errour and cause of their overthrow For though those souldiers who mean to be false will never be made faithfull in what place soever they be bestowed yet may they be made lesse dangerous if cast into the body or main battel of the army whence they have no such scope to fling out and to take advantage of place to do mischief as they have either in the front or wings thereof Thus in Cesars time Crassus an experienced Generall under him being to bid the Gauls battel auxiliares copias quibus ad pugnam non multùm confidebat in mediam aciem collocavit that so being hemmend in before and behind they might be ingaged to fight manfully without starting away And to instance in later times our Richard the third who though he usurped the Crown had as none will deny a true title both to prowesse and martiall policie marching to Bosworth placed suspected persons whose bodies were with him and hearts with Earl Henry in the midst and those whom he most trusted before behind and on every side The battel being joyned the Turks ranne over to the other side though some braved them onely with cowardlinesse not treachery and that they fled from the battel but not fell to the enemies The Christians manfully stood to it and though over-powred in number made a great slaughter of their enemies till at last they were quite overthrown Of the Teutonick Order escaped but three of three hundred Templars but eighteen of two hundred Hospitallers but nineteen The patriarch to use his own words whom God reputed unworthy of martyrdome saved himself by flight with a few others And this great overthrow to omit lesse partner-causes is chiefly imputed to the Templars former so often breaking the truce with the Sultan of Babylon Thus were the Christians conquered by the Corasines and beaten by a beaten nation Palestine being wonne by those who could not keep their own countrey Improving this victorie they left nothing to the Christians but Tyre Ptolemais and Antioch with some few forts Soon after these Corasines elated herewith fell out with the Sultan himself who in anger rooted out their nation so that none of their name remained Yea all writers are silent of them both before this time and ever after as if God at this very instant had created this people to punish Christians which service performed they were annihilated again Chap. 11. Lewis the ninth setteth forward against the Turks The occasion of his journey and his attendants SOme two years after Lewis the ninth of that name King of France came to assist the Christians The occasion of his voyage this He had been visited with a desperate sicknesse insomuch that all art cried craven as unable to help him and the Physicians resigned him to Divines to begin with him where they ended They also gave him over and for a while he lay in a trance not the least breath brought news of any life left in him Then Blanch the Queen-mother and Queen of mothers for her care of her sonne and his Kingdome applied a piece of the Crosse unto him Thereat whether thereby let others dispute he revived and recovered and thereupon was Croised and in thankfulnesse bound himself with a vow to sail to the Holy land But his Nobility disswaded him from that designe The dangers were certain the successe would be doubtfull of so long a journey his own Kingdome would be left desolate and many mischiefs unseen as yet would appear in his absence Besides his vow was made in his sicknesse whilest reason was scarce as yet in the peaceable possession of his mind because of the remnant-dregs of his disease It might also be dispensed with by the Pope yea his deserts did challenge so much from his Holinesse King Lewis as perswaded hereat laid down the Crosse to the great comfort and contentment of all the beholders But then altering his countenance he required the Crosse should be restored to him again and vowed to eat no bread untill he was recognized with the Pilgrimes badge And because his vow should suffer no diminution or abatement from his disease now no longer Lewis the sick but Lewis the sound undertook the holy Warre His Nobles seeing him too stiff to be unbent and counting it a kind of sacrilegious counsel to disswade him from so pious a work left him to his own resolutions There went along with him his two brothers Charles Earl of Anjou Robert Earl of Artois his own Queen and their Ladies Odo the Popes Legate Hugh Duke of Burgundie William Earl of Flanders Hugh Earl of St. Paul and William Longspath Earl of Sarisbury with a band of valiant English men who went without licence from Henry King of England For in those dayes this doctrine went currant That their Princes leave was rather of complement then essentiall to their voyage as if the band of this holy Warre was an acquitance from all others Our Henry displeased at this Earls departure for his disobedience deprived him of his Earldome and castle of Sarisbury not suffering that sheep to grase in his pasture which would not own him for his shepherd William also sonne to this Earl smarting for his fathers fault never enjoyed that honour And though King Henry himself being a Prince of more devotion then policie did most affectionately tender this Holy cause yet he used this necessary severity towards this Earl at this time first because it would weaken his land thus to be dispeopled of martiall men secondly his subjects forwardnesse might be interpreted a secret check of his own backwardnesse in that warre thirdly the sucking in of forrein aire did wean people from their naturall Prince and did insensibly usher into their hearts an alienation from their own Sovereigne and a dependence on the King of France lastly he had some thoughts on that voyage himself and reserved such prime Peers to attend on his own person thither The Pope gave to this King Lewis his charges the tenth of the Clergies revenues through France for three years and the King imployed the Popes collectours to gather it knowing those leaches were the best suckers Hereupon the states of the Clergy were shaved as bare as their crowns and a poore Priest who had but twenty shillings annuall pension was forced to pay two yearly to the King And this by my Authour is made the cause of his following ill successe there being much extortion used by his under-officers No wonder then if the wings of that army did quickly flag having so heavy a weight of curses hanging upon them And though money be the sinews of warre yet ill-gotten money like gouty sinews rather paineth then strengtheneth True it is that this pious King was no way guilty thereof but such as were under him and oftentimes the head doth ach for the ill vapours of the stomach He himself most princely caused to be proclaimed through his realm If any merchant
