ThenewsofthisdefectionincreasedthediscouragementatAntioch。Alltheuselesshorsesofthearmyhadbeenslainandeaten，anddogs，cats，andratsweresoldatenormousprices。Evenverminwerebecomingscarce。Withincreasingfaminecameapestilence，sothatinashorttimebutsixtythousandremainedofthethreehundredthousandthathadoriginallyinvestedAntioch。Butthisbitterextremity，whileitannihilatedtheenergyofthehost，onlyservedtoknittheleadersmorefirmlytogether；andBohemund，Godfrey，andTancredsworenevertodesertthecauseaslongaslifelasted。Theformerstroveinvaintoreanimatethecourageofhisfollowers。Theywerewearyandsickatheart，andhismenacesandpromiseswerealikethrownaway。Someofthemhadshutthemselvesupinthehouses，andrefusedtocomeforth。Bohemund，todrivethemtotheirduty，setfiretothewholequarter，andmanyofthemperishedintheflames，whiletherestofthearmylookedonwiththeutmostindifference。Bohemund，animatedhimselfbyaworldlyspirit，didnotknowthetruecharacterofthecrusaders，norunderstandthereligiousmadnesswhichhadbroughttheminsuchshoalsfromEurope。Apriest，moreclear-sighted，devisedaschemewhichrestoredalltheirconfidence，andinspiredthemwithacouragesowonderfulastomakethepoorsixtythousandemaciated，sick，andstarvingzealots，puttoflightthewell-fedandsixtimesasnumerouslegionsoftheSultanofPersia。
　　Thispriest，anativeofProvence，wasnamedPeterBarthelemy，andwhetherhewereaknaveoranenthusiast，orboth；aprincipal，oratoolinthehandsofothers，willeverremainamatterofdoubt。
　　Certainitis，however，thathewasthemeansofraisingthesiegeofAntioch，andcausingtheeventualtriumphofthearmiesoftheCross。
　　Whenthestrengthofthecrusaderswascompletelybrokenbytheirsufferings，andhopehadfledfromeverybosom，PetercametoCountRaymondofToulouse，anddemandedaninterviewonmattersofseriousmoment。Hewasimmediatelyadmitted。Hesaidthat，someweekspreviously，atthetimetheChristianswerebesiegingAntioch，hewasreposingaloneinhistent，whenhewasstartledbytheshockoftheearthquake，whichhadsoalarmedthewholehost。Throughviolentterroroftheshockhecouldonlyejaculate，Godhelpme！whenturningroundhesawtwomenstandingbeforehim，whomheatoncerecognizedbythehaloofgloryaroundthemasbeingsofanotherworld。Oneofthemappearedtobeanagedman，withreddishhairsprinkledwithgrey，blackeyes，andalongflowinggreybeard。Theotherwasyounger，larger，andhandsomer，andhadsomethingmoredivineinhisaspect。Theelderlymanalonespoke，andinformedhimthathewastheHolyApostleSt。Andrew，anddesiredhimtoseekouttheCountRaymond，theBishopofPuy，andRaymondofAltopulto，andaskthemwhytheBishopdidnotexhortthepeople，andsignthemwiththecrosswhichhebore。TheApostlethentookhim，nakedinhisshirtashewas，andtransportedhimthroughtheairintotheheartofthecityofAntioch，whereheledhimintothechurchofSt。Peter，atthattimeaSaracenmosque。TheApostlemadehimstopbythepillarclosetothestepsbywhichtheyascendonthesouthsidetothealtar，wherehungtwolamps，whichgaveoutalightbrighterthanthatofthenoondaysun；theyoungerman，whomhedidnotatthattimeknow，standingafaroff，nearthestepsofthealtar。TheApostlethendescendedintothegroundandbroughtupalance，whichhegaveintohishand，tellinghimthatitwastheverylancethathadopenedthesidewhencehadflowedthesalvationoftheworld。Withtearsofjoyheheldtheholylance，andimploredtheApostletoallowhimtotakeitawayanddeliveritintothehandsofCountRaymond。TheApostlerefused，andburiedthelanceagainintheground，commandinghim，whenthecitywaswonfromtheinfidels，togowithtwelvechosenmen，anddigitupagaininthesameplace。TheApostlethentransportedhimbacktohistent，andthetwovanishedfromhissight。Hehadneglected，hesaid，todeliverthismessage，afraidthathiswonderfultalewouldnotobtaincredencefrommenofsuchhighrank。Aftersomedaysheagainsawtheholyvision，ashewasgoneoutofthecamptolookforfood。
