volume one

HISTORY or THE CRUSADES. 213
could be let down on the ramparts, and present a road by
which to penetrate into the place.
But these powerful means of attack were not the only
ones which were to second the efforts of the Crusaders. The
religious enthusiasm which had already performed so many
prodigies was again to augment their ardour and confidence
m victory. The clergy spread themselves through all the
quarters of the army, exhorting the pilgrims to penitence
and concord. Misery, which almost always engenders complaints
and murmiu's, had soured their hearts, and produced
division among the leaders and the soldiers, who at other
times had disputed for cities and treasures, but for whom then
the most common things had become objects of jealousy and
quarrels. The solitary from the Mount of Olives added his
exhortations to those of the clergy, and addressing himself
to the princes and people: " You who are come," said he,
" from the regions of the West to worship the God of
armies, love one another as brothers, and sanctify yourselves
by repentance and good works. If you obey the laws of
God, he will render you masters of the holy city ; if you
resist him, all his anger will fall upon you." The solitary
advised the Crusaders to march round Jerusalem, invoking
the mercy and protection of Heaven.
The pilgrims, persuaded that the gates of the city were
not less likely to be opened by devotion than bravery, listened
with docility to the exhortations of the solitary, and
were all eager to follow his counsel, which they regarded as
the language of God himself. After a rigorous fast of three
days, they issued from their quarters armed, and marched
barefooted and bareheaded around the walls of the holy city.
They were preceded by their priests clothed in white, carrying
images of the saints, and singing psalms and holy songs.
The ensigns were displayed, and the cymbals and trumpets
sounded afar. It was thus that the Hebrews had formerly
marched round Jericho, whose walls had crumbled away at
the soimd of their instruments.
The Crusaders set out from the Valley of Eephraim, which
whicli he improperly calls the tower of Frederick the First of Jerusalem.
He gives a detailed and, very exact description of this tower, which is likewise
well described by contemporary historians.