The History of the Holy War, Book 3 · Chapter 27 – Chapter 29
Chap. 27. The miserable case of the drowned Christians in Egypt. Damiata surrendred in ransome of their lives.
EGypt is a low level countrey, except some few advantages which the Egyptians had fortified for themselves. Through the midst of the land ran the river Nilus; whose stream they had so bridled with banks and sluces, that they could keep it to be their own servant, and make it their enemies master at pleasure. The Christians confidently marched on; and the Turks perceiving the game was come within the toil, pierced their banks, and unmuzzling the river, let it runne open mouth upon them; yet so, that at first they drowned them up but to the middle, reserving their lives for a further purpose, thereby in exchange to recover Damiata and their countreys liberty.
See here the land of Egypt turned in an instant into the Egyptian sea! See an army of sixty thousand, as the neck of one man, stretched on the block, and waiting the fatall stroke! Many cursed the Legate, and their own rashnesse, that they should follow the counsel of a gowned man (all whose experience was clasped in a book) rather then the advice of experienced captains. But too late repentance, because it soweth not in season, reapeth nothing but unavoidable miserie.
Meladine King of Egypt seeing the constancy and patience of the Christians, was moved with compassion towards them. He had of himself strong inclinations to Christianity, wearie of Mahometanisme, and willing to break that prison, but for watchfull jaylers about him. He profered the Christians their lives, on condition they would quit the countrey and restore Damiata. They accepted the conditions, and sent messengers to Damiata to prepare them for the surrendring of it. But they within the citie, being themselves safe on shore, tyrannized on their poore brethren in shipwrack; pretending, That this armie of Pilgrimes deserved no pity, who had invited this misfortune on themselves by their own rashnesse; That if they yeelded up this citie for nothing, which cost so many lives, they should betray themselves to the derision of the whole world; That if these perished, more men might be had, but no more Damiata's; being a place of such importance, it would alwayes be a snaffle in the mouth of the Egyptian King. On the other side, the friends of the distressed Christians confessed, That indeed their voyage was unadvised and justly to be blamed; yet worse and more inconsiderate projects have armies oft undertaken, which, if crowned with successe, have been above censure, yea, have passed not onelyonly without questioning but with commendations: But this is the misery of misery, that those who are most afflicted of God, shall be most condemned of men. Wherefore they requested them to pity their brethren, and not to leave them in this forlorn estate. How clamourous would their innocent bloud be in the court of Heaven, to sue for revenge on those who forsook them in this distresse! And grant Damiata a citie of great consequence; yet cities in themselves were but dead things, and men were the souls to enliven them: so that those souldiers which wonne Damiata, if preserved alive, might haply recover as strong a citie afterwards.
But finding their arguments not to prevail, they betook themselves to arms, by force to compell the adverse party to resigne the citie. King John also threatned, in case they denied to surrender it, to give up to Meladine Ptolemais in Syria in exchange for Damiata. At last, according to the agreement, Damiata was restored to the Turks, and the Christian armie let out of the trap wherein it was taken. Meladine out of his princely goodnesse furnished them with *P. Aemyl. pag. 205.victuals, and with horses to carry their feeble persons upon. And thus the Christians had the greatest blow given them without a blow given them; the Egyptians obtaining their victory not by bloud but by water.
Chap. 28. Iohn Bren resigneth the Kingdome of Ierusalem to Frederick the second, Germane Emperour.
THere was also concluded a peace with the Turks for eight yeares. And now matters being settled as well as they might be in Syria, King John took a journey to Rome; where he was bountifully feasted, and honourably entertained by the Pope. Here it was agreed (whether at the first by his voluntary offer, or working of others, it appeareth not) that he should resigne the Kingdome of Jerusalem to Frederick the second, Germane Emperour, who was to marry Iole the sole daughter of King John by his first wife; though by a second he had another, Martha, married to Robert Emperour of Constantinople: so that he was father in law both to Emperour of East and West.