　　Thistimethedivineeyesoftheyoungerlookedreproachfullyuponhim。HeimploredtheApostletochoosesomeoneelsemorefittedforthemission，buttheApostlerefused，andsmotehimwithadisorderoftheeyes，asapunishmentforhisdisobedience。Withanobstinacyunaccountableeventohimself，hehadstilldelayed。AthirdtimetheApostleandhiscompanionhadappearedtohim，ashewasinatentwithhismasterWilliamatSt。Simeon。OnthatoccasionSt。AndrewtoldhimtobearhiscommandtotheCountofToulousenottobatheinthewatersoftheJordanwhenhecametoit，buttocrossoverinaboat，cladinashirtandbreechesoflinen，whichheshouldsprinklewiththesacredwatersoftheriver。Theseclotheshewasafterwardstopreservealongwiththeholylance。HismasterWilliam，althoughhecouldnotseethesaint，distinctlyheardthevoicegivingorderstothateffect。Againheneglectedtoexecutethecommission，andagainthesaintsappearedtohim，whenhewasattheportofMamistra，abouttosailforCyprus，andSt。Andrewthreatenedhimwitheternalperditionifherefusedlonger。Uponthishemadeuphismindtodivulgeallthathadbeenrevealedtohim。
　　TheCountofToulouse，who，inallprobability，concoctedthisprecioustalewiththepriest，appearedstruckwiththerecital，andsentimmediatelyfortheBishopofPuyandRaymondofAltapulto。TheBishopatonceexpressedhisdisbeliefofthewholestory，andrefusedtohaveanythingtodointhematter。TheCountofToulouse，onthecontrary，sawabundantmotives，ifnotforbelieving，forpretendingtobelieve；and，intheend，hesoimpresseduponthemindoftheBishoptheadvantagethatmightbederivedfromit，inworkingupthepopularmindtoitsformerexcitement，thatthelatterreluctantlyagreedtomakesearchindueformfortheholyweapon。Thedayafterthemorrowwasfixeduponfortheceremony，and，inthemeantime，PeterwasconsignedtothecareofRaymond，theCount’schaplain，inorderthatnoprofanecuriositymighthaveanopportunityofcross-examininghim，andputtinghimtoanonplus。
　　Twelvedevoutmenwereforthwithchosenfortheundertaking，amongwhomweretheCountofToulouseandhischaplain。Theybegandiggingatsunrise，andcontinuedunweariedtillnearsunset，withoutfindingthelance；——theymighthavedugtillthisdaywithnobettersuccess，hadnotPeterhimselfsprungintothepit，prayingtoGodtobringthelancetolight，forthestrengtheningandvictoryofhispeople。Thosewhohideknowwheretofind；andsoitwaswithPeter，forbothheandthelancefoundtheirwayintotheholeatthesametime。Onasudden，heandRaymond，thechaplain，behelditspointintheearth，andRaymond，drawingitforth，kisseditwithtearsofjoy，insightofthemultitudewhichhadassembledinthechurch。Itwasimmediatelyenvelopedinarichpurplecloth，alreadypreparedtoreceiveit，andexhibitedinthisstatetothefaithful，whomadethebuildingresoundwiththeirshoutsofgladness。
　　Peterhadanothervisionthesamenight，andbecamefromthatdayforth“dreamerofdreams，“ingeneral，tothearmy。Hestatedonthefollowingday，thattheApostleAndrewand“theyouthwiththedivineaspect“appearedtohimagain，anddirectedthattheCountofToulouse，asarewardforhisperseveringpiety，shouldcarrytheHolyLanceattheheadofthearmy，andthatthedayonwhichitwasfoundshouldbeobservedasasolemnfestivalthroughoutChristendom。St。
　　Andrewshowedhim，atthesametime，theholesinthefeetandhandsofhisbenigncompanion；andhebecameconvincedthathestoodintheawfulpresenceofTHEREDEEMER。
　　Petergainedsomuchcreditbyhisvisionsthatdreamingbecamecontagious。Othermonksbesidehimselfwerevisitedbythesaints，whopromisedvictorytothehostifitwouldvaliantlyholdouttothelast，andcrownsofeternalglorytothosewhofellinthefight。Twodeserters，weariedofthefatiguesandprivationsofthewar，whohadstealthilyleftthecamp，suddenlyreturned，andseekingBohemund，toldhimthattheyhadbeenmetbytwoapparitions，who，withgreatanger，hadcommandedthemtoreturn。Theoneofthemsaid，thatherecognizedhisbrother，whohadbeenkilledinbattlesomemonthsbefore，andthathehadahaloofgloryaroundhishead。Theother，stillmorehardy，assertedthattheapparitionwhichhadspokentohimwastheSaviourhimself，whohadpromisedeternalhappinessashisrewardifhereturnedtohisduty，butthepainsofeternalfireifherejectedthecross。Noonethoughtofdisbelievingthesemen。Thecourageofthearmyimmediatelyrevived；despondencygavewaytohope；
