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rite, and, on a hill outside the town, addressed an immense concourse, among whom figured the King and Queen of France, surrounded by barons and prelates. Never was an orator more successful. Indeed, Bernard produced an impression hardly less marvellous than Peter the Hermit had done half a century earlier; and, as he concluded, his audience raised the old cry of "God wills it!

While the hillside was ringing with enthusiastic shouts, Louis, throwing himself on his knees, received the cross; and Eleanor immediately followed her husband's example. Shouts of "The Cross! The Cross!" then rose on all hands; and peers and peasants, bishops and burghers, rushing forward, cast themselves at Bernard's fect. Such was the demand, that the crosses provided for the occasion were quite insufficient. But Bernard, tearing up his vestments, got over the difficulty; and the sacred emblem soon appeared on every shoulder.

Elate with the success of his oratory, Bernard travelled through France, preaching the crusade; and having in every city and province roused the enthusiasm of the populace, he repaired to Germany. At that time the crown of the Empire of the West rested on the brow of Conrad III.-but not quite so easily as he could have wished. In fact, the German Kaiser had a formidable rival in the Duke of Bavaria, and felt the reverse of secure. When, therefore, Bernard reached Spires, and asked the Emperor to arm for the defence of the Holy Sepulchre, Conrad, who was holding a Diet, evinced no ardor for the enterprise. "Consider," he said, "the troubles in which the empire would be involved." "The Holy See," said Bernard, "has placed you on the imperial throne, and knows how to support you there. If you defend God's heritage, the Church will take care of yours."

But still Conrad hesitated; and the preacher's eloquence was exerted in vain. At length, one day when Bernard was saying Mass before the emperor and the princes and the lords assembled at Spires, he paused in the midst of the service to expatiate on the guilt of those who refused to fight against Christ's enemies; and produced such an effect while picturing the Day of Judg

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ment, that Conrad's hesitation vanished. "I know what I owe to Christ," he said, approaching, with tears in his eyes to receive the cross; and I swear to go where his service calls me."-" This is a miracle !" exclaimed the peers and princes present, as they followed their sovereign's example, and vowed to attend his steps.

Having gained over Conrad, the eloquent Saint pursued his triumphs, and soon fired Germany with zeal. When he returned to France, and reported his success, preparations began in both countries. Enthusiasm was general; men of all ranks assumed the cross; and even women vowed to arm themselves with sword and lance, and took an oath to fight for the Holy Sepulchre.

It was arranged that Louis and Conrad should depart in the spring of 1147, and that the French and German armies should unite at Constantinople. When the time approached, all rushed eastward, with the cry of "God wills it!" and every road was covered with pilgrims on their way to the camps. Bernard must almost have felt some dismay at the effect of his eloquence. "Villages and castles, are deserted," he wrote to the Pope, "and there are none left but widows and orphans, whose parents are still living.”

Early in the spring of 1147, Europe was in commotion. Everywhere in Germany and France men were seen with the cross on their shoulders. Shepherds flung down their crooks, husbandmen abandoned their teams, traders quitted their booths, barons left their castles, and bishops deserted their bishoprics, to arm for the defence of the Holy Sepulchre. From England, exhausted by dynastic war, and Italy, agitated by ecclesiastical strife, bands of warriors issued to swell the armies of Conrad and Louis. Many ladies armed themselves for the crusade, and prepared to signalize their prowess under the leadership of a female warrior whose dress excited much admiration, and whose gilded boots procured for her the name of "Golden-legs.'

At Ratisbon, about Easter, the Emperor of Germany assembled his warriors. Accompanied by a host of nobles-among whom were his brother Otho, Bishop of Frisigen; his nephew, Frederick Barbarossa, Duke of Suabia; the Marquis of Montferrat, and the Duke of

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Bohemia-Conrad commenced his march eastward, at the head of a hundred thousand men, and sent messengers to announce to the Emperor of the East the intention of the crusaders to cross the Greek territories.

At this period, Emanuel Comnenus reigned at Constantinople. On receiving Conrad's message he returned an answer highly complimentary. But while professing great friendship for the new crusaders, he made all their movements known to the Saracens, and so man. aged matters that their march was frequently interrupted. The elements appeared not less hostile to Conrad's army than the Greeks. While the Germans encamped to keep the Feast of the Assumption in a valley on the river Melas, a storm suddenly arose, and swelled so violently that horses, baggage, and tents were carried away. The crusaders, amazed and terrified, gathered themselves up; and deploring their mishaps, pursued their way to Constantinople.-The Crusades and the Crusaders.

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