HenrytheFourth，ofGermany，assertedtherightofinvestitures，theprerogativeofconfirminghisbishopsbythedeliveryoftheringandcrosier。Buttheemperor\'spartywascrushedinItalybythearmsoftheNormansandtheCountessMathilda；andthelongquarrelhadbeenrecentlyenvenomedbytherevoltofhissonConradandtheshameofhiswife，^5who，inthesynodsofConstanceandPlacentia，confessedthemanifoldprostitutionstowhichshehadbeenexposedbyahusbandregardlessofherhonorandhisown。^6SopopularwasthecauseofUrban，soweightywashisinfluence，thatthecouncilwhichhesummonedatPlacentia^7
wascomposedoftwohundredbishopsofItaly，France，Burgandy，Swabia，andBavaria。Fourthousandoftheclergy，andthirtythousandofthelaity，attendedthisimportantmeeting；and，asthemostspaciouscathedralwouldhavebeeninadequatetothemultitude，thesessionofsevendayswasheldinaplainadjacenttothecity。TheambassadorsoftheGreekemperor，AlexiusComnenus，wereintroducedtopleadthedistressoftheirsovereign，andthedangerofConstantinople，whichwasdividedonlybyanarrowseafromthevictoriousTurks，thecommonenemiesoftheChristianname。IntheirsuppliantaddresstheyflatteredtheprideoftheLatinprinces；and，appealingatoncetotheirpolicyandreligion，exhortedthemtorepeltheBarbariansontheconfinesofAsia，ratherthantoexpectthemintheheartofEurope。AtthesadtaleofthemiseryandperilsoftheirEasternbrethren，theassemblyburstintotears；themosteagerchampionsdeclaredtheirreadinesstomarch；andtheGreekambassadorsweredismissedwiththeassuranceofaspeedyandpowerfulsuccor。ThereliefofConstantinoplewasincludedinthelargerandmostdistantprojectofthedeliveranceofJerusalem；buttheprudentUrbanadjournedthefinaldecisiontoasecondsynod，whichheproposedtocelebrateinsomecityofFranceintheautumnofthesameyear。Theshortdelaywouldpropagatetheflameofenthusiasm；andhisfirmesthopewasinanationofsoldiers^8stillproudofthepreeminenceoftheirname，andambitioustoemulatetheirheroCharlemagne，^9who，inthepopularromanceofTurpin，^10hadachievedtheconquestoftheHolyLand。AlatentmotiveofaffectionorvanitymightinfluencethechoiceofUrban:hewashimselfanativeofFrance，amonkofClugny，andthefirstofhiscountrymenwhoascendedthethroneofSt。Peter。Thepopehadillustratedhisfamilyandprovince；noristhereperhapsamoreexquisitegratificationthantorevisit，inaconspicuousdignity，thehumbleandlaboriousscenesofouryouth。
[Footnote3:Ultraquinquagintamillia，simepossuntinexpeditioneproduceetpontificehabere，armatamanuvoluntininimicosDeiinsurgereetadsepulchrumDominiipsoducentepervenire，Gregor。vii。epist。ii。31，intom。xii。322，concil。]
[Footnote4:SeetheoriginallivesofUrbanII。byPandulphusPisanusandBernardusGuido，inMuratori，Rer。Ital。Script。tom。
iii。parsi。p。352，353。]