　　everyarmgrewstrongagain，andthepangsofhungerwereforatimedisregarded。TheenthusiasmwhichhadledthemfromEuropeburnedforthoncemoreasbrightlyasever，andtheydemanded，withloudcries，tobeledagainsttheenemy。Theleaderswerenotunwilling。Inabattlelaytheironlychanceofsalvation；andalthoughGodfrey，Bohemund，andTancredreceivedthestoryofthelancewithmuchsuspicion，theyweretoowisetothrowdiscredituponanimposturewhichbadefairtoopenthegatesofvictory。
　　PetertheHermitwaspreviouslysenttothecampofKerboghatoproposethatthequarrelbetweenthetworeligionsshouldbedecidedbyachosennumberofthebravestsoldiersofeacharmy。Kerboghaturnedfromhimwithalookofcontempt，andsaidhecouldagreetonoproposalsfromasetofsuchmiserablebeggarsandrobbers。WiththisuncourteousanswerPeterreturnedtoAntioch。Preparationswereimmediatelycommencedforanattackupontheenemy:thelattercontinuedtobeperfectlywellinformedofalltheproceedingsoftheChristiancamp。ThecitadelofAntioch，whichremainedintheirpossession，overlookedthetown，andthecommanderofthefortresscoulddistinctlyseeallthatwaspassingwithin。Onthemorningofthe28thofJune1098ablackflag，hoistedfromitshighesttower，announcedtothebesiegingarmythattheChristianswereabouttosallyforth。
　　TheMoslemleadersknewthesadinroadsthatfamineanddiseasehadmadeuponthenumbersofthefoe:theyknewthatnotabovetwohundredoftheknightshadhorsestorideupon，andthatthefootsoldiersweresickandemaciated；buttheydidnotknowthealmostincrediblevalourwhichsuperstitionhadinfusedintotheirhearts。
　　Thestoryofthelancetheytreatedwiththemostsupremecontempt，and，secureofaneasyvictory，theygavethemselvesnotroubleinpreparingfortheonslaught。ItisrelatedthatKerboghawasplayingagameatchess，whentheblackflagonthecitadelgavewarningoftheenemy’sapproach，andthat，withtrueorientalcoolness，heinsisteduponfinishingthegameerehebestowedanyofhisattentionuponafoesounworthy。Thedefeatofhisadvancedpostoftwothousandmenarousedhimfromhisapathy。
　　Thecrusaders，afterthisfirstvictory，advancedjoyfullytowardsthemountains，hopingtodrawtheTurkstoaplacewheretheircavalrywouldbeunabletomanoeuvre。Theirspiritswerelightandtheircouragehigh，asledonbytheDukeofNormandy，CountRobertofFlanders，andHughofVermandois，theycamewithinsightofthesplendidcampoftheenemy。GodfreyofBouillonandAdhemar，BishopofPuy，followedimmediatelyaftertheseleaders，thelattercladincompletearmour，andbearingtheHolyLancewithinsightofthewholearmy:BohemundandTancredbroughtuptherear。
　　Kerbogha，awareatlastthathisenemywasnotsodespicable，tookvigorousmeasurestoremedyhismistake，and，preparinghimselftomeettheChristiansinfront，hedespatchedtheSultanSoliman，ofRoum，toattackthemintherear。Toconcealthismovement，hesetfiretothedriedweedsandgrasswithwhichthegroundwascovered，andSoliman，takingawidecircuitwithhiscavalry，succeeded，undercoverofthesmoke，inmakinggoodhispositionintherear。Thebattleragedfuriouslyinfront；thearrowsoftheTurksfellthickashail，andtheirwell-trainedsquadronstrodthecrusadersundertheirhoofslikestubble。Stilltheaffraywasdoubtful；fortheChristianshadtheadvantageoftheground，andwererapidlygainingupontheenemy，whentheoverwhelmingforcesofSolimanarrivedintherear。
　　GodfreyandTancredflewtotherescueofBohemund，spreadingdismayintheTurkishranksbytheirfierceimpetuosity。TheBishopofPuywasleftalmostalonewiththeProvencalstoopposethelegionscommandedbyKerboghainperson；butthepresenceoftheHolyLancemadeaheroofthemeanestsoldierinhistrain。Still，however，thenumbersoftheenemyseemedinterminable。TheChristians，attackedoneveryside，beganatlasttogiveway，andtheTurksmadesureofvictory。