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

Chap. 22. The English and Italian service compared; Of the Spanish, Polish, Norvegian, Hungarian, Danish, and Swedish performance in this warre.

NExt in this race of honour follow England and Italie, be∣ing very even and hard-matched. England (it is no flat∣terie to affirm what envie cannot denie) spurreth up close for the prize; and though she had a great disadvantage in the starting (Italie being much nearer to Palestine) yet she quick∣ly recovered it. Our countrey sent one King (Richard the first) and three Kings sonnes (Robert Courthois, Richard of Cornwall, and Prince Edward) to this warre. Yea, England was a dayly friend to this action: and besides these great and grosse summes of visible adventurers, she dropped and cast in privily many a Pilgrime of good qualitie; so that there was scarce any remarkable battel or memorable siege done through the warre wherein there were not some English of eminent desert.

Yet Italy cometh not any whit behind, if the atchievements of her severall States, Venetians, Genoans, Pisans, Sicilians, Florentines, were made and moulded up together: Yea, for sea-service and engineers in this warre, they bear the bell away from all other nations. But these things allay the Ita∣lian service: 1. It was not so abstracted from the dregs of mercinarinesse as that of other countreys (whose adventu∣rers counted their very work herein sufficient wages) but be∣fore they would yeeld their assistance they indented and cove∣nanted with the King of Jerusalem to have such and such pro∣fits, pensions, and priviledges in all places they took, to them and their posteritie; not as an honorarie reward freely con∣ferred on them, but in nature of wages ex pacto contracted for aforehand: as the Genoans had in Ptolemais, and the Ve∣netians in Tyre. 2. These Italians stopped two gaps with one bush: they were Merchant-Pilgrimes, & together applied them∣selves to profit and pietie. Here in Tyre they had their banks, and did drive a sweet trade of spices and other Eastern com∣modities. 3. Lastly, As at first they gave good milk, so they kicked it down with their heel, and by their mutuall discord caused the losse of all they helped to gain in Syria.

Spain was exercised all the time of this warre in defending her self against the Moores and Saracens in her own bowels: Yet such was her charitie, that whilest her own house was on

burning, she threw some buckets of water to quench her neigh∣bours: and as other nations cast their superfluitie, she her wi∣dows mite into the treasurie of this action; and produceth two Theobalds Kings of Navarre, and Alphonse King of Castile, that undertook expeditions to Palestine.

Hungary sheweth one King, Andrew; who washed himself in Jordan, and then shrinking in the wetting returned present∣ly home again. But this countrey, though it self did go little, yet was much gone through to the Holy warre (being the rode to Syria for all land-armies) and merited well in this acti∣on, in giving peaceable passage and courteous entertainment to Pilgrimes; as to Duke Godfrey, and Frederick Barbarossa, with all their souldiers as they travelled through it. Had the Kings of Hungarie had the same principle of basenesse in their souls as the Emperours of Grecia, they had had the same cause of jealousie against the Christians that passed this way; yet they used them most kindly, and disdained all dishonourable suspi∣cions. True it is, at the first voyage, King Coloman, not out of crueltie but carefulnesse and necessarie securitie, did use his sword against some unruly and disorderly Pilgrimes: but none were there abused which first abused not themselves. But what-ever Hungarie was in that age, it is at this day Christen∣domes best land-bulwark against the Turks: Where this pret∣tie custome is used, That the men wear so many feathers as they have killed Turks; which if observed elsewhere, either feathers would be lesse, or valour more in fashion.

Poland could not stirre in this warre, as lying constant per∣due of Christendome against the Tartarian; yet we find Bo∣leslaus Crispus Duke or King thereof (waiting on, shall I say? or) accompanying Conrade the Emperour in his voyage to Palestine; and having defraid all his and his armies costs and charges towards Constantinople, he returned home, as not to be spared in his own countrey. But if by King Davids statute, the keepers of the baggage are to be sharers in the spoil with the fighters of the battel, then surely Poland and such other countreys may entitle themselves to the honour of the warre in Palestine; which in the mean time kept home, had an eye to the main chance, and defended Europe against forrein invaders.

Norway (in that age the sprucest of the three Kingdomes of Scandia, and best tricked up with shipping; though at this day the case is altered with her, and she turned from taking to paying of tribute) sent her fleet of tall souldiers to Syria: who like good fellows, asked nothing for their work but their victuals, and valiantly wonne the citie of Sidon for the King of Jerusalem. And it is considerable, that Syria (but a step or

stride from Italie) was a long race from Norway; so that their Pilgrimes went not onely into another countrey but into ano∣ther world.

Denmark was also partner in the foresaid service. Also after∣wards, Ericus her King, though he went not quite through to the Holy land, yet behaved himself bravely in Spain, and there assisted the winning of Lisbon from the Infidels. His successour Canutus anno 1189, had provided his navie, but was prevented by death: his ships neverthelesse came to Syria.

Of Sweden in this grand-jurie of nations I heare no Vous avez; but her default of appearance hath been excused be∣fore.

Notes

• Tyrius, lib. 10. cap. 28. & lib. 12. cap. 25.
• 1147
• Munst. Cosmog. in Polon.
• 1. Sam. 30.24.
• 1145
• Vide Cal∣visium in an∣no 1145. & Io. Magnum, Hist Goth. lib. 19. cap. 10.
• Baronius, in anno 1189.
• Lib. 1. cap. 13.