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

Chap. 16.

The seventh impediment, the Vitiousnesse of the undertakers.

THus are we fallen on the next hindrance of successe in this Holy warre, the Vitiousnesse of the undertakers. But here first we must make an honourable reservation for many adven∣turers herein, whom we confesse most pious and religious per∣sons. Let us not raise the opinion of our own piety by trampling on our predecessours, as if this age had monopolized all good∣nesse to it self. Some no doubt most religious and truly valiant (as fearing nothing but sinne) engaged themselves in this action; of whom I could onely wish, that their zeal herein had either had more light or lesse heat. But with these, I say not how ma∣ny, but too many went most wicked people, the causers of the ill successe.

It will be objected, Sanctitas morum hath been made of some a note of the true Church, never the signe of a fortunate ar∣mie: Look on all armies generally, we shall find them of the souldiers religion, not troubled with over-much precisenesse: As our King John said, (whether wittily or wickedly, let others judge) that the Buck he opened was fat, yet never heard Masse: so many souldiers have been successefull without the least smack of pietie; some such desperate villains, that fortune (to errone∣ous judgements) may seem to have favoured them for fear.

True: but we must not consider these adventurers as plain and mere souldiers, but as Pilgrimes and Gods armie; in whom was required, and from whom was expected more pietie and puritie of life and maners then in ordinarie men: whereas on the con∣trarie, we shall make it appear, that they were more vitious then the common sort of men. Nor do we this out of crueltie or wan∣tonnesse, to wound and mangle the memorie of the dead; but to anatomize and open their ulcerous insides, that the dead may teach the living, and lesson posteritie.

Besides those that went, many were either driven or fled to the Holy land. Those were driven, who having committed some * 1.1 horrible sinne in Europe, had this penance imposed on them, To travell to Jerusalem to expiate their faults. Many a whore was sent thither to find her virginitie: Many a murderer was injoyned to fight in the Holy warre, to wash off the guilt of Christian bloud by shedding bloud of Turks. The like was in all other offences; malefactours were sent hither to satisfie for their former wickednesse. Now God forbid we should con∣demn

them, if truly penitents, for impious. May he who speak∣eth against penitents, never have the honour to be one; since Re∣pentance is the younger brother to Innocence it self. But we find that many of them reverted to their former wickednesse: they lost none of their old faults and got many new, mending in this hot countrey as sowre ale in summer. Others fled hither, who having supererogated the gallows in their own countries by their severall misdemeanours, theft, rapes, incest, murders, to avoid the stroke of Justice, protected themselves under this voyage; and coming to Palestine, so profited in those Eastern schools of vices, that they learned to be more artificially wicked. This plainly appeareth, as in sundrie other Authours, so chiefly in Tyrius, a witnesse beyond exception, who* 1.2 often complaineth hereof. And if we value testimonies rather by the weight then number, we must credit so grave a man, who writeth it with griefe, and had no doubt as much water in his eyes as ink in his pen, and surely would be thankfull to him that herein would prove him a liar.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Totum vul∣gus, tam casti quàm incesti, adul∣teri, homi∣cidae, perjuri, praedones, Albertus A∣queusis, Chron. Hierosol. lib. 1. cap. 2. Besoldus, pag. 101. ex Bro∣chardo, Male∣factor depre∣hensus, homi∣cida, latro, fur, incestuo∣sus, adulter, fornicator, timet à judice condignam poenam, & transfretat in terram San∣ctam.
• * 1.2

  Especially in the end of King Alme∣ricks life.