The History of the Holy War, Book 3 · Chapter 8 – Chapter 10
Chap. 8. The taking of the citie Ptolemais.
WHilest King Richard stayed in Cyprus,1191 the siege of Ptolemais went on: and though the French King thought with a running pull to bear the citie away, yet he found it staked down too fast for all his strength to stirre.
Mean time, the plague and famine raged in the Christians camp; which the last yeare swept away fiftie Princes and Prelates of note: Who, no doubt, went hence to a happie place; though it was before Pope Clement the sixth *Chemnitius, ex …eselo, Exam. Conc. Trid. tract. De Indulg.commanded the angels (who durst not but obey him) presently to convey all their souls into Paradise which should die in their Pilgrimage.
This mortalitie notwithstanding, the siege still continued. And now the Christians and Turks, like two fensers long playing together, were so well acquainted with the blows and guards each of other, that what advantage was taken betwixt them was merely casuall, never for want of skill, care, or valour on either side. It helped the Christians not a little, that a concealed Christian within the citie, with letters unsubscribed with any name, gave them constant and faithfull intelligence of the remarkable passages amongst the Turks.
No Prince in this siege deserved more then Leopoldus Duke of Austria; who fought so long in assaulting this citie, till his armour was all over gore bloud, save the place covered with his belt. *Pantal. De illustribus Germaniae, part. 2. pag. 201.Whereupon he and his successours the Dukes of Austria, renouncing the six Golden larks, their ancient arms, had assigned them by the Emperour a fesse Argent in a field Gules, as the paternall coat of their family.
By this time King Richard was arrived (taking as he came a dromond,Iune 8. or Saracen ship, wherein were fifteen hundred souldiers, and two hundred and fiftie *Matth. Paris. in anno 1191.scorpions, which were to be imployed in the poisoning of Christians) and now the siege of Ptolemais more fiercely prosecuted. But all their engines made not so wide a breach in that citie walls, as envie made betwixt the French and English Kings. Yet at last the Turks despairing of succour,Iuly 13. their victuals wholly spent, yeelded up the citie by Saladines consent, on condition to be themselves safely guarded out of it: all Christian prisoners Saladine had were to be set free, and the Crosse to be again restored.
The houses which were left, with the spoil and prisoners, were equally divided betwixt Philip and Richard. Whereat many Noble-men, partners in the pains, no sharers in the gains, departed in *Roger Hoveden, in Rich. 1o. pag. 696.discontent. Some Turks for fear embraced the Christian faith, but quickly returned to their *Fox, Martyrol. pag. 245.vomit: as religion died in fear, never long keepeth colour, but this dayes converts will be to morrows apostates. Hereupon it was commanded that none hereafter should be baptized against their wills.
Here the English cast down the ensignes of Leopoldus Duke of Austria, which he had advanced in a principall towre in Ptolemais; and as some say, threw them into the jakes. The Duke, though angrie at heart, forgot this injurie till he could remember it with advantage; and afterwards made King Richard pay soundly for this affront. It is not good to exasperate any, though farre inferiour: for, as the fable telleth us, the beetle may annoy the eagle, and the mouse befriend the lion.
When the citie was taken, it grieved the Christians not a little that their faithfull *Hoveden, in Rich. 1o. pag. 694.correspondent, who advised them by his letters, could no where be found: Pitie it was that Rahabs red lace was not tied at his window. But indeed it was probable that he was dead before the surrendring of the citie. Greater was the grief that the Crosse did no where appear, either carelessely lost, or enviously concealed by the Turks. Whilest the Christians stormed hereat, Saladine required a longer respite for the performance of the conditions. But King Richard would not enlarge him from the strictnesse of what was concluded; conceiving this was in effect to forfeit the victorie back again. Besides, he knew he did it onelyonly to gain time to fetch new breath: and if he yeelded to him, his bounty had not been thanked, but his fear upbraided, as if he durst not denie him. Yea, in anger King Richard commanded all the Turkish captives which were in his hands, *P. Aemylius, in Philippo Augusto, pag. 174. But Matthew Paris saith but 2600.seven thousand in number, to be put to death (except some choice persons) on that day whereon the articles should have been but were not performed. For which fact he suffered much in his repute, branded with rashnesse and crueltie, as the murderer of many Christians: For Saladine in revenge put as many of our captives to death. On the other side the moderation of the French King was much commended, who reserving his prisoners alive, exchanged them to ransome so many Christians.
Chap. 9. The unseasonable return of the King of France.
