Butsuperstitionmingledineverypublicandprivateactionoflife:intheholywars,itsanctifiedtheprofessionofarms;andtheorderofchivalrywasassimilatedinitsrightsandprivilegestothesacredordersofpriesthood。Thebathandwhitegarmentofthenovicewereanindecentcopyoftheregenerationofbaptism:hissword,whichheofferedonthealtar,wasblessedbytheministersofreligion:
hissolemnreceptionwasprecededbyfastsandvigils;andhewascreatedaknightinthenameofGod,ofSt。George,andofSt。
Michaelthearchangel。Hesworetoaccomplishthedutiesofhisprofession;andeducation,example,andthepublicopinion,weretheinviolableguardiansofhisoath。AsthechampionofGodandtheladies,Iblushtounitesuchdiscordantnames,hedevotedhimselftospeakthetruth;tomaintaintheright;toprotectthedistressed;topractisecourtesy,avirtuelessfamiliartotheancients;topursuetheinfidels;todespisetheallurementsofeaseandsafety;andtovindicateineveryperilousadventurethehonorofhischaracter。Theabuseofthesamespiritprovokedtheilliterateknighttodisdaintheartsofindustryandpeace;
toesteemhimselfthesolejudgeandavengerofhisowninjuries;
andproudlytoneglectthelawsofcivilsocietyandmilitarydiscipline。Yetthebenefitsofthisinstitution,torefinethetemperofBarbarians,andtoinfusesomeprinciplesoffaith,justice,andhumanity,werestronglyfelt,andhavebeenoftenobserved。Theasperityofnationalprejudicewassoftened;andthecommunityofreligionandarmsspreadasimilarcolorandgenerousemulationoverthefaceofChristendom。Abroadinenterpriseandpilgrimage,athomeinmartialexercise,thewarriorsofeverycountrywereperpetuallyassociated;andimpartialtastemustpreferaGothictournamenttotheOlympicgamesofclassicantiquity。^57InsteadofthenakedspectacleswhichcorruptedthemannersoftheGreeks,andbanishedfromthestadiumthevirginsandmatrons,thepompousdecorationofthelistswascrownedwiththepresenceofchasteandhigh—bornbeauty,fromwhosehandstheconquerorreceivedtheprizeofhisdexterityandcourage。Theskillandstrengththatwereexertedinwrestlingandboxingbearadistantanddoubtfulrelationtothemeritofasoldier;butthetournaments,astheywereinventedinFrance,andeagerlyadoptedbothintheEastandWest,presentedalivelyimageofthebusinessofthefield。Thesinglecombats,thegeneralskirmish,thedefenceofapass,orcastle,wererehearsedasinactualservice;andthecontest,bothinrealandmimicwar,wasdecidedbythesuperiormanagementofthehorseandlance。Thelancewastheproperandpeculiarweaponoftheknight:hishorsewasofalargeandheavybreed;butthischarger,tillhewasrousedbytheapproachingdanger,wasusuallyledbyanattendant,andhequietlyrodeapadorpalfreyofamoreeasypace。Hishelmetandsword,hisgreavesandbuckler,itwouldbesuperfluoustodescribe;butI
mayremark,that,attheperiodofthecrusades,thearmorwaslessponderousthaninlatertimes;andthat,insteadofamassycuirass,hisbreastwasdefendedbyahauberkorcoatofmail。
