volume one

146 HISTORY or THE CIIUSJlDES.
them into useful auxiliaries. As they were accused of
violating tombs and feeding on human flesh,* they inspired
great terror among the iniidels, and the sight of them alone
put to flight the defenders of Antioch, who trembled at the
thoughts of falling into their hands.
Antioch was so closely pressed, and the garrison had so
little means of defence left, that the Crusaders expected
every day to become masters of it. Accien demanded a
truce of them, and promised to surrender if he were not soon
relieved. The Crusaders, ever full of blind confidence, had
the imprudence to accept the proposals of the governor. As
soon as they had concluded a truce with the Saracens, the
leaders of the army, wlio scarcely ever agreed, except upon
the field of battle, and whom the presence of danger did not
always unite, were upon the point of declaring war against
one another.
Baldwin, prince of Edessa, had sent magnificent presents
to Godfrey, the two Eoberts, the count de Yermandois, and
the counts of Blois and of Chartres, but in the distribution
of his favours had, designedly, omitted Bohemond and his
soldiers. I^othing more was necessary to create division.
Whilst the rest of the army were celebrating the liberality
of Baldwin, the prince of Tarentum and his warriors breathed
nothing but complaints and murmurs.
At this time a richly-ornamented tent, which an Armenian
prince destined for Godfrey, and which, falling into the hands
of Pancracius, was sent to Bohemond, became a fresh subject
of trouble and discord. Godfrey haughtily claimed the
present which had been intended for him, and Bohemond
refused to give it up. On each side they proceeded to injurious
terms and threats ; they were even ready to have
recourse to arms, and the blood of the Christians was about
to flow for a miserable quarrel ; but at length the prince of
Tarentum, abandoned by the greater part of the army, and
overcome by the prayers of his friends, gave up the tent to
his rival, consoling himself in his vexation, with the hope
that war would soon put him in possession of a richer booty.
William of Tyre, who has transmitted to us this account,
* Rt si Sarracenum noviter interfectum invenerunt, illius carnes, ac si
essent pecudis, avidissime devorabant.— Gesta Francorum.