Page:Great Men and Famous Women Volume 1.djvu/163

 GODFREY DE BOUILLON 97 tion ; but at the same time he was lord of the land as no king had been before him, and he enjoyed not only all the income of his predecessors but in addition all the dues which came to him as feudal sovereign. He was thus perhaps the strongest and most absolute monarch that has ever sat upon the English throne. In character William was stern, self-reliant, and imperious in a high degree. He was not naturally cruel ; but he was ruthless if it served his purpose, and could take pitiless vengeance for an insult or a wrong. He was too strong to prefer deceit when force would serve as well, but his diplomacy was subtle and guileful, and no scruple turned him aside from his aim. His temper, originally forgiving, was soured by opposition toward the end of his life, and his tyrannical tendencies were strengthened by the long exercise of uncontrolled power. His passionate devotion to the chase is only too clearly shown in the harshness of his forest laws. In private life he displayed domestic virtues, and his fidelity to his wife was exceptional in the annals of his house and time. GODFREY DE BOUILLON BY HENRY G. HEWLETT I (1060-1 100) N the year 1094 the Turks besieged the Holy City of Jerusalem, then ruled by the Fati- mite caliphs, and took it. Pilgrims were then sub- jected to every form of violence and insult. The Greek emperor Alexius Comnenus, whom the Turks had recently de- feated, implored the as- sistance of the great Christian states against this new and formidable foe. Pope Urban, to whom the letter was addressed, summoned a council of nobles and prelates in Auvergne and, with solemn and weighty words, appealed to the princes and soldiers of France who were seated before him. He reminded them of the national exploits of their fathers, whom Charles Martel and Charlemagne led against the Saracens, and called on the sons of such fathers to achieve yet greater deeds. As the burning words dropped from his lips they lighted a flame in every heart, and the whole assembly suddenly rose, and shouted with one voice, " It is God's will ! It is God's will ! " Urban caught up the cry : " Yes, without doubt 7