The historie of the holy vvarre; by Thomas Fuller, B.D. prebendarie of Sarum, late of Sidney Colledge in Cambridge

Chap. 5. The continuation of the famous siege of Ptole∣mais; The Dutch Knights honoured with a grand Master.

WE have now at our leisure overtaken the snail-like siege of Ptolemais, still slowly creeping on. Before it the Christians had not onely a Nationall but an Oecumenicall army; the abridgement of the Christian world: Scarce a state or populous citie in Europe but had here some competent number to represent it.

How many bloudie blows were here lent on both sides, and repayed with interest? what sallies? what assaults? what encounters? whilest the Christians lay betwixt Saladine with his great army behind them and the citie before them. One memorable battel we must not omit. It was agreed betwixt Saladine and the Christians to trie their fortunes in a pitched field: and now the Christians were in fair hope of a con∣quest, when an imaginarie causelesse fear put them to a reall flight; so ticklish are the scales of victory, a very mote will turn them. Thus confusedly they ran away, and boot would have been given to change a strong arm for a swift leg. But

behold, Geoffrey Lusignan King Guy's brother (left for the guarding of the camp) marching out with his men, confuted the Christians in this their groundlesse mistake, and reinforced them to fight; whereby they wonne the day, though with the losse of two thousand men and Gerard Master of the Tem∣plars.

It was vainly hoped, that after this victorie the citie would be surrendred: but the Turks still bravely defended it, though most of their houses were burnt and beaten down, and the ci∣tie reduced to a bare sceleton of walls and towres. They fought as well with their wits as weapons, and both sides de∣vised strange defensive and offensive engines: so that Mars himself, had he been here present, might have learned to fight, and have taken notes from their practice. Mean time famine raged amongst the Christians; and though some provision was now and then brought in from Italy (for so farre they fetch∣ed it) yet these small showres after great droughts parched the more, and rather raised then abated their hunger.

Once more we will take our farewell of this siege for a twelve-moneth: But we must not forget that at this time, be∣fore the walls of Ptolemais the Teutonick order, or Dutch Knights (which since the dayes of Baldwine the second lived like private pilgrimes) had now their order honoured with Henry of Walpot their first grand Master, and they were en∣riched by the bountie of many Germane benefactours. These though slow, were sure; they did hoc agere, ply their work; more cordiall to the Christian cause then the Templars, who sometimes to save their own stakes would play bootie with the Turks. Much good service did the Dutch Knights in the Ho∣ly warre; till at last (no wise Doctour will lavish physick on him in whom he seeth faciem cadaverosam, so that death hath ta∣ken possession in the sick mans countenance) finding this warre to be desperate and dedecus fortitudinis, they even fairly left the Holy land, and came into Europe, meaning to lay out their valour on some thing that would quit cost. But hereof hereafter.

Notes

• Fuga ima∣ginario metu orta, Sabell. Enn. 9. lib. 5. pag. 377.
• Munster, de Germania, lib. 3. pag. 778.