volume one

USITORY OF THE CRUSADES. 145
horses of his garrison into a valley at a few leagues from the
city, they repaired thither by circuitous routes, and got pos-
session of this rich booty. Two thousand horses, and as
many mules, were led in triumph into the camp of the
Christians.
As the fleet of the Pisans and Grenoese had brought with
them a great number of labourers and engineers, they were
employed in directing and carrying on the works of the
siege. Machines of war were constructed, and the city of
Antioch was pressed more vigorously, and threatened on all
sides. AVhilst despair supplied the place of courage among
the Saracens, the zeal and emulation of the Crusaders were
redoubled. Many whom misery or fear had driven from the
Christian army rejoined their standards, and sought by their
exertions to obliterate the remembrance of their desertion.
The besiegers allowed themselves no repose, and only seemed
to live to fight. The women seconded the valour of the
warriors. Some mingled with them in the ranks, whilst
others bore them food and ammunition to the battle-field.
Children even formed themselves into troops, exercised
themselves in military evolutions, and took up arms against
the Saracens. The inhabitants of Antioch opposed their
children to those of the Christians, and several times these
5'oung combatants came to blows in the presence of the
besiegers and the besieged, who animated them with voice
and gesture, and joined the combat even to support such of
their party as seemed to yield.
There was formed at the same time another military force
still more formidable to the Saracens.* The mendicants
and vagabonds who followed the Christian army were employed
in the labours of the siege, and worked under the
orders of a captain, who took the title of " Hoi truant,^'' or
king of the beggars. They received pay from the general
treasury of the Crusaders, and as soon as they were in a
condition to purchase arms and clothes, the king renounced
them as his subjects, and forced them to enter into one of
the troops of the army. This measure, whilst forcing the
vagabonds to abandon a life of dangerous idleness, changed
* These particulars are related by Abbot Guibert, lib. iv. In this
hifctorian will be found most particulars regarding morals.