The History of the Holy War, Book 3 · Chapter 31
Chap. 31. Frederick recovereth all Palestine and Ierusalem without expense of time or bloud.
SEe how Gods blessing goeth along with the Popes curses! The fame of Fredericks valour and maiden fortune, never as yet spotted with ill successe, like an harbinger hastening before, had provided victorie to entertain him at his arrivall; yea, this Emperour, swifter then Cesar himself, overcame before he came over into Palestine.
At this time the state of the Turks in Syria was very aguish, and Fredericks coming put them into a shaking fit. *Centuriat.Coradine was dead, his children in minority, the Turkish Souldans factious, boiling in enmity one against another. Whereupon the Sultan of Babylon, who was of chiefest authority, and governed Syria, profered Frederick so honourable conditions as he might desire, but could never hope for: namely, To restore unto him Jerusalem and all Palestine, in as full and ample a manner as it was possessed by Baldwine the fourth, before Saladine subdued it; To set all Christian captives at liberty; provided, that the Turks might have accesse to the Sepulchre, (though not lodging in the citie but suburbs, and that in small numbers at a time) there to do their devotions, they also having a knowledge of, and giving an honour to Christ, though no better then ignorance and dishonour of him.
Frederick before he ratified any thing by oath, sent to have the Popes approbation: *Centuriat.who ill entreated and imprisoned his messengers, denied them audience, and contemptuously tore the Emperours letters. Wherefore Frederick without, yea, against his Holinesse consent, concluded a ten yeares truce with the Sultan; and on *Matth. Paris. in anno 1229. pag. 480.Easter-day triumphantly entring Jerusalem, crowned himself King with his own hands.1229 For Gerard Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Oliver master of the Templars, with all the Clergie, absented themselves; neither was there any *Matth. Paris. in anno 1229. pag. 479.masse sung in the citie as long as the Emperour being excommunicated remained there.
See that produced as it were in an instant which the succession of many yeares could not perform, all the Holy land recovered! Some gallants perchance (whose curious palates count all conquests drie meat which are not juyced with bloud) will dispraise this Emperours victory for the best praise thereof, because it was so easily gotten without drawing his sword for it. But they deserve to go naked who scorn to wear good clothes if they cost not dear.
The Templars were vexed at heart that they had no partnership in the glory of this action; yea, this touched their copyhold: Had they lived lazie thus long in Palestine, sucking the *Idem, ibidem.sweet of Christendome to no purpose? See, Frederick with few men, little money, lesse time, as master of his craft, had finished that which these bunglers had so long in vain been fumbling about!
Wherefore they wanting true merit to raise themselves to the pitch of Fredericks honour, sought by false detraction to depresse him to the depth of their own basenesse; defaming him, as if he conspired with the Sultan to the ruine of all Christianity. In the mean time the Christians every where built and repaired the cities of Palestine, being now resigned into their hands. Joppa and Nazareth they strongly fortified: the walls of Jerusalem were repaired, the Churches therein adorned, and all publick edifices either wholly cast their skin with the snake, or at leastwise renewed their bill with the eagle, having their fronts either built or beautified. But new tackling to an old rotten keel will never make serviceable ship. Short were the smiles of this citie, which groning under Gods old curse, little joyed her self in this her new bravery.
The end of the third Book.