Inhisenthusiasm，Alexiusindulged，oraffected，theambitioushopeofleadinghisnewalliestosubvertthethronesoftheEast；butthecalmerdictatesofreasonandtemperdissuadedhimfromexposinghisroyalpersontothefaithofunknownandlawlessBarbarians。Hisprudence，orhispride，wascontentwithextortingfromtheFrenchprincesanoathofhomageandfidelity，andasolemnpromise，thattheywouldeitherrestore，orhold，theirAsiaticconquestsasthehumbleandloyalvassalsoftheRomanempire。Theirindependentspiritwasfiredatthementionofthisforeignandvoluntaryservitude:theysuccessivelyyieldedtothedexterousapplicationofgiftsandflattery；andthefirstproselytesbecamethemosteloquentandeffectualmissionariestomultiplythecompanionsoftheirshame。TheprideofHughofVermandoiswassoothedbythehonorsofhiscaptivity；andinthebrotheroftheFrenchking，theexampleofsubmissionwasprevalentandweighty。InthemindofGodfreyofBouilloneveryhumanconsiderationwassubordinatetothegloryofGodandthesuccessofthecrusade。HehadfirmlyresistedthetemptationsofBohemondandRaymond，whourgedtheattackandconquestofConstantinople。Alexiusesteemedhisvirtues，deservedlynamedhimthechampionoftheempire，anddignifiedhishomagewiththefilialnameandtherightsofadoption。^67ThehatefulBohemondwasreceivedasatrueandancientally；andiftheemperorremindedhimofformerhostilities，itwasonlytopraisethevalorthathehaddisplayed，andtheglorythathehadacquired，inthefieldsofDurazzoandLarissa。ThesonofGuiscardwaslodgedandentertained，andservedwithImperialpomp:oneday，ashepassedthroughthegalleryofthepalace，adoorwascarelesslyleftopentoexposeapileofgoldandsilver，ofsilkandgems，ofcuriousandcostlyfurniture，thatwasheaped，inseemingdisorder，fromthefloortotheroofofthechamber。"Whatconquests，"exclaimedtheambitiousmiser，"mightnotbeachievedbythepossessionofsuchatreasure!"—"Itisyourown，"
repliedaGreekattendant，whowatchedthemotionsofhissoul；
andBohemond，aftersomehesitation，condescendedtoacceptthismagnificentpresent。TheNormanwasflatteredbytheassuranceofanindependentprincipality；andAlexiuseluded，ratherthandenied，hisdaringdemandoftheofficeofgreatdomestic，orgeneraloftheEast。ThetwoRoberts，thesonoftheconquerorofEngland，andthekinsmenofthreequeens，^68bowedintheirturnbeforetheByzantinethrone。AprivateletterofStephenofChartresattestshisadmirationoftheemperor，themostexcellentandliberalofmen，whotaughthimtobelievethathewasafavorite，andpromisedtoeducateandestablishhisyoungestson。Inhissouthernprovince，thecountofSt。GilesandThoulousefaintlyrecognizedthesupremacyofthekingofFrance，aprinceofaforeignnationandlanguage。Attheheadofahundredthousandmen，hedeclaredthathewasthesoldierandservantofChristalone，andthattheGreekmightbesatisfiedwithanequaltreatyofallianceandfriendship。Hisobstinateresistanceenhancedthevalueandthepriceofhissubmission；andheshone，saystheprincessAnne，amongtheBarbarians，asthesunamidstthestarsofheaven。HisdisgustofthenoiseandinsolenceoftheFrench，hissuspicionsofthedesignsofBohemond，theemperorimpartedtohisfaithfulRaymond；andthatagedstatesmanmightclearlydiscern，thathoweverfalseinfriendship，hewassincereinhisenmity。^69
ThespiritofchivalrywaslastsubduedinthepersonofTancred；
andnonecoulddeemthemselvesdishonoredbytheimitationofthatgallantknight。HedisdainedthegoldandflatteryoftheGreekmonarch；assaultedinhispresenceaninsolentpatrician；
