The historie of the holy vvarre by Thomas Fuller ...

Chap. 29.

Damascus besieged in vain; The return of the Emperour and King; with the censure on this voyage.

THe late-come Pilgrimes having sufficiently recreated them∣selves, the Emperour and the King of France concluded to besiege Damascus: for a small town was conceived too narrow an object of their valour, whilest so eminent an action was ad∣equate to the undertakers. Damascus is so pleasant a city, that Mahomet durst never enter into it, lest this deceiver should be deceived himself, and be so ravished with the pleasures of the place, that he should forget to go on in that great work he had in hand. Some make Eliezer Abrahams steward builder of this citie, because he is called Eliezer of Damascus; though that phrase speaketh him rather to have had his birth or dwelling there, then the city her building from him. To passe this by, because as the foundations are hidden in the ground, so the founders of most ancient places are forgotten; It was for many years after the Metropolis of Syria, and was now straitly be∣sieged by the Christians with great hope of successe, had they not afterwards fallen out amongst themselves who should eat the chickens before they were hatched. Conrade and King Lewis destined the city to Theodorick Earl of Flanders, lately arrived in those parts: whilest other Princes which had been long resident in Palestine, and born the heat of the warre grudged hereat; and their stomachs could not digest the crudi∣tie of a raw upstart to be preferred before them. Yea, some of the Christians corrupted with Turkish money (though when they received it, it proved but† guilded brasse; may all traitours be payed in such coin) perswaded the King of France to remove his camp to a stronger part of the walls: which they long be∣sieged in vain, and returned home at last, leaving the city and their honours behind them.

The French proverb was verified of this voyage, Much bruit and little fruit. They not onely did no good in the Holy land, († save that some think their coming advantaged King Bald∣wine for the taking of the city of Askelon) but also did much harm. For now the Turks seeing one city both bear the brunt and batter the strength of both armies, began to conceive that their own fear was their greatest enemy; and those swords of these new Pilgrimes which they dreaded in the sheath, they sleighted when they saw them drawn; and shook off that aw

which had formerly possessed them, of the strength of the We∣stern Emperour. Many thousand Christians perished in this ad∣venture, whose souls are pronounced by all the writers of this age to be carried up into heaven on the wings of the holy cause they died for: Whose blessed estate I will not disprove; nor will I listen to the unhappy Dutch proverb, He that bringeth him∣self into needlesse dangers, dieth the devils martyr.

We must not forget how the French King coming home∣ward was taken prisoner by the fleet of the Grecian Emperour, and rescued again by Gregory Admirall to Roger King of Si∣cilie. When he was safely arrived in France, in open Parliament his wife was divorced from him. Her nearnesse in bloud was the onely cause specified; and the King took no notice of her in∣constancy, accounting those but foolish husbands who need∣lessely proclaim their wives dishonesty. He gave her back again all the lands in Franc•• which he had received with her in por∣tion; scorning her wealth which neglected his love. Herein he did nobly, but not politickly, to part with the Dukedomes of Poictou and Aquitain, which he enjoyed in her right: for he brake his own garland by giving her her flowers back again; mangled and dismembred his own Kingdome, and gave a torch into Henry King of England his hands (who afterwards marri∣ed her) to set France on fire.

Notes

• 1148
• †

  ••••eodor. à Niem, De pri∣vilegis Impe∣••ii, cap. de Conrado 4.
• †

  Sabellicus.
• Cited by Luther, on Gen. 3.
• Serres, in Ludov. 7.