The History of the Holy War, Book 3 · Chapter 2 – Chapter 3
Chap. 2. The Church-story in the Holy land to the end of the warre; The use and abuse of titular Bishops.
WE must now no longer look for a full face of a Church in the Holy land; it is well if we find one cheek and an eye. Though Jerusalem and Antioch were wonne by the Turks, the Pope ceased not to make Patriarchs of both. We will content our selves with the names of those of Jerusalem, finding little else of them remarkable.
After Heraclius, Thomas Agni was Patriarch, *Centur. Cent. 13. cap. 9.present in the Laterane Councel under Innocent the third.
Geraldus succeeded him, who *Matth. Paris, in anno 1229.sided with the Pope against Frederick the Emperour.
Albertus, Patriarch in Jerusalem when the Christians lost their land in Syria. He prescribed some rules to the *Centur. ut priús.Carmelites.
After him, Antonie Beak Bishop of Duresme, the most triumphant Prelate of the English militant Church except Cardinall Wolsey. He founded and endowed a Colledge for Prebends at *Camden, Brit. pag. 601 Godwine, in Episc. Dunesm.Chester in the Bishoprick of Duresme: Yet no doubt he had done a deed more acceptable to God, if in stead of sacrifice he had done justice, and not defrauded the Lord Vessie's heir, to whom he was guardian. Let those who are delighted with Sciographie,See this catalogue of Patriarchs altered and perfected in the Chronologie. paint out (if they please) these shadow-Patriarchs, as also those of Antioch, and deduce their succession to this day: For this custome still continueth, and I find the Suffraganes to severall Archbishops and Bishops in Germany and France, style themselves Bishops of Palestine: for example;Adricomius, in Terra…ncta. The Suffraganes of 1 Tornay, 2 Munster, 3 Mentz, 4 Utrecht, 5 Sens, 6 Triers, write themselves Bishops of 1 Sarepta, 2 Ptolemais, 3 Sidon, 4 Hebron, 5 Cesarea, 6 Azotus. But well did one in the Councel of Trent give these titular Bishops the title of figmenta humana, History of Trent, lib. 8. pag. 7.mans devices; because they have as little ground in Gods word and the ancient Canons for their making, as ground in Palestine for their maintenance: Yea, a titular Bishop soundeth a contradiction: for a Bishop and a Church or Diocese, are relatives, as a husband and his wife. Besides, these Bishops by ascending to so high an honour, were fain to descend to many indecencies and indignities to support themselves, with many corruptions in selling of Orders they conferred, the truest and basest Simonie.
However the Pope still continueth in making of them: First, because it is conceived to conduce to the state and amplitude of the Romane Church to have so many Bishops in it, as it is the credit of the Apothecarie to have his shop full, though many outside-painted pots be emptie within. Secondly, hereby his Holinesse hath a facile and cheap way both to gratifie and engage ambitious spirits, and such Chameleons as love to feed on aire. Yea, the Pope is not onelyonly free of spirituall dignities, but also of temporall titular honours; as when in the dayes of Queen Elisabeth he made Thomas Stukely (a bankrupt in his loyaltie as well as in his estate) Marquesse of Leinster,Camd. Brit. in his descript. of Dublin. Earl of Weifford and Caterlogh, Vicount Murrough, Baron Rosse and Hydron in Ireland: The best is, these honours were not heavie nor long worn, he being slain soon after in Barbarie, else the number of them would have broken his back. Lastly, there is a reall use made of these nominall Bishops: for these ciphres joyned with figures will swell a number, and sway a side in a generall Councel, as his Holinesse pleaseth; so that he shall truly cogere concilium, both gather and compell it. Of the foure Archbishops which were at the first session in the Councel of Trent two were merely titular,History of Trent, lib. 2. pag. 140. who never had their feet in those Churches whence they took their honour. But enough hereof; Now to matters of the common-wealth.
Chap. 3. Frederick Barbarossa his setting forth to the Holy land; Of the tyrannous Grecian Emperours.
MAtters going thus wofully in Palestine, the Christians sighs there were alarms to stirre up their brethren in Europe to go to help them, and chiefly Frederick Barbarossa the Germane Emperour. Impute it not to the weaknesse of his judgement, but the strength of his devotion, that at seventy yeares of age, having one foot in his grave, he would set the other on Pilgrimage. We must know that this Emperour had been long tied to the stake, and baited with seven fresh successive Popes; till at last not conquered with the strength, but wearied with the continuance of their malice, he gave himself up to be ordered by them; and Pope Clement the third sent him on this voyage into the Holy land.
Iune 29.Marching through Hungarie with a great armie of one hundred and fiftie thousand valiant souldiers,Arnoldus Lubecensis. he was welcomed by King Bela. But changing his host, his entertainment was changed; being basely used when he entred into the Grecian Empire.
Of the Emperours whereof we must speak somewhat. For though being to write the Holy warre I will climbe no hedges, to trespasse on any other story; yet will I take leave to go the high-way, and touch on the succession of those Princes which lead to the present discourse.
When Conrade Emperour of Germanie last passed this way, Emmanuel was Emperour in Greece: Who having reigned thirtie eight yeares, left his place to Alexius his sonne: A youth, the depth of whose capacitie onelyonly reached to understand pleasure; governed by the factious nobilitie, till in his third yeare he was strangled by Andronicus his cousin.
Andronicus succeeded him; a diligent reader and a great lover of *Nicetas Choniates, in fine vitae Andronici.S. Pauls epistles, but a bad practiser of them: Who rather observing the Devils rule, That it is the best way for those who have been bad, to be still worse, fensing his former villanies by committing new ones, held by tyrannie what he had gotten by usurpation; till having lived in the bloud of others, he died in his own, tortured to death by the headlesse multitude; from whom he received all the cruelties which might be expected from servile natures when they command.
Then Isaacius Angelus, of the Emperiall bloud, was placed in his throne; of whom partly *In the first chapter of this book.before. Nero-like, he began mildly, but soon fell to the trade of tyrannie: no personall, but the hereditarie sinne of these Emperours. He succeeded also to their suspicions against the Latines, as if they came through his countrey for some sinister ends. This jealous Emperour reigned when Frederick with his armie passed this way; and many bad offices were done bewixt these two Emperours by unfaithfull *Nicetas Choniates, in Isaacio, lib. 2. pag. 436.Embassadours, as such false mediums have often deceived the best eyes. But Frederick finding perfidious dealing in the Greeks, was drawn to draw his sword; taking as he went,Aug. 25. *Baronius, Annal.Philippople, Adrianople, and many other cities; not so much to get their spoil, as his own securitie. Isaac understanding hereof, and seeing these Pilgrimes would either find or make their passage,1190 left all terms of enmitie, and fell to a fair complying, accommodating them with all necessaries for their transportation over the Bosporus, pretending to hasten them away because the Christians exigencies in Palestine admitted of no delay:Mar. 28. doing it indeed for fear, the Grecians loving the Latines best when they are furthest from them.