escapedtoAsiainthehabitofaprivatesoldier；andyieldedwithasightotheauthorityofBohemond，andtheinterestoftheChristiancause。Thebestandmostostensiblereasonwastheimpossibilityofpassingtheseaandaccomplishingtheirvow，withoutthelicenseandthevesselsofAlexius；buttheycherishedasecrethope，thatassoonastheytrodthecontinentofAsia，theirswordswouldobliteratetheirshame，anddissolvetheengagement，whichonhissidemightnotbeveryfaithfullyperformed。Theceremonyoftheirhomagewasgratefultoapeoplewhohadlongsinceconsideredprideasthesubstituteofpower。
Highonhisthrone，theemperorsatmuteandimmovable:hismajestywasadoredbytheLatinprinces；andtheysubmittedtokisseitherhisfeetorhisknees，anindignitywhichtheirownwritersareashamedtoconfessandunabletodeny。^70
[Footnote67:Therearetwosortsofadoption，theonebyarms，theotherbyintroducingthesonbetweentheshirtandskinofhisfather。DucangeisurJoinville，Diss。xxii。p。270supposesGodfrey'sadoptiontohavebeenofthelattersort。]
[Footnote68:Afterhisreturn，RobertofFlandersbecamethemanofthekingofEngland，forapensionoffourhundredmarks。SeethefirstactinRymer'sFoedera。]
[Footnote69:Sensitvetusregnandi，falsosinamore，odianonfingere。Tacit。vi。44。]
[Footnote70:Theproudhistoriansofthecrusadesslideandstumbleoverthishumiliatingstep。Yet，sincetheheroesknelttosalutetheemperor，ashesatmotionlessonhisthrone，itisclearthattheymusthavekissedeitherhisfeetorknees。Itisonlysingular，thatAnnashouldnothaveamplysuppliedthesilenceorambiguityoftheLatins。TheabasementoftheirprinceswouldhaveaddedafinechaptertotheCeremonialeAulaeByzantinae。]
Privateorpublicinterestsuppressedthemurmursofthedukesandcounts；butaFrenchbaronheissupposedtobeRobertofParis^71presumedtoascendthethrone，andtoplacehimselfbythesideofAlexius。ThesagereproofofBaldwinprovokedhimtoexclaim，inhisbarbarousidiom，"Whoisthisrustic，thatkeepshisseat，whilesomanyvaliantcaptainsarestandingroundhim?"Theemperormaintainedhissilence，dissembledhisindignation，andquestionedhisinterpreterconcerningthemeaningofthewords，whichhepartlysuspectedfromtheuniversallanguageofgestureandcountenance。Beforethedepartureofthepilgrims，heendeavoredtolearnthenameandconditionoftheaudaciousbaron。"IamaFrenchman，"repliedRobert，"ofthepurestandmostancientnobilityofmycountry。
AllthatIknowis，thatthereisachurchinmyneighborhood，^72theresortofthosewhoaredesirousofapprovingtheirvalorinsinglecombat。Tillanenemyappears，theyaddresstheirprayerstoGodandhissaints。ThatchurchIhavefrequentlyvisited。ButneverhaveIfoundanantagonistwhodaredtoacceptmydefiance。"AlexiusdismissedthechallengerwithsomeprudentadviceforhisconductintheTurkishwarfare；andhistoryrepeatswithpleasurethislivelyexampleofthemannersofhisageandcountry。
[Footnote71:HecalledhimselfseeAlexias，l。x。p。301。Whatatitleofnoblesseoftheeleventhcentury，ifanyonecouldnowprovehisinheritance!Annarelates，withvisiblepleasure，thattheswellingBarbarian，waskilled，orwounded，afterfightinginthefrontinthebattleofDorylaeum，l。xi。p。317。ThiscircumstancemayjustifythesuspicionofDucange，Not。p。362，
thathewasnootherthanRobertofParis，ofthedistrictmostpeculiarlystyledtheDuchyorIslandofFrance，L'IsledeFrance。]
[Footnote72:Withthesamepenetration，DucangediscovershischurchtobethatofSt。Drausus，orDrosin，ofSoissons，quemduellodimicaturisolentinvocare:pugilesquiadmemoriamejushistombpernoctantinvictosreddit，utetdeBurgundiaetItaliatalinecessitateconfugiaturadeum。Joan。Sariberiensis，epist。139。]
