Kerbogah Tries to Retake Antioch
[9.29.1] Tandem, trīduānīs explētīs iēiūniīs, et prōcessiōnibus celebrātīs ab ūnā ecclēsiā in aliam, dē peccātīs suīs cōnfessī sunt et absolūtī, fidēliterque corporī et sanguinī Chrīstī commūnicāvērunt, datīsque eleemosynīs, fēcērunt celebrārī missās. Deinde stabilītae sunt sex aciēs, ex eīs intrā cīvitātem. In prīmā vērō aciē, in prīmō vidēlicet capite, fuit Hugō Magnus, cum Francigenīs et Flandrensī comite. In secundā, dux Godefridus cum suō exercitū. In tertiā vērō fuit Rotbertus Nortmannus cum suīs mīlitibus. In quārtā fuit Podiensis epīscopus, portāns sēcum lanceam Salvātōris cum suā gente, et cum exercitū Raimundī comitis Sānctī Egidīī; quī remānsit sūrsum cūstōdīre castellum, prō timōre Turcōrum, nē dēscenderent in cīvitātem. In quīntā aciē fuit Tancredus, cum suā gente. In sextā fuit Boamundus, cum suā mīlitiā. Epīscopī nostrī et presbyterī et clēricī ac monachī, sacrīs vestibus indūtī, nōbīscum exiērunt cum crucibus, ōrantēs et dēprecantēs Dominum, ut nōs salvōs faceret et cūstōdīret, et ab omnibus malīs ēriperet. Aliī stābant super mūrum portae, tenentēs sacrās crucēs in manibus suīs, signandō et benedīcendō nōs. Ita nōs, ōrdinātī et signō crucis prōtēctī, exīvimus per portam quae est ante machomāriam.
notes
(June 1098) After three days of religious preparations, the crusaders organize themselves into six battle lines.
fidēliterque corporī et sanguinī Chrīstī commūnicāvērunt: "they participated in the body and blood of Christ," i.e., they received Holy Communion, and in this case they took communion “of both kinds,” bread symbolizing the body of Christ and wine symbolizing His blood. On less special occasions communicants would receive the bread only.
fēcērunt celebrārī missās: They arranged for more celebrations of Holy Communion (masses) in the future.
in prīmō vidēlicet capite: “which was in fact in the vanguard.”
cum Francigenīs: “with the French”; those from the northern provinces of modern France; as at 6.15.1.
quī remānsit sūrsum cūstōdīre castellum: Raymond stayed up on the mountain, to blockade the Turks still holding the citadel; we learn from other sources that he was unwell.
ut nōs salvōs faceret et cūstōdīret, et ... ēriperet: indirect command.
Aliī: presumably other clerics.
signandō: making the sign of the cross.
portam quae est ante machomāriam: the Bridge Gate, opposite the mosque (The Mahommeries)
vocabulary
trīduānus –a –um: of three days
iēiūnium –(i)ī, n: fast, abstinence from food
eleemosyna –ae, f.: charity, alms (LL)
missa –ae, f: mass, Holy Communion
presbyter –erī, m: priest
monachus –ī, m: monk
