The History of the Holy War, Book 2 · Chapter 13 – Chapter 16
Chap. 13. The pleasurable voyages of King Baldwine, and his death.
AFter the tempest of a long warre a calm came at last, and King Baldwine had a five yeares vacation of peace in his old age: In which time he disported himself with many voyages for pleasure:1116 as, one to the Red-sea, not so called from the rednesse of the water, or sand, as some without any colour have conceited; but from the neighbouring Edomites, whom the Grecians called Erythreans, or red men, truly translating the Hebrew name of Edomites: they had their name of rednesse from their father *Scalig. on Festus, in Aegyptius. & Fuller, Miscell. lib. 4. cap. 20.Edom. And here Baldwine surveyed the countrey, with the nature and strength thereof. Another journey he took afterwards into *Tyrius, lib. 11. cap. 31.Egypt,1117 as conceiving himself ingaged in honour to make one inrode into that countrey in part of paiment of those many excursions the Egyptians had made into his Kingdome. He took the city of*Calvisius makes it to be wonne at the former voyage. Pharamia, anciently called Rameses, and gave the spoil thereof to his souldiers. This work being done, he began his play, and entertained the time with viewing that riddle of Nature, the river of Nilus, whose stream is the confluence of so many wonders: first, for its undiscovered fountain; though some late Geographers, because they would be held more intelligent then others, have found the head of Nilus in their own brains, and make it to flow from a fountain they fansie in the mountains of the moon, in the south of Africa: then, for the strange creatures bred therein; as river-bulls, horses, and crocodiles: But the chiefest wonder is the yearly increasing thereof from the *Sand Trav. pag. 94.17. of June to the midst of September, overflowing all Egypt, and the banks of all humane judgement to give the true reason thereof.
Much time Baldwine spent in beholding this river, wherein he took many fishes, and his death in eating them: for a new surfet revived the grief of an old wound, which he many yeares before received at the siege of Ptolemais. His sicknesse put him in mind of his sinnes, conscience speaking loudest when men begin to grow speechlesse: And especially he grieved, that having another wife alive, he had married the Countesse of Sicilie, the relict of Earl Roger: But now heartily sorrowfull for his fault, he sent away this his last wife; yet we reade not that he received his former again. Other faults he would have amended, but was prevented by death. And no doubt where the deed could not be present, the desire was a sufficient proxy. He died at Latis, a city in the road from Egypt, and was brought to Jerusalem, and buried on Palm-sunday in the temple of the Sepulchre, in the 18. yeare of his reigne.1118
A Prince superiour to his brother Godfrey in learning,Mar. 26. equall in valour, inferiour in judgement; rash, precipitate, greedy of honour, but swallowing more then he could digest, and undertaking what he was not able to perform; little-affected to the Clergie, or rather to their temporall greatnesse, especially when it came in competition with his own; much given to women, (besides the three wives he had, first marrying Gutrera an English-woman; after her death, Tafror an Armenian Lady; and whilest she yet survived, the Countesse of Sicilie) yet he had no child, God commonly punishing wantonnesse with barrennesse. For the rest, we referre the reader to the dull Epitaph written on his tombe, which (like the verses of that age) runneth in a kind of rhythme, though it can scarce stand on true feet:
Rex Baldwinus, Iudas alter Maccabaeus,
Spes patriae, vigor Ecclesiae, virtus utrius que ;
Quem formidabant, cui dona tributa ferebant,
*Aliter Caesar.Cedar, Aegypti Dan, ac homicida Damascus;
Proh dolor! in modico clauditur hoc tumulo.
Baldwine another Maccabee for might;
Hope, help of State, of Church, and boths delight;
Cedar, with Egypts Dan of him afraid,
Bloudy Damascus to him tribute paid:
Alas! here in this tombe is laid.
Let him who pleaseth play the critick on the divers readings; and whether by Dan be meant the Souldan, or whether it relateth to the conceit that Antichrist shall come of the tribe of Dan. But perchance the text is not worth a comment.
