”Urban II announced the expedition to Jerusalem at the Council of Clermont in Nov. 1095, and he fixed the date of departure at 15 Aug. 1096. The summons was soon heard by groups far wider than princes and their courts … by Easter 1096 an army led by Peter the Hermit had already arrived in Cologne … within a few months, therefore, and well in advance of the papal deadline, the message had spread to all levels of society over a wide geographical area…” (79) Several thousand kilometers, actually, the Word spread - over awful roads, forests full of bandits, mountains teeming with wild animals, with nary an inn or way-station to flop down in, in an almost universally illiterate Europe, plagued by disease, famine and war, at a time when writing on the skin of a flayed sheep was the cutting edge of communications technology. In Colin Morris’ essay, “Propaganda for War : the dissemination of the Crusading ideal in the 12th century” (found pp.79-102 in Church & War. London: Blackwell, 1983), as it happened, there was a concentrated and concerted effort to win over the hearts and minds of the people of ‘civilized’ Christendom before sending them packing outré mere to bring the Franco-Teutonic goodness of holy war to the heathen Middle East.1 In fact the Germans and French wouldn’t be seen working like this again until…well…ever come to think of it. ”As the French Revolution was marked by the Great Fear, so the Crusades were nourished by the Great Rumor. Chroniclers of the time were astonished, for the news had traveled at a speed which seemed unbelievable by routes which they barely knew existed … we have, then the picture of a movement which was spread, not by the clumsy machinery of communication offered by the Church diocese, but by report and rumor, by popular preaching to mass audiences, by the infectious enthusiasm generated by the Badge of the Cross…” (82-3) Apparently, one of the most powerful mediums, which generated much Crusading enthusiasm, was the song of the traveling minstrel, who as a figure put in regular appearance at markets, festivals and courts throughout Europe at the time. Of their own accord, and without commission of the Church, they caught the esprits de cours in these times perfectly. Here are three of those songs: A French Crusaders’ Song: Chevalier, mult estes guuariz Knights, now is the time for grace Quant Deu a vos fait sa clamrirFor God has brought to you a plea Des Turs de AmoravizAgainst the Turks and Moorish race Kili unt fait tells deshoenors; They wronged when Cher a tort unt cez fienz saisiz. they seized his fief, Bien en devums aveir dolurAnd we must feel the deepest grief, Cher la fud Deu primes servi For there was God first served by men, E reconnu pur segnurr.who recognized his Lordship then. Ki ore irat ad Loovis.Whoever goes with King Louis now Ja mar d’enfern avrat pouurNeed never fear the Devil’s horde Char salme en iert en pareisHis soul will go to Paradise. Od les angles nostre segnor.With the Angels of the Lord.1 Conon of Bethune’s Ahi, Amors! Por limen vois sospirant en SuneFor her, I go with sighs to Syria car je ne doi faillir mon CreatorFor I must not neglect my Lord’s command; lei il faura a cest besoing d’aieWhoever in His need will fail Him now sacies ke Il li faura a grighorKnows that, in Judgment, he in turn will fail. E saicent bein li grant e li menorSo let the great and poor all take note ke la doit on faire chevallenethat they should take the field in chivalry oh on conquiert paradis et honorWhere Paradise and Honor can be won et pris et los et l’amor de s’aime.And reputation, with a lady’s love. A 13th century anti-war song: Ire si vis ad sernonemIf you go hear the preachers Cave, precor, CiceronemDo beware of clever teachers ne per verbirationemWho can, with style and gloss Redclat cruscis prisonemmake you captive to the cross Si me modo vis audireSo give me your attention Cham rem te volo scireThere is something I would mention Si tu crucem vis subireIf you want a cross to carry Atque crusis iter ireand are not inclined to tarry Precor, prius hoc inquireYou must check the real position Quam sunt ille vie direAre the roads in good condition? Modo potens es exire,or you’ll start with courage burning Sunt impedimenta duraand next day be returning.2 Notes: 1 text incomplete, recorded by David Murow and the Early Music Consort of London, Music of the Crusades (Argo Stereo recordings, catalogue no. ZRG 673) 2text incomplete, from H. Pflaum, ‘A Strange Crusader’s Song’, Speculum, 10 (1935), pp.337-9.
”Urban II announced the expedition to Jerusalem at the Council of Clermont in Nov. 1095, and he fixed the date of departure at 15 Aug. 1096. The summons was soon heard by groups far wider than princes and their courts … by Easter 1096 an army led by Peter the Hermit had already arrived in Cologne … within a few months, therefore, and well in advance of the papal deadline, the message had spread to all levels of society over a wide geographical area…” (79)
”As the French Revolution was marked by the Great Fear, so the Crusades were nourished by the Great Rumor. Chroniclers of the time were astonished, for the news had traveled at a speed which seemed unbelievable by routes which they barely knew existed … we have, then the picture of a movement which was spread, not by the clumsy machinery of communication offered by the Church diocese, but by report and rumor, by popular preaching to mass audiences, by the infectious enthusiasm generated by the Badge of the Cross…” (82-3)
A French Crusaders’ Song: Chevalier, mult estes guuariz Knights, now is the time for grace Quant Deu a vos fait sa clamrirFor God has brought to you a plea Des Turs de AmoravizAgainst the Turks and Moorish race Kili unt fait tells deshoenors; They wronged when Cher a tort unt cez fienz saisiz. they seized his fief, Bien en devums aveir dolurAnd we must feel the deepest grief, Cher la fud Deu primes servi For there was God first served by men, E reconnu pur segnurr.who recognized his Lordship then. Ki ore irat ad Loovis.Whoever goes with King Louis now Ja mar d’enfern avrat pouurNeed never fear the Devil’s horde Char salme en iert en pareisHis soul will go to Paradise. Od les angles nostre segnor.With the Angels of the Lord.1 Conon of Bethune’s Ahi, Amors! Por limen vois sospirant en SuneFor her, I go with sighs to Syria car je ne doi faillir mon CreatorFor I must not neglect my Lord’s command; lei il faura a cest besoing d’aieWhoever in His need will fail Him now sacies ke Il li faura a grighorKnows that, in Judgment, he in turn will fail. E saicent bein li grant e li menorSo let the great and poor all take note ke la doit on faire chevallenethat they should take the field in chivalry oh on conquiert paradis et honorWhere Paradise and Honor can be won et pris et los et l’amor de s’aime.And reputation, with a lady’s love. A 13th century anti-war song: Ire si vis ad sernonemIf you go hear the preachers Cave, precor, CiceronemDo beware of clever teachers ne per verbirationemWho can, with style and gloss Redclat cruscis prisonemmake you captive to the cross Si me modo vis audireSo give me your attention Cham rem te volo scireThere is something I would mention Si tu crucem vis subireIf you want a cross to carry Atque crusis iter ireand are not inclined to tarry Precor, prius hoc inquireYou must check the real position Quam sunt ille vie direAre the roads in good condition? Modo potens es exire,or you’ll start with courage burning Sunt impedimenta duraand next day be returning.2