For Eustace Grenier, chosen Vice-roy whilest the King was in durance, stoutly defended the countrey: and Count Joceline, which had escaped out of prison, fighting again with Balak at Hircapolis, routed his army, and killed him with his own hands. But the main piece of service was the taking of Tyre, which was done under the conduct of Guarimund the Pa∣triarch of Jerusalem; but chiefly by the help of the Venetian navy, which Michael their Duke brought, who for their pains were to have a third part of the city to themselves. Tyre had in it store of men and munition; but famine increasing (against whose arrows there is no armour of proof) it was yeelded on honourable terms. And though perhaps hunger shortly would have made the Turks digest courser conditions, yet the Chri∣stians were loth to anger their enemies valour into desperate∣nesse.
Next yeare the King returned home, having been eighteen moneths a prisoner, being to pay for his ransome an hundred thousand Michaelets, and for security he left his daughter in pawn. But he payed the Turks with their own money, or (which was as good coin) with the money of the Saracens, vanquish∣ing Barsequen their Captain at Antiochia: and not long after, he conquered Doldequin another great Commander of them at Damascus.
To correct the ranknesse of the Christians pride for this good successe, Damascus was afterward by them unfortunately be∣sieged: Heaven discharged against them thunder-ordinance, ar∣rows of lightning, small-shot of hail, whereby they being mi∣serably wasted were forced to depart. And this affliction was increased when Boemund the young Prince of Antioch, one of great hope and much lamented, was defeated and slain. Au∣thours impute these mishaps to the Christians pride, and relying on their own strength, which never is more untrusty then when most trusted. True it was, God often gave them great victories, when they defended themselves in great straits: Hereupon they turned their thankfulnesse into presumption, grew at last from defending themselves to dare their enemies on disadvan∣tages to their often overthrow: for God will not unmake his miracles by making them common. And may not this also be counted some cause of their ill successe, That they alwayes im∣puted their victories to the materiall Crosse which was carried before them? So that Christ his glory after his ascension suffer∣ed again on the Crosse by their superstition.