We are assured by almost all contemporary writers, that Boemond did not assume the cross till after the arrival of Hugh of Vermandois in the southern parts of Italy. He was, it would appear, engaged in the siege of Amalfi, when the various bodies of crusaders, which took their way through France and Italy, began to arrive in Apulia, and the Prince of Tarentum sent messengers to demand what were the objects, and who the leaders of the immense army which was now approaching his dominions. On hearing that it was one division of the crusading force commanded by the brother of the King of France, he is said to have immediately embraced the same enterprise, causing his mantle to be cut into crosses and distributed amongst his soldiery. Although this statement rests upon the very best authority, we can hardly believe that Boemond was either generally ignorant of what was proceeding in the rest of Europe, or unaware of the march of Hugh of Vermandois. We know that he was privy to the first design of the crusade, long before the preaching of Urban at Clermont; and as he was brother-in-law to the King of France and Hugh of Vermandois, it is barely possible that the movements of the latter

* By some we are told that he dashed his armour to pieces with his battle-axe, aud caused it to be forged into crosses of iron; but I find no good authority for this statement, which would seem to imply that the armour of Boemond was of the kind called plate, though we know that such was not the case.

should never be known to so near a connection

till he arrived in Apulia. It is far more pro

bable indeed that the Prince of Tarentum hesitated long, before he actually embarked in the great enterprise of the day, both because he did not feel certain that the result would satisfy his ambition and avarice, and because he doubted whether he should be able either to force his way through the dominions of the Greek emperor, the ancient enemy of his race, or obtain a peaceable passage for his troops. When he found, however, that his cousin Tancred was willing to accompany him, and that a large part of the army of his brother Roger, was also ready to embrace the crusade, he delayed no longer, but devoted a short time to preparation, and in the end of the year 1096, or early in the spring of 1097, commenced his march for the Holy Land.*

The two princes Boemond and Tancred directed their course by Epirus, and marched rapidly on

* The time of Boemond's departure is uncertain. Some writers have asserted that he sailed from the shores of Apulia towards the end of November; but it is not possible to believe that this was the case, as Boemond certainly did not leave Apulia for some time after Hugh of Vermandois, who arrived at Bari in the commencement of the winter; and we also find, that though the army of the Italian Normans marched on almost without pause towards Constantinople, they did not arrive till nearly the end of March; leaving a space of time which it is impossible they could have occupied between their arrival and their departure, if we are to suppose that the latter took place in the end of November.

towards Constantinople, though not without difficulty and danger. The troops of the Greek emperor hovered about the crusading forces, harassing them by every means; and at length in crossing the Axius at a difficult spot, a general attack was made upon the army of Boemond, while the forces of Tancred were on the other side of the river, having advanced to dislodge a body of the enemy which occupied the opposite bank. The gallant Prince of Otranto, however, having effected his purpose, recrossed the stream to the aid of his cousin, and by a desperate charge put the Greeks to flight, and routed them completely. The victory being thus obtained, the army passed the ford in safety, and marched on towards Constantinople, where the progress of this new body of crusaders had already spread apprehension.

On the road, however, Boemond was met by messengers from Alexius, bearing letters filled with soft and honied words, the most opposite to his feelings and to his actions; and as soon as the Prince of Tarentum had arrived in the vicinity of Constantinople, Godfrey of Bouillon was engaged by the Greek emperor, to visit the camp of the great Norman leader and persuade him to perform homage. But Boemond, whose experience was not favourable to the honesty of the monarch, refused for some time to trust himself within the gates of the capital.

Of all the princes of Christendom, however, Boe

mond was the best known to the Greek emperor; and a negociation was immediately entered into for the purchase of his homage. Alexius being well aware that there was no principle in the bosom of the Prince of Tarentum, at all equal to struggle with that avarice which was one of his distinguishing characteristics, immense sums of gold were promised to him, and, as the price of his homage, a district in Romania was offered, the extent of which is said to have been such, that a horse took fifteen days to traverse its whole length, and eight to cross the breadth thereof. This was a means of a persuasion which could not be without effect upon the mind of Boemond; and, leaving his army under the command of his cousin, he hastened on to Constantinople, where his homage was performed without difficulty.

As soon as the news of his cousin's submission to the demands of the emperor reached Tancred, that prince determined to save himself from being urged to undergo a similar indignity, and seizing a favourable opportunity, he embarked from the European shore of the Hellespont, with his own forces and those of Boemond,* and succeeded in joining the army of Godfrey of Bouillon, much

* Some say that Tancred went alone, but I do not find that this is borne out by the best authorities. Mills, as usual, cites the authors who contradict him: Albert of Aix distinctly states that he took the troops with him, which is completely confirmed by William of Tyre.

VOL. II.

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to the surprise and vexation both of Alexius and Boemond. The chief of Otranto was not to be brought back again by the threats of the one or the remonstrances of the other, and Alexius soon found it necessary to dissemble his anger; for fresh bodies of crusaders were now rapidly approaching, and it became necessary to play off those whom he had gained, against those whose homage was yet to be obtained.

The next army which reached Constantinople, was that commanded by Robert Count of Flanders. If he had not accompanied Hugh of Vermandois into Apulia, he had followed close upon his steps, together with Robert of Normandy, and Stephen Count of Blois. Winter was coming on, however, ships were difficult to be procured, the fate of Hugh, who had encountered a tempest in his passage, as well as treachery on his arrival, alarmed several of the crusading chiefs, and Robert of Normandy, as well as Stephen of Blois, took up his quarters for the winter in Calabria, many of the inferior classes quitting their standard, and returning, in disgust, to their own country.

In the meantime, the Count of Flanders, having long ruled a maritime people, and fearing less the wintry seas than his two companions, embarked, with his whole force, in what vessels he could find at Bari. He landed safely at Durazzo, and passed the rest of an inclement season in a fertile country, refreshing his troops, and preparing for his onward