As we find the record of no positive agreement between Alexius and Godfrey, and only know that a long negociation took place to determine their conduct towards each other, we may naturally conclude that the two remarkable acts which they performed in their first interview, were stipulated beforehand, and that the return promised for Godfrey's homage, was his adoption by the Emperor. As soon as all was arranged, and John the son of Alexius had been delivered to deputies on the part of Godfrey, the Duke of Lorraine, with a large train of noble followers entered Constantinople, and presented himself at the imperial palace. The crusading princes were dressed in the splendid robes of peace, which distinguished the European chivalry, and from the account of Albert of Aix, the spectacle

adoptions se faisoient pour lier davantage une alliance et une confederation. En un autre endroit: Gensimundus ille toto orbe cantabilis solum armis filius factus. Conformement a ces passages, Iornandes parlant de Theodoric adopté par Zenon, Et post aliquod tempus ad ampliandum honorem ejus in arma sibi eum filium adoptavit. Le méme Cassiodore explique encore disertement cette maniere d'adopter, dont il nous a representé la formule, nous apprenant qu'elle se faisoit, en revetant celui qui estoit adopté, de toute sorte d'armes, qui lui estoient données par celui qui adoptoit: Et ideò more gentium, et conditione virili, filium te præsenti munere procreamus, ut competenter per arma nascaris filius, qui bellicosus esse dignosceris. Damus quidem tibi equos, enses, clypeos, et reliqua instrumenta bellorum, sed quæ sunt omnibus fortiora, largimur tibi nostra indicia.

Les Histoires Byzantines n'ont pas specifié les cerémonies, dont les Empereurs de Constantinople, de servirent, lorsqu'ils pratiquerent ces adoptions.

of their approach must have appeared magnificent, even to the inhabitants of the most ostentatious city at that time in Europe. All the riches of the court of Alexius, were also displayed for their reception; and the Emperor himself, though somewhat moved by apprehension, assumed the aspect of solemn dignity, and received the princes of the west without rising from his throne. The kiss of peace was exchanged between him and Godfrey, and after a formal speech, in which Alexius informed the Duke that he had been made acquainted with his high qualities and great renown, the Emperor performed the ceremony of adoption, in return for which, and not till it had been completed, Godfrey gave the Emperor his hand, and declared himself his vassal.*

* Nothing can be more extraordinary than the account given by Mills, of this interview. He says, speaking of Godfrey and the rest, "They were dressed in all the magnificence of warriors of the age. The whole splendour of the Byzantine court was arrayed in order to overawe the strangers. They were received into the imperial palace with dignity, not with respect, as slaves, not as equals. Their salutations were met by Alexius with silence and unrelaxed features; Godfrey bent the knee before the throne, and kissed the knees or the feet of the Emperor. Alexius then adopted him as his son, clothed him with imperial robes, and declared that he put the empire under the protection of his arms." The first part of this account and the second, are not in the least harmonious, and the whole bears its own refutation on the face of it, even were it not contradicted by the best historical evidence. To adopt a man as his son and clothe him with the imperial robes, to bescech his deliverance from an enemy, and

The rejoicing of Alexius at these events was somewhat too extravagant to be very dignified, and showed plainly the fears which he entertained of the crusading force. After Godfrey retired from the palace*, full commercial intercourse was rëesta

put the empire under the protection of his sword, is surely very different from "receiving him with dignity, not with respect, as a slave, not as an equal." Mills, in fact, improves even upon the bombast of Anna Comnena, from whom he takes his account, without admitting the more impartial statements of the Latin historians, who are at least consistent. Albert of Aix tells us, as well as William of Tyre, that to every one of the crusading Princes the Emperor gave the kiss of peace, which was always upon the mouth; and William of Tyre declares, that on their first entrance, they were met with the greatest honours, and each received the imperial salute, which was never given but to persons of the highest distinction. He adds, that the Emperor courted them with the greatest care, speaking to each man by his name.

The value of the Princess Anna's account may be tried by investigating the accuracy of the minute facts which she mentions in those cases where the real circumstances can be ascertained from other sources. Thus she speaks of Baldwin, and makes him perform certain parts, and say certain sayings in the imperial presence; now Baldwin, the brother of Godfrey, who is evidently meant, was left in command of the army, while Baldwin de Burgh remained in charge of her brother John.

*I leave out the somewhat romantic episode of Robert of Paris seating himself on the imperial throne, because some of the particulars being false beyond all doubt, I am inclined to view the whole account with considerable suspicions. How much of the story is to be believed, when we know that one of the principal actors therein was not and could not be present, the reader may judge.

blished between the crusaders and the Greeks. The son of the Emperor was restored to his father with honour, and every week, from the middle of January nearly till the day of Pentecost, Alexius sent forth as much gold coin as two strong men could carry on their shoulders, and ten bushels of copper, as a present to the leader of the Franks. The most perfect discipline was now maintained by the crusaders, and for several weeks abundance and peace reigned in the camp.

Having now obtained his object, the conduct of Alexius suffered no farther variations in his separate dealings with Godfrey; but in the course of the month of March, tidings reached Constantinople, of the rapid approach of other bands, and the monarch began to desire the absence of the northern armies, that he might deal more easily with the fresh multitudes which were now approaching. He suggested therefore to Godfrey, that it would be expedient for the first division to cross the Bosphorus, lest even the abundance of the Byzantine capital might be exhausted by the presence of such hosts. Godfrey acquiesced, and transported his troops in safety to the opposite shore of Bithynia, where he encamped in the neighbourhood of Chalcedon, within sight of the imperial city. Scarcely was he gone, when the troops of Boemond, Prince of Tarentum, appeared, consisting of ten thousand mounted men-at-arms, and an immense body of foot. He was accompanied also by another leader

not less famous than himself as a warrior, and far more celebrated for all those high and endearing qualities which distinguished knighthood in its brightest days. Of Boemond we have already spoken, and it is unnecessary here to dwell any farther upon his previous history; but of Tancred, whose name has been immortalised by the verse of Tasso, a few words may be permitted.

He was, it would appear, the son of Odo the Marquis, or the Good, a Sicilian nobleman, who married Emma, the sister of the famous Robert Guiscard. He was thus the first cousin of Boemond; and although his biographer affords us little information of his early years, there is reason to believe that he had acquired high renown by various feats of arms long before the publication of the crusade. The account given of his youth by Radulphus is a mere picture of all the military virtues of the time, and must be passed over as a panegyric rather than as a history. It aids, however, to confirm the impression given by Tasso, and to show that Tancred really was the most chivalrous of all the crusading leaders. In these respects his character was strongly opposed to that of his cousin Boemond, who though brave, skilful, and resolute, was cunning, grasping, ambitious, avaricious and remorseless. Nevertheless, Tancred willingly served with his whole forces under the banner of Boemond, and voluntarily placed himself second to a man inferior to himself in all the highest and brightest qualities of our nature.