The History of the Holy War, Book 2 · Chapter 37 – Chapter 38
Chap. 37. Almerick against his promise invadeth Egypt; His perjury punished with the future ruine of the kingdome of Ierusalem; His death.
WHen a Crown is the prize of the game, we must never expect fair play of the gamesters.1168 King Almerick having looked on the beauty of the kingdome of Egypt, he longed for it: and now no longer to drive out the relicks of the Turks, but to get Egypt to himself: And the next yeare, against the solemn league with the Caliph, invaded it with a great army. He falsely pretended that the Caliph would make a private peace with Noradine King of the Turks; and hence created his quarrel. For he hath a barren brain, who cannot fit himself with an occasion if he hath a desire to fall out. But Gilbert master of the Hospitallers chiefly stirred up the King to this warre, upon promise that the city and countrey of Pelusium, if conquered, should be given to his order. The Templars were much against the designe (one of their order was Embassadour at the ratifying of the peace) and with much zeal protested against it, as undertaken against oath and fidelity.
An oath being the highest appeal, perjury must needs be an hainous sinne, whereby God is solemnly invited to be witnesse of his own dishonour. And as bad is a God-mocking equivocation: For he that surpriseth truth with an ambush, is as bad an enemy as he that fighteth against her with a flat lie in open field. I know what is pleaded for King Almerick, namely, That Christians are not bound to keep faith with idolaters, the worshippers of a false god, as the Egyptian Caliph was on the matter. But open so wide a window, and it will be in vain to shut any doores. All contracts with Pagans may easily be voided, if this evasion be allowed. But what saith S. Hierome, *Non considerandum cui, sed per quem jurave…s, Comment. 17. Ezech.It matters not to whom, but by whom we swear. And God to acquit himself, knowing the Christians prosperity could not stand with his justice after their perjury, frowned upon them. And from hence authours date the constant ill successe of the Holy warre. For though this expedition sped well at the first, and Almerick wonne the citie of Belbis or Pelusium, yet see what a cloud of miseries ensued.
First, Noradine in his absence wasted and wonne places neare Antiochia at pleasure.
Secondly, *Centurist. Centur. 12. in Almerico.Meller Prince of Armenia, a Christian, made a covenant with Noradine, and kept it most constantly, to the inestimable disadvantage of the King of Jerusalem. This act of Meller must be condemned, but withall Gods justice admired. Christians break their covenant with Saracens in Egypt, whilest other Christians, to punish them, make and keep covenant with Turks in Asia.
Thirdly, the Saracens grew good souldiers on a sudden: who were naked at first, and onelyonly had bows; but now learned from the Christians to use all offensive and defensive weapons. Thus rude nations alwayes better themselves in fighting with a skilfull enemy. How good mark-men are the Irish now-a-dayes, which some seventy yeares ago, at the beginning of their rebellions, had three men to discharge a *Morison, in the description of Ireland, anno 1598.hand-gunne!
Fourthly, Almericks hopes of conquering Egypt were frustrated; for after some victories he was driven out, and that whole kingdome conquered by Saladine (nephew to Syracon) who killed the Caliph with his horse-mace as he came to do him reverence, and made himself the absolutest Turkish King of Egypt.1173 And presently after the death of Noradine, the kingdome of the Turks at Damascus was by their consent bestowed upon him.May. Indeed Noradine left a sonne, Melexala, who commanded in part of his fathers dominions; but Saladine after his death got all for himself. Thus rising men shall still meet with more stairs to raise them; as those of falling, with stumbling-blocks to ruine them.
Mean time Jerusalem was a poore weather-beaten kingdome, bleak and open to the storm of enemies on all sides, having no covert or shelter of any good friend neare it, lying in the lions mouth betwixt his upper and nether jaw; Damascus on the North, and Egypt on the South; two potent Turkish kingdomes, united under a puissant Prince, Saladine. This made Almerick send for succours into Europe: for now few voluntaries came to this service; souldiers must be pressed with importunity. Our Western Princes were prodigall of their pity, but niggardly of their help: The heat of the warre in Palestine had cooled their desires to go thither: which made these Embassadours to return without supplies, having gone farre to fetch home nothing but discomfort and despair.
Lastly, King Almerick himself wearied with whole volleys of miseries, ended his life of a bloudy flux, having reigned eleven full yeares; and was buried with his predecessours: Leaving two children, Baldwine and Sibyll, by Agnes his first wife: and by Mary his second wife (daughter to John Proto-Sebastus, a Grecian Prince) one daughter, Isabell; married *Tyrius, lib. 22. cap. 5.afterwards to Hemphred the third, Prince of Thorone.
Chap. 38. Baldwine the fourth succeedeth; His education under William the reverend Archbishop of Tyre.
BAldwine his sonne,1174 the fourth of that name, succeeded his father:Iuly 15. so like unto him, that we report the reader to the character of King Almerick, and will spare the repeating his description. OnelyOnly he differed in the temper of his bodie, being enclined to the leprosie called Elephantiasis, noysome to the patient, but not infectious to the company: not like King Uzziahs, but Naamans leprosie; which had it been contagious, no doubt the King of Assyria, when he went into the house of Rimmon, would have chosen another supporter. Mean time the kingdome was as sick as the King; he of a leprosie, that of an incurable consumption.
This Baldwine had the benefit of excellent education under William Archbishop of Tyre, a pious man and excellent scholar, skilled in all the learned Orientall tongues, besides the Dutch, and French his native language; a moderate and faithfull writer: For in the latter part of his history of the Holy warre, his eye guided his hand, till at last the taking of the city of Jerusalem so shook his hand, that his penne fell out, and he wrote no more. Treasurer he was of all the money contributed to the Holy warre; Chancellour of this kingdome; imployed in severall Embassies in the West; present at the Lateran Councel, the acts whereof he did record: *Centurist. Centur. in Episcopis.Cardinall he might have been, but refused it: In a word, unhappy onelyonly that he lived in that age, though that age was happy he lived in it.