The History of the Holy War, Book 5 · Chapter 25
Chap. 25. Some offers of Christian Princes for Palestine since the end of the Holy warre, by Henry the fourth of England, Charles the eighth of France, and Iames the fourth of Scotland.
AS after that the bodie of the sunne is set, some shining still surviveth in the west: so after this Holy warre was expired, we find some straggling rayes and beams of valour offering that way; ever and anon the Christian Princes having a bout with that designe. To collect the severall essayes of Princes glancing on that project, were a task of great pains and small profit; specially, some of them being umbrages and State-representations rather then realities, to ingratiate Princes with their subjects, or with the oratorie of so pious a project to woo money out of peoples purses, or thereby to cloke and cover armies levied to other intents: Besides, most of these designes were abortive, or aborsive rather, like those untimely miscarriages not honoured with a soul or the shape and lineaments of an infant. Yet to save the Readers longing, we will give him a tast or two; and begin with that of our Henry the fourth of England.
The end of the reigne of this our Henry was peaceable and prosperous. For though his title was builded on a bad foundation, yet it had strong buttresses: most of the Nobilitie favoured and fensed it: And as for the house of York, it appeared not; its best bloud as yet ranne in feminine veins, and therefore was the lesse active. Now King Henry in the sunne-shine evening of his life (after a stormie day) was disposed to walk abroad, and take in some forrein aire. He pitched his thoughts on the Holy *Lord Verulam, in his Henry vii. pag. 87.warre, for to go to Jerusalem, and began to provide for the same. One principall motive which incited him was, That it was told him he should not die till he had heard Masse in Jerusalem. But this proved not like the revelation told to old *Luke 2.26.Simeon: for King Henry was fain to sing his Nunc dimittis, before he expected; and died in the chamber called Ierusalem in Westminster. By comparing this prophesie with one of Apollo's oracles, we may conclude them to be brethren (they are so alike) and both begotten of the father of lies: For the Devil eartheth himself in an homonymie, as a fox in the ground; if he be stopped at one hole, he will get out at another. How-ever, the Kings purpose deserveth remembrance and commendation, because really and seriously intended;
Farre better, I beleeve, then that of Charles the eighth King of France: Who in a braving Embassage which he sent to our Henry the seventh, gave him to understand his resolutions; to make re-conquest of Naples, but as of a bridge to *L. Verulam, in Henry vii.transport his forces into Grecia; and then not to spare bloud or treasure (if it were to the impairing of his Crown and dispeopling of France) till either he had overthrown the Empire of the Ottomans, or taken it in his way to Paradise; and hence (belike) he would have at Jerusalem, invited (as he said) with the former example of our Henry the fourth. But our King Henry the seventh (being too good a fenser to mistake a flourish for a blow) quickly resented his drift (which was to perswade our King to peace, till Charles should perform his projects in little Britain and elsewhere) and dealt with him accordingly. And as for the gradation of King Charles his purposes, Naples, Grecia, Jerusalem, a stately but difficult ascent, (where the stairs are so farre asunder, the legs must be long to stride them) the French nation was weary of climbing the first, and then came down, vaulting nimbly into Naples and out of it again.
More cordiall was that of *Buchanan, in the life of Iames iiii.James the fourth King of Scotland, that pious Prince: who being touched in conscience for his fathers death (though he did not cause it, but seemed to countenance it with his presence) ever after, in token of his contrition, wore an iron chain about his body; and to expiate his fault, intended a journey into Syria. He prepared his navie, provided his soudiers, imparted his project to forrein Princes; and verily had gone, if at the first other warres, and afterwards sudden death had not caused his stay.