22 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



risen again, and men breathed freer and felt that the crisis 

 was past, would they not have a feeling of gratitude that 

 expressed itself in gifts to those whom they had learned to 

 look upon as intercessors? 



The fourth and last period was that of the Crusades, when 

 all Europe, stirred by one single impulse, leaps into vigorous 

 life, and hurries, men, women and children, to the rescue of 

 the Holy Land. Of the universality of this movement, the 

 last impulse of the migratory instinct among these tribes so 

 lately settled down, William of Malmesbury, afterwards 

 bishop of T}^re, has left us a striking account in his chroni- 

 cle. Having said that after the great council of Clermont 

 every one retired to his home, he continues thus : " Imme- 

 diately the fame of this great event being spread through 

 the universe, penetrates the minds of Christians with its mild 

 breath, and wherever it blew there was no nation, however 

 distant or obscure it might be, that did not send some of its 

 people. This zeal not only animated the provinces border- 

 ing on the Mediterranean, but all who had ever heard the 

 name of a Christian in the most remote isles and among bar- 

 barous nations. Then the "Welshman abandoned his forests 

 and neglected his hunting ; the Scotchman deserted his fleas, 

 with which he is so familiar ; the Dane ceased to swallow his 

 intoxicating draughts and the Norican turned his back upon 

 his raw fish. The fields were left by the cultivators and the 

 houses by the inhabitants ; all the cities were deserted. 

 People were restrained neither by ties of blood nor the love 

 of country ; they saw nothing but God. All that was in 

 the granaries or destined for food was left under the guard- 

 ianship of the greedy agriculturist. The voyage to Jerusa- 

 lem was the only thing hoped for or thought of. Joy 

 animated the hearts of those who set out ; grief dwelt in the 

 hearts of those who remained. Why do 1 say of those who 

 remained? You might have seen the husband setting forth 

 with his wife, with all his family ; yea, you would have 

 laughed to see all the penates put in motion and loaded upon 

 carts. The road was too narrow for the passengers, more 

 room was wanted for the travellers, so great and numerous 

 was the crowd." 



