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

Chap. 40.

Saladine fitteth himself with forrein forces. The originall and great power of the Mammalukes, with their first service.

IN the minority of King Baldwine, who was but thirteen years old, Milo de Planci a Noble-man was Protectour of the Realm: Whose pride and insolence could not be brooked, and therefore he was stabbed at Ptolemais, and Reimund Count of Tripoli chosen to succeed him.

Now Saladine seriously intendeth to set on the Kingdome of Jerusalem, and seeketh to furnish himself with souldiers for that service. But he perceived that the ancient nation of the Egyptians had lasted so long, that now it ran dregs; their spirits being as low as the countrey they lived in, and they fitter to make mer∣chants and mechanicks then military men: For they were bred in such soft imployments, that they were presently foundred with any hard labour. Wherefore he sent to the Circassians by the lake of Meotis, near Taurica Chersonesus, and thence bought many slaves of able and active bodies. For it was a people born in a hard countrey (no fewel for pleasure grew there nor was brought thither) and bred harder; so that war was almost their nature, with custome of continuall skirmishing with the neigh∣bouring Tartars.

These slaves he trained up in military discipline, most of them being Christians, once baptized; but afterwards untaught Christ, they learned Mahomet, and so became the worse foes to religi∣on for once being her friends. These proved excellent soul∣diers and speciall horsemen, and are called Mammalukes. And

surely the greatnesse of Saladine and his successours stood not so much on the legs of their native Egyptians, as it leaned on the staffe of these strangers. Saladine, and especially the Turkish Kings after him, gave great power, and placed much trust in these Mammalukes: who lived a long time in ignorance of their own strength; till at last they took notice of it, and scorn∣ing any longer to be factours for another, they would set up for themselves, and got the sovereignty from the Turkish Kings. Thus Princes who make their subjects over-great, whet a knife for their own throats. And posterity may chance to see the inso∣lent Janizaries give the grand Seignor such a trip on the heel as may tumble him on his back. But more largely of these Mam∣malukes usurping the Kingdome of Egypt (God willing) in its proper place.

Thus Saladine having furnished himself with new souldiers, went to handsel their valour upon the Christians; invaded the Holy land, burning all the countrey before him, and raging in the bloud of poor Christians, till he came and encamped about Askelon.

Mean time whilest Reimund Count of Tripoli, Protectour of the Kingdome, with Philip Earl of Flanders, & the chief strength of the Kingdome were absent in Celosyria, wasting the countrey about Emissa and Cesarea, young King Baldwine lay close in Askelon, not daring to adventure on so strong an enemy. With whose fear Saladine encouraged, dispersed his army, some one way, some another, to forrage the countrey. King Baldwine courted with this opportunity, marched out privately, not ha∣ving past four hundred horse, with some few footmen, and as∣saulted his secure enemies, being six and twenty thousand. But victory standeth as little in the number of souldiers, as verity in the plurality of voices. The Christians got the conquest, and in great triumph returned to Jerusalem.

This overthrow rather madded then daunted Saladine: Who therefore to recover his credit, some moneths after with his Mammalukes fell like a mighty tempest upon the Christians, as they were parting the spoil of a band of Turks, whom they had vanquished; put many to the sword, the rest to flight. Otto grand Master of the Templars, and Hugh sonne in law to the Count of Tripoli, were taken prisoners; and the King himself had much ado to escape. And thus both sides being well wearied with warre, they were glad to refresh themselves with a short slumber of a truce solemnly concluded; and their troubled estates breathed almost for the space of two years. Which truce Saladine the more willingly embraced, because of a famine in the Kingdome of Damascus, where it had scarce rained for five years together.

Notes

• Tyrius, lib. 21. cap. 23.
• 1176 Nov. 25.
• 1179
• Centurist. Cent. 12. in Baldvino 4.