This was willingly done, and a number of Cnut's party, who had before borne the stigma4 of escaped serfs, were now free men.
We are too apt to forget, in our sympathy with the Saxons, that, fond as they were of freedom for themselves, they were yet severe masters, and kept the mass of the people in a state of serfage. Although their laws provided ample justice as between Saxon man and man, there was no justice for the unhappy serfs, who were either the original inhabitants or captives taken in war, and who were distinguished5 by a collar of brass6 or iron round their neck.
Cnut's party had indeed long got rid of these badges, the first act of a serf when he took to the woods being always to file off his collar; but they were liable when caught to be punished, even by death, and were delighted at having achieved their freedom.
"And what can I do for you, Cuthbert?" Sir Walter said, as they rode homeward. "It is to you that I am indebted: in the first place for the rescue of my daughter, in the second for the capture of that castle, which I doubt me much whether we should ever have taken in fair fight had it not been for your aid."
"Thanks, Sir Walter," the lad replied. "At present I need nothing, but should the time come when you may go to the wars I would fain ride with you as your page, in the hope of some day winning my spurs also in the field."
"So shall it be," the earl said, "and right willingly. But who have we here?"
"This is a notice," the earl said, after perusing8 it, "that King Richard has determined9 to take up the cross, and that he calls upon his nobles and barons10 to join him in the effort to free the holy sepulcher11 from the infidels. I doubt whether the minds of the people are quite prepared, but I hear that there has been much preaching by friars and monks12 in some parts, and that many are eager to join in the war."
"Think you that you will go to the war, Sir Walter?" Cuthbert asked.
"I know not as yet; it must much depend upon the king's mood. For myself I care not so greatly as some do about this question of the Holy Land. There has been blood enough shed already to drown it, and we are no nearer than when the first swarms13 of pilgrims made their way thither14."
On Cuthbert's returning home and telling his mother all that had passed, she shook her head, but said that she could not oppose his wishes to go with the earl when the time should come, and that it was only right he should follow in the footsteps of the good knight3 his father.
"I have heard much of these Crusades," he said; "canst tell me about them?"
"In truth I know not much, my son; but Father Francis, I doubt not, can tell you all the particulars anent the affair."
The next time that Father Francis, who was the special adviser15 of Dame16 Editha, rode over from the convent on his ambling17 nag18, Cuthbert eagerly asked him if he would tell him what he knew of the Crusades.
"Hitherto, my son," he said, "the Crusades have, it must be owned, brought many woes19 upon Europe. From the early times great swarms of pilgrims were accustomed to go from all parts of Europe to the holy shrines20.
"When the followers21 of the evil prophet took possession of the land, they laid grievous burdens upon the pilgrims, heavily they fined them, persecuted22 them in every way, and treated them as if indeed they were but the scum of the earth under their feet.
"So terrible were the tales that reached Europe that men came to think that it would be a good deed truly to wrest23 the sepulcher of the Lord from the hands of these heathens. Pope Urban was the first to give authority and strength to the movement, and at a vast meeting at Claremont of thirty thousand clergy24 and four thousand barons, it was decided25 that war must be made against the infidel. From all parts of France men flocked to hear Pope Urban preach there; and when he had finished his oration26 the vast multitude, carried away by enthusiasm, swore to win the holy sepulcher or to die.
"Mighty27 was the throng28 that gathered for the First Crusade. Monks threw aside their gowns and took to the sword and cuirass; even women and children joined in the throng. What, my son, could be expected from a great army so formed? Without leaders, without discipline, without tactics, without means of getting food, they soon became a scourge29 of the country through which they passed.
"Passing through Hungary, where they greatly ravaged30 the fields, they came to Bulgaria. Here the people, struck with astonishment31 and dismay at this great horde32 of hungry people who arrived among them like locusts33, fell upon them with the sword, and great numbers fell. The first band that passed into that country perished miserably34, and of all that huge assembly, it may be said that, numbering at the start not less than two hundred and fifty thousand persons, only about one hundred thousand crossed into Asia Minor35. The fate of these was no better than that of those who had perished in Hungary and Bulgaria. After grievous suffering and loss they at last reached Nicaea. There they fell into an ambuscade; and out of the whole of the undisciplined masses who had followed Peter the Hermit36, it is doubtful whether ten thousand ever returned home.
