A horrible tale has come from the east. Your brothers who live there are in urgent need of help. The Turks have conquered more and more Byzantine territory. They have killed and captured many, and destroyed the churches with pillage and fire, or used them for their own religion. They have tortured people by stabbing their navels, pulling out their intestines, tying them to a stake and then flogged them as they march around until their innards burst. Others, they tie to a post and pierce with arrows. Others, they force to stretch out their necks, then they attack them with swords, trying to cut through the neck with a single blow.

Who will take revenge on them for these wrongs, and recover this territory, if not you? God has given you remarkable glory in weapons, great courage, fitness and strength. If you permit the Turks to carry on like this, the faithful of God will be much more widely attacked by them. I call upon you all to send this message everywhere, and persuade people of all ranks to come quickly to the aid of the Christians in the Holy Land and rescue our holy sites.

If you are worried about leaving your families, remember that you will be rewarded for sacrificing for God. The lands you have now are too small to support the population; they are not wealthy and don’t produce enough food – but if you go on this journey, you can take the Holy Land back from the wicked Turks. It is a land that is overflowing with abundance. 

Go on this journey to have your sins pardoned, and be assured of the glory of the kingdom of heaven. Anyone who dies on the journey, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans [non-Christians], shall have immediate forgiveness of their sins. 

Let those who have been at war with each other now go against the infidels [non-Christians]. Let those who have been robbers, now become knights. Let those who have been fighting against their brothers and relatives now fight properly against the barbarians. Let those who have been serving as mercenaries [soldiers who only fight for money] for small pay now obtain the eternal reward: heaven. Let those who have been wearing themselves out in both body and soul now work for a special honour. Do not delay! Rent out your lands, collect money for your expenses, and then, as soon as winter is over and spring arrives, set out on your journey, with God as your guide!