Chap. 14. Baldwine the second chosen King; Prince Eustace peaceably renounceth his right.
IT happened the same day King Baldwine was buried, that Baldwine de Burgo his kinsman and Count of Edessa came casually into the city, intending onelyonly there to keep his Easter: when behold the Christian Princes met together for the election of a new King. The greater part did centre their suffrages on Prince Eustace, brother to the two former Kings, but then absent in France. They alledged, That it was not safe to break the chain of succession, where the inversion of order bringeth all to confusion; and, That it was high ingratitude to the memories of Godfrey and Baldwine, to exclude their brother from the crown; especially he being fit in all points to be a King, wanting nothing but that he wanted to be there; That in the mean time some might be deputed to lock up all things safe, and to keep the keyes of the State till he should arrive.
On the other side, some objected the dangers of an interregnum, how when a State is headlesse, every malecontent would make head; inconveniences in other countreys would be mischiefs here, where they lived in the mouth of their enemies: and therefore to stay for a King, was the way to lose the Kingdome.
Then Joceline Prince of Tiberias, a man of great authoritie, offered himself a moderatour in this difference, and counselled both sides to this effect: To proceed to a present election, and therein to be directed not confined by succession; though they missed the next, let them take one of Godfreys kindred: As the case now stood, he must be counted next in bloud that was next at hand; and this was Baldwine Count of Edessa, on whom he bestowed most superlative praises. All were much affected with these his commendations; for they knew that Joceline was his sworn adversary, and concluded that it must needs be a mighty weight of worth in Baldwine, which pressed out praise from the mouth of his enemy: though indeed private ends prompted him to make this speech, who hoped himself to get the Earldome of Edessa when Baldwine should be translated to Jerusalem. However, his words took effect, and Baldwine hereupon was chosen King,1118 and *Tyrius, lib. 12. cap. 4.crowned on Easter-day by Arnulphus the Patriarch.April 2.
Mean time some secretly were sent to Prince Eustace to come and challenge the crown. But he hearing that another was already in possession, though he was on his journey coming, quietly went back again. A large alms, to give away a Kingdome out of his charity to the publick cause.
Baldwine was of a proper personage, and able body, born nigh Rhems in France, sonne to Hugh Count of Rorster and Millisent his wife. He was exceedingly charitable to the poore, and pious towards God; witnesse the brawn on his hands and knees made with continuall praying: valiant also, and excellently well seen in all martiall affairs.
We had almost forgotten what happened in this yeare, the death of Alexius the Grecian Emperour, that arch-hypocrite and grand enemy of this warre. On whom we may bestow this Epitaph:
If he of men the best doth know to live
Who best knows to dissemble, justly then
To thee, Alexius, we this praise must give,
That thou to live didst know the best of men.
And this was it at last did stop thy breath,
Thou knew'st not how to counterfeit with death.
His sonne Calo-Johannes succeeded him in his Empire, of whom we shall have much cause to speak hereafter.
Chap. 15. The ecclesiasticall affairs in this Kings reigne.
ACcording to our wonted method, let us first rid out of the way Church-matters in this Kings reigne, that so we may have the more room to follow the affairs of the Commonwealth. We left Arnulphus the last Patriarch of Jerusalem; since which time the bad savour of his life came to the Popes nose, who sent a Legate to depose him. But Arnulphus hasted to Rome with much *Tyrius, lib. 11. cap. 26.money, and there bought himself to be innocent, so that he enjoyed his place during his life.
Guarimund succeeded in his place,1119. a very religious man, by whom God gave the Christians many victories. He called a Councel at Neapolis or Sichem, wherein many wholesome things were concluded for reformation of manners. Betwixt him and William Archbishop of Tyre (an English-man) there arose a difference, because this Archbishop would not receive his confirmation of him, (from whom by ancient right he should take it) but from the Pope, counting it the most honour to hold of the highest landlord. And indeed the Pope for gain confirmed him, though he should have sent him to the Patriarch. But the court of Rome careth not though men steal their corn, so be it they bring it to their mills to grind.
