The History of the Holy War, Book 4 · Chapter 9
Chap. 9. The Corasines cruelly sack the city of Ierusalem, and kill the Christians therein.
ABout this time (though we find not the punctuall date thereof) happened the death of Reinoldus Fredericks Lieutenant in Syria, who by his moderation had been a good benefactour to the Holy warre. But the Templars counted him to want metall, because he would not be mad and causelesly break the truce with the Sultan. In his grave was buried the happinesse of the Christians in Palestine: for now the lawlesse Templars observe no other rule but their own will.
And now the inundation of the Tartarians in spite of all dammes and banks overranne the North of Asia, and many nations fled from their own countreys for fear of them. Amongst other the Corasines (called by some Choermines, and Groissoms) a fierce and warlike people, were notwithstanding by the Tartarians forced to forsake their land.
Being thus unkennelled, they had their recourse to the Sultan of Babylon, and petitioned him to bestow some habitation upon them. Their suit he could neither safely grant nor deny: A deniall would egge their discontents into desperatenesse;Matth. Paris, pag. 851. and such sturdy dangerous vagabonds might do much harm: to admit them to be joynt-tenants in the same countrey with the Turks, was a present inconvenience, and would be a future mischief. In stead therefore of giving them a house, he sent them to a work-house; yet so, that they apprehended it a great courtesie done unto them: For he bestowed on them all the lands which the Christians held in Palestine; liberall to give away what was none of his, and what the others must purchase before they could enjoy. The Sultan encouraged them to invade that countrey; whose people he pretended were weak and few, the land wealthy and fruitfull, so that the conquest would be easie, especially they having his assistance in the present service, and perpetuall patronage hereafter.
Animated herewith in come the Corasines with their wives and children (bringing their housholds with them to win houses and lands for them) into Syria, and march directly to Jerusalem;1244 which being a weak and unfortified place, was taken without resistance. Weak and unfortified! Strange! It is confessed on all sides, that Frederick the Emperour and Reinoldus his Lieutenant spared no expense in strengthening this city; since which time we find no solemn taking it by the Turks: Who then can expect lesse then an impregnable place, where so much cost was sown? Which driveth us to conceive one of these three things; Either that the weaknesse of this citie was chiefly in the defenders hearts; Or else that formerly there happened some blind and silent dispoiling of this place not mentioned by Authours; Or lastly, that Jerusalem was a Jericho, I mean, a place cursed in building; like Pharaohs lean kine, never a whit the fatter for devouring much meat; and which still went in rags, though her friends bestowed change of raiment upon her.
Thus this city, after that it had been possessed fifteen yeares by the Christians, was wonne by this barbarous people, never since regained to our religion. Sleep, Jerusalem, sleep in thy ruines, at this day of little beauty and lesse strength, famous onelyonly for what thou hast been.
The Christians flying out of Jerusalem with their families, took their course towards Joppa; but looking back, beheld their own ensignes advanced on the citie-walls, so done in policie by their enemies. Whereupon their credulity thus commented, That their fellows had beaten the Corasines in Jerusalem, and by these *Matth. Paris, pag. 835.banners invited them to return: But going back, they found but cold (or rather too hot) entertainment, being slain every mothers child of them. Dull nostrils! not to sent so stale and rank a stratageme of their foes, so often used, so easily defeated; not to send some spies to tast the bait before all swallowed it. But men marked out for destruction, will runne their own heads into the halter.