The Translation of St. Nicholas1
by the Anonymous Monk of Lido, translated by Thomas W. Moody
Chapter 1 - On the Proclamation of the Cross
In the year of our Lord 1096, when Urban occupied the apostolic chair as Catholic Pope and glorious Alexios [I Komnenos] prosperously ruled in Greece; when Petrus [Badoer da Noale] governed the Church as Patriarch of Grado and Vitale I Michiel reigned in Venice and managed our state wisely and effectively through the foresight of the aristocracy; the Holy Spirit inspired the minds of the Westerners that, with weapons both spiritual and material, they should make for Jerusalem, in order that they might purify the Holy City and the holy relics of its holy men from the culture of infidels and impure rites of the pagans. The nobles of Venice, with the princes of France, excelled as accomplices and partners in this worthy scheme and salvific campaign, as indeed they effectually proved with evidence of events afterwards. Therefore, divinely inspired, some of the Westerners branded the sign of the Cross on their own flesh with hot iron, while others marked themselves externally on their clothes. Unanimously and zealously they took up the way of God and formed a pious army, vanquishing hostile cities and subduing the enemies of God and themselves.
Chapter 2 - On taking Jerusalem in the third year
In the third year from the start of the expedition, with the aid of God, the crusaders liberated the City and Sepulcher of Our Lord from the rule of heathens through warlike virtue. In fact the Venetians, since they use ships instead of horses on account of their city's geography, have trained in naval battle more than all other people from antiquity, and are accustomed to gaining victory as if it's natural to them. With great preparation and industrious zeal they supplied a bountiful fleet of ships in service of the Way of God and filled them sufficiently with men and materiel. But, since it was not yet agreed by all who should command the fleet and control the army, they all like-mindedly made for the church of St. Mark the Evangelist. With common voice the clergy and people requested that Enrico, Bishop of Castello, be rector and preceptor and placed Giovanni Michiel, son of the acclaimed doge, in command of the army and fleet as commander. Therefore Enrico, Bishop of Castello, although reluctant, in obedience of the patriarch and at the command of the Doge, and won over by the entreaties of the clergy and people, at last took up the cross as the sign of the way of God. Afterwards, he voluntarily carried out his task and service more devoutly than the others and, once the cross was taken up, provided an example for many and for those traveling with him of praying with zeal not to encounter battle.
Chapter 3 - On the departure of the fleet from the port of Venice
Thus, once all were ready and the fleet was loaded, they released the ships without delay and all eagerly made for the port at the shore of Rialto. There, descending from their boats in the customary way, they approached the monastery of Saint Nicholas. After the salutary proclamations of the patriarch and other bishops had been heard and all of them individually had been confirmed with a sacred blessing, the ships were dispatched from the port. The sails began to swell through the wide sea. Then the Bishop of Castello meditated upon their pious intentions in quiet reflection:
"Holy Patron of God, Chief of this occasion.
"Accomplish the vows of your servants which they ask.
"For I have hope, and my hope does not deceive (as I believe) because this holy basilica, which is dedicated to your holy name, which your faithful Venetians have always held in greatest veneration, and where they have just entered a pact with devout minds more reverently and assiduously, and which was consecrated in the presence of your devout name and body, will be venerated not only by the Venetians but indeed by all Westerners!" After this, the Venetian ships departed and cut through the waves with tight sails. The clergy and monks of Venice even urged on the sterns with prayers. And so they sailed past the rough shores of Dalmatia on a swift course and arrived at Jadera [Zadar]. However, let me leave what they discussed and arranged there concerning their kingdom and many other details from the journey they undertook for an historiographer's illuminating account. Instead let me apply my pen and effort to those events which my mind's attention and devotion for the most blessed confessor Nicholas demand, and may Nicholas himself aid me.
Chapter 4 - On wintering in Rhodes
With sails entrusted to the wind, at last they set out from Dalmatia and departed the kingdoms of Sclavonia, Bulgaria, and Achaia. They arrived all the way at illustrious Rhodes. There, commander Giovanni, Bishop Enrico, and the other wise men in the fleet devised a plan; because of the port's security and location, and especially the favorable turn of weather, the ships were unloaded, the supplies were taken on land, and they camped for winter.
Chapter 5 - On the delegation sent to Godfrey and the dissuasion of the emperor of Constantinople
From there they sent messengers with letters to the patriarch of Jerusalem [Arnoul of Rhodes], King Godfrey, Count Raymond, Bohemond, and the other commanders, and thereupon received their messengers and letters before departing. Meanwhile they reported that the Byzantine Emperor tried to impede them from the start of their journey, making threats and offering them bribes so that they would stop. But the Bishop of God, filled with divine zeal, trusted in the banner of the cross more than any armor or shield. Neither fearing the threats of men nor softening his mind with flattery, he solidified his companions' resolve in the service of God, asserting that the one crowed victory is not the one who makes a start, but the one who endures to the end. He spoke thus: "Surely, my dearest children, when Christ commanded us to bear his cross, he ordered us not only to bear it, but indeed to follow Him! For, if we submit to transitory things or men more than to God, and unless we faithfully satisfy the oath of this journey we've begun, we clearly deny Him whose sign we bear. But let this worry stay away from us; for, should we change our objective because of some fear or worldly advantage, we would therefore incur God's wrath and man's disdain." When the bishop had imparted such words and others to them, the better part of the men, who had been firm enough in their intentions, were made more certain while a few were restored in their united cause.
Chapter 6 - On the opposing Pisan fleet
All therefore were united and affirmed in the service of God when it was announced that a Pisan fleet, armed and ready for battle, had arrived against them. For the Pisans had reached such a degree of arrogance that they had appropriated the imperial navy and imperial insignia for themselves and were declaring themselves conquerers of the entire world. In fact the Venetians, keeping watch with a discerning eye, sent messengers to them to ask very humbly that they desist from the injuries and insults they were bringing upon the Greeks and Venetians, and that they pass by like good Christians and peaceful travelers. The Pisans, however, refusing to hear this, said that they, as if masters of the world, would, to the Venetians' disgrace, go wherever they pleased and would still enter the port where the Venetians were wintering, even if the Venetians objected. When they heard the Pisans' presumption, the Venetians at once sent the fleet from land into the sea. Once the rest of the ships were released into the harbor, they proceeded to meet the Pisans who had usurped the imperial insignia with only thirty armed ships against fifty. And what then? When the engagement began, the Pisans were formidable only to the point of capturing four Venetian ships leading the assault. They then lost their ferocity and advantage of attack to such an extent that, of their fifty ships, barely twenty-two had escaped by nightfall. All the rest were captured without bloodshed. Now that the Pisans' defiance had been held in check, and once they had been led into the port with rejoicing and presented triumphantly to the army's commander and bishop, there was a thorough series of discussions to determine what judgment, what penalty, and what debt the Pisans owed. The emperor's ministers, who controlled that region, seeing their most hostile enemies brandishing the emperor's regalia and held captive in their own city, asserted that by all means they should be handed over to the emperor, presented to him as condemned men, and pay the price with their head. But the victorious Venetians, reverent to the Lord, since they wished to ascribe the triumph that God had granted them to God alone rather than to the emperor or any other mortal, showed that they genuinely bore the cross and would even suffer upon it, through an act of merciful treatment.