After Guarimunds death,1128. Stephen Abbot of S. John de Valia was chosen Patriarch; once a cavalleer, but afterward laying down the sword, he took up the Word, and entred into Orders. He awaked the Patriarchs title to Jerusalem, which had slept during his three predecessours, and challenged it very imperiously of the King; for he was a man of spirit and metall. And indeed he had too much life to live long. For the King fearing what flame this spark might kindle, and finding him to be an active man, gave him (as it is suspected) a little more active poison, which cut him off in the midst of his age, and beginning of his projects.
The King coming to him when he lay on his death-bed, asked him how he did: To whom he answered, My *Tyrius, lib. 13. cap. 25.Lord, for the present I am as you would have me. A cruel murder, if true: But it is strange,1130. that he whose hands (as we have said) were hardened with frequent prayer, should soften them again in innocent bloud. Wherefore we will not condemn the memory of a King on doubtfull evidence. The Patriarchs place was filled with William Prior of the Sepulchre, a Fleming; a man better beloved then learned.
Chap. 16. Knights-Templars, and Teutonicks instituted.
1119ABout this time the two great orders of Templars and Teutonicks appeared in the world. The former under Hugh de Paganis, and Ganfred of S. Omer their first founders. They agreed in profession with the Hospitallers, and performed it alike, vowing Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience, and to defend Pilgrimes coming to the Sepulchre. It is *Baronius, in anno 1127.falsely fathered on S. Bernard, that he appointed them their rule; who prescribeth not what they should do, but onelyonly *Quarto & quinto cap. exhort.describeth what they did: namely, How they were never idle, mending their old clothes when wanting other imployment; never played at chesse or dice, never hawked nor hunted, beheld no stageplayes; arming themselves with faith within, with steel without; aiming more at strength then state; to be feared, not admired; to strike terrour with their valour, not stirre covetousnesse with their wealth in the heart of their enemies. Other sweet praises of them let him who pleaseth fetch from the mouth of this mellifluous Doctour.
Indeed at first they were very poore; in token whereof they gave for their *Weaver, Fun. mon. pag. 71.Seal, Two men riding on one horse. And hence it was, that if the Turks took any of them prisoners, their constant ransome was a *Hospin. De orig. mon.Sword and a Belt; it being conceived that their poore state could stretch to no higher price. But after their order was confirmed by Pope Honorius (by the intreatie of Stephen the Patriarch of Jerusalem) who appointed them to wear a White garment, to which Eugenius the third added a Red crosse on their breast; they grew wonderfully rich by the bounty of severall Patrones: Yea, *Tyrius, lib. 12. cap. 7.the King and Patriarch of Jerusalem dandled this infant-order so long in their laps till it brake their knees, it grew so heavy at last; and these ungratefull Templars did pluck out the feathers of those wings which hatched and brooded them. From Alms-men they turned Lords; and though very valiant at first (for they were sworn rather to die then to flie) afterwards lazinesse withered their arms, and swelled their bellies. They laughed at the rules of their first Institution, as at the swaddling-clothes of their infancie; neglecting the Patriarch, and counting themselves too old to be whipped with the rod of his discipline; till partly their vitiousnesse, and partly their wealth caused their finall extirpation, as (God willing) shall be shewed *Lib. 5. cap. 1, 2, 3.hereafter.
At the same time began the Teutonick order, consisting onelyonly of Dutch-men well descended, living at Jerusalem in an house which one of that nation bequeathed to his countreymen that came thither on pilgrimage. In the yeare 1190 their order was honoured with a great Master, whereof the first was Henry a-Walpot; and they had an habit assigned them to wear, Black crosses on White robes: They were to fight in the defense of Christianity against Pagans. But we shall meet with them more largely in the following story.