The History of the Holy War, Book 2 · Chapter 9 – Chapter 12
Chap. 9. A mountain-like army of new adventurers after long and hard travail delivered of a mouse; Alexius his treachery.
1101THe fame of the good successe in Palestine summoned a new supply of other Pilgrimes out of Christendome. Germany, and other places which were sparing at the first voyage, made now amends with double liberality. The chief adventurers were, Guelpho Duke of Bavaria, (who formerly had been a great champion of the Popes against Henry the Emperour; and from him *Pantal. De hist. Germ. part. 2. pag. 151.they of the Papall faction were denominated Guelphes, in distinction from the Imperiall party which were called Gibellines.) Hugh brother to the King of France, and Stephen Earl of Bloys, (both which had much suffered in their reputation for deserting their fellows in the former expedition, and therefore they sought to unstain their credits by going again.) Stephen Earl of Burgundy, William Duke of Aquitain, Frederick Count of Bogen, Hugh brother to the Earl of Tholose: besides many great Prelates; Diemo Archbishop of Saltzburg, the *Ursperg. pag. 237.Bishops of Millain and Pavie, which led 50000 out of Lombardy; the totall summe amounting to 250000. All stood on the tiptoes of expectation to see what so great an army would atchieve; men commonly measuring victories by the multitudes of the souldiers. But they did nothing memorable, save onelyonly that so many went so farre to do nothing. Their sufferings are more famous then their deeds; being so consumed with plague, famine, and the sword, that *In Chronico, pag. 239.Conrade Abbot of Urspurg, who went and wrote this voyage, beleeveth that not a thousand of all these came into Palestine, and those so poore that their bones would scarce hold together: so that they were fitter to be sent into an hospitall then to march into the field; having nothing about them wherewith to affright their enemies, except it were the ghost-like ghastlinesse of their famished faces. The army that came out of Lombardy were so eaten up by the swords of the Turks, that no fragments of them were left, nor news to be heard what was become of them: And no wonder, being led by Prelates unexperienced in martiall affairs; which, though perchance great Clerks, were now to turn over a new leaf, which they had no skill to reade. *Cited by Lampad. Mellis. histor. part 3. pag. 268.Luther was wont to say, that he would be unwilling to be a souldier in that army where Priests were Captains; because the Church and not the Camp was their proper place; whereas going to warre, they willingly outed themselves of Gods protection, being out of their vocation.
But the main matter which made this whole voyage miscarry in her travail, was the treachery of the midwife through whose hands it was to passe. For Alexius the Grecian Emperour feared, lest betwixt the Latines in the East in Palestine, and West in Europe, as betwixt two milstones, his Empire lying in the midst should be ground to powder. Whereupon, as these Pilgrimes went through his countrey, he did them all possible mischief, still under the pretense of kindnesse, (What hinderer to a false helper?) calling the chief Captains of the army his sonnes; but they found it true, The more courtesie, the more craft. Yea, this deep dissembler would put off his visard in private, and professe to his friends that he delighted as much to see the Turks and these Christians in battel, as to see *Besoldus.mastiffdogs fight together; and that *P. Aemyl. pag. 140.which side soever lost, yet he himself would be a gainer.
But when they had passed Grecia, and had crossed the Bosporus (otherwise called The arm of S. George) entring into the dominion of the Turks, they were for thirty dayes exposed a mark to their arrows. And though this great multitude was never stabbed with any mortall defeat in a set battel, yet they consumed away by degrees, the cowardly Turks striking them when their hands were pinnioned up in the straits of unknown passages. The Generalls bestrawed the countrey about with their corpses. Great Hugh of France was buried at Tarsus in Cilicia; Duke Guelpho, at Paphos in Cyrpus; *Munst. Cosmog. pag. 640.Diemo the Archbishop of Saltzburg saw his own heart cut out, and was *Ursperg. pag. 238.martyred by the Turks at Chorazin: And God (saith my Authour) manifested by the event, that the warre was not pleasing unto him.
Chap. 10. Antipatris and Cesarea wonne by the Christians. The variety of King Baldwines successe.