TheconquestofAsiawasundertakenandachievedbyAlexander，withthirty—fivethousandMacedoniansandGreeks；^73
andhisbesthopewasinthestrengthanddisciplineofhisphalanxofinfantry。Theprincipalforceofthecrusadersconsistedintheircavalry；andwhenthatforcewasmusteredintheplainsofBithynia，theknightsandtheirmartialattendantsonhorsebackamountedtoonehundredthousandfightingmen，completelyarmedwiththehelmetandcoatofmail。Thevalueofthesesoldiersdeservedastrictandauthenticaccount；andtheflowerofEuropeanchivalrymightfurnish，inafirsteffort，thisformidablebodyofheavyhorse。Apartoftheinfantrymightbeenrolledfortheserviceofscouts，pioneers，andarchers；butthepromiscuouscrowdwerelostintheirowndisorder；andwedependnotontheeyesandknowledge，butonthebeliefandfancy，ofachaplainofCountBaldwin，^74intheestimateofsixhundredthousandpilgrimsabletobeararms，besidesthepriestsandmonks，thewomenandchildrenoftheLatincamp。Thereaderstarts；andbeforeheisrecoveredfromhissurprise，Ishalladd，onthesametestimony，thatifallwhotookthecrosshadaccomplishedtheirvow，abovesixmillionswouldhavemigratedfromEuropetoAsia。Underthisoppressionoffaith，Iderivesomerelieffromamoresagaciousandthinkingwriter，^75who，afterthesamereviewofthecavalry，accusesthecredulityofthepriestofChartres，andevendoubtswhethertheCisalpineregionsinthegeographyofaFrenchmanweresufficienttoproduceandpourforthsuchincrediblemultitudes。
Thecoolestscepticismwillremember，thatofthesereligiousvolunteersgreatnumbersneverbeheldConstantinopleandNice。
Ofenthusiasmtheinfluenceisirregularandtransient:manyweredetainedathomebyreasonorcowardice，bypovertyorweakness；
andmanywererepulsedbytheobstaclesoftheway，themoreinsuperableastheywereunforeseen，totheseignorantfanatics。
ThesavagecountriesofHungaryandBulgariawerewhitenedwiththeirbones:theirvanguardwascutinpiecesbytheTurkishsultan；andthelossofthefirstadventure，bythesword，orclimate，orfatigue，hasalreadybeenstatedatthreehundredthousandmen。Yetthemyriadsthatsurvived，thatmarched，thatpressedforwardsontheholypilgrimage，wereasubjectofastonishmenttothemselvesandtotheGreeks。ThecopiousenergyofherlanguagesinksundertheeffortsoftheprincessAnne:^76
theimagesoflocusts，ofleavesandflowers，ofthesandsofthesea，orthestarsofheaven，imperfectlyrepresentwhatshehadseenandheard；andthedaughterofAlexiusexclaims，thatEuropewasloosenedfromitsfoundations，andhurledagainstAsia。TheancienthostsofDariusandXerxeslaborunderthesamedoubtofavagueandindefinitemagnitude；butIaminclinedtobelieve，thatalargernumberhasneverbeencontainedwithinthelinesofasinglecamp，thanatthesiegeofNice，thefirstoperationoftheLatinprinces。Theirmotives，theircharacters，andtheirarms，havebeenalreadydisplayed。OftheirtroopsthemostnumerousportionwerenativesofFrance:theLowCountries，thebanksoftheRhine，andApulia，sentapowerfulreenforcement:
somebandsofadventurersweredrawnfromSpain，Lombardy，andEngland；^77andfromthedistantbogsandmountainsofIrelandorScotland^78issuedsomenakedandsavagefanatics，ferociousathomebutunwarlikeabroad。HadnotsuperstitioncondemnedthesacrilegiousprudenceofdeprivingthepoorestorweakestChristianofthemeritofthepilgrimage，theuselesscrowd，withmouthsbutwithouthands，mighthavebeenstationedintheGreekempire，tilltheircompanionshadopenedandsecuredthewayoftheLord。Asmallremnantofthepilgrims，whopassedtheBosphorus，waspermittedtovisittheholysepulchre。