Chapter 7 - On the Pisans' debt
Therefore, full of piety in their hearts, the Venetians simply released nearly 4,000 men with their ships, weapons, and other items restored to them. Nor did they exact any debt from the captives, except that they committed themselves to Venice in these promises: they would remain free at Pisa; they would never thereafter enter Romania for the sake of commerce; nor incite battle against Christians in any way, unless they happen to join the cause in devotion of the Holy Sepulcher. And so the Pisans were counseled and released to go wherever they wished. But the Venetians held back thirty-six men of high status, though not forced but voluntarily, partly as witness of the facts and partly so that, if the Pisans who had escaped battle should seize any of their own, the Venetians might secure their release more easily through these Pisans.
Chapter 8 - On the departure from Rhodes to Jerusalem
At last they departed the island Rhodes and the garrison. After remaining from the feast of the Apostles Simon and Jude to the eighth Sunday of Pentecost, which was spent there, they hastened most eagerly to Jerusalem, and did not intend to divert anywhere else thereafter.
Chapter 9 - On approaching the port of Smyrna
Now they were nearly passing the Smyrnaean city on their left and, with a favorable wind blowing, halted the journey they had undertaken because the bishop, whom devotion of country and the entire West was guiding with salutary and advantageous care, turned his sails toward Myra. And thus, by the will of God, the entire fleet turned around, though many were unwilling, and was hauled to the holy shores. There, when they inquired about the place's situation, it was reported to them that more than 500 Turks closing in on that area were not far off and that they already had subdued many places under tribute. The Venetians sent skillful explorers to determine in each case whether the situation was suitable for accomplishing what they were planning and fulfilling what they intended.
Chapter 10 – On the arrival of the fleet at Myra
And so those who had been sent traveled six miles over the land – for the city lay at some distance from the shore, where the fleet was – and entered a city and church in which a desirable treasure trove lay hidden. By chance the entire college of canons had then gathered there, perhaps more in hope of offerings than from religious devotion, after they had seen the ships approach land. For the city had been destroyed by pagans, and so neither the clerics nor any others remained in their homes. Instead they lived in a fort [castrum] which lay approximately two miles from the city. And none of them came to services there each day, but rather performed their duties four times each week. Therefore, after the messengers had been asked and indicated what they wanted, they returned that same hour and reported to the army that the entire situation was favorable and advantageous. When they heard this, the Venetian contingent, awaiting neither the commander's order nor the bishop's instruction, and listening neither for the herald's cry nor the sound of horns, eagerly took up arms and rushed to the city in swarms. However, when those most abundant in faith arrived at the church, they stopped their advance, put down their arms, and with tears let forth a prayer in this way: "Eternal God, who ordered all things before they came to be, who sanctified blessed Nicholas in his mother's womb, who delivered us, through his intercession, from all danger: Grant our pious prayer. Fulfill our request through goodness as much as we are worthy to hold the material body of him, present in every miracle, whom we venerate everywhere. Gracious father Nicholas, grant the prayers of your servants, deign to visit our country which has always been devoted to you! Blessed father! Venice, your daughter, invites you, wishes you look upon you. It has prepared a place for you where it would receive you. And if you go there, Venice will enhance the place further and improve it, so as to befit housing such a patron as you there. Indeed we know ourselves unworthy to look upon you with lascivious eyes and hold your bones in our soiled hands. Faith, not merit, will obtain what the Grace of God fulfills." Their prayer complete, they defended the whole circuit of the city's wall with arms. Remaining there, they readied themselves to dig – some with iron tools and others with crude instruments. After the rest of the local clerics fled, the Venetians held back four churchwardens. At first they enticed them with flattery and promises, assuaged them with encouragement, and promised them that they would become powerful and wealthy, if they would indicate the place where what they sought was located.
Chapter 11 – On the showing of a broken coffer from which the Baresi had torn part of the relics
However, the wardens, feigning ignorance – or perhaps having forgotten the matter through the passage of time – showed the Venetians a coffer affixed to the wall with a broken top. "This is the coffer from which the Baresi took some of the relics and left others behind. If you want them, take them and let us go." The Venetians replied to them, "So far we have used soft words and flattery with you. But unless you tell us what we asked, we will punish you quite severely with beatings and torments."
The wardens replied to them: "Even if you burn us with flames or threaten our heads, how can you possibly elicit from us the truth in this matter when no one has known it since the time of Emperor Basil2? You can see the coffer from which Emperor Basil took him when he formerly wished to remove him to Constantinople. But where or how he replaced him once he was unable to transport him, no one still living can possibly tell you."
Chatper 12 – On the disturbed coffer in which they found only oil
So rushing along, the Venetians broke the coffer they had been shown by the wardens, and upon looking inside found nothing but water and oil. Raging and stirred by anger, they penetrated the wall of the church, broke the filling material, demolished the altars, and spared neither the shrine nor consecrated offerings. By now they had spent part of the preceding day and just about the whole night laboring in vain. Then one of the wardens, terrified at the thought of cruel punishment and intolerable torment, asked them to go to the ships and summon the bishop; he promised he would tell him the truth and not conceal anything he knew when the bishop arrived. Immediately the young men present were ready to hastily recount to the bishop both the warden's words and the continuous labor which they had undertaken in vain. That very hour, commander Giovanni and Bishop Enrico, surrounded by troops of soldiers, traveled to the city. The commander led the way with armored soldiers, and the bishop advanced with clerics in bare feet. The commander arranged his soldiers for battle while the bishop urged his clergy to recite the psalms.
