volume one

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IIISTOKY OF THE CRUSADES. 169
lives several times whilst passing through the army of the
infidels. Peter rendei-ed an account of his mission to the
assembled princes and barons ; and all immediately prepared
for battle, Tlie heralds-at-arms proceeded through the
different quarters of the city, and battle "vvas promised for
the next day to the impatient valour of the Crusaders.
The priests and bishops exhorted the Christians to render
themselves worthy of fighting for the cause of Jesus Christ
and the whole army passed the night in prayer and acts of
devotion. Injuries were forgiven, alms were bestov/ed, and
all the churches were filled with warriors, who humbled
themselves before God, and implored a remission of their
sins. The preceding evening some provisions had been
found, and this unexpected abundance was considered as a
species of miracle. The Crusaders repaired their strength
by a frugal meal ; and towards the end of the night, that
which remained of bread and meal in Antioch served for the
sacrifice of the mass. A hundi-ed thousand warriors approached
the tribunal of penitence, and received, with all
the evidences of piety, the God for whom they had taken
up arms.*
At length day appeared ; it was the festival of St. Peter
and St. Paul. The gates of Antioch were thrown open, and
the whole Christian army marched out in twelve divisions,
symbolical of the twelve apostles. Hugh the Great, though
weakened by a long illness, appeared in the foremost ranks,
and bore the standard of the Church. All the princes,
knights, and barons were at the head of their men-at-arms.
The only one of all the leaders that did not appear in the
ranks was the count de Thoulouse ; detained in Antioch by
the consequences of a woimd, he was charged with the duty
of watching the garrison of the citadel, whilst his companions
went to give battle to the army of the Saracens.
Eaymond d' Agiles,t one of the historians of the crusade,
* Letanias siipplices, ab ecclesia in ecclesiara, explicant ; confessione
peccatorutB sinceri se mundant, et episcopal! vel sacerdotali consequenter
absolutione promerita, corporis ac sanguinis Domini sacramento, plena
fide communicant, &c.— Gitibert, lib. vi.
Missae per ecclesias celebratse sunt ; omnesqiie sancta doniinici corporis
communione communicati sunt. Robert. Mon. lib. vii.
t Vidi ego heec quae loquor, et dominicam lanceam ibi ferebam.
Rayni. d' Affiles, p. 155, apud Beng.
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