CHAP. II. they found retaliation. The Hungarians rushed upon the naked and unarmed multitude, the plains of Belgrade were covered with their bodies, and a few only of Godeschal's people escaped to spread over the north the tale of woe.* Fourth and sion. ing superstition. Before Europe glittered with the pomp and splendour of chivalry, another herd of wild and desperate savages scourged and devastated the world. They issued from England, France, Flanders, and Lorraine. Their avowed principle of union was the redemption of the holy sepulchre. History is silent on the subordinate modes and bands of connection, except the Its shock- horrible superstition of adoring and following a goat and a goose, which they believed to be filled with the divine spirit: and if such were their religion, we cannot wonder at the brutality of their manners. Besides their fanaticism was the height of fury, for these ministers of the devouring flame nearly trebled their precursors. Their zeal was guided by envy and malignity, and they pretended that it was unjust that any foes of God should enjoy temporal prosperity. The Jews enriched the towns on the banks of man Jews. the Moselle and of the Rhine, and communicated to France and Germany the products of Cruelties on the Ger *Albert, p. 194. Archb. of Tyre, p 648. each each respective country. The city of Cologne CHAP. II. was the first city which was stained with their blood. The sanctity of the archiepiscopal palace at Mayence, the sacred presence of the venerable metropolitan, could not shield seven hundred of the children of Israel from the swords of men, who professed a religion of mercy and love. The bishop of Spires bravely and successfully defended the Jews in his city, but the generosity of the bishops of Treves and Worms was not equally pure and meritorious, if it be true that they compelled the objects of their protection to change their religion. Many firm and noble spirits disdained apostacy. Some of them retired to a chamber of the bishop at Worms, on pretence of deliberating on the renunciation of their faith. Deliberation produced virtue, and by self-slaughter they disappointed the cruelty of their enemies. More appalling spectacles were witnessed at Treves. Mothers plunged the dagger into the breasts of their own children; fathers and sons destroyed each other, and women threw themselves into the Moselle.* When * Albert, 195. Archb. of Tyre, 649. Alberic Chron. p. 149. The Chronicles in Bouquet, xii. 218, 222, 411. Both Albert and the Archbishop are indignant at the treatment which the Jews received. After this calamitous event the CHAP. II. When the measure of murder and robbery was full, the infernal multitude proceeded on their journey. Two hundred thousand people, of whom only three thousand were horsemen, entered Hungary. They hurried on to the south in their usual career of carnage and rapine; but when they came to Mersbourg, their passage was opposed by an Hungarian ariny. Their requests to the king's general for provisions and a free passage were denied ; but they forced a bridge over the Danube; and, gathering strength from the desperateness of their situation, they succeeded in making some breaches in the wall of the town. The ruin of the Hungarian nation appeared inevitable, and the king with his nobles was prepared to fly to the south. By some strange panic, which the best historians can neither explain nor describe, the besiegers deserted the assault and fled. Their cowardice was as abject as their boldness had been ferocious: and the Hungarians pursued them with such slaughter, that the waters of the Danube were for days red with Their de- their blood. But few of the rabble survived. Count Emicho, who had gained damnatory distinction struction in Hungary. the emperor took the Jews into his protection as subjects of the imperial domain. Pleffel, Hist. d'Allemagne, vol. i. p. 246. tinction by his cruelties on the Jews, succeeded CHAP. I. în flying into Germany. Some others escaped to the south; and in time joined the regular forces of the feudal princes of Europe.* * Albert, 195, 196. According to Albert there could have been very few survivors of the two hundred thousand. The Archbishop of Tyre (p. 649, 650) says that the greatest part returned with Emicho to Germany. Albert's account of the mob is very full, and the picture is very dark. He makes the destruction of this goat and goose mob the judgment of heaven on their crimes and impiety. Albert had his account of their cruelties from eye-witnesses; the Archbishop was a much later writer. Fulcher, and his copyist Malmsbury, are the only early writers who describe the conduct of the European mob as virtuous and orderly. But their account of the march of these poor wretches is comprised in a few lines, and does not embrace those details which are contained in the narratives of the other authors whom I have quoted. CHAP. III. CHARACTERS OF THE LEADERS OF THE FIRST CRUSADE.-MARCH OF THE ARMIES ΤΟ CON- History and character of Godfrey of Bouillon...... March of the Frisons, Lorrainers, &c. through Hungary into Thrace...... Characters of the count of Vermandois, the count of Blois, the count of Flanders, and Robert Curthose, duke of Normandy......March of the French, Flemish, Norman and English Crusaders through Italy......The count of Vermandois arrives at Constantinople, and swears fealty to Alexius ......War between Godfrey and the Emperor...... Godfrey reaches Constantinople......After many alternatives of peace and war, Godfrey, &c. do homage ......Boldness of a Crusader......Godfrey crosses the Hellespont......Is joined by the count of Flanders ...... Characters of Bohemond, prince of Tarentum, and Tancred......March of the Italians to Constantinople......Means of Alexius to gain the homage of Bohemond......Tancred passes into Asia without swearing fealty......Character of Raymond, count of Thoulouse......Course of the Provençals into Greece ................Raymond takes a qualified oath of allegiance ......Arrival of the duke of Normandy, the count of Blois, and others, in Asia Minor. CHAP. III. So horrible were the barbarities of the European mob, that we can feel no regret for the disas trous |