in charity allow that many of them were truly zealous and went with pious intents These were like to those of whom Bellarmine speaketh who had no fault praeter nimiam sanctitatem too much sanctity which a learned man interpreteth too much superstition But besides these well-meaning people there went also a rabble-rout rather for company then conscience Debters took this voyage on them as an acquittance from their debts to the defrauding of their creditours Servants counted the conditions of their service cancelled by it going away against their masters will Thieves and murderers took upon them the crosse to escape the gallows Adulterers did penance in their armour A lamentable case that the devils black guard should be Gods souldiers And no wonder if the successe was as bad as some of the adventurers especially seeing they retained their old conditions under a new climate And as if this voyage had been like to repentance never too soon nor too late for any to begin not onely green striplings unripe for warre but also decayed men to whom age had given a writ of ease became souldiers and those who at home should have waited on their own graves went farre to visite Christs sepulchre And which was more women as if they would make the tale of the Amazons truth went with weapons in mens clothes a behaviour at the best immodest and modesty being the case of chastity it is to be feared that where the case is broken the jewel is lost This enterprise was also the mother of much non-residence many Prelates and Friars fitter to handle a pen-knife then a sword left their covents and pastorall charges to follow this businesse The totall summe of those pilgrim-souldiers amounted to three hundred thousand and some writers do double that number No doubt the Christians army had been greater if it had been lesse for the belly was too big for the head and the medley of nations did rather burden then strengthen it Besides the army was like a cloth of many colours and more seams which seams though they were curiously drawn up for the present yet after long wearing began to be seen and at last broke out into open rents Chap. 13. The adventurers sorted according to their severall nations THe French Dutch Italian and English were the four elementall nations whereof this army was compounded of these the French were predominant they were the cape-merchants in this adventure That nimble nation first apprehended the project and eagerly prosecuted it As their language wanteth one proper word to expresse Stand so their natures mislike a setled fixed posture and delight in motion and agitation of businesse Yea France as being then best at leasure contributed more souldiers to this warre then all Christendome besides The signall men were Hugh sirnamed le Grand brother to the King of France Godfrey Duke of Bouillon Baldwine and Eustace his younger brother Stephen Earl of Bloys father to Stephen afterwards King of England Reimund Earl of Tholo use Robert Earl of Flanders Hugh Earl of Saint-Paul Baldwine de Burge with many more besides of the Clergy Aimar Bishop of Puy and Legate to the Pope and William Bishop of Orange Germany is slandered to have sent none to this warre at this first voyage and that other pilgrims passing through that countrey were mocked by the Dutch and called fools for their pains It is true the Germane adventurers in number answered not the largenesse and populousnesse of their countrey for Henry the Emperour a Prince whom the Pope long hacked at and hewed him off at last being desirous to go this voyage was tied up at home with civill discords Yet we find a competency of souldiers of that nation besides those under Godescalcus a Priest Emmicho the Rhene-grave and Count Herman their leaders But though Germany was backward at the first yet afterwards it proved the main Atlas of the warre that nation like a heavie bell was long a raising but being got up made a loud sound Italy sent few out of her heart and middle provinces nigh Rome The Pope was loth to adventure his darlings into danger those white boyes were to stay at home with his Holinesse their tender father Wherefore he dispensed with them for going as knowing how to use their help nearer and to greater profit Peters patrimony must as well be looked to as Christs sepulchre But though the Pope would spend none of his own fewel he burnt the best stakes of the Emperours hedge and furthered the Imperiall party to consume it self in this tedious warre Out of the furthermost parts of Italy Boemund Prince of Tarentum and Tancred his nephew both of the Normane seed though growing on the Apulian soyl led an army of twelve thousand men And Lombardy was also very liberal of her souldiers towards this expedition England the Popes pack-horse in that age which seldome rested in the stable when there was any work to be done sent many brave men under Robert Duke of Normandy brother to William Rufus as Beauchamp and others whose names are lost Neither surely did the Irishmens feet stick in their bogs though we find no particular mention of their archievements Spain had other use for her swords against the Saracens at home and therefore sent none of her men abroad As one saith The Spaniards did follow their own Holy warre a work more necessary and no lesse honourable Thus they acted the same part though not on the same stage with our Pilgrims as being also imployed in fight against the infidels Poland had the same excuse for not much appearing clean through this warre because she lieth bordering on the Tartars in her appendant countrey of Lituania and therefore was busied in making good her frontiers Besides no wonder if Prussia Lituania and Livonia were not up in this service for it was searee break of day with them and the sunne of the Gospel was newly if at all risen in those parts Yea Poland was so farre from sending men hither that she fetcht them from hence and afterwards implored the aid of the Teutonick order who came out of Palestine to assist her against her enemies Hungarie might bring filling-stones to this building but few foundation or corner-stones and at this time had no commander of note in this action Scotland also presenteth us not with any remarkable piece of service which her men performed in all this warre It was not want of devotion which was hot enough in that coid countrey rather we may impute it to want of shipping that countrey being little powerfull at sea or which is most probable the actions of this nation are hidden as wrapped up in the bundle with some others I should guesse under the French but the intimacy of those two people is of a farre later date Denmark and Norway near-acquainted with the Arctick pole though they lagged the last and may therein be excused because of the length of the way
