The History of the Holy War, Book 4 · Chapter 10
Chap. 10. Robert Patriarch of Ierusalem, with the whole strength of the Christians, conquered by the Corasines.
THe desperatenesse of the disease priviledgeth the taking of any Physick. The Christians being now in deep distresse, resolved on a dangerous course, but (as their case stood) thought necessary: For they made peace with the Sultan of Damascus and Seisser, and with the Sultan of Cracci; (These were Dynastes in Syria of some good strength, and were at discord with the Sultan of Babylon) and swearing them to be faithfull, borrowed an armie of their forces, with them joyntly to resist the Corasines; seeking, saith *In his letter to Richard of Cornwall.Frederick the Emperour, to find fidem in perfidia, trust in treachery. Many suspected these auxiliary forces; thinking, though the forrest-wolves fell out with the mountain ones, they would both agree against the sheep.
Robert Patriarch of Jerusalem was a most active commander over all. S. Lukes day was the time agreed upon for the fatall battel; neare Tiberias was the place. As the Christians were ordering themselves in aray, it was questioned in what part of their armie their new Turkish assistants should be disposed, and concluded that they should be placed in the front, where if they did no other good, they would dull the appetite of their enemies sword. This is thought to have been a notorious 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, *Caes. lib. 3. De bello Gallico.auxiliares copias, quibus ad pugnam non multum confidebat, in mediam aciem collo…vit; that so being hemmed 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 *Graft. in Rich. 3. fol. 102.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 *Matth. Paris, pag. 834.Turks ranne over to the other side; though some braved them onelyonly 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-powerd 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 *Matth. Paris, pag. 475.none of their name remained: Yea, *Except any make them to be Chorasmii, a people placed by Athenaeus in the East of Parthia.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.