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Itinerary
87
Chapter LXXVII. Ñ How the famished ate karrubles, and died from drinking
wine.
There was exposed for sale a kind of fruit growing on trees; a grain
enclosed in a pod like a pea, which the common people called karruble,
sweet to the taste, and very pleasant to eat. The hungry were recruited by
them, because there was a greater abundance of them than other things,
whence the way to buy them was much frequented; for although they were
of inferior value, they were something. Of those who lay weak and ate
little, either because they had nothing to eat, or because they could not eat,
the wine which they drank heated them so much that many were
suffocated, either from the violence of the liquor, which was not tempered
with food, or from being too weak to support its strength and goodness.
There was a tolerable supply of wine for sale, but, much wine is not good
for the preservation of the body with little food; for it is necessary to
proportion the one to the other. But inasmuch as the marquis was the cause
of the scarcity, they ceased not to curse him and execrate him for the
violation of his covenant, and invoked evil on him and mortal woe.
Chapter LXXVIII. Ñ How the famished ate flesh during Lent.
Some were driven by the pressure of the famine to eat flesh in the
beginning of Lent, on what is commonly called Ash-Wednesday, Ñ not
because they had plenty of it, but because it was more easily obtained:
afterwards, however, as the famine slackened, they repented and made
proportionate penitence. Above all these things, during the whole of that
winter, the charity of all was so cooled by the fear of want of money, that a
man did not even share his necessaries with his friend, their little faith
leading them to doubt GodÕs love, and to believe that if they shared with
others, they themselves would lack the necessaries of life. To such a degree
the vice of parsimony, and the concealment of their stores increased, that
even they hid what they had, and those that had were thought not to have

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Itinerary
88
at all. What did the voice of so many in want then imprecate on the
marquis? Who did not think him the cause of so many being in jeopardy?
Chapter LXXIX. Ñ The exhortation of the bishop of Salisbury and some others to
the rich, to make collections to assist the poor.
The intercourse of the faithful becoming beyond measure checked,
and no one taking thought or notice of the poor and needy, the infamy of
this want of faith extended itself to all. The bishop of Salisbury was active
in shewing that nothing was greater than charity, nothing more acceptable
to God, nothing more fruitful than to give; and to this end he induced all,
by his powerful persuasion, to open their hands and distribute to their
neighbours, to give to the needy, and support the perishing, lest, if they
neglected the wants of others, they should not obtain their own; for it is
said that he who heeds them not when he may, is the cause of death to the
languishing: he shewed that he was guilty of another manÕs death, who
refused to assist him when he could; for we are commanded to give drink
to our enemy when thirsty, and to feed him when hungry. And the bishops
of Nerrona and Faenza in Italy, earnestly assisted in his exhortation. In
consequence of the exhortation and urgency of these men, a collection was
made for distribution amongst the poor, and so many and so great were
the hearts God moved to contribute to the support of the needy, that the
hungry were greatly recruited; and the substance of the givers, also, by the
grace of God co-operating, was not diminished. Then arose fresh joy, then
the lips of many blessed the givers, then were benefits multiplied, then it is
said that pity was turned gratefully towards them, whilst the powerful
yearned with compassion over the afflicted. Among the most active in
performing these duties, were Watlin de Ferrars and Robert Trusebot, and
not behind them were Henry count of Champagne, Jocelin de Montoirs, as
well as the count of Clairmont; and the bishop of Salisbury, who was the
first promoter of these good deeds.
By the care of these men, aided by the others, every one contributed
according to his means to a common fund, that it might be distributed to
each as he had need. Thus, those whose hearts were before cold under

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