in the Turks but superlatively abundant in the Christians till night made them leave off Next morning mercy was proclaimed to all those that would lay down their weapons For though bloud be the best sauce for victory yet must it not be more then the meat Thus was Jerusalem wonne by the Christians and twenty thousand Turks therein slain on the fifteenth of July being Friday about three of the clock in the afternoon Tyrius findeth a great mystery in the time because Adam was created on a Friday and on the same day and hour our Saviour suffered But these Synchronismes as when they are naturall they are pretty and pleasing so when violently wrested nothing more poor and ridiculous Then many Christians who all this while had lived in Jerusalem in most lamentable slavery being glad to lurk in secret as truth oftentimes seeketh corners as fearing her judge though never as suspecting her cause came forth joyfully wellcomed and embraced these the procurers of their liberty Three dayes after it was concluded as necessary piece of severity for their defence to put all the Turks in Jerusalem to death which was accordingly performed without favour to age or sex The pretence was for fear of treason in them if the Emperour of Persia should besiege the city And some slew them with the same zeal wherewith Saul slew the Gibeonites and thought it unfit that these goats should live in the sheeps pasture But noble Tancred was highly displeased hereat because done in cold bloud it being no slip of an extemporary passion but a studied and premeditated act and that against pardon proclaimed many of them having compounded and paid for their lives and liberty Besides the execution was mercilesse upon sucking children whose not-speaking spake for them and on women whose weaknesse is a shield to defend them against a valiant man To conclude Severity hot in the fourth degree is little better then poyson and becometh cruelty it self and this act seemeth to be of the same nature The end of the first Book The History of the HOLY VVARRE Book II. Chap. 1. Robert the Normane refuseth the Kingdome of Ierusalem Godfrey of Bouillon chosen King his parentage education and virtues EIght dayes after Jerusalem was wonne they proceeded to the election of a King but they had so much choice that they had no choice at all so many Princes there were and so equally eminent that Justice her self must suspend her verdict not knowing which of them best deserved the Crown Yet it was their pleasure to pitch on Robert the Normane as on the man of highest descent being son to a King for great Hugh of France was already returned home pretending the colick though some impute it to cowardlinesse and make the disease not in his bowels but his heart Robert refused this honourable profer whether because he had an eye to the Kingdome of England now void by the death of William Rufus or because he accounted Jerusalem would be incumbred with continuall warre But he who would not take the Crown with the Crosse was fain to take the Crosse without the Crown and never thrived afterwards in any thing he undertook Thus they who refuse what God fairly carveth for them do never after cut well for themselves He lived to see much misery and felt more having his eyes put out by King Henry his brother and at last found rest when buried in the new Cathedrall Church of Glocester under a wooden monument bearing better proportion to his low fortunes then high birth And since in the same quire he hath got the company of another Prince as unfortunate as himself King Edward the second They go on to a second choice and that they may know the natures of the Princes the better their servants were examined on oath to confesse their masters faults The servants of Godfrey of Bouillon protested their masters onely fault was this That when Mattens were done he would stay so long in the church to know of the Priest the meaning of every image and picture that dinner at home was spoiled by his long tarrying All admired hereat that this mans worst vice should be so great a virtue and unanimously chose him their King He accepted the place but refused the solemnity thereof and would not wear a crown of gold there where the Saviour of mankind had worn a crown of thorns He was sonne to Eustace Duke of Bouillon and Ida his wife daughter and heir to Godfrey Duke of Lorrein born saith Tyrius at Bologne a town in Champaigne on the English sea which he mistaketh for Bouillon up higher in the continent near the countrey of Lutzenburg Such slips are incident to the penns of the best authours yea we may see Canterbury mistaken for Cambridge not onely in Munster but even in all our own printed Statute-books in the 12. of Richard the second He was brought up in that school of valour the court of Henry the 4. the Emperour Whilest he lived there there happened an intricate suit betwixt him and another Prince about title of land and because Judges could not untie the knot it was concluded the two Princes should cut it asunder with their sword in a combat Godfrey was very unwilling to fight not that he was the worse souldier but the better Christian he made the demurre not in his courage but in his conscience as conceiving any private title for land not ground enough for a duell Yea we may observe generally that they who long most to fight duels are the first that surfet of them Notwithstanding he yielded to the tyranny of custome and after the fashion of the countrey entred the lists when at the first encounter his sword brake but he struck his adversary down with the hilt yet so that he saved his life and gained his own inheritance Another parallel act of his valour was when being standard-bearer to the Emperour he with the imperiall ensign killed Rodulphus the Duke of Saxony in single fight and fed the Eagle on the bowels of that arch-rebell His soul was enriched with many virtues but the most orient of all was his humility which took all mens affections without resistance And though one saith Take away ambition and you take away the spurs of a souldier yet Godfrey without those spurs rode on most triumphantly Chap. 2. The establishing of Ecclesiasticall affairs and Patriarchs in Antioch and Ierusalem the numerosity of Palestine-Bishops BUt now let us leave the Helmets and look on the Mitres and consider the ordering of Ecclesiasticall affairs For the Common-wealth is a Ring the Church the Diamond both well set together receive and return lustre each to other As soon as Antioch was taken one Bernard a reverend Prelate was made Patriarch there with generall consent But more stirre was there about that place in Jerusalem For first Arnulphus a worthlesse and vitious man was by popular faction lifted up
