volume one

58 mSTOET OF THE CEUSADES.
tion of so many great events, for Tv-hich the moral world,
and even nature herself seemed to have interrupted their
laws. AVhat prodia^y, in fact, can more astonish the philosopher,
than to see Eui'ope, which may be said to have been
agitated to its very foundations, move all at once, and like a
single man, march in arms towards the East ?
The council of Clermont, which was held in the month of
November, 1095, had fixed the departiu-e of the Crusaders
for the festival of the Assumption of the following year.
Diuing the winter nothing was thought of but preparations
for the voyage to the Holy Land ; every other care, every
other labour was suspended in the cities and the plaius.
In the midst of the general excitement, the religion, which
animated all hearts, watched over public order. All at once
there was no more robbery or brigandage heard of* The
AYest was silent, to employ an expression from the Scripture,
and Europe enjoyed during several months a peace that it
had never before known.
Thev who had taken the cross encourao^ed each other,
and addressed letters and sent ambassadors to hasten their
departure. The benedictions of the heavens appeared to be
promised to those who should be first ready to march to
Jerusalem. Men even, who at the first had found fault
with the delirium of the crusade, accused themselves of
inditference for the cause of relisnon, and showed no less
fervour than those who had given the example. All were
eager to sell their possessions, but could find no piu'chasers.
The Crusaders despised everything they could not carry
with them ;
the productions of the earth were sold at a low
price, which all at once brought back abimdance even in the
midst of scarcity.
As soon as the spring appeared, nothing could restrain
* Erai eo ternpore antequam gentium fieret tanta profeciio, maxima
ad invicem hostilitatibus iotius Francorum regni facta turbatio ; crebra
vbique latrocinia, rianon obsessio, passim audiebantur, immo fiebant
incendia infinita —Max ergo et mira et incredibili, ob insperabilitatem,
animorum immutaiione commoti, signumpontijicis prcBceptione indicium,
cruces videlicet, ab episcopis et presbyteris sibi precantur imponi, et
siciifi rapidissimi venti impetus solet non magna pluvicE undd restringi
ita iUico contigit ad inricem simultates tiniversarum et bella sopiri, per
inditam sibi aspirationem, haud dubium quin Chrisii.—Guxbert, Abb.
lib i. ch. 7.
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