Chapter 13 – On the bishop's prayer
Once they had entered the church, the bishop prostrated himself on the ground with tears and, drawing breath from the depths of his lungs, prayed: "God, Father of all mercies, Knower of all secrets, Giver of all that is good, Forgiver of sins! You chose me, your servant, though sinful and unworthy, to lead your holy church. You commanded me, though plainly unworthy, to rule over your flocks. Hear favorably the prayers from my humility and kindly receive the faithful devotion of your people. Merciful Lord, who shows all mercy, fountain of all life! God, who promised your disciples: 'Whatsoever you request in my name shall be given to you,' grant us what we seek in your name, so that we may be made strong. For we are your disciples, we lift up your cross and follow you. Holy Spirit, the Comforter, you intercede for us when we let out indiscernible groans. Pour out your holy consolation upon our minds so that what we ask faithfully we will have strength to obtain effectually. God the Father! God the Son! God the Holy Spirit! Just as I believe in my heart and confess with my lips, that three persons are of one substance and one God, so grant us to find what we seek, to see what we desire, to fulfill what we intend. Most blessed patron Nicholas, yield to the prayers of the faithful. Find Venice worthy of you and come to the West. Let it have been enough for the Easterners and the Greeks that they had you as pontiff and instructor and then retained you, after your worldly departure, for nearly 700 years. Let the West and Latins at last rejoice to be in the presence of your bodily remains, to be illuminated by your miracles, to be lifted up to the heavens by your prayers and service. In the presence and cooperation of the Holy and indivisible Trinity, to whom all honor and glory is due, now and forever and before all creation. Amen." And then the bishop of God, standing up from his prayer, addressed the warden who had sent for him in these words: "Blessed son! When I received your message, although I'm slowed by painful infirmity, I came here at once, lifted up by hope. For I know that you did not send for me without good reason. If you have some bit of truth, do not conceal it from me. You must be confident of the real reward which you will receive." Then the warden replied to him: "Holy Father, true worshiper of God, with God as my witness, of that which you wish to know, I know not a single trace of proof. I sent for you only wanting to avoid impending punishment and be freed by you." Hearing this, the bishop withdrew in tears to a secluded part of the church. The crowd of Venetians, however, discovering they had been tricked, afflicted the warden with exceptional punishments. Not able to endure them any longer, the warden called out for the bishop. Rushing to his side, the bishop was angered deeply by their acts of torture and snatched the warden from their hands.
Chapter 14 – On the only coffer that had been shown
Then the warden, after had caught his breath for a short while, spoke to the bishop thus: "Servant of Almighty God! Why did you permit them to beat me like this? God knows, I have suffered these torments without justification. What you are asking you will never learn from me or from anyone. But now, unwilling and forced, I will reveal something to you, which will be disadvantageous for the Greeks, but always a lamentable loss, and for the Venetians will always be advantageous and worth remembering. Two holy patrons, the predecessors of great Nicholas, lie without a doubt in this coffer or at the main altar."
Chapter 15 – On the three cypress caskets, in which there were two bodies.
When they heard this, the Venetians, quite zealous about this undertaking, broke the ancient coffer and knocked over the altar. Within the altar they found three coffins with large protective relics, and in the coffer two pontiffs with their own epitaphs, stashed separately in cypress caskets and treated with remarkable, fragrant substances. One of the pontiffs was Theodore, the precious martyr, and the other was in fact Nicholas, paternal uncle of the great Nicholas3. Both were greatly respected and had been metropolitan bishops at this church. What is more, how Saint Theodore got his name is recorded in The Miracles of Saint Nicholas. "A certain blind man came to the servant of God. He anointed his eyes with the oil from the lamps of Saint Theodore and made the sign of the cross. Then the man had come blind left able to see." In fact of his uncle, this is recorded there: "On the same day the great child Nicholas was born, once he was bathed, after barely a half hour, he stood upright on his own feet with no one holding him. When the bishop, Saint Nicholas, uncle of the blessed child, heard of this sign, he blessed the child and with tears let out a prayer to God on the boy's behalf. He then lifted him up from the sacred font, gave the child his own name, and instructed him in holy scripture." Then lifting up these great men, very much glorious patrons, with due veneration, the Venetians carried them out of the church in the same cypress coffins. The crowd of Venetians gathered and returned to their own fleet in exultation; the bishop and clerics sang hymns and laudations while the commander and laity blew horns and waved banners.
Chapter 16 – On the sweetness perceived by those remaining behind in the church
But some of them, under divine inspiration, waited behind in the church. They searched the place very thoroughly where they had destroyed the alter of the Holy Confessor when their noses detected a surprising and unusually sweet smell. They had no doubt that some great holiness was hidden there. Still some others who had crowded in that place remembered that during the principal rites the archbishop did not celebrate the rites of mass at the altar of St. Nicholas. Rather he placed a tripod on the flat space above the sacred body and carried out the divine mysteries there.
Chapter 17 – On the evidence provided from celebrating the rites above tripods rather than over the altar
They also recognized that an image of St. Nicholas was painted directly over and higher above the spot. Reaching a conclusion, they spoke amongst themselves: "If this spot did not contain something sacred, the archbishop never would have held it in such reverence." Therefore they began to run after the army, which was hurrying to the ships in celebration, and recounted in turn the smell they had detected and what they had conjectured. When they heard this report, the Venetian multitude reached the same conclusion and returned to the church. They were joyful enough from their first successes and were about to become even happier from what followed. And so climbing to the spot which the others indicated, they noticed the smell and, carefully observing the image higher up, said to one another: "Alas, fine young men! Let us work again in the name of Christ. What those men prophesied upon the revelation of the Holy Spirit, will now come true." Therefore they took up once again tools of every kind and applied themselves once more to blessed labor for the eternal testament. First the previous pile of rocks and soil, which they had thrown this way and that in their previous efforts, was removed. They then excavated all the way to the pavement, which they also broke and forcefully penetrated. After a huge weight of rock was lifted away, they discovered a glassy mass which was hard to break and difficult to penetrate.
Chapter 18 – On when the glassy mass was first discovered
Then the Venetian youth really put their strength to use. Some placed iron chisels; others struck them with hammers from above. Some helped those who were working and provided fresh labor in place of the weary. Some cleaned the area while others supplied new tools for the broken ones. Finally, the glassy mass was broken through their laborious effort, and behind it they found a no less toilsome layer of bitumen. They likewise expended a great deal of effort and sweat to dig through it.