into the Patriarchs chair but with much ado was avoided and Dabert Archbishop of Pisa substituted in his room one very wise and politick an excellent book-man in reading of men and otherwise well studied especially as that age went wherein a mediocrity was an eminency in learning But he was infected with the humour of the clergy of that age who counted themselves to want room except they justled with Princes As for Arnulphus he never ceased to trouble and molest this Dabert and as a firebrand smoketh most when out of the chimney so he after his displacing was most turbulent and unquiet ever sitting on his skirts that sate in the Patriarchs chair till after many changes he struggled himself again into the place Under these Patriarchs many Archbishops and Bishops were appointed in the very places as near as might be where they were before the Saracens overrunning the countrey and good maintenance assigned to most of them But at this time Bishops were set too thick for all to grow great and Palestine fed too many Cathedrall Churches to have them generally fat Lydda Jamnia and Joppa three Episcopall towns were within four miles one of another Yea Tyrius makes 14 Bishops under the Archbishop of Tyre 20 under the Archbishop of Caesarea under the Archbishop of Scythopolis 9 12 under the Archbishop of Rabbah besides 25 suffragan churches which it seems were immediately depending on the Patriarch of Jerusalem without subordination to any Archbishop Surely many of these Bishops to use Bishop Langhams expression had high racks but poor mangers Neither let it stagger the reader if in that catalogue of Tyrius he light on many Bishops seats which are not to be found in Mercator Ortelius or any other Geographer for some of them were such poor places that they were ashamed to appear in a map and fall so much under a Geographers notice that they fall not under it For in that age Bishops had their Sees at poor and contemptible villages as here in England before the Conquest who would suspect Sunning in Barkshire or Dorchester near Oxford to have had Cathedrall churches till in the dayes of William the first Bishops removed their seats to the principall towns in the shire Chap. 3. The Saracens conquered at Askelon MAhomets tombe hung not so strong but now it began to shake and was likely to â—all These victories of the Christians gave a deadly wound to that religion Wherefore the Saracens combined themselves with the Turks to assist them there being betwixt these two nations I will not say an unity but a conspiracy in the same superstition so that therein they were like a nest of hornets stirre one and anger all Wherefore coming out of Egypt under Ammiravissus their Generall at Askelon they gave the Christians battel But God sent such a qualm of cowardlinesse over the hearts of these Infidels that an hundred thousand of them were quickly slain so that it was rather an execution then a fight and their rich tents which seemed to be the exchequer of the East-countrey spoiled so that the Pilgrimes knew not how to value the wealth they found in them This victory obtained such Pilgrimes as were disposed to return add ressed themselves for their countrey and these merchants for honour went home having made a gainfull adventure Those that remained were advanced to Signories in the land as Tancred was made governour of Galilee Nor will it be amisse to insert this story Peter Bishop of Anagnia in Italy was purposed here to lead his life without taking care for his charge when behold S. Magnus patron of that church appeared to him in a vision pretending himself to be a young man who had left his wife at home and was come to live in Jerusalem Fie said Peter to him go home again to your wife Whom God hath joyned together let no man put asunder Why then replied S. Magnus have you left your church a widow in Italy and live here so farre from her company This vision though calculated for this one Bishop did generally serve for all the non-residents which posted hither and who payed not the lawfull debt to their conscience whilest by needlesse bonds they engaged themselves to their own will-worship For though souls of men be light because immateriall yet they may prove an heavy burden to these carelesse Pastours who were to answer for them After the return of these Pilgrimes the heat of the Christians victories in Syria was somewhat allayed for Boemund Prince of Antioch marching into Mesopotamia was taken prisoner and Godfrey besieging the city of Antipatris then called Assur though hitherto he had been alwayes a conquerour was fain to depart with disgrace So small a remora may stay that ship which saileth with the fairest gale of successe Chap. 4. The original and increase of the Hospitallers their degenerating through wealth into luxury ABout this time under Gerard their first master began the order of Knights-hospitallers Indeed more anciently there were Hospitallers in Jerusalem but these were no Knights they had a kind of order but no honour annexed to it but were pure Alms-men whose house was founded and they maintained by the charity of the merchants of Amalphia a city in Italy But now they had more stately buildings assigned unto them their house dedicated to S. John of Jerusalem Knights-hospitallers and those of S. John of Jerusalem being both the same although learned Dr Ridley maketh them two distinct orders for which our great Antiquary doth justly reprove him But such an errour is veniall and it is a greater fault rigidly to censure then to commit a small oversight The one sheweth himself man in mistaking the other no man in not pardoning a light mistake To make one capable of the highest order of this Knighthood for their servitours and priests might be of an inferiour rank the party must thus be qualified Eighteen years old at the least of an able Body not descended of Jewish or Turkish parents no bastard except bastard to a Prince there being honour in that dishonour as there is light in the very spots of the moon Descended he must be of worshipfull parentage They wore a red belt with a white crosse and on a black cloke the white crosse of Jerusalem which is a crosse crossed or five crosses together in memory of our Saviours five wounds Yet was there some difference betwixt their habit in peace and in warre Their profession was to fight against Infidels and to secure Pilgrimes coming to the Sepulchre and they vowed Poverty Chastity and Obedience Reimundus de Podio their second master made some additionalls to their profession as They must receive the sacrament thrice a year heare Masse once a day if possible They were to be no merchants no usurers to fight no private duells to stand neuters and to take no side if the Princes in Christendome should fall out But it is given to
