rising returned home determined to play a part in the Crusade
only second to that of the Prophet, as Stephen was now called.
Everywhere in France, they went through their home districts, begging
their companions to join the Crusade, and it is probable that these
children had much help from priests who sought in every way to inflame
the youthful host, and to lead them on to concerted action.

As the army grew larger, the children formed into bands, and marched
through towns and villages with all the pomp and display possible,
despite much opposition from their parents, who saw with alarm that the
excitement was growing daily more intense. The bands of recruits
carried lighted candles, waving perfumed censers, and at the head of
every band there marched a proud youth carrying the Oriflamme--a copy
of the flag of the church, which was kept at St. Denys. The design of
this banner was a red triple-tongued flame, symbolic of the tongues of
fire that came down at Pentecost. This banner, like the colours of a
regiment, was a symbol of honour, and an object of the young Crusader's
devotion.

As the bands marched, they either sang hymns, such as had kept up the
courage of previous Crusaders, or others composed on the spur of the
moment by their revered children's minds, and in all of the hymns came
the refrain--"Lord, restore Christendom! Lord, restore to us the true
and holy Cross!"

And too they adopted the watchword which for two centuries had rung
through Asia. Crying, "God wills it!" children of all classes and
conditions and ages, cast aside authority, and joined the army, and
soon the movement became like the surge of a great wave, carrying the
youth of France out on its dangerous tide--girls as well as boys--weak
as well as strong--joining the forces.

Of course, the matter attracted the attention of the king, Philip
Augustus, who at first, for political reasons, was inclined to favour
the young Crusaders, but then seeing how serious the matter really was,
and that if it were not suppressed it would bear away the youth of the
land, to almost certain disaster, finally issued an edict or command
that the children return to their homes.

Kings are too wise to pay any attention even to messages written by a
divine hand, and there is no evidence to show that Philip was in any
way influenced by the letter given to Stephen by his celestial visitor,
and Philip's edict went forth, that there be an end to the uprising of
the