The History of the Holy War, Book 2 · Chapter 46
Chap. 46. Ierusalem wonne by the Turk, with wofull remarkables thereat.
BEfore the beginning of the siege, the Sept. 4.sunne, as sympathizing with the Christians woes, was eclipsed. A sad presage of the losse of Jerusalem. For though those within the city valiantly defended it for a fortnight, yet they saw it was but the playing out of a desperate game which must be lost: Their foes neare, their friends farre off; and those willing to pity, unable to help. Why then should they prolong languishing, where they could not preserve life?Octo. 2. Concluding to lavish no more valour, they yeelded up the city, on condition all their lives might be redeemed, a man for ten, a woman for five, a child for *M. Paris, in anno 1187.one besant: and fourteen thousand poore people not able to pay their ransome, were kept in perpetuall bondage. All Latines were cast out of the citie; but those of the Greek religion were permitted to stay therein: OnelyOnly Saladine to two Frenchmen gave liberty to abide there, and maintenance to live on, in reverence to their age:Besoldus, in Guidone, pag. 285. the one Robert of Corbie, a souldier to Godfrey of Bouillon when he wanne this citie; the other Fulk Fiole, the first child born in the citie after the Christians had conquered it.
Saladine possessed of Jerusalem, turned the churches into stables, sparing onelyonly that of the Sepulchre for a great summe of money. Solomons Temple he converted to a Mosque, sprinkling it all over with rose-water, as if he would wash it from profanenesse, whilest he profaned it with his washing.
Thus Jerusalem after it had fourescore and eight yeares been enjoyed by the Christians, by Gods just judgement was taken again by the Turks. What else could be expected? Sinne reigned in every corner; there was scarce *Besoldus, in Guidone, pag. 284.one honest woman in the whole city of Jerusalem. Heraclius the Patriarch, with the Clergie, was desperately vitious: and no wonder if iron rust, when gold doth; and if the Laity followed their bad example.
This dolefull news brought into Europe, filled all with sighs and sorrows. Pope Urbane the third (as another Eli at the Arks captivity) died for grief: The Cardinals lamented out of measure, vowing such reformation of manners; Never more to take bribes, Never more to live so vitiously; yea, Never to ride on an *Roger Hoveden, in Henrico 2. anno 1187.horse so long as the Holy land was under the feet of the Turks. But this their passion spent it self with its own violence; and these mariners vows ended with the tempest.
In this generall grief of Christendome there was one woman found to rejoyce, and she a German Prophetesse called S. Christian, a virgin. Who as she had foretold the day of the defeat, so on the same she professed that she saw in a vision Christ and his Angels rejoycing. For the losse of the earthly Canaan was gain to the heavenly; peopling it with many inhabitants, who were conquerours in their overthrow; whilest they *Quandam morti Salvatoris vicem cum multa devotione rependunt, Baronius, in anno 1187.requited Christs passion, and died for him who suffered for them. But for the truth both of the doctrine and historie hereof, none need burden their beleef farther then they please. We will conclude all with Roger Hovedens witty descant on the time: *Loco priùs citato.When Jerusalem was wonne by the Christians, and afterwards when it was lost, an Urbane was Pope of Rome, a Frederick Emperour of Germany, an Heraclius Patriarch of Jerusalem. But by his leave, though the first of his observations be true, the second is a flat falsitie, the third a foul mistake, and may thus be mended: (It is charity to lend a crutch to a lame conceit) When the Crosse was taken from the Persians, Heraclius was Emperour; and when it was taken from the Turks, Heraclius was Patriarch. Thus these curious observations (like over-small watches) not one of a hundred goeth true. Though it cannot be denied, but the same name (as Henry of England, one the winne-all, another the lose-all in France) hath often been happy and unhappy in founding and confounding of kingdomes. But such nominall toyes are rags not worth a wise mans stooping to take them up.
The end of the second Book.