middle ages pilgrim numbers--urban legend?

[Barry Evans]

"Camino Pilgrim Net (an online resource for Camino pilgrims) reports
that in the year when Saint Francis made his pilgrimage from Assissi,
on foot, he was one of about a  million people who did so."

I'd heard this too, but I wonder if this is a bit of an urban legend?
this would have been when the total population of Europe was around
80 million, hard to believe that 1 in 80 could take off from their
non-stop work (no paid vacations then!) and trek not just to Santiago
but home again.
I'd be fascinated to know if there's any independent documentation of
middle ages numbers.
(trying to imagine a few thousand tired peregrinos arriving every
night at El Cebreiro!)
Barry Evans

=====
Barry Evans    (707) 476 8317
217 Second Street, Eureka, CA 95501

Check out our camino photos: http://us.geocities.com/barryevans9/camino

"Is it possible that we're actually okay?"

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Find the one for you at Yahoo! Personals
http://personals.yahoo.com