"This first attempt to rescue the holy sepulcher was followed by others equally wild, misguided, and unfortunate. Some of them indeed began their evil deeds as soon as they had left their home. The last of these bodies fell upon the Jews, who are indeed enemies of the Christian37 faith, but who have now, at least, nothing to do with the question of the holy sepulcher. As soon as they entered into Germany the Crusaders put them to death with horrible torture. Plunder38 and rapine indeed appeared to be the object of the Crusaders. On this as well as on most other preceding bands, their misdeeds drew down the vengeance39 of the people. At an early period of their march, and as soon as they reached Hungary, the people fell upon them, and put the greater portion to the sword.
"Thus, in these irregular expeditions no less than five hundred thousand people are supposed to have perished. Godfrey de Bouillon was the first who undertook to lead a Crusade according to the military knowledge of the day. With him were his brothers Eustace and Baldwin, the Counts of Anault and St. Paul, and many other nobles and gentlemen, with their retainers, well armed and under good order; and so firm was the discipline of Duke Godfrey that they were allowed to pass freely by the people of the countries who had opposed the previous bands.
"Through Hungary, Bulgaria, and Thrace he made his way; and though he met with many difficulties from Alexius, the crafty40 and treacherous41 Emperor of the Greeks, he at last succeeded in crossing into Asia. There he was joined by many from England, as well as from France and other countries. Duke Robert, the son of our first William, led a strong band of Normans to the war, as did the other great princes of France and Spain.
"The army which crossed the narrow passage of the Hellespont is estimated at no less than seven hundred thousand fighting men. Of these one hundred thousand were knights clad in complete armor, the remainder were men-at-arms and bowmen.
"Nicaea, the place which had been the scene of the massacre42 of Peter the Hermit's hosts, was taken after a desperate conflict, lasting43 for many weeks, and the Crusaders afterward44 defeated the Turks in a great battle near the town of Doryleum. After these successes disputes arose among the leaders, and Count Baldwin, brother of Duke Godfrey, left the main body with about fifteen hundred men, and founded a kingdom for himself in Mesopotamia.
"The main body, slowly and painfully, and suffering from disease, famine, and the heat, made its way south. Antioch, a city of great strength and importance, was besieged45, but it proved so strong that it resisted for many months, and was at last only taken by treachery.
"After the capture of this place the sufferings of the Crusaders so far from being diminished were redoubled. They themselves during the siege had bought up all the food that could be brought from the surrounding country, while the magazines of the town were found, when an entry was effected, to be entirely46 deserted47. The enemy, aided by a great Persian host, came down, and those who had been the besiegers were now besieged. However, when in the last strait the Christian army sallied out, and inspired with supernatural strength, defeated the Turks and Persians, with a slaughter48 of one hundred thousand men. Another slow movement to the south brought them into the Holy Land, and pressing forward, they came at last within sight of Jerusalem itself.
"So fearful had been the losses of the Crusaders that of seven hundred thousand who crossed the Hellespont, not more than forty thousand reached the end of the pilgrimage. This fragment of an army, which had appeared before a very strongly fortified49 town, possessed50 no means of capturing the place—none of the machines of war necessary for the purpose, no provisions or munitions51 of any kind. Water was scarce also; and it appeared as if the remnant of the great army of Godfrey de Bouillon had arrived before Jerusalem only to perish there.
"Happily just at this time a further band of Crusaders from Genoa, who had reached Jaffa, made their appearance. They were provided with stores, and had skilled workmen capable of making the machines for the siege. On July 14, 1099, the attack was made, and after resistance gallant52 and desperate as the assault, the Crusaders burst into the city, massacred the whole of the defenders53 and inhabitants, calculated at seventy thousand in number, and so became masters of the holy sepulcher.
