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

Chap. 7. Theobald King of Navarre maketh an unsuc∣cessefull voyage into Palestine.

THe ten yeares truce by this time was expired which Frede∣rick made with the Turks; and Reinold Vice-roy of Pale∣stine by instructions from him concluded another truce of the same term with them. He saw that this young Christian Kingdome of Jerusalem, like an infant, would thrive best with sleeping, with peace and quietnesse: Nor was it any policie for him to move at all, where there was more danger to hurt then hope to help their present estate.

But though this peace was honourable and profitable, having no fault but that Frederick made it; yet the Templars who did not relish the father, must needs distast the child: They com∣plained that this peace was not used as a slumber to refresh the souldiers spirits, but as a lethargie to benumme their valour; and chiefly snarled at this indignity, That the Turks had accesse to the temple of the Sepulchre, and that Goats had free com∣monage in the Sheeps pasture. Wherefore Pope Gregory, to despite the Emperour Frederick, caused the Dominicanes and Franciscanes his trumpeters, to incite people to the Holy warre. These were two twin-orders, but the Dominicane the eldest; which now were no sooner hatched in the world, but presently chirped in the pulpits. In that age Sermons were news, and meat for Princes not common men: Yea, the Albingenses with

their preaching had drowned the voices of secular Priests, if these two Orders had not helped to out-noise those supposed hereticks. These amplified with their rhetorick the calamity of the Christians, tyrannie of the Turks, merit of the cause, pro∣bability of successe; performing their parts with such gravity, shew of devotion, accents of passion, not glued on for the present purpose but so naturall as from true affection, that many were wooed to undertake the voyage: Principally, Theobald King of Navarre, Almerick Earl of Montfort, Henry of Champaigne, Peter Earl of Bretaigne, with many others of inferiour rank.

Ships they had none; wherefore they were fain to shape their passage by land through Grecia: where they were entertained with treachery, famine, and all the miseries which wait on di∣stressed armies. These came last that way, & (I may say) shut the doore: For no Christian army ever after went that tedious jour∣ney by land.

Having passed the Bosporus, they marched into Bithynia: thence through Galatia they came unto the mountain Taurus; where they were much damnified by the Turks, who fell on and off upon them, as they were advised by their own advantages. The Christians desired no other gift but that a set battel might be given them; which the Turks would not grant, but played at distance and would never close. But with much ado the Chri∣stians recovered to Antioch, having scarce a third part of them left, their horses all dead, and themselves scarce mounted on their legs, miserably weak; as what the mercy of sword, plague, and famine had pleased to spare.

Hence the Templars conducted them to Gaza; where they fell on forraging the countrey of the Sultan, assaulting no pla∣ces which were of strength, or honour to subdue, but onely spoiled poore villages, which counted themselves walled with the truce as yet in force. Abundance of wealth they got, and were now late returning home, when after their plentifull sup∣per a deare & sharp reckoning was called for: Behold, the Turks in great numbers fell upon them neare unto Gaza; and the Chri∣stians down with their bundles of spoil, and out with their swords, bravely defending themselves till such time as the night parted the fray. Here they committed a great errour, and (as one may say) a neglect in over-diligence: for in stead of repo∣sing themselves to rest, and appointing a set watch, they all lay in a manner Perdues, no one slumbering all night, but attending their enemies; contrary to the rules of an armie, which with Argus should never have all its eyes wake or sleep together. Next morning when the Turks, whose numbers were much in∣creased, set upon them, alas! they being but few to many, faint to fresh, were not able to make any forcible resistance: Yet,

what they could not pay in present, they pawned their lives for; and their arms being too weak for their hearts, they were rather killed then conquered. Earl Henry was slain, Almerick taken prisoner, the King of Navarre escaped by the swiftnesse of his Spanish gennet; which race, for their winged speed, the Poets feigned to be begot of the wind.

Mean time the other Christians looked on, and saw their brethren slaughtered before their eyes; and yet though they were able to help them, were not able to help them, their hands being tied with the truce, and Reinoldus charging them no way to infringe the peace concluded with the Sultan. Hereupon many cursed him as the Christians cut-throat; he as fast con∣demned the King of Navarre and his army for breaking the truce. And though the Papall faction pleaded that the former peace concluded not these late adventurers, and that it was one∣ly made with Frederick the Emperour; yet he representing the whole body of Christianity, all the bundle of their shifts could not piece out a satisfactory answer, but that they were guilty of faith-breaking.

Home hastened the King of Navarre with a small retinue, clouding himself in privatenesse; as they actour who cometh off with the dislike of the spectatours, stealeth as invisibly as he may into the tiring-house. Expectation, that friendly foe, did him much wrong; and his performance fell the lower, because men heightened their looking for great matters from him.

Notes

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• Magdeburg. Cent. 13. cap. 16. Decenna∣les inducias nuper denuò confirmârat.
• Iidem, ibi∣dem.
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