Turks watching from the ramparts grieved openly when they observed their dead mishandled. They put aside all shame. They screamed aloud. Pagans lament an unburied corpse much as Christians lament a soul en route to hell. Christians perish for the sake of futurity, Turks for the wickedness of misbelief, since Almighty God who creates and sustains, who makes and destroys, has ordained that at the cost of suffering to Christianity the false light of Islam should be extinguished. Therefore did the bishop, wishing to excite their grief, promise twelve deniers for the head of each Turk. And having got a supply he mounted them on poles to display beneath the walls and freeze the hearts of those inside. So the Turks, gazing down upon these bloody prizes, squirmed with anguish.
Three days later the fort was begun, using stone from the Mahometry. Carpenters, masons, puddlers, lackeys, and others who had fled when attacked, being now delivered from a thicket of infidels, seeing the enemy dead, lifted up their voices to praise our Lord. This was appropriate and just, since by His disposition a pagan throng at whose hands numerous Christians had fallen became themselves victual for birds of prey and savage beasts.
These Turks chose to parade on the walls a most valiant knight they captured during the month of March and kept in a donjon, Rainald Porchet. They ordered him to ask of his comrades how much they would pay so he did not lose his head. From where he stood on the wall he shouted that they must not pay ransom. If I die, he shouted, it is no matter. You have slain twelve emirs and the bravest men of Antioch. Be assured in your love of Christ that God is with you now and evermore.
When the misbelievers asked what he had said the interpreter replied that it was nothing good. Yaghi Siyan had him brought down from the wall and inquired if he would live honorably among Turks. Rainald Porchet asked how he might do this without sin.
Accept the teaching of Mahomet, said Yaghi Siyan. Deny that Lord whom you worship and believe. If you do that we will give you horses and mules and gold and whatever else you desire. We will give you wives. We will give you land.
As our Lord was tempted by Satan, Rainald Porchet felt tempted. He prayed with clasped hands, iunctus manibus, imploring God for assistance. He knelt in prayer to the east, humbly asking that his soul might be transported with dignity to the bosom of Abraham.
Yaghi Siyan demanded to know what was said. The interpreter replied that Rainald Porchet denied the faith of Mahomet and would not accept the goods he was offered. Yaghi Siyan ordered his head struck off, which was done. Next, because he failed to make this knight turn apostate, he brought forth the Christian prisoners from Antioch and bound them in a circle. Firewood, hay, and chaff was stacked around them, the torch applied. While their flesh burned they screamed and shrieked. Their voices resounded in heaven and they came into the presence of our Lord wearing white stoles. This according to Peter Tudebode.
Once the fort was built Christians could travel among the hills or to Saint Symeon for merchandise. Also, the activity of Turks was restricted, not only those within Antioch but those outside who attempted to provision the city. A Syrian caravan approached through the mountains expecting quick passage but had not reckoned on Tancred who captured it and took everything, oil, wine, barley, and other valuables. Tancred often rode unexpectedly here or there with his knights, so the enemy learned to dread his name.
During this time Christian law took root. Those found guilty of sexual crime were punished harshly, which was fit and just since these servants of God exposed to pagan swords ought not to wallow in lustful thought. What value has bodily congress where death seems imminent? Therefore to mention prostitutes was intolerable. Guibert de Nogent speaks of a monk who fled his monastery to join this expedition, more out of caprice than piety, who being caught with a woman was tried by fire and convicted. The monk and his whore were stripped, drawn naked through the ranks while being savagely whipped to the terror of all who watched. Neither feast day nor Sunday passed that Bishop Adhémar did not preach the authority of Holy Writ to every corner of the camp, enjoining abbots, priests, and clerics to hold themselves above reproof. He exhorted men to be patient in their deprivation.
Comte Stephen de Blois again wrote to his wife Adela. Having assured her that he was safe with the army of Christ, drawing ever nearer to the House of Jesus, he observed that for twenty-three weeks they had besieged Antioch and he had managed to double the amount of gold and silver she bestowed upon him when he withdrew from her embrace. He recounted the battle against Turks at Nicaea, after which by God’s help they conquered the whole of Cappadocia, seized castles belonging to a prince called Assam and made him flee. By the river Euphrates they had defeated other Turks, driven them backward toward Arabia, forced them to abandon sumpter beasts and baggage. Yet a great many contrived through hurried marches night and day to reach and enter Antioch. Inside were thought to be five thousand Turkish soldiers, not counting Arabs,