Theirnorthernconstitutionwasscorchedbytherays，andinfectedbythevapors，ofaSyriansun。Theyconsumed，withheedlessprodigality，theirstoresofwaterandprovision:theirnumbersexhaustedtheinlandcountry:theseawasremote，theGreekswereunfriendly，andtheChristiansofeverysectfledbeforethevoraciousandcruelrapineoftheirbrethren。Inthedirenecessityoffamine，theysometimesroastedanddevouredthefleshoftheirinfantoradultcaptives。AmongtheTurksandSaracens，theidolatersofEuropewererenderedmoreodiousbythenameandreputationofCannibals；thespies，whointroducedthemselvesintothekitchenofBohemond，wereshownseveralhumanbodiesturningonthespit:andtheartfulNormanencouragedareport，whichincreasedatthesametimetheabhorrenceandtheterroroftheinfidels。^79
[Footnote73:Thereissomediversityonthenumbersofhisarmy；
butnoauthoritycanbecomparedwiththatofPtolemy，whostatesitatfivethousandhorseandthirtythousandfoot，seeUsher'sAnnales，p152。]
[Footnote74:Fulcher。Carnotensis，p。387。Heenumeratesnineteennationsofdifferentnamesandlanguages，p。389；butIdonotclearlyapprehendhisdifferencebetweentheFranciandGalli，ItaliandApuli。Elsewherep。385hecontemptuouslybrandsthedeserters。]
[Footnote75:Guibert，p。556。Yetevenhisgentleoppositionimpliesanimmensemultitude。ByUrbanII。，inthefervorofhiszeal，itisonlyratedat300，000pilgrims，epist。xvi。Concil。tom。xii。
p。731。]
[Footnote76:Alexias，l。x。p。283，305。Herfastidiousdelicacycomplainsoftheirstrangeandinarticulatenames；andindeedthereisscarcelyonethatshehasnotcontrivedtodisfigurewiththeproudignorancesodearandfamiliartoapolishedpeople。Ishallselectonlyoneexample，Sangeles，forthecountofSt。Giles。]
[Footnote77:WilliamofMalmsburywhowroteabouttheyear1130hasinsertedinhishistoryl。iv。p。130—154anarrativeofthefirstcrusade:butIwishthat，insteadoflisteningtothetenuemurmurwhichhadpassedtheBritishocean，p。143，hehadconfinedhimselftothenumbers，families，andadventuresofhiscountrymen。IfindinDugdale，thatanEnglishNorman，StephenearlofAlbemarleandHoldernesse，ledtherear—guardwithDukeRobert，atthebattleofAntioch，Baronage，parti。p。
61。]
[Footnote78:VideresScotorumapudseferociumaliasimbelliumcuneos，Guibert，p。471；thecrusintectumandhispidachlamys，maysuittheHighlanders；butthefinibusuliginosismayratherapplytotheIrishbogs。WilliamofMalmsburyexpresslymentionstheWelshandScots，&c。，l。iv。p。133，whoquitted，theformervenatiorem，thelatterfamiliaritatempulicum。]
[Footnote79:Thiscannibalhunger，sometimesreal，morefrequentlyanartificeoralie，maybefoundinAnnaComnena，Alexias，l。x。p。288，Guibert，p。546，Radulph。Cadom。，c。
97。ThestratagemisrelatedbytheauthoroftheGestaFrancorum，themonkRobertBaldric，andRaymonddesAgiles，inthesiegeandfamineofAntioch。]
ChapterLVIII:TheFirstCrusade。
PartIV。
Ihaveexpiatedwithpleasureonthefirststepsofthecrusaders，astheypaintthemannersandcharacterofEurope:butIshallabridgethetediousanduniformnarrativeoftheirblindachievements，whichwereperformedbystrengthandaredescribedbyignorance。FromtheirfirststationintheneighborhoodofNicomedia，theyadvancedinsuccessivedivisions；passedthecontractedlimitoftheGreekempire；openedaroadthroughthehills，andcommenced，bythesiegeofhiscapital，theirpiouswarfareagainsttheTurkishsultan。HiskingdomofRoumextendedfromtheHellesponttotheconfinesofSyria，andbarredthepilgrimageofJerusalem，hisnamewasKilidge—Arslan，orSoliman，^80oftheraceofSeljuk，andsonofthefirstconqueror；andinthedefenceofalandwhichtheTurksconsideredastheirown，hedeservedthepraiseofhisenemies，bywhomaloneheisknowntoposterity。