volume one

448 UISTOEY OF THE CEUSADES.
"\\"hen the Germans arrived on the banks of the Meander,
near Laodicea, they found the Turks dra-wTi up in order of
battle upon the heights, and ready to surprise them in the
defiles : the latter vrere, however, punished for the treachery
of their master, and cut to pieces ; theii* bodies covered the
passages they had been charged to defend.
The Crusaders, ever persuaded that Heaven protected
their arms, attributed this victory to miracles. Several
knights declared, upon oath, that they had seen St. George
and St. Victor,* clothed in white, and armed with lances,
fighting at the head of the Christians ; but the celestial
powers that had thus enabled the Germans to triumph over
the arms of their enemies, did not destroy the obstacles
which impeded the march of their victorious army. The
Crusaders soon felt the want of provisions in a country
ravaged at the same time by the conquerors and the conquered.
Snow, raiai, and the rigours of winter rendered
their march exceedingly painful through a mountainous
region, intersected by torrents that had overflowed their
banks. Hunger and disease destroyed a great number of
the soldiers. To remedy the evils which threatened his
army with entire ruin, Frederick was obliged to attack
Iconium, the very capital in which he had expected to find
peace and all the provisions he stood in need of.
At the first signal the ramparts were scaled ; Iconium
was taken by assault, and given up to pillage. The beaten
sultan then fulfilled his promises, and this last victory
restored abundance in the Christian armv.
From this time t!ie Germans spread teiTor in every
countrv around them. The Armenians solicited their
alliance, and the independent tribes of the Turcomans, on
several occasions, felt the eflects of their courage. During
their triumphal march they attracted the admiration of. the
natives by their discipline ; and the emirs, charged with
announcing their arrival to Saladin, praised their indomitable
valour in fight, and their heroic patience in the labours
and fatigues of war.
The leader of this formidable army had conquered several
* The monk Pant, who was himself a Crusader, and Crasius, both
attest this miracle.