MEan time King Baldwine was imployed with better successe in Palestine: for hitherto Joppa was the onelyonly port the Christians had; but now by the assistance of the Genoan fleet (who for their pains were to have *Tyrius, lib. 10. cap. 14.a third part of the spoil, and a whole street to themselves of every city they took) Baldwine wonne most considerable havens along the mid-land-sea. He began with Antipatris, to ransome the Christian honour which was morgaged here, because Godfrey was driven away from hence: And no wonder, having no *Tyrius, lib. 9. cap. 18.shipping; whereas that Army which takes a strong harbour, otter-like must swim at sea as well as go on ground.
Next he took Cesarea-Stratonis, built and so named in the honour of Cesar Augustus, by Herod the great; who so *Iosephus.politickly poised himself, that he sat upright whilest the wheel of Fortune turned round under him. Let Antony winne, let Augustus winne, all one to him; by contrary winds he sailed to his own ends. Cesarea taken, Baldwine at Rhamula put the Turks to a great overthrow.
But see the chance of warre; Few dayes after at the same place he received a great defeat by the Infidels, wherein besides many others, the two Stephens, Earls of Burgundy and Bloys, were slain. This was the first great overthrow the Christians suffered in Palestine: and needs must blows be grievous to them who were not used to be beaten. The King was reported slain, but fame deserved to be pardoned for so good a lie; which for the present much disheartened the Christians, a great part of the souldiers courage being wrapped up in the life of the Generall.
Baronius (as bold as any *1. Sam. 6.Bethshemite to pry into the ark of Gods secrets) *In Annal. Eccles. anno 1100. & rursus, anno 1104.saith, This was a just punishment on Baldwine for detaining the Churches goods. But to leave hidden things to God, the apparent cause of his overthrow was his own *Tyrius, lib. 10. cap. 20.rashnesse, being desirous to ingrosse all the credit alone, without sending for succours and supplies from his neighbours. He assaulted his numerous enemies with an handfull of men; and so brake himself, with covetousnesse to purchase more honour then he could pay for. And herein he discovered his want of judgement, being indeed like an arrow well-feathered▪ but with a blunt pile; he flew swift, but did not sink deep. Thus his credit lay bleeding, but he quickly stanched it. The Pagans little suspecting to be re-incountred, gave themselves over to mirth and jollity (as security oftentimes maketh the sword to fall out of their hands from whom no force could wrest it) when Baldwine coming on them with fresh souldiers, strook them with the back-blows of an unexpected enemy, which alwayes pierce the deepest, routed them and put them to the light. This his victory followed so suddenly after his overthrow, that some mention not the overthrow at all, but the victory onelyonly; as that good horseman is scarce perceived to be thrown, that quickly recovereth the saddle.
Chap. 11. The conquest of sundry fair havens by the Christians; Ptolemais, &c.
WHilest the King was thus busied in battel,1102 Tancred Prince of Galilee was not idle, but enlarged the Christian dominions with the taking of Apamea and Laodicea. These cities in Celosyria were built by *Tyrius, lib. 10. cap. 23. Idem, cap. 28.Antiochus: and they agreed so well together, that they were called sisters; and as in concord, so in condition they went hand in hand, being now both conquered together.
Ptolemais next stooped to the Christian yoke;1104 so named from Ptolemeus Philometor King of Egypt; a citie on the Mediterranean, of a triangular form, having two sides washed with the sea, the third regarding the champian. The Genoan galleys being 70 in number, did the main service in conquering, and had granted them for their reward large profits from the harbour, a church to themselves, & jurisdiction over a fourth part of the citie. This Ptolemais was afterwards the very seat of the Holy warre. Let me mind the Reader of a Latine proverb, *Vide Erasm. Adag.Lis Ptolemaica; that is, A long and constant strife; so called from Ptolemais, a froward old woman who was never out of wrangling. But may not the proverb as well be verified of this citie, in which there was ninescore yeares fighting against the Turks?
