volume one

HISTORY OF THE CRUSADES. 53
faithful solicited Urban to place himself at their head ; but
the pontiff, who had not yet triumphed over the anti-pope
Guibert, who was dealing out at the same time his
anathemas against the king of France and the emperor of
G-ermany, could not quit Europe without compromismg the
power and the policy of the Holy kSee. He refused to be
chief of the crusade, and named the bishop of Puy apostolic
legate with the army of the Christians.
He promised to all wlio assumed the cross, the entire
remission of their sins. Their persons, their families, their
property, were all placed under the protection of the Church,
and of the apostles St. Peter and St. Paul. The council
declared that eyery yiolence exercised upon the soldiers of
Christ should be punished by anathema, and recommended
its decrees in favour of the bearers of the cross to the
watchful care of all bishops and priests. It regulated the
disciphne and the departure of those who had enrolled
fchemselyes in the holy ranks, and for fear reflection might
deter any from leaving their homes, it threatened with
excommunication all those who did not fulfil their vows.
Fame soon spread everj^here the war that had just been
declared against the infidels. When the bishops returned
to their dioceses, they still continued to bestow their bless-
ings upon the crosses of the crowds of Christians that
required to be led to the conquest of the Holy Land. Urban
went through several provinces of France, to finish the work
he had so happily begun. In the cities of Eouen, Tours,
and Mmes he held councils, in which he deplored the fate
of the Christians of the East : everywhere the people and
the great, the nobles and the clergy, obeyed the pressing
exhortations of the pontiif, and promised to take arms
against the Mussidmaus.
It might be said that the French had no longer any other
country than the Holy Land, and that to it they were bound
to sacrifice their ease, their property, and their lives. This
enthusiasm, which had no bounds, was not long in extending
itself to the other Christian nations ; the flame which
consumed France was communicated to England, still disturbed
by the recent conquest of the IsTormans ; to Grer-
many, troubled by the anathemas of Gregory and Urban
to Italy, agitated by its factions ;
to Spain even, although it
;