everywhere gave him presents of food and money, and he became quite
fat ere he arrived at Jerusalem, notwithstanding the fatigues of the
way. If he had acknowledged in the first place that he had made the
wound himself, he would not have been thought more holy than his
fellows; but the story of the angel was a clincher.

All those who had property of any description rushed to the mart
to change it into hard cash. Lands and houses could be had for a
quarter of their value, while arms and accoutrements of war rose in
the same proportion. Corn, which had been excessively dear in
anticipation of a year of scarcity, suddenly became plentiful; and
such was the diminution in the value of provisions, that seven sheep
were sold for five deniers.[Guibert de Nogent] The nobles mortgaged
their estates for mere trifles to Jews and unbelievers, or conferred
charters of immunity upon the towns and communes within their fiefs,
for sums which, a few years previously, they would have rejected with
disdain. The farmer endeavoured to sell his plough, and the artisan
his tools, to purchase a sword for the deliverance of Jerusalem. Women
disposed of their trinkets for the same purpose. During the spring and
summer of this year (1096) the roads teemed with crusaders, all
hastening to the towns and villages appointed as the rendezvous of the
district. Some were on horseback, some in carts, and some came down
the rivers in boats and rafts, bringing their wives and children, all
eager to go to Jerusalem. Very few knew where Jerusalem was. Some
thought it fifty thousand miles away, while others imagined that it
was but a month's journey, while at sight of every town or castle, the
children exclaimed, "Is that Jerusalem? Is that the city?"[Guibert
de Nogent] Parties of knights and nobles might be seen travelling
eastward, and amusing themselves as they went with the knightly
diversion of hawking to lighten the fatigues of the way.