A part of their possessions in the East was the spot the most sacred in
the world to Christians. Palestine, the land hallowed by the birth, life,
and death of Christ, was held by these infidels, whose religion required
them to insult and degrade the very name of Christ, and offered rich
rewards for exterminating His followers.

This led to the most heroic event in all history. The annals of the world
record nothing more astonishing than the Crusades.

When one man offers up fortune and life for a sentiment, he is regarded as
one different from his fellows. If an entire nation does it, it is still
more amazing. But that all the nations of a Continent, forgetting their
own private ambitions and interests, laying aside enmities and jealousies
among themselves, should unite, and for two centuries pour out life and
treasure, and expend all their energies upon an object which could bring
nothing but sacrifice--no material reward,--this is a spectacle the world
has seen but once, will never see again, and will never cease to wonder
at!

When Peter the Hermit came from Jerusalem at the close of the eleventh
century, and with burning eloquence told of the desecration of the Holy
Places in Palestine, and of the sufferings of the small band of Christians
in the Holy City, Europe rose as one man.

From sovereign to serf there was not one dissenting voice. If it took
uncounted lives, and all the treasure of Europe, the Cross, and not the
Crescent, should wave over the Holy Land.

The kingdoms united in one great "European Concert." And for what purpose?
_To drive the Mahometans out of that very land where another "European