Whentheirlonglanceswerefixedintherest,thewarriorsfuriouslyspurredtheirhorsesagainstthefoe;andthelightcavalryoftheTurksandArabscouldseldomstandagainstthedirectandimpetuousweightoftheircharge。Eachknightwasattendedtothefieldbyhisfaithfulsquire,ayouthofequalbirthandsimilarhopes;hewasfollowedbyhisarchersandmenatarms,andfour,orfive,orsixsoldierswerecomputedasthefurnitureofacompletelance。IntheexpeditionstotheneighboringkingdomsortheHolyLand,thedutiesofthefeudaltenurenolongersubsisted;thevoluntaryserviceoftheknightsandtheirfollowerswereeitherpromptedbyzealorattachment,orpurchasedwithrewardsandpromises;andthenumbersofeachsquadronweremeasuredbythepower,thewealth,andthefame,ofeachindependentchieftain。Theyweredistinguishedbyhisbanner,hisarmorialcoat,andhiscryofwar;andthemostancientfamiliesofEuropemustseekintheseachievementstheoriginandproofoftheirnobility。InthisrapidportraitofchivalryIhavebeenurgedtoanticipateonthestoryofthecrusades,atonceaneffectandacause,ofthismemorableinstitution。^58
[Footnote55:Ofthewordsgentilis,gentilhomme,gentleman,twoetymologiesareproduced:1。FromtheBarbariansofthefifthcentury,thesoldiers,andatlengththeconquerorsoftheRomanempire,whowerevainoftheirforeignnobility;and2。Fromthesenseofthecivilians,whoconsidergentilisassynonymouswithingenuus。Seldeninclinestothefirstbutthelatterismorepure,aswellasprobable。]
[Footnote56:Frameascutoquejuvenemornant。Tacitus,Germania。
c。13。]
[Footnote57:Theathleticexercises,particularlythecaestusandpancratium,werecondemnedbyLycurgus,Philopoemen,andGalen,alawgiver,ageneral,andaphysician。Againsttheirauthorityandreasons,thereadermayweightheapologyofLucian,inthecharacterofSolon。SeeWestontheOlympicGames,inhisPindar,vol。ii。p。86—96243—248]
[Footnote58:Onthecurioussubjectsofknighthood,knights—service,nobility,arms,cryofwar,banners,andtournaments,anamplefundofinformationmaybesoughtinSelden,Opera,tom。iii。parti。TitlesofHonor,partii。c。
1,3,5,8,Ducange,Gloss。Latin。tom。iv。p。398—412,&c。,
DissertationssurJoinville,i。vi。—xii。p。127—142,p。161
—222,andM。deSt。Palaye,MemoiressurlaChevalerie。]
Suchwerethetroops,andsuchtheleaders,whoassumedthecrossforthedeliveranceoftheholysepulchre。Assoonastheywererelievedbytheabsenceoftheplebeianmultitude,theyencouragedeachother,byinterviewsandmessages,toaccomplishtheirvow,andhastentheirdeparture。Theirwivesandsistersweredesirousofpartakingthedangerandmeritofthepilgrimage:theirportabletreasureswereconveyedinbarsofsilverandgold;andtheprincesandbaronswereattendedbytheirequipageofhoundsandhawkstoamusetheirleisureandtosupplytheirtable。Thedifficultyofprocuringsubsistenceforsomanymyriadsofmenandhorsesengagedthemtoseparatetheirforces:theirchoiceorsituationdeterminedtheroad;anditwasagreedtomeetintheneighborhoodofConstantinople,andfromthencetobegintheiroperationsagainsttheTurks。FromthebanksoftheMeuseandtheMoselle,GodfreyofBouillonfollowedthedirectwayofGermany,Hungary,andBulgaria;and,aslongasheexercisedthesolecommandeverystepaffordedsomeproofofhisprudenceandvirtue。OntheconfinesofHungaryhewasstoppedthreeweeksbyaChristianpeople,towhomthename,oratleasttheabuse,ofthecrosswasjustlyodious。TheHungariansstillsmartedwiththewoundswhichtheyhadreceivedfromthefirstpilgrims:intheirturntheyhadabusedtherightofdefenceandretaliation;andtheyhadreasontoapprehendasevererevengefromaheroofthesamenation,andwhowasengagedinthesamecause。But,afterweighingthemotivesandtheevents,thevirtuousdukewascontenttopitythecrimesandmisfortunesofhisworthlessbrethren;andhistwelvedeputies,themessengersofpeace,requestedinhisnameafreepassageandanequalmarket。Toremovetheirsuspicions,Godfreytrustedhimself,andafterwardshisbrother,tothefaithofCarloman,
