The Crusaders set out from the valley of Rephraim, which is opposite
Calvary; they advanced towards the north, and, on entering the valley
of Josophat, saluted the tombs of Mary, St. Stephen, and _the first
elect of God_. Whilst continuing their march towards the Mount of
Olives, they contemplated with respect the grotto in which Christ shed
the sweat of blood, and the spot where the Saviour of the world wept
over Jerusalem. When they arrived at the summit of the mountain, the
most imposing spectacle presented itself to their eyes: on the east
they beheld the plains of Jericho, the shores of the Dead Sea, and the
banks of the Jordan; on the west, the holy city lay at their feet, with
its territory strewn with sacred ruins: assembled on the very spot
whence Christ ascended into Heaven, and where they anxiously looked for
the vestiges of his steps, they listened to the exhortations of their
priests and bishops. Arnoul de Rohés, chaplain to the Duke of Normandy,
addressed them in a pathetic discourse, conjuring them to redouble
their zeal and perseverance. In terminating his address, he turned
towards Jerusalem: “You behold,” said he, “the heritage of Christ
defiled by the impious: here is at length the worthy reward of all your
labours: these are the places in which God will pardon you all your
sins and bless your victories.” At the voice of the orator, who pointed
to the Church of the Resurrection and the rocks of Calvary ready to
receive them, the defenders of the Cross humbled themselves before God,
and fixed their looks intensely upon Jerusalem.
As Arnoul pressed them in the name of Christ to pardon injuries and to
love one another, Tancred and Raymond, who had long had differences,
embraced in the presence of the whole army; the soldiers and other
leaders followed their example. The rich promised to assist with
their alms the poor and the orphans who bore the cross. All forgot
their fatal discords, and swore to remain faithful to the precepts of
evangelic charity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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