The History of the Holy War, Book 5 · Chapter 13 – Chapter 14
Chap. 13. The third hindrance, the Equalitie of the undertakers; the fourth, the Length of the journey.
THe next cause of their ill successe was the discord arising from the paritie of the Princes which undertook this voyage. Many of them could abide no equall; all, no superiour: so that they had no chief, or rather were all chiefs: The swarm wanted a master-Bee, a supreme commander, who should aw them all into obedience. The Germane Emperour (though above all) came but seldome, and was not constant amongst them: The King of Jerusalem (especially in the declining of the State) was rather sleighted then feared: The Popes Legate usurped a superioritie, but was never willingly nor generally obeyed. Surely smaller forces being united under one command would have been more effectuall in proof (though not so promising in opinion and fame) then these great armies variously compounded by associations and leagues, and of the confluence of Princes otherwise unconcurring in their severall courses.
Livie writing of that great battel (the criticall day of the worlds Empire) betwixt Hannibal & Scipio, *Lib. 30.It is small, saith he, to speak of, yet of much moment in the matter it self, that when the armies joyned, the shouting of the Romanes was farre more great and terrible, as being all of one voice from the same nation; whilest Hannibals souldiers voices were different and disagreeing, as consisting of severall languages. If such a toy be considerable, and differing in tongues lesseneth the terriblenesse in an armie; how doth dissenting in hearts and affections abate the force thereof? and what advantage had the united Turks against divided Christian Princes which managed this warre? Had the emulation betwixt those equall Princes onelyonly been such as is the spurre of vertue, farre from enmitie and hatefull contention, striving with good deserts to outstrip those who by the same means sought to attain to the like end; had it been mixed with love in regard of the affinitie of their affections and sympathie of their desires, not seeking the ruine of their competitour but succouring him in danger; then such simultates had been both honourable and usefull to the advancing of the Holy cause: But on the other side, their affections were so violent, and dispositions so crooked, that emulation in them boyled to hatred, that to malice, which rested better satisfied with the miserable end of their opposite partner, then with any tropheys deservedly erected to their own honour. And herein the warres betwixt the Venetians and Genoans in Syria are too pregnant an instance.
The length of the journey succeedeth as the fourth impediment. There needed no other hindrance to this voyage then the voyage; the way was so long. In sensation, the object must not be over-distant from the sense; otherwise Lynceus eyes may see nothing? So it is requisite in warlike adventures, that the work be not too farre from the undertakers. Indeed the Romanes conquered countreys farre from home: but the lands betwixt them were their own, wherein they refreshed themselves; and well may one lift a great weight at arms end if he hath a rest to stay his elbow on. So though Spain hath subdued much in the Indies, yet there they met with none or naked resistance. It fared not thus with the Christians in this warre: By the tediousnesse of the journey their strength was exhausted; they ranne dregs when first they were broched in Syria, and as it were scattered their powder in presenting, before they came to discharge.
Frederick Barbarossa wrote a braving letter to Saladine, reckoning up the severall nations in Europe under his command, and boasting what an armie of them he would bring into Syria. *M. Paris. pag. 197.Saladine answered him, That he also ruled over as many peoples, and told him, that there was no sea which hindred his men from coming quickly together; whereas, saith he, you have a great sea, over which with pains and danger you must passe before you can bring your men hither. Besides, if the Christians shaped their journey by land, then their miseries in Hungarie, Grecia, and Asia the lesse, made their land-journey more tedious and troublesome then if they had gone by sea.
Chap. 14. The fifth impediment, Clergie-men being Captains.
THat Prelates and Clergie-men were often Generalls in this action (as Peter the Hermite, Pelagius the Cardinall, and many others) was another cause of their ill successe: For allow them able in their own way, for matter of learning, yet were they unsufficient to manage martiall affairs. Many who in England have learned the French tongue, and afterwards have gone over into France, have found themselves both deaf and dumbe in effect, neither hearing to understand nor speaking to be understood: They in like manner who frame to themselves in their studies a model of leading an armie, find it as full of errours as rules when it e…meth to be applied; and a measure of warre taken by book, falleth out either too long or too short, when brought into the field to be used.
I have heard a storie of a great map-monger, who undertook to travel over England by help of his maps, without asking the least direction of any he met. Long he had not ridden but he met with a non plus ultrà, a deep unpassable gullet of water, without bridge, ford, or ferry. This water was as unknown to his Camdens or Speeds maps as to himself; because it was neither body nor branch of any constant river or brook (such as onelyonly are visible in maps) but an ex-tempore-water, flowing from the snow which melted on hills. Worse unexpected accidents surprise those who conceive themselves to have conned all martiall maximes out of Authours, and warrant their skill in warre against all events out of their great reading; when on the sudden some unwonted occurrent taketh them unprovided, standing amazed till destruction seiseth on them.
Indeed, sometimes such unlooked-for chances arrest even the best and most experienced Generalls, which have long been acquainted with warre; nor are they priviledged by all their experience from such casualties, nor are they so omniscient but that their skill may be posed therewith, a minute shewing sometimes what an age hath not seen before: But then such aged commanders have this advantage, that finding themselves at a fault, they can soonest know where to beat about and recover it.
Adde to the inabilitie, the incongruitie of Prelates going to fight. True, in defensive warres necessitie is their sufficient dispensation; but otherwise it is improper. In the battel against Amalek, Josua fought; Moses prayed; the Levites bare the ark, no office of command in the Camp. And better it had been that Cardinall Columna had been at his beads, or in his bed, or any where else, then in the camp in Egypt; where by his indiscreet counsel he brought all the lives of the Christians into danger.