Chapter 19 – On a third layer of copper after the layer of bitumen
Once the bitumen layer had also been broken through and removed from the area, a third layer remained. It was more difficult to remove than the previous two and held sacred bones stuck together with bitumen in a copper mausoleum. Therefore the Venetians carried on in their intended work and now hoped that they would not be deceived by the obvious signs. At last they broke through the copper mausoleum and bitumen and, through highest virtue and greatest desire, penetrated down to the bishops' gem, which they were expecting to discover. When at last the treasure lay exposed after their numerous efforts, an odor of such sweetness emerged from within that they could not doubt a group of angels was present there with the divine scents. Then the venerable bishop Enrico approached and, with the highest devotion, soaked his face and chest with tears. He gathered the sacred remains and reverently placed the collection in his cassock. Then a miraculous occurrence, from you, God, working miracles through your saints! A palm tree, which a certain man, inspired by God, had transported from Jerusalem, sprouted green branches and leaves in the tomb from below and all around him. From it, many of those present collected branches and carried them to their homes as a testament of what had really happened.
Chapter 20 – On the placard of St. Nicholas found in Greek and Latin
Moreover, in that tomb, it was written in Greek letters: Here lies the great bishop Nicholas, glorious through his miracles on land and at sea. But if one wishes to know for what reason St. Nicholas was sealed so strongly and hidden away, the reason is as follows:
Chapter 21 – On the emperor's mandate that the remains be closed tightly
It is recorded in the Greek annals, and became known to them through his miracles, that Basil, the emperor at Constantinople, wanted to transport his remains to the imperial tomb and gathered him up limb by limb in sacks. But, when he reached the church doors and could not carry him past the threshold despite all prayers and offerings, he became extremely angry and is said to have spoken and given orders to this effect: "Nicholas! Seeing that the glorious, imperial city will not be able to hold you, I will thus gather you up and hide you away so that no one else will ever find or hold you." Blessed God, and Blessed Name of your majesty! You did not allow these events to happen secretly, but exalted your saint openly for nearly every nation of people and fulfilled the vows of your faithful in the witness of a great many, both friends and enemies.
Chapter 22 – On the assistance of diverse peoples in finding the body of St. Nicholas
For present there were Greeks, Hungarians, Teutons, Dacians, English, French, Italians, Baresi, and Pisans. O blessed people! You were worthy of finding such precious treasures. O blessed bishop! You were worthy to undertake such a task. O Venice, truly blessed, twice-blessed Venice! You gleam today, relying upon twin pillars. Indeed you have the lion, which makes you victorious in battle, and you have the holy admiral, who never fears a storm at sea. You seized the lion from Alexandria through ingenious deception and secured the holy admiral from Greece with manifest strength. But does that mean you acted criminally in the theft of the one and plunder of the other? God forbid! For you did these things not for the sake of violating some place, nor for the sake of malice, but you acted with zealous devotion and piety.
Chapter 23 – On the removal of the sacred bodies and forgiving release of the Pisans
Therefore the holy relics were gathered up, some still stuck together with scraps of bitumen, and the Venetians hastily assembled on the shore. As soon as they arrived at their ships, they set free the blockading Pisans, whom they had held back at Rhodes after the rest had been released, as a charitable fulfillment of Saint Nicholas's mercy. The Venetians also supplied them with a captured ship, weapons, and a map for their safety. Indeed how much joy the Pisans experienced, and how much thanks and praise they offered God, and how many tears of remorse they sed, I cannot suitably describe.
Chapter 24 – On the lamentation of the Greeks and their supplication for the things taken as restitution
But when the city's archbishop heard what had happened, he was struck with heavy sadness and, once the Venetians had departed, went to the city with his clergy and the villagers from the aforementioned encampment where they lived. There he entered the church and discovered what he wished was not true. Ripping at his hair and bushy beard, he spoke such words through tears and sobs: "Holiest father Nicholas! Why do you forsake your homeland? Why are you abandoning your desolate flocks when you are our shepherd? Why do you let yourself be carried violently away by those men? Either you have really lost your accustomed virtue, or you have recognized the Venetians as more faithful to you than any other people. O cruel Venetians! Why have you done this to us? Why did you destroy this place, break apart our altars, and gather away our church's patrons and relics? Although the Turks destroyed this city, they left us with a great hope for well-being until now. But you, who are Christians, have reduced us and all of Greece to nothing." While he was tearfully lamenting in this way and speaking these words of blame upon the Venetians once they were gone, he was consumed with grief and sadness to the point that he could not go to their ships. Instead he sent the city's leader and canons there to ask mercifully that, out of the love of God and honor for the blessed emperor, the Venetians return the three saints – either all three at once or one of them. If they wished to return none of them, they asked, at least do not refuse to hand back the reliquary which they had taken from the main altar. For it would be quite criminal and abominable for a place of such authority and antiquity to remain without any relics at all.
Chapter 25 – On the return of one casket and the donation to restore the site
When the request was heard, the Venetians returned just one of the caskets which they had found within the altar to the delegates and, moved by pity, gave an additional one hundred byzantine aurei for the restoration of the site. Mournfully taking what the Venetians offered and valuing it at nothing compared to what they had lost, the delegates returned to the church still in a state of great sadness. Then a neighboring population, roused by the spreading reports, came running to look upon and pay respects to Nicholas like sons saluting their father before he departs to a faraway place. However, when the visitors were unable to see him, although diligently grappling where he had been kept, they were eaten up by sadness and returned to their homes, their eyes flooding with tears.
Chapter 26 - On the Venetians' offerings to the bodies and placing them in the trireme
But as much as the Greeks were aggrieved, the Venetians were more delighted to haul away sacred patrons with honor befitting the time and place. Some placed cloaks while others offered coins, each entreating for his own desire or need. They also constructed a small shrine of fresh lumber in the style of the church as the relics were placed on the trireme. They furnished the interior of the shrine with curtains and palls, and its light would never lack oil or wax. The bishop remained present at the shrine day and night, and the band of clerics assiduously sang either nocturns or litanies or recited divine hymns. In fact some of the men had taken bits of the remains from the bones of St. Nicholas or from the dust, either out of devotion or for the veneration of their own churches. These men were either afflicted by various disease, struck down with harsh beatings, or disturbed by terrors in the night. So revealing to the bishop what they had experienced and confessing their sins, they reluctantly returned all the fragments to the whole in order to make amends.
Chapter 27 - On the delegation sent to Venice
Once these matters were completed, the Venetians sent delegates from there to Venice with letters to lay out in order the details of what they had done and in what way. Therefore, they decided and arranged everything they would need for their present task and completed what wished for their mission. The ropes were released from the shore, the heavy anchors lifted from the depths, and the way of God was resumed with great alacrity. Once the sails were opened, nothing was visible other than sky and sailcloth, for there were nearly two hundred ships, all of them teeming with victory, weapons, and men eager for war.
