The History of the Holy War, Book 2 · Chapter 17 – Chapter 19
Chap. 17. The Christians variety of successe; Tyre taken by the assistance of the Venetians.
IT is worth the Readers marking, how this Kings reigne was checquered with variety of fortune: For first, Roger Prince of Antioch (or rather guardian in the minoritie of young Boemund) went forth with greater courage then discretion;Tyrius, lib. 12. cap. 10. whereunto his successe was answerable, being conquered and killed by the Turks. But Baldwine on the 14 of August following, forced the Turks to a restitution of their victorie, and with a small army gave them a great overthrow, in spite of Gazi their boasting Generall.
To qualifie the Christians joy for this good successe,1122 Joceline unadvisedly fighting with Balak, a petty King of the Turks, was conquered and taken prisoner: and King Baldwine coming to deliver him, was also taken himself; for which he might thank his own rashnesse: For it had been his best work to have done nothing for a while, till the Venetian succours which were not farre off, had come to him; and not presently to adventure all to the hazard of a battel.
Yet the Christians hands were not bound in the Kings captivity: For Eustace Grenier, chosen Vice-roy whilest the King was in durance, stoutly defended the countrey: and Count Joceline, which had escaped out of prison, fighting again with Balak at Hircapolis, routed his army, and killed him with his own hands. But the main piece of service was the taking of Tyre, which was done under the conduct of Guarimund the Patriarch of Jerusalem; but chiefly by the help of the Venetian navy, which Michael their Duke brought, who for their pains were to have a third part of the city to themselves. Tyre had in it store of men and munition; but famine increasing (against whose arrows there is no armour of proof) it was yeelded on honourable terms. And though perhaps hunger shortly would have made the Turks digest courser conditions, yet the Christians were loth to anger their enemies valour into desperatenesse.
Iune 29.Next yeare the King returned home, having been eighteen moneths a prisoner, being to pay for his ransome an hundred thousand Michaelets, and for security he left his daughter in pawn.1125 But he payed the Turks with their own money, or (which was as good coin) with the money of the Saracens, vanquishing Barsequen their Captain at Antiochia:1126 and not long after, he conquered Doldequin another great Commander of them at Damascus.
1130To correct the ranknesse of the Christians pride for this good successe, Damascus was afterward by them unfortunately besieged: Heaven discharged against them thunder-ordinance, arrows of lightning, small-shot of hail, whereby they being miserably wasted were forced to depart. And this affliction was increased when Boemund the young Prince of Antioch, one of great hope and much lamented, was defeated and slain. Authours impute these mishaps to the Christians pride,1131 and relying on their own strength, which never is more untrusty then when most trusted. True it was, God often gave them great victories, when they defended themselves in great straits: Hereupon they turned their thankfulnesse into presumption, grew at last from defending themselves to dare their enemies on disadvantages to their often overthrow: for God will not unmake his miracles by making them common. And may not this also be counted some cause of their ill successe, That they alwayes imputed their victories to the materiall Crosse which was carried before them? So that Christ his glory after his ascension suffered again on the Crosse by their superstition.
Chap. 18. The death of Baldwine the second.
KIng Baldwine a little before his death renounced the world, and took on him a religious habit. This was the fashion of many Princes in that age; though they did it for divers ends. Some thought to make amends for their disordered lives by entring into some holy order at their deaths: Others having surfeted of the worlds vanitie, fasted from it when they could eat no more because of the impotency of their bodies: Others being crossed by the world by some misfortune, sought to crosse the world again in renouncing of it. These like furious gamesters threw up their cards, not out of dislike of gaming but of their game; and they were rather discontented to live then contented to die. But we must beleeve that Baldwine did it out of true devotion, to ripen himself for heaven, because he was piously affected from his youth; so that all his life was religiously tuned, though it made the sweetest musick in the close. He died not long after, on the 22 of August, in the 13 yeare of his reigne; and was buried with his predecessours in the temple of the Sepulchre. By Morphe a Grecian Lady his wife, he had foure daughters: whereof Millesent was the eldest; the second Alice, married to young Boemund Prince of Antioch; the third Hodiern, wife to Reimund Prince of Tripoli; and Mete the youngest, Abbesse of Bethanie.
Chap. 19. Of Fulco, the fourth King of Ierusalem.
FUlco Earl of Tours,1132 Mam, and Anjou, coming some three yeares before on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, there took in marriage Millesent the Kings daughter. He had assigned to him the city of Tyre, and some other princely accommodations for his present maintenance, and the Kingdome after the death of his father in law, which he received accordingly. He was welnigh 60 yeares old: And by his first wife he had a sonne, Geffrey Plantagenet Earl of Anjou to whom he left his lands in France, and from whom our Kings of England are descended. This Fulco was a very valiant man, able both of body and mind. His greatest defect was a weak memory (though not so bad as that of *Plin. lib. 7. cap. 24.Messala Corvinus, who forgot his own name) insomuch that he knew not his own servants; and those whom he even now preferred, were presently after strangers unto him. Yet though he had a bad memory whilest he lived, he hath a good one now he is dead, and his vertues are famous to posteritie.