of gold and silver, of precious vessels and costly vestments, of horses, and flocks, and herds, which the infidels had left behind. The tents and pavilions also of the Persian generals were of the most gorgeous kind. That of Corboran was constructed of the richest silk, of various colours, in the form of a city, with streets and avenues, having towers, and battlements, ana walls. Nothing could have been more auspicious for the Crusaders. Triumph succeeded to despair-wealth to poverty-plenty to famine. They now returned to Antioch, when the citadel at once surrendered, and many of the soldiers forming its garrison confessed the Christian faith. The city being composed, the Crusaders proceeded to rebuild and repair the churches, which, with their images and pictures, were speedily restored to their ancient grandeur. The Greek patriarch also was reinstated in his former honours.† An interval of repose was now felt to be necessary to recruit the exhausted energies of the soldiers and of their leaders. The march to Jerusalem therefore was delayed for several months. In this interval, pestilence again invaded the Christian army, and thirty or forty were daily carried off. Among these was the famous bishop of Puy, who died universally lamented, and was buried with all the funeral obsequies due to his distinguished rank, in the place where the sacred lance was discovered. ‡ *Gulielmus Tyrii, lib. vi. cap. xxii. Seven months having elapsed, the people grew impatient for the completion of the enterprise; and, turning their backs upon Antioch, hastened towards Jerusalem. After several encounters with the Turks, and many perils and adventures by the way, they drew near to the holy city, but night coming on, they were compelled to halt. Sleep, however, closed not their eyes. Never was night more tediousnever did soldiers more anxiously look for the returning light of day. At length, the sun rose above the horizon. The army was at once in motion, when, advancing but a short distance, with their ensigns streaming in the morning breeze, the sacred city suddenly appeared in sight. The first who perceived it shouted to the rest, "Jerusalem! Jerusalem!" The name flew from mouth to mouth, from rank to rank. "Jerusalem!" and "God wills it!" repeated at once by 60,000 pilgrims, were echoed from Mount Sion and from Mount Olivet. All the Crusaders hastened their march. In the delirium that animated them, former labours and fatigues, dangers and hardships, were forgotten. Knights dismounted from their horses, and advanced barefooted. Some threw themselves on their knees, their eyes now turned towards heaven, and now towards the holy city. Others prostrated themselves in the dust, and kisserl with devotion the ground which the Saviour of the world had honoured with his presence. In their transport they passed from joy to grief, and from grief to joy. Sometimes they con gratulated themselves on having arrived at the end of their journey, and sometimes they wept over their sins, over the death of the Lord Jesus, and over his tomb which the heathen now profaned. All renewed the oath which they had taken, many a time before, to deliver Jerusalem from the sacrilegious yoke of the Mussulman. Without delay the march was completed, and the soldiers of the cross encamped before the walls of the city. It was on the 7th of June, 1099, that Jerusalem was invested.* The Christians, in the ardour of their enthusiasm, at once rushed to the attack, and at first seemed almost within reach of victory. But the Turks, recovering from their consternation, and rallying their troops, poured down such showers of arrows and Greek firef as to drive the besiegers from the walls. The Crusaders, *Albertus, lib. v. cap. xlv.; Baldricus, lib. iv. †This forerunner of gunpowder had its name from having been invented by a Greek, in the time of Constantine Barbatus, emperor of Constantinople. Before this period, the Greeks had used fire ships. After the discovery of Greek fire, it was used both by sea and land. The vessels selected to carry it had erected on their prows large tubes of copper, through which these fires were blown into the enemy's ships. The soldiers were supplied with similar tubes on the land. It was also put into phials and pots, and fixed on the end of arrows and bolts, and from the walls of the city it was poured from large boilers, or launched in red-hot balls of stone or iron. Its appearance resembled a long barrel, having a tail the length of a spear. The noise which it made was like thunder, and it seemed a great dragon flying through the air, and giving so great a light with its flame, says Joinville, that we saw in our camp as clearly as in broad day. Its composition was pitch and other resins mixed with sulphur, and the whole ground together. It was kept secret for four hundred years.— Mevrick's Antient Armour, vol. ii. now perceiving that it would be impossible to reduce the city without the usual implements of war, proceeded to prepare their movable towers and battering rams. Timber was cut in a wood some miles distant, and a company of Genoese sailors arriving at the port of Joppa were pressed into their service. These greatly aided them in the construction of the necessary engines.* The interval was one of great severity; not from the lack of food, but from the want of water. But the preparations were hastened; and, as the time approached for the attack, every feud was appeased, every jealousy was abandoned, every vice was restrained. At the earnest entreaty of Peter and the bishops, who pleaded that devotion was as needful as bravery to open the gates of the besieged city, it was resolved to march in solemn procession around its walls. The procession was accordingly formed; and the Crusaders, preceded by their priests clothed in white, and carrying crucifixes and images of the saints, performed the circuit of Jerusalem, chanting hymns and litanies.† The next day they pressed the siege, resolving either to lay down their lives for Christ, or to restore the place of his sepulture to liberty. Women rushed to the conflict. Towers and battering rams were applied to the walls. All the dreadful stores of war were employed Gulielmus Tyrii, lib. viii. caps. vi.-x.; Baldricus, lib. iv.; Historia Raimondis de Agiles. + Gulielmus Tyrii, lib. viii. caps. xiii. xiv. on both sides with the most infuriated vengeance. At length, night came on, suspending the contest, but leaving the issue in uncertainty. The following day the attack was renewed with increased fury. It was prosecuted till noon, when the result was still doubtful. The Saracens fought with the most desperate valour. The Crusaders, well nigh overcome with fatigue, were almost ready to give up their cause for lost. At this juncture a soldier of the cross was seen from Mount Olivet, so at least the chroniclers of the Crusaders record; who he was, or how he came there, no one knew. But there he stood, waving a resplendent shield, and beckoning to his companions to follow on. Duke Godfrey, with his brother Eustace, hailed the signal; and, animated by the sight, redoubled the attack, and effected a breach. At nearly the same instant, Robert of Normandy and Tancred burst open the gates. The whole army of the Crusaders followed. They entered not as penitents, not as priests, not as pilgrims, -fiends could not have been more unsparingly and indiscriminately cruel. The inhabitants fled but to be slaughtered by the insatiable swords on which they were precipitated. Soon the carnage became general. The Saracens were massacred, both in the streets and in the houses. Jerusalem had no place of refuge for the vanquished. Some ran in crowds to the palaces and to the towers, and above all to the mosques. But mosque, tower, and palace were |