Chapter 28 – On the host of two hundred ships and the delegation's landing at Venice
For now let me stay silent about the fleet and entrust it to be guided by God, and in course of recounting the events of the journey return to Venice, which was about to be consoled by the delegation's news. Indeed after the delegates reached Venice and revealed the facts with written testimony and tokens, the entire city of Rialto, uplifted with great joy, made for the Palazzo Ducale, where they received the correspondence from their neighbors and friends through their sealed documents there.
At once no shred of doubt, no hint of sadness remained in their hearts. For nearly the whole space of a year had passed during which they had heard nothing certain about the Venetian fleet; instead spurious rumor had rung out in place of fact. When the real truth of the matter became entire clear, that Almighty God bestowed true mercy over and above upon his faithful, both in the discovery of the saints and the confrontation with the Pisans, oh how they rejoiced for their friends' safety! How much they reveled and rejoiced at the discovery of the saints! The clergymen came at once, and the monks, very devoutly offering prayer, and the laity, lavishing alms. The report circulated among the people, and they all formed their own opinions about what to do next.
Chapter 29 – On the arrangements to place the bodies
Some said that St. Nicholas should be placed alongside St. Mark. Others disagreed: rather a church should be constructed for him in his own space. A third group agreed with neither of those ideas but advised he would be better in the Casa Majora so that, just as the doge is seated in the presence of St. Mark, the patriarch could be seated in the presence of St. Nicholas. They all changed their own minds, too, and said: "Perhaps none of these proposals will be as we hope. Rather the bishop,who is with Nicholas now, will strive to possess him and place him in his own episcopal see." Thus the people's minds prevaricated. God, however, who blessed Nicholas in his cradle without humans weighing in, undeniable saw fit to settle the dispute and reveal where He wished him to be placed. At that time Vitale was abbot of St. Nicholas of Lido – a simple and chaste man, and thoroughly unacquainted with worldly vanity. When Vitale heard that his master St. Nicholas had been retrieved from his homeland, an event which he had always hoped would be accomplished in his lifetime, he yearned for this to be accomplished with divine piety. How eager he was to request Nicholas from the doge6, who was quite friendly to the monastery, and in beseeching, counseling, and exhorting the patricians! Vitale himself and the whole congregation of the monastery also pledged that, unless the nobles agreed to place Nicholas at the monastery once the army returned, taking his place in the treasury there, the entire monastic community would follow their master wherever they might take him.
Chapter 30 – On the ship sent to the army to respond to the delegation
When, with the aid and counsel of the doge and other nobles, all had reached an agreement that Nicholas would be dedicated in that place, they sent a very fast, armed ship to meet the army with messengers for the commander of the fleet, the bishop, and other dignitaries gathering in voluntary service. When the ship reached Sclavonia, the messengers, after being delayed at Jadera, were recalled from the journey out of fear of their enemies and due to the dangerous wintry conditions. A monk, who had traveled on that ship on behalf of the abbot, stayed to await the arrival of the fleet; the others, since the situation still hung in doubt, returned to Venice. Therefore, concerning what was happening in Venice, I think enough has been said for the present time. Now, with the fleet departing, I navigate the sea with my pen and make way to Jerusalem.
Chapter 31 – On the fleet's landing with the three saints at Jerusalem
The sailors set out, sailing secure in the presence of blessed Nicholas, and reached the island Cyprus. There they crossed paths with Raymond, count of Saint-Gilles, who was returning from Jerusalem to Constantinople. They asked and answered each other's questions about the state of their journeys and, parting with a kiss of peace, resumed their intended courses. When the multitude of ships reached the Promised Land and arrived in Jaffa, an ancient, deserted city, the Venetians arranged a meeting with Godfrey, King of the holy city, the patriarch, and his entire army, which in fact had little coin and numbered very few soldiers.
Chapter 32 – On the generous reception of the Venetians by the French army and Godfrey, and the Venetians' offering
The French received the Venetians gratefully and explained their need of most everything, especially of rations and men. They said they wished to leave the land and those cities unless they might be supplemented by the kind treatment and aid of the Venetians. And so when the Venetians replied that they had come to honor God through the kind treatment and aid of Christians and handed out to the French a bounty of food and drink, of which the French had great need – partly for free and partly for a price – the French promised that they would do anything in return for the Venetians' generosity.
Chapter 33 – On the Pact Made with the Venetian Army and the Privileges Granted to Them
Therefore a pact was agreed between them, which was to be confirmed in mutual oaths and sanctioned a special right of power. "It is decided that the Venetians be obliged to toil in the service of God with the French from the feast of St. John the Baptist until the Assumption of Holy Mary according to the following agreement: however many cities, every church in each one, with broad streets converging in a central square, the French captured, or will have captured, either along the coast or further inland, they have conceded to the Venetians. They also granted them freedom in perpetuity and exemption from all payments which merchants typically hand over to the rulers of a land. Moreover, of those cities which they capture together, the spoils shall be divided among them in the following way: let the Venetians have a one-third share and the French a two-thirds share for the reason that they are short on money and have toiled in the service of God more and longer.
Chapter 34 – On the capture of Tripoli and the gathering
"Moreover, if Tripoli is captured, after all the city's spoils have been divided evenly among them, St. Mark shall take possession of the city without any debt or obligation, save for the fact that each year the Venetians must dedicate some token of good faith in Jerusalem. And if a Venetian ship happens to come into danger in any territory where one of the French rules, no one shall take anything from it, nor must the ship's captain pay anything to anyone except those who assist him as a wage for their labor."
Chapter 35 – On the fleet landing on the Feast of St. John the Baptist and leaving some of the fleet in Jaffa to guard the saints
After the arrangements were so agreed, the fleet commander and bishop, together with half the army, set out for Jerusalem. The rest of the army, meanwhile, remained in the port of Jaffa to guard the fleet and the bodies of the saints, ready to depart once the others returned. Those who sailed for Jersualem arrived on the holy birthday of John the Baptist, around the sixth hour, and entered the holy city, their feet bear and having observed a fast, with the greatest reverence. They were welcomed by the clergy and people together with equal observance of faithfulness and kindness.
