Butsuperstitionmingledineverypublicandprivateactionoflife:intheholywars，itsanctifiedtheprofessionofarms；andtheorderofchivalrywasassimilatedinitsrightsandprivilegestothesacredordersofpriesthood。Thebathandwhitegarmentofthenovicewereanindecentcopyoftheregenerationofbaptism:hissword，whichheofferedonthealtar，wasblessedbytheministersofreligion:
hissolemnreceptionwasprecededbyfastsandvigils；andhewascreatedaknightinthenameofGod，ofSt。George，andofSt。
Michaelthearchangel。Hesworetoaccomplishthedutiesofhisprofession；andeducation，example，andthepublicopinion，weretheinviolableguardiansofhisoath。AsthechampionofGodandtheladies，Iblushtounitesuchdiscordantnames，hedevotedhimselftospeakthetruth；tomaintaintheright；toprotectthedistressed；topractisecourtesy，avirtuelessfamiliartotheancients；topursuetheinfidels；todespisetheallurementsofeaseandsafety；andtovindicateineveryperilousadventurethehonorofhischaracter。Theabuseofthesamespiritprovokedtheilliterateknighttodisdaintheartsofindustryandpeace；
toesteemhimselfthesolejudgeandavengerofhisowninjuries；
andproudlytoneglectthelawsofcivilsocietyandmilitarydiscipline。Yetthebenefitsofthisinstitution，torefinethetemperofBarbarians，andtoinfusesomeprinciplesoffaith，justice，andhumanity，werestronglyfelt，andhavebeenoftenobserved。Theasperityofnationalprejudicewassoftened；andthecommunityofreligionandarmsspreadasimilarcolorandgenerousemulationoverthefaceofChristendom。Abroadinenterpriseandpilgrimage，athomeinmartialexercise，thewarriorsofeverycountrywereperpetuallyassociated；andimpartialtastemustpreferaGothictournamenttotheOlympicgamesofclassicantiquity。^57InsteadofthenakedspectacleswhichcorruptedthemannersoftheGreeks，andbanishedfromthestadiumthevirginsandmatrons，thepompousdecorationofthelistswascrownedwiththepresenceofchasteandhigh—bornbeauty，fromwhosehandstheconquerorreceivedtheprizeofhisdexterityandcourage。Theskillandstrengththatwereexertedinwrestlingandboxingbearadistantanddoubtfulrelationtothemeritofasoldier；butthetournaments，astheywereinventedinFrance，andeagerlyadoptedbothintheEastandWest，presentedalivelyimageofthebusinessofthefield。Thesinglecombats，thegeneralskirmish，thedefenceofapass，orcastle，wererehearsedasinactualservice；andthecontest，bothinrealandmimicwar，wasdecidedbythesuperiormanagementofthehorseandlance。Thelancewastheproperandpeculiarweaponoftheknight:hishorsewasofalargeandheavybreed；butthischarger，tillhewasrousedbytheapproachingdanger，wasusuallyledbyanattendant，andhequietlyrodeapadorpalfreyofamoreeasypace。Hishelmetandsword，hisgreavesandbuckler，itwouldbesuperfluoustodescribe；butI
mayremark，that，attheperiodofthecrusades，thearmorwaslessponderousthaninlatertimes；andthat，insteadofamassycuirass，hisbreastwasdefendedbyahauberkorcoatofmail。
