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THE

CHRISTIAN LADY'S MAGAZINE.

JULY, 1845.

WAR WITH THE SAINTS.

CHAPTER IX,

THE population of Beziers, including garrison, citizens, and all classes, is stated by some to have amounted to sixty thousand persons: others rate it much lower. Stout hearts, strong hands, and a righteous cause combined to encourage them against the great and terrible armament that drew nearer and nearer to their walls, spreading such a multitude of tents and gay pavilions, and displaying so formidable a host of warriors, as proved that the description of their treacherous bishop, which they would fain have regarded as an extravagant fable, was not even an exaggeration of the reality. As yet, the enemy was busily employed in forming and strengthening a camp, from which it was probable the host must carry on the operations of a protracted siege ; for Beziers was a powerful-looking place, with its

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solid walls, and massive square towers; crowning an abrupt height with a broad deep river at its base. The citizens beholding these preparations, and seeing the abundant means provided for effectually prosecuting the work when all should be fitly arranged, considered it the most favourable moment for a sally: they formed in a body, and rushed down, with impetuous courage, upon the foe. These, however, had the advantage, in point of numbers, of ferocity, and of being long inured to deeds of blood; and the people of God had been given, for a time, into the hand of the wicked and cruel one. The infantry sustained the shock unmoved; then, becoming the assailants, they speedily turned the disheartened citizens, drove them back, and in one dense mass of pursuers and pursued, they all entered the gates together. Beziers was in the hands of the crusaders.

The great strength of this fortified town, had drawn within its walls multitudes of the villagers, and scattered inhabitants of a wide surrounding district. All the rural population were assembled there; and among them, undoubtedly, a large proportion of those against whom the wrath of the dragon and of the beast was especially kindled-the true worshippers of God, who served Him in the Gospel of his Son. There were,

however, very many, whose allegiance to Rome could not be questioned, and who were fully bent to die as they had lived, in her communion. This was known to the knights, who had been accustomed in the miscalled 'holy wars' to discriminate carefully as to their victims. The butchery of Saracens, and, perhaps even more, that of God's ancient, afflicted people Israel, was with them a matter of meritorious duty; but to embrue their hands in the blood of such as bowed down to

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