the gamesters King Almerick having looked on the beauty of the Kingdome of Egypt he longed for it and sought no longer to drive out the relicks of the Turks but to get Egypt to himself And the next year against the solemn league with the Caliph invaded it with a great army He falsly pretended that the Caliph would make a private peace with Noradine King of the Turks and hence created his quarrel For he hath a barren brain who cannot fit himself with an occasion if he hath a desire to fall out But Gilbert master of the Hospitallers chiefly stirred up the King to this warre upon promise that the city and countrey of Pelusium if conquered should be given to his order The Templars were much against the design one of their order was Embassadour at the ratifying of the peace and with much zeal protested against it as undertaken against oath and fidelity An oath being the highest appeal perjury must needs be an hainous sinne whereby God is solemnly invited to be witnesse of his own dishonour And as bad is a God-mocking equivocation For he that surpriseth truth with an ambush is as bad an enemy as he that fighteth against her with a flat lie in open field I know what is pleaded for King Almerick namely That Christians are not bound to keep faith with idolaters the worshippers of a false god as the Egyptian Caliph was on the matter But open so wide a window and it will be in vain to shut any doores All contracts with Pagans may easily be avoided if this evasion be allowed But what saith S. Hierome It matters not to whom but by whom we swear And God to acquit himself knowing the Christians prosperity could not stand with his justice after their perjury frowned upon them And from hence authours date the constant ill successe of the Holy warre For though this expedition sped well at the first and Almerick wonne the city of Belbis or Pelusium yet see what a cloud of miseries ensued First Noradine in his absence wasted and wonne places near Antiochia at pleasure Secondly Meller Prince of Armenia a Christian made a covenant with Noradine and kept it most constantly to the inestimable disadvantage of the King of Jerusalem This act of Meller must be condemned but withall Gods justice admired Christians break their covenant with Saracens in Egypt whilest other Christians to punish them make and keep covenant with Turks in Asia Thirdly the Saracens grew good souldiers on a sudden who were naked at first and onely had bows but now learned from the Christians to use all offensive and defensive weapons Thus rude nations alwayes better themselves in fighting with a skilful enemy How good mark-men are the Irish now-a-dayes which some seventy years ago at the beginning of their rebellions had three men to discharge a hand-gun Fourthly Almericks hopes of conquering Egypt were frustrated for after some victories he was driven out and that whole Kingdome conquered by Saladine nephew to Syracon who killed the Caliph with his horse-mace as he came to do him reverence and made himself the absolutest Turkish King of Egypt And presently after the death of Noradine the Kingdome of the Turks at Damascus was by their consent bestowed upon him Indeed Noradine left a sonne Meleâ—ala who commanded in part of his fathers dominions but Saladine after his death got all for himself Thus rising men shall still meet with more stairs to raise them as those falling with stumbling-blocks to ruine them Mean time Jerusalem was a poor weather-beaten Kingdome bleak and open to the storm of enemies on all sides having no covert or shelter of any good friend near it lying in the lions mouth betwixt his upper and neather jaw Damascus on the North and Egypt on the South two potent Turkish Kingdoms united under a puissant Prince Saladine This made Almerick send for succours into Europe for now few voluntaries came to this service souldiers must be pressed with importunity Our Western Princes were prodigall of their pity but niggardly of their help The heat of the warre in Palestine had cooled their desires to go thither which made these Embassadours to return without supplies having gone farre to fetch home nothing but discomfort and despair Lastly King Almerick himself wearied with whole volleys of miseries ended his life of a bloudy flux having reigned eleven full years and was buried with his predecessours Leaving two children Baldwine and Sibyll by Agnes his first wife and by Mary his second wife daughter to John Proto-Sebastus a Grecian Prince one daughter Isabell married afterwards to Hemphred the third Prince of Thorone Chap. 38. Baldwine the fourth succeedeth His education under William the reverend Aâ—rchbishop of Tyre BAldwine his sonne the fourth of that name succeeded his father so like unto him that we report the reader to the character of King Almerick and will spare the repeating his description Onely he differed in the temper of his body being enclined to the leproâ—ie called Elephanâ—iasis noysome to the patient but not infectious to the company not like King Uzziahs but Naamans leprosie which had it been contagious no doubt the King of Assyria when he went into the house of Rimmon would have chosen another supporter Mean time the Kingdome was as sick as the King he of a leprosie that of an incurable consumption This Baldwine had the benefit of excellent education under William Archbishop of Tyre a pious man and excellent scholar skilled in all the learned Orientall tongues besides the Dutch and French his native language a moderate and faithfull writer For in the latter part of his history of the Holy warre his eye guided his hand till at last the taking of the city of Jerusalem so shook his hand that his penne fell out and he wrote no more Treasurer he was of all the money contributed to the Holy war Chancellour of this Kingdome imployed in severall Embassies in the West present at the Lateran Council the acts whereof he did record Cardinall he might have been but refused it In a word unhappy onely that he lived in that age though that age was happy he lived in it Chap. 39. The vitiousnesse of Heraclius the Patriarch of Ierusalem His Embassie to Henry the second King of England with the successe The Maronites reconciled to the Romane Church AFter the death of Almerick Patriarch of Jerusalem Heraclius was by the Queen-mother Mary second wife to King Almerick for his handsomenesse preferred to be Patriarch William Archbishop of Tyre was violent against his election because of a prophesie That as Heraclius King of Persia wonne so an Heraclius should lose the Crosse. But others excepted that this exception was nothing worth For let God give the man and let the devil set the name As for those blind prophesies they misse the truth ofter then hit it so that no wise man will lean his belief on so slender a prop. But