Whentheirlonglanceswerefixedintherest，thewarriorsfuriouslyspurredtheirhorsesagainstthefoe；andthelightcavalryoftheTurksandArabscouldseldomstandagainstthedirectandimpetuousweightoftheircharge。Eachknightwasattendedtothefieldbyhisfaithfulsquire，ayouthofequalbirthandsimilarhopes；hewasfollowedbyhisarchersandmenatarms，andfour，orfive，orsixsoldierswerecomputedasthefurnitureofacompletelance。IntheexpeditionstotheneighboringkingdomsortheHolyLand，thedutiesofthefeudaltenurenolongersubsisted；thevoluntaryserviceoftheknightsandtheirfollowerswereeitherpromptedbyzealorattachment，orpurchasedwithrewardsandpromises；andthenumbersofeachsquadronweremeasuredbythepower，thewealth，andthefame，ofeachindependentchieftain。Theyweredistinguishedbyhisbanner，hisarmorialcoat，andhiscryofwar；andthemostancientfamiliesofEuropemustseekintheseachievementstheoriginandproofoftheirnobility。InthisrapidportraitofchivalryIhavebeenurgedtoanticipateonthestoryofthecrusades，atonceaneffectandacause，ofthismemorableinstitution。^58
[Footnote55:Ofthewordsgentilis，gentilhomme，gentleman，twoetymologiesareproduced:1。FromtheBarbariansofthefifthcentury，thesoldiers，andatlengththeconquerorsoftheRomanempire，whowerevainoftheirforeignnobility；and2。Fromthesenseofthecivilians，whoconsidergentilisassynonymouswithingenuus。Seldeninclinestothefirstbutthelatterismorepure，aswellasprobable。]
[Footnote56:Frameascutoquejuvenemornant。Tacitus，Germania。
c。13。]
[Footnote57:Theathleticexercises，particularlythecaestusandpancratium，werecondemnedbyLycurgus，Philopoemen，andGalen，alawgiver，ageneral，andaphysician。Againsttheirauthorityandreasons，thereadermayweightheapologyofLucian，inthecharacterofSolon。SeeWestontheOlympicGames，inhisPindar，vol。ii。p。86—96243—248]
[Footnote58:Onthecurioussubjectsofknighthood，knights—service，nobility，arms，cryofwar，banners，andtournaments，anamplefundofinformationmaybesoughtinSelden，Opera，tom。iii。parti。TitlesofHonor，partii。c。
1，3，5，8，Ducange，Gloss。Latin。tom。iv。p。398—412，&c。，
DissertationssurJoinville，i。vi。—xii。p。127—142，p。161
—222，andM。deSt。Palaye，MemoiressurlaChevalerie。]
Suchwerethetroops，andsuchtheleaders，whoassumedthecrossforthedeliveranceoftheholysepulchre。Assoonastheywererelievedbytheabsenceoftheplebeianmultitude，theyencouragedeachother，byinterviewsandmessages，toaccomplishtheirvow，andhastentheirdeparture。Theirwivesandsistersweredesirousofpartakingthedangerandmeritofthepilgrimage:theirportabletreasureswereconveyedinbarsofsilverandgold；andtheprincesandbaronswereattendedbytheirequipageofhoundsandhawkstoamusetheirleisureandtosupplytheirtable。Thedifficultyofprocuringsubsistenceforsomanymyriadsofmenandhorsesengagedthemtoseparatetheirforces:theirchoiceorsituationdeterminedtheroad；anditwasagreedtomeetintheneighborhoodofConstantinople，andfromthencetobegintheiroperationsagainsttheTurks。FromthebanksoftheMeuseandtheMoselle，GodfreyofBouillonfollowedthedirectwayofGermany，Hungary，andBulgaria；and，aslongasheexercisedthesolecommandeverystepaffordedsomeproofofhisprudenceandvirtue。OntheconfinesofHungaryhewasstoppedthreeweeksbyaChristianpeople，towhomthename，oratleasttheabuse，ofthecrosswasjustlyodious。TheHungariansstillsmartedwiththewoundswhichtheyhadreceivedfromthefirstpilgrims:intheirturntheyhadabusedtherightofdefenceandretaliation；andtheyhadreasontoapprehendasevererevengefromaheroofthesamenation，andwhowasengagedinthesamecause。But，afterweighingthemotivesandtheevents，thevirtuousdukewascontenttopitythecrimesandmisfortunesofhisworthlessbrethren；andhistwelvedeputies，themessengersofpeace，requestedinhisnameafreepassageandanequalmarket。Toremovetheirsuspicions，Godfreytrustedhimself，andafterwardshisbrother，tothefaithofCarloman，
