsterling。Ourmoneyisdiminishedtoathird，andtheFrenchtoafiftieth，ofthisprimitivestandard。]
　　[Footnote25:Eachcenturyoflasheswassanctifiedwitharecitalofapsalm，andthewholePsalter，withtheaccompanimentof15，000stripes，wasequivalenttofiveyears。]
　　[Footnote26:TheLifeandAchievementsofSt。DominicLoricatuswascomposedbyhisfriendandadmirer，PeterDamianus。SeeFleury，Hist。Eccles。tom。xiii。p。96—104。Baronius，A。D。
　　1056，No。7，whoobserves，fromDamianus，howfashionable，evenamongladiesofquality，sublimisgeneris，thisexpiationpurgatoriigenuswasgrown。]
　　[Footnote27:Ataquarter，orevenhalfarialalash，SanchoPanzawasacheaper，andpossiblynotamoredishonest，workman。
　　IrememberinPereLabatVoyagesenItalie，tom。vii。p。16—
　　29averylivelypictureofthedexterityofoneoftheseartists。]
　　[Footnote28:Quicunqueprosoladevotione，nonprohonorisvelpecuniaeadoptione，adliberandamecclesiamDeiJerusalemprofectusfuerit，iterilludproomnipoenitentiareputetur。
　　Canon。Concil。Claromont。ii。p。829。Guibertstylesitnovumsalutisgenus，p。471，andisalmostphilosophicalonthesubject。
　　Note:Seenote，page546。—M。]
　　[Footnote29:Suchatleastwasthebeliefofthecrusaders，andsuchistheuniformstyleofthehistorians，EspritdesCroisades，tom。iii。p。477；buttheprayerforthereposeoftheirsoulsisinconsistentinorthodoxtheologywiththemeritsofmartyrdom。]
　　ChapterLVIII:TheFirstCrusade。
　　PartII。
　　Ofthechiefsandsoldierswhomarchedtotheholysepulchre，Iwilldaretoaffirm，thatallwerepromptedbythespiritofenthusiasm；thebeliefofmerit，thehopeofreward，andtheassuranceofdivineaid。ButIamequallypersuaded，thatinmanyitwasnotthesole，thatinsomeitwasnottheleading，principleofaction。Theuseandabuseofreligionarefeebletostem，theyarestrongandirresistibletoimpel，thestreamofnationalmanners。AgainsttheprivatewarsoftheBarbarians，theirbloodytournaments，licentiouslove，andjudicialduels，thepopesandsynodsmightineffectuallythunder。ItisamoreeasytasktoprovokethemetaphysicaldisputesoftheGreeks，todriveintothecloisterthevictimsofanarchyordespotism，tosanctifythepatienceofslavesandcowards，ortoassumethemeritofthehumanityandbenevolenceofmodernChristians。WarandexercisewerethereigningpassionsoftheFranksorLatins；
　　theywereenjoined，asapenance，togratifythosepassions，tovisitdistantlands，andtodrawtheirswordsagainstthenationoftheEast。Theirvictory，oreventheirattempt，wouldimmortalizethenamesoftheintrepidheroesofthecross；andthepurestpietycouldnotbeinsensibletothemostsplendidprospectofmilitaryglory。InthepettyquarrelsofEurope，theyshedthebloodoftheirfriendsandcountrymen，fortheacquisitionperhapsofacastleoravillage。Theycouldmarchwithalacrityagainstthedistantandhostilenationswhoweredevotedtotheirarms；theirfancyalreadygraspedthegoldensceptresofAsia；andtheconquestofApuliaandSicilybytheNormansmightexalttoroyaltythehopesofthemostprivateadventurer。Christendom，inherrudeststate，musthaveyieldedtotheclimateandcultivationoftheMahometancountries；andtheirnaturalandartificialwealthhadbeenmagnifiedbythetalesofpilgrims，andthegiftsofanimperfectcommerce。Thevulgar，boththegreatandsmall，weretaughttobelieveeverywonder，oflandsflowingwithmilkandhoney，ofminesandtreasures，ofgoldanddiamonds，ofpalacesofmarbleandjasper，andofodoriferousgrovesofcinnamonandfrankincense。Inthisearthlyparadise，eachwarriordependedonhisswordtocarveaplenteousandhonorableestablishment，whichhemeasuredonlybytheextentofhiswishes。