volume one

90 HISTOEY OF THE CEUSADES.
of the king of France would become, in his hands, a hostage
that might protect him from the enterprizes of the Latins
but he only awakened suspicion, and provoked the hatred of
the leaders of the crusade. Godfrey de Bouillon had arrived
at Philippopoh, when he heard of the captivity of the count
de Yermandois. He sent to the emperor to demand instant
reparation for this outrage ; and as the deputies reported
but an unfavourable answer, he restrained neither his own
indignation nor the fary of his army. The lands through
which they passed were treated as an enemy's country, and
during eight days the fertile plains of Thrace became the
theatre of war. The crowd of Greeks who fled towards the
capital soon informed the emperor of the terrible vengeance
of the Latins. Alexis, terrified at the fruits of his own
policy, implored the pardon of his prisoner, and promised to
restore him his liberty when the French should have arrived
at the gates of Constantinople. This promise appeased
Godfrey, who caused the war to cease, and resmned his
march, treating the Greeks everywhere as friends and
allies.
In the meanwhile, Alexis employed every effort to obtain
from the count de Yermandois the oath of obedience and
fidelity, hoping that his submission would lead to that of the
other princes of the crusade, and that he should have less to
fear from their ambition if he could reckon them in the
number of his vassals. The brother of the king of France,
who, on an'i^-ing in the ten-itories of the empire, had written
letters filled ^-ith pride and ostentation, could not resist the
caresses and presents of the emperor, and took all the oaths
that were requii-ed of him. On the arrival of Godfrey, he
appeared in the camp of the Crusaders, who rejoiced at his
deliverance, but coidd not pardon him for ha\4ng yielded
submission to a foreign monarch. Cries of indignation arose
aroimd him when he endeavoured to persuade Godfrey to
foUow his example. The more gentle and submissive he'had
shown himself in his captrrity, the more strong became the
opposition and resistance to the wiU of the emperor of his
companions, who had di^a^vn their swords to avenge the insult
offered to him.
Alexis refused them provisions, and thought to reduce
them by famine ;
but the Latins were accustomed to obtain
;