ThenewsofthisdefectionincreasedthediscouragementatAntioch。Alltheuselesshorsesofthearmyhadbeenslainandeaten，anddogs，cats，andratsweresoldatenormousprices。Evenverminwerebecomingscarce。Withincreasingfaminecameapestilence，sothatinashorttimebutsixtythousandremainedofthethreehundredthousandthathadoriginallyinvestedAntioch。Butthisbitterextremity，whileitannihilatedtheenergyofthehost，onlyservedtoknittheleadersmorefirmlytogether；andBohemund，Godfrey，andTancredsworenevertodesertthecauseaslongaslifelasted。Theformerstroveinvaintoreanimatethecourageofhisfollowers。Theywerewearyandsickatheart，andhismenacesandpromiseswerealikethrownaway。Someofthemhadshutthemselvesupinthehouses，andrefusedtocomeforth。Bohemund，todrivethemtotheirduty，setfiretothewholequarter，andmanyofthemperishedintheflames，whiletherestofthearmylookedonwiththeutmostindifference。Bohemund，animatedhimselfbyaworldlyspirit，didnotknowthetruecharacterofthecrusaders，norunderstandthereligiousmadnesswhichhadbroughttheminsuchshoalsfromEurope。Apriest，moreclear-sighted，devisedaschemewhichrestoredalltheirconfidence，andinspiredthemwithacouragesowonderfulastomakethepoorsixtythousandemaciated，sick，andstarvingzealots，puttoflightthewell-fedandsixtimesasnumerouslegionsoftheSultanofPersia。
Thispriest，anativeofProvence，wasnamedPeterBarthelemy，andwhetherhewereaknaveoranenthusiast，orboth；aprincipal，oratoolinthehandsofothers，willeverremainamatterofdoubt。
Certainitis，however，thathewasthemeansofraisingthesiegeofAntioch，andcausingtheeventualtriumphofthearmiesoftheCross。
Whenthestrengthofthecrusaderswascompletelybrokenbytheirsufferings，andhopehadfledfromeverybosom，PetercametoCountRaymondofToulouse，anddemandedaninterviewonmattersofseriousmoment。Hewasimmediatelyadmitted。Hesaidthat，someweekspreviously，atthetimetheChristianswerebesiegingAntioch，hewasreposingaloneinhistent，whenhewasstartledbytheshockoftheearthquake，whichhadsoalarmedthewholehost。Throughviolentterroroftheshockhecouldonlyejaculate，Godhelpme！whenturningroundhesawtwomenstandingbeforehim，whomheatoncerecognizedbythehaloofgloryaroundthemasbeingsofanotherworld。Oneofthemappearedtobeanagedman，withreddishhairsprinkledwithgrey，blackeyes，andalongflowinggreybeard。Theotherwasyounger，larger，andhandsomer，andhadsomethingmoredivineinhisaspect。Theelderlymanalonespoke，andinformedhimthathewastheHolyApostleSt。Andrew，anddesiredhimtoseekouttheCountRaymond，theBishopofPuy，andRaymondofAltopulto，andaskthemwhytheBishopdidnotexhortthepeople，andsignthemwiththecrosswhichhebore。TheApostlethentookhim，nakedinhisshirtashewas，andtransportedhimthroughtheairintotheheartofthecityofAntioch，whereheledhimintothechurchofSt。Peter，atthattimeaSaracenmosque。TheApostlemadehimstopbythepillarclosetothestepsbywhichtheyascendonthesouthsidetothealtar，wherehungtwolamps，whichgaveoutalightbrighterthanthatofthenoondaysun；theyoungerman，whomhedidnotatthattimeknow，standingafaroff，nearthestepsofthealtar。TheApostlethendescendedintothegroundandbroughtupalance，whichhegaveintohishand，tellinghimthatitwastheverylancethathadopenedthesidewhencehadflowedthesalvationoftheworld。Withtearsofjoyheheldtheholylance，andimploredtheApostletoallowhimtotakeitawayanddeliveritintothehandsofCountRaymond。TheApostlerefused，andburiedthelanceagainintheground，commandinghim，whenthecitywaswonfromtheinfidels，togowithtwelvechosenmen，anddigitupagaininthesameplace。TheApostlethentransportedhimbacktohistent，andthetwovanishedfromhissight。Hehadneglected，hesaid，todeliverthismessage，afraidthathiswonderfultalewouldnotobtaincredencefrommenofsuchhighrank。Aftersomedaysheagainsawtheholyvision，ashewasgoneoutofthecamptolookforfood。
Thistimethedivineeyesoftheyoungerlookedreproachfullyuponhim。HeimploredtheApostletochoosesomeoneelsemorefittedforthemission，buttheApostlerefused，andsmotehimwithadisorderoftheeyes，asapunishmentforhisdisobedience。Withanobstinacyunaccountableeventohimself，hehadstilldelayed。AthirdtimetheApostleandhiscompanionhadappearedtohim，ashewasinatentwithhismasterWilliamatSt。Simeon。OnthatoccasionSt。AndrewtoldhimtobearhiscommandtotheCountofToulousenottobatheinthewatersoftheJordanwhenhecametoit，buttocrossoverinaboat，cladinashirtandbreechesoflinen，whichheshouldsprinklewiththesacredwatersoftheriver。Theseclotheshewasafterwardstopreservealongwiththeholylance。HismasterWilliam，althoughhecouldnotseethesaint，distinctlyheardthevoicegivingorderstothateffect。Againheneglectedtoexecutethecommission，andagainthesaintsappearedtohim，whenhewasattheportofMamistra，abouttosailforCyprus，andSt。Andrewthreatenedhimwitheternalperditionifherefusedlonger。Uponthishemadeuphismindtodivulgeallthathadbeenrevealedtohim。