The History of the Holy War, Book 4 · Chapter 23 – Chapter 25
Chap. 23. The discord betwixt the Genoans and Venetians, who burn the Genoans ships in Ptolemais.
BUt they were unworthy of this happinesse, who would not be at leisure to make use of it, but busied themselves in private dissensions, the Genoans against the Pisans and Venetians. These States (as many other in Italy) at this time were so proud in their Masters old clothes, they scarce knew themselves, grown brave with the feathers the Eagle had moulted, and set up by the breaking of the Emperour in Italy. The Venetians and Genoans were hardly matched: The Pisans were not so strong, but as stomachfull as either of them, and then in this point of policie superiour to both; That first siding with the Genoans, they whipped the Venetians; then when they were sufficiently humbled, taking part with the Venetians, they stripped and lashed the Genoans: and the scales being even before, Pisa made that weigh down by course wherein she cast her grains.
Now not content to fall out at home within the doores of Italy, they must fight in Syria in the open street, where the Turks looked on and laughed at them; counting it in their apprehension as good sport as to see a spider poison a toad. Besides their old grudges transported hither out of Italy, this green wound was the cause of their dissension here: In Ptolemais these three States had their severall streets, severall markets for trading, and courts for causes both civill and criminall: but all three had one Church (that of S. Sabbas) common unto them, by the ordering of the Pope himself; who counted the same Church might serve the worshippers of the same God: But the *So saith Blondus, Decad. 2 lib. 8. pag. 308. But if we consult with Tyrius, lib. 10. cap. 28. the Genoans and not the Venetians wonne Ptolemais.Venetians by the vertue of an ancient agreement betwixt them and King Baldwine for their service in winning this city, challenged a peculiar interest therein. Hereabout was there old bustling; and in a tumult, the Genoans at that time surpassing for number, drave the Venetians out of the Church: Yea, Philip of Montfort, a French Governour of Ptolemais in the time of the interregnum, wanting not onelyonly policie for a Magistrate, but wit for a man (Blondus *Loco priùs citato.saith he was half-mad, and his actions speak him no lesse) compelled the Venetians generally to forsake the city.
Implacably incensed hereat, the Venetians arm thirteen galleys which they had at Tyre, & coming to Ptolemais forced asunder the chain which crossed the haven, and burned five and twenty ships of the Genoans which lay there. For alas! being straitned in the haven, they had no room (being intangled) to turn and free themselves one from another. And though united force be most forcible, yet not when so stifled and smothered that it cannot expresse and exercise it self. Many brave souldiers in these ships lost their lives in a bundle, without selling them, or ever opening their wares.
To avenge this losse, the State of Genoa sent from home a navie of fifty ships of all sorts, which came to Tyre. There meet they with Reinerius Zenus Duke of Venice, with the united power of the Venetians and Pisans, counting no fewer then seventy foure vessels well provided. They would have fought in the very haven of Tyre, but the Governour of the citie forbad it: It would be more scandalous to Christianity; The roving fireballs might hurt the citie, and sinking ships hinder the harbour; Besides, the conquered party would probably complain of the partiality of the place, that it more favoured one side; They should not fight under his nose; if they had a mind to it, let them out and try their fortunes in the open sea.
Chap. 24. The Genoan navie beaten by the Venetian; Sea and land-service compared, both in danger and honour.
ACcordingly it was performed; out they go and fall to their work. Their galleys, like Ostriches, used their legges more then their wings, more running with oars then flying with sails. At that time, before Ordinance was found out, ships were both gunnes and bullets themselves, and furiously ranne one against another.
They began with this arietation: Herein strength was much but not all; nimblenesse was also very advantageous to break and slent the down-right rushings of a stronger vessel. Then fell they to grappling: Here the steady ship had the better of it; and those souldiers who best kept their legges could best use their arms, the surest stander being alwayes the soundest striker. Much valour was shewed on both sides, and at last the victorie fell to the Venetian. The Genoans losing five and twenty of their ships, fled, and saved the rest in the haven of Tyre, after a most cruel and desperate battel.
And surely, generally sea-fights are more bloudy then those on the land, especially since gunnes came up, whose shot betwixt wind and water (like those wounds so often mentioned in the Scripture under the fifth rib) is commonly observed mortall. Yea, farre harder it is for a ship, when arrested and ingaged in a battel, to clear it self, then for souldiers by land to save themselves by flight. Here neither his own two nor his horses foure legges can bestead any; but like accidents they must perish with their subjects, and sink with their ship.