generall nor so full of varieties and the mysteries thereof sooner learned or because in sea-fights fortune may seem to be a deeper sharer and valour not so much interested Whatsoever it is the laurel purchased on land hath a more lively verdure then that which is got at sea We return to the Venetians who using or rather abusing this conquest enter Ptolemais cast out all Genoans thence throw down their buildings both publick and private demolish the fort which they had builded at S. Saba rifle and spoil their shops warehouses and storehouses onely the Pope prevailed so farre with them that they set at liberty the prisoners they had taken Ten years did this warre last betwixt these two States in Syria composed at last saith my Authour by the authority of Pope Clement the fourth and by famine the bad cause of a good effect which in Palestine starved them into agreement Longer these warres lasted betwixt them in Italy their successe like the sea they fought on ebbing and flowing In this costly warre Pisa was first beggered and for all her politick partaking Genoa at last trode so heavy upon her that ever since she hath drooped and hung the wing and at this day is maid to Florence who formerly was mistresse of a good part of Italy But I have no calling and lesse comfort to prosecute these bloudy dissensions For warres of Christians against Infidels are like the heat of exercise which serveth to keep the body of Christianity in health but these civil warres amongst themselves like the heat of a feaver dangerous and destructive of religion Chap. 25. Charles made King of Sicily and Ierusalem by the Pope Hugh King of Cyprus pretendeth also to go to Ierusalem WE have now gotten Pantaleon a Frenchman who succeeded Robert in the titular Patriarchship of Jerusalem to be Pope by the name of Urbane the fourth To advance the Holy cause after fourteen years interregnum in Syria he appointed Charles Duke of Anjou yonger brother to King Lewis of France King of Sicily and Jerusalem and it was ratified by Clement the fourth his successour This honour was first offered to Lewis himself but piety had dried up in him all ambitious humours then to our Henry of England but his warre-wasted purse could not stretch to the Popes price At last this Charles accepted it But it is not for any speciall favour to the bush if a man run under it in a storm it was no love to Charles but to himself to be sheltred from Maufred that the Pope conferred this honour upon him And the wife of Charles that she might go in equipage with her three sisters being Queens sold all her jewels to furnish her husband with money to purchase these Kingdomes that sex loving bravery well but greatnesse better Now the Pope whose well grounded and bounded bountie will never undo him for where he giveth away the meat he selleth the sauce conditioned with Charles on these termes First that he should conquer Maufred then King of Sicily who molested the Pope and that he should finally subdue all the remaining race of Frederick the second Emperour who claimed that Kingdome Secondly in acknowledgement that he held these Kingdomes from the Pope he should pay him an annuall pension of four some say fourty thousand pounds Provided if this Charles should chance to be chosen Emperour of Germany that then he should either resigne Sicily back again into the hands of his Holinesse or not accept the Empire For he knew that all Emperours would be possessed with an anti-papall spirit and that they would hold Sicily not in homage from the Church but as a member of the Empire Besides the Pope would not dispense that Princes should hold pluralitie of temporall Dominions in Italy especially he was so ticklish he could not endure the same Prince should embrace him on both sides Ever since the twinne-titles of Sicily and Jerusalem have gone together and fit it is that the shadow should follow the substance Charles subdued Maufred and Conradine his nephew the last of the Suevian race and grandchild to Emperour Frederick and was possessed of Sicilie and lived there but as for the gaining of Jerusalem he little regarded it nor came thither at all A watchfull King who never slept in his Kingdome His absence gave occasion to Hugh King of Cyprus to furbish up new his old title to the Kingdome as lineally descended from Almerick the second And coming to Ptolemais he there was crowned King of Jerusalem But the extremity of the famine all things being excessive dear much abated the solemnity and state of his Coronation Chap. 26. The Tartarians alienated from the Christians Bendocdar tyrannizeth over them and Lewis King of France setteth forth again for to succour them BUt betwixt two Kings the Kingdome went to the ground For Haalon the Tartarian Prince and late Christian convert was returned home to succeed his brother Mango in the Empire leaving Abaga his sonne with competent forces in the city of Damascus which he had wonne from the Turks Soon after Abaga followed his father aud substituted Guirboca his Lieutenant in Damascus This Guirboca upon the occasion of his nephew rashly slain by the Christians in a broil fell off wholly from Christianity with all the Tartarians his countreymen The occasion this The Dutch Christians return with great booty they had taken from the Turks Guirboca's nephew meeteth them demandeth it for himself the Christians deny him as souldiers are very tender-conscienced in that point counting it a great sinne to part with the spoil they are possessed of hence brawls then blows Guirboca's nephew is slain Hereat the Tartarians who were very humorous in their friendship if not observed to an inch lost for ever in discontent all either reel aside to Mahomet or fall back to Paganisme Herein the Christians cannot be excused Infant-converts must be well tended It had been discretion in them even against discretion to have yielded a little to these Tartarians and so to continue their amity which was so advantageous to the Holy warre However one may question the truth of their conversion whether reall at first This spring was too forward to hold and the speedy withering of their religion argueth it wanted root And as tame foxes if they break loose and return wild do ten times more mischief then those which are wild from the beginning so these renegadoes raged more furiously then any Pagans against religion Guirboca sacrificed many Christians to the ghost of his nephew destroyed Cesarea and burnt it using all cruelty against the inhabitants Nor lesse were the Christians plagued at the same time with Bendocdar the Mammaluke Prince in Egypt who succeeded Melechem and every where raging against them either killed or forced them to forswear their religion The city of Joppa he took and burned and then wonne Antioch slaying therein twenty thousand and carrying away captive an hundred