kingofHungary，whotreatedthemwithasimplebuthospitableentertainment:thetreatywassanctifiedbytheircommongospel；
andaproclamation，underpainofdeath，restrainedtheanimosityandlicenseoftheLatinsoldiers。FromAustriatoBelgrade，theytraversedtheplainsofHungary，withoutenduringorofferinganinjury；andtheproximityofCarloman，whohoveredontheirflankswithhisnumerouscavalry，wasaprecautionnotlessusefulfortheirsafetythanforhisown。TheyreachedthebanksoftheSave；andnosoonerhadtheypassedtheriver，thanthekingofHungaryrestoredthehostages，andsalutedtheirdeparturewiththefairestwishesforthesuccessoftheirenterprise。Withthesameconductanddiscipline，GodfreypervadedthewoodsofBulgariaandthefrontiersofThrace；andmightcongratulatehimselfthathehadalmostreachedthefirsttermofhispilgrimage，withoutdrawinghisswordagainstaChristianadversary。AfteraneasyandpleasantjourneythroughLombardy，fromTurintoAquileia，RaymondandhisprovincialsmarchedfortydaysthroughthesavagecountryofDalmatia^59andSclavonia。Theweatherwasaperpetualfog；thelandwasmountainousanddesolate；thenativeswereeitherfugitiveorhostile:looseintheirreligionandgovernment，theyrefusedtofurnishprovisionsorguides；murderedthestragglers；andexercisedbynightanddaythevigilanceofthecount，whoderivedmoresecurityfromthepunishmentofsomecaptiverobbersthanfromhisinterviewandtreatywiththeprinceofScodra。^60
HismarchbetweenDurazzoandConstantinoplewasharassed，withoutbeingstopped，bythepeasantsandsoldiersoftheGreekemperor；andthesamefaintandambiguoushostilitywaspreparedfortheremainingchiefs，whopassedtheAdriaticfromthecoastofItaly。Bohemondhadarmsandvessels，andforesightanddiscipline；andhisnamewasnotforgottenintheprovincesofEpirusandThessaly。WhateverobstaclesheencounteredweresurmountedbyhismilitaryconductandthevalorofTancred；andiftheNormanprinceaffectedtosparetheGreeks，hegorgedhissoldierswiththefullplunderofanhereticalcastle。^61ThenoblesofFrancepressedforwardswiththevainandthoughtlessardorofwhichtheirnationhasbeensometimesaccused。FromtheAlpstoApuliathemarchofHughtheGreat，ofthetwoRoberts，andofStephenofChartres，throughawealthycountry，andamidsttheapplaudingCatholics，wasadevoutortriumphantprogress:
theykissedthefeetoftheRomanpontiff；andthegoldenstandardofSt。PeterwasdeliveredtothebrotheroftheFrenchmonarch。^62Butinthisvisitofpietyandpleasure，theyneglectedtosecuretheseason，andthemeansoftheirembarkation:thewinterwasinsensiblylost:theirtroopswerescatteredandcorruptedinthetownsofItaly。Theyseparatelyaccomplishedtheirpassage，regardlessofsafetyordignity；andwithinninemonthsfromthefeastoftheAssumption，thedayappointedbyUrban，alltheLatinprinceshadreachedConstantinople。ButthecountofVermandoiswasproducedasacaptive；hisforemostvesselswerescatteredbyatempest；andhisperson，againstthelawofnations，wasdetainedbythelieutenantsofAlexius。YetthearrivalofHughhadbeenannouncedbyfour—and—twentyknightsingoldenarmor，whocommandedtheemperortoreverethegeneraloftheLatinChristians，thebrotherofthekingofkings。^63
[Footnote*:CarlomanorCalmanydemandedthebrotherofGodfreyashostagebutCountBaldwinrefusedthehumiliatingsubmission。GodfreyshamedhimintothissacrificeforthecommongoodbyofferingtosurrenderhimselfWilken，vol。i。p。
104。—M。]
