Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/350

 314 Readings in European History The French " But if you are hindered by love of children, parents, or urged to find w jf e rem ember what the Lord says in the Gospel, ' He that an outlet for . . .., , . excessive loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. population. ' Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.' Let none of your possessions retain you, nor solicitude for your family affairs. For this land which you inhabit, shut in on all sides by the seas and surrounded by the mountain peaks, is too narrow for your large popula- tion; nor does it abound in wealth; and it furnishes scarcely food enough for its cultivators. Hence it is that you mur- der and devour one another, that you wage war, and that very many among you perish in intestine strife. 1 " Let hatred therefore depart from among you, let your quarrels end, let wars cease, and let all dissensions and con- troversies slumber. Enter upon the road to the Holy Sepul- cher; wrest that land from the wicked race, and subject it to yourselves. That land which, as the Scripture says, ' floweth with milk and honey ' was given by God into the power of the children of Israel. Jerusalem is the center of the earth; the land is fruitful'above all others, like another paradise of delights. This spot the Redeemer of mankind has made illustrious by his advent, has beautified by his sojourn, has consecrated by his passion, has redeemed by his death, has glorified by his burial. 1 Another of those present at the Council of Clermont, Fulcher of Chartres, thus reports this part of Urban's speech: "Let those who have formerly been accustomed to contend wickedly in private warfare against the faithful fight against the infidel, and bring to a victorious end the war which ought already to have been begun. Let those who have hitherto been robbers now become soldiers. Let those who have formerly contended against their brothers and relatives now fight against the barbarians as they ought. Let those who have formerly been mer- cenaries at low wages now gain eternal rewards. Let those who have been exhausting themselves to the detriment both of body and soul now strive for a twofold reward." See a complete translation of Ful- cher's report of Urban's speech in Translations and Reprints, Vol. I, No. 2.