CHAPTER IV.

The Effects of the Council of Clermont--State of France-- Motives of the People for embracing the Crusade--Benefits produced--The Enthusiasm general--Rapid Progress--The first Bodies of Crusaders begin their March--Gautier sans avoir-- His Army--Their Disasters--Reach Constantinople--Peter the Hermit sets out with an immense Multitude--Storms Semlin-- Defeated at Nissa--His Host dispersed--The Remains collected--Joins Gautier--Excesses of the Multitude--The Italians and Germans separate from the French--The Germans exterminated--The French cut to pieces--Conduct of Alexius. 73