Chapter 36 – On celebrating the mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the bishop's sermon to the people
Then on the following day, the venerable bishop Enrico, in spite of his modesty, was asked humbly by the king of the sacred city to celebrate Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. This he did with solemnity and tearful compunction. After the reading of the Scripture, speaking to countless people, he pronounced the following sermon from his holy lips: "Beloved brothers and dearest sons! Long ago the Holy Spirit prophesied through the mouth of David, the king and prophet, what would come to pass for us and the rest of His faithful; today it has come to pass for us, though we are sinners. Indeed, today we enter 'the Lord's holy tabernacle.' Today 'we have worshipped in the place where the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ stepped.' Today we are in the holy city, which was so often pronounced by the prophets, was recorded in Scriptures, was illuminated earlier by the Law, and was consecrated by the Blood of Christ. O Brothers, what a cause for joy today is – for our true confession and our minds' compunction to the host of Heavenly Angels! O, therefore, what a sorrow and reckoning for the princes of darkness today is! But what use is it to have entered the worldly Jerusalem and manmade temple of the Lord if it happens that we fall short of community with the heavenly Jerusalem and union with the temple that was not made? Therefore let us work tirelessly and be diligent in our good works with help of God, lest we spoil such toil and service and revert to vile folly. Certainly our heavenly Father with not deny us, who have just arrived, the daily wage that He paid the French for their earlier labors. Nor are they any less victorious who fight bravely in the final battle than those who wrought slaughter in the first. For nothing has been profitable – rather much has been wasted – if this holy place, once liberated from the enemies of God, becomes occupied by them again. Be sure they not only strive more passionately to retake it, but threaten to destroy and annihilate it completely if they conquer it once again. For this reason, as Christ's soldiers and champions, strong and fresh, strive just as much as your brothers, now exhausted by the long toil of war and weakened by constant battle. Rush to their aid and deserve to be counted in the number of the blessed Maccabi. For certain, my dearest sons! Know and believe without a doubt, because today I hold in my sight the whole of Venice and confess the names of all of you in this present Eucharist and all my other prayers. I also grant to all those who are guarding our fleet or living in Venice the same absolution which I offer those of you present, and grant a share in our journey, toil, prayers, and all our good works. The immense difficult of our task and the day's blazing heat stop me from saying more to you for now, but wise and discerning men can sum up many things in few words. Nor do those who fear God and find favor in truth need to hear many words. Indeed may He, by whose death you are redeemed, whose cross you bear as a sign, whose glorious Sepulcher you seek, through the merits and prayers of His mother Blessed Mary and all the other saints, grant you remission and forgiveness of past sins, absolution and pardon from any now, the protection of His grace from any in the future. He lives and reigns with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and before all things came to be, and in the life of the world to come. Amen."
Chapter 37 – On the Venetians' alms and the praise they received from the French
Once the priest of God had restored his flock with the fodder of the divine word and eucharist of our salvation, the Venetians visited all those holy places where pilgrims are typically visit, as they should, both within the city and without, with the highest devotion and tearful compunction. They also made generous, honorable gifts for which the French clergy praised their generosity in offering benefactions to the church and their conspicuous devotion. Moreover, they extolled the Venetian soldiers above all others for the refinement of their clothing and integrity of their weapons.
Chapter 38 – On the affirmation of their pact and the return to Jaffa
Accordingly, after completing their holy pilgrimage with great dignity and devotion, and while king Godfrey remained at Jerusalem due to illness, the Venetians returned to the port with the patriarch. Their allies, meanwhile, who had waited at the port, made their way up to perform acts of devotion in Jerusalem. They likewise visited the holy sites and completed further acts of piety, then returned with joyful spirits to their commanders. Thereafter, the Venetians and French arrived at Jaffa at the same time and affirmed the pact described above with reciprocal sacraments and privileges. Once joined and bonded together unanimously in the fraternal love of Christ, they declared eagerly that they should set out and besiege Acre. Since many of the French were foot-soldiers, and the Venetian ships were able to move very quickly, the French started their journey over land three days before the Venetians.
Chapter 39 – On the death of King Godfrey
During those three days, news reached the Venetians, who were preparing for their journey, that King Godfrey, a distinguished swordsman, was about to pass into death. At this news, the Venetians were extremely saddened and racked with doubt what they should do. Therefore they sent respected men to the patriarch and Tancred, the leader of the army, with three ships as legates. These legates were to announce to what had happened and bring back their response about how they wished to proceed. At this news, so lamentable and grievous, the French became sad and agitated. Tancred, who was insightful in his advice and strenuous in battle, reportedly stood amidst the others and replied thus to the Venetians:
Chapter 40 – On the mission to capture Acre
"It is, of course, human that we should grieve the loss of such a person, so wise and fearsome. But if we desist from our intended course, our actions will be ascribed to faint-heartedness over the death of a single man. It is now our plan, and good for us at the present time, to avoid the city of Acre and besiege Haifa, the pride and source of all paganism. Therefore, since we do not fight under the command of an earthly master, nor with fear, but at the will of our Heavenly King out of love, serving Him more freely and securely than any earthly prince, let us fulfill the task of the salvific army very eagerly and devoutly." When they heard these words, the legates returned as quickly as possible and advised their Venetian comrades to follow the French at once. Setting sail right away, the Venetians were able to see the French army camped in the mountains about Haifa from a considerable distance. For the city was located in a fairly flat place, positioned at the base of Mt. Carmel above the sea, which impeded the way of God more than the other mountains, and Acre was so close that, from there, Haifa could be seen clearly. All pagan confidence and pride depended upon this city, in part because of its strategic location and impregnable defenses and in part because of its citizens' insuperable dignity. For this reason, it was decided among the Christians that they should defeat this city first of all and, once it was conquered, they could subjugate the other cities, struck by fear, all the more easily.
Chapter 41 – On the advance to capture the city of Haifa
And so they advanced, some by land and others by sea, toward the city, Haifa, which had never before been conquered. They besieged it first in the manner of their enemies. Right after this, the bishop spoke often, because he wanted to conduct the entire matter with discretion and obedience. Once their own manner of engagement was decided, the bishop sent a message to the prideful citizens that they should accept the faith and baptism of Christ and in this way could master their own faculties and affairs with Christian sensibility. He advised they would not owe any duty to any Christian master except to provide their Christian conquerors money, which they collected from pagan princes every year. He further suggested that, if they did not wish to accept the faith of Christ, they should nevertheless turn the city over to them and, having lost their freedom, live according to their own law, either while serving Christians; otherwise they would be permitted to depart to whatever place they wished. The Haifans, however, were blinded by hardness of heart and inflated with an air of pride. Inclined to deceit, they trusted their strength and fortification and treacherously demanded a truce in the momentous affair; meanwhile they readied instruments of defense and fortification. When the truce was requested, however, the Christian soldiers saw that they were being deceived by the enemy and did not agree to delay the war any longer. Now, in fact, they were determined that the matter should be settled by strength rather than agreement.
