The History of the Holy War, Book 2 · Chapter 8
Chap. 8. The Church-story during this Kings reigne. A chain of successive Patriarchs; Dabert, Ebremare, Gibelline, and Arnulphus: Their severall characters.
1102.AFterwards, this breach betwixt the King and Patriarch was made up by the mediation of some friends: but the skinne onelyonly was drawn over, not dead flesh drawn out of the wound; and Arnulphus (whom we mentioned before) discontented for his losse of the Patriarchs place, still kept the sore raw betwixt them. At last Dabertus the Patriarch was fain to flee to Antioch, where he had plentifull maintenance allowed him by Bernard Patriarch of that See.1103. But he was too high in the instep to wear another mans shoes, and conceived himself to be but in a charitable prison whilest he lived on anothers benevolence. Wherefore hence he hasted to *Tyrius, lib. 11. cap. 4.Rome, complained to the Pope, and received from his Holinesse a command to King Baldwine to be reestablished in the Patriarchs place; but returning home died by the way at Messana in Sicily, being accounted seven yeares Patriarch, foure at home, and three in banishment.
1107.Whilest Dabert was thrust out, one Ebremarus was made Patriarch against his will by King Baldwine. An holy and devout man; but he had more of the dove then the serpent, and was none of the deepest reach. He hearing that he was complained of to the Pope for his irregular election, posted to Rome to excuse himself, shewing he was chosen against his will: and though preferment may not be snatched, it needs not be thrust away. But all would not do; It was enough to put him out, because the King put him in. Wherefore he was commanded to return home, and to wait the definitive sentence, which Gibellinus Archbishop of Arles and the Popes Legate should pronounce in the matter.
Gibellinus coming to Jerusalem, concluded the election of Ebremarus to be illegall and void, and was himself chosen Patriarch in his place; and the other in reverence of his piety made Archbishop of Cesarea.1108. And though Arnulphus (the firebrand of this Church) desired the Patriarchs place for himself, yet was he better content with Gibellinus his election, because he was a through-old man, and hoped that candle would quickly go out that was in the socket.
*Tyrius, lib. 11. cap. 28.To this Gibellinus King Baldwine granted, that all places which he or his successours should winne, should be subject to his jurisdiction; and this also was confirmed by Pope Paschall the 2.Baronius in anno 1108. But Bernard Patriarch of Antioch found himself much aggrieved hereat; because many of these cities by the ancient canon of the Councel of Nice, were subject to his Church. At last the Pope took the matter into his hand, and stroked the angry Patriarch of Antioch into gentlenesse with good language. He shewed, how since the Councel of Nice the countrey had got a new face; ancient mountains were buried, rivers drowned in oblivion, and they new-christened with other names: Yea, the deluge of the Saracens tyranny had washed away the bounds of the Churches jurisdictions, that now they knew not their own severals, where Mahometanisme so long had made all common and waste. He desired him therefore to be contented with this new division of their jurisdictions: especially because it was reasonable, that the King of Jerusalem and his successours should dispose of those places which they should winne with their own swords. Bernard perceiving hereby how his Holinesse stood affected in the businesse, contented his conscience that he had set his title on foot, and then quietly let it fall to the ground, as counting it no policie to shew his teeth where he durst not bite.
Gibellinus never laid claim to the citie of Jerusalem, whether it was because in thankfulnesse for this large ecclesiasticall power which King Baldwine had bestowed upon him, or that his old age was too weak to strive with so strong an adversarie. He sat foure yeares in his chair, and Arnulphus thinking he went too slow to the grave, is suspected to have given him something to have mended his pace, and was himself substituted in his room by the especiall favour of King Baldwine.
This Arnulphus was called mala corona, 1112.as if all vices met in him to dance a round. And no wonder if the King being himself wantonly disposed, advanced such a man: for generally, loose Patrones cannot abide to be pinched and pent with over-strict Chaplains. Besides, it was policie in him to choose such a Patriarch as was liable to exceptions for his vitious life; that so if he began to bark against the King, his mouth might be quickly stopped. Arnulphus was as quiet as a lambe, and durst never challenge his interest in Jerusalem from Godfreys donation; as fearing to wrestle with the King, who had him on the hip, and could out him at pleasure for his bad manners. Amongst other vices he was a great church-robber, who to make Emmelor his niece a Princesse, and to marry Eustace Prince of Sidon, gave her the citie of Jericho for her dowrie, and lands belonging to his See worth five thousand crowns yearly. And though Papists may pretend that marriage causeth covetousnesse in the Clergie, yet we shall find when the Prelacie were constrained to a single life, that their nephews ate more church-bread then now the children of married Ministers. Yea, some Popes not onelyonly fed their bastards with church-milk, but even cut off the churches breasts for their pompous and magnificent maintenance. And thus having dispatched the story of the Church in this Kings reigne, we come now to handle the businesse of the Common-wealth entirely by it self.