128 THE HISTORY OF THE ORDER OF [book i.

was full of that superstition, but not of that ofwhich he wrote. The crusaders were very supersti-tious, to be sure, but their superstition was not con-versant with little things, but with the phenomenaof the heavens, and the apparition of saints andangels, and revelations made by the Creator him-self ; but not regarding necromancy and magicians.Fairies might have come through Normandy fromthe Scalds; and the mythology of Odin may havehad some affinity with the alchymy of the SpanishMoors. But the crusaders of the first crusadebelieved little or not at all in magic and witches.

The Jerusalem of that time was the Jerusalemof Titus; or like it in some degree, and displayeddesperate valour and rapacity, and the very utmostpitch of unsparing cruelty. Consolatory to havethe operation quickly over, the Arab historiansdespatch the whole doleful matter in two lines: u Itwas the will of God that the city should be taken;and so the Christians, rushing on like one man, tookit—God curse them!”

But Godfrey de Bouillon did not share in anyof the barbarities; but if he could not give an orderin a place taken by assault, gave his example, andthe crusaders saw that he Avho had been the firstand most ardently courageous and able of warriorson the Avails, appeared to change his nature the