volume one
volume one volume one
230 KISTOET OF THE CEUSADES. in the hands of the Latin clersT for the reestabKshment and the decoration of the churches. But the Crusaders soon turned their eves from the treasures Trhich victory had bestowed upon them to admire a conquest much more precious in their estimation ; this was the true cross, which had had been borne away from Jerusalem bv Cosroes and brous^ht back a^ain bv Heraclius. The Christians shut up in the city had concealed it from the Saracens during the siege. The sight of it excited the most lively emotions in the pilgrims. '' Of this tiling'^ says an old chronicle, *' the Christians ivere as much delighted as if they had seen the hody of Christ hung thereupon^ It was borne in triumph through the streets of Jerusalem, and then replaced in the church of the Eesurrection. Ten days after then' victory the Crusaders employed themselves in restoring the tln^one of David and Solomon, and in placing upon it a leader who might preserve and maintain a conquest that the Christians had made at the expense of so much blood. The council of the piinces being assembled, one of the leaders (history names the count of Flanders) arose in the midst of them, and spoke in these terms :* '* Brothers and companions ; we are met to treat of an affair of the greatest importance ; never did we stand in greater need of the coimsels of wisdom and the inspirations of heaven. In ordinarv times it is desirable that authority should be in the hands of the most able ; with how much greater reason then ought we to seek for the man most worthy to govern this kingdom, still in a great measure in the power of the barbarians. Already we are told that the Egyptians threaten this city, for which we are about to choose a master. The greater part of the Christian waniors are impatient to retiu-n to their coiuitry, and to abandon to others the- care of defending their conquests. The new people then who are going to inhabit this land will have in their neighbourhood no other Christian nations to assist them in their need or console them in their disgraces. Their enemies are near them, their allies are bevond the seas. The king vre shall give them will be then- only support amidst the perils which will surround them. He then * See, for this deliberatiou and this speech, the /fw^ory of Accolti, lib. iv., and that of Yves Duchat.
HISTORY OF THE CRUSADES. 231 who is called upon to govern tliis country must have all the qualities necessary to maintain his position with glory ; he must unite with the bravery natural to the Franks, temperance, good faith, and humanity ; for you know by such virtues great principalities are acquired and kept as well as by arms. Let us not forget, brothers and companions, that our object to-day is not so much to elect a king for Jerusalem, as to bestow upon it a faithfid guardian. He whom we shall choose as leader must be as a father to all those who have quitted their country and their families for the service of Jesus Christ and the defence of the holy places. He must make virtue flourish in this land where God him- self has given the model of it ; he must win the infidels to the Christian religion, accustom them to oiu* manners, and teach them to bless our laws. If vou elect one who is not worthy, you will destroy your own work, and will bring ruin on the Christian name in this country. I have no need to recall to your minds the exploits or the laboiu's which have placed us in possession of this territory ; I -^tII not remind you of the dearest wishes of our brothers who have remained in the AYest. AVhat would be their sorrow, what would be ours, if, on our return to Europe, we should hear that the public good had been neglected and betrayed, or religion abolished in these places where we have restored its altars ? Many would then not fail to attribute to fortune, and not to virtue, the great things we have done, whilst the evils which this kingdom would undergo would pass in the eyes of men as the fruit of our imprudence. " Ho not believe, however, brothers and companions, that I speak thus because I am ambitious of royalty, and that I am seeking your favour or suffrages. No ; I have not sufficient presumption to aspire to and men to witness, that such an honour; I take Heaven even if you should offer me the crown, I would not accept it, being resolved to return to my o^Ti country. That which I have said to you is but for the good and glory of all. For the rest, I supplicate you to receive this advice as I give it to you, T\-ith affection, frank- ness, and loyalty, and to elect for king him who by his \-irtue shall be most capable of preserving and extending this kingdom, to which are attached both the honour of your arms and the cause of Jesus Christ."
- Page 218 and 219: ISO IIISTOET OF THE CRUSADES. viole
- Page 220 and 221: 182 HISTOEY or THE CEUS.U)ES. Tlie
- Page 222 and 223: 184 HISTOET or THE CEUSADES. this c
- Page 224 and 225: 186 HISTOET OF THE CEUS.U)ES. their
- Page 226 and 227: 1S8 HisroKY or the ckusades. Archas
- Page 228 and 229: 190 HISTOEY OF Til£ CPa'SAJD£S. c
- Page 230 and 231: 192 HISTOnY OF TnE CfiUS.VDES. eWde
- Page 232 and 233: 194 HISTOET or THE CBUS.U)ES. and t
- Page 234 and 235: 196 HISTORY or tue ceusades. their
- Page 236 and 237: 198 HISTOILY OJT THE CEUSADES. scar
- Page 238 and 239: 200 niSTORT OF THE CRUSADES. letter
- Page 240 and 241: 202 HISTOEY or THE CRUSADES. stars,
- Page 242 and 243: 201 KISTOHY OF THE CEUSADES. At the
- Page 244 and 245: 206 HISTOEY or THE CRUSADES. afterw
- Page 246 and 247: 208 HISTOEY OF THE CKUSADES. order
- Page 248 and 249: 10 HISTORY OF THE CEUSADES. existed
- Page 250 and 251: 212 HISTOEY OF THE CEIJSADES. suffi
- Page 252 and 253: 214 HISTOEY OF THE CEUSADES. faces
- Page 254 and 255: 216 IIISTOET OF THE CRUSADES. niins
- Page 256 and 257: 218 HISTOET or THE CErSADES, ance.
