THE rKEPARATlONS FOR A CRUSADE. 231 that lie was called Innocent rather from his merit than from chance." ' But for us the important point is that during the eighteen The deliver- JG^^'^ of Iiis rcigu the luost absorbing thought of ii!!iy*L:uui Inuoccnt, the purpose to which he most constantly object onlTs^^ adhered, was the deliverance of the Holy Land.' ^^^^- Ilis first act, after he had ascended the pontifical throne, was to announce to Monaco, the Patriarch of Jeru- salem, his intention of proclaiming a crusade. Six months later he ordered the crusade to be preached, first in Italy, and then throughout the rest of Europe. lie sent letters to all princes, announcing to them his firm resolution to consecrate all his energy to this object. " Who is there," said he, " who would wish to shrink from the danger of the Cross when he remembers him who bound himself to the Cross to deliver us from the enemy? Arise, therefore, ye faithful; arise, gird on the sword and the buckler. Arise, and hasten to the help of Jesus Christ. He himself will lead your banner to vic- tory."' As an inducement to those who were ready to join in the holy war he promised pardon for past sins. He placed the lands of the princes and the goods of the Crusaders under the protection of the Holy See during their absence ; he de- clared that those w^ho borrowed money for the expedition should be exempted from the payment of interest. Princes were invited to compel the Jews, who were the principal mon- ey-lenders, to remit the payment of interest to intending Cru- saders. Rulers were urged to forbid the Jews to engage in any business in case of their refusal. Those who could not themselves take up the Cross were asked to provide substi- tutes, or at least to contribute to the expense. All who re- fused to give were warned that they incurred a grave respon- sibility. He ordered the clergy peremptorily to contribute a fixed portion of their revenue. He forbade the Venetians to furnish the Saracens with iron, ropes, wood, arms, galleys, ships, or any munitions of war whatever. Kichard of Eng- ^ Gunther, c. vil 2 Hurler's " Hist, de Inno. IH." i. 218, and elsewhere. » Epist. i. 303.
