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Itinerary
85
torments. Oftentimes, in the sight of all, they whom hunger had stripped of
shame, fed upon abominable and filthy things, found by chance, and which
cannot be named; yet they deemed them delicious food, though unlawful
for man to make use of. O the voice of the people, cursing the perfidy of the
marquis, for he cared not for the wretchedness of a perishing people!
Chapter LXXIV. Ñ How noblemen also, when they had not wherewith to buy
bread, stole it.
From some other instances worth relating, the magnitude of the
famine may be estimated; for in those who endured it patiently according
to the flesh, it may be not undeservedly considered martyrdom, unless
perchance by murmuring, they diminished the credit which they would
thus have received. The pressure of necessity moreover led to the
commission of many disgraceful acts; and some even of noble extraction,
who were on that account ashamed to beg openly, feared not to sin in
secret to obtain the subsistence so difficult to got honestly, and were in the
habit of stealing bread. Thus it happened that one man was caught in this
kind of robbery, and was bound tightly with thongs, in which condition he
was placed in custody in the house of the man who had caught him, who
was a baker; and while the family was very much engaged in domestic
matters, by some movement or other, the captive managed to get his hands
loose, and as he was placed by chance close by a heap of new loaves, he ate
his full unperceived by any one, and then escaping with one loaf in his
hand, returned unpunished to his friends; and after telling his story
distributed the bread he had in his hand to them to eat. But what was this
among so many? Want irritated the appetite, and exasperated rather than
quieted hunger. O then the voice of the people, cursing the perfidy of the
marquis, because he cared not for the wretchedness of a perishing people!
Chapter LXXV. Ñ How many turn apostates from the bitterness of the famine.
What was still worse, some of our men, and it cannot be told or heard
without great grief, gave way to the severity of the famine, and in paying

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Itinerary
86
attention to their corporeal safety incurred the damnation of their souls.
For after having overcome a great part of their tribulation, some of our men
taking refuge among the Turks, did not hesitate to turn apostates, and to
procure for themselves by wicked blasphemies eternal death, that they
might enjoy a little longer this mortal life. O pernicious exchange! O crime
for which no punishment can suffice! O foolish men like unto senseless
beasts! while ye fled from the death, which must soon come, you took no
care against the death that is without end! For if a just man liveth by faith,
perfidy is accounted death, but the conscience of all who act foolishly must
be purged. Then they execrate the marquis for breaking his covenant, and
imprecate evil on him and mortal woe.
Chapter LXXVI. Ñ How two friends buy thirteen beans for a denier.
There were two friends, comrades in misfortune as well as in war, so
needy and distressed that the two possessed only one piece of money,
commonly called an angevin, and with that only they wished to purchase
something to eat; but what could they do? It was a mere trifle, and worth
little, even if there had been abundance of all sorts of good things; and they
had nothing else but their armour and clothing. They considered for a long
time very thoughtfully what they should buy with that one little piece, and
how it could be done to ward off the pressing evil of the day. They at last
came to the resolution of buying some beans, since nothing was to be
bought of less value; with difficulty, therefore, they obtained, after much
entreaty, thirteen beans for their denier, one of which on returning home
they found consumed by maggots, and therefore unfit for eating. Upon
this, by mutual agreement, they went a long distance in search of the seller,
who consented not without difficulty and after much supplication, to give
them a whole bean in exchange. How strange this exchange of such a thing
after a long search, and at such a distance! From those beans, which were
consumed in a moment, how much benefit do we think could accrue to the
hungry? We judge that must be weighed more by the opinion of the hearer
than described by the pen. Then they execrated the marquis for the
violation of his covenant, and prayed for evil on him and mortal woe.

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