volume one

46 HISTOET or THE CEUSADES.
her husband, anathemas against the emperor of G-ermany
and the anti-pope, Giiibert. occupied, during several davs,
the attention of Urban and the assembled fathers.
It must be added, too, that among the states of Italv, in
which coimtrv this council was held, the spirit of commerce
and Kbertv began to weaken the enthusiasm of religion. The
greater part of the cities only thought of the advantages
enter-
that might accrue to them from the troubles ; some
taining hopes they would increase their wealth, others
looking to them as a means of securing their independence,
and none ^-ieldinsr so freely as other nations to the influence
of the popes. AVhilst the Christian world revered in Urban
the formidable successor of G-regory, the Italians, whose
charity he had frequently implored, were best acquainted
with his disgraces and misfortunes : his presence did not in
anv desree warm their zeal, and his decrees were not alwavs
laws for them, who had seen him, trom the depths of misery
and in exile, launch his thim-ders against the thrones of the
AVest.
The prudent Urban avoided trying to arouse the ardour
of the Italians ; he did not think tlieir example at all likely
to lead on other nations. In order to take a decided part
in the civil war, and to interest all Europe in its success, he
resolved to assemble a second synod, in the bosom of a
warlike nation, which, from the most distant times, had been
accustomed to give impulsion to Eui'ope. The new council
assembled at Clermont, in Auvergne, was neither less
numerous nor respectable than that of Plaisance ; the most
reno^vned holy men and learned doctors came to honour it
with their presence, and enlighten it with their counsels.
The citv of Clermont was scarcelv able to contain within
its walls all the princes, ambassadors, and prelates who had
repaired to the council; ''so that," says an ancient chronicle,*
" towards the middle of the month of Xovember, the
cities and villages of the neio:hbourhood were so filled with
people, that they were compelled to erect tents and pavilions
in the fields and meadows, although the season and the
coimtiy were extremely cold."
Before it gave up its attention to the holy war, the council
* See William Aubert's " History of the Conquest of Jerusalem."