"The Sultan of Egypt was meanwhile advancing to the assistance of the Mohammedans of Syria; but Godfrey, with twenty thousand of his best men, advanced to meet the vast host, and scattered54 them as if they had been sheep. Godfrey was now chosen King of Jerusalem, and the rest of his army—save three hundred knights and two hundred soldiers, who agreed to remain with him—returned to their home. The news of the victory led other armies of Crusaders to follow the example of that of Godfrey; but as these were almost as completely without organization or leadership as those of Peter the Hermit, they suffered miserably on their way, and few indeed ever reached the Holy Land. Godfrey died in 1100, and his brother Baldwin succeeded him.
"The history of the last hundred years has been full of fresh efforts to crush the Moslem55 power, but hitherto it cannot be said that fortune has attended the efforts of the Christians56. Had it not been indeed for the devotion of the Knights of St. John and of the Templars, two great companies formed of men who devoted57 their lives to the holding of the sepulcher against the infidel, our hold of the Holy Land would have been lost.
"Gradually the Saracens have wrested58 post after post from our hands. Edessa was taken in 1144, and the news of this event created an intense excitement. The holy St. Bernard stirred up all France, and Louis VII. himself took the vow59 and headed a noble army. The ways of God are not our ways, and although the army of Germany joined that of France, but little results came of this great effort.
"The Emperor Conrad, with the Germans, was attacked by the Turk Saladin of Iconium, and was defeated with a loss of sixty thousand men. The King of France, with his army, was also attacked with fury, and a large portion of his force were slaughtered60. Nothing more came of this great effort, and while the first Crusade seemed to show that the men-at-arms of Europe were irresistible61, the second on the contrary gave proof that the Turks were equal to the Christian knights. Gradually the Christian hold of the Holy Land was shaken. In 1187, although fighting with extraordinary bravery, the small army of Christian Knights of the Temple and of St. John were annihilated62, the King of Jerusalem was made prisoner, and the Christian power was crushed. Then Saladin, who commanded the Turks, advanced against Jerusalem, and forced it to capitulate.
"Such, my boy, is the last sad news which has reached us; and no wonder that it has stirred the hearts of the monarchs63 of Europe, and that every effort will be again made to recapture the holy sepulcher, and to avenge64 our brethren who have been murdered by the infidels."
"But, Father Francis, from your story it would seem that Europe has already sacrificed an enormous number of lives to take the holy sepulcher, and that after all the fighting, when she has taken it, it is only to lose it again."
"That is so, my son; but we will trust that in future things will be better managed. The Templars and Hospitalers now number so vast a number of the best lances in Europe, and are grown to be such great powers, that we may believe that when we have again wrested the holy sepulcher from the hands of the infidels they will be able to maintain it against all assaults. Doubtless the great misfortunes which have fallen upon the Christian armies have been a punishment from heaven, because they have not gone to work in the right spirit. It is not enough to take up lance and shield, and to place a red cross upon the shoulder. Those who desire to fight the battle of the Lord must cleanse65 their hearts, and go forth66 in the spirit of pilgrims rather than knights. I mean not that they should trust wholly to spiritual weapons—for in truth the infidel is a foe67 not to be despised—but I mean that they should lay aside all thoughts of worldly glory and rivalry68 one against another."
"And think you, Father, that such is the spirit with which King Richard and the other kings and nobles now preparing to go to the Holy Land are animated69?"
Father Francis hesitated.
"It is not for me, my son, to judge motives70, or to speak well or ill of the instruments who have been chosen for this great work. It is of all works the most praiseworthy, most holy. It is horrible to think that the holy shrines of Jerusalem should be in the hands of men who believe not in our Redeemer; and I hold it to be the duty of every man who can bear arms, no matter what his rank or his station, to don his armor and to go forth to battle in the cause. Whether success will crown the effort, or whether God wills it otherwise, it is not for man to discuss; it is enough that the work is there, and it is our duty to do it."
"And think you, Father, that it will do good to England?"
