The History of the Holy War, Book 4 · Chapter 17
Chap. 17. The wofull impression which the ill successe of the French wrought on the Christians in Europe.
SOme made more hast then good speed (bad news being the worst ware a ship can be fraught with) to sail into France with the sad tidings of this overthrow. These intelligencers Blanch, the Queen-mother and Regent of France, rewarded with the gallows: and my Authour doubteth not to pronounce them all *Quos Martyres credimus esse manifestos, Matth. Paris. pag. 1059.Martyrs. But let them be contented with the coronet of their own innocence, though without the crown of Martyrdome; that honour belonging to such alone as suffer death for fundamentall points of religion. But so great an eclipse could not long be kept from the eyes of the world; & this dolefull and dismall news was sounded and seconded from every side. Then was there a generall lamentation over all Christendome, chiefly in France, where all were so sorrowfull, that any mirth was counted profanenesse. Many bounded not themselves within the banks of grief, but brake out into blasphemy, both in France and elsewhere, taxing Justice it self of being unjust; and not content to admire what they could not conceive, condemned Gods proceedings herein to be against right, because above their reason. Fools, because they could not conquer on earth, did quarrel with heaven. This bad breath, though it came but from the teeth of some, yet proceeded from the corrupted lungs of others: some spake but out of present passion, but others even out of inbred Atheisme. Many who before were but lukewarm in religion, now turned stark-cold. In Venice and some other cities of Italy, the inhabitants whereof*Vt priús. Matthew Paris calleth semi-christianos, but half-Christians (though this his harsh appellation wanteth three parts of charity) began wholly to tend to apostasie. And now for a crutch to stay their reeling faith, it was high time for the Clergie to ply the pulpits. They perswaded those Rachels who in this voyage had lost any children and would not be comforted, that their children were in a most blessed condition: They emptied all their boxes of their colours of rhetorick, therewith to paint out the happinesse of their estate which they enjoyed in heaven: They pieced out their Sermons with reporting of Miracles; How William Earl of Sarisbury appeared to his *Matth. Paris. pag. 1051.mother, and assured her that he reigned most glorious in heaven. She presently forgot her grief for losing her sonne, for joy that she had found a Saint, yea, a Martyr. This was their constant custome; When any in Europe wept for the losse of their friends in this warre, their tears were instantly dried up with some hot miracle that was reported them: Wherewith the silly people were well pleased; as babes of clouts are good enough to keep children from crying.
About this time many thousands of the English were resolved for the Holy warre, and would needs have been gone, had not the King strictly guarded his ports, and kept his Kingdome from running away out of doores. The King promised he would go with them, and hereupon got a masse of money from them for this journey. Some say, that he never intended it; and that this onelyonly was a trick to stroke the skittish cow to get down her milk. His stubborn subjects said, that they would tarry for his company till midsummer, and no longer. Thus they weighed out their obedience with their own scales, and the King stood to their allowance. But hearing of this sorrowfull accident, both Prince and people altered their resolution; who had come too late to help the French in their distresse, and too soon to bring themselves into the same misery.