The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-03-04

thority at defiance. Despising the roy.
al edict, they assembled in largo num-
bcrs in the towns and villages of France
and marched through the country with
banners, incense, wax-torches and cross
es, singing insprting songs As the long
professions wound along the highways
of France, youths and old mon, women
and young girls, fastened forth to join
them. Merchants left their benches, la
borers their fields, to follow and cheer on
the brave young Crusaders. In every
town they were furnished with food and
other aims. But if asked where they
were going, they simply answered, Ito
God, and to seek tho holy cross ou the
other side OF the sea-"
This fearful frenzy soon spread into
Burgundy and Germany. In the Rhino
country especially, hundred of boys
shouldercd the cross and these not the
sons of the poor alone, but of the rich
aud noble. The young German Crusa-
ders kept aloof from those of France.
Dressed in long pilgrim robes, with pill
grim slaves and wallets. they took the
road to Italy. under the lead of q boy
who, according to some chroniclors, was
not ten years old But long before the
Alps were reached, many perished in the
forests and deserts. Others fell into
the hands of robbers, and returned homo
forlorn and destitute. A large number,
among them many men and women, wan
dered into Genoa, where their appear
ancs created great CONSERVATION. AT
first hostile demonstra,i,n was feared (;
next, famine from the voracity of so
many hungry mouths. But in truth the
condition Of the poor pilgrims was such
as would inspire more pity than fear.
For the greater part of them were nero
boys, without money or weapons, and
who cherished the torlorn hope that God
by some great miracle would divide tho
sea, and let them pass over dry shod to
the delivery of Jerusalem But, alas,
the conduct of the young Crusaders did
not at all correspond with their high de-
signs and hopes. However it was at
first, their camp, long before their en-
trance into Genoa, was disgraced by fear
ful lceutiousnes, No wonder therefore
that the people of Genoa ordered the
pilgrims to quit the city without delay.
But many of them, convinced of the fol-
y Of the pilgrimage, were allowed to
take up their abode in Genoa. In later
times, many noble families Of that city
traced their origin to these pilgrim youths.
Those who still clung to their faith
aud hope. after reposing one night, set
forward again. But their number every
day grew less. Many, glad to be hired
as servants, remained in the cities and
towns along tho way till at length the
band was wholly broken up and scatter
ed. Lonely aud ashamed. scorned aud
rdiculed, the poor youths skunk home
ward through the Villages through which
few weeks before they had passed in
joyous triumph.
Yoim more disastrous was the fate Of
the French Crusaders Under the guid-
ance of Stephen, thirty thousand chill
dren, with empty purses but rich in hope,
arrived at Marsciles, intending there to
take ship for the holy land. Heie they
fell into the clutches of two slave.mer-
chants, who practiced terrible decep-
tion on these poor wretches. The two
villains induced many OF them to embark
in their ships. promising to convey them
to Syria FREQ of charge Seven largo
ships filed with rejoicing young Cru
saders, set sa;l from Marsellies. On the
second day after, two Of thom foundered
in heavy storm near the island of San
Pietro. The five other ships weathered
the storm but the poor youths had a
worse fate than drowned in store for
them. The slaye-mercbants carried
them to Alexandria where some of them
were sold to the Caliph of Bagdad and
some to other Saracen Princes. Not a
few suffered martyrdom rather than
change their religion. Several, after
long years Of slavery. found their way
to France again but the greater num-
Der died in servitude.
Thus miserably ended tho children's
crusade. 1t is related that when Pope
Innocent heard their story be exclaim-
ed, "These children put us to shame
For they march forth with joyous zeal
to rescue the holy land, while We do but
sleep