[602] All the writers of that day attempt to excuse St. Bernard for having preached a crusade which had so unfortunate a conclusion. The principles upon which they do so are somewhat curious. The Bishop of Freysinghen declares, that it was the vice of the crusaders which called upon their heads the wrath of Heaven: and, to reconcile this fact with the spirit of prophecy which elsewhere he attributes to the Abbot of Clairvaux, declares that prophets are not always able to prophesy.—Freysing. de rebus gestis Fred. Imperat. Geoffroy of Clairvaux, who was a contemporary, and wrote part of the Life of St. Bernard, would fain prove that the crusade could not be called unfortunate, since, though it did not at all help the Holy Land it served to people heaven with martyrs.
[603] Existing orders of knighthood.
[604] Fulcher; Raoul Glaber.
[605] Robert; Fulcher; Raimond d’Agiles.
[606] Raynouard, Poesies des Troubadours; Millot, Hist. des Troubadours; Le Grand d’Aussi Fabliaux.
[607] Raynouard.
[608] Oeuvres de Maroc.
[609] Fauchet.
[610] Le Grand d’Aussi.
[611] Bernard, the Treasurer; James of Vitry; William of Tyre.