volume one
volume one volume one
66 niSTOET OF THE CEUSADES. -vN-itli the "bulk of his armv. The eves of the Crusaders, on approaching the city, -were shocked everywhere by beholding the most sorroTvful spectacle. They recognized amons: the dead friends and brothers, and burned to revencre them. The cenobite, however, who feared fresh reverses, had recourse to negotiations and prayers. Deputies were sent into Xissa, to demand the prisoners and the baggage of his armv, which had been taken bv the Bulo:arians. These deputies reminded the governor that they had taken up the cross, and that they were going to fight in the East for the cause of Jesus Christ. They appealed to the religion and humanity' of the inhabitants of Xissa, whom thev called their brethren. The governor, who saw nothing in these peaceful words but the language of fear, showed himself inflexible to their prayers. He sternly sent them back to their general, telling them that the Crusaders had themselves given the signal for the war, and that he could see in them nothing but enemies. AVhen this answer was reported to the army of Peter, ever}' soldier was fii-ed with indii]:nation. In vain the cenobite endeavoured to calm their spirits and attempt fresh negotiations ; they accused his fidehty, they suspected his courage. The most ardent ilew to arms ; nothing was heard but complaints and menaces ; and no Crusader would submit to any directions but those of his own angry will. AVhilst Peter was conferring Avith the governor of Xissa, two thousand soldiers approached the ramparts, and endeavoured to scale them. They were repulsed by the Bulgarians, and supported by a p^reat number of their companions. The fight became general, and the fire of carnage blazed on all parts around the chiefs, who were still speaking of conditions of peace. In vain the hermit had recourse to supplications, to stop the mad progress of his soldiers, in vain he placed himself between the combatants ; his voice, so well known to the Crusaders, was lost in the din of arms. They braved liis authority ; they despised his prayers. His army, which fought Tsithout order and without leaders, was routed and cut to pieces. The women, the children, who followed the Crusaders, their horses, their camp equipages, the chest of the army, which contained the numerous oflerings of the
HISTORY or THE CRUSADES. 67 faithful, all became tlie prey of an enemy whose fury and vengeance nothing could stop. The hermit Peter, with the wreck of his troop, took refuge on a hill in the neighbourhood of the city. He passed the night in alarms, deploring his defeat, and the sad effects of the violences of which he had himself given the signal and the example among the Hungarians. He had around him no more than five hundred men. The trumpets and the clarions were sounded without ceasing, to recall those who had escaped the carnage, and had lost themselves in their flight. Whether it was that the Crusaders could find no safety but under their own standards, or whether they were still mindful of their oath, none turned back from the crusade. On the day following their defeat, seven thousand fugitives came to rejoin their general. A few days after, Peter mustered beneath his command thirty thousand combatants. All the rest had perished in the battle fought under the walls of Nissa. The army of the Crusaders, reduced to a deplora- ble condition, sought no opportunity of avenging their defeat, but marched with melancholy steps towards the frontiers of Thrace. They were without the means either of subsisting or fighting. They had to fear a fresh defeat if they encountered the Bulgarians, and all the horrors of famine if they came to a desert country. Misfortune rendered them more docile, and inspired them with sentiments of moderation. The pity which their misery excited was more serviceable to them than the terror which they had wished to create. "Wlien they ceased to be an object of di'ead, assistance was afforded them. When they entered the territories of Thrace, the Greek emperor sent deputies to complain of their disorders, but at the same time to announce his clemency. Peter, who dreaded new disasters, wept with joy when he learnt that he had found favour with Alexis. Pull of confidence and hope, he pui^sued his march, and the Crusaders, carrying palms in their hands, arrived without further obstacles under the walls of Constantinople. The Grreeks, who entertained no love for the Latins, were more prodigal and kind in the assistance they afforded them from finding them less formidable. They secretly applauded the courage of the Bulgarians, and contemplated with com- VoL. I.— 5
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HISTORY or THE CRUSADES. 67<br />
faithful, all became tlie prey of an enemy whose fury and<br />
vengeance nothing could stop.<br />
The hermit Peter, with the wreck of his troop, took<br />
refuge on a hill in the neighbourhood of the city. He<br />
passed the night in alarms, deploring his defeat, and the sad<br />
effects of the violences of which he had himself given the<br />
signal and the example among the Hungarians. He had<br />
around him no more than five hundred men. The trumpets<br />
and the clarions were sounded without ceasing, to recall<br />
those who had escaped the carnage, and had lost themselves<br />
in their flight.<br />
Whether it was that the Crusaders could find no safety<br />
but under their own standards, or whether they were still<br />
mindful of their oath, n<strong>one</strong> turned back from the crusade.<br />
On the day following their defeat, seven thousand fugitives<br />
came to rejoin their general. A few days after, Peter<br />
mustered beneath his command thirty thousand combatants.<br />
All the rest had perished in the battle fought under the walls<br />
of Nissa. The army of the Crusaders, reduced to a deplora-<br />
ble condition, sought no opportunity of avenging their<br />
defeat, but marched with melancholy steps towards the<br />
frontiers of Thrace. They were without the means either of<br />
subsisting or fighting. They had to fear a fresh defeat if<br />
they encountered the Bulgarians, and all the horrors of<br />
famine if they came to a desert country. Misfortune rendered<br />
them more docile, and inspired them with sentiments<br />
of moderation. The pity which their misery excited was<br />
more serviceable to them than the terror which they had<br />
wished to create. "Wlien they ceased to be an object of<br />
di'ead, assistance was afforded them. When they entered<br />
the territories of Thrace, the Greek emperor sent deputies<br />
to complain of their disorders, but at the same time to<br />
announce his clemency. Peter, who dreaded new disasters,<br />
wept with joy when he learnt that he had found favour with<br />
Alexis. Pull of confidence and hope, he pui^sued his march,<br />
and the Crusaders, carrying palms in their hands, arrived<br />
without further obstacles under the walls of Constantinople.<br />
The Grreeks, who entertained no love for the Latins, were<br />
more prodigal and kind in the assistance they afforded them<br />
from finding them less formidable. They secretly applauded<br />
the courage of the Bulgarians, and contemplated with com-<br />
VoL. I.—<br />
5
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