MEan time the Christians were rent a sunder with faction: Philip the French King, Odo Duke of Burgundie, Leopold Duke of Austria, most of the Dutch, all the Genoans and Templars siding with King Conrade; King Richard, Henry Count of Champaigne, the Hospitallers, Venetians, and Pisans taking part with King Guy. But King Conrades side was much weakened with the sudden departure of the French King;Iuly 31. who eighteen dayes after the taking of Ptolemais returned home, pretending want of necessaries, indisposition of body, distemper of the climate, though the greatest distemper was in his own passions. The true cause of his departure was, partly envie, because the sound of King Richards fame was of so deep a note that it drowned his; partly *Matthew Paris, pag. 220.covetousnesse, to seise on the dominions of the Earl of Flanders lately dead; Flanders lying fitly to make a stable for the fair palace of France. If it be true what *Speed, out of Hoveden, in Richard the f…st.some report, that Saladine bribed him to return, let him for ever forfeit the surname of Augustus, and the style of The most Christian Prince.
His own souldiers disswaded him from returning, beseeching him not to stop in so glorious a race, wherein he was newly started: Saladine was already on his knees, and would probably be brought on his face, if pursued. If he played the unthrift with this golden occasion, let him not hope for another to play the good husband with. If povertie forced his departure, King Richard *Matth. Paris. in Richardo 1o, pag. 219.profered him the half of all his provisions.
All would not do, Philip persisted in his old plea, How the life of him absent would be more advantageous to the cause, then the death of him present; and by importunitie got leave to depart, solemnly swearing not to molest the King of Englands dominions.
Thus the King of France returned in person, but remained still behind in his instructions, which he left (with his armie) to the Duke of Burgundie; to whom he prescribed both his path and his pace, where and how he should go. And that Duke moved slowly, having no desire to advance the work where King Richard would carrie all the honour. For in those actions wherein severall undertakers are compounded together, commonly the first figure for matter of credit maketh ciphres of all the rest. As for King Philip; being returned home, such was the itch of his ambition, he must be fingering of the King of Englands territories, though his hands were bound by oath to the contrary.
Chap. 10. Conrade King of Ierusalem slain: Guy exchangeth his Kingdome for the Island of Cyprus.
Apr. 27.ABout the time of the King of France his departure, Conrade King of Jerusalem was murdered in the *Roger Hoveden, in Richardo 1o, pag. 716. saith, on the Calends of May; but Sabellicus putteth it sooner.marketplace of Tyre; and his death is variously reported. Some charged our King Richard for procuring it: And though the beams of his innocencie cleared his own heart, yet could they not dispell the clouds of suspicions from other mens eyes. Some say Humphred Prince of Thoron killed him, for taking Isabella his wife away from him. But the generall voice giveth it out that two Assasines stabbed him; whose quarrel to him was onelyonly this, That he was a Christian. These murderers being instantly put to death, *Aemylius, in Phil. Augusto, pag. 179.gloried in the meritoriousnesse of their suffering: and surely were it the punishment not the cause made martyrdome, we should be best stored with Confessours from gaols, and Martyrs from the gallows.
Conrade reigned five yeares, and left one daughter, Maria Iole, on whom the Knight-Templars bestowed princely education. And this may serve for his Epitaph,
The Crown I never did enjoy alone;
Of half a Kingdome I was half a King.
Scarce was I on, when I was off the throne;
Slain by two slaves me basely murdering.
And thus the best mans life at merciemercy lies
Of vilest varlets, that their own despise.
His faction survived after his death, affronting Guy the anti-King, and striving to depose him. They pleaded that the Crown was tied on Guy's head with a womans fillet, which being broken by the death of his wife Queen Sibyll (who deceased of the plague with her *Roger Hoveden, in Richardo 1o, pag. 685.children at the siege of Ptolemais) he had no longer right to the Kingdome; they objected he was a worthlesse man, and unfortunate. On the other side, it was alledged for him, that to measure a mans worth by his successe, is a square often false, alwayes uncertain. Besides, the courtesie of the world would allow him this favour, That a King should be semel & semper, once and ever.
Whilest Guy stood on these ticklish terms, King Richard made a seasonable motion, which well rellished to the palate of this hungrie Prince, To exchange his Kingdome of Jerusalem for the Island of Cyprus; which he had redeemed from the Templars,1192 to whom he had pawned it: And this was done accordingly to the content of both sides.Sept. And King Richard with some of his succeeding English Kings wore the title of *Sabell. Enn. 9. lib. 5. pag. 378.Jerusalem in their style for many yeares after.Calvisius. We then dismisse King Guy, hearing him thus taking his farewell;
I steer'd a state warre-tost against my will:
Blame then the storm, not th' Pilots want of skill,
That I the Kingdome lost, whose emptie style
I sold to Englands King for Cyprus Isle.
I pass'd away the land I could not hold;
Good ground I bought, but onelyonly aire I sold.
Then as a happy Merchant may I sing,
Though I must sigh as an unhappy King.
Soon after, Guy made a second change of this world for another. But the family of the Lusignans have enjoyed Cyprus some hundred yeares: and since by some transactions it fell to the state of Venice; and lately by conquest, to the Turks.