^30TheirvassalsandsoldierstrustedtheirfortunestoGodandtheirmaster:thespoilsofaTurkishemirmightenrichthemeanestfollowerofthecamp；andtheflavorofthewines，thebeautyoftheGrecianwomen，^31weretemptationsmoreadaptedtothenature，thantotheprofession，ofthechampionsofthecross。Theloveoffreedomwasapowerfulincitementtothemultitudeswhowereoppressedbyfeudalorecclesiasticaltyranny。Underthisholysign，thepeasantsandburghers，whowereattachedtotheservitudeoftheglebe，mightescapefromahaughtylord，andtransplantthemselvesandtheirfamiliestoalandofliberty。Themonkmightreleasehimselffromthedisciplineofhisconvent:thedebtormightsuspendtheaccumulationofusury，andthepursuitofhiscreditors；andoutlawsandmalefactorsofeverycastmightcontinuetobravethelawsandeludethepunishmentoftheircrimes。^32
　　[Footnote30:ThesamehopesweredisplayedinthelettersoftheadventurersadanimandosquiinFranciaresiderant。HughdeReitestecouldboast，thathisshareamountedtooneabbeyandtencastles，oftheyearlyvalueof1500marks，andthatheshouldacquireahundredcastlesbytheconquestofAleppo，Guibert，p。554，555。]
　　[Footnote31:InhisgenuineorfictitiouslettertothecountofFlanders，Alexiusmingleswiththedangerofthechurch，andtherelicsofsaints，theaurietargentiamor，andpulcherrimarumfoeminarumvoluptas，p。476；asif，saystheindignantGuibert，theGreekwomenwerehandsomerthanthoseofFrance。]
　　[Footnote32:SeetheprivilegesoftheCrucesignati，freedomfromdebt，usuryinjury，secularjustice，&c。ThepopewastheirperpetualguardianDucange，tom。ii。p。651，652。]
　　Thesemotiveswerepotentandnumerous:whenwehavesinglycomputedtheirweightonthemindofeachindividual，wemustaddtheinfiniteseries，themultiplyingpowers，ofexampleandfashion。Thefirstproselytesbecamethewarmestandmosteffectualmissionariesofthecross:amongtheirfriendsandcountrymentheypreachedtheduty，themerit，andtherecompense，oftheirholyvow；andthemostreluctanthearerswereinsensiblydrawnwithinthewhirlpoolofpersuasionandauthority。Themartialyouthswerefiredbythereproachorsuspicionofcowardice；theopportunityofvisitingwithanarmythesepulchreofChristwasembracedbytheoldandinfirm，bywomenandchildren，whoconsultedrathertheirzealthantheirstrength；
　　andthosewhointheeveninghadderidedthefollyoftheircompanions，werethemosteager，theensuingday，totreadintheirfootsteps。Theignorance，whichmagnifiedthehopes，diminishedtheperils，oftheenterprise。SincetheTurkishconquest，thepathsofpilgrimagewereobliterated；thechiefsthemselveshadanimperfectnotionofthelengthofthewayandthestateoftheirenemies；andsuchwasthestupidityofthepeople，that，atthesightofthefirstcityorcastlebeyondthelimitsoftheirknowledge，theywerereadytoaskwhetherthatwasnottheJerusalem，thetermandobjectoftheirlabors。Yetthemoreprudentofthecrusaders，whowerenotsurethattheyshouldbefedfromheavenwithashowerofquailsormanna，providedthemselveswiththosepreciousmetals，which，ineverycountry，aretherepresentativesofeverycommodity。Todefray，accordingtotheirrank，theexpensesoftheroad，princesalienatedtheirprovinces，noblestheirlandsandcastles，peasantstheircattleandtheinstrumentsofhusbandry。Thevalueofpropertywasdepreciatedbytheeagercompetitionofmultitudes；whilethepriceofarmsandhorseswasraisedtoanexorbitantheightbythewantsandimpatienceofthebuyers。^33
　　Thosewhoremainedathome，withsenseandmoney，wereenrichedbytheepidemicaldisease:thesovereignsacquiredatacheapratethedomainsoftheirvassals；andtheecclesiasticalpurchaserscompletedthepaymentbytheassuranceoftheirprayers。Thecross，whichwascommonlysewedonthegarment，inclothorsilk，wasinscribedbysomezealotsontheirskin:ahotiron，orindelibleliquor，wasappliedtoperpetuatethemark；
