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
It must be believed that in this circumstance religion sometimes
mingled her useful inspirations with those of human sagacity; justice
and humanity assumed a more sacred character in the presence of the
holy tomb. As all the subjects of Godfrey were called upon to defend
the cause of God, the quality of a soldier of Jesus Christ might make
the dignity of man respected. If it be true that the establishment
of the commons, or a second court, was the work of the Crusaders, we
cannot, with truth, assert that these wars contributed nothing towards
the progress of civilization. The laws which they made, and in which
may be plainly seen the first glimpses of regulated liberty, were a new
spectacle for Asia; they must likewise have been a subject of surprise
and a means of instruction for Europe itself, where pilgrims related,
on their return, the usages and customs established by the Franks in
the Holy Land. This code of legislation, the best, or rather the least
imperfect that had existed previous to that time, and which increased
or was modified under other reigns, was deposited with great pomp in
the church of the Resurrection, and took the name of the Assizes of
Jerusalem, or Letters of the Holy Sepulchre.
After this ceremony, which was performed in the presence of all the
pilgrims, the Latin princes then at Jerusalem returned to their own
states; Baldwin to Edessa, Bohemond to his principality of Antioch, and
Raymond to Laodicea, of which he had rendered himself master, and which
he governed in the name of the emperor of Constantinople. Scarcely had
Tancred returned to his principality when he was attacked by all the
forces of the sultan of Damascus. Godfrey, accompanied by his faithful
knights and a great number of pilgrims eager to fight under his
command, repaired immediately into Galilee, defeated the Saracens, and
pursued them to the mountains of Libanus.
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