- Page 258 and 259: 220 — HISTOEY OF THE CEUSADES. ro
- Page 260 and 261: 222 HISTOET OF THE CKUSADES. and sw
- Page 262 and 263: 224 HISTOKY OF THE CEUSAJDES. Chris
- Page 264 and 265: 226 nisTOBT OF the ceusades. and, i
- Page 266 and 267: — — 228 nisTOHY OF the chusades
- Page 270 and 271: 232 nisTOET or the ceusades. Scarce
- Page 272 and 273: 234 HISTORY or THE CEUSADES. veiler
- Page 274 and 275: 236 HiSTOEv: or the ceusades. tlie
- Page 276 and 277: 238 HISTOEY OF THE CRUSADES. The re
- Page 278 and 279: 240 mSTOKY OF THE CEUSADES. The Chr
- Page 280 and 281: 242 HiSTOET or the ckusades. terrif
- Page 282 and 283: 244 HISTORY OF THE CEUSADES. him a
- Page 284 and 285: 246 HISTORY Oi' THE CBl'SADES'. nev
- Page 286 and 287: 24:8 niSTOEX OF THE CRUSADES. his d
- Page 288 and 289: 250 HISTORY Of tilt: CPlVSADES. Sav
- Page 290 and 291: 252 HISTOIIT OF THE CBUSADES. defil
- Page 292 and 293: — 254 HISTOET or THE CHUSADES. Ch
- Page 294 and 295: 26Q HisTOEY or tue chusades. religi
- Page 296 and 297: 258 HISTOET OF THE CHUSADES. result
- Page 298 and 299: 2G0 nrsTORY of the crusades. tlie M
- Page 300 and 301: 262 HISTORY OF THE CEL'SADES. calle
- Page 302 and 303: 264 KISTOIIY OF THE carsADL3 part o
- Page 304 and 305: 266 HISTOEY OF THE CRUSADES. barren
- Page 306 and 307: 268 HISTORY OF the crusades. tlie t
- Page 308 and 309: 270 niSTOET OF TUE CRUSADES. should
- Page 310 and 311: 272 IIISTOET OF THE CRUSADES. recko
- Page 312 and 313: 274 nisTOET OF the crusades. C^esar
- Page 314 and 315: 276 HISTOEY OF THE CKUSJlDES. obtai
- Page 316 and 317: 278 HISIOKT OF THE CRUSADES. the sw
HISTORY OF THE CRUSADES. 231<br />
who is called upon to govern tliis country must have all the<br />
qualities necessary to maintain his position with glory ; he<br />
must unite with the bravery natural to the Franks, temperance,<br />
good faith, and humanity ; for you know by such<br />
virtues great principalities are acquired and kept as well as<br />
by arms. Let us not forget, brothers and companions, that<br />
our object to-day is not so much to elect a king for Jerusalem,<br />
as to bestow upon it a faithfid guardian. He whom<br />
we shall choose as leader must be as a father to all those<br />
who have quitted their country and their families for the<br />
service of Jesus Christ and the defence of the holy places.<br />
He must make virtue flourish in this land where God him-<br />
self has given the model of it ; he must win the infidels to<br />
the Christian religion, accustom them to oiu* manners, and<br />
teach them to bless our laws. If vou elect <strong>one</strong> who is not<br />
worthy, you will destroy your own work, and will bring ruin<br />
on the Christian name in this country. I have no need to<br />
recall to your minds the exploits or the laboiu's which have<br />
placed us in possession of this territory ; I -^tII not remind<br />
you of the dearest wishes of our brothers who have remained<br />
in the AYest. AVhat would be their sorrow, what would be<br />
ours, if, on our return to Europe, we should hear that the<br />
public good had been neglected and betrayed, or religion<br />
abolished in these places where we have restored its altars ?<br />
Many would then not fail to attribute to fortune, and not to<br />
virtue, the great things we have d<strong>one</strong>, whilst the evils which<br />
this kingdom would undergo would pass in the eyes of men<br />
as the fruit of our imprudence.<br />
" Ho not believe, however, brothers and companions, that I<br />
speak thus because I am ambitious of royalty, and that I am<br />
seeking your favour or suffrages. No ; I have not sufficient<br />
presumption to aspire to<br />
and men to witness, that<br />
such an honour; I take Heaven<br />
even if you should offer me the<br />
crown, I would not accept it, being resolved to return to<br />
my o^Ti country. That which I have said to you is but for<br />
the good and glory of all. For the rest, I supplicate you to<br />
receive this advice as I give it to you, T\-ith affection, frank-<br />
ness, and loyalty, and to elect for king him who by his \-irtue<br />
shall be most capable of preserving and extending this<br />
kingdom, to which are attached both the honour of your<br />
arms and the cause of Jesus Christ."
Change language