Men，women，andevenchildren，trudgedindrovestotheholycity，inexpectationofthedaywhentheheavenswouldopen，andtheSonofGoddescendinhisglory。Thisextraordinarydelusion，whileitaugmentedthenumbers，increasedalsothehardshipsofthepilgrims。BeggarsbecamesonumerousonallthehighwaysbetweenthewestofEuropeandConstantinoplethatthemonks，thegreatalms-giversupontheseoccasions，wouldhavebroughtstarvationwithinsightoftheirowndoors，iftheyhadnoteconomizedtheirresources，andleftthedevoteestoshiftforthemselvesastheycould。Hundredsofthemweregladtosubsistupontheberriesthatripenedbytheroad，who，beforethisgreatflux，mighthavesharedthebreadandfleshofthemonasteries。
　　Butthiswasnotthegreatestoftheirdifficulties。OntheirarrivalinJerusalemtheyfoundthatasternerracehadobtainedpossessionoftheHolyLand。ThecaliphsofBagdadhadbeensucceededbytheharshTurksoftheraceofSeljook，wholookeduponthepilgrimswithcontemptandaversion。TheTurksoftheeleventhcenturyweremoreferociousandlessscrupulousthantheSaracensofthetenth。Theywereannoyedattheimmensenumberofpilgrimswhooverranthecountry，andstillmoresobecausetheyshowednointentionofquittingit。Thehourlyexpectationofthelastjudgmentkeptthemwaiting；andtheTurks，apprehensiveofbeingatlastdrivenfromthesoilbytheswarmsthatwerestillarriving，heapedupdifficultiesintheirway。Persecutionofeverykindawaitedthem。Theywereplundered，andbeatenwithstripes，andkeptinsuspenseformonthsatthegatesofJerusalem，unabletopaythegoldenbezantthatwastofacilitatetheirentrance。
　　Whenthefirstepidemicterrorofthedayofjudgmentbegantosubside，afewpilgrimsventuredtoreturntoEurope，theirheartsbigwithindignationattheinsultstheyhadsuffered。EverywhereastheypassedtheyrelatedtoasympathizingauditorythewrongsofChristendom。Strangetosay，eventheserecitalsincreasedthemaniaforpilgrimage。Thegreaterthedangersoftheway，themorechancethatsinsofdeepdyewouldbeatonedfor。Difficultyandsufferingonlyheightenedthemerit，andfreshhordesissuedfromeverytownandvillage，towinfavourinthesightofHeavenbyavisittotheholysepulchre。Thusdidthingscontinueduringthewholeoftheeleventhcentury。
　　Thetrainthatwastoexplodesofearfullywasnowlaid，andtherewantedbutthehandtoapplythetorch。Atlastthemanappeareduponthescene。Likeallwhohaveeverachievedsogreatanend，Peterthehermitwasexactlysuitedtotheage；neitherbehindit，norinadvanceofit；butacuteenoughtopenetrateitsmysteryereitwasdiscoveredbyanyother。Enthusiastic，chivalrous，bigoted，and，ifnotinsane，notfarremovedfrominsanity，hewastheveryprototypeofthetime。Trueenthusiasmisalwaysperseveringandalwayseloquent，andthesetwoqualitieswereunitedinnocommondegreeinthepersonofthisextraordinarypreacher。HewasamonkofAmiens，andereheassumedthehoodhadservedasasoldier。Heisrepresentedashavingbeenillfavouredandlowinstature，butwithaneyeofsurpassingbrightnessandintelligence。Havingbeenseizedwiththemaniaoftheage，hevisitedJerusalem，andremainedtheretillhisbloodboiledtoseethecruelpersecutionheapeduponthedevotees。Onhisreturnhomeheshooktheworldbytheeloquentstoryoftheirwrongs。
　　Beforeenteringintoanyfurtherdetailsoftheastoundingresultsofhispreaching，itwillbeadvisabletocastaglanceatthestateofthemindofEurope，thatwemayunderstandallthebetterthecausesofhissuccess。Firstofall，therewasthepriesthood，which，exercisingasitdidthemostconspicuousinfluenceuponthefortunesofsociety，claimsthelargestshareofattention。Religionwastherulingideaofthatday，andtheonlycivilisercapableoftamingsuchwolvesasthenconstitutedtheflockofthefaithful。Theclergywereallinall；andthoughtheykeptthepopularmindinthemostslavishsubjectionwithregardtoreligiousmatters，theyfurnisheditwiththemeansofdefenceagainstallotheroppressionexcepttheirown。Intheecclesiasticalrankswereconcentratedallthetruepiety，allthelearning，allthewisdomofthetime；and，asanaturalconsequence，agreatportionofpower，whichtheirverywisdomperpetuallyincitedthemtoextend。Thepeopleknewnothingofkingsandnobles，exceptinthewayofinjuriesinflicted。Thefirstruledfor，ormoreproperlyspeakingagainst，thebarons，andthebaronsonlyexistedtobravethepowerofthekings，ortotramplewiththeirironheelsupontheneckofprostratedemocracy。Thelatterhadnofriendbuttheclergy，andthese，thoughtheynecessarilyinstilledthesuperstitionfromwhichtheythemselveswerenotexempt，yettaughtthecheeringdoctrinethatallmenwereequalinthesightofheaven。Thus，whileFeudalismtoldthemtheyhadnorightsinthisworld，Religiontoldthemtheyhadeveryrightinthenext。Withthisconsolationtheywereforthetimecontent，forpoliticalideashadasyettakennoroot。Whentheclergy，forotherreasons，recommendedtheCrusade，thepeoplejoinedinitwithenthusiasm。ThesubjectofPalestinefilledallminds；thepilgrims’talesoftwocenturieswarmedeveryimagination；andwhentheirfriends，theirguides，andtheirinstructorspreachedawarsomuchinaccordancewiththeirownprejudicesandmodesofthinking，theenthusiasmroseintoafrenzy。
　　Butwhilereligioninspiredthemasses，anotheragentwasatworkuponthenobility。Thesewerefierceandlawless；taintedwitheveryvice，endowedwithnovirtue，andredeemedbyonegoodqualityalone，thatofcourage。Theonlyreligiontheyfeltwasthereligionoffear。
　　ThatandtheiroverboilingturbulencealikecombinedtoguidethemtotheHolyLand。Mostofthemhadsinsenoughtoanswerfor。Theylivedwiththeirhandagainsteveryman；andwithnolawbuttheirownpassions。Theysetatdefiancethesecularpoweroftheclergy，buttheirheartsquailedattheawfuldenunciationsofthepulpitwithregardtothelifetocome。Warwasthebusinessandthedelightoftheirexistence；andwhentheywerepromisedremissionofalltheirsinsupontheeasyconditionoffollowingtheirfavouritebent，isittobewonderedatthattheyrushedwithenthusiasmtotheonslaught，andbecameaszealousintheserviceoftheCrossasthegreatmajorityofthepeople，whowereswayedbymorepurelyreligiousmotives？Fanaticismandtheloveofbattlealikeimpelledthemtothewar，whilethekingsandprincesofEuropehadstillanothermotiveforencouragingtheirzeal。Policyopenedtheireyestothegreatadvantageswhichwouldaccruetothemselves，bytheabsenceofsomanyrestless，intriguing，andblood-thirstymen，whoseinsolenceitrequiredmorethanthesmallpowerofroyaltytorestrainwithinduebounds。ThuseverymotivewasfavourabletotheCrusades。Everyclassofsocietywasalikeincitedtojoinorencouragethewar；kingsandtheclergybypolicy，thenoblesbyturbulenceandtheloveofdominion，andthepeoplebyreligiouszealandtheconcentratedenthusiasmoftwocenturies，skilfullydirectedbytheironlyinstructors。
　　ItwasinPalestineitselfthatPetertheHermitfirstconceivedthegrandideaofrousingthepowersofChristendomtorescuetheChristiansoftheEastfromthethraldomoftheMussulmans，andthesepulchreofJesusfromtherudehandsoftheinfidel。Thesubjectengrossedhiswholemind。Eveninthevisionsofthenighthewasfullofit。Onedreammadesuchanimpressionuponhim，thathedevoutlybelievedtheSaviouroftheworldhimselfappearedbeforehim，andpromisedhimaidandprotectioninhisholyundertaking。Ifhiszealhadeverwaveredbefore，thiswassufficienttofixitforever。
　　Peter，afterhehadperformedallthepenancesanddutiesofhispilgrimage，demandedaninterviewwithSimeon，thePatriarchoftheGreekChurchatJerusalem。ThoughthelatterwasahereticinPeter’seyes，yethewasstillaChristian，andfeltasacutelyashimselfforthepersecutionsheapedbytheTurksuponthefollowersofJesus。Thegoodprelateenteredfullyintohisviews，and，athissuggestion，wroteletterstothePope，andtothemostinfluentialmonarchsofChristendom，detailingthesorrowsofthefaithful，andurgingthemtotakeuparmsintheirdefence。Peterwasnotalaggardinthework。
　　TakinganaffectionatefarewellofthePatriarch，hereturnedinallhastetoItaly。PopeUrbanII。occupiedtheapostolicchair。Itwasatthattimefarfrombeinganeasyseat。Hispredecessor，Gregory，hadbequeathedhimahostofdisputeswiththeEmperorHenryIV。ofGermany，andhehadmadePhilipI。ofFrancehisenemybyhisstrenuousoppositiontoanadulterousconnexionformedbythatmonarch。Somanydangersencompassedhimabout，thattheVaticanwasnosecureabode，andhehadtakenrefugeinApulia，undertheprotectionoftherenownedRobertGuiscard。ThitherPeterappearstohavefollowedhim，thoughinwhatspottheirmeetingtookplaceisnotstatedwithanyprecisionbyancientchroniclersormodernhistorians。
　　Urbanreceivedhimmostkindly；read，withtearsinhiseyes，theepistlefromthePatriarchSimeon，andlistenedtotheeloquentstoryoftheHermitwithanattentionwhichshowedhowdeeplyhesympathisedwiththewoesoftheChristianchurch。Enthusiasmiscontagious，andthePopeappearstohavecaughtitinstantlyfromonewhosezealwassounbounded。GivingtheHermitfullpowers，hesenthimabroadtopreachtheholywartoallthenationsandpotentatesofChristendom。
　　TheHermitpreached，andcountlessthousandsansweredtohiscall。
　　France，Germany，andItalystartedathisvoice，andpreparedforthedeliveranceofZion。OneoftheearlyhistoriansoftheCrusade，whowashimselfaneye-witnessoftheraptureofEurope，[GuibertdeNogent]describesthepersonalappearanceoftheHermitatthistime。
　　Hesays，thatthereappearedtobesomethingofdivineineverythingwhichhesaidordid。Thepeoplesohighlyreverencedhim，thattheypluckedhairsfromthemaneofhismule，thattheymightkeepthemasrelics。Whilepreaching，heworeingeneralawoollentunic，withadark-colouredmantle，whichfelldowntohisheels。Hisarmsandfeetwerebare，andheateneitherfleshnorbread，supportinghimselfchieflyuponfishandwine。“Hesetout，“saysthechronicler，“fromwhenceIknownot；butwesawhimpassingthroughthetownsandvillages，preachingeverywhere，andthepeoplesurroundinghimincrowds，loadinghimwithofferings，andcelebratinghissanctitywithsuchgreatpraisesthatIneverremembertohaveseensuchhonoursbestoweduponanyone。“Thushewenton，untired，inflexible，andfullofdevotion，communicatinghisownmadnesstohishearers，untilEuropewasstirredfromitsverydepths。
　　WhiletheHermitwasappealingwithsuchsignalsuccesstothepeople，thePopeappealedwithasmuchsuccesstothosewhoweretobecomethechiefsandleadersoftheexpedition。HisfirststepwastocallacouncilatPlacentia，intheautumnoftheyear1095。Here，intheassemblyoftheclergy，thePopedebatedthegrandscheme，andgaveaudiencetoemissarieswhohadbeensentfromConstantinoplebytheEmperoroftheEasttodetailtheprogressmadebytheTurksintheirdesignofestablishingthemselvesinEurope。TheclergywereofcourseunanimousinsupportoftheCrusade，andthecouncilseparated，eachindividualmemberofitbeingempoweredtopreachittohispeople。
　　ButItalycouldnotbeexpectedtofurnishalltheaidrequired；
　　andthePopecrossedtheAlpstoinspirethefierceandpowerfulnobilityandchivalrouspopulationofGaul。Hisboldnessinenteringtheterritory，andplacinghimselfinthepowerofhisfoe，KingPhilipofFrance，isnottheleastsurprisingfeatureofhismission。
　　Somehaveimaginedthatcoolpolicyaloneactuatedhim，whileothersassert，thatitwasmerezeal，aswarmandasblindasthatofPetertheHermit。Thelatteropinionseemstobethetrueone。Societydidnotcalculatetheconsequencesofwhatitwasdoing。Everymanseemedtoactfromimpulseonly；andthePope，inthrowinghimselfintotheheartofFrance，actedasmuchfromimpulseasthethousandswhorespondedtohiscall。AcouncilwaseventuallysummonedtomeethimatClermont，inAuvergne，toconsiderthestateofthechurch，reformabuses，and，aboveall，makepreparationsforthewar。Itwasinthemidstofanextremelycoldwinter，andthegroundwascoveredwithsnow。Duringsevendaysthecouncilsatwithcloseddoors，whileimmensecrowdsfromallpartsofFranceflockedintothetown，inexpectationthatthePopehimselfwouldaddressthepeople。Allthetownsandvillagesformilesaroundwerefilledwiththemultitude；
　　eventhefieldswereencumberedwithpeople，who，unabletoprocurelodging，pitchedtheirtentsunderthetreesandbytheway-side。Alltheneighbourhoodpresentedtheappearanceofavastcamp。
　　Duringthesevendays’deliberation，asentenceofexcommunicationwaspasseduponKingPhilipforadulterywithBertradedeMontfort，CountessofAnjou，andfordisobediencetothesupremeauthorityoftheapostolicsee。Thisboldstepimpressedthepeoplewithreverenceforsosternachurch，whichinthedischargeofitsdutyshoweditselfnorespecterofpersons。Theirloveandtheirfearwerealikeincreased，andtheywerepreparedtolistenwithmoreintensedevotiontothepreachingofsorighteousandinflexibleapastor。ThegreatsquarebeforethecathedralchurchofClermontbecameeveryinstantmoredenselycrowdedasthehourdrewnighwhenthePopewastoaddressthepopulace。Issuingfromthechurchinhisfrillcanonicals，surroundedbyhiscardinalsandbishopsinallthesplendourofRomishecclesiasticalcostume，thePopestoodbeforethepopulaceonahighscaffoldingerectedfortheoccasion，andcoveredwithscarletcloth。