In this season and poor garb, said the apostle, have I come to Him.
At these words Bartholomew noticed a light more beautiful than anything. He dropped to the ground, terrified.
Thou didst fall easily, Saint Andrew said, and lifted him up.
It is so, Bartholomew replied.
In like manner do they fall who do not believe or who transgress the commandments of God, said the apostle. But if they cry out and are penitent they will be raised, even as I have raised thee. And as the fluid of thy body sinks into earth, so will He wipe away the sins of those crying out for grace. Tell me, how fares the army of God?
Bartholomew answered that the pilgrims were overcome by sadness, miserable, with bellies empty.
Do they not recall the perils from which He has delivered them? asked the saint. For when you were beaten and troubled before the gates of Antioch you cried out to the Lord. Your plea was heard in heaven and He gave you victory over your enemies. But now you offend God. Will caverns or mountains preserve you? Among you is murder, theft, rapine, injustice, adultery. Yet will the Lord out of compassion grant you the city you besiege.
In the morning when Bartholomew made this known to the bishop of Orange and to others they chanted prayers. They gave alms. Then they built more ladders and Count Raymond sent a wooden castle on wheels up against the wall. Inside this castle were several brave knights with Everard the Huntsman to sound his trumpet. Saracens tried to burn the castle with Greek fire but failed. They flung stones from catapults, threw javelins, slack lime, hives filled with bees. William de Montpellier and other knights inside the castle threw down stones at those on the ramparts, breaking their shields. Some toppled backward into the city. Priests and clerics meanwhile beseeched God to assist.
On the eleventh day of December, which was Saturday, in that year of our Lord 1098, Goufier de Lastours gained the top of the wall. The ladder cracked beneath him and the weight of those climbing after him, so these few by themselves confronted the enemy host. Saracens attacked with lances. At this several pilgrims lost their wits from terror and leapt off the wall to death. Those on the ground now undertook to sap the wall and when the pagans understood what was happening beneath their feet they turned and fled. This happened about the hour of vespers. Soon thereafter Maarat was taken.
Next day at dawn the Franks went looking for valuables but did not find as much as they expected. Neither did they see many infidels because thousands were hiding in caves underground. Accordingly the soldiers of Christ descended to explore these caves, thinking that must be where the treasure was hidden. Again they were disappointed. Hence they tortured every citizen they caught, demanding to know where the silver and gold was concealed. It is related that some of these people would lead the Franks to cisterns as if intending to disclose what they had hidden, but instead would leap into the depths. They did this to escape worse torture. Bohemond, thinking to gain their allegiance, told the Saracen leaders they should take their families and valuable possessions to a palace near the gate where he would defend them. But after a while he changed his mind. He took everything they had. Some of these important people he killed, others he despatched to Antioch where they could be sold into slavery. This was God’s will, a penalty exacted for the anguish His children had endured.
It is said that Bohemond’s knights took little part in the siege yet they obtained many captives and lodged themselves in the best houses, hence quarreling broke out between his soldiers and those of Count Raymond. Also, Bohemond had laughed aloud when the servant Bartholomew spoke of being visited by Saint Andrew. Therefore the army was riven with dissent. Soldiers complained and grew restive. Look you, said they to one another, the barons quarreled about Antioch, now they quarrel about Maarat. When will it please our leaders to continue the journey? Come, let us destroy the walls and put an end to this argument. The Gesta tells how these disgruntled Jerusalemfarers armed themselves with staves and clubs to dislodge the stones, how even those who were sick got up from their beds to help. The bishop of Albara ordered them to stop but they resumed work when he was gone. Those who lacked courage to work during the day would apply themselves at night. Meanwhile they had less and less to eat.
It is evident that the sun, moon, and other planets with all their heavenly motion incite men to behave as they do. Yet these do not control or direct the will and desire of any man. Each is expected to chart and govern his course. But in extremity what shall he do? Radulph de Caen tells how starving pilgrims sliced meat from the buttocks of dead Turks as though they were oxen. Also, corpses dredged from the swamp, members chopped off to put in stewpots. Heathen children impaled on spits to roast. Albeit every man is expected to chart and govern his course, in extremity what shall he do? During the pontificate of His Holiness Innocent some pilgrim called Robert was caught by Turks. Anon, captives with children were told to butcher them for food. It is said this pilgrim, urged by hunger, did kill his child and eat the body. Anon, Turks bade him slay his good wife to eat. But with her flesh served up, Robert could not put it in his mouth. Afterward, having made his way to Europe, he
