The Dream and the Tomb by Robert Payne Read Free Book Online

might give orders that the army should pay for everything it took from the countryside, but his orders were rarely obeyed. It had become a river in flood, sweeping away everything in its path. When the people of Belgrade saw the army coming, they fled to the mountains. The Crusaders, feeling that the city had been abandoned to them, set fire to it. Then they set off for Nish, reaching it after a grueling seven-day march through the forests.
    The emperor had established a large garrison at Nish, which was therefore capable of defending itself. Once more Peter the Hermit asked for provisions, which were provided, and for guides, which seem also to have been provided. The governor, however, was wary and asked for hostages against their promise of good conduct. Peter the Hermit gave the hostages.There appeared to be complete agreement between Peter and the governor, and no further incidents were expected. The Crusaders marched on, Peter riding on a donkey at the head of the army.
    But the worst of all incidents was about to happen. There were some unruly Germans in the rear guard, and it amused them to set fire to some country houses outside the walls of Nish and to some water mills situated on the banks of the river. The governor was shocked and angry. He decided to teach them a lesson, and ordered his well-trained soldiers to attack Peter’s rear guard, capture the incendiaries, and take more hostages. Those captured were put to death. Then matters got out of hand. Innocent people perished; baggage trains were seized; women, girls, boys, and old people, who could not keep up with the rest of the army, were arrested, yoked together, and led into captivity. The governor, usually calm and intelligent, overreacted and permitted his soldiers to harass the rear guard unmercifully. The massacre only came to an end when Peter the Hermit, hearing that something terrible had happened, rode back in search of Byzantine officers who would be able to explain the situation to him.
    Peter learned that the people who had been attacked were not entirely innocent. They had provoked the Byzantines. The townspeople of Nish had rushed to aid the Byzantines in the massacre. Their pent-up hatred for Peter’s army exploded. In the fighting, about ten thousand of Peter’s men were killed or led away into captivity by the enraged Byzantines. For three days the fighting continued. Peter saw his army disintegrating. There was little he could do but wait out the crisis. Gradually he was able to restore order. He established his camp on a hill at some distance from Nish and sent out heralds to seek out the broken remnants of his army. He was in such a state of despair that he talked of giving up the expedition altogether.
    Then, help came from an unexpected quarter. A messenger from the emperor arrived at his camp with good news. Standing in the midst of the exhausted leaders of the expedition, the messenger read from an imperial rescript;
    Noble and illustrious men, a rumor has reached our ears that serious charges of an unsavory nature have been brought against you. They say you have done great violence to the people of our land who are our subjects, and that you have stirred up quarrels and disturbances. Therefore, if you ever hope to find favor in the sight of our majesty, we enjoin upon you, by our authority, that you do not presume to remain in any of our cities for more than three days, and that you will lead your expedition as quickly as possible to Constantinople with steady and harmonious leadership. We shall give you guides and we will cause you to be furnished with the necessary food at a just price.
    The olive branch from the emperor came at exactly the right moment. Peter gladly accepted the invitation, and the ragged army set off for Constantinople in good heart. Money was given to him, for he had lost the baggage carts that contained his treasury; mules and horses were provided; and in all the towns they passed through they were