Crusade Journal Excerpt

The decision to leave my home in France was difficult to make, however I must do God's will. I will travel to the East to help my bretheren reclaim the Holy City. While there I intend to visit the hill that Christ was crucified on. I feel that this will be the closest I will come to being next to Christ until my death. The hardest part of this journey so far was leaving my family behind to run the farm. Our farm was one of the few that survived the famine and civil wars that ravaged our fair kingdom. My wife, Anne Marie, and my son, Pier, were sad to see me leave but it was necessary, I must do my duty. I know not what I face, only that ever Moslem man women and child wishes me, and all other infidels, dead.

May 10, 1189 A.D.

Our journey has been uneventful so far. My fellow crusaders are full of cheer. Hymns are sung, usually lead by myself. I've taken it upon myself to keep morale high, though now that task is not difficult. I wonder how our demeanor will change when we reach the moslem lands. Most of these crusaders are after glory and immortality. As a matter of fact my German friend who I met only two days ago when our paths crossed, says that his people will forever sing songs of his glory and honor. I hope it is true. I hope that we are bound for nothing but God's glory.

May 13, 1189 A.D.

We have reached the port where our journey turns to the sea. I have never been out to sea. I pray that all goes well. Since I left my home I have joined up with Germans, Italians, and Spainiards as well. We are all doing God's will, however, some of us have been blinded by the promise of riches and spoils of war. The Spainiards talk of nothing but the riches they believe they will amass by taking on this sojourn. It is only the cross that draws me to these crusades not greed. I left behind all I ever wanted to do God's will.