Farre greater might his intrado be if husbandâ—ie and chiefly merchandise were plied in his countrey merchants being the Vena porta of a Kingdome without which it may have good limbes but emptie veins and nourish little Now although this Empire be of a vast extent having many safe harbours to receive strangers there and Stable commodities chiefly if industrie were used to allure them thither yet hath it in effect but foure prime places of trading Constantinople Cairo Aleppo and Tauris As for the extraordinarie revenues of the Grand Signor by his escheats and other courses if he pleaseth to take them they are a Nemo scit For in effect he is worth as much as all his subjects or flaves rather throughout his whole Empire are worth his spunges to squeeze at pleasure But the Lion is not so fierce as he is painted nor this Empire so formidable as fame giveth it out The Turks head is lesse then his turbant and his turbant lesse then it seemeth swelling without hollow within If more seriously it be considered this State cannot be strong which is a pure and absolute tyrannie His subjects under him have nothing certain but this That they have nothing certain and may thank the Grand Signot for giving them whatsoever he taketh not away from them Their goods they hold by permission not proprietie not sure that either they or theirs shall reap what they sow or eat what they reap and hereupon husbandrie is wholly neglected For the plowman aswell as the ground he ploweth will be soon out of heart if not maintained and as I may say composted with hopes to receive benefit by his labours Here great officers if they love themselves must labour not to bee beloved for popularitie is high treason and generally wealth is a sinne to be expiated by death In a word it is a cruel tyrannie bathed in the bloud of their Emperours upon every succession a heap of vassals and slaves no Nobles except for time being by office no Gentlemen no Free-men no inheritance of land no Stirp or ancient families a nation without any moralitie arts and sciences that can scarce measure an acre of land or houre of a day And needeth not that Kingdome constant and continued pointing which is cemented with fear not love May wee not justly think that there be many in this Empire which rather wait a time then want desire to overthrow it For though some thinke the Grecians in Turkie bear such inveterate hate to the Latine Christians that they would rather refuse deliverance then accept them for their deliverers yet surely both they and perchance some native Turks out of that principle of desiring libertie the second rule next preserving life in the charter of Nature would be made if this Empire were seriously invaded so that the foundation thereof did totter sooner to find two hands to pluck it downe then one finger to hold it up And we have just cause to hope that the fall of this unwieldie Empire doth approch It was high noon with it fiftie yeares ago we hope now it draweth near night the rather because luxurie though late yet at last hath found the Turks out or they it When first they came out of Turcomania and were in their pure naturals they were wonderfully abstemious neglecting all voluptuousnesse not so much out of a dislike as ignorance of it But now having tasted the sweetnesse of the cup they can drink as great a draught as any others That Paradise of corporall pleasure which Mahomet promised them in the world to come they begin to anticipate here at leastwise to take an earnest of it and have well soked themselves in luxurie Yea now they begin to grow covetous both Prince and people rather seeking to enjoy their means with quiet then enlarge them with danger Heaven can as easily blast an oak as trample a mushrome And we may expect the ruine of this great Empire will come for of late it hath little increased its stock and now beginneth to spend of the principall It were arrant presumption for Flesh to prescribe God his way or to teach him when he meaneth to shoot which arrow in his quiver to choose Perchance the Western Christians or the Grecians under him though these be better for seconds then firsts fitter to foment then raise a faction or his own Janizaries or the Persian or the Tartarian or some other obscure Prince not as yet come into play in the World shall have the lustre from God to maul this great Empire It is more then enough for any man to set down the fate of a single soul much more to resolve the doom of a whole nation when it shall be These things we leave to Providence to work and posteritie to behold As for our generation let us sooner expect the dissolutions of our own Microcosmes then the confusion of this Empire For neither are our own sins yet truly repented of to have this punishment removed from us nor the Turks wickednesse yet come to full ripenesse to have this great judgement laid upon them Soli Deo gloria The Preface to the Chronológie HErein I present the Reader with a generall view and synopsis of the whole storie of the age of the Holy VVarre that he may see the coherence betwixt the East and the West and in what equipage and correspondencie of time the Asian affairs go on with those of Europe for they will reflect a mutuall lustre and plainnesse on one another The Chronologie is marshalled into Rankes and Files The Ranks or transverse spaces contain twenty years on a side the Files or columnes directly downward are appropriated to those severall States whose name they bear In the six first columnes I have followed Helvicus with an implicite faith without any remarkable alteration both in ingraffing of yeares and making them concurre as also leaving sometimes emptie spaces In the