And so the Venetians initiated war; they killed some of the treacherous citizens and burned many of their ships. However, the pagans, avenging themselves on a certain night, captured one ship from the Venetians by dragging it from among the others with iron chains. That ship they sank with fourteen men aboard after releasing some others. Now, however, because it is a lengthy task to recount all the things that were done in order, and because our task is to carry the saints' bodies to Venice, extolling the praises of the Christ and despising the arrogance of the devil, let us thus omit many details in order to explain the undertaking quickly.
Therefore, the Christian soldiers, desirous of victory, assaulted the diabolical city violently with every type of instrument, which they constructed on the ships. The enemies of God struggled hard to preserve themselves with iron, fire, and rocks, and they railed against Christ's name day and night with strident voices, saying; "Your Cross, on which you place your faith, has never entered this city, nor any of its disciples. Stupid, ignorant men! You will not take the city by strength! Even the sultan of Persia, or glorious Babylon, rather, though laying siege many times with countless men, was never able to conquer Haifa, nor will you have victory, who are few in number and unaccustomed to the mandates of our laws. No, your God could never even subjugate you to His law. We will never honor the God whom others worship, nor will we obey any worldly ruler, nor will we recognize any law involuntarily!" Hurling insults like this, the loathsome citizens with unsheathed swords threatened the Christians from the turrets and shouted that, if the Christians did not desist from their vain undertaking, these swords would press against their throats. To these words they added many incantations and curses, and they demanded oracles from their own demonic and unchaste sooths. But God, who smites pride and consoles the humble, exalted the humility of His own to heaven and struck the adversaries' defiance to the ground. After a siege tower was constructed, taller than all the city's turrets, the crusaders attacked the city more fiercely from the Venetian ships, yet the enemies of Christ, with their stubborn will, defended themselves no less fiercely.
Chapter 42 – On the capture of one of Haifa's turrets and its promise
The brave combatants recognized that their glory was further delayed by their enemies and the siege of the city was dragging nearly continuously for a month. Therefore, so their boldness might become even greater, the Venetians, together with the French, whom they bound to themselves with pledges and sacraments, ascended the wooden siege tower. Clearing a path through the densely packed enemies with their swords, they broke into one of the city's turrets. When the rest of the Haifans, who were keeping guard of the other turrets, recognized this, they became desperate for their lives. At once they sent one of their oldest and wisest men to the aforementioned bishop and promised to hand themselves over to him wherever he placed the cross. But the bishop, who was more than clever enough, recognized deception from this sort of people. He came down to a lower part of the city with the cross and entrusted it to the delegate's hands so he could display it to the people. The pagans, meanwhile, abandoned their turrets when they saw they cross and flocked to the bishop in flight. But the Christians, who were stationed at the back, struck with their swords and spared no one within the city due to age or sex. The virtue of Christ and ingenuity of His men had conquered at last, and when the antichristian city lay open to the Christians, no one could take a step on any street or square of the city without touching the blood or remains of a pagan.
Chapter 43 – On the capture of Haifa, the reward given to the French, and saying farewell to the allies
In this way the city of Haifa was captured and now subjugated for the first time to the rule of Christ, and the entire city was handed over to the French as a reward. After spending several days there, now that the men had been vanquished, the ships released, and other matters arranged sensibly, the Venetians bid the French farewell, exchanged kisses of peace, and dedicated a double palm for their voyage and victory. They then departed for the homeland, ever the friend of peace. For now winter was threatening the ships, and their desire to bring the saints to Venice was pressing them on.
Chapter 44 – On the fleet's landing at Venice with the sacred bodies and the oath concerning their placement
When the victorious soldiers arrived at that place in the sea which is called Lesina, they all swore an oath unanimously with a shared utterance upon the sacred Evangelist. Inspired by the work of the Holy Spirit, they agreed they would place most sacred Nicholas with his fellow saints, whom they were carrying, in the monastery at Lido in Rialto, consecrated in his name, and keep them there permanently. Then, sailing favorably along the quickest route, they happily entered the port of Rialto on the very day of the feast of the miraculous patron, whom they carried to oversee the festivities. When the towering Venetian fleet was spotted at a distance, the clergy and people processed to meet it, to this point unaware of the fleet's vow. They were exultant and glad at the return of their countrymen and arrival of the saints, and bells sounded everywhere out of joy. The doge proceeded along with the patriarch and his triumphant episcopal colleagues. In fact, when the doge Vitale Michiel learned of their vow and sworn oath, by no means did their action displease him; rather he praised them and likewise gave approval in every way. Then the abbot of the monastery and the entire crowd looked and approached the objects of their desire, crying out of an abundance of piety. Solemnly adorned, they came down with crosses, banners with tapestries, and censers and received their lord honorably. When the three caskets were conveyed from the ship, the commander and Bishop of Castello, with his episcopal colleagues, carried the holy patrons into the monastery with hymns and prayers, just as had been sworn, and they lifted them above the altar of the most sacred Confessor himself with devout minds. Then the bishop of God, carrying a palm commemorating the journey in his hand, came out of the church, which was small. As briefly and clearly as possible, he recounted the whole series of events and gave other salubrious advice both to the Venetians and the many others who had gathered. For such a crowd had gathered, first because of the feast and then the arrival of the fleet and saints, that the water could scarcely contain the ships and there was barely room on shore for the crowds. After the rites were celebrated and the crowd had thinned, the smaller caskets, in which the saints had arrived, were placed inside larger ones and, so as to be seen by everyone, the holy relics were positioned in the open space in the middle of the chancel. And so, with the saints resting there, all Venice celebrated daily vigils until Easter, as decreed in an order. The clergy held up ecclesiastical accoutrements; young men stood guard with banners, horns, and armed ships; old men stood with boys, grandmothers with girls; luminaries were lit and incense burned; all devoutly kept watch through the night in service of God and the holy patrons. The saints in turn performed countless miracles: they put demons to flight, restored sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, movement to the lame, speech to the mute, coordination of limb to the paralyzed, broke fevers, and made those feeble with various afflictions strong. Indeed, they did not cease from their heavenly healing.
Chapter 45 – On the construction of a strong turret on the Church of St. Nicholas and the translation and feast of St. Nicholas in Venice
Meanwhile, because many still distrusted the affirmation sworn by others and even wise men worried that violence, fraud, or a plot might come about because of such treasures, a very strong and well-fortified turret, into which the saint were reverently transferred, was built to prevent every opportunity and head off jealousy conspirators while a larger church and fortification was prepared for them. There the monks' vigil and guards' watch never ceased and the saints remained at hand to heal the sick in body and spirit. The glorious discovery of these sacred pontiffs was celebrated on the 30th of May, and the most victorious transfer from Myra to Venice on the 6th of December, which is in fact the very day of St. Nicholas's birth. In the reign of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who holds all honor, glory, power, and might, with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and in the life of the world to come. Amen.
