THE STEDINGERS. 1ST by its easy success, Count Burchard of Oldenburg, its leader, was emboldened to attack the fortified lands on the west bank, when he and some two hundred crusaders were slain and the rest were glad to escape with their lives.* Matters were evidently growing serious. The success of the Stedingers in battling for the maintenance of their independence was awakening an uneasy feeling among the populations, and the feudal nobles were no less interested than the prelates in sub- duing what might prove to be the nucleus of a dangerous and far- reaching revolt. The third crusade was therefore preached with additional energy over a wider circle than before, and prepara- tions were made for an expedition in 1234 on a scale to crush all resistance. Dominicans spread like a cloud over Holland, Flan- ders, Brabant, Westphalia, and the Rhinelands, summoning the faithful to defend religion. In Friesland they had little success, for the population sympathized with their kindred and were rather disposed to maltreat the preachers, but elsewhere their labors were abundantly rewarded. Bulls of February 11 take un- der papal protection the territories of Henry Baspe of Thuringia, and Otho of Brunswick, who had assumed the cross — the latter, however, only with a view to self-protection, for he was an enemy of Archbishop Gerhardt. The heaviest contingent came from the west, under Hendrik, Duke of Brabant, consisting, it is said, of forty thousand men led by the preux chevalier, Florent, Count of Holland, together with Thierry, Count of Cleves, Arnoul of Oude- narde, Rasso of Gavres, Thierry of Dixmunde, Gilbert of Zotte- ghem, and other nobles, eager to earn salvation and preserve their feudal rights. Three hundred ships from Holland gave assurance that the maritime part of the expedition should not be lacking. Apparently warned by the disastrous outcome of his zeal in the affair of Conrad of Marburg, Gregory at the last moment seems to have felt some misgiving, and in March, 1234, sent to Bishop Guglielmo, his legate in North Germany, orders to endeavor by peaceful means to bring about the reconciliation of the peasants,
- Hist. Diplom. Frid. II. T. IV. p. 497.— Albert. Stadens. Chrou. aim. 1232,
1234.— Raynald. ann. 1232, No. 8.— Hartzheim III. 553.— Joan. Ottonis Cat. Ar- chiepp. Bremens. ann. 1234. — Anon. Saxon. Hist. Imperator. ann. 1220. — Chron. Cornel. Zantfliet ann. 1233.— Epistt. Select. Saecul. XIII. T. I. No. 539 (Pertz).