kingofHungary,whotreatedthemwithasimplebuthospitableentertainment:thetreatywassanctifiedbytheircommongospel;
andaproclamation,underpainofdeath,restrainedtheanimosityandlicenseoftheLatinsoldiers。FromAustriatoBelgrade,theytraversedtheplainsofHungary,withoutenduringorofferinganinjury;andtheproximityofCarloman,whohoveredontheirflankswithhisnumerouscavalry,wasaprecautionnotlessusefulfortheirsafetythanforhisown。TheyreachedthebanksoftheSave;andnosoonerhadtheypassedtheriver,thanthekingofHungaryrestoredthehostages,andsalutedtheirdeparturewiththefairestwishesforthesuccessoftheirenterprise。Withthesameconductanddiscipline,GodfreypervadedthewoodsofBulgariaandthefrontiersofThrace;andmightcongratulatehimselfthathehadalmostreachedthefirsttermofhispilgrimage,withoutdrawinghisswordagainstaChristianadversary。AfteraneasyandpleasantjourneythroughLombardy,fromTurintoAquileia,RaymondandhisprovincialsmarchedfortydaysthroughthesavagecountryofDalmatia^59andSclavonia。Theweatherwasaperpetualfog;thelandwasmountainousanddesolate;thenativeswereeitherfugitiveorhostile:looseintheirreligionandgovernment,theyrefusedtofurnishprovisionsorguides;murderedthestragglers;andexercisedbynightanddaythevigilanceofthecount,whoderivedmoresecurityfromthepunishmentofsomecaptiverobbersthanfromhisinterviewandtreatywiththeprinceofScodra。^60
HismarchbetweenDurazzoandConstantinoplewasharassed,withoutbeingstopped,bythepeasantsandsoldiersoftheGreekemperor;andthesamefaintandambiguoushostilitywaspreparedfortheremainingchiefs,whopassedtheAdriaticfromthecoastofItaly。Bohemondhadarmsandvessels,andforesightanddiscipline;andhisnamewasnotforgottenintheprovincesofEpirusandThessaly。WhateverobstaclesheencounteredweresurmountedbyhismilitaryconductandthevalorofTancred;andiftheNormanprinceaffectedtosparetheGreeks,hegorgedhissoldierswiththefullplunderofanhereticalcastle。^61ThenoblesofFrancepressedforwardswiththevainandthoughtlessardorofwhichtheirnationhasbeensometimesaccused。FromtheAlpstoApuliathemarchofHughtheGreat,ofthetwoRoberts,andofStephenofChartres,throughawealthycountry,andamidsttheapplaudingCatholics,wasadevoutortriumphantprogress:
theykissedthefeetoftheRomanpontiff;andthegoldenstandardofSt。PeterwasdeliveredtothebrotheroftheFrenchmonarch。^62Butinthisvisitofpietyandpleasure,theyneglectedtosecuretheseason,andthemeansoftheirembarkation:thewinterwasinsensiblylost:theirtroopswerescatteredandcorruptedinthetownsofItaly。Theyseparatelyaccomplishedtheirpassage,regardlessofsafetyordignity;andwithinninemonthsfromthefeastoftheAssumption,thedayappointedbyUrban,alltheLatinprinceshadreachedConstantinople。ButthecountofVermandoiswasproducedasacaptive;hisforemostvesselswerescatteredbyatempest;andhisperson,againstthelawofnations,wasdetainedbythelieutenantsofAlexius。YetthearrivalofHughhadbeenannouncedbyfour—and—twentyknightsingoldenarmor,whocommandedtheemperortoreverethegeneraloftheLatinChristians,thebrotherofthekingofkings。^63
[Footnote*:CarlomanorCalmanydemandedthebrotherofGodfreyashostagebutCountBaldwinrefusedthehumiliatingsubmission。GodfreyshamedhimintothissacrificeforthecommongoodbyofferingtosurrenderhimselfWilken,vol。i。p。
104。—M。]
