CHAP,

V.

1096.

? 88 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

of those adventurers I\Ien of all ranks flewto arms with the utmost ardour ; and an exteriorsymbol too , a circumstance of chief moment ,was here chosen by the devoted combatants.The sign of the cross, which had been hithertoso much revered among Christians, and which,the more it was an object of reproach among thepagan world , was the more passionately cherishedby them , became the badge of union , and wasaffixed to their right shoulder, by all who inlistedthemselves in this sacred warfare

Europe was at this time funk into profoundignorance and superstition : The ecclesiastics hadacquired the greatest ascendant over the humanmind : The people, who, being little restrainedby honour, and less by law, abandoned them-selves-to the worst crimes and disorders, knewof no other expiation than the observances im-posed on them by their spiritual pastors : Andit was easy to represent the holy war as anequivalent for all penances I! , and an atonementfor every violation of justice and humanity. Butamidst the abject superstition . which now pre-vailed , the military spirit also had universallydiffused itself; and though not supported by artor discipline , was become the general passion ofthe nations , governed by the feudal law. Allthe great lords possessed the right of peace and

11 Historia Belli Sacri, tom. I. Musæi Ital.

'■ Hist. Belli Sacri, tom. I. I\lus. Ital. Order. Httil.p. 7'4I. ” Ibid. p. 730 .