the imperial purple. His dismay, when he first heard of the Crusades, had been great. With prudent policy he had endeavoured to conciliate the first pilgrims by offers of assistance.

When Peter arrived at Constantinople, Alexius had feigned a great wish to see him, and the Hermit had had an interview with the wily Greek, who pretended to applaud his motives and to sympathize with the object of the Crusades.

Hugh de Vermandois, when leaving France, had gone through Italy, receiving a consecrated banner at Lucca from Pope Urban. He had sent a somewhat arrogant message to the Greek Emperor to ask for a safe passage for himself and his knights. When, however, he landed, he presented a pitiable appearance: a storm had scattered his vessels, and even the ship in which he himself had sailed had been stranded at Durazzo.

The Emperor profited by his misfortunes. He led him prisoner to Constantinople, hoping that so valuable a hostage might be the means of ending the Franks' expedition. Another motive, too, influenced Alexius. His old opponent, Bohemond, Prince of Tarentum, had assumed the cross, and he distrusted him, though he also feared to offend the Crusaders.

Godfrey's indignation knew no bounds when told of his ally's imprisonment. When his messengers

arrived at the Emperor's court, and demanded his release, that monarch positively refused. Godfrey then summoned a council of war, at which he and the princes decided, as a means of punishing him, to allow their army to pillage the country. The mischief done by the troops brought the Emperor to terms, and he sent an ambassador to Godfrey, saying he would deliver up the prisoners if the pillage was stopped. Godfrey, whose only object had been to obtain Hugh's release, was satisfied with this promise, and the army marched to Constantinople and pitched their tents outside the town, where, to Godfrey's great joy, they were rejoined by Hugh and his companions, who had been at last released by Alexius.

Godfrey reached Constantinople a few days before Christmas day 1096. His good judgment led him to distrust Alexius, and he refused to pass over to the Asiatic side to visit him, alleging that his troops were weary. Alexius, after trying by every art to shake his wise resolution, at length induced the Crusaders to encamp in the suburbs of Pera; but intercepting a correspondence between Godfrey and Bohemond, was so angry that he began to employ light troops, called Turcopoles, to molest the Crusaders and protect the coast, and would not allow the Greeks to sell any provisions to the Christians.

The letter that so enraged Alexius, though Godfrey

declined the proposal it contained, naturally alarmed the Greek Emperor, for the writer was an old enemy of his. Prince Bohemond's opinion of the Emperor did not seem a flattering one, when Godfrey read it. 'Know, O excellent man,' it said, 'that you have encountered one of the most unworthy and barbarous men in existence. His only object is to deceive, torment, and persecute Christian nations, as you will soon find out by experience, for I know Greek malice, and how that nation hate and detest the very name of the Latins! I therefore implore you to leave Constantinople and encamp near Adrianople or Philippopolis, with the legions that the Lord has entrusted to you. I intend, as soon as spring arrives, to hasten to your aid, and to help you against the wicked monarch who governs the Greek nation.'

Godfrey summoned a council. He wrote a courteous letter to Bohemond in reply, but said that, however much he agreed with him as to the Emperor, the arms that were destined to fight against Infidels ought never to be turned upon a Christian force or people.

Godfrey invited Bohemond to visit him. Alexius grew alarmed, and so he proposed to the Crusaders to send them one of his sons as an hostage, while their chiefs paid him a visit. This proposal was accepted, and at last the brave Christian hero, and some of the other princes, met the wily Emperor,