[Footnote59:TheFamiliaeDalmaticaeofDucangearemeagreandimperfect;thenationalhistoriansarerecentandfabulous,theGreeksremoteandcareless。Intheyear1104ColomanreducedthemaritinecountryasfarasTrauandSaloma,Katona,Hist。Crit。
tom。iii。p。195—207。]
[Footnote60:ScodrasappearsinLivyasthecapitalandfortressofGentius,kingoftheIllyrians,arxmunitissima,afterwardsaRomancolony,Cellarius,tom。i。p。393,394。ItisnowcalledIscodar,orScutari,D\'Anville,GeographieAncienne,tom。i。p。
164。ThesanjiaknowapachaofScutari,orSchendeire,wastheviiithundertheBeglerbegofRomania,andfurnished600
soldiersonarevenueof78,787rixdollars,Marsigli,StatoMilitaredelImperioOttomano,p。128。]
[Footnote61:InPelagoniacastrumhaereticum……spoliatumcumsuishabitatoribusignecombussere。Necideisinjuriacontigit:quiaillorumdetestabilissermoetcancerserpebat,jamquecircumjacentesregionessuopravodogmatefoedaverat,Robert。Mon。p。36,37。Aftercoolyrelatingthefact,theArchbishopBaldricadds,asapraise,Omnessiquidemilliviatores,Judeos,haereticos,Saracenosaequaliterhabentexosos;
quosomnesappellantinimicosDei,p。92。]
[Footnote62:Alexiad。l。x。p。288。]
[Footnote63:ThisOrientalpompisextravagantinacountofVermandois;butthepatriotDucangerepeatswithmuchcomplacencyNot。adAlexiad。p。352,353。Dissert。xxvii。surJoinville,p。
315thepassagesofMatthewParisA。D。1254andFroissard,vol。iv。p。201,whichstylethekingofFrancerexregum,andchefdetouslesroisChretiens。]
[Footnote*:HughwastakenatDurazzo,andsentbylandtoConstantinopleWilken—M。]
InsomeorientaltaleIhavereadthefableofashepherd,whowasruinedbytheaccomplishmentofhisownwishes:hehadprayedforwater;theGangeswasturnedintohisgrounds,andhisflockandcottageweresweptawaybytheinundation。Suchwasthefortune,oratleasttheapprehensionoftheGreekemperorAlexiusComnenus,whosenamehasalreadyappearedinthishistory,andwhoseconductissodifferentlyrepresentedbyhisdaughterAnne,^64andbytheLatinwriters。^65InthecouncilofPlacentia,hisambassadorshadsolicitedamoderatesuccor,perhapsoftenthousandsoldiers,buthewasastonishedbytheapproachofsomanypotentchiefsandfanaticnations。Theemperorfluctuatedbetweenhopeandfear,betweentimidityandcourage;butinthecrookedpolicywhichhemistookforwisdom,I
cannotbelieve,Icannotdiscern,thathemaliciouslyconspiredagainstthelifeorhonoroftheFrenchheroes。ThepromiscuousmultitudesofPetertheHermitweresavagebeasts,alikedestituteofhumanityandreason:norwasitpossibleforAlexiustopreventordeploretheirdestruction。ThetroopsofGodfreyandhispeerswerelesscontemptible,butnotlesssuspicious,totheGreekemperor。Theirmotivesmightbepureandpious:buthewasequallyalarmedbyhisknowledgeoftheambitiousBohemond,andhisignoranceoftheTransalpinechiefs:thecourageoftheFrenchwasblindandheadstrong;theymightbetemptedbytheluxuryandwealthofGreece,andelatedbytheviewandopinionoftheirinvinciblestrength:andJerusalemmightbeforgottenintheprospectofConstantinople。Afteralongmarchandpainfulabstinence,thetroopsofGodfreyencampedintheplainsofThrace;theyheardwithindignation,thattheirbrother,thecountofVermandois,wasimprisonedbytheGreeks;andtheirreluctantdukewascompelledtoindulgetheminsomefreedomofretaliationandrapine。TheywereappeasedbythesubmissionofAlexius:hepromisedtosupplytheircamp;andastheyrefused,inthemidstofwinter,topasstheBosphorus,theirquarterswereassignedamongthegardensandpalacesontheshoresofthatnarrowsea。