volume one

376 HisTOET or the ceusades.
and splendid kingdom, whicli lasted mucli longer tlian that
cf Jerusalem.
We may judge by these crusades, undertaken at tlie same
time, against nations of the north and others of the south,
that the principle of holy wars began to assume a new cha-
racter ;
Crusaders did not light only for the possession of a
sepulchre, but they took up arms to defend their religion
AvhereTer it might be attacked, and to make it triumphant
among all nations that rejected its laws and refused its
benefits. The diversity of interests which set the Crusaders
in action, necessarily divided their forces, weakened their
enthusiasm, and was sure to be injurious to the success of a
holy war.
France, which then turned anxious looks towards Palestine,
no longer demanded of God the deliverance of the holy
places, but the return of a king over whose misfortunes they
had wept. For a length of time, Suger, who was unable to
sustain the royal authority, had endeavoured to recall his
master by letters full of tenderness and devotion. Their
internew, which proved an affecting spectacle for the French,
alarmed the courtiers, who were desii-ous of awakening suspicions
of the fidehty of the minister. A kingdom at peace
and a flourisliing people were the reply of Suger. The king
praised his zeal, and bestowed upon him the title of Father
of his Coimtiy. Suger enjoyed a great advantage, as he
had been the only man of any consequence in Europe who
had opposed the crusade. His wise foresight was everywhere
the subject of praise, whilst all complaints were directed
ao^ainst St. Bernard. There was not a familv in the kingdom
that was not in mourning ; and the same desolation
reigned throughout Germany. So many widows and orphans
had never been seen, and the glory of mart^Tdom, promised
to all whose loss was regretted, had no power to dry their
tears. The abbot of Clairvaux was accused of having sent
Christians to die in the East, as if Em-ope had been lis-ithout
sepulchres ; and the partisans of St. Bernard, who had seen
his mission attested by his miracles, not knowing what to
replv, were struck ^ith stupor and astonishment. '' God, in
these latter days," said they among themselves, "has neither
the children of the Church
spared his people nor his name ;
have been given over to death in the desert, or massacred by
the sword, or devom'ed "by hunger ; the contempt of the