Some condemned his resignation as an unadvised act; as if he had first parted from his wits, who would willingly part from a Kingdome; whilest others commend his discretion: For first, his wife was dead, in whose right he held his Kingdome, and thereby a doore was opened for other litigious pretenders to the Crown. Secondly, it was policie, fugere nè fugaretur: yea, this was no flight, but an honourable departure. Well he knew the Turks power to invade, and his own weaknesse to defend what was left in Syria: So that finding the weight too heavy for himself, he did well to lay it on stronger shoulders. Thirdly, before his resignation he had little more then a title: and after it he had nothing lesse; men having so tuned their tongues to salute him King of Jerusalem, that he was so called to the day of his death. Lastly, what he wanted in the statelinesse of his bed, he had in the soundnesse of his sleep; and though his commons perchance were shorter, yet he battled better on them.
He got now more in a twelve-monethmonth then in seven yeares before, going from countrey to countrey: And yet the farther this stone rolled, the more mosse he gathered. In France, besides rich gifts left to himself, he had the managing of sixty thousand crowns; the legacie which Philip Augustus the King on his death-bed *P. Aemyl. in Phil. 2. pag. 205.bequeathed to the Templars and the Holy warre. In England he received from Henry the third many great presents; though afterwards he proved but *Matth. Paris. pag. 627.unthankfull for them. In Spain he got a rich wife, Beringaria, the daughter of the King of Castile. In Italie he tasted very largely of the Popes liberalitie, and lived there in good esteem. But he went off the stage without an applause, because he lost himself in his last act; perfidiously raising rebellions against Frederick his sonne in law, at the instigation of his Holinesse. Nor recovered he his credit, though after he went to his sonne Robert to Constantinople, and there did many good offices. He died anno 1237.
Chap. 29. The true character of Frederick; How the history of his life is prejudiced by the partialitie of Authours on both sides.
THe nuptiall solemnities of Frederick with the Lady Iole were performed at Rome, in the presence of the Pope, with all ceremonies of majesty; and Frederick promised to prosecute in person his title in Palestine within two yeares. Little hope have I to content the reader in this Kings life, who cannot satisfie my self; writers of that age are so possessed with *Blondus, Fazellus, &c. for the Pope. Ursperg. Petrus de Vineis (till corrupted with bribes) &c. for the Emperour. Matth. Paris, a moderate man, whom we follow most.partiality. The faction of the Guelfes and Gibellines discovereth not it self more plainly in the Camp then in the Chronicles: Yea, Historians turn Schoolmen in matters of fact, arguing them pro & con. And as it is in the Fable of the man that had two wives; whilest his old wife plucked out his black hairs, the evidence of his youth, his young one ungray-haired him, that no standards of antiquity might remain, they made him bald betwixt them: So amongst our late writers; whilest Protestants cut off the authority from all Papized writers of that age, and Romanists cast away the witnesse of all Imperialized authours then living (such as Urspergensis is, and generally all Germanes) counting them testes domesticos, and therefore of no validitie, betwixt them they draw all historie of that time very slender, and make it almost quite nothing. We will not engage our selves in their quarrels; but may safely beleeve, that Frederick was neither saint, nor devil, but man. Many vertues in him his foes must commend,1227 and some vices his friends must confesse. He was *Pantal. De viris illustr. Germ. part. 2. pag. 121.very learned, according to the rate of that age, especially for a Prince, who onelyonly baiteth at learning, and maketh it not his profession to lodge in. Wise he was in projecting; nor were his thoughts ever so scattered with any sudden accident, but he could instantly recollect himself. Valiant he was, and very fortunate; though this tendeth more to Gods praise then his: Wondrous bountifull to scholars and souldiers; whose good will he enjoyed, for he payed for it.
But this Gold had its allay of Cruelty; though this was not so much bred in him as he brought to it: Treasons against him were so frequent, he could not be safe but must be severe, nor severe without incurring the aspersion of crueltie. His Pride was excessive; and so was his Wantonnesse: A Nunnes vail was but a slender shield against his lust: This sinne he was given to, *Praeter gentis morem, Egnatius.which was besides the custome of the Dutch, saith one, who though great friends to Bacchus, are no favourites of Venus; which is strange, that they should heap up so much fewel, and have no more fire.
In a word, he was a better Emperour then a man, his vices being personall, most hurting himself; his vertues of a publick nature, and accomplishing him for government.