volume one

HISTOEY OP THE CETJSADES.
Another Eobert, coimt of Flanders, placed himself at the
head of the Prisons and the Flemings. He was son of
Kobert, sui'named the Frison, ^Yho had usurped the prin-
cipality of Flanders from his own nephews, and who, to
expiate his victories, had performed, some time before the
crusade, the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The yoimg liobert
easily found soldiers for his enterprize hi a coimtry where
everybody had borne arms during the ci\dl wars, and where
the people were animated by the tales of a great number of
pilgrims returned from the Holy Land. He exhausted the
treasures of his father, to embark in an expedition which
procured him the reputation of a bold knight, together with
the surname of " The Lance and SwonV of the Ch^nstians.
Five hundred horsemen sent by Eobert the Frison to the
emperor iUexis had already preceded him to Constantinople.
Stephen, count of Blois and Chartres, had also taken up
the cross. He passed for the richest noble of his times.
The number of his castles was said to be equal to that of
tlie days of the year. AVliat might be really considered a
phenomenon in the eleventh century, this prince loved and
cultivated letters. He proved to be the soul of the councils
by his eloquence and his intelligence ;
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but he could not long
together support the fatigues of war, and he sometimes was
but timid in the field of battle.
These four chiefs were accompanied by a crowd of knights
and nobles, among whom history names Eobert of Paris,
Evrard of Prusaie, Achard de Montmerle, Isouard de INIuson,
Stephen, count d'Albermarle, Walter de St. Valery, Eoger
de Barneville, Fergant and Conan, two illustrious Bretons,
Guis de Trusselle, Miles de Braie.s, Eaoul de Baugency,
Eotrou, son of the count dePerche; Odo, bishop of Bayeux,
uncle of the duke of Normandy ; Eaoul de Gader, Tve and
Alberic, sons of Hugh de Grandmenil. The greater part of
the counts and barons took with them their wives and
children, and all their war equipages. They crossed the
Alps, and directed their march towards the cities of Italy,
with the intention of embarking for Greece. They found
in the neighboiuhood of Lucca Pope Urban, who gave them
his benediction, praised then' zeal, and offered up prayers
for the success of their enterprize. The count de Vermandois,
after having received the standard of the Church from