Yieldingtothefirstimpulseofthetorrent，hedepositedhisfamilyandtreasureinNice；retiredtothemountainswithfiftythousandhorse；andtwicedescendedtoassaultthecampsorquartersoftheChristianbesiegers，whichformedanimperfectcircleofabovesixmiles。TheloftyandsolidwallsofNicewerecoveredbyadeepditch，andflankedbythreehundredandseventytowers；andonthevergeofChristendom，theMoslemsweretrainedinarms，andinflamedbyreligion。Beforethiscity，theFrenchprincesoccupiedtheirstations，andprosecutedtheirattackswithoutcorrespondenceorsubordination:emulationpromptedtheirvalor；buttheirvalorwassulliedbycruelty，andtheiremulationdegeneratedintoenvyandcivildiscord。InthesiegeofNice，theartsandenginesofantiquitywereemployedbytheLatins；themineandthebattering—ram，thetortoise，andthebelfreyormovableturret，artificialfire，andthecatapultandbalist，thesling，andthecrossbowforthecastingofstonesanddarts。^81Inthespaceofsevenweeksmuchlaborandbloodwereexpended，andsomeprogress，especiallybyCountRaymond，wasmadeonthesideofthebesiegers。ButtheTurkscouldprotracttheirresistanceandsecuretheirescape，aslongastheyweremastersoftheLake^82
Ascanius，whichstretchesseveralmilestothewestwardofthecity。ThemeansofconquestweresuppliedbytheprudenceandindustryofAlexius；agreatnumberofboatswastransportedonsledgesfromtheseatothelake；theywerefilledwiththemostdexterousofhisarchers；theflightofthesultanawasintercepted；Nicewasinvestedbylandandwater；andaGreekemissarypersuadedtheinhabitantstoaccepthismaster'sprotection，andtosavethemselves，byatimelysurrender，fromtherageofthesavagesofEurope。Inthemomentofvictory，oratleastofhope，thecrusaders，thirstingforbloodandplunder，wereawedbytheImperialbannerthatstreamedfromthecitadel；
andAlexiusguardedwithjealousvigilancethisimportantconquest。Themurmursofthechiefswerestifledbyhonororinterest；andafterahaltofninedays，theydirectedtheirmarchtowardsPhrygiaundertheguidanceofaGreekgeneral，whomtheysuspectedofasecretconnivancewiththesultan。TheconsortandtheprincipalservantsofSolimanhadbeenhonorablyrestoredwithoutransom；andtheemperor'sgenerositytothemiscreants^83wasinterpretedastreasontotheChristiancause。
[Footnote80:HisMussulmanappellationofSolimanisusedbytheLatins，andhischaracterishighlyembellishedbyTasso。HisTurkishnameofKilidge—ArslanA。H。485—500，A。D。1192—
1206。SeeDeGuignes'sTables，tom。i。p。245isemployedbytheOrientals，andwithsomecorruptionbytheGreeks；butlittlemorethanhisnamecanbefoundintheMahometanwriters，whoaredryandsulkyonthesubjectofthefirstcrusade，DeGuignes，tom。iii。p。ii。p。10—30。
Note:Seenote，page556。SolimanandKilidge—Arslanwerefatherandson—M。]
[Footnote81:Onthefortifications，engines，andsiegesofthemiddleages，seeMuratori，Antiquitat。Italiae，tom。ii。
dissert。xxvi。p。452—524。Thebelfredus，fromwhenceourbelfrey，wasthemovabletoweroftheancients，Ducange，tom。i。
p。608。]
[Footnote82:IcannotforbearremarkingtheresemblancebetweenthesiegeandlakeofNice，withtheoperationsofHernanCortezbeforeMexico。SeeDr。Robertson，HistoryofAmerica，l。v。]
[Footnote*:SeeAnnaComnena。—M。]
[Footnote83:Mecreant，awordinventedbytheFrenchcrusaders，andconfinedinthatlanguagetoitsprimitivesense。Itshouldseem，thatthezealofourancestorsboiledhigher，andthattheybrandedeveryunbelieverasarascal。AsimilarprejudicestilllurksinthemindsofmanywhothinkthemselvesChristians。]