With *Tyrius, lib. 10. cap. 30.worse successe did Baldwine Count of Edessa, and Earl Joceline besiege Charran in Mesopotamia: for when it was ready to be surrendred, the Christian Captains fell out amongst themselves, were defeated by the Pagans, and the two forenamed Earls taken prisoners. This Charran is famous for *Gen. 11.31.Abrahams living, and his father Terahs dying there: And in the same place rich *Iosephus.Crassus the Romane vomited up the sacrilegious goods he had devoured of the temple of Jerusalem, and had his army overthrown. Nor here may we overpasse, how Boemund Prince of Antioch with a great navie spoiled the harbours of Grecia,1107 to be revenged of treacherous Alexius the Emperour. Voluntaries for this service he had enough, all desiring to have a lash at the dog in the manger,Tyrius, lib. 11 cap. 6. and every mans hand itching to throw a cudgel at him; who like a nut-tree must be manured by beating, or else would never bear fruit: yet on some conditions an agreement at last was made betwixt them.Idem,
To return to Palestine. The next citie that felt the victorious arms of the Christians was Byblus; a good haven, and built by Heveus the sixth sonne of Canaan. Here Adonis was anciently worshipped, whose untimely death by a bore Venus so much bemoned: And the fable is moralized, when Lust lamenteth the losse of Beauty consumed by age. Nor did Tripoli hold out long after;1109 so called, because jointly built by the Tyrians, Sidonians, and Aradites. And Berytus (since Barutus) accompanied her neighbour, and both of them were yeelded unto the Christians. The King created one Bertram, a well-deserving Noble-man, Earl of Tripoli; who did homage to the King for his place, which was accounted a title of great honour, as being one of the foure Tetrarchies of the kingdome of Jerusalem.
Chap. 12. The description of Sidon and Tyre; the one taken, the other besieged in vain by Baldwine.
1110SIdon is the most ancient citie of Phenicia. And though the proud Grecians counted all Barbarians besides themselves, yet Phenicia was the schoolmistresse of Grecia, and first taught her her alphabet. For Cadmus a Phenician born, first invented and brought letters to Thebes. Sidon had her name from the eldest sonne of*Gen. 10.15. Canaan, and was famous for the finest crystall-glasses, which here were made. The glassie sand was fetched 40 miles off, from the river Belus: but it could not be made *Sand. Trav. pag. 210.fusile till it was brought hither; whether for want of tools, or from some secret sullen humour therein, we will not dispute. This citie anciently was of great renown: but her fortune being as brittle as her glasses, she was fain to find neck for every one of the Monarchs yokes;Dec. 19. 1112 and now at last (by the assistance of the *Tyrius, lib. 11. cap. 14.Danish and Norvegian fleet) was subdued by the Christians.
Fleshed with this conquest, they next besieged Tyre. Sea and land, nature and art consented together to make this city strong: for it was seated in an island, save that it was tacked to the continent with a small neck of land, which was fortified with many walls and towres. It is questionable whether the strength or wealth of this city was greater; but out of question that the pride was greater then either. Here the best purples were died, a colour even from the beginning destined to Courts and Magistracie; and here the richest clothes were imbroidered and curiously wrought. And though generally those who are best with their fingers are worst with their arms, yet the Tyrians were also stout men, able mariners, and the planters of the noblest colonies in the world. As their city was the daughter of Zidon, so was it mother to Romes rivall Carthage, Leptis, Utica, Cadiz, and Nola. The most plentifull proof they gave of their valour, was, when for three yeares they defended themselves against Nebuchadnezzar; and afterwards stopped the full career of Alexanders conquests; so that his victorious army which did flie into other countreys, was glad to creep into this citie. Yet after seven moneths siege (such is the omnipotency of industry) he forced it, and stripped this lady of the sea naked beyond modesty and mercy, putting all therein to the sword that resisted, and hanged up 2000 of the prime citizens in a rank along the sea-shore.
Yet afterwards Tyre out-grew these her miseries, and attained, though not to her first giant-like, yet to a competent proportion of greatnesse. At this time wherein King Baldwine besieged it, it was of great strength and importance, insomuch that finding it a weight too heavy for his shoulders, he was fain to break off his siege and depart.
Tyrius, lib. 11. cap. 19.With worse successe he afterwards did rashly give battel to the vast army of the Persian Generall,1113 wherein he lost many men, all his baggage, and escaped himself with great difficulty.