112 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book I.

his vow at the Holy Sepulchre, set out by night toavoid the remonstrances of his friends, who alldissuaded him from that wild and shameful breachof his solemn compact, leading a small body oftwo thousand volunteers to assail one of the manyfine cities and countries pointed out to him fromthe top of a lofty mountain by a fugitive Arme-nian adventurer.

So, passing the Euphrates at El Bir (the caravanroad), at sixteen hours from Orfa, which the Tal-muds affirm was founded by Nimrod, like Nineveh,he made straight for that capital of Mesopotamia,and those fragrant gardens that put one in mind ofEden, whose site they are said to be truly. AGreek governor now held it for Alexis, paying tri-bute to the Saracens, but, in the main, contrivingto keep independent of either Bagdad or Constan-tinople. Both he and the people welcomed Bald-win, whom they mistook for the leader of thegreat Frank army. The city, fortunate enough toescape the Turks, had served as a refuge for anumber of Christians ; and they, rich. The bishopand twelve of the chief inhabitants met him as adeputation, telling him how wealthy Mesopotamiawas, how devoted conscientiously to the cause ofJesus they were, and conjuring him to save aChristian establishment from the infidels’ domina-