He told them that this misfortune had befallen Christianity because of the lukewarmness which had come upon them.

“What profited it,” he asked, “if a few knights who remained to defend the holy sepulcher were heroes?  A few heroes cannot withstand an army.  If Christendom after making a mighty effort to capture the holy sepulcher had not fallen away, the conquest which had been made with so vast an expenditure of blood would not have been lost.  This is a work in which no mere passing fervor will avail; bravery at first, endurance afterward, are needed.  Many men must determine not only to assist to wrest the holy sepulcher from the hands of the infidels, but to give their lives, so long as they might last, to retaining it.  It is scarce to be expected that men with wives and families will take a view like this, indeed it is not to be desired.  But there are single men, men of no ties, who can devote their whole lives, as did the Knights of the Orders of the Cross, to this great object.  When their life has come to an end doubtless others will take up the banner that their hands can no longer hold.  But for life it is, indeed, that many of humble as well as of princely class must bind themselves to take and defend to death the holy sepulcher.”

So, gradually raising the tone of his speech, the friar proceeded; until at length by his intense earnestness, his wild gesticulations, his impassioned words, he drew the whole of his listeners along with him; and when he ceased, a mighty shout of “To the Holy Land!” burst from his hearers.

Falling upon their knees the crowd begged of him to give them the sign of the cross, and to bestow his blessing upon their swords, and upon their efforts.

Father Francis had prepared, in contemplation of such a movement, a large number of small white crosses of cloth.  These he and the friar now fastened to the shoulders of the men as they crowded up to receive it, holding their hands aloft, kissing the cross that the friar extended to them, and swearing to give their lives, if need be, to rescue the holy shrines from the infidel.

When all had received the holy symbol, Father Francis again ascended the bank from which they had addressed the crowd: 

“Now go to your homes, my sons,” he said.  “Think of the oath that you have taken, and of the course that lies open to you when the time comes.  When King Richard is prepared to start, then will you be called upon to fulfill your vows.  It may be that all who have sworn may not be called upon to go.  It needs that the land here should be tilled, it needs that there should be protectors for the women and children, it needs that this England of ours should flourish, and we cannot give all her sons, however willing they might be to take the cross.  But the willingness which you will, I am sure, show to go if needs be, and to redeem your vows, will be sufficient.  Some must go and some must stay; these are matters to be decided hereafter; for the time let us separate; you will hear when the hour for action arrives.”