Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/362

 326 Readings in European History humbled us in the siege that there were scarcely a hundred good horses left in our whole army. God then opened to us the abundance of his blessing and mercy, and led us into the city, and delivered the Turks and all of their possessions into our power. The finding Inasmuch as we thought that these had been acquired by of the holy our own strength, and did not worthily magnify God who had done this, we were beset by so great a multitude of Turks that no one dared to venture forth at any point from the city. Moreover hunger so weakened us that some could scarcely refrain from eating human flesh. It would be tedi- ous to narrate all the miseries which we suffered in that city. But God looked down upon his people, whom he had so long chastised, and mercifully consoled them. Therefore, he at first revealed to us, as a recompense for our tribula- tion and as a pledge of victory, his lance, which had lain hidden since the days of the apostles. 1 Next, he so forti- fied the hearts of the men that they who from sickness or hunger had been unable to walk, now were indued with strength to seize their weapons and manfully to fight against the enemy. After we had triumphed over the enemy, as our army was wasting away at Antioch from sickness and weariness and was especially hindered by the dissensions among the leaders, we proceeded into Syria, stormed Barra and Marra, cities of the Saracens, and captured the fortresses in that country. And while we were delaying there, there was so great a famine in the army that the Christian people now ate the putrid bodies of the Saracens. Finally, by the divine admonition, we entered into the interior of Hispania, 2 and the most bountiful, merciful, and victorious hand of the omnipotent Father was with us ; for the cities and for- tresses of the country through which we were proceeding 1 The holy lance with which the Roman soldier is reported to have pierced Christ's side. 2 A region on the right bank of the Orontes which stretches toward the east.