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

Chap. 28.

Iohn Bren resigneth the Kingdome of Ierusalem to Frederick the second, Germane Emperour.

THere was also concluded a peace with the Turks for eight years. And now matters being settled as well as they might be in Syria, King John took a journey to Rome; where he was bountifully feasted, and honourably entertained by the Pope. Here it was agreed (whether at the first by his volunta∣ry offer, or working of others, it appeareth no••) that he should resigne the Kingdome of Jerusalem to Frederick the second, Germane Emperour, who was to marry Iole the sole daughter of King John by his first wife; though by a second he had ano∣ther, Martha, married to Robert Emperour of Constantinople: so that he was father in law both to Emperour of East and West.

Some condemned his resignation as an unadvised act; as if he had first parted from his wits, who would willingly part from a Kingdome; whilest others commend his discretion: For first, his wife was dead, in whose right he held his Kingdome, and thereby a door was opened for other litigious pretenders to the Crown. Secondly, it was policie, fugere ne fugaretur; yea, this was no flight, but an honourable departure. Well he knew the Turks power to invade, and his own weaknesse to defend what was left in Syria: So that finding the weight too heavy for himself, he did well to lay it on stronger shoulders. Third∣ly, before his resignation he had little more then a title: and after it he had nothing lesse; men having so tuned their tongues to salute him King of Jerusalem, that he was so called to the day of his death. Lastly, what he wanted in the statelinesse of his bed, he had in the soundnesse of his sleep; and though his commons perchance were shorter, yet he battled better on them.

He got now more in a twelve-moneth then in seven years before, going from countrey to countrey: And yet the farther this stone rolled, the more mosse he gathered. In France, be∣sides rich gifts left to himself, he had the managing of sixty thousand crowns; the legacie which Philip Augustus the King on his death-bed bequeathed to the Templars and the Holy warre. In England he received from Henry the third many great presents; though afterwards he proved but unthankfull for them. In Spain he got a rich wife, Beringaria, the daugh∣ter of the King of Castile. In Italie he tasted very largely of the Popes liberali••ie, and lived there in good esteem. But he went off the stage without an applause, because he lost himself in his last act; perfidiously raising rebellions against Frederick his sonne in law, at the instigation of his Holinesse. Nor re∣covered he his credit, though after he went to his sonne Robert to Constantinople, and there did many good offices. He died anno 1237.

Notes

• P. Aemyl. in Phil. 2. pag. 205.
• Matth. Pa∣ris. pag. 617.