92 MANUAL OF INSTRUCTION 



indignation and sorrow filled every Qirislian heart. 

 At length, about the close of the tenth century, 

 Peter the Hermit began to preach a crusade against 

 the infidels who had intrenched themselves in 

 Palestine, and had committed many cruelties upon 

 the swarms of pilgrims to the sacred places. 



The long smouldering fires in the bosoms of the 

 men of the West were fanned into furious flame as 

 they listened to the preaching of the Hermit. He 

 recounted the wrongs perpetrated upon the pilgrims, 

 told of the wealth of eastern places which might be 

 gathered, and particularly of the merit which he 

 said they would earn, both now and hereafter, who 

 would rid the holy city of its defilements. 



Suddenly (a. d. 1095) there was gathered to- 

 gether a rabble armed in every variety of fashion. 

 There were princes and peasants, beggars and 

 robbers, an indescribable multitude of all nations 

 of the West, pouring forth to the East upon the first 

 crusade. It was an immense mob-like expedition, 

 numbering some 300,000. Upon the breast or 

 shoulder of each one there was worn a red cross. 

 At first it seemed as if this torrent would prove to 

 be utterly irresistible, but it was soon seen to be 

 an utterly undisciplined, riotous mob. Its pas- 

 sage through Europe was like that of a devastating 

 flood. With violence, riotous living, and crime, 

 they pressed on, leaving hosts of their number dead 

 as they crowded forward. They were not to reach 





