The property of those who went was placed under the protection of the
church, and St. Paul and St. Peter themselves were believed to descend
from their high abode, to watch over the chattels of the absent
pilgrims. Signs and portents were seen in the air to increase the
fervour of the multitude. An aurora-borealis of unusual brilliancy
appeared, and thousands of the crusaders came out to gaze upon it,
prostrating themselves upon the earth in adoration. It was thought to
be a sure prognostic of the interposition of the Most High; and a
representation of his armies fighting with and overthrowing the
infidels. Reports of wonders were everywhere rife. A monk had seen two
gigantic warriors on horseback, the one representing a Christian and
the other a Turk, fighting in the sky with flaming swords, the
Christian of course overcoming the Paynim. Myriads of stars were said
to have fallen from heaven, each representing the fall of a Pagan foe.
It was believed at the same time that the Emperor Charlemagne would
rise from the grave, and lead on to victory the embattled armies of
the Lord. A singular feature of the popular madness was the enthusiasm
of the women. Everywhere they encouraged their lovers and husbands to
forsake all things for the holy war. Many of them burned the sign of
the cross upon their breasts and arms, and coloured the wound with a
red dye, as a lasting memorial of their zeal. Others, still more
zealous, impressed the mark by the same means upon the tender limbs of
young children and infants at the breast.

Guibert de Nogent tells of a monk who made a large incision upon
his forehead in the form of a cross, which he coloured with some
powerful ingredient, telling the people that an angel had done it when
he was asleep. This monk appears to have been more of a rogue than a
fool, for he contrived to fare more sumptuously than any of his
brother pilgrims, upon the strength of his sanctity. The crusaders