And then why is a sea-victory lesse honour, being more danger, then one atchieved by land? Is it because sea-service is not so generall, nor so full of varieties, and the mysteries thereof sooner learned? or because in sea-fights fortune may seem to be a deeper sharer, and valour not so much interested? Whatsoever it is, the laurel purchased on land hath a more lively verdure then that which is got at sea.
We return to the Venetians: Who using or rather abusing this conquest, enter Ptolemais, cast out all Genoans thence, throw down their buildings both publick and private, demolish the fort which they had builded at S. Saba, rifle and spoil their shops, ware-houses and store houses: onelyonly the Pope prevailed so farre with them, that they set at liberty the prisoners they had taken.
Ten yeares did this warre last betwixt these two States in Syria, composed at last (saith my Authour) by the authority of Pope Clement the fourth, and by famine (the bad cause of a good effect) which in Palestine starved them into agreement. Longer these warres lasted betwixt them in Italy: their successe like the sea; they fought on ebbing and flowing. In this costly warre Pisa was first beggered; and for all her politick partaking, Genoa at last trode so heavy upon her, that ever since she hath drooped and hung the wing, and at this day is maid to Florence, who formerly was mistresse of a good part of Italy. But I have no calling and lesse comfort to prosecute these bloudy dissensions: For warres of Christians against Infidels, are like the heat of exercise which serveth to keep the body of Christianity in health; but these civil warres amongst themselves, like the heat of a feaver, dangerous, and destructive of religion.
Chap. 25. Charles made King of Sicily and Ierusalem by the Pope; Hugh King of Cyprus pretendeth also to go to Ierusalem.
WE have now gotten Pantaleon, a Frechman, who succeeded Robert in the titular *Platina, in Urban. iv.Patriarchship Jerusalem, to be Pope, by the name of Urbane the fourth. To advance the Holy cause, after fourteen yeares interregnum in Syria, he appointed Charles Duke of Anjou, younger brother to King Lewis of France, King of Sicily and Jerusalem, and it was ratified by Clement the fourth his successour.
This honour was first offered to Lewis himself; but piety had dried up in him all ambitious humours: then to our Henry of England; but his warre-wasted purse could not stretch to the Popes price:1265 At last, this Charles accepted it. But it is not for any speciall favour to the bush, if a man runne under it in a storm: it was no love to Charles, but to himself, to be sheltred from Maufred, that the Pope conferred this honour upon him. And the wife of Charles, that she might go in equipage with her three sisters, being Queens, sold all her *Besoldus, De reg. Sicil. pag. 645, & 649.jewels to furnish her husband with money to purchase these Kingdomes: that sex loving bravery well, but greatnesse better.
Now the Pope (whose well-grounded and bounded bountie will never undo him; for where he giveth away the meat he selleth the sauce) *See these conditions at large (five and twenty in number) out of Io. Anton. Summont. cited in Besoldus, pag. 647.conditioned with Charles on these terms: First, that he should conquer Maufred then King of Sicily, who molested the Pope; and that he should finally subdue all the remaining race of Frederick the second, Emperour, who claimed that Kingdome. Secondly, in acknowledgement that he held these Kingdomes from the Pope, he should pay him an annuall pension of foure (some say, fourty) thousand pounds. Provided, if this Charles should chance to be chosen Emperour of Germany, that then he should either resigne Sicily back again into the hands of his Holinesse, *Platina, in Clem. iv. Néve Imperium Romanum, etiam ultro oblatum acciperet.or not accept the Empire. For he knew that all Emperours would be possessed with an antipapall spirit; and that they would hold Sicily, not in homage from the Church, but as a member of the Empire: Besides, the Pope would not dispense that Princes should hold pluralitie of temporall Dominions in Italy; especially, he was so ticklish he could not endure the same Prince should embrace him on both sides.
Ever since, the twinne-titles of Sicily and Jerusalem have gone together, and fit it is that the shadow should follow the substance. Charles subdued Maufred and Conradine his nephew (the last of the Suevian race, and grandchild to Emperour Frederick) and was possessed of Sicilie, and lived there; but as for the gaining of Jerusalem, he little regarded it, nor came thither at all: A watchfull King, who never slept in his Kingdome.
His absence gave occasion to *Calvisius, in anno 1269. ex Marino Sanuto.Hugh King of Cyprus to furbish up new his old title to the Kingdome, as lineally descended from Almerick the second. And coming to Ptolemais, he there was crowned King of Jerusalem:1269 But the extremity of the famine (all things being excessive deare) much abated the solemnity and state of his Coronation.Sept. 27.