Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-12-02

ly indebted Tor injuries done hm-fOr injuries, IN
Hicted on his unoifending ancestors-who received,
at the hands Of the white man. the moment he i'm
pressed his foot upon the sands Of the new world the
scourge, the fire brand, and the deadly missile
| TO make room for their unknown and unwelcome
visitors, were they driven from their homes, to
known and unirequented wilds and as their long
| ing eyes gazed upon their native hill and dale,
where they had once sported midst all the nno-
cence of unsophisicated life, they sighed for their
ruined fields and the glare Of the fame that light
ed their footsteps, and broke upon the darkness OF
the midnight hour, rose from the ,uns Of their
greater and more warlike nations in the same en-
gagement and having previously exhorted Peter to
visit he chief cities and sovereigns OF Chrstendoni,
| he summoned another council at Clermont IN u
vergne. The fame Of this great and pious design,
being universally dlffused, procured the atten-
dance Of the greatest prelates, mobiles, aud princes
and when the pope and the hermit renewed their
pathetic exhortations the whole assembly, as II i'm
pelied by an immediate inspiration, not moved by
heir preceding Impressions, exclaimed with one
voice, IL as the uiH Of God, ii is The wiU Of God -
Word. deemed SO memorable, and so much the re-
suit of divine influence, that they were employed
the signal Of rendezvous and battle IN all the tu
ranks few to with the utmost ardour and an
exterior symbol too, circumstance ofchef moment
was here chosen by the devoted cOmhatants. The
sign OF the cross which had been hitherto so much
revered among Christians, and which, the more II
object Of reproach among the Pagan world,
was the more passionately cherished by them, be-
came the badge Of union, and affixed 10 their right
shoulder, by all who enlisted themselves in this
cred warfare.
Europe was at this time sunk into profound igno-
rance and superstition the ecclesastics had acquir
ed the greatest ascendancy over the human mind
the people, who being little restrained by honour
and less by law, abandoned themselves to the
worst crimes and disorders, knew OF no other expi
alton than the observances imposed Oh them by
their spiritual pastors and it was easy to represent
the holy equivalent for all penances, and
an atonement for every violation OF justice and hu
manity. But amidst the abect superstition which
now prevailed, the military spirit also had univer-
sally diifused itself; and though not supported by
art discipline, become the general passion OF
the nations governed by the feudal law. All the
q eat lords possessed the right of peace and war
they engaged in perpetual hostilities with
each other the open country was become a scene
of outra ge and disorder the Cities still mean and
poor were neither guarded by walls protected
by privileges, aud were exposed to every insult
individuals were obliged to depend for safety on
their own force, their private alliance and
lOur was lne only eACeieuCc WuiCll was Hciu III es'
TEEN, or gave one man the pre-eminence above
another. When all the particular superstitons
therefore, were here united grea: object, the
ardor for military enterprises took the same direc
tion and Europe, impe!led by its two ruling pas
sion, was loosened il were from its foundations
and seemed to precptate itself in one united body
upon the east.
All orders Of men. deemng the crusades the on
ly road to heaven, enlisted themselves under these
sacred banners, and were impatient to open the
way with their sword TO the holy city. Mobiles, at
tisans, peasants priests, lnrolled their names
and to decline this meritorious service was branded
with the reproach Of impicty, or what perhaps was
esteemed still more disgraceful, of cowsrdice and
pusianimity. The infrm and aged contributed to
the expedition by presents and money ;and many OF
them, not satisfied with the merit of this atone
ment, attended it in person, and were determined,
if possible, TO breathe their last IN sight OF that city
where their Saviour had died for them. Womeu
themselves, concealng their under the disguise
of armour, attended the camp; and commonly for
got still the duty Of the sex, by prostitutng
themselves, W hout reserve to the army. The
greatest criminals were forward a service, which
they regarded Precipitation for all crimes and
the most enormous disorders were during the course
Of those expeditions, committed by men enured to
wickedness, encouraged by example, and impelied
by necessity. The multitude of the adventures
soon became great, that their more sagacious
leaders, t1uSn count Oh D'OtneT W ue
French king, Raymond count ofToulouse, Godfrey
Of Bouillon, prince of Brabant, and Stephen count
Of Bois became apprehensive lest the greatness it.
self of the armament should disappont its purpose
and they permitted an undiscipned multitude,
computed at 100000 msn, TO 60 before them, IN
der command Of Peter the Hermit and Walter the
Moueyless. Theee men took the road towards
Constantinople through Hungary and Bulgaria t;
and trusting that Heaven, by supernatural exis-
tence, would supply all their necessities, they made
no provision for subsistence on their march. They
soon found themselves obliged to obtain by plunder,
what .hey had vsinly expected from miracles; and
| The enraged inhabtan Of the countries through
which they passed, gathering together in arms, at
tackled the disorderly multitude, and put them 10
| slaughter without resistance. The more disciple
nea armies followed after and passiug the streghts
| at Constantinople, they were mustered in the
! plains Of Asia, and amounted in the whole to the
number Of 90, 900 combatants. ..
Amidst this universal frenzy which spread itself
! by eontagion throughout Europe, especially in
| France and Germany, men were not entirely for.
| getfu of their present interests; and both those
| who went on this expidition and those who stayed
behind, entertained schemes Of gratifying, by ITS
means their avarice or their ambition The mobiles
| who enlisted themselves were moved, from the ro-
mantle spirit Of the age to have for themselves opu-
lent establishments in the east the chief seat OF arts
and commerce during those ages and in pursuit OF
these chimcrical projects, they sold at the lowest
price their ancient castles and inheritance, which
had now lost all value in their eyes. The greater
| princes who remained at home, besides establish