Crusade.

What a fortunate turn of events for Hugh de Montford. Hugh, a Norman, was the youngest son of one of the lesser nobility in England. As such, he was landless and supported himself by performing the duties of a retainer to a more priveleged uncle in Normandy. He was not prosperous, but now it seemed that providence had tossed an oppurtunity at his feet. One that could not be missed.

Hugh was not present at Clermont, but he need not be. The Pope's speech was being repeated by every monk, priest and Bishop in Western Europe. All of France was afire with the talk of Crusade He had listened while a blind monk sermonized to a large crowd, urging them to take up the cross, rich and poor alike, and punish the heathens. He was not particularly devout, but the sermon had sparked a fire in his heart. Hugh was eager to get to the Holy Land, to take up the cross against the infidel. But here was not only an oppurtunity for the remission of sins, but a chance for plunder, perhaps even a possibility to carve out his own fief. How could he refuse? After all, Deus lo volt (God wills it )

And so Hugh found himself on the road to Lorraine with two landless Flemish knights he had befriended in Normandy. They had talked him into joining up with Godfrey of Bouillon rather than Robert of Normandy, who was not well liked. As they drew near to Godfrey's encampment, the road became choked with all manner of people coming and going. Peasants, merchants, knights, clergymen, whores, and thieves all made their way to the encampment...some looking to join the crusade, others looking to make a profit.