nd such was the ardor of zeal and curiosity, that the city
was filled, and many thousands, in the month of November, erected their
tents or huts in the open field. A session of eight days produced some
useful or edifying canons for the reformation of manners; a severe
censure was pronounced against the license of private war; the Truce of
God [16] was confirmed, a suspension of hostilities during four days
of the week; women and priests were placed under the safeguard of the
church; and a protection of three years was extended to husbandmen
and merchants, the defenceless victims of military rapine. But a law,
however venerable be the sanction, cannot suddenly transform the temper
of the times; and the benevolent efforts of Urban deserve the less
praise, since he labored to appease some domestic quarrels that he might
spread the flames of war from the Atlantic to the Euphrates. From the
synod of Placentia, the rumor of his great design had gone forth among
the nations: the clergy on their return had preached in every diocese
the merit and glory of the deliverance of the Holy Land; and when the
pope ascended a lofty scaffold in the market-place of Clermont, his
eloquence was addressed to a well-prepared and impatient audience.
His topics were obvious, his exhortation was vehement, his success
inevitable. The orator was interrupted by the shout of thousands, who
with one voice, and in their rustic idiom, exclaimed aloud, "God wills
it, God wills it." [17] "It is indeed the will of God," replied the
pope; "and let this memorable word, the inspiration surely of the
Holy Spirit, be forever adopted as your cry of battle, to animate the
devotion and courage of the champions of Christ. His cross is the symbol
of your salvation; wear it, a red, a bloody cross, as an external mark,
on your breasts or shoulders, as a pledge of your sacred and irrevocable
engagement." The proposal was joyfully accepted; great numbers, both of
the clergy and laity, impressed on their garments the sign of the cross,
[18] and solicited the pope to march at their head. This dangerous honor
was declined by the more prudent successor of Gregory, who alleged
the schism of the church, and the duties of his pastoral office,
recommending to the faithful, who were disqualified by sex or
profession, by age or infirmity, to aid, with their prayers and alms,
the personal service of their robust brethren. The name and powers
of his legate he devolved on Adhemar bish