[Footnote59:TheFamiliaeDalmaticaeofDucangearemeagreandimperfect；thenationalhistoriansarerecentandfabulous，theGreeksremoteandcareless。Intheyear1104ColomanreducedthemaritinecountryasfarasTrauandSaloma，Katona，Hist。Crit。
tom。iii。p。195—207。]
[Footnote60:ScodrasappearsinLivyasthecapitalandfortressofGentius，kingoftheIllyrians，arxmunitissima，afterwardsaRomancolony，Cellarius，tom。i。p。393，394。ItisnowcalledIscodar，orScutari，D'Anville，GeographieAncienne，tom。i。p。
164。ThesanjiaknowapachaofScutari，orSchendeire，wastheviiithundertheBeglerbegofRomania，andfurnished600
soldiersonarevenueof78，787rixdollars，Marsigli，StatoMilitaredelImperioOttomano，p。128。]
[Footnote61:InPelagoniacastrumhaereticum……spoliatumcumsuishabitatoribusignecombussere。Necideisinjuriacontigit:quiaillorumdetestabilissermoetcancerserpebat，jamquecircumjacentesregionessuopravodogmatefoedaverat，Robert。Mon。p。36，37。Aftercoolyrelatingthefact，theArchbishopBaldricadds，asapraise，Omnessiquidemilliviatores，Judeos，haereticos，Saracenosaequaliterhabentexosos；
quosomnesappellantinimicosDei，p。92。]
[Footnote62:Alexiad。l。x。p。288。]
[Footnote63:ThisOrientalpompisextravagantinacountofVermandois；butthepatriotDucangerepeatswithmuchcomplacencyNot。adAlexiad。p。352，353。Dissert。xxvii。surJoinville，p。
315thepassagesofMatthewParisA。D。1254andFroissard，vol。iv。p。201，whichstylethekingofFrancerexregum，andchefdetouslesroisChretiens。]
[Footnote*:HughwastakenatDurazzo，andsentbylandtoConstantinopleWilken—M。]
InsomeorientaltaleIhavereadthefableofashepherd，whowasruinedbytheaccomplishmentofhisownwishes:hehadprayedforwater；theGangeswasturnedintohisgrounds，andhisflockandcottageweresweptawaybytheinundation。Suchwasthefortune，oratleasttheapprehensionoftheGreekemperorAlexiusComnenus，whosenamehasalreadyappearedinthishistory，andwhoseconductissodifferentlyrepresentedbyhisdaughterAnne，^64andbytheLatinwriters。^65InthecouncilofPlacentia，hisambassadorshadsolicitedamoderatesuccor，perhapsoftenthousandsoldiers，buthewasastonishedbytheapproachofsomanypotentchiefsandfanaticnations。Theemperorfluctuatedbetweenhopeandfear，betweentimidityandcourage；butinthecrookedpolicywhichhemistookforwisdom，I
cannotbelieve，Icannotdiscern，thathemaliciouslyconspiredagainstthelifeorhonoroftheFrenchheroes。ThepromiscuousmultitudesofPetertheHermitweresavagebeasts，alikedestituteofhumanityandreason:norwasitpossibleforAlexiustopreventordeploretheirdestruction。ThetroopsofGodfreyandhispeerswerelesscontemptible，butnotlesssuspicious，totheGreekemperor。Theirmotivesmightbepureandpious:buthewasequallyalarmedbyhisknowledgeoftheambitiousBohemond，andhisignoranceoftheTransalpinechiefs:thecourageoftheFrenchwasblindandheadstrong；theymightbetemptedbytheluxuryandwealthofGreece，andelatedbytheviewandopinionoftheirinvinciblestrength:andJerusalemmightbeforgottenintheprospectofConstantinople。Afteralongmarchandpainfulabstinence，thetroopsofGodfreyencampedintheplainsofThrace；theyheardwithindignation，thattheirbrother，thecountofVermandois，wasimprisonedbytheGreeks；andtheirreluctantdukewascompelledtoindulgetheminsomefreedomofretaliationandrapine。TheywereappeasedbythesubmissionofAlexius:hepromisedtosupplytheircamp；andastheyrefused，inthemidstofwinter，topasstheBosphorus，theirquarterswereassignedamongthegardensandpalacesontheshoresofthatnarrowsea。