volume one

3
niSTOEY OF THE CRUSADES. 19
Nevertlieless, otlier misfortunes awaited the Christians of
Palestine ; all religious ceremonies were interdicted ; the
greater part of the churches were converted into stables
that of the Holy Sepulchre was completely destroyed. The
Christians, driven from Jerusalem, were scattered throughout
the countries of the East. Old historians relate, that the
world took part in the mourning of the holy city, and was
seized with trouble and consternation. AYinter, with its
frosts and storms, showed itself in regions where, till that
time, it had been unknown. The Bosphorus and the Nile
bore sheets of ice upon their bosoms. Earthquakes were
felt in S}Tia and Asia IMinor ; and their shocks, which were
repeated during two months, destroyed several large cities.
"When the account of the desti'uction of the holy places
arrived in the AYest, it drew tears from all true Christians.
"We read in the chronicle of the monli Grlaber, that Europe
had likewise been presented with signs which foreboded
great calamities : a shower of stones had fallen in Burgundy,
and a comet and threatening meteors had appeared in the
heavens. The airitation was extreme amono: all Christian
nations ; nevertheless, they did not take up arms against the
Mussulmans, but the whole of their vengeance fell upon
the Jews, whom all Europe accused of having provoked the
fury of the infidels.
The calamities of the holy city rendered it still more
venerable in the eyes of the faithful ;
persecution redoubled
the pious delirium of those who went into Asia to contemplate
a city covered with ruins, and to behold an empty
sepulchre. It was in Jerusalem, filled with mourning, that
God most manifestly distributed his blessings and delighted
to point out his will. Impostors constantly took advantage
of this opinion of the Christian people, to mislead the cre-
dulity of the multitude. To gain credit for their words, it
was quite sufficient to exhibit letters which, they said, had
fallen from heaven into Jerusalem. At this period, a prediction,
which announced* the end of the world and the
approaching coming of Jesus Christ into Palestine, very
* It was pretended that the thousand years of which the Scripture
speaks, were about to be accomplished, and that the end of the world
was approaching. In an act of donation made by St. Geraud, Baron
d'Aurillac, are these words, " Approjnnquante mundi termino.'*
Vol. I.—
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