Butanincurablejealousystillrankledinthemindsofthetwonations,whodespisedeachotherasslavesandBarbarians。Ignoranceisthegroundofsuspicion,andsuspicionwasinflamedintodailyprovocations:prejudiceisblind,hungerisdeaf;andAlexiusisaccusedofadesigntostarveorassaulttheLatinsinadangerouspost,onallsidesencompassedwiththewaters。^66Godfreysoundedhistrumpets,burstthenet,overspreadtheplain,andinsultedthesuburbs;butthegatesofConstantinoplewerestronglyfortified;therampartswerelinedwitharchers;and,afteradoubtfulconflict,bothpartieslistenedtothevoiceofpeaceandreligion。Thegiftsandpromisesoftheemperorinsensiblysoothedthefiercespiritofthewesternstrangers;asaChristianwarrior,herekindledtheirzealfortheprosecutionoftheirholyenterprise,whichheengagedtosecondwithhistroopsandtreasures。Onthereturnofspring,GodfreywaspersuadedtooccupyapleasantandplentifulcampinAsia;andnosoonerhadhepassedtheBosphorus,thantheGreekvesselsweresuddenlyrecalledtotheoppositeshore。Thesamepolicywasrepeatedwiththesucceedingchiefs,whowereswayedbytheexample,andweakenedbythedeparture,oftheirforemostcompanions。Byhisskillanddiligence,AlexiuspreventedtheunionofanytwooftheconfederatearmiesatthesamemomentunderthewallsofConstantinople;andbeforethefeastofthePentecostnotaLatinpilgrimwasleftonthecoastofEurope。
[Footnote64:AnnaComnenawasbornthe1stofDecember,A。D。
1083,indictionvii。,Alexiad。l。vi。p。166,167。Atthirteen,thetimeofthefirstcrusade,shewasnubile,andperhapsmarriedtotheyoungerNicephorusBryennius,whomshefondlystyles,l。x。p。295,296。Somemodernshaveimagined,thatherenmitytoBohemondwasthefruitofdisappointedlove。InthetransactionsofConstantinopleandNice,herpartialaccountsAlex。l。x。xi。p。283—317maybeopposedtothepartialityoftheLatins,butintheirsubsequentexploitssheisbriefandignorant。]
[Footnote65:IntheirviewsofthecharacterandconductofAlexius,MaimbourghasfavoredtheCatholicFranks,andVoltairehasbeenpartialtotheschismaticGreeks。TheprejudiceofaphilosopherislessexcusablethanthatofaJesuit。]
[Footnote*:WilkenquotesaremarkablepassageofWilliamofMalmsburyastothesecretmotivesofUrbanandofBohemondinurgingthecrusade。Illudrepositiuspropositumnonitavulgabatur,quodBoemundiconsilio,penetotamEuropaminAsiaticamexpeditionemmoveret,utintantotumultuomniumprovinciarumfacileobaeratisauxiliaribus,etUrbanusRomametBoemundusIllyricumetMacedoniampervaderent。NameasterrasetquidquidpraetereaaDyrrachiousqueadThessalonicamprotenditur,Guiscarduspater,superAlexiumacquisierat;ideircoillasBoemundussuojuricompetereclamitabat:inopshaereditatisApuliae,quamgenitorRogerio,minorifiliodelegaverat。Wilken,vol。ii。p。313。—M]
[Footnote66:BetweentheBlackSea,theBosphorus,andtheRiverBarbyses,whichisdeepinsummer,andrunsfifteenmilesthroughaflatmeadow。ItscommunicationwithEuropeandConstantinopleisbythestonebridgeoftheBlachernoe,whichinsuccessiveageswasrestoredbyJustinianandBasil,GylliusdeBosphoroThracio,l。ii。c。3。DucangeO。P。Christiana,l。v。c。2,p,179。]
ThesamearmswhichthreatenedEuropemightdeliverAsia,andrepeltheTurksfromtheneighboringshoresoftheBosphorusandHellespont。ThefairprovincesfromNicetoAntiochweretherecentpatrimonyoftheRomanemperor;andhisancientandperpetualclaimstillembracedthekingdomsofSyriaandEgypt。