other columnes I have followed severall authours and left the years unnoted where the time was uncertain counting it better to bring in an Ignoramus then to find a verdict where the evidence was doubtfull and obscure Such long notes as would not be imprisoned within the grates of this Chronologie we have referred by asterisks to the foot of the page Know that every note belongeth to that yeare wherein it beginneth except signed with this Θ which reduceth it to the yeare it endeth in Br. standeth for Brother S. Sonne M. Moneths D. Dayes Note whilest there were Caliphs of Egypt then the Sultans were but Deputies and Lieutenants but afterwards the Mamaluke Sultans were absolute Princes acknowledging no Superiour Anno Dom. Popes Emper. of the East Emper. of the West Kings of England Kings of France Holy Warre and Kings of Ierusalem 1095 URBANE the second 8 ALEXIOS COMNENâ— 15 HENRY the fourth 40 WILLIAM RUFUS 8 PHILIP the first 36 The Council of Clermont foundeth the Holy Warre 6 9 16 41 9 37 1. VOYAGE under GODEREY Duke of Bouillon 7 10 17 42 10
18. cap. 49. Calvis in Anno 1156. 1 2 2 8 35  3 2 3 3 9 36 ROâ—ERT of Burgundie Tyr. lib. 15. c. 6. 4 3 4 4 10 37  5 4 5 5 11 38  6 5 6 6 12 39  7 6 7 ALMERICUS1 13 40  8 7 8 2 14 41  9 8 9 3 15 42  10 9 10 4 9. FULCâ—ER Archbishop of Tyre 1 43  11 10 11 5 2 44  12 11 He honourably entertaineth the K. of Fran. Is slain in battel by Noradine Tyr. lib. 17. c. 9. 12 6 3 45  13 12 13 7 4 46 Gaza given to the Templars to defend 14 13 CONSTANTIA his wiâ—l Princâ—sse 1 8 5 47  15 14 2 9 6 48 BERNARD d Trenellape 16 15 3 10 7 49  17 16 4 11 8 50  18 17 5 12 The Hospitallers rebell against the Patriarch deny to pay tithes 9 51  19 18 RAINOLD of Castile marrieth Constantis and is Prince in her right Θ 1 13 10 52 The Templars with BERNARD their Master through their own covetousnesse slain at Askelon Θ 20 19 Anno Dom. Popes Emper. of the East Emper. of the West Kings of England Kings of France Holy Warre and Kings of Ierusalem 1155 ADRIAN the fourth 2 13 4 HENRY the second 1 18 14 6 3 14 5 2 19 15 7 4 15 6 3 20 16 8 M. 8. D. 28. 16 7 4 21 17 9 ALEXANDER the third 1 17 8 5 22 18 1160 2 18 9 6 23 Order of the Carmelites first begun in Syria 19 1 3 19 10 7 24 20 2 4 20 11 8 25 21 3 5 21 12 9 26 ALMERICK his B â— 1 4 6 22 13 10 27 2 5 7 23 14 11 18 At the instance of Sultan Sancâ— he gâ—eth into Egypt and dâ—â—veth out Syracon Caelaâ—â—a-Philippi lost 3 6 8 24 15 12 19 4 7 9 25 16 13 20 Almerick contrary to his promiâ—e invadeth Egypt 5 8 10 26 17 14 31 6 9 11 27 18 15 32 7 1170 12 28 19 16 33 He taketh a voyage into Grecia to visit the Emperour his kinsman 8 1 13 29 20 17 34 9 2 14 30 21 18 35 10 3 15 31 22 19 36 11 4 16 32 23 20 37 BALDWINE the fourth 1 Princes of Antioch Patriarchs of Antioch Patriarches of Ierusalem Mrs of Kn. Hospitallers Mrs of Kn. Templars Caliphs of Syrìa Casiphs of Egypt He to despite the Grecian Emperour wasteth the island Cyprus 2 Almerick cruelly tormented for speaking against Pr. Reinolds marriage 14 In vain he crawleth to Rome to complain of them 11 53 BERTRAND de Bianch fort 1 21 20 3 15 12 54 2 22 ELHADACH These Caliphs of Egypt are very difficult to regulate by Chronologie and are ever Heteroclites either deficient or redundant in the proportion of time consenting with other Princes Hitherto we have followed Helvicus now adhere to Tyrius lib. 19. cap. 19. lib. 20. cap. 12. 1 4 16 13 III. AUGERIUS de Balben He is taken prisoner Tyr. l. 18. c. 15. PHILIP of Naples 3 23 2 5 17 14  1 24 3 6 18 X. AMALRICUS Prior of the Sepulchre 1  Afterward he renounceth his place Tyr. lib. 20. c. 24. 2 25 4 7 19 2 III. ARNOLDUS de Campis  26 5 Reinold carried captive to Aleppo 8 20 3   MUSTENE-IGED 6 BOEMUND the third S. to Reimund 1 He prescribeth rules to the Carmelites 21 4   2 7 2 22 5   3 8 3 23 6   4 9 4 24 7 Vâ— GIâ—BERTUS Assalit Who to get Pelusium for his own Order instigated K. Almerick contrary to his oath to invade Egypt 12 Templars hanged for traytours OTTO de Sancto Amando one that feared neither God nor man Tyr. lib. 21. c. 29. 5 Sinar Dargon fight for the Sultany of Egypt 10 He is conquered and taken prisoner ransometh himself 5 25 8   6 11 6 26 9   7 12 7 27 10   8 13 8 28 11   9 14 9 29 12 12  MUSTEZI S. 1 15 10 30 13 VI. CASTUS  2 Turkish K. of Egypt 16 11 31 14   3 SALADINE with his horsemace knocketh out the brains of Elâ—adach the last Turkish Caliph in Egypt Tyr. lib. 20. cap. 12. 12 32 15 VII JOBERTUS The Templars basely kill the Embassadour of the Assasines 4  13 33 16 16  5  Anno Dom. Popes Emper. of the East Emper. of the West Kings of England Kings of France Holy Warre and Kings of Ierusalem 1175 17 33 24 21 38 2 6 18 34 25 22 39 William Marquesse of Montferrat marrieth Sibyll the Kings sister 3 7 19 35 26 23 40 Saladine shamefully conquered at Askelon 4 8 20 36 27 24 41 Fatall jealousies betwixt the King and Reimund Prince of Tripoli for many yeares 5 9 21 37 28 25 42 6   M. 5.     1180 M. 11 D. 29 M. 5. ALEXIUS COMNENê° 1 29 26 PHILIP Augustus S. 1 7 1 LUCIUS the third 1 2 30 27 2 8 2 2 ANDRONICUS S. 1 31 28 3 9 3 3 2 32 29 4 Baldwine disabled with leprosie retireth himself from managing the State 10 4 4 M. â—1 33 30 5 11 5 M 3 D. 28 URBANE the third ISAACIUS ANGELUS 1 34 31 6 BALDWINE the fifth after eight moneths poysoned 6 M. 10 D. 25 GREGORY the eighth 2 35 32 7 GUY de Lusignan in right of Sibyll his wife 1 7 M. 1. D. 27. CLEMENT the third 3 36 33 8 1 CONRADE Marquesse of Montferrat defendeth Tyre and is chosen King Guy taken prisoner Jerusalem won by Saladine Guy having got libertie befiegeth Prolemais 2 8 1 4 37 34 M. 7. RICHARD the first 9 3 9 2 5 38 1 10 3 4. VOYAGE under Frederick surnamed Barbarossa 4 1190 3 6 HENRY the sixth S. 1 2 11 4 5. VOYAGE under Rich. of Eng. Philip of Fran. 5 1 M. 2 D. 10 7 2 3 12 5 Conrade murdered in the market-place of Tyre Ptolema is taken 6 2 CELâ—â—TINE the third 2 8 3 4 13 Guy exchangeth his Kingdome of Jerusalem for Cyprus 7 3 3 M. 7. 9 4 5 14 HENRY Earl of Champaigne 4 4 ALâ—XIUS COMNENUS ANGâ—ZUS 1 5 6 15 2 Princes of Antioch Patriarchs of Antioch Patriarches of Ierusaleâ— Mrs of Kn. Hospitallers Mrs of Kn. Templâ—rs  Caliphs of Syrta Turkish K. of Egypt 14 34 17 VIII ROGER de Moris   6  15 35 18    7  Reinold of Castile once Prince of Antioch ransomed from captivity 16 36 19    8 He getteth Damascus the whole Turkish kingdome in Syria Tyr. lib. 21. c. 6. in despite of Noradines sonne 1 17 37 20  ARNOLDUS de Troge Tyr. lib. 22. c. 7  9 2 18 38 21    10 3 Boemund by putting away Theodora his lawfull wife câ—useth much trouble in this State 19 39 22    NARZAI S. 1 These great figures