[1] [2] [3] In like maner, pope Urban calling a councell at Clermount in Auuergne,The councell of Clermount. exhorted the christian prin|ces so earnestlie to make a iourneie into the holie|land, for the recouerie thereof out of the Saracens hands, that the said great and generall iournie was concluded vpon to be taken in hand;

The iournie into the holie land.

Godfray be Bullion.

wherein manie Noble men of christendome went vnder the leading of Godfray of Bullion, and others, as in the chroni|cles of France, of Germanie, and of the holie land dooth more plainlie appeare. There went also among other diuers Noble men foorth of this relme of Eng|land, speciallie that worthilie bare the surname of Beauchampe. Robert duke of Normandie minding also to go the same iournie, and wanting monie to furnish and set foorth himselfe, Anno Reg. 9. 1096. morgaged his duchie of Normandie to his brother king William, Hen. Hunt. Wil. Thorne. Simon Dun. A subsidie. for the summe of ten thousand pounds. About this time an|other occasion was offered vnto king William, to laie a new paiment vpon his subiects, so gréeuous and intollerable, as well to the spiritualtie as the temporaltie, that diuerse bishops and abbats, who had alreadie made away some of their chalices and church iewels to paie the king, made now plaine an|swer that they were not able to helpe him with any more. Unto whom on the other side (as the report went) the king said againe;

Haue you not (I beséech you) coffins of gold and siluer full of dead mens bones? Meaning the shrines wherein the relikes of saints were inclosed.

Which (as his words seemed to import) he would haue had them conuert into mo|nie, therewith to helpe him in that need, iudging it no sacrilege, though manie did otherwise esteeme it, considering (as he pretended) that it was gathered for so godlie an vse, as to mainteine warres against Infidels and enimies of Christ.