WILLIAM RUF U S. 387

the pope , and or Peter himself, representing the edismal situation of their brethren in the east, andthe indignity , suffered by the Christian name,in allowing the holy city to remain in the handsof infidels , here found the minds of men so wellprepared, that the whole multitude , suddenlyand violently, declared for the war , and solemnlydevoted themselves to perform this service , someritorious, as they believed it, to God andreligion.

Bu r though Italy seemed thus to have zealouslyembraced the enterprize, Martin knew, that, inorder to insure success, it was necessary to infill:the greater and more warlike nations in the fameengagement ; and having previously exhortedPeter to vssit the chief cities and sovereigns ofChristendom, he summoned another council atClermont in Auvergne ", The fame of thisgreat and pious design , being now universallydiffused , procured the attendance of the greatestprelates , nobles, and princes ; and when thepope and the hermit renewed their pathetic ex-hortations, the whole assembly, as if impelled by animmediate inspiration, not moved by theif precedingimpressions , exclaimed with one voice , It is thewit! of God , It is the will of God: "Words deemedso memorable, and so much the result of a divineinfluence , that they were employed as the signalof rendez-vous and battle in all the future exploits

15 Coacil. tom. x. Concil. Clarom. I\Iatth. Paris, p. t6.I\I. West. p. 233.

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