volume one

234 HISTORY or THE CEUSADES.
veiler, had fallen asleep in a forest, and, being conveyed in
a dream to the summit of Sinai, he had seen Godfi'ey,
covered with glory, and accompanied by two celestial messengers,
who announced to him that Grod had chosen him,
as he had done Moses, to be the conductor and chief of his
people." A clerk, Giselbert (a canon of St. Mary, of Aix
la Chapelle), related a vision not less miraculous. The duke
of Lorraine had appeared to him seated upon the throne
even of the sini. The birds of heaven from all climates and
all points of the horizon, flew around him in numberless
troops. The recital of this apparition was accompanied by
many other circumstances which we have not space to re-
peat ;
but the Crusaders, who were much struck with them,
did not fail to see in the throne of the sun a faithful image
of that of Jerusalem, and in the birds of heaven the multitude
of pilgrims who would come from all countries to do
honoiu" to the glorious reign of Grodfrey.*
These "visions, which are despised in an enlightened age,
had great power over the Christian army, and did not
contribute less than the personal merit of the prince of
Bouillon to draw upon him the attention of all. In this
disposition of the general mind, the Crusaders looked -with
impatience for the decision of the council which was to give
a king to Jerusalem.
At length the electors, after mature deliberations, and an
anxious inquiry for all necessary information, proclaimed the
name of Grodfrey. This nomination caused the most lively
joy throughout the Christian army, and was considered as
an inspiration of heaven. By the authority given to him,
Grodfrey became the depositary^ of the dearest interests of
the Crusaders. Every one amons: them had in some sort
confided his own glory to him, by lea^-ing him the care of
watching over and guiding their conquests. They conducted
him in triumph to the church of the Holy Sepulchre, where
he took the oath to respect the laws of honour and justice.
He refused the diadem and the insignia of royalty, sa^dng
that he would never accept a crown of gold in a city in
which the SaAiour of the world had been crowned -^ith
* Albert d'Aix, who relates these two visions at length, terminates
thus :—Horum somniorum prsesignatione ex Dei ordinatione, populi
Christiani benevolentia, Godefrido in solio regni Jerusalem exaltato.