Chapter 46 - Sermon on the relics
This day, most beloved brothers, let us be happy and rejoice, not so much with a worldly happiness as spiritual joy, because today Nicholas, most blessed Confessor of God, is lifted up from earth to heaven; withdrawn from the fellowship of men, he has joined the collection of angels. He has been transformed by the blessed exchange from grief into joy, from labor into rest, from the shadows of this world into light, from night into day, from death into life. Let us rejoice, I say, and again I say, let us rejoice! For today in heaven blessed Nicholas has been given special place among the chorus of saints, today he has joined with the Holy Spirit and angels. Today, by the granting mercy of God, today his physical remains have been brought to Venice; he has entered Venice. Therefore let us celebrate his double rites with devout minds. In fact, in performing the common rite of the Transitus with all the Greeks and Latin and cultivating our own concerning the arrival of the body, are we to celebrate a double rite or a multiplied one? But let us act more reasonably and reverently and celebrate the double and the multiplied: the double rite, as I have thought, is multiplied for magnificent Nicholas; likewise for the other Nicholas, the great confessor, his uncle, and for Theodore the Martyr, especially since they are united in the same familial alliance, because they were archbishops of the same city, were found together, returned together in a single ship, entered Venice today, and wished to inhabit one common home. And therefore they must not be separated from the rite, since they were not separated from their fellowship in all these respects. Nor must they be excluded from the glory of such a rite, for the same dignity, same sanctity, so familiar a fellowship, and even the closeness of their births binds them together. As their venerable discovery, glorious translation, eastward pilgrimage and visitation, and bodily proximity holds them together, their praises and solemn public devotion must not unjoin them. Therefore, in this feast about to be celebrated, let us render praise which strengthens us, proclaim our prayers with tears, and let us say: Most blessed confessors of God, Nicholas the nephew and equally the uncle! And you, too, Theodore, precious martyr of the Lord! Protect the crowd present, gathered today in your honor, from all enemies, and by your prayers, intercession, and kindness, free us from all hellish penalties! Guide your church; defend your homeland; bless your priests, bishops, and abbots; make the doge and lawmakers just; pray for the wealthy; lift up the poor; right the clergy; preserve the people! Purify me, too, a sinner and unworthy, who presumes to speak your praise, from the foulness of sin, so that the praise of you and God might become respectable in my mouth and my voice not remain ineffectual from the fruit of good works and eternal rewards. Glory to you, God, eternal king! Provider and Protector of all that is good, you deign to visit us, your unworthy servants, and this country, not because of our merits, nor due to our uprightness, but out of your mercy and your goodness, granted freely through great and excellent patrons and bishops. For what have we done, or what are we able to do, that is worthy of such beneficence? How do we deserve to possess such a shrine? Rather the piety of God, without human council, by His own providence, brought about what he intended. He has no need of a servant, yet his servant has need of Him. Therefore with so great and so much beneficence brought about by God, Venice has been freely enriched and enhanced, and glories not on its own power but in the Lord, not should the city be praised for this divine gift, but rather let it be humbled! Let Venice repay thanks and acts of goodwill to God, who enriched the city with incomparable treasure when he granted it the patron of the Greeks and evangelist of the Latins. O fortunate Venice, blessed Venice! You have blessed Mark the Evangelist, your defender like a lion in battle, and Nicholas, father of the Greeks, as captain of the ships. In war you have the strong lion as standard bearer, the wise Greek admiral in storms at sea. You attack battalions of enemies with the lion so greatly feared and advances safely through the waves of the sea with such a captain. There is indeed a great utility in outward matters that we say proceeds from these patrons, but we believe that a greater good will proceed from them within our souls. For just as Saint Mark aids his people in worldly battle, so he assists those devoted to him in spiritual struggles and sustains them against wickedness. And just as Saint Nicholas guides ships through the waves of a storm, so he directs the minds of men through the turbulence of perverse temptation. Therefore we entreat you, most glorious protectors of Venice, Mark the Evangelist and Confessor Nicholas! And you, too, most blessed bishops, Theodore the Martyr and you, the other Confessor Nicholas! With divine grace proceeding and your intercession following, as much as we observe your worldly feasts, let us be worthy to join with you in the feasts of angels.
- Translated from the Latin of the Anonymous Monk of Lido, "Historia de Translatione Sanctorum Magni Nicolai…" in Recueil des Historiens des Croisades, Paris: Imprimerie Nationale, 1895, pp. 253-292. back
- This and subsequent references to Basil indicate Basil I (811-886, r. 867-886).back
- This Nicholas was likely the uncle of Nicholas of Sion, a local 6th century saint. Nicholas the Uncle presided over the basilica in Myra, according to the Life of St. Nicholas of Sion. Understandably, the various Lycian Nicholases were often confused and conflated in the period. back
- Mausoleum in the original but seems to be a strange word choice. The object is buried but does not seem to be larger than a coffin and was probably smaller than that. back
- he reference here is to the seat of the Patriarch of Grado, though it is not entirely clear what specific building the "casa majora" would have been. back
- Here I follow the alternate reading of D.: "ad eum inquirendum a duce" rather than the edition's "ad eum adquirendum ducem." back
- The bishop here quotes Psalm 131, 7. back
- Ibid. back
- Here the bishop quotes Prov. 26, 11: "As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly." back
- "any longer": the Latin text includes an apparent misspelling, or otherwise unknown word, "diuticas," which I have translated "any longer" on the assumption that the author intended to write "diutine" or a similar word based on the stem diu-. back
References
- Bellomo, Elena (2009). "The First Crusade and the Latin east as seen from Venice: the account of
the Translatio sancti Nicolai." Early Medieval Europe, 17(4), 420–443.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468... - Frankopan, Peter (2021). "The Rise of the Adriatic in the Age of the Crusades." In Byzantium, Venice and the Medieval Adriatic: Spheres of Maritime Power and Influence, c. 700-1453 (British School at Athens Studies in Greek Antiquity), ed. Magdalena Skoblar. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press: 276–95. doi:10.1017/9781108886987
- Grant, Alisdair C. (2019). "Byzantium's Ashes and the Bones of St Nicholas: Two Translations as Turning Points, 1087–1100." In Trends and Turning Points: Constructing the Late Antique and Byzantine World, ed. Matthew Kinlock and Alex MacFarlane. Brill: 247–65.
From M. T. Anderson, Stealing St. Nicholas: The Original Texts, used by permission.