The History of the Holy War, Book 3 · Chapter 11
Chap. 11. Henry of Champaigne chosen King; The noble atchievements and victories of King Richard.
COnrade being killed and Guy gone away, Henry Earl of Champaigne was chosen King of Jerusalem by the especiall procuring of King Richard his uncle. To corroborate his election by some right of succession, he married Isabella, the widow of King Conrade and daughter to Almerick King of Jerusalem. A Prince (as writers report) having a sufficient stock of valour in himself, but little happie in expressing it; whether for want of opportunitie, or shortnesse of his reigne, being most spent in a truce. He more pleased himself in the style of Prince of Tyre then King of Jerusalem; as counting it more honour to be Prince of what he had, then King of what he had not.
And now the Christians began every where to build: The Templars fortified Gaza; King Richard repaired and walled Ptolemais, Porphyria, Joppa, and Askelon. But alas! this short prosperity, like an Autumne-spring, came too late and was gone too soon to bring any fruit to maturitie.
It was now determined they should march towards Jerusalem: for all this while they had but hit the butt; that Holy citie was the mark they shot at. Richard led the vantguard of English; Duke Odo commanded in the main battel over his French; James of Avergne brought on the Flemings and Brabanters in the rere. Saladine, serpent-like biting the heel, assaulted the rere, not farre from Bethlehem; when the French and English wheeling about, charged the Turks most furiously. Emulation, formerly poyson, was here a cordiall, each Christian nation striving not onelyonly to conquer their enemies, but to overcome their friends in the honour of the conquest. King Richard seeking to put his courage out of doubt, brought his judgement into question, being more prodigall of his person then beseemed a Generall. One *P. Aemyl. in Phil. Augusto, pag. 180wound he received, but by losing his bloud he found his spirits, and laid about him like a mad-man. The Christians got the victory, without the losse of any of number or note, save James of Avergne, who here died in the bed of honour: But more of the Turks wore slain then in any battel for fourtie yeares before.
Had the Christians presently gone to Jerusalem, probably they might have surprised it, whilest the Turks eyes were muffled and blindfolded in the amazement of this great overthrow. But this opportunitie was lost by the backwardnesse and unwillingnesse of King Richard and the English, say the *P. Aemyl. ibidem.French writers. To crie quits with them, our *Matth. Paris. in Richardo 1o, pag. 216.English authours impute it to the envi… of the French; who would have so glorious an action rather left undone, then done by the English. They complain likewise of… the treacherie of Odo Duke of Burgundie, who more carefull of his credit then his conscience, was choked with the shame of the sinne he had swallowed, and died for grief, when his intelligence with the Turks was made known. This cannot be denied, that Saladine sent (term them bribes or presents) both to our King and the French Duke, and they received them: no wonder then if neither of them herein had a good name, when they traded with such familiars. But most hold King Richard attempted not Jerusalem, because as a wise architect, he would build his victories so as they might stand, securing the countrey as he went; it being senselesse to besiege Jerusalem a straggling citie, whilest the Turks as yet were in possession of all the sea-ports and strong forts thereabout.
About this time he intercepted many camels loaden with rich commoditie, those Eastern wares containing much in a little. And yet of all this, and of all the treasures of England, Sicilie, and Cyprus which he brought hither, King Richard carried home nothing but one *P. Amyl. pag. 181. Excepto …oc … n… dus inóps que.gold-ring: all the rest of his wealth melted away in this hot service. He wintered in Askelon, intending next spring to have at Jerusalem.