Theencampmentsoftheseheterogeneousmultitudesofferedasingularaspect。Thosevassalswhorangedthemselvesunderthebannersoftheirlord，erectedtentsaroundhiscastle；whilethosewhoundertookthewarontheirownaccount，constructedboothsandhutsintheneighbourhoodofthetownsorvillages，preparatorytotheirjoiningsomepopularleaderoftheexpedition。ThemeadowsofFrancewerecoveredwithtents。AsthebelligerentsweretohaveremissionofalltheirsinsontheirarrivalinPalestine，hundredsofthemgavethemselvesuptothemostunboundedlicentiousness:thecourtezan，withtheredcrossuponhershoulders，pliedhershamelesstradewithsensualpilgrims，withoutscrupleoneitherside:theloverofgoodcheergaveloosereintohisappetite，anddrunkennessanddebaucheryflourished。TheirzealintheserviceoftheLordwastowipeoutallfaultsandfollies，andtheyhadthesamesuretyofsalvationastherigidanchorite。Thisreasoninghadcharmsfortheignorant，andthesoundsoflewdrevelryandthevoiceofprayerroseatthesameinstantfromthecamp。
　　Itisnowtimetospeakoftheleadersoftheexpedition。GreatmultitudesrangedthemselvesunderthecommandofPetertheHermit，whom，astheoriginator，theyconsideredthemostappropriateleaderofthewar。Othersjoinedthebannerofaboldadventurer，whomhistoryhasdignifiedwithnoothernamethanthatofGautiersansAvoir，orWalterthePennyless，butwhoisrepresentedashavingbeenofnoblefamily，andwellskilledintheartofwar。AthirdmultitudefromGermanyflockedaroundthestandardofamonk，namedGottschalk，ofwhomnothingisknown，exceptthathewasafanaticofthedeepestdye。Allthesebands，whichtogetheraresaidtohaveamountedtothreehundredthousandmen，women，andchildren，werecomposedofthevilestrascalityofEurope。Withoutdiscipline，principle，ortruecourage，theyrushedthroughthenationslikeapestilence，spreadingterroranddeathwherevertheywent。ThefirstmultitudethatsetforthwasledbyWalterthePennylessearlyinthespringof1096，withinaveryfewmonthsaftertheCouncilofClermont。Eachmanofthatirregularhostaspiredtobehisownmaster:liketheirnominalleader，eachwaspoortopenury，andtrustedforsubsistenceonhisjourneytothechancesoftheroad。RollingthroughGermanylikeatide，theyenteredHungary，where，atfirst，theywerereceivedwithsomedegreeofkindnessbythepeople。Thelatterhadnotyetcaughtsufficientofthefireofenthusiasmtojointhecrusadethemselves，butwerewillingenoughtoforwardthecausebyaidingthoseembarkedinit。Unfortunately，thisgoodunderstandingdidnotlastlong。Theswarmwerenotcontentedwithfoodfortheirnecessities，butcravedforluxuriesalso:theyattackedandplunderedthedwellingsofthecountrypeople，andthoughtnothingofmurderwhereresistancewasoffered。OntheirarrivalbeforeSemlin，theoutragedHungarianscollectedinlargenumbers，and，attackingtherearofthecrusadinghost，slewagreatmanyofthestragglers，and，takingawaytheirarmsandcrosses，affixedthemastrophiestothewallsofthecity。Walterappearstohavebeeninnomoodorconditiontomakereprisals；forhisarmy，destructiveasaplagueoflocustswhenplunderurgedthemon，wereuselessagainstanyregularattackfromadeterminedenemy。
　　TheirrearcontinuedtobethusharassedbythewrathfulHungariansuntiltheywerefairlyoutoftheirterritory。OnhisentranceintoBulgaria，Waltermetwithnobetterfate；thecitiesandtownsrefusedtolethimpass；thevillagesdeniedhimprovisions；andthecitizensandcountrypeopleuniting，slaughteredhisfollowersbyhundreds。Theprogressofthearmywasmorelikearetreatthananadvance；butasitwasimpossibletostandstill，WaltercontinuedhiscoursetillhearrivedatConstantinople，withaforcewhichfamineandtheswordhaddiminishedtoone-thirdofitsoriginalnumber。
　　Thegreatermultitude，ledbytheenthusiasticHermit，followedcloseuponhisheels，withabulkytrainofbaggage，andwomenandchildren，sufficienttoformahostofthemselves。IfitwerepossibletofindarabblemorevilethanthearmyofWalterthePennylessitwasthatledbyPetertheHermit。Beingbetterprovidedwithmeans，theywerenotreducedtothenecessityofpillageintheirprogressthroughHungary；andhadtheytakenanyotherroutethanthatwhichledthroughSemlin，mightperhapshavetraversedthecountrywithoutmolestation。Ontheirarrivalbeforethatcity，theirfurywasraisedatseeingthearmsandredcrossesoftheirpredecessorshangingastrophiesoverthegates。Theirpent-upferocityexplodedatthesight。
