TheSaracensupontherampartsbeheldallthesemanifestationswithoutalarm。ToincensetheChristians，whomtheydespised，theyconstructedrudecrosses，andfixedthemuponthewalls，andspatuponandpeltedthemwithdirtandstones。Thisinsulttothesymboloftheirfaithraisedthewrathofthecrusaderstothatheightthatbraverybecameferocityandenthusiasmmadness。Whenalltheenginesofwarwerecompletedtheattackwasrecommenced，andeverysoldieroftheChristianarmyfoughtwithavigourwhichthesenseofprivatewronginvariablyinspires。Everymanhadbeenpersonallyoutraged，andtheknightsworkedatthebattering-ramswithasmuchreadinessasthemeanestsoldiers。TheSaracenarrowsandballsoffirefellthickandfastamongthem，butthetremendousramsstillheavedagainstthewalls，whilethebestmarksmenofthehostwerebusilyemployedintheseveralfloorsofthemoveabletowersindealingdeathamongtheTurksuponthebattlements。Godfrey，Raymond，Tancred，andRobertofNormandy，eachuponhistower，foughtforhourswithunweariedenergy，oftenrepulsed，buteverreadytorenewthestruggle。TheTurks，nolongerdespisingtheenemy，defendedthemselveswiththeutmostskillandbraverytilldarknessbroughtacessationofhostilities。Shortwasthesleepthatnightinthe。Christiancamp。ThepriestsofferedupsolemnprayersinthemidstoftheattentivesoldieryforthetriumphoftheCrossinthislastgreatstruggle，andassoonasmorningdawnedeveryonewasinreadinessfortheaffray。Thewomenandchildrenlenttheiraid，thelatterrunningunconcernedtoandfrowhilethearrowsfellfastaroundthem，bearingwatertothethirstycombatants。Thesaintswerebelievedtobeaidingtheirefforts，andthearmy，impressedwiththisidea，surmounteddifficultiesunderwhichaforcethriceasnumerous，butwithouttheirfaith，wouldhavequailedandbeendefeated。RaymondofToulouseatlastforcedhiswayintothecitybyescalade，whileattheverysamemomentTancredandRobertofNormandysucceededinburstingopenoneofthegates。TheTurksflewtorepairthemischief，andGodfreyofBouillon，seeingthebattlementscomparativelydeserted，letdownthedrawbridgeofhismoveabletower，andsprangforward，followedbyalltheknightsofhistrain。Inaninstantafter，thebanneroftheCrossfloateduponthewallsofJerusalem。Thecrusaders，raisingoncemoretheirredoubtablewar-cry，rushedonfromeveryside，andthecitywastaken。Thebattleragedinthestreetsforseveralhours，andtheChristians，rememberingtheirinsultedfaith，gavenoquartertoyoungorold，maleorfemale，sickorstrong。Notoneoftheleadersthoughthimselfatlibertytoissueordersforstayingthecarnage，andifhehad，hewouldnothavebeenobeyed。TheSaracensfledingreatnumberstothemosqueofSoliman，buttheyhadnottimetofortifythemselveswithiniteretheChristianswereuponthem。Tenthousandpersonsaresaidtohaveperishedinthatbuildingalone。
PetertheHermit，whohadremainedsolongundertheveilofneglect，wasrepaidthatdayforallhiszealandallhissufferings。
Assoonasthebattlewasover，theChristiansofJerusalemissuedforthfromtheirhiding-placestowelcometheirdeliverers。TheyinstantlyrecognizedtheHermitasthepilgrimwho，yearsbefore，hadspokentothemsoeloquentlyofthewrongsandinsultstheyhadendured，andpromisedtostiruptheprincesandpeopleofEuropeintheirbehalf。Theyclungtotheskirtsofhisgarmentsinthefervouroftheirgratitude，andvowedtorememberhimforeverintheirprayers。Manyofthemshedtearsabouthisneck，andattributedthedeliveranceofJerusalemsolelytohiscourageandperseverance。PeterafterwardsheldsomeecclesiasticalofficeintheHolyCity，butwhatitwas，orwhatwashisultimatefate，historyhasforgottentoinformus。SomesaythathereturnedtoFranceandfoundedamonastery，butthestorydoesnotrestuponsufficientauthority。
ThegrandobjectforwhichthepopularswarmsofEuropehadforsakentheirhomeswasnowaccomplished。TheMoslemmosquesofJerusalemwereconvertedintochurchesforapurerfaith，andthemountofCalvaryandthesepulchreofChristwereprofanednolongerbythepresenceorthepoweroftheinfidel。Popularfrenzyhadfulfilleditsmission，and，asanaturalconsequence，itbegantosubsidefromthattimeforth。ThenewsofthecaptureofJerusalembroughtnumbersofpilgrimsfromEurope，and，amongothers，StephenCountofChartresandHughofVermandois，toatonefortheirdesertion；butnothingliketheformerenthusiasmexistedamongthenations。
ThusthenendsthehistoryofthefirstCrusade。Forthebetterunderstandingofthesecond，itwillbenecessarytodescribetheintervalbetweenthem，andtoenterintoaslightsketchofthehistoryofJerusalemunderitsLatinkings，thelongandfruitlesswarstheycontinuedtowagewiththeunvanquishedSaracens，andthepoorandmiserableresultswhichsprangfromsovastanexpenditureofzeal，andsodeplorableawasteofhumanlife。