Butanincurablejealousystillrankledinthemindsofthetwonations，whodespisedeachotherasslavesandBarbarians。Ignoranceisthegroundofsuspicion，andsuspicionwasinflamedintodailyprovocations:prejudiceisblind，hungerisdeaf；andAlexiusisaccusedofadesigntostarveorassaulttheLatinsinadangerouspost，onallsidesencompassedwiththewaters。^66Godfreysoundedhistrumpets，burstthenet，overspreadtheplain，andinsultedthesuburbs；butthegatesofConstantinoplewerestronglyfortified；therampartswerelinedwitharchers；and，afteradoubtfulconflict，bothpartieslistenedtothevoiceofpeaceandreligion。Thegiftsandpromisesoftheemperorinsensiblysoothedthefiercespiritofthewesternstrangers；asaChristianwarrior，herekindledtheirzealfortheprosecutionoftheirholyenterprise，whichheengagedtosecondwithhistroopsandtreasures。Onthereturnofspring，GodfreywaspersuadedtooccupyapleasantandplentifulcampinAsia；andnosoonerhadhepassedtheBosphorus，thantheGreekvesselsweresuddenlyrecalledtotheoppositeshore。Thesamepolicywasrepeatedwiththesucceedingchiefs，whowereswayedbytheexample，andweakenedbythedeparture，oftheirforemostcompanions。Byhisskillanddiligence，AlexiuspreventedtheunionofanytwooftheconfederatearmiesatthesamemomentunderthewallsofConstantinople；andbeforethefeastofthePentecostnotaLatinpilgrimwasleftonthecoastofEurope。
[Footnote64:AnnaComnenawasbornthe1stofDecember，A。D。
1083，indictionvii。，Alexiad。l。vi。p。166，167。Atthirteen，thetimeofthefirstcrusade，shewasnubile，andperhapsmarriedtotheyoungerNicephorusBryennius，whomshefondlystyles，l。x。p。295，296。Somemodernshaveimagined，thatherenmitytoBohemondwasthefruitofdisappointedlove。InthetransactionsofConstantinopleandNice，herpartialaccountsAlex。l。x。xi。p。283—317maybeopposedtothepartialityoftheLatins，butintheirsubsequentexploitssheisbriefandignorant。]
[Footnote65:IntheirviewsofthecharacterandconductofAlexius，MaimbourghasfavoredtheCatholicFranks，andVoltairehasbeenpartialtotheschismaticGreeks。TheprejudiceofaphilosopherislessexcusablethanthatofaJesuit。]
[Footnote*:WilkenquotesaremarkablepassageofWilliamofMalmsburyastothesecretmotivesofUrbanandofBohemondinurgingthecrusade。Illudrepositiuspropositumnonitavulgabatur，quodBoemundiconsilio，penetotamEuropaminAsiaticamexpeditionemmoveret，utintantotumultuomniumprovinciarumfacileobaeratisauxiliaribus，etUrbanusRomametBoemundusIllyricumetMacedoniampervaderent。NameasterrasetquidquidpraetereaaDyrrachiousqueadThessalonicamprotenditur，Guiscarduspater，superAlexiumacquisierat；ideircoillasBoemundussuojuricompetereclamitabat:inopshaereditatisApuliae，quamgenitorRogerio，minorifiliodelegaverat。Wilken，vol。ii。p。313。—M]
[Footnote66:BetweentheBlackSea，theBosphorus，andtheRiverBarbyses，whichisdeepinsummer，andrunsfifteenmilesthroughaflatmeadow。ItscommunicationwithEuropeandConstantinopleisbythestonebridgeoftheBlachernoe，whichinsuccessiveageswasrestoredbyJustinianandBasil，GylliusdeBosphoroThracio，l。ii。c。3。DucangeO。P。Christiana，l。v。c。2，p，179。]
ThesamearmswhichthreatenedEuropemightdeliverAsia，andrepeltheTurksfromtheneighboringshoresoftheBosphorusandHellespont。ThefairprovincesfromNicetoAntiochweretherecentpatrimonyoftheRomanemperor；andhisancientandperpetualclaimstillembracedthekingdomsofSyriaandEgypt。