The History of the Crusades (vol. 1 of 3)Michaud, J. Fr. (Joseph Fr.)
History
The History of the Crusades (vol. 1 of 3)
Michaud, J. Fr. (Joseph Fr.)
Crusades
But the combat was destined soon to change its appearance. All at once
the Crusaders saw a knight appear upon the Mount of Olives, waving his
buckler, and giving the Christian army the signal for entering the
city.[173] Godfrey and Raymond, who perceived him first and at the
same time, cried out aloud that St. George was come to the help of the
Christians! The tumult of the fight allowed neither reflection nor
examination, the sight of the celestial horseman fired the besiegers
with new ardour; and they returned to the charge. Women, even children
and the sick, mingled in the m_êlée_, bringing water, food, and arms,
and joined their efforts to those of the soldiers to move the rolling
towers, the terror of the enemy, nearer the ramparts.[174] That of
Godfrey, in spite of a terrible discharge of stones, arrows, and Greek
fire, advanced near enough to have its drawbridge lowered upon the
walls. Flaming darts flew, at the same time, in showers against the
machines of the besieged, and against the sacks of straw and hay,
and bags of wool which protected the last walls of the city. The
wind assisted the fire, and drove the flames upon the Saracens, who,
enveloped in masses of flame and smoke, retreated before the lances
and swords of the Crusaders. Godfrey, preceded by the two brothers
Lethalde and Engelbert of Tournai, and followed by Baldwin du Bourg,
Eustace, Reimbault Creton,[175] Gunher, Bernard de St. Vallier, and
Amenjou d’Albret, rushes upon the enemy, pursues them, and upon the
track of their footsteps enters Jerusalem. All the brave men who fought
with him on the platform of the tower, followed their intrepid chief,
penetrated with him into the streets, and massacred all they met in
their passage. At the same time a report was spread in the Christian
army that the holy pontiff Adhemar, and several Crusaders who had
fallen during the siege, had appeared at the head of the assailants,
and had unfurled the standard of the Cross upon the towers of
Jerusalem. Tancred and the two Roberts, animated by this account, made
fresh efforts, and at last threw themselves into the place, accompanied
by Hugh de St. Paul, Gerard de Roussillon, Louis de Mouson, Conon and
Lambert de Montaigu, and Graston de Béarn. A crowd of heroes followed
them closely; some entering by a half-opened breach; others scaling
the walls with ladders; and many leaping from the tops of the wooden
towers. The Mussulmans fled on all sides, and Jerusalem resounded with
the cry of victory of the Crusaders, “_It is the will of God! It is the
will of God!_”[176]
The companions of Godfrey and Tancred beat the gate of St. Stephen to
pieces with axes, and the city was at once thrown open to the crowd of
Crusaders, who pressed forward and contended for the honour of dealing
the last blow to the conquered infidels.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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