　　andacraftymonk，whoshowedthemiraculousimpressiononhisbreastwasrepaidwiththepopularvenerationandtherichestbeneficesofPalestine。^34
　　[Footnote33:Guibertp。481paintsinlivelycolorsthisgeneralemotion。Hewasoneofthefewcontemporarieswhohadgeniusenoughtofeeltheastonishingscenesthatwerepassingbeforetheireyes。Eratitaquevideremiraculum，caroomnesemere，atquevilivendere，&c。]
　　[Footnote34:SomeinstancesofthesestigmataaregivenintheEspritdesCroisades，tom。iii。p。169&c。，fromauthorswhomI
　　havenotseen]
　　ThefifteenthofAugusthadbeenfixedinthecouncilofClermontforthedepartureofthepilgrims；butthedaywasanticipatedbythethoughtlessandneedycrowdofplebeians，andIshallbrieflydespatchthecalamitieswhichtheyinflictedandsuffered，beforeIenteronthemoreseriousandsuccessfulenterpriseofthechiefs。Earlyinthespring，fromtheconfinesofFranceandLorraine，abovesixtythousandofthepopulaceofbothsexesflockedroundthefirstmissionaryofthecrusade，andpressedhimwithclamorousimportunitytoleadthemtotheholysepulchre。Thehermit，assumingthecharacter，withoutthetalentsorauthority，ofageneral，impelledorobeyedtheforwardimpulseofhisvotariesalongthebanksoftheRhineandDanube。Theirwantsandnumberssooncompelledthemtoseparate，andhislieutenant，WalterthePenniless，avaliantthoughneedysoldier，conductedavanguardofpilgrims，whoseconditionmaybedeterminedfromtheproportionofeighthorsementofifteenthousandfoot。TheexampleandfootstepsofPeterwerecloselypursuedbyanotherfanatic，themonkGodescal，whosesermonshadsweptawayfifteenortwentythousandpeasantsfromthevillagesofGermany。Theirrearwasagainpressedbyaherdoftwohundredthousand，themoststupidandsavagerefuseofthepeople，whomingledwiththeirdevotionabrutallicenseofrapine，prostitution，anddrunkenness。Somecountsandgentlemen，attheheadofthreethousandhorse，attendedthemotionsofthemultitudetopartakeinthespoil；buttheirgenuineleadersmaywecreditsuchfolly?wereagooseandagoat，whowerecarriedinthefront，andtowhomtheseworthyChristiansascribedaninfusionofthedivinespirit。^35Ofthese，andofotherbandsofenthusiasts，thefirstandmosteasywarfarewasagainsttheJews，themurderersoftheSonofGod。
　　InthetradingcitiesoftheMoselleandtheRhine，theircolonieswerenumerousandrich；andtheyenjoyed，undertheprotectionoftheemperorandthebishops，thefreeexerciseoftheirreligion。^36AtVerdun，Treves，Mentz，Spires，Worms，manythousandsofthatunhappypeoplewerepillagedandmassacred:^37
　　norhadtheyfeltamorebloodystrokesincethepersecutionofHadrian。Aremnantwassavedbythefirmnessoftheirbishops，whoacceptedafeignedandtransientconversion；butthemoreobstinateJewsopposedtheirfanaticismtothefanaticismoftheChristians，barricadoedtheirhouses，andprecipitatingthemselves，theirfamilies，andtheirwealth，intotheriversortheflames，disappointedthemalice，oratleasttheavarice，oftheirimplacablefoes。
　　[Footnote35:Fuitetaliudscelusdetestabileinhaccongregationepedestrispopulistultietvesanaelevitatis，anseremquendamdivinospirituasserebantafflatum，etcapellamnonminuseodemrepletam，ethassibiducessecundaeviaefecerant，&c。，Albert。Aquensis，l。i。c。31，p。196。Hadthesepeasantsfoundedanempire，theymighthaveintroduced，asinEgypt，theworshipofanimals，whichtheirphilosophicdescendantswouldhaveglossedoverwithsomespeciousandsubtileallegory。