The History of the Holy War, Book 5 · Chapter 12
Chap. 12 Of the hindrances of the good successe in the Holy warre; whereof the Popes, and Emperours of Greece, were the two principall.
SO much concerning those laesa principia in this Holy warre, Superstition and Perjurie, which struck at the root of it. Come we now to consider many other hindrances, which abated the good successe thereof. Amongst these we will not be so hereticall as to denie the Popes Primacie; but account him the first cause of their ill successe. Such wounds as we find in his credit, we will neither widen nor close up; but even present them to the Reader as we found them. In foure respects he baned the Christians good speed in this warre:
1. He caused most of their truce-breaking with the Turks, urging men thereunto. Thus Pope Celestine drove on the Christians against the Turks, whilest as yet the peace our Richard concluded with them was not expired; and so many other times also. For alas! this was nothing with his Holinesse; who sitting in the temple of God, so farre advanceth himself above God, as to dispense with oathes made sacred by the most holy and high name of God; and professing himself the sole Umpire and Peace-maker of the world, doth cut asunder those onelyonly sinews which hold peace together.
2. In that twice the Kingdome of Jerusalem was offered to the Christians, and the Popes Legates would not suffer them to accept it: (No doubt, by instructions from their Master; this being to be presumed on, That those his absolute creatures altered not a tittle, but went according to the copie that was set them) Once anno 1219; when Pelagius the Legate refused the free offer of Melechsala: And the second time, some thirtie yeares after; when the same bountifull profer weas refused by Odo the Popes Legate: For when the same Melechsala again offered the free resignation of the whole Kingdome of Jerusalem, whereby the same day great quietnesse had entred into all Christendome, with the end of much bloudshed and miserie; the Legate *M. Paris. pag. 1047. Huic pacis formae ex Papae mandato rebellis erat Legatus, & frontosè cont…adicens, &c.frontosè contradicens, would in no wise receive the conditions offered.
3. Frederick the second, Emperour, was possessed of it; when the Pope molested him, and stirred up the Templars against him, as so many needles to prick him when he was to sit down on the throne.
4. By diverting the Pilgrimes, and over-titling his own quarrels to be Gods cause; nothing being more common with him, then to employ those armies which were levied for the Holy warre, in subduing the Albingenses and many others of his private enemies.
By all these it plainly appeareth, That what fair shews soever his Holinesse made, calling Councels, appointing Legates, providing preachers, proclaiming pardons, to advance this warre; yet in very deed, he neither intended nor desired that the Christians should make a finall conquest of Palestine, but be imployed in continuall conquering it. He would have this warre go on cum decente pausa; fair and softly: let the Christians now beat the Turks, and then the Turks beat the Christians; and so let them take their turns, whilest his private profit went on. For (as we touched before) to this warre the Pope condemned all dangerous persons (especially the Emperours of Germanie) to be there imployed. As little children are often set to school, not so much to learn, as to keep them out of harms way at home: so this carefull Father sent many of his children to the Holy warre, not for any good he knew they would either do or get there, but it would keep them from worse doing; which otherwise would have been paddling in this puddle, raking in that channel, stirring up questions and controversies unsavourie in the nostrils of his Holinesse, and perchance falling into the fire of discord and dissension against their own Father. Indeed at last this warre ended it self in despite of the Pope: Who no doubt would have driven this web (weaving and unweaving it, Penelope-like) much longer if he could: yet he digested more patiently the ending thereof, because the net might be taken away when the fish was already caught, and the warre spared now the Germane Emperours strength thereby was sufficiently abated in Italie.
Much also this warre increased the intrado of the Popes revenues. Some say, Purgatory-fire heateth his kitchin: they may adde, the Holy warre filled his pot, if not paid for all his second course. It is land enough, to have the office of collecting the contributions of all Christendome given to this warre. So much for his great receits hereby. And as for what he expended, not too farre in the point. If the Pope (saith *Dist. 40. can. Si Papa suae & fraternae salutis negligens.their law) thrusteth thousands of souls into Hell, none may say to him, Why doest thou so? It is presumption then to make him answer for money, who is not accountable for men.
With the Pope let the Emperours of Greece their Jealousie go, as the second bane of the Christians successe in this warre. These Emperours tormented themselves in seeking that they would have been loth to find, the treacherie of the Latines; and therefore to begin first, used them with all treacherie: Whereof, largely *Book 2. chap. 9, 27.formerly. And surely, though a cautious circumspection be commendable in Princes; yet in such over-fear, they were no lesse injurious to themselves then to the western Pilgrimes. Yea generally, suspiciousnesse is as great an enemy to wisdome, as too much credulitie; it doing oftentimes as hurtfull wrong to friends, as the other doth receive wrongfull hurt from dissemblers.