1 8 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book i.

of Edward the Confessor in subsequent times.When discontent alarms the husbandman, we mustlook to some awful catastrophe. Reach thatsturdy order, and some violent change is infalliblyat hand! Individuals of any wealth put off theevil day in their case by frequent pilgrimages; andeven one to Jerusalem was no considerable under-taking, as long as the Abassides reigned. Pilgrim-ages are said to have been what may be termed afashionable recreation then, and even up to theninth or tenth century, pilgrims were receivedwell everywhere; for they without fail brought eacha letter from his prince or bishop, pilgrimsbeing then to the Christians, what Haggies are thisday to the Mahometans, privileged persons. Somedanger or distress made them only the more re-vered. It is well known that the Mahometansrespect pilgrims still more than the Christians do,and the natural consequence was tolerance in allthings, even towards those of a different creed;pious makers of a hazardous pilgrimage from thedistant West. The gates of the city of God wereoften opened to let in two parties nearly equal;one, disciples of the Koran, directed to Omar’smosque, the other, Christians for the Holy Sepul-chre. Hitherto the Mussulmen had committed noatrocities, in what was a seat of holiness to them