"That do I, my son, whether we gain the Holy Land or no. Methinks that it will do good service to the nation that Saxon and Norman should fight together under the holy cross. Hitherto the races have stood far too much apart. They have seen each other's bad qualities rather than good; but methinks that when the Saxon and the Norman stand side by side on the soil of the Holy Land, and shout together for England, it must needs bind71 them together, and lead them to feel that they are no longer Normans and Saxons, but Englishmen. I intend to preach on the village green at Evesham next Sunday morning on this subject, and as I know you are in communication with the forest men, I would, Cuthbert, that you would persuade them to come in to hear me. You were wondering what could be found for these vagrants72. They have many of them long since lost the habits of honest labor73. Many of them are still serfs, although most have been freed by the good earl and the knights his followers. Some of those who would fain leave the life in the woods still cling to it because they think that it would be mean to desert their comrades, who being serfs are still bound to lurk74 there; but methinks that this is a great opportunity for them. They are valiant75 men, and the fact that they are fond of drawing an arrow at a buck76 does not make them one whit77 the worse Christians. I will do my best to move their hearts, and if they will but agree together to take the cross, they would make a goodly band of footmen to accompany the earl."
"Is the earl going?" Cuthbert asked eagerly.
"I know not for certain," said Father Francis; "but I think from what I hear from his chaplain, Father Eustace, that his mind turns in that direction."
"Then, Father, if he goes, I will go too," Cuthbert exclaimed. "He promised to take me as his page the first time he went to war."
Father Francis shook his head.
"I fear me, Cuthbert, this is far from the spirit in which we awhile ago agreed that men should go to the holy war."
Cuthbert hung his head a little.
"Ay, Father Francis, men; but I am a boy," he said, "and after all, boys are fond of adventure for adventure's sake. However, Father," he said, with a smile, "no doubt your eloquence78 on the green will turn me mightily79 to the project, for you must allow that the story you have told me this morning is not such as to create any very strong yearning80 in one's mind to follow the millions of men who have perished in the Holy Land."
"Go to," said Father Francis, smiling, "thou art a pert varlet. I will do my best on Sunday to turn you to a better frame of mind."
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1
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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stigma
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| n.耻辱，污名；(花的)柱头 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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perusing
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| v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的现在分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字） | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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barons
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| 男爵( baron的名词复数 )； 巨头； 大王； 大亨 | |
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sepulcher
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| n.坟墓 | |
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monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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swarms
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| 蜂群，一大群( swarm的名词复数 ) | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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adviser
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| n.劝告者，顾问 | |
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dame
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| n.女士 | |
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ambling
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| v.（马）缓行( amble的现在分词 )；从容地走，漫步 | |
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nag
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| v.(对…)不停地唠叨；n.爱唠叨的人 | |
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woes
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| 困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉 | |
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shrines
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| 圣地，圣坛，神圣场所( shrine的名词复数 ) | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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persecuted
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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wrest
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| n.扭，拧，猛夺；v.夺取，猛扭，歪曲 | |
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clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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oration
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| n.演说，致辞，叙述法 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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scourge
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| n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏 | |
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ravaged
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| 毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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horde
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| n.群众，一大群 | |
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locusts
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| n.蝗虫( locust的名词复数 )；贪吃的人；破坏者；槐树 | |
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miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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38
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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crafty
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| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
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treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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43
lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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48
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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49
fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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50
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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51
munitions
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| n.军火，弹药；v.供应…军需品 | |
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52
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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53
defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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54
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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55
Moslem
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| n.回教徒，穆罕默德信徒；adj.回教徒的，回教的 | |
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Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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57
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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wrested
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| （用力）拧( wrest的过去式和过去分词 )； 费力取得； （从…）攫取； （ 从… ） 强行取去… | |
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59
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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slaughtered
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| v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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annihilated
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的过去式和过去分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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monarchs
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| 君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
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64
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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65
cleanse
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| vt.使清洁，使纯洁，清洗 | |
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66
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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67
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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68
rivalry
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| n.竞争，竞赛，对抗 | |
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69
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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70
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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71
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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72
vagrants
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| 流浪者( vagrant的名词复数 )； 无业游民； 乞丐； 无赖 | |
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73
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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74
lurk
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| n.潜伏，潜行；v.潜藏，潜伏，埋伏 | |
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75
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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76
buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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77
whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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78
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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79
mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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80
yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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