volume one

HISTORY or Tlfe CRTJSADES. 233
they had followed through the holy war, whilst others, like
the Proven9als, who liad no attachment for the count of
St. Gilles, and were not desirous of remaining in Asia, gave
all their efforts to keep the crown of Jerusalem from the
prince under whose colours they served.
To terminate the debate, it was decided that the choice
should be made by a special council of ten of the most
highly respected men of the army. Prayers, fasts, and alms
were commanded, in order to propitiate Heaven to guide
them in the nomination they were about to make. They
who were called upon to choose the king swore, in the presence
of the whole Christian army, not to listen to any
interest or any private affection, but to decree the cro"UTi to
wisdom and \drtue. These electors, whose names history
has not preserved, gave the utmost attention to ascertain
the opinion of the army upon the merits of each of the
leaders. AVilliam of Tyre relates that they went so far as
even to interrogate the familiar associates and servants of
all who had any pretensions to the crown, and that they
made them take an oath to reveal all they knew of the
manners, characters, and secret propensities of their masters.
The servants of Grodfre}^ of Bouillon gave the most
striking evidence of his mildness and humanity, but above
all of his exemplary devotion.
To add to this honourable testimony, the exploits of the
duke of Lorraine during the holy war were dwelt upon. They
remembered that at the siege of Nice he had killed the most
redoubtable of the Saracens ; that he had split from shoulder
to haunch a giant on the bridge ofAntioch, and that in
Asia Minor he had exposed his life to save that of a soldier
who was overpowered by a bear. ]\Iany other feats of bravery
were related of him, which in the minds of the Crusaders
placed him above all the other competitors.*
Grodfrey was the leader decidedly in possession of the suf-
frages of the majority of the army and the people ;
and that
he might not want anything in the expression of their wishes
for his success, revelations were announced that Grod himself
declared in his favour. " Many years before the crusade,"
says Albert d'Aix, " a soldier named ITezelon de Kintz-
* See Abbot Guil/ert, lib. vii. cap. 12.