_Nought is more honourable to a knight Nor battle doth become brave chivalry Than to defend the feeble in their right And wrong redress in such as wend awry While those great Heroes glory got thereby._ SPENSER: _Faery Queene._ In the August of 1096, the first great army of the Crusaders began to move towards the East, under the command of Godfrey of Boulogne, together with his brothers Eustace and Baldwin. This Godfrey, leader of the Teuton host, is thus described by one of his own day: "He was of a beautiful countenance, tall of stature, agreeable in his discourse, of excellent morals, and at the same time so gentle that he seemed better fitted for the monk than for the knight. But when his enemies appeared before him, and the combat was at hand, his soul became filled with a mighty daring; like a lion, he feared not for his own person; and what shield, what buckler, could withstand the fall of his sword?" Four other armies set out after him in due course, travelling by land to Constantinople; for, in those days, not even the stoutest general could face the {69} horrors of a sea-voyage in the untrustworthy vessels of the Mediterranean shore. Marching through Europe in perfect order, Godfrey's troops met their first check on the borders of Hungary. Here they not only found the track marked out by the bodies of those who had perished in the previous year, but a distinct air of hostility was seen in the attitude of the people. Knowing nothing of the actual facts, Godfrey cautiously arranged for a meeting with King Carloman. Matters were explained on both sides and a mutual arrangement was made by which Godfrey's troops were allowed to pass through Hungary buying food as they went, while Baldwin, the brother of Godfrey, with his wife and children remained behind as hostages until the Crusaders should arrive at the further boundary--the River Save. "So, day by day, in silence and peace, with equal measure and just sale, did the duke and his people pass through the realms of Hungary."