　　Thecitywastumultuouslyattacked，andthebesiegersentering，notbydintofbravery，butofsuperiornumbers，itwasgivenuptoallthehorrorswhichfollowwhenVictory，Brutality，andLicentiousnessarelinkedtogether。Everyevilpassionwasallowedtorevelwithimpunity，andrevenge，lust，andavarice，——eachhaditshundredvictimsinunhappySemlin。Anymaniaccankindleaconflagration，butitrequiresmanywisementoputitout。PetertheHermithadblownthepopularfuryintoaflame，buttocoolitagainwasbeyondhispower。Hisfollowersriotedunrestrained，untilthefearofretaliationwarnedthemtodesist。WhentheKingofHungarywasinformedofthedisastersofSemlin，hemarchedwithasufficientforcetochastisetheHermit，whoatthenewsbrokeuphiscampandretreatedtowardstheMorava，abroadandrapidstreamthatjoinstheDanubeafewmilestotheeastwardofBelgrade。HereapartyofindignantBulgariansawaitedhim，andsoharassedhimastomakethepassageoftheriverataskbothofdifficultyanddanger。Greatnumbersofhisinfatuatedfollowersperishedinthewaters，andmanyfellundertheswordsoftheBulgarians。TheancientchroniclesdonotmentiontheamountoftheHermit’slossatthispassage，butrepresentitingeneraltermsasverygreat。
　　AtNissatheDukeofBulgariafortifiedhimself，infearofanassault；butPeter，havinglearnedalittlewisdomfromexperience，thoughtitbesttoavoidhostilities。Hepassedthreenightsinquietnessunderthewalls，andtheduke，notwishingtoexasperateunnecessarilysofierceandrapaciousahost，allowedthetownspeopletosupplythemwithprovisions。Petertookhisdeparturepeaceablyonthefollowingmorning，butsomeGermanvagabondsfallingbehindthemainbodyofthearmy，setfiretothemillsandhouseofaBulgarian，withwhom，itappears，theyhadhadsomedisputeonthepreviousevening。ThecitizensofNissa，whohadthroughoutmistrustedthecrusaders，andwerepreparedfortheworst，salliedoutimmediately，andtooksignalvengeance。Thespoilerswerecuttopieces，andthetownspeoplepursuingtheHermit，capturedallthewomenandchildrenwhohadlaggedintherear，andagreatquantityofbaggage。PeterhereuponturnedroundandmarchedbacktoNissa，todemandexplanationoftheDukeofBulgaria。Thelatterfairlystatedtheprovocationgiven，andtheHermitcouldurgenothinginpalliationofsogrossanoutrage。Anegotiationwasenteredintowhichpromisedtobesuccessful，andtheBulgarianswereabouttodeliverupthewomenandchildrenwhenapartyofundisciplinedcrusaders，actingsolelyupontheirownsuggestion，endeavouredtoscalethewallsandseizeuponthetown。Peterinvainexertedhisauthority；theconfusionbecamegeneral，andafterashortbutdesperatebattle，thecrusadersthrewdowntheirarmsandfledinalldirections。Theirvasthostwascompletelyrouted，theslaughterbeingsogreatamongthemastobecounted，notbyhundreds，butbythousands。
　　ItissaidthattheHermitfledfromthisfatalfieldtoaforestafewmilesfromNissa，abandonedbyeveryhumancreature。Itwouldbecurioustoknowwhether，aftersodireareverse，……“HisenpiercedbreastSharpsorrowdidinthousandpiecesrive，“
　　orwhetherhisfieryzealstillrosesuperiortocalamity，andpicturedtheeventualtriumphofhiscause。He，solatelytheleaderofahundredthousandmen，wasnowasolitaryskulkerintheforests，liableateveryinstanttobediscoveredbysomepursuingBulgarian，andcutoffinmidcareer。Chanceatlastbroughthimwithinsightofaneminencewheretwoorthreeofhisbravestknightshadcollectedfivehundredofthestragglers。ThesegladlyreceivedtheHermit，andaconsultationhavingtakenplace，itwasresolvedtogathertogetherthescatteredremnantsofthearmy。Fireswerelightedonthehill，andscoutssentoutinalldirectionsforthefugitives。Hornsweresoundedatintervalstomakeknownthatfriendswerenear，andbeforenightfalltheHermitsawhimselfattheheadofseventhousandmen。
　　Duringthesucceedingdayhewasjoinedbytwentythousandmore，andwiththismiserableremnantofhisforcehepursuedhisroutetowardsConstantinople。ThebonesoftherestmoulderedintheforestsofBulgaria。
　　OnhisarrivalatConstantinople，wherehefoundWalterthePennylessawaitinghim，hewashospitablyreceivedbytheEmperorAlexius。Itmighthavebeenexpectedthatthesadreversestheyhadundergonewouldhavetaughthisfollowerscommonprudence；but，unhappilyforthem，theirturbulenceandloveofplunderwerenottoberestrained。Althoughtheyweresurroundedbyfriends，bywhomalltheirwantswereliberallysupplied，theycouldnotrefrainfromrapine。InvaintheHermitexhortedthemtotranquillity；hepossessednomorepoweroverthem，insubduingtheirpassions，thantheobscurestsoldierofthehost，TheysetfiretoseveralpublicbuildingsinConstantinople，outofpuremischief，andstrippedtheleadfromtheroofsofthechurches，which，theyafterwardssoldforoldmetalinthepurlieusofthecity。FromthistimemaybedatedtheaversionwhichtheEmperorAlexiusentertainedforthecrusaders，andwhichwasafterwardsmanifestedinallhisactions，evenwhenhehadtodealwiththechivalrousandmorehonourablearmieswhicharrivedaftertheHermit。HeseemstohaveimaginedthattheTurksthemselveswereenemieslessformidabletohispowerthantheseoutpouringsoftherefuseofEurope:hesoonfoundapretexttohurrythemintoAsiaMinor。PetercrossedtheBosphoruswithWalter，huttheexcessesofhisfollowersweresuch，that，despairingofaccomplishinganygoodendbyremainingattheirhead，heleftthemtothemselves，andreturnedtoConstantinople，onthepretextofmakingarrangementswiththegovernmentofAlexiusforapropersupplyofprovisions。Thecrusaders，forgettingthattheywereintheenemy’scountry，andthatunion，aboveallthings，wasdesirable，gavethemselvesuptodissensions。ViolentdisputesarosebetweentheLombardsandNormans，commandedbyWalterthePennyless，andtheFranksandGermans，ledoutbyPeter。Thelatterseparatedthemselvesfromtheformer，and，choosingfortheirleaderoneReinaldo，orReinhold，marchedforward，andtookpossessionofthefortressofExorogorgon。TheSultanSolimaunwasonthealert，withasuperiorforce。Apartyofcrusaders，whichhadbeendetachedfromthefort，andstationedatalittledistanceasanambuscade，weresurprisedandcuttopieces，andExorogorgoninvestedonallsides。Thesiegewasprotractedforeightdays，duringwhichtheChristianssufferedthemostacuteagonyfromthewantofwater。Itishardtosayhowlongthehopeofsuccourortheenergyofdespairwouldhaveenabledthemtoholdout:theirtreacherousleadercutthemattershortbyrenouncingtheChristianfaith，anddeliveringupthefortintothehandsoftheSultan。Hewasfollowedbytwoorthreeofhisofficers；alltherest，refusingtobecomeMahometans，wereruthlesslyputtothesword。ThusperishedthelastwretchedremnantofthevastmultitudewhichhadtraversedEuropewithPetertheHermit。
　　WalterthePennylessandhismultitudemetasmiserableafate。OnthenewsofthedisastersofExorogorgon，theydemandedtobeledinstantlyagainsttheTurks。Walter，whoonlywantedgoodsoldierstohavemadeagoodgeneral，wascoolerofhead，andsawallthedangersofsuchastep。Hisforcewaswhollyinsufficienttomakeanydecisivemovementinacountrywheretheenemywassomuchsuperior，andwhere，incaseofdefeat，hehadnosecurepositiontofallbackupon；andhethereforeexpressedhisopinionagainstadvancinguntilthearrivalofreinforcements。Thisprudentcounselfoundnofavour:thearmyloudlyexpressedtheirdissatisfactionattheirchief，andpreparedtomarchforwardwithouthim。Uponthis，thebraveWalterputhimselfattheirhead，andrushedtodestruction。ProceedingtowardsNice，themodernIsnik，hewasinterceptedbythearmyoftheSultan:afiercebattleensuedinwhichtheTurksmadefearfulhavoc；outoftwenty-fivethousandChristians，twenty-twothousandwereslain，andamongthemGautierhimself，whofellpiercedbysevenmortalwounds。TheremainingthreethousandretreateduponCivitot，wheretheyintrenchedthemselves。
　　DisgustedaswasPetertheHermitattheexcessesofthemultitude，who，athiscall，hadforsakenEurope，hisheartwasmovedwithgriefandpityattheirmisfortunes。Allhisformerzealrevived: