THE HISTORY OF THE HOLY WAR, Began Anno 1095. by the Christian Princes of Europe AGAINST The Turks, FOR THE Recovery of the Holy Land, and Continued to the Year 1294.  
IN TWO BOOKS.  
To which is added, A Particular ACCOUNT of the Present War, managed by the Emperor, King of Poland, and several other Princes against the Turks.  
By THO. MILLS, Gent.  
Illustrated with Copper-Plates.  
LONDON, Printed for Tho. Malthus, at the Sun in the Poultry, 1685.   

To the Right Honourable Sir JAMES SMITH, Kt. Lord Mayor Of the Honourable City of London.  
My Lord,  
HIstories in general are like so many Registers, and Records of time, that convey to us the knowledge of what passed in the Ages before us, and thereby helps us to look back, with Pleasure upon the great Actions, and Noble Atcheiuments, of our Worthy Predecessors; which renders the reading of them very Pleasant, and Delightful.  
The History of the Holy War, has not only been the amusement of the Learned Pens of other Nations, but of a 
* Dr. Fuller.  Celebrated Author of our own, which tho' written in a less critical time than this, wherein that War seems to have a new resurrection, was received with the general approbation of all lovers of History. But this Excellent History being now rare to be found, several Persons, who were extremely delighted, with its agreeable variety, wherein no History, in the World does excel it; mightily Importuned me to revive it or else to write, a more Brief and Compendious account of that Religous War, that so it might be rendered the more Capable of an Universal Reading, the latter of which, I was upon their persuasions, prevailed upon to undertake; But having performed the Task imposed upon me;, I found myself at a loss, for a Suitable Person to whom I might address, to own and Patronise the work, till at length I happily pitched my thoughts upon Your Lordship.  
To Dedicate it, is made necessary by Custom; and to Dedicate it to Your Lordship, as necessary, by the nature and design of the Book itself.  
My Lord, it is a discourse of War, and therefore to have offered it to any other than a Soldier, and a Brave Son of Mars, had been an unpardonable Folly, and a Sacrilegious Robery of the God of War. And among all the Brave Commanders of this Honourable City, I find none whose Courage and Valiour, Prudence, and LOYALTY, bears a better sound than Your Lordships; Not only in the Opinion of Your Fellow Subjects, but of the King too, for it was the singular Wisdom and LOYALTY, which you have Manifested upon all Occasions, that Recommended You both to his Majesty's Gracious Choice, and the People's Universal desire for the Chief magistrate of England's Metropolis. Wherefore I Humbly Beg, You will be Pleased to Accept of the Dedication; and Permit this History to pass into the World, under the shelter of your Lordship's Name, and Approbation, and Pardon the Author's Presumption, in aspiring to so great an Honour.  
Although for an Atonement of the ambition of this offering, I can only urge it is the History of the Holy War, wherein those of our Nation gave as large a Testimony of their Courage, and Bravery against those Infidels, and Enemies of our Faith, as any Nation whatsoever.  
Which Consideration may Peradventure prevail upon Your Lordship, to allow it as a sufficient Expiation for the pride of this Oblation, Especially in a Person who is with the most Profound Zeal and Respect,  
My Lord, Your Lordships, most humble and most devoted Servant, THO. MILLS.   

By the absence of the Author from the Press, several faults have escaped, which the Reader is desired to mend with his Pen.  
ERATTA.  
PAge 38 Read Gerard. p. 62. l. 18 r. Baldwine. p. 63 l. 13 r. Pilgrims. p. 69 l. 4 r. their own p. 75 l. 15 Deal prevented it p. 74 r. Ignatius Book 2 p. 49 l. 22 r. conceit p 52 l r Cyprus p 53 l 6 r Meladine p. 67. ad of Lancaster p. 71. l. 13 r. fight.  
Directions to the Hinder. Place the Cut of the King of Poland page 84. and the Standard page 86.   

THE HISTORY OF THE Holy War. BOOK I.  

CHAP. I.  
The Description of the City of Jerusalem, and the Land of Judea: Why it was called the Holy Land: It is conquered by the Egyptians, by the Galdeans, and by the Romans.  
JAcob having just before his death, called all his Twelve Sons together, to bless them, and to tell them what should happen both to them and to their Children in succeeding Ages, he preferred Judah (altho' not the Eldest, but the Fourth Son) before the rest of his Brethren, and advanced him to the Throne, saying, Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise; thy hand shall be in the neck of thy enemies, and thy Father's children shall bow before thee. Judah is a Lion's whelp: from the prey my son thou art gone up. The Sceptre shall not departed from Judah, nor a Lawgiver from between his feet until Shiloh come (meaning Christ the Saviour of the World) to whom the gathering of the people shall be.  
And after the return of the Israelites out of Egypt, and the destroying the Canaanites and other Nations who inhabited Palestine, a larger and fairer proportion thereof was allotted for the inheritance of this Royal Tribe than any of their Brethren enjoyed; in which Patrimony there were several large fenced Cities, the chief whereof was Hebron, and great numbers of pleasant and fruitful Villages.  
But altho' Judah had received the promise of the Kingly Dignity, yet he was not till many years after the return out of Egypt invested with it, but the Government was laid on the shoulders sometimes of one man and sometimes of another, who were either by the special direction of Heaven, or the favour of the People, indifferently chosen out of any Tribe. And when the Israelites, grown weary of the Judge's rule, requested a King, and God commanded Samuel to establish a Monarchical Government among them, as tho' Jacob had been mistaken in his measures or the Promise to Judah, had been quite forgotten, that Tribe is neglected, and a King chosen out of the Offspring of Benjamen the youngest Son of Jacob.  
But Saal proving disobedient and rebellious against the Command of the Great and Supreme Monarch of Heaven and Earth, by whom alone King Reign, the Royal Dignity was rend both from him and his Tribe, and according to the Prediction of the Patriarch, given to David, the youngest Son of Jesse the Bethlehemite of the Tribe of Judah, out of whose Loins, according to the flesh, our Saviour came.  
When he was first advanced to the Throne, he only reigned over the Tribe of Judah, and made choice of Hebron as his Royal Seat. But being afterwards by the unanimous consent of all the Tribes, chosen to be King of Israel, he took the City of Jerusalem, which is the Subject of this History from the Jebusites, and made it the Royal Seat of the Kings of Isreal, whereupon it was preferred by the great Jehovah, before all the Cities of the Earth, to be the place of his own habitation, dwelling as were in a most immediate manner in the Temple of Jerusalem, which was afterward built by King Solomon, and commanding all the Tribes of Israel to repair thither to do him homage and adoration: And says of it himself, That he loved the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. Whereby it became a lively Type both of the Gospel Church and the state of the Redeemed in the everlasting enjoyment of Heaven, which is frequently in Sacred Writ called by the name of the New Jerusalem. For which reason, as well as its being the place of the Nativity and Death of our Saviour, it hath acquired the Name of Holy.  
But altho' Jerusalem and the Land of Judea was thus dignified by the Almighty, yet the ungrateful Jews were perpetually multiplying Rebellions against him, whereby he was provoked to scourge them with the Rod of the Gentles, and give them up to the spoil and cruelty of their Enemies. So that it was twice plundered by the Egyptians, once in the Reign of Rehoboam, and a second time upon the death of Josiah: once by the Assyrians, in the Reign of Manassch: three times by Nabuchadnezzar, King of Babylon; first, in the Reign of Jehoiakim; secondly, in the Reign of Jehoiachin; and thirdly, in the Reign of Zedekiah; carrying all those three Kings, and all the Inhabitants of the Land, Captive into Babylon, together with all the Treasure and Riches of the Kingdom, and spoiling the City of Jerusalem and the Temple of the Lord; so that it lay waste for 70 years: At the end whereof, according to the Prophecy of the Prophet Jeremiah, they were freed from their Captivity, by Cyrus, King of Persia. When returning home, they rebuilt the City and the Temple, and by degrees became as formidable to their Enemies as ever they had been before, till by their increasing wickedness they pulled down upon themselves the Vengeance of Heaven, to their utter and final ruin.  
The People of Judea, and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem, having filled up the ●easure of their sins by putting to death ●he Lord of Life, and murdering him who came to save them from everlasting misery, were presently after swallowed up ●y an universal and irrecoverable ●uine, and rooted out from being ●ny longer a Nation, by the victorious Arms of the conquering Romans, who racked the City of Jerusalem, destroyed ●he Temple, and carried away the Inhabitants captive, according to the unerring prediction of our blessed Saviour. But a●out sixty years after this Destruction by ●itus, Adrian the Emperor rebuilt the City, changing the situation of it somewhat more Westward, and calling it by the name ●f Aelia. And to show his hatred to the ●weet and adorable name of Christ, and ●espite against the Professors of Christi●nity, he erected a Temple over our Saviour's Sepulchre, wherein he placed the images of Jupiter and Venus. And, that ●e might enrage the Jews likewise, he ●aused Swine to be engraven over the ●ates of the City, which they accounting ●o be a great profanation of their Land, ●rake out into open Rebellion, but were ●asily overcome and subdued by the Emperor, who to prevent the like Attempt or the future, caused them all to be transported into Spain, and left the who●● Country waste and forlorn, which part● with its Inhabitants and fruitfulness together; those delicious streams of Mi● and Honey wherewith it was wont 〈◊〉 flow, being now wholly exhausted, dri● up, and the Soil become altogether barren and unfruitful. The wretch Jews being thus transported into Spa● were from thence scattered into all pa●● of the World; so that there is scarce a● Nation under Heaven where some of the● are not to be found at this day.  
After this Pagan Worship flourishe● in Jury, and the Professors of Christian● were inhumanely and barbarously u● by the Roman Emperors under the f● Ten Persecutions, until at last God out compassion to their deplorable mise● raised up Constantine the Great, a Br●tain born, as most Historians affirm whose healing hand quickly staunch that Issue of Blood wherewith the Chur● of Christ had been so long afflicted, a● blessed her Borders with Peace a● Tranquillity.  
Whereupon the devout Helen, w● was Mother to Constantine, and as mu● famed among the Christians for her Pie● as the Ancient Helen was among the Pagans' for her Beauty. Notwithstanding ●he greatness of her Age, being about Eighty years old, traveled to Jerusalem; ●nd having first purged Mount Calvary ●nd Bethlehem from Idolatry, built in ●he places of Christ's death and burial, ●nd elsewhere in Palestine, divers very ●ately and magnificent Churches, so that Christianity flourished through all Pa●stine, being well provided of able Bi●ops and Preachers, and they endued with very liberal Maintenance.  
But Constantine being succeeded by ●ulian, who shamefully apostatised from ●he Christian Religion, and turned again 〈◊〉 the Pagan Idolatry, the Sun of the gospel was for a while eclipsed: For in ●ope to prove Christ's Prediction false, ●e gave the Jews leave to rebuild their Temple, who thereupon flocked together 〈◊〉 great numbers, with Spades and Mattocks of Silver, to clear the Foundation, ●nd were so desirous of accomplishing ●e work, that the Women carried way the Rubbish in their Aprons, and ontributed all their Jewels to advance ●e great design. But a sudden and ama●ng Tempest, which carried away their ●ools and Materials for Building, and ●ith Balls of Fire scorched the for●ardest, and most adventurous of ●he Builders, made them desist, and give over the Enterprise. Yet the Christians afterwards in the place where the Temple stood built a stately Church for the Worship of Christ, which remained a long time in the Christians hands, and was the Ancient Seat of the Patriarches of Jerusalem, but is now in the possession of the Turks, and the very entering into it prohibited to Christians upon pain of forfeiting their Lives, or renouncing their Religion.   

CHAP. II.  
The Holy Land conquered, 1. By the Persians; 2. By the Saracens; And 3. By the Turks.  
THE next remarkable Accident that happened in the Holy Land was under Phocas the Emperor, who having murdered Mauritius, and usurped the Imperial Dignity, abandoned himself wholly to ease and pleasure, whereby he betrayed the Empire to Foreign Foes, and invited Chosrees the Persian to invade his Territories, who with a grea● Army subdued Syria and Jerusalem, and carried away many Thousand Christians many of whom he sold to their Ancient Enemies the Jews. And to grace his Conquest the more, he carried the Cross away with him. But Heraclius who succeeded Phocas, having gotten an Army together, passed into Persia, and gave him an absolute overthrow, and in his return took Jerusalem in his way, and restored the Cross (which was then accounted as a most precious Jewel) to the Temple of the Sepulchre, and appointed the fourteenth day of September to be the Feast of the exaltation of the Cross.  
But wickedness and impiety, abounding in and among the Inhabitants of those Countries, and many damnable Heresies being every where embraced, God hastened to pour forth his threatened Judgements upon those Eastern Churches. For the Saracens under the Command of Haumer Prince of Arabia, possessed themselves of all Syria and Jerusalem, so that those who would not be reduced to order by Christian Councils, were subdued by the Pagan Sword.  
But all things under the Sun being subject to Changes and Mutations, this new Erected Empire of the Saracens, though strong and powerful, was of no very long continuance but was forced to make its Exit and give way to the rise of one far more memorable, both for strength and continuance, viz. That of the Turks, whereby the Christians in Palestine changed their Masters, though not their condition.  
Those powerful and spreading people which have stretched their Dominion to so vast an extent, and proved so formidable to Europe, are no less wonderful for the obscurity of their Original then for the increase of their vast Dominion; whence they came when first they appeared to the World is so difficult to determine, that Authors only agree in disagreeing about it. But most probably it was out of Scythia now called Tartary, an hungry and barren Country.  
The first place whereon they settled at their first appearance, was Turcomania, a Northern part of Armenia, from whence they passed into Persia, being called thither by Mahomet Sultan of the Saracens, to assist him against his Enemies, whom they soon vanquished. But having observed their ow● strength, the Saracens Cowardice, and the pleasant situation of Persia, they set up for themselves, and under Tangrolipix their first King, overthrow Sultan Mahomet, & made themselves Masters of all that large Dominion. But that which is yet much stranger, than either their Original or increase, is, That after they had conquered the Saracens, by their valour, they should notwithstanding voluntarily subject themselves to their senseless superstition, and embrace the Religion of Mahomet. As if his not being able to defend his former Proselytes from the slaughter of their Swords, was an argument that they also ought to put themselves under his Protection; whereas it was ever the custom of Conquerors to bring their Religion to the places which they subdued, and not take it thence.  
The next great step the Turks took was into Babylon, the Caliph whereof they easily overcame and added his Dominion to their former Conquest. And shortly after under Cutlu-Moses their Second King they won Mesopota●●a, the greatest part of Syria, and the City of Jerusalem; which spreading of the Turks over most part of the Eastern world is generally believed to be the letting lose of the four Angels, mentioned in the Revelations, which are there said to be bound in the River Euphrates, and reserved for an Hour, and a Day, a Month, and a Year, for to slay the Third part of men; their strength and fierceness is there likewise described, the former by the number of their Horsemen which are said to be Two hundred thousand. The latter by the Breast Plates of Fire, and Jacinct, and Brimstone, wherewith they are sai● to be Armed, and the terribleness of thei● Horses, whose Heads are there describe to be like the Heads of Lions, and Fire and Smoke, and Brimstone, are said t● issue out of their Mouths; but it is t● be hoped that God hath now almost don● his work with them, and will shortly bur● that Rod wherewith he hath been so lon● Scourging the Christian World, and mak● their downfall to be as sudden and remarkable as their first appearance and increase was terrible to the World.   

CHAP. III.  
Of the Original and cause of the Holy War●   portrait of Peter the Hermit 
Peter the Hermit first Mover of the Holy War  
The Pope, who is suspected to be the first Contriver of the business, and to have sent the Hermit to Jerusalem as his Emissary, to consult the matter with the Patriarch, and thereby render himself the more capable of fathering a Plot of his own begetting, joyfully embraced the Project, and with all imaginable zeal endeavoured to engage all the Princes of Europe in that Holy Cause, in order whereunto he immediately called a Council at Clermont i● France, where, to a great Assembly o● Princes and Prelates, he made a long Oration, wherein he greatly bemoane● the miseries of the Christians in Asia, and the devastation of those holy places in Jerusalem, and the parts adjacent, which were once the Joy of the whole Earth; but were now become the general grief of all the Professors of Christianity, telling that the Chapel of Christ's Conception at Nazareth, his Birth at Bethlehem, his Burial on Mount Calvary, and his Ascension on Mount Olivet, which were once the Fountains of Piety, were now become the sinks of all profaneness: and that it was therefore highly necessary for them to take Arms against those Infidels, and endeavour to break their Bonds asunder, and cast away their Cords far from them; for if they would not now lend their helping hand to quench their Neighbours Houses, they might speedily expect the burning of their own; and that those barbarous Nations would shortly overrun all Europe. And the better to whet their Courage, he promised a full remission of all their sins and Penance here, and the enjoyment of Heaven hereafter, to all those who would undertake this Voyage. Now thereforesaid he, Gird your Swords to your Thighs, O ye Princes and Potentates of Europe; It is our parts to pray, yours to fight ours with Moses to lift up our unwearied hands to Heaven, and yours to stretch forth the Sword against those Children of Amalck. Amen.  
It is almost incredible to believe with what a wonderful cheerfulness this motion, meeting with an active and zealous World, was generally entertained: The whole Assembly crying out aloud, God willeth it, God willeth it. Then many of them wore a Cross of Red Cloth upon their shoulders as a badge of their Devotion. And that the Virgin Mary might lend her  assistance to their warlike undertake, her Office was instituted, and certain Prayers were appointed therein to be made to her at Canonical hours.   

CHAP. IU.  
The first beginning of the War unfortunate.  
ALL things being now resolved on, and every one striving to contribute some way or other to the carrying on this grand Design, the Turks, who had no● for a long time enjoyed the quiet possession of Palestine, and by taking advantage of the great stupidity of the Grecian Emperors, who abandoned themselves to case and pleasure, had extended their Conquest to the Lesser Asia, were forced for a time to suspend the further enlarging of their Dominion, and employ themselves wholly in the defence of what they had already obtained; some of which was, notwithstanding their strenuous opposition, forcibly wrested out of their hands by the Christian Warriors.  
The beginning of this War was checked with some bad success, for Walter Sensaver a Nobleman, who had more valour than skill in ● the feats of War, marched with a strange contrived and ill proportioned Army, wherein were several Thousand Foot, and Eight Horsemen only. By which means they were soon after their setting out slain, and routed by the Bulgarians, he himself hardly escaping. And Peter the Hermit, having obtained the command of an Army, went somewhat further to meet his own ruin, for having after many difficulties, crossed the Bosphorus, & got into Asia, they found several Cities forsaken by their Turkish Inhabitants, which they imagined to be the effect of their fear, although it really proceeded from their Policy; and thereupon being more greedy of Gain then desirous of Honour, neglected to fortify the places which they had taken, and fell to plundering and seeking after spoil, whereby they themselves became an easy prey to their watchful and observing Enemies. Not had Hugh (who was surnamed the Great) Brother to the French King, any better success, being also overthrown by the Bulgarians, in his passage towards the Holy Land, and himself taken Prisoner one Gotescall●s likewise a Scandalous Priest, and Emmicho a certain Tyrannous Prince, near the Rhine, led forth a rout of base and disorderly People, who wore in deed the Badge of the Cross, but served the Devil under Christ's Livery, killing and pillaging the Poor Jews, and others as they went through Germany, which made Coloman King of Hungary, oppose their passage through his Country, and put most of them to the Sword. Some believing those badbeginnings to have an● ill omen, abandoned their former Re● solutions, and returned home. But other● took little or no notice of them, looking upon them as necessary Physic, to purge the Christian Army, from the dregss of base and ruder People.   

CHAP. V.  
The Pilgrims arrive at Constantinople, Besiege and take Nice and Antroachia; overcome Solyman and Corboran in Fight, and win the City of Jerusalem.  
NOtwithstanding the bad success of the first adventurers, many others addressed themselves to try their fortunes in this Religious War, for Godfrey Duke of Bovillon, having sold that Dukedom to the Bishop of Liege, and the Castles of Sartensy and Monsa to the Bishop of Verdune, raised a brave and well managed Army, wherewith he marched through Hungary to Constantinople, and so did Robert Duke of Normandy, Second Son to William the Conqueror, King of England, Reimond Earl of Tholouse, and divers more who though they set forward at several times, & marched through different Countries, yet they all met together at Constantinople, which being then the seat of the Grecian Empire, was appointed for the place of their General Rendezvous. But although Alexias the Emperor pretended to be overjoyed at their arrival, yet he was inwardly grieved thereat, for being conscious to himself of his own guilt in deposing and cloistering up Nicephorus his Predecessor, and then usurping his Imperial Dignity, it was no pleasant sight for him to behold the Sea full of Ships, and the Shores covered over, and crowded with Soldiers, fancying to himself, that notwithstanding all their fair pretences of a Pilgrimage to Jerusalem, to wrest the holy-land out of the Pagans Possession, they only came to undermine him, and designed to terminate their Pilgrimage in his destruction. And that which is somewhat strange, he seems to have entailed his groundless jealousies, to all his Successors, none where of could ever hearty reconcile themselves to this War, but suspected tha● those Western Christians made a false blow at Jerusalem, but intended it at Constantinople. However, notwithstanding his secret regret, yet finding that his Guests were powerful enough to command their own welcome, he entertained them with a seeming complacence, and granted them passage through his Country upon Condition that whatsoever they won● Jerusalem only excepted, that belonged formerly to the Grecian Empire, should be restored to him, in lieu whereof he covenanted to furnish them with Shipping, Armour, and all other warlike Provisions; which he never performed, but contrary to his Solemn Engagements endeavoured to retard their generous Designs.  
From hence they marched forward, and sat down before the City of Nice (formerly famed for the first General Council called by Constantine the Great against Arius the Heretic) with as glorious an Army, and as brave Commanders as ever the Sun saw. The Pilgrims had a Lombard for their Engineer, and the Neighbouring Woods afford them Materials for the making many warlike Instruments, wherewith they fancied they should soon make themselves Masters of the City But in regard it was strongly fortified both by Art & Nature, and garrisoned with a great number of well experienced and resolute Soldiers, they found it more difficult than they expected. But at length the Grecian Fleet blocking up the Lake Ascanius, and thereby cutting off from the Besieged all hope of Relief, they were forced to surrender upon condition that the Inhabitants Lives and Goods should be indemnified; whereat the Soldiers, who promised themselves the Plunder of the City, and were thereby frustrated of their hope, shown no small discontent. Soliman's Wife and young Children were made Prisoners, and the City according to the former Agreement with the Grecian Emperor, was delivered to Tatinus the Admiral, on the behalf of Alexius his Master.  
Having made themselves Masters o● this place, and thereby flushed themselves with Victory, they advance forward to the Vale of Dogorgan, where Solyman who had now gotten together a grea● Army, fell upon them suddenly like lightning, so that there followed a fierce and Bloody Battle, fought with much courage, and great variety of success o● both sides; Clouds of Arrows darkening the Sky were soon dissolved into Showe● of Blood. The Europian Pilgrims in this Battle grappled with many disadvantages; for their Enemies were three to one, and Valour itself may sometimes be beate● down by multitudes. The weather was extreme hot, and the scorchnig Sun much annoyed those Northern People, whil● use had made the Pagan's bodies proo● against the extremity of the heat. Thei● Horses likewise unaccustomed to the bar● barous sound of the Turkish Drums, wer● affrighted, that they became altogether useless; notwithstanding which, the● bravely maintained their ground, an● by the special Valour and Conduct 〈◊〉 ●heir undaunted Leaders, gave the Infidels an absolute overthrow, whereat Solyman being desperately enraged, as he fled away, burned all before him; and the better to prop up his broken Credit, gave out, that he had obtained the Victory, and thereby pleased himself with the thoughts of being a Conqueror, though only in report.  
From thence with invincible industry and patience they forced their passage through Valleys, up Mountains, and over Rivers, taking in as they went the famous Cities Iconium, Heraclea, Tarsus, ●nd conquering all the Country about Cilicia. But being too much puffed up with ●his great Success, Heaven, to cure them of the Pleurisy of Pride, let them blood with the tedious and costly Siege of An●iochia; which City being called Reblath by the Hebrews, was built by Seleucus Nicanor, and watered by the River brunts, but enlarged by Antiochus, who ●ncompassed it round with a double Wall, one of square Stone, and the o●er of Brick; strengthened with 460 Towers, and such an invincible Castle on ●e East part of it, that it was rather to be admired than assaulted. In this City, 'twas ●●at the Professors of Christianity were ●●st called Christians, and the Apostle Peter first sat as Bishop, whose fair Church was a Patriarchal Seat for man● hundred years after.  
Before this City the Pilgrim's Army sat● down, and closely besieged it: But th● Turks within making a vigorous Defen● under Auxianus their Governor, frustrate their expectations of forcing the Tow● as soon as they appeared before it; 〈◊〉 the Siege grew very long, and Provision very short in the Christians Cam● which made Peter the Hermit, no● withstanding his pretended Delegation 〈◊〉 manage this War on the behalf of Chris● run away; but being pursued an● brought back again, was bound by a new Oath to prosecute the War. However at length one within the City, of who● Name and Religion Authors cannot agreed (some making him a Turk, others Christian; some call him by one name and some by another) in the dead of th● night betrayed the City to Boemun● whereupon the Pilgrims entered in, an● being highly exasperated by the leng● of the Siege, they so remembered th● miseries they had endured, that they fo● got all pity and moderation, killing an● slaying promiscuously Christians and Tur● and all that came to hand.  
The Town was offered to A●●●us th● Emperor, but he refused it out of suspicion, that there was some deceit in the tender, it being common with ill men to measure other men's minds by the crooked rule of their own, whereupon ●t was given to Boe●●●nd. But notwithstanding the dearness of the purchase, it was not long enjoyed in quiet, for Corboran the Turkish General came with a vast Army of Persian Soldiers and besieged them in the City, so that they were greatly distressed between hunger within and their enemies without, which made many of them to steal away out of the City; whereat the rest no whit discouraged, accounting the loss of Cowards the gain of an Army, bravely resolved rather to sell their lives by wholesale, on the point of the Sword, than to retail them out by famine, who is the worst of Tyrants. And to hasten the putting this generous resolution into practice, they happened to find in the Church of St. Peter a certain Lance which they were made to believe was the very same Lance, wherewith our Saviour's side was pierced by the Soldier, whereat they greatly rejoiced; As though this military relic had by wounding of Christ been endued with a certain virtue of wounding and destroying his Enemies, and carried with it an infallible pledge of victory. And there upon sallying out they fell upon the Besiegers with such fury, that they wer● glad to quit the siege and be gone.  
The Pride of the Turks being abate● by the loss of this Battle, an Hundre● Thousand of them being slain, the Christians grew very insolent, and for got to give God the Honour of the victory; whereupon followed a great morta●ty, 50000 dying within a few days. B● cold weather having at last cleansed th● Chambers of the Air, and cleared th● Christians camp from that fatal infection their zeal now moved the swifter, bein● come nearer to its centre the City 〈◊〉 Jerusalem. And therefore they s● forwards, and take the City 〈◊〉 Martha, and employ themselves in s● curing the Country round about them that so they might clear the way as the● went. They kept their Easter at Tripp● lie, and their Whitsuntide at Cesar● Stratonis, taking divers considerable places in their passage, and at last came to J●rusalem, when discovering the City a far o● it was a pleasant sight to behold the ha● money they made in the differing manne● of their expressing their joy, & to observ● how they all clothed the same passion with various gestures, some cast them● selves prostrate on the Earth, some kneeled, and others wept, and all were so transported with the sight, that they had much a do to manage, so great a gladness. Then they advanced with a abundance of joy and immediately began the Siege on the Northside, it being scarce assaltable on any other part, by reason of steep and broken Rocks, which would not permit any near approach. The siege being once laid they assaulted the Town with such invincible courage and valour, that they had certainly taken it within four days, had they not wanted scaling Ladders to mount the walls withal. But the siege continuing longer, they were oppressed with the want of that which was of far greater consequence, for the springs being all stopped or poisoned by the Turks, they were forced to fetch Water above five Miles off. As for their want of scaling Ladders, it was quickly supplied by the Genoans, who arriving in Palestine with a Fleet of Ships, brought with them several curious and accurate Engineers who in about a Month's time framed a Wooden Tower, and all other instruments for battering the Wall, at a place about seven Miles from the City, for ●earer there grew no stick of bigness Which being all finished, and the Pilgrims having as the best preparative for Victory begun with a Fast and a solemn Procession toward Mount Olivet, they proceeded the next day to give a general assault, which was performed with an incredible Pierceness, the very Women playing the men, and fight most valiantly in Armour. But they within being Forty Thousand strong, well victualled and provided of all things necessary, made a stout resistance till the injurious Night abruptly put an end to their fight in the very midst of all their heat and courage.  
But no sooner had the first glimmerings of light brought news of the approaching morning but they fell on a fresh with a● resolution to carry the Town before night; which they did the rather because they had intercepted a certain letter tied to the legs of a Dove (it being a common thing in those Eastern Parts to make use of that creature as a Post) wherein the Persian Emperor had promised with all imaginable speed to relieve it. The Turks in hopes of rendering the new framed instruments of Battery useless cased the outside of their Wall with bag● of chaff, and such like pliable matte● which conquered the Christians Engine● by yielding to them. But one of them being so very strong and sturdy, that its force would not be tamed by those ordinary Methods, they brought two old Witches and placed them on the Wall, to inchant it; but this Spirit being too fierce, and unruly, for their Spells to tame, they both of them miserably perished on the place, and the approaching Night commanded a cessation of Arms for that time.  
But the next day Duke Godfrey having fired a great heap of combustible matter, the smoke of it was so driven before the wind, that it blinded the Pagan's Eyes, and gave the Christians an opportunity under its Protection of entering the City. The Duke himself, being the first man that set footing on the Walls. The Turks seeing the Christians enter the City in such numbers, retired to Solomon's Temple (so called because it was built in or near the same place) with a resolution there to take the last farewell of their lives. The Christians followed them thither, and in a fierce, and desperate conflict, the foremost of them were miserably slain, being thrust upon their Enemy's weapons, by their own fellows who followed them, so that the pavement swom with humane gore, and none could go either in or out, but he must wade through a River of Blood, or pass over a Bridge of dead Bodies. In this fight valour was n● wanting in the Turks; but it was supe● latively abundant in the Christians, wh● still pressed forward upon their Enemy's till the want of light compelled them t● give over. Thus was Jerusalem won 〈◊〉 the Christians and Twenty Thousa● Turks slain therein on the Fifteenth 〈◊〉 July.  
Then many Christians, who had till no● lived in Jerusalem, in a most deplorab● slavery, being forced to lurk in secre came forth rejoicing, and hearty we comed, and embraced, those Pilgrin who were the happy procurers of the liberty. And the next Morning, mer● being proclaimed to all those who wou● lay down their Arms, the Turks yields upon promise of saving their lives, no withstanding which they were three day after all put to the Sword, without respect to Age or Sex, upon the idle prtence of fear of Treason in them, if t● Persian Emperor should come and besie● them. But the Noble Tancred declare himself highly displeased with that ●vage and barbarous action.   

CHAP. VI  
Robert Duke of Normandy refuseth the Kingdom of Jerusalem; whereupon Duke Godfrey is advanced to the new erected Throne.  
EIght days after the taking of Jerusalem, they proceeded to the Election of a King; but having so many Princes whose shining Virtues made them equally deserving, they knew not which of them to pitch upon; however, at last they unanimously resolve on Robert Duke of Normandy, as a person of the highest Descent; notwithstanding which, the Duke, contrary to all men's expectation, refused this honourable offer, either because he had an Eye to the English Diadem, which was now fallen to him by the death of William Rufus, who was his Elder Brother; or else because he imagined (and that truly enough) that the Kingdom of Jerusalem would in all probability, be encumbered with a continual War. But he who would not accept of the Crown with the Cross, was afterwards forced to take the Cross without the Crown; for from that day forward, he never thrived in any thing he undertook, bu● lived to see abundance of misery, and fe● more, being shut up in Prison, and de● prived of his sight by King Henry h● Brother.  
Robert having declared his refusal, the● proceed to a second Choice; and th● they might acquaint themselves the be●ter with the temper and disposition ●those Princes, out of which the Choir was to be made, they examined the● Servants upon Oath concerning the● Master's faults; and when they came● examine the Servants of Godfrey Du● of Bovillon, they all protested that the o●ly fault they knew their Master guil● of, was, that when he went to Church ●sing Matins, he would stay so long after they were done, to learn of the Pri● the meaning of every Image and Pictur● that Dinner at home was utterly spoil● by his long tarrying. This relation b● got him the admiration of all men, w● admiring that the Duke's worst Vi● should prove so great a Virtue, ma● choice of him to be their King. T● Duke accepted of the Title, but not 〈◊〉 the solemnity of it, refusing to wear● Crown of Gold there where the Savi●● of Mankind had been tortured with Crown of Thorns.   portrait of Godfrey Duke of Bovillon 
Godfrey D k of Bovelion.  
The First Christian King of Jerusalem   

CHAP. VII.  
Of the Establishing of Ecclesiastical Affairs, and settling Patriarches in Antioch and Jerusalem; the numerosity of Palestine Bishops.  
Godfrey being now possessed of the Crown, took care to settle the ●itre, and provide for the well-ordering ●f the Ecclesiastical Affairs. Well, con●dering that the Commonwealth never ●rives so well as when the Church and state are equally interested in the Prince's ●are.  
So soon as Antioch was taken, one Bernard a Reverend Prelate was with a ●eneral consent advanced to the Patriarchal Seat. But more difficulty there ●as to settle that Dignity in Jerusalem. ●or first Arnulphus a vicious and worthless man, was by popular Faction lifted ●p into the Patriarches Chair, but being ●ith much difficulty put by, Robert Archbishop of Pisa was substituted in his place, 〈◊〉 person wise, politic and learned, but infected with the general humour of the Clergy of that Age, a delight to justle with Princes for more Elbow-room. Arnulphus never ceased to molest him, and all those who succeeded him, till by many changes he found means to struggle himself into the Chair again.  
Under these Two Patriarches were divers Archbishops and Bishops, who were placed as near as could be, where they were before the Saracens had overrun the Country, and liberal Maintenance allotted to most of them: But they were too numerous for all to grow great, and Palestine fed too many Cathedral Churches to have them generally fat; for there was Lydda, Jomnia, and Joppa, three Episcopal Towns within four Miles of each other. Nay, Tyrius tells us of Fourteen Bishops under the Archbishop of Tyre, 20 under the Archbishop of Caesarea, Nine under the Archbishop of Scythopolis, Twelve under the Archbishop of Rabbah, besides Twenty five Suffragan Churches, which were immediately depending on the Patriarch, without subordination to any Archbishop. From whence we may observe, that in those days Bishops kept their Sees at mean and contemptible Villages (as here in Engl. before the Conquest Sunning in Bark shire, and Dorchester near Oxford, had Cathedral Churches in them, though now they have removed them to the great and most Principal Towns.   

CHAP. VIII.  
The Saracens overthrown at Askelon.  
Mahomets' Tomb was not so firmly fixed to the attractive Loadstone, but that now it began to shake, and was in all probability like to have tumbled down, the Christians victories giving daily wounds to that silly and foppish Religion, which made the Saracens enter into a Combination with the Turks to assist them in stopping, if possible, the further progress of their Victorious Arms: wherefore coming out of Egypt, under the command of Ammitavissius their General, near Askelon they gave the Christians Battle, but God sent such a qualm upon these Infidel's hearts, that 100000 of them were presently slain, and their Rich Tents, which seemed as if they were the Exchequer of the East Country, possessed by the Pilgrims, who now so much abounded with wealth, that they knew not how to value it. Which made many of the Pilgrims who were Merchants for honour, and had now made so gainful an Adventure, think of returning home, and those who remained were advanced to honourable Titles and Places in the Land.  
But by this return of the Pilgrims, the heat of the Christians Victories was some● what stayed, for Boemund Prince of Antioch● marching into Mesopotamia, was take● Prisoner, and the Heroic Godfrey, wh● had till now been ever accustomed to Conquer, was forced to departed with disgrace from the Siege of Antipatris.   

CHAP. IX.  
The Original of the Hospitallers. The scuffling between the King and Patriarch of Jerusalem, about the division of the City. The Issue of the quarrel, and th● Death of Godfrey the first King.  
ABout this time under Serard thei● first Master began the Order o● Knights Hospitallers. There was indeed an Order called by that name more anciently in Jerusalem, but they were n● Knights, but poor Alms-men, whose House was founded, and themselves maintained by the Merchants of Amu● phia, a City in Italy. But they had now more stately Buildings assigned them, and their House dedicated to St. John o● Jerusalem; the conditions upon which they were to be admitted to the Highest Order of this Knighthood, were these, they must be Eighteen years old at least, of an able body, not descended of Jewish or Turkish Parents, no Bastards (except to a Prince, there being honour in that dishonour) but born of honest and worshipful Parents; they always wore a Red Belt, with a White Cross, and a Black Cloak, whereon was the White Cross of Jerusalem, which was a Cross crossed, or five Crosses together, in memory of our Saviour's five Wounds. Their Profession was to fight against Infidels, and secure Pilgrims in their coming to the Sepulchre; they vowed Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, to which was added by Reimundus de Podio, their second Master, that they must receive the Sacrament thrice a year, hear Mass once a day, be no Merchants or Usurers, fight no private Duels, and always stand neuters, and take part with neither side, if the Princes of Europe should fall out.  
At their Inauguration they received a Sword, to intimate that they must be valiant, which Sword had a Cross Hilt, to remember them that they must therewith defend Religion. 2ly. With this Sword they were struck three times over the shoulders, to teach them patiently to suffer for Christ. Thirdly, They must wipe the Sword, to intimate that their lives must be clean and undefiled. Fourthly, They had gilded Spurs put upon them, to intimate that they must scorn Wealth, and spurn it at their heels. Fifthly, They were to take a Taper in their hands, to intimate that they were to enlighten others by their exemplary lives.  
About the same time also were ordained the Knights of the Sepulchre, who were for their Original and Profession much like the former, and their Order continueth to this day, they being made by the Padre Guardian of Jerusalem, of such as have seen the Sepulchre, and should be all Gentlemen, but the Padre frequently dispenses with the severity of that Law, and admits of those who bring fat enough, though no blood.  
Now also there arose a great Controversy between the King and the Patriarch, the latter claiming the Cities of Jerusalem and Joppa, with all their dependences, as belonging of right to him, and the other denying to deliver them. The Patriarch affirmed they had always belonged to his Predecessors, and that it did not become Princes, who ought to be Nursing Fathers to the Church, sacrilegiously to suck from, and devour it.  
On the other side, the King alleged, that the Christian Princes had now purchased Jerusalem with their Blood, and bestowed it on him, so that the Patriarches overgrown Title was lost in that Conquest, from which, as upon a new Foundation, all must now build their claims who challenge a right to any part in that City: Besides which, it would be unreasonable for the King of Jerusalem to enjoy nothing in Jerusalem, but live there more like a Sojourner than a Prince in his Royal Palace, and be confined only to an airy Title, whilst the Patriarch should enjoy all the Command.  
To this the Patriarch answered, That the Christians new Conquest could not cancel his Ancient Right, which he said was enjoyed even under the Saracens, especially since that Voyage was purposely undertaken for the advancing of the Church, and not the bare restoring her to her Liberty only; which Argument he pressed so home, that Godfrey, notwithstanding he was unwilling at first, yet afterwards not only granted him on Candlemas day a fourth part of the City, but on the Easter following (the King lying then on his Deathbed) gave him all Jerusalem, Joppa, and whatsoever else he desired upon condition that he should hold it of the Patriarch, till he should Conquer Babylon, or some other Royal City, to keep his Court in. And that i● in the mean time he should have died without Issue, it should immediately b●delivered into the Patriarches Possession.  
Not long after Godfrey had made this liberal Grant, wherein he frankly gave away his whole Kingdom at once, he died, having Reigned one year wanting five days, and was buried in the Temple of the Sepulchre, where his Tomb remains inviolated to this day.   

CHAP. X.  
Baldwin chosen King; he keepeth Jerusalem in despite of the Patriarch.  
GOdfrey being dead, the Christians with an unanimous consent made choice of Bald●in, who was ●●ount of Edessa (a City in Arabia) and Brother to Godfrey, to succeed him, a Prince who was tall, and of a comely Personage, being like Saul, higher by the head than any of his Subjects; and being thus chosen to the Kingdom, without troubling his head about his Brother's Religious scruple of wearing a Crown of Gold where Christ wore one of Thorns, he accepted the Ceremony as well as the Title, and was Crowned on the Christmas day following.  
But before his Coronation there was a desperate Quarrel between him and the Patriarch, who upon the death of Godfrey devoured Jerusalem, and the Tower of David in his hope; but coming to take possession, found that a more difficult task, than it was to obtain the grant from the dying King. For Garnier Earl of Gretz, refused to surrender it, telling him that he would, according to his duty, keep it on the behalf of King Baldwin, who was not yet arrived from Edessa. This unexpected refusal made the Patriarch storm exceedingly; but however, Baldwin having the stronger Sword, and actual possession of the City, kept it perforce, which made the Patriarch complain to Boemund Prince of Antioch, and stir him up to take Arms against King Baldwin, for the recovery of the Churches Right, as he was pleased to term it. But not succeeding therein, the difference was made up for the present by the mediation of friends, although it was not long before it broke out again to that degree, that the Patriarch was glad to flee to Antioch, and from thence to Rome, to complain to the Pope, from whom h● obtained a command to King Baldwin fo● the re establishing him in the Patriarchal Seat, with which as he was returning home he died at Messena in Cicilia● whereupon Bremarus an holy and devou● man, was against his own will advance● by King Baldwin to the Chair. But being disliked by the Pope, because the King chose him, he was soon deposed, and Gibellinus the Pope's Legate chosen in his stead, who being thought by Arnulphus, who had been chosen Patriarch, a● the first taking of Jerusalem, and was thrust out again, to go to slowly to his Grave, he was suspected to have hastened his death; upon which he was substituted in his room by the especial favour of King Baldwin.   

CHAP. XI.  
A mighty Army of new Adventurers after many hardships and difficulty effect nothing, Alexius his Treachery.  
THE spreading Fame of the Christians great Success in Palestine, summoned a new supply of Pilgrims out of Christendom, Germany, and other places, which had been sparing at the first Voyage, ●ut resolved now to make amends with ●ouble liberality. The chief Adventurers ●ere Guelpho Duke of Bavaria, Hugh Bro●er to the French King, and Stephen Earl ●f Bloys (both which had very much suffered in their Reputation for having deserted their fellows in the first Expedi●on, and therefore sought to regain their ●ost Honour by this second Adventure;) The Duke of Aquitain, the Earl of Burundy, and the Covar of Bogen, with ma●y more great Men and Prelates, leading with them an Army of 250000 Men. All Europe was now big with expectation, to see what so great an Army would achieve, it being common for most men to measure Victories by the ●ultitudes of the Soldiers. But in this ●ase it signified little, for they did nothing worthy admiration, unless it were ●hat they went so far to do just nothing, ●heir sufferings being far more famous ●han their do, being so consumed by Plague, Famine and Sword, that scarce one thousand of them ever reached Pa●estine, and those fit to be sent to Hospitals, than to march into the Field.  
But the chief cause why this Voyage miscarried so miserably, was the Treathery of Alexius, who perplexing himself with a groundless and ridiculous fear, lest between the Latins in the East, who were come thither upon pretence of conquering Palestine, and those in the West his Grecian Empire, lying in the midst should be ground to powder, as between two Millstones, did them all the private mischief he could possibly procure whilst he publicly pretended to hav● the greatest kindness for them imagin●able, calling the chief Captains of thei● Army his Sons, and thereby verifying the Proverb, The more courtesy, the morcraft. But in private he would say to his friends, that he took as great a plea● sure to see those European Pilgrims i● Battle with the Turk, as he would do to see two Mastiff Dogs sighting togethers hoping that which side soever lost, h● himself should be a gainer. Wherefore he so ordered the matter, that they ha●● no sooner passed Graecia, and crossed th● Bosphorus, but they were for thirty day● together exposed as a mark to the Turkis● Arrows, and cut off by their cowardly Enemies, whilst they were penned up in the straits of unknown passages.  
But in the mean time King Baldwi● employed himself with better success i● Palestine. For by the assistance of th● Genoan Fleet, (who were for their pain● to have a third part of the spoil, and a Street in every place that was taken) he ●on several very considerable Havens ●ong the midland Sea, there being be●re this but one only part for the Chri●ians to land at, viz. Joppa. He began with Antipatris to redeem the Christian ●onour which was mortgaged there, when Godfrey was forced to rise from before it. But the Turks having gotten together a good Army, gave him Battle ●t Rhamula, where he gave them a very ●reat overthrow.  
The Joy of which Victory continued ●ot long, for the Turks being recruited, ●nd resolving upon revenge, set upon him ●gain in the same place, and after a re●olute fight obtained the Victory, it being ●he first great overthrow the Christians ●ad ever received in Palestine; where●n, besides many others, the Earls of Bloys and Burgundy lost their lives, and the King himself was reported to be slain. This Victory so entoxicated the Turks with Joy, that they gave themselves to ●mirth and jollity, without the least suspicion of a Reincounter, which Baldwin ●eing informed of by his Spies, returned suddenly upon them with fresh Soldiers, ●nd with the backblow of an unlooked for Enemy (which is commonly the most fatal) bravely wrested the Victory out of the Infidels hands.  
Nor were the rest of the Christian Princes idle, but endeavoured likewise the enlarging of the Christian Dominions Tancred Prince of Galilee possessing himself of Apamea and Laodicea, two Citie● in Coelosyria, which were both built b● Antiochus. Nor was it long before Ptolemais fell likewise into the Christian hands, a City on the Mediterranean Sea which took its name from Ptolemeus Philometor King of Egypt. The Genoan Galleys being ten in number, doing the greatest service in the taking of it, and therefore as a reward, had granted them large profits from the Harbour, a Church to themselves, and Jurisdiction over the fourth part of the City, which came a● last to be the very Seat of the Holy War● there being in it a continual fight against the Turks for an hundred and eighty years together.  
But whilst the Arms of the Christians prospered so well in some places, they were unsuccessful in others; for Baldw●● Count of Edossa, and Earl Joceline besieging Charran in Mesopotamia, had brought it into such straits, that it was ready to b● delivered to them, when the Christian Captains falling out among themselves were set upon and defeated by the Pagans, and the two Earls, with diver others taken Prisoners. However, to mitigate the sorrow for this misfortune, Byblus, which was a very good Haven, and built by Heveus the Sixth Son of Canaan, was taken by King Baldwin, and shortly after Tripoli was likewise conquered by his Victorious Arms, who created one Bertram (a Nobleman that had behaved himself well in the Siege) Earl of Tripoli, it being accounted a Title of great Honour, in regard Tripoli was ever reckoned one of the four Tetrarchies of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.  
And to revenge the many injuries they had received from treacherous Alexius, Boemund, Prince of Antioch, with a great Navy spoiled the Havens of Graecia; every one abhorring his unfaithful practice, were willing to list themselves as Volunteers for this Service. But an Agreement was soon made between them.  
Sidon the most ancient and famous City of Phoenicia, was by the help of the Danish and Norway Fleet added likewise to the Kingdom of Jerusalem, flushed with which Conquest, and the series of success that had for a long ●●me attended them, they next set down before Tyre, a City which Sea and Land, Nature and Art had combined together to make strong and impregnable, it being encompassed by the Sea all but a narrow ne● of Land that tacks it to the Co●nent, which was fortified with m● Walls and Towers, so that it was h● to determine whether the strength of● City, or the Wealth of its Inhabita● was greatest. But not being able to ca● it, he raised his Siege, and depart● when meeting with the Persian Gene● who had an Army far superior to 〈◊〉 he rashly gave him Battle, and after desperate Fight lost all his Baggage, a hardly escaped himself.  
After a long Tempest of War ca● a calm of Peace, wherein Baldwin enj●ed a five years quiet in his old age, ●ring which time he made several V●ages for his pleasure, and to take a vi● of the Country, and satisfy himself of 〈◊〉 situation and strength of the several paces. One of his Journeys was to 〈◊〉 Red Sea, not so called from the red●● of the Water or Sand, as some foolish conceit, but from the neighbouring Emites, whom the Grecians call Erythrea or Red Men. And another he made to Egypt, supposing himself obliged give one visit to that Country, that so might in part repay the many Incursi● the Egyptians had made into his Kingdo● Where having first taken the City Pharamia, anciently called Ramese, and given the Spoil of it to his Soldiers, he spent a considerable time in viewing that riddle of Nature, the River of Nilus, whose flowing Stream is a Confluence of Wonders; first in regard of its undiscoverable Original, but chief its increasing from the first of June, to the midst of September, in which time it overflows all Egypt, and rises too high for the most penetrating Judgement ever to dive to its bottom, or render the true reason of its Flux.  
Great delight he took in viewing this River, wherein he eat many Fish, and his death in eating them; for a Surfeit which he then got, brought upon him the grief of an old wound, which he received at the Siege of Ptolomais, and ended in his death. He died at Laris in his return from Egypt, and was brought to Jerusalem, and buried on Palm-Sunday in the Temple of the Sepulchre, having Reigned almost Eighteen years.  
The same day that Baldwin was buried, Baldwin de Burgo his Kinsman, and Count of Edessa, accidentally came into the City, intending there to keep his Easter: At which time the Christian Princes were met together for the Electing a new King, the most whereof were for bestowing the Crown upon Prince Estace, Brother to the two former King but then absent in France, in regard was unsafe to break the chain of Succesion, there being nothing more comm● in those cases, than for the inverting 〈◊〉 order to bring confusion, alleging like wise that it would be high ingratitude the memories of Godfrey and Baldwin ● exclude their Brother, since he was in a points fit to be a King.  
Others opposed it, objecting the dagger of an Inter-regnum, especially und● their circumstances, who living in t● mouth of their Enemies, to stay for Kingdom, was the way to lose the Kingdom. And at length after much deba on both sides, they proceeded to a pesent Election, and made choice of Ba●win, who on the Easter-day following w● Crowned by Arnulphus the Patriarch, 〈◊〉 the name of Baldwin the Second. In t● mean time some were secretly dispatch● to acquaint Prince Eustace with wh● had passed, and invite him to come a● challenge the Crown; but he hear● that Baldwin was in possession of it, p●ferred quietness before honour; and 〈◊〉 though he was part of the way on 〈◊〉 Journey thither, yet he very quietly w● back again.  
About this time happened the death ●f that Arch Hypocrite Alexius the Grae●an Emperor, who was succeeded by Calo Johannes, of whom we shall have occasion to speak often in the succeeding part of this History.  
Arnulphus, who enjoyed the Patriarchal Dignity, when Baldwin the Second came to the Crown, was so infamous, ●hat the report of his baseness at length came to the Pope's Ear, who sent away a Legate to depose him; but Arnulphus hasted to Rome, and with a great sum of Money bought himself innocent, and obtained yet the enjoyment of his place du●ing life.  
Guarimund succeeded him, being a ve●y Religious man, and one by whom the Christians obtained many Victories; he called a Council at Neapolis, wherein ma●y wholesome things were concluded on for the reformation of manners. After his death Stephen Abbot of St. John de ●alia was advanced, who awakened the Patriarches Title to Jerusalem, after it had ●lept during the lives of his three Predecessors, demanding it very imperiously of the King, being a man of a high spirit; but he died in the midst of his Age, ●nd in the beginning of his Projects, his place being filled by William, Prior of the Sepulchre, who was a Flemin born, an● better beloved than learned.   

CHAP. XII.  
The Knight's Templars, and teutonics instituted. Tyre taken by the Christians. T● Death of Baldwin the Second.  
ABout the beginning of this Kin● Reign the two great Orders 〈◊〉 Templars and teutonics first appear● in the world, the former under Hugh 〈◊〉 Pagaris, and Ganfred of St. Omer, the first Founders; they were much like t● Hospitallers in all things, and like the● were poor at first, but being afterwards confirmed by the Pope, at the intreaty● Stephen Patriarch of Jerusalem, who enjoined them to wear a White garmen to which was afterwards added by ●●genius the Third a Red Cross on the Breast; they grew wonderful rich 〈◊〉 the Bounty of several Princely Patro● The latter were all Dutchmen, well 〈◊〉scended, living at Jerusalem in a ho●● which one of that Nation bequeathed his Countrymen, that came thither 〈◊〉 Pilgrimage, in the year 1190. their Or● was honoured with a Grand Mast● ●hereof the first was Henry A-walpot, ●heir Habit being Black Crosses on White Robes.  
It will certainly be very pleasant for ●he Reader, to observe as he goes along, ●ow this King's Reign is strangely checkered with great variety of Fortune. ●or first Roger, Guardian to young Boe●und, Prince of Antioch, going forth to ●ght the Turks, was conquered and kil●d. But Baldwin on the 14th of August ●llowing compelled them to make a Re●tution of their Victory, and with a ●hall Army gives them a great over●row. And to moderate the Christians ●y for this Victory, Joceline unadvisedly fights with Balack, a petty King of ●●e Turks, and is beaten and taken Prisoner, and the King attempting to rescue ●●m, was also taken himself.  
However, the Christians hands were ●t bound by the captivity of their King, ●r Eustace Grenier, who was chosen viceroy whilst the King was a Priso●r, stoutly defended the Country, and ●oceline having made his escape out of ●ison, fought Balack again at Hircapolis, ●uted his Army, & killed him upon the ●lace with his own hands; & to crownall, ●uarimund the Patriarch, by the assistance 〈◊〉 the Venetian Fleet, which were commanded by the Duke of Venice, cook th● impregnable City of Tyre, the Venetian were for this service to have a third p●● of the City to themselves. The Ci● was, besides its own natural strength, we stored with Men and Ammunition; b●● Famine increasing, they consented 〈◊〉 yield upon honourable terms.  
Not long after this the King return home, after having been eighteen month a Prisoner, and was to pay a Ransom 〈◊〉 an hundred thousand Michaelets, for t●● security whereof, he left his Daughter 〈◊〉 Hostage: But he paid the Turks with t●● Saracens money, whom he beat first 〈◊〉 Antioch, and then at Damascus; whi●● place he unfortunately besieged, a●● thereby damped the Joy of his two fo●mer Victories. And the more to qu● their swelling pride, the young Prince's Antioch was overthrown in Battle a●● slain.  
Which ill success so afflicted Ki●● Baldwins mind, that for some time b● fore his death, he renounced the wor●● and took upon him a Religious Habits thing not very unusual in those days, a● sometimes, though not often, practi●● still, as by the Late Queen of Sweden, W● is yet living.   

CHAP. XIII.  
Of Fulco the Fourth King of Jerusalem. The remarkable Ruin of Rodolphus Patriarch of Antioch. The Grecian Emperor demands Anti och. The Prince thereof pays him Homage for it. The●amentable Death of Fulco.  
FVlco Earl of Tours, Mam and Anjou, came about three years before on Pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where he obtained in Marriage Mellesent the King's Daughter, and thereupon had assigned ●he City of Tyre, and some other Princely Accommodations for his present maintenance, and the Kingdom after his Fathers-in-law decease, which he received accordingly. He had one Son by a for●er Wife, which was Jeffry Plantagenet, Earl of Anjou, to whom he left all his Lands in France, and from whom our Kings of England are descended.  
This Fulco was a very valiant man, endued with many perfections both of body and mind. In his Reign there was ●o Alterations worth remark in the Church of Jerusalem, but in that of Antioch there was much stir who should succeed Bernard, that peaceable and long lived Prelate, who sat Thirty six year● in the Chair, and survived Eight Patriarches of Jerusalem. For the Clerg● being long in their choice before the● could come to a result, the Laity wa● too nimble for them, and clapped o● Rodolphus of honourable descent into th● Chair, who cast off his Obedience to th● Pope, and refused to acknowledge a●● Superior but St. Peter. He was th● Darling of the Gentry, but bated of th● Clergy, because advanced without the● suffrage; wherefore being conscious 〈◊〉 himself that he needed strong Arms, sin● he was to swim against the stream, 〈◊〉 screwed himself into the favour of t●● Princess of Antioch, Widow to you● Boemund, so that with her strength 〈◊〉 beat down all his Enemies, promising h● in requital, to make a Marriage betwit her and Reimund Earl of Poictou, who w● then coming into those parts. But 〈◊〉 deceived her, and procured the Earl 〈◊〉 marry with the Lady Constantia h● Daughter, who was but a Child wi●● whom he had the Principality of Antio●  
The Patriarch, that he might ma●● sure work, and oblige him for ever to 〈◊〉 his friend, bound him to it by an Oat● But as it is usual in those cases, friend unjustly gotten, are seldom long enjoyed, of a sworn Friend, he became his sworn Enemy, and forced him to go to Rome, there to answer many Accusations laid to his charge. The chief whereof was, that he made odious comparisons between Antioch and Rome, and accounted himself equal to his Holiness.  
When he arrived at Rome, he found the Pope's Doors shut against him, but he quickly opened them with a Golden Key, and upon his repentance for having refused to acknowledge Obedience to the Church of Rome, he was dismissed, only it was ordered by his Holiness, that the Bishop of Ostia should be sent into Byria, to examine matters relating to his other Crimes, and proceed accordingly: Whereat his Adversaries stormed extremely, expecting that he should have been immediately deposed: But having missed their mark, they resolved to have a second blow at him; wherefore they prevailed with Albericus the Legate to favour their design, (which was not unknown to Rodolphus) who coming to Antioch, cited the Patriarch to appear, but being called three several times, came not, which was variously commented upon by those who were present, according as they affected or disaffected him. Whereupon the Legate directed himself to the Archbishop of Apamea, who had formerly been one of the most vehement Accusers of Rodolphus, but had lately bee● reconciled to him, and demanded why he did not accuse the Patriarch now o● those Crimes which he had formerly laid to his charge: To which the Archbishop answered, That what he the● did was done out of heat and prejudice, and he thought it was his great sin so unadvisedly to discover the nakedness o● his Father, like cursed Cham, from which God had so far reclaimed him, that he would rather die for his safety, than accuse him. Upon which Speech the Legate (such was the Martial-Law in a Prelate in those days) immediately deposed him, and shortly after thrust out the Patriarch with great violence, and shut him up in Prison, where he remained a long time in Chains, till at last he made his escape, and went to Rome, with an intent to have traversed his Cause again, had not death cut him off.  
About this time Calo Johannes the Grecian Emperor came with a great Army of Horse and Foot, and demanded of Reimund Prince of Antioch, to resign to him that whole Signiory, according to the Composition which the Christian Princes made with Alexius his Father; which insolent demand fretted Reimund and all the Latins to the heart, in regard they had purchased an Inheritance with their own Blood, and yet were required to turn Tenants at will to another.  
They told him it was offered his Father when first taken, and he refused it: That Alexius kept not his Covenants, nor assisted them according to the Agreement. He called them his Sons indeed, but disinherited them of their hopes, and all the Portion that he gave them lay in promises never paid. But all these Arguments signified little, the Emperor's Sword being far stronger than theirs; for coming with so great a force, he conquered in a few days all Cilicia, and then besieged the City of Antioch itself; whereupon the King of Jerusalem fearing it would give too great advantage to the Infidels, to have the Christians fall together by the Ears among themselves, made composition between them, wherein Reimund obliged himself to do homage to the Emperor, and hold his Principality of him: Notwithstanding which, about four years after he returned again, but did not much harm, only pillaged the Country. And some few years after that he died, being accidentally poisoned by one of his own Arrows which he had prepared for the Wild Boar, having always carried it much fairer to the Latins than his Father had done, in regard an honourable Foe is much more desirable than a Treacherous Friend.  
Falco having Reigned in Jerusalem about Eleven years, with abundance o● care and industry, being almost continually imbroiled in Civil Discords, which hindered him from much enlarging of hi● Dominion, was slain as he was following his sport in Hunting, to the great grie● of his Subjects. He was buried with his Predecessors in the Temple of the Sepulchre, leaving two Sons behind him Balder and Almerick, the former being about Thirteen, and the latter Eleve● years old.   

CHAP. XIV.  
The Reign of Baldwin the Third. Of Fulche● Patriarch of Jerusalem, and the insole● carriage of the Hospitallers toward him. The Institution of Carmelites.  
BAldwin the Eldest Son of Falco, succeeded his Father, and quickly gre● up as well in Age, as in Royal Qualifications, and became a most complete and well accomplished Prince. During his minority, his Mother who governed all, made up his want of Age with her abundant care, she being a Woman in sex, but of a masculine Spirit.  
William, who was last possessed of the Patriarches Chair in Jerusalem, was no great Clerk, being better at Building of Castles than at Edifying the Church: He built one at Askelon, one at Ramula, a third called Blankguard, for the securing of Prisoners: But having enjoyed the Dignity Fifteen years, he was translated to Heaven, and Fulcher Archbishop of Tyre succeeded him, whose old Age was much molested with the Pride and Rebellion of the Hospitallers, who had then obtained from the Pope a plenary Exemption from the Jurisdiction of the Patriarch, which he did the more easily grant, because he hoped thereby to make himself absolute Master of all Orders, and link them entirely to himself by an immediate dependence, whereby he made every Covent a Castle of Rebels, and armed them with Privileges to fight their lawful Diocesan.  
Those Hospitallers were by this means become so rude, that they would without all shame Ring their Bells when the Patriarch Preached, that so his Voice might not be heard, and shoot Arrows into the Church, to disturb him and the People in Divine Service. A bundle whereof was hung up in the Church as a Monument of their monstrous Impiety. Fulcher crawled to Rome when an hundred years old, to complain of those outrages, but the Hospitallers prevented him, and bribed off the business beforehand, so that the good old man was forced to return without redress, whereupon they grew more insolent than ever.  
Nor was Haymericus, who succeeded Rodolphus at Antioch, much quieter. He instituted about the year 1160. the Order of Carmelites, who pretended to an imitation of the Prophet Elias. Some indeed had formerly lived dispersed about the Mount of Carmel, but he gathered them into one House. But although Palestine brought them forth, yet England proved the most officious in nursing of them up: For being first brought into it by Ralph Freshburgh in the year 1240. they were first seated at Newenden in Kent, and in a little time scattered themselves all over England, and lived in great pomp, till dispersed by King Henry the Eighth, when he demolished the Abbeys.   

CHAP. XV.  
Edessa lost. The Voyage of the French King, and the Emperor of Germany blasted by the perfidiousness of the Grecian Emperor. The Turks beaten at Meander. Damascus' besieged in vain.  
ALL Empires, like the swelling Sea, have bounds set to them, whither being once come, they can rise no higher. And the Kingdom of Jerusalem, being now arrived at its full growth, began to decline apace, till at last all revolved again into the Infidel's hands. And the first considerable step which it made in its declension, was the loss of Edessa, one of the four Tetrarchies of that Kingdom, and a place wherein the Christian Religion had always flourished from the time of the Apostles.  
Which loss moved Conrade, Emperor of the West, and Lewis the Seventh surnamed the Young King of France, by the persuasion of St. Bernard, to undertake a Voyage to the Holy Land. The Emperor for this design had gotten together an Army of 200000 Foot, and 50000 Horse, and the King near as many more. For in France they sent a Dista●● and a Spindle to those that would not go● with them, as upbraiding their Effeminacy; and no wonder, for Women themselves went in Armour to this War, and had a brave Heroic Lass, like another Penthesilea, for their Leader, who was so richly clad, and befringed with Gold, that she was generally known by the name of Golden Foot.  
Conrade with his Army, took his way through Graecia, where Emmanuel the Emperor, possessed with an hereditary fear of the Latins, fortified his Cities, concluding that there needed strong Banks where such a stream of people were to pass, using them most treacherously, and giving them a very bad welcome, in hope thereby to get rid of them the sooner. And to increase their misery as they lay encamped by the River Melas (if it be proper to call that a River, which is all Mud in Summer, and all Sea in Winter) it drowned many of them by its sudden and unexpected overflowing, as if it had learned Treachery of the Grecians, and conspired with them to spoil the Emperor's generous Design.  
And those of them that survived this unhappy accident, were reserved for a more linger misery, the Emperor endeavouring by all imaginable ways to accomplish their Ruin; as by mixing Lime with their Meal, killing those who strayed from the Army, holding intelligence with the Turks, corrupting his Coin, and giving them false Conductors, who designedly led them into danger, and made the way less doubtful than the Guides.  
And no sooner had the Emperor got through all those dangers, and escaped the Treachery of the Greeks, but he was immediately encountered by the Hostility of the Turks, who waited for them on the Banks of the River Meander, which being not fordable, and the Christians having neither Boat nor Bridge to convey them over, the undaunted Emperor, after an Exhortation to his Soldiers to follow his brave Example, plunged himself into the Water, and quickly reached the other Shoar, where, in despite of the Enemy, he Landed with all his Army. Whereat the affrighted Turks did as it were offer their Throats to the Christians Swords, and were slain in such numbers, that whole piles of dead Bones remain there for a monument of their Victory, flushed with this success, he marched forward to Iconium, now called Cogni, which he besieged in vain, to the wasting and lo● of his Army,  
The French King followed after wit● a numerous Army, and drank of the sam● Cup at the Grecians hands (though no● so deeply) as the Emperor had done before him. But at last finding that tho● who marched to Palestine by Land me with an Ocean of misery, though the came not to Sea, he thought it muc● safer to trust the Winds and the Wave● than the perfidious Grecians; and therefore shipping himself and his Army, h● arrived safe in Palestine, where he wa● highly welcomed by the Prince of A●tioch. Some weeks were spent in Princely Entertainments, and visiting of holy Places before they entered upon action.  
But having sufficiently recreated themselves, and rested their Soldiers, the Emperor and the King of France both resolve upon the Siege of Damascus, accounting a smaller Town too mean a trifle for them to employ their Arms in its Conquests; wherefore they immediately sat down before it, and had certainly conquered it, had they not fallen out among themselves about parting of it before it was theirs to dispose of. Conrade and King Lewis designed it for Theodorick Earl of Flanders, who was lately arrived in those parts, whilst other Princes who had been there a long time, and born the brunt of the War, could not endure to see a raw Upstart to be preferred before them. For which reason, together with their being corrupted with Turkish money (although it proved but Brass gilt, may all Traitors be so paid) they persuaded the King of France to remove his Camp to a stronger part of the Wall, whereby they rendered the design of taking the Town fruitless, and forced them to raise the Siege, and return home, leaving the City of Damascus, and even Honour both behind them. Many thousand Christians perished in that adventure, whose Souls are said by all the Writers of that Age, to be carried up to Heaven upon the Wings of that Holy Cause they died for. And the King of France in his return home was taken Prisoner by the Grecian Fleet, but rescued again by Gregory, who was Admiral to Roger King of Sicilia.  
The King and Emperor being returned, Noradine the Turk prevailed in Palestine, which was very much occasioned by the unhappy difference which arose between Queen Millesent, and her Son Baldwin, who was egged on by some of the Nobles that were offended with the Queen for having advanced a certain Nobleman whose name was Manasses, to be Constable of the Kingdom (who being unable to manage his own happiness grew so insolent, that spurning his equals and trampling on his Inferiors, he drew upon himself the general hatred and envy of all men) quarrelled with his Mother, imprisoned first, and then banished her Favourite; and at last, to conclude the difference, the Kingdom was divided between them, the City of Jerusalem, and all the Inland part was allotted to her, and what bordered upon the Se● to him. But the widest Throne being too narrow for two to sit on together, he was not long content with this division but marched with a great deal of fury to besiege his Mother in Jerusalem, and dispossess her of all. When he first approach the City, the Patriarch went out to him and with abundance of freedom reproved him sharply for his rash and unnatural attempt, and upbraided him for his ingratitude, in going about to take all from so good a Mother, who had not only proved a good Steward in his minority, but had also consented to accept of one hal● of the Kingdom, when the whole of right belonged to her.  
But he was so enchanted with ambltion, that no Arguments would prevail; which when the Queen perceived, she did by the advice of her friends, consent to yield up all, lest the Christian Cause should suffer by their differences.  
Noradine being encouraged by those Civil Discords, came up with a great Army, and wasted all the Country of Antioch; and Prince Reimund going forth to give him Battle, had his Army beaten, and himself slain. And not long after Joceline Count of Edessa was taken Prisoner.  
In the mean while King Baldwin is not idle, but having made great preparations for the besieging of Askelon, at last sat down before it, and having made a large breach in the Wall, the Templars, to whom the King promised the spoil if they took it, entered through the breach into the City, and supposing they were able without any more help to master the Place, set a Guard to prevent any more of their fellow Christians from entering in to be sharers with them in the Booty; which covetousness of theirs cost them their lives; for the Turks contemning the smallness of their number, put them all to the Sword; notwithstanding which the City was shortly after taken, though with abundance of difficulty.  
Divers other considerable Victories King Baldwin obtained over the Turks especially one near the River of Jordan where he vanquished Noradine, and twice relieved Caesarea Philippi, which the Turk had straight besieged; but death at la●● made a Conquest of him, being poisoned by a Jewish Physician (as it was believed) in regard the remainder of the potion afterwards killed a Dog to whom it was given. He was very much lamented by his Subjects, and not without reason, being so brave and worthy a Prince, that even Noradine his mortal Enemy honourably refused to invade his Kingdom during his Funeral Solemnities, protesting that in his Opinion the Christians had just cause of sorrow, having lost such 〈◊〉 King, whose equal for Justice and Valour the whole World could not produce. He died without Issue, when he had Reigned about one and twenty years.   

CHAP. XVI.  
Almerick Brother to Baldwin succeeds in the Kingdom of Jerusalem. The Sultan of Iconium, and the Master of the Assassins desire to be baptised. Commotions in Egypt. The Turks called thither, and set up for themselves. The King of Jerusalem 's Aid implored to drive them out. He afterwards invades Egypt. His Death.  
ALmerick Brother to King Baldwin, and Earl of Joppa and Askelon, succeeded to the Kingdom of Jerusalem, but was, before he could be admitted to his Coronation, enjoined by the Pope's Legate, and the Patriarch of Jerusalem, to put away Anes his Wife, Daughter to Joceline, Count of Edessa, because she was his Cousin in the fourth degree, with this reservation, that the two Children, Baldwin and Sibyl, which he had by her, should be accounted legitimate, and capable of their Father's Possessions.  
In this King's time the Sultan of Jcenium freely embraced the Christian Religion, and was baptised, more of his Courtiers designing to follow him therein, had not his Ambassador then at Ro●● taken great offence at the vicious and debauched lives which he there observe● the Christians to lead; which thing ma●● many of the Pagans step back, when the had one foot in the Church, abhorring to see Christians who believe so well and live so ill.  
Not long after the great Master of the Assassins offered to receive the Christian Faith, which good intention wa● spoiled by the base and treacherous killing his Ambassador, which he sent t●● Jerusalem, to treat with the King about it, by one of the Templars, 〈…〉 The King demanded the Murderer of the Master of the Templars, that so Justice might pass upon him: But the Master insolently denied to deliver him, saying, he had already enjoined him Penance, and intended to send him to the Pope, but would part with him to none else.  
These Assassins were a certain precise Sect of Mahometans, who had in them the very spirit and quintessence of that poisonous Superstition; they were about forty thousand in number, and were possessed of six Cities near Antaradus in Syria, having over them a Chief Master whom they called the Old Man of the Mountains, at whose command they would refuse no pain or peril, but immediately address themselves to assassinate my Prince whom he had appointed out for death, and always find hands to accomplish whatsoever he enjoyed. There are now none of them left, they being rooted out and destroyed by Selemus the Turkish Emperor, when he conquered Syria and Egypt, or as others say, by the Tartarians Anno 1257. unless we may suppose them to be revived again in the Jesuits gracious Loyola, having fetched his Platform of blind obedience from them.  
Whilst the Turks Lorded it over Syria, and the lesser Asia, the Saracen Caliph commanded in Egypt, which was the Stage whereon most of the remarkable passages of King Almericks' life were acted. For Dargan and Sanar, two great Saracen Lords belonging to the Caliph of Egypt, falling out about the Sultany, or Viceroyship of the Land, made way for the calling of him thither.  
Sanar finding that he was too weak to contend with his Rival, craved Aid of Noradine King of the Turks, that then Reigned at Damascus, who sent him an Army of Turks under the Command of Syracon, an experienced Captain. Notwithstanding which, Dargan obtained the Victory, but enjoyed it not long, being shortly after slain by Treachery whereby Sanar got the Sultan's place. It the mean while the voluptuous Caliph carelessly pursued his private pleasures without concerning himself about their difference, or regarding their introducing foreign Force to decide their Quarrel, as though the tottering of his Kingdom had rocked him into a Lethargy out of which nothing would awake him.  
Sanar having now obtained his desire by the death of Dargan, liberally rewarded the Turks, and desired them to return home; but Syracon refused to be gone; and having seized on the City of Belbis, fortified it, and there waited for the coming of more Turks for the Conquest of Egypt, which made Sanar implore the help of Almerick King of Jerusalem to drive them out of Egypt, which he effectually performed.  
But whilst he was Victorious in Egypt an unfortunate Battle was fought between Boemund the Third Prince of Antioch, Reimund Prince of Tripoli, Calamar● Governor of Cilicia, and Joceline Coun● of Edessa on one side, and Noradine the Turkish King on the other; wherein the Turk obtained the Victory, and took those four Christian Princes Prisoners.  
As for Syracon the Turk, though he was forced to retire for the present out of Egypt by the Victorious Arms of Almerick, yet he resolved not to part with it so; wherefore he presently went to the Caliph of Babylon, who was opposite to him of Egypt, and accounted him an Usurper (each of them claiming, as sole Heir to Mahomet their false Prophet, the Sovereignty over all the Saracens in the World) and offered him, that if he would furnish him with a good number of Soldiers, he would extirpate this Schismatical Caliph, and reduce all Egypt to the Obedience of the Babylonian; which motion being joyfully embraced by the greedy and aspiring Fop, Syracon once again invadeth Egypt with a great and powerful Army.  
Whereupon Sanar, who was greatly affrighted thereat, made new and larger offers to King Almericus, to come and stop this deluge of his Enemies, promising him a Pension of Forty thousand Ducats yearly, if he would lend him his Assistance. But Almerick perceiving that the Sultan, notwithstanding he took so much upon him, was subject to a high Lord, refused to make any Bargain with him, but with the Caliph himself, in order whereunto he sent Hugh Earl of ●sarea, and a Knight Templar as his Ambassadors to Caliph Elhadach, who th● kept his Court at Cairo: Who being arrived at his Palace, were conducted 〈◊〉 the Sultan through several dark passage well guarded with armed Ethiopians, a● then into divers spacious open Courts, such beauty and riches, that the Embasadours were amazed, and even astonished at the rarities they beheld. And s●● the farther they went, the greater t● state appeared, till at last they we● brought to the Caliphs' own Loding● where, as soon as they entered the Presence-chamber, the Sultan prostrate himself three several times to t● ground before the Curtain, behind whi● the magnificent Caliph was sitting, a● thereupon the Traverse, which was 〈◊〉 rich Silk, wrought all over with Pea● of inestimable value was immediate drawn, and the Caliph himself discover● sitting with great Majesty on a Thro● of massy Gold, having only some few● his most confiding Eunuches about him.  
The Caliph having discovered himself and the Sultan humbly kissed his feet, ● briefly related the cause of their comin● the eminent danger which then threatened them, and the offers which he h● made to King Almerick, which he entreated him now to ratify, and in demonstration thereof, to give his hand to ●he King's Ambassador. The Calip'● having heard what he had to say, demurred a while upon the Ceremony of gi●ing them his hand, accounting such a ge●ure beneath the greatness of his state, ●nd would by no means consent to give ●em his bare hand, but offered it them with his Glove on, to which the resort Earl of Caesarea replied, Sir, truth keks no holes to hid itself in, and Princes who intent to keep Covenant, aught ● deal openly and nakedly; give us there●re your hand, or we will make no bar●in with your Glove. He was loath to ●o it, but necessity, which was at that ●me a more imperious Caliph than himself, commanding it, he at last consented, ●nd dismissed the Christian Ambassadors ●ith such liberal Gifts as testified his greatness.  
Almerick, according to this Agreement, faithfully used his utmost endeavour to expel Syracon with his Turks out ●f Egypt, and in order thereunto he met ●hem in the Field, and gave them Battle, ●herein he got the day, but lost all his baggage, so that the Conquest was as it ●ere divided, the Turks gaining the Wealth, and the Christians the Honour of the Victory. But Almerick followi● his success, pursued them to Alexandr● and penned them up, and straight besiege them in that City, and thereby for●● them to accept of conditions of Pea● wherein they were obliged to departed 〈◊〉 of Egypt, without performing what th● had promised, and the Caliph of Baby expected, and then returned himself w●● honour to Askelon.  
But when a Crown is the Prize play● for, it is vain to expect fair play in 〈◊〉 Gamesters. For King Almerick hav● once beheld the Beauty and Richest Egypt, was so enamoured therewith, t● he longed to obtain that Kingdom 〈◊〉 himself: And the next year, contr● to his Solemn League with the Cal● invaded it with a great Army, pretend● (though falsely) that the Caliph wo● make a private Peace with Nora● King of the Turks. Guilbert Master the Hospitallers, was the chief Instrum● in stirring up the King to this treacherous and unjust War, hoping that 〈◊〉 Country of Perlusium, if conquered, sho● be given to their order: But the Templars very much opposed the design (〈◊〉 of their Order being Ambassador at 〈◊〉 ratifying the Agreement between 〈◊〉 King and Caliph) and with much Zeal ●otested against it, as undertaken against ●ath and Fidelity.  
However, the King would not be diverted from his design, but having made ●reat preparations for this War, descended into Egypt, where he was for a while ●ccessful, and won the City of Belbis or ●erlusium. Notwithstanding which Au●ors, from that time, date the ill Success ●f the Holy War, and show us a whole ●loud of Miseries, which immediately followed thereupon; and no wonder, for God ●ldom lets Perjury go long unpunished.  
First, Whilst Almerick was absent in Egypt, Noradine won divers considerable places about Antioch.  
Secondly, meler Prince of Armenia, ●ho was a Christian, entered into a ●eague with Noradine, and kept it inviolable, to the great disadvantage of the King of Jerusalem, which act of Mellers must be condemned, and yet the Justice of God ought to be admired in punishing the Christians thereby, for their ●reach of Covenant with the Saracens ●n Egypt.  
Thirdly, The Saracens finding themselves faithlesly dealt with, & laid at on all sides, began to learn War, and grew good Soldiers on a sudden; and although they formerly fought with Bows only, yet no● they learned of the Christians to use a● offensive and defensive Weapons, it bein● usual with rude Nations to better them● selves by fight with a skilful Enem●  
And Fourthly, Almericks' hope of conquering Egypt was wholly frustrated, b●ing after some few Victories drive● out, and the whole Kingdom conquer by Saladine (Nephew to Syracon) wh● beat out the Caliphs' brains when he pr●tended to do him reverence, and there● changed the Government of Egypt fro● the Saracen Caliph to a Turkifh King. A● shortly after, upon the death of Noradi● the Kingdom of the Turks in Syria, an● the lesser Asia, was likewise bestowe● upon him, whereby he became the mo●potent Monarch in the World.  
Whilst Jerusalem was left as a po● Weatherbeaten Kingdom, bleak an● open to the Storms of its Enemy's o● every side, lying as it were between th● Lions Teeth, Damascus on the North● and Egypt on the South, two pote● Turkish Kingdoms united under a valiant and successful Prince, which made A●merick fend for Succours into Europ● there being now but few Volunteer flocking to this service, and Souldie● were forced to be pressed with importunity before they would consent to undertake the Voyage: But it being just with God, that those who had betrayed the saracens, whom they undertook to secure, should want secure themselves, ●hen they stood most in need of it; his Ambassadors were forced to return without any other supplies than pity and commiseration.  
And Lastly, The King himself, wearied with so many successive miseries, ended his life of a Bloody Flux, when he ●ad reigned about Eleven years, leaving ●esides his two Children by his first Wife, one Daughter named Isabel by Mary his second Wife (Daughter to John Protosebastus, a Grecian Prince) who was afterward married to Humphred the third Prince of Thorone.   

CHAP. XVII.  
Baldwin the Fourth succeedeth. The Viciousness of the Patriarch of Jerusalem. His Embassy to Henry the Second King of England. The Original and Power of the Mammalukes. Saladine conquered by Baldwin, yet afterwards conquers Mesopotamia. Baldwins death.  
Baldwin his Son, the fourth of that name, succeeded his Father, having had the benefit of an excellent Education under William Archbishop of Tyre, a very Pious Learned Man, skilled in all the Oriental Tongues, besides the Dutch and French, his Native Languages. Heraclius, who was now Patriarch of Jerusalem, being preferred to that Dignity for his handsomeness, by Queen Mary, second Wife to King Almerick, and Mother to Baldwin, was a man of a debauched and vicious life, keeping company with a Vintner's Wife, whom he maintained in great state like an Empress, so that she was generally saluted by the name of patriarchs. His ill Example infected the inferior Clergy, whose corrupt manners was a sad presage of the approaching Ruin of that Kingdom.  
This Man was sent by King Baldwin, as his Ambassador to Henry the Second King of England, to crave his personal assistance in the Holy War, and as an inducement thereunto, to deliver him the Royal Standard of that Kingdom, the Keys of our Saviour's Sepulchre, the Tower of David, and the City of Jerusalem. Henry was chosen out before any other Prince, because the world justly esteemed him valiant, wise, rich and fortunate, and which was the main, that so he might thereby expiate his Murder, and gather up again the innocent Blood that he had spilt in the death of Thomas Becket. And that he might the more easily be drawn to undertake the Voyage, the Patriarch entitled him to the Kingdom of Jerusalem, because Geoffrey plantagenet his Father was Son to Fulco the Fourth King of Jerusalem. But he was too wise a Prince to be so easily wheedled. However, he pretended he would go, and got together a Mass of Money towards the defraying the Charge of his Voyage, making every one, as well the Clergy as the Laity, pay that year the Tenth of all their Revenues, both moveables and immovables; and when he bade filled his Purse, all men expected he should perform his promise, but he changed the Voyage into Palestine for a Journey into France.  
The Patriarch, while he stayed in England, consecrated the Temple Church near St. Dunstan's in the West, and the House adjoining belonging then to Knight's Templars, but since employed to a better use, viz. the entertaining those Gentlemen who study and practise the English Laws.  
In the minority of King Baldwin, who was but thirteen years old, Milo de Planci a Nobleman, was Protector of the Kingdom, whose Pride and Insolence could not be endured by the great men, and therefore they got him to be stabbed at Ptolemais, and chose Raimund Count of Tripoli to succeed him.  
And Saladine, having now seriously resolved upon the Ruin of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, endeavoured to furnish himself with such Soldiers as might be most fit for that service; in order whereunto he bought a great number of Slaves of the Circassians, a People by the Lake of Meotis near Taurica Chersonesus, who were brought up to be extreme hardy, and enured to War by their continual skirmishing with the neighbouring Tartars.  
Those Slaves he trained up in Military Discipline after the Turkish manner. They had most of them been Christians, and were baptised in their Infancy; but being taken from their Parents whilst young, they were untaught Christ, and instructed in the Mahometan Superstition, whereby they became the more implacable Enemies to Christianity, for having been once its friends. They received from Saladine the name of Mammalukes, and were so courageous and expert in War, that his, and his Successors greatness, was not to be so much attributed to their own Conduct, as to those Mammalukes Valour, till at last perceiving their own strength, they wrested the Sovereignty from the Turkish Kings, and advanced one of their own number to the Regal Dignity.  
Saladine having thus furnished himself with a new sort of Soldiers, resolved to try their Valour upon the Christian, and therefore invaded the Holy Land, slaying and burning all before him, till he came to Askelon, where King Baldwin then was, before which he sat down, and closely besieged it. And Count Raimund, Protector of the Kingdom, Philip Earl of Flanders, and the chief strength of the Kingdom being then absent in Celosyria, wasting the Country about Emissa and Caesarea. Baldwin was forced to keep himself close in the City, not daring to venture on so strong an Enemy; which fear of Baldwins having possessed Saladine with a belief that he needed not so great an Army to lie before the City, he sent out several Parties to forage and spoil the Country, which the King observing, resolved to take opportunity by the forelock, and set on him when he least expected it. To which end he sallied out with great privacy and silence, and with about four hundred Horse, & a few Footmen, suddenly assaulted his secure Enemies with such invincible Courage and Resolution, that notwithstanding their number, being Twenty six thousand Horse and Foot, they were utterly routed, and the Christians returned with great Triumph and Joy to Jerusalem.  
But Saladine, who was rather enraged than daunted by this overthrow, resolved not to be long before he recovered his credit, and therefore, about two months after he fell with his Mammalukes, like a mighty and raging Tempest, upon the Christians as they were dividing the spoil of a Party of Turks, whom they had vanquished a little before, putting most of them to the Sword, and the rest to flight and taking Otto Grand Master of the Templars, and Hugh, Son-in-law to the Count of Tripoli Prisoners, the King himself hardly escaping: So that both sides having sufficiently smarted, consented to refresh themselves with a short Peace, under the shelter whereof, their troubled States breathed quietly for the space of about two years, which Truce was the more willingly embraced by Saladine, because a Famine then raged in the Kingdom of Damascus, where it had scarcely reigned for five years together.  
But this welcome Calm was somewhat troubled with an unexpected Storm raised by Domestic Discords in King Baldwins Court. For the King's Mother and Uncle, two persons of turbulent spirits, accused the Count of Tripoli of Treason, as if he had, when he was Governor of the Kingdom, affected the Crown for himself; which accusation so stung the King in the head, that the Count coming shortly after to Jerusalem, was, as he was on the way thither, commanded to stay, which he looked upon as a great disgrace. But some of the Nobility fearing the mischiefs which might proceed from this unhappy difference, brought them to be reconciled. But, though the matter was seemingly made up, yet the King ever after looked upon the Earl with a jealous Eye. And the Earl seeing himself suspected, proved afterwards really treacherous and disloyal, though he is supposed by most Historians to be innocent of what he was then charged withal.  
The Kingdom of Damascus having now recovered its self from the Famine, and Saladine obtained his ends by the Truce, would observe it no longer; wherefore having gotten together a good Army, he marched out of Egypt through Palestine, destroying and spoiling the Country all along as he went to Damascus. And having strengthened himself with the addition of what Forces he had in Syria, he entered the Holy Land again. But the King, who had not above seven hundred Men to twenty thousand, met him at a small Village called Frobolt, and opposing Valour to his multitudes, overthrew him in a great and bloody Battle, wherein Saladine himself was forced by speedy flight to escape the danger, and by long Marches get him again to Damascus. Nor had he any better success, when shortly after he besieged Berytus, being forced by the valour and courage of Baldwin to raise his Siege, and departed with disgrace.  
Wherefore Saladine finding such tough resistance in the Holy Land, hoped to gain a better purchase by employing his Arms in Mesopotamia, to which end passing the River Euphrates, he won Charran, and divers other Towns, after which, returning again into Syria, he besieged Aleppo, which was the strongest place the Christians had in the whole Country, being so fortified both by Nature and Art, that it would have been almost impossible for him to have taken it, had he not by his Bribes made a far larger Breach in the Governors' Loyalty, than he was able to do in the Walls of the City.  
But having by this means possessed himself of Aleppo, he marched again into the Holy Land, being now more formidable than ever he had been before; and carrying an Army of Terror in the very mention of his name, so that the poor Christians unanimously fled into their fenced Cities. As for King Baldwin, the Leprosy had arrested and confined him within the compass of his own Court, where his great spirit long strove with his infirmity, being loath to part with his Crown, and disrobe himself of his Royalty, before they were plucked away by death; but was however forced at last to stoop and retire himself to a private life, appointing Baldwin his Nephew (a Child of five years old) to be his Successor, and Guy Earl of Joppa, and Askelon, who was the young Child's Father in-law, to be Protector of the Realm in his minority. But soon after finding Guy to be a silly, soft man, he revoked the latter Act, and designed Raimund Earl of Tripoli to succeed him.  
Guy, who though he was not valiant, yet was very sullen, stormed extremely at his disgrace, and leaving the Court in discontent, returned home, and fortified his Cities of Joppa and Askelon, which greatly perplexed the King's thoughts, not knowing whom to name for Protector, fearing lest Guys cowardliness should lose the Kingdom to the Turks, or Raimunds' treachery get it for himself, so that anguish of mind, and weakness of body ended his days, when he was about five and twenty years of age, happy in dying before the death of his Kingdom.   

CHAP. XVIII.  
The short Reign, and woeful Death of Baldwin the Fifth. Guy succeeds him. Tripoli revolts. The Christians overthrown. Their King taken Prisoner. And the City of Jerusalem won by the Turks.  
IT hath ever been accounted one of the greatest happinesses that can befall a Family, for the Heirs to be of Age before their Father's death, in regard Minors have not only been the Ruin of Families, but the overthrow of Kingdoms too. And it being one of God's threaten against a wicked and disobedient People to give Children to be their Princes, and Babes to Rule over them, he scourged the Kingdom of Jerusalem three several times with that Rod, within the compass of forty years. Baldwin the Third, Fourth and Fifth, being all under Age, and the last but five years old being the Posthumus Son of William Marquets of Montferat, by Sibyl his Wife, Sister to Baldwin the Fourth, and Daughter to King Almerick, who was after the death of the Marquis married to this Guy.  
Now the Earl of Tripoli demanding to be Protector of this young King, according to the designation of his Uncle before his death; Sibyl, who was Mother to this Infant, to defeat Raimunds' hopes of obtaining the Protectorship, first murdered all natural affections in her own breast, and then murdered her Son, by giving him a dose of Poison, that so the Crown in her right might come to Guy her Husband. This Prince unhappy in springing from so inhuman and barbarous a Mother, Reigned but eight Months and eight Days.  
Baldwin being thus dispatched, Guy obtained by large Bribes to the Templars, and Heraclius the Patriarch, to be immediately crowned, from which time the Christians affairs in the Kingdom of Jesalem, posted towards their fatal period, being spurred on the faster by the woeful jarrings and discords among the Princes. But we shall at present leave the Civil, to discourse a little of the Ecclesiastical affairs of this declining Realm.  
Whilst Heraclius was Patriarch of Jerusalem, one Hymericus enjoyed that honour at Antioch, who wrote a bemoaning Letter to Henry the Second of England, wherein he much lamented the woeful state of the Christians in the East, and endeavoured to persuade that Prince to undertake a Voyage into Palestine for their succour and relief; and received from him in answer thereunto a Letter fraught with fair and ample promises, the performance whereof I could never yet meet with in any of those Historians, who wrote the Transactions of the Holy War.  
But besides those Latin Patriarches which commanded in the Churches of Jerusalem and Antioch, there were Grecian Anti-patriarches, who were appointed by the Emperor of Constantinople, and having no temporal Power nor Jurisdiction over the Latins, nor Profits of Church-Lands, were forced to content themselves with a Jurisdiction over those of the Greek Church only. We are not able to find out the exact Chain of their Succession, and therefore are forced to content ourselves with discovering here and there a Link. And about this time we light on three that enjoyed that titular Dignity successively one after another; the first whereof was Athanasius, who was (notwithstanding his being called Schismatic by some of the Historians of that Age) a very learned and pious Man, as appears by the many excellent Epistles which he wrote upon several occasions. The second was Leontius, commended likewise to Posterity for an honest Man, and a good Scholar. The third was Dositheus, who was much inferior to the two former both for Piety and Learning, and being offered the Patriarchship of Constantinople, by Isaac the Grecian Emperor, he attempted to grasp at both, and by that means held neither, but between two Patriarchal Chairs fell irrecoverably to the ground.  
In Antioch likewise we find several Greek Patriarches, whereof one, whose name was Sotericus, being displaced for several Heretical Tenets which he held concerning our Saviour, he was succeeded by Theodorus Balsamon, who was in his time the very Oracle of the Civil Law, compiling and publishing many Learned Commentaries upon the Ancient Canons, wherein he proved the Patriarch of Constantinople to have greater privileges than the Bishop of Rome, catching, say the Romanists, at every thing that sounded to the advancing of the Eastern Churches, and the pulling down Rome, when she lifts up her Head above Constantinople, for which reason Bellar min will not allow him to be a good Author. This Balsamon was likewise deceived by Isaac the Grecian Emperor, who pretended that he would remove him to Constantinople, upon condition he could prove the Translation of Patriarches to be lawful, in regard the Canons forbidden it; but having performed the task, the Emperor, who was very mutable in his mind, bestowed the Patriarches place upon another, and left Balsamon to remain still at Antioch.  
There being about this time a Truce between the Turks and Christians, and Saladine's Mother, supposing herself sufficiently guarded thereby, adventuring to travel from Egypt to Damascus, with abundance of Treasure, and a very small Train, she was, notwithstanding the Truce, surprised, and riffled of all she had by Reinold of Castille, which base and unchristian act so enraged Saladine, that gathering together all his strength, he immediately besieged Ptolemais. And the Earl of Tripoli vexed at his losing the Government, was so blinded by passion, and filled with rage against King Guy, that he mistook his Enemy, and revenged himself on God and Religion, by basely revolting with his whole Principality (which was a third part of the Kingdom of Jerusalem) to Saladine, and assisting him in that Siege.  
But the Knight's Templars and Hospitallers sallying out, & falling on the Turks in their Camp, killed 20000 thousand of them, but not without some loss to themselves; the Master of the Hospitallers, and divers other persons of note being slain in the Fight. However, th● Victory remained to the Christians, an● Saladine was forced to raise his Siege an● be gone, which made the Earl of Tripol● either out of fear that the Christian● might prevail, or else moved thereun● out of remorse of Conscience, or discontented with the entertainment he me withal from Saladine (who had learne● that Politic Maxim, to give some honour, but place no trust in a Fugitive) reconcile himself to the King, and sorry for his offence, return again to th● Christians.  
Whereupon Guy gathered together the whole strength of his weak and declining Kingdom, to do their last endeavour against the Turks, to whom he adventured to give Battle near Tiberias, although he had but 1500 Horse, and 15000 Foot against 120000 Horse, and 160000 Foot. The Fight began about three of the Clock in the afternoon, but night coming on, forced them to give over till the next morning, when both sides began afresh, and the Christians fought with so much courage and resolution, that their valour poised their Enemy's numbers, till at length the day waxing extreme hot, turned the Scales to the Pagans side, there being more Christians slain by thirst, and the Beams darted on them from the scorching Sun, than with their Enemy's weapons. Reinold of Castille was slain upon the place, and so were most of the Templars and Hospitallers. And Gerard Master of the Templars, and Boniface Marquis of Montferat were taken Prisoners, together with the King himself, who seeing his servants all slain before his Eyes, with much importunity prevailed with Saladine to spare his Schoolmaster; yea in this unfortunate Battle the very flower of the Christians Chivalry was cut down, and what was yet most lamented (saith Matthew Paris) the Cross which freed men from the captivity of their sins, was for men's sins taken captive. This fatal Overthrow was generally imputed to the Earl of Tripoli, who that day commanded a good part of the Christian Army, and is reported by some Historians to have treacherously run away in the midst of the Battle. But when a great action miscarries, some or other must bear the blame; and he having been false before, this loss was charged on him right or wrong.  
Saladine having obtained this Victory, improved it so well, that in one months' time he conquered Berytus, Biblus, Ptolemais, and all the Havens except Air fro● Sidon to Askelon. He used his Conque● with great moderation, giving life an● goods to all, and forcing no Christians 〈◊〉 quit their habitations, save only the Latins, knowing full well, that if the Christians could not buy their lives chea● they would not fail to sell them dear, a● fight it out to the last man.  
Saladine flushed with this great success summoned Askelon, but the Governor refusing to surrender it, he concluded would not be convenient to hazard th● checking of his fortune in so long a Sieg● and therefore left it, and went to Jerus●lem, which he looked upon to be a pla● of less difficulty, and more honour 〈◊〉 conquer; and so indeed he found it; f●● though they within the City valiantly defended it for about fourteen days, yet a last considering that it was but playing out a desperate game, which must certainly be lost in the end, in regard the● Enemies were near, and their Friend's f●● off, and unable to send them any other relief than vain and helpless pity, they resolved to lavish out no more valour, b● yield up the City upon condition th● all their lives might be redeemed, 〈◊〉 man for Ten, a woman for five, and child for one Besent. But 14000 w●● were not able to discharge their Ransom, were kept as perpetual Slaves. Those of the Greek Church were permitted to stay in the City, but all the Latins were commanded to departed, except two Frenchmen, to whom Saladine gave leave to stay, and allowed them maintenance to live on, in Reverence to their great Age; one of them having been a Soldier under Godfrey, when he first took the City, and the other the first Child that was born in it, after it was conquered by the Christians.  
Thus Jerusalem after it had been enjoyed by the Christians for the space of eighty eight years was, by the just Judgement of God, wrested from them again by the Turks and all their stately Churches turned into Stables, except those of the Sepulchre, and the Temple. The former whereof Saladine spared for a great Sum of Money, to the Chiristians, which is enjoyed by them to this day, by licence from the Grand Signior, and innumerable Pilgrimages continually made to it, by all sorts of Christians either out of Zeal or Curiosity. And the other he Converted to a Mosque for the Worship of Mahomet, sprinkling it all over with Rose-water, as if he intended thereby to cleanse it from its Profanation by the Christians, whilst he really defiled it by his unholy washing.  
It was generally observed that the Sun, as sympathising with the Christians in their approaching Miseries, suffered an Eclipse, which was afterward looked upon as a sad presage of the loss of tha● City. But that which was much more deplorable and threatening than the Sun's Eclipse, was the total Eclipse of Piety; Wickedness abounding in every corner, and scarce one honest Woman to be found in the whole City of Jerusalem; For Heraclius the Patriarch, and the whole Clergy, being exceedingly debauched, the Laity imitated their bad Example.  
When this doleful News of Jerusalem'● loss arrived in Europe, it filled every Eye with Tears, and swollen all Hearts with Sorrow and Anguish.   

CHAP. XIX.  
Conrade Valiantly defending Tyre, is chosen King. The Voyage of Frederick Emperor of Germany to the Holy Land. The Siege of Ptolemais. The Voyage of Richard King of England, and Philip King of France to the Holy Land.  
IN this sad & deplorable State, stood the affairs in Palestine, when Conrade arrived there; whose Worth and Excellence commands my Pen to attend him from his own Country thither. He was Son to Boniface Marquis of Montferrat, who was taken Prisoner in that Fatal Battle wherein King Guy lost himself and his Kingdom. His Youth was for the most part spent in the Service of Isaaccius Angelus the Grecian Emperor; who being bred in a Monastery, the confining of his Body seemed to have brought him to a penned and narrow Soul, and endued him with Accomplishments more becoming a Priest than a Prince: For when his Rebellious Subjects affronted him to the face, instead of sending an Army against them, to reduce them to their obedience he only committed his cause to a company of Bald-pated Friars, whom he kept in his Court, to pray for his Prosperity; Hoping that, by their supposed Pious Tears, he should be able to quench the Combustions of his Empire. But this Conrade told him plainly, that if ever he intended to sit upon the Imperial Throne in Peace, he must make use of the Weapons of the left Hand, as well as those of the right, and Fight as well as Pray. Which advice being taken by the Emperor, he did, by the help of this General, quickly subdue all his Enemies: But our brave Conrade found but a small reward for so great a service, being only graced, in consideration thereof, to wear his Shoes of the Imperial Fashion; And it being usual with Princes, not to love the sight of those to whom they know themselves obliged, and yet care not to reward, Isaaccius, by the persuasion of some about him, who envied his Courage and Bravery, spurred on Conrade, who was free enough of himself to any Noble Enterprise, to go into Palestine, and endeavour to support the ruinous affairs of the afflicted Christians. And although he was sensible of their Plot yet, being weary of the Grecians baseness, he suffered himself to be prevailed upon to undertake that Honourable Employment, and therefore set forward, with all convenient speed, for the Holy Land, with a gallant Band of Gentlemen, who fitted out themselves at their own charge, wherewith he marched to the City of Tyre, where we will leave him for the present, to return again to Saladine.  
Who having won the City, and possessed himself of the greatest part of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, laid close Siege to the City of Askelon, which had refused to surrender, when Ptolemais and the rest yielded to his victorious Arms; but was now, after a short Siege, delivered to him, upon condition that King Guy & Gerard, Masters of the Templars, should be set at Liberty And shortly after the Castle of Antioch was betrayed to him by the Patriarch: And Antioch itself, which cost the Christians 11 months' Siege was by that means lost in an instant, besides several Provinces thereunto belonging, & Five & Twenty strong Towns more, which followed the like Fate with Antioch, and fell into the Possession of the Turks. After which he sat down likewise before Tripoli, but that City being, after the death of Earl Reimond, delivered to the Christians by his Wife, they Bravely defended it against all Saladines Force, so that having once tasted of their Valour in Tripoli he had no great Stomach to make a second trial, but raised his Siege, and marched away to Tyre, where he hoped to speed better. But he found himself greatly mistaken, for Conrade being a little before got thither with his Army, gave him so hot a Welcome that he was glad to fly, and leave all his Tents behind him, which were sufficiently lined with Treasure, whereby the Christians had the happiness to enrich themselves with their own Spoil.  
Those in the City overjoyed at their great deliverance, chose Conrade to be King of Jerusalem, swearing Fealty to him, and promising to be for ever his Subjects, whose Valour had preserved them from being Saladines' Slaves. And the better to strengthen his Title he married Elisa, or, as others call her, Isabella, Sister to Baldwin the fourth, and Daughter to King Almerick.  
So that King Guy, who was about this time delivered out of Prison having, when he was released, sworn never more to bear Arms against Saladine (which Oath the Clergy judged void, because forced from him when detained in Prison contrary to promise) obtained his Liberty, but could not get his Kingdom: For coming to Tyre, he found the Gates shut against him, and his Subjects refusing to acknowledge any other King then Conrade. Whereupon Guy, packing up a Cloth of Remnants, with his broken Army, went and besieged Ptolemais, the Pisans, Venetians, and Florentines, with their Sea-Forces, assisting him therein; But it went on notwithstanding so slowly, that it could hardly be perceived to have made any advance in a Twelve months' time.  
Things going thus woefully to wrack in Palestine, the Christians sighs there alarmed their Brethren in Europe, to repair thither to their Succour, and among the rest Frederick Barbarossa, Emperor of Germany, moved by the strength of his Devotion, undertook a Voyage thither, when he was Seventy Years old, having one foot in the Grave, and yet adventureing, with the other, to go on Pilgrimage. He had been long chained to the Stake, as it were, and baited by several successive Popes, till at length wearied with their continual worrying of him, he gave up himself wholly to their direction, and was sent by Pope Clement the third, on this Errand into the Holy Land.  
And having made great Preparations for this Adventure, he marched through Hungary, with a gallant Army of an Hundred and Fifty Thousand Valiant Men, being kindly received and Welcomed by King Bela. But changing his Host, he changed his Entertainment to being basely used as he passed through the Grecian Empire: Insomuch that Frederick, contrary to his expectation, finding such perfidious dealing from the Greeks, drew his Sword, and resolving to fight his way through, took Philippople, Adrianople, and divers other Cities, not so much to get their Spoil, as to secure his passage toward Palestine. But when Isaaccius saw that those Pilgrims would either find or force their passage, he left off all terms of Enmity, and presently accommodated them with all things necessary for their Transportation over the Bosphorus, pretending to hasten them away, because the Christians Exigencies in Palestine admitted of no delay; although it was really the effect of his fear, the Greeks ever loving the Latin, best when they were furthest off.  
Old Frederick, having now left the treacherous Grecian Shore, and entered into the Turkish Territories, found great resistance from the Sultan of Iconium, whom he vanquished, and overcame in four several Battles; And then, besieging the City of Iconium, he took it by force and gave the Spoil of it to his Soldiers, to revenge the injury done by that Sultan to his Uncle Conrade the Emperor: And removing from thence to Philomela, he took that likewise, razing it to the ground, and executing the Inhabitants therein, as Rebels against the Law of Nations, for killing his Ambassadors; after which he passed with much difficulty, but more honour, into Syria.  
Saladine shook for fear at the rumour of his coming, and thought it best to follow the advice of Charatux, his chief Counsellor, who was at that time accounted one of the wisest men in the world, though his Person was mean and contemptible, and dismantled all his Cities, in the Holy Land, except his Frontier Towns that so they might not be tenable with an Army, fearing lest, if the Germans won those places, it would be no easy matter to drive them out again, but being naked from shelter, he thought he should soon weary them with set Battles, in regard he had Soldiers without number, and those near at hand.  
But Frederick, soon after he was entered into the Holy Land, was suddenly taken away being, to the great grief of all Christians, unhappily drowned in the River of Saleph; the occasion whereof is variously reported by Historians, but they all agree that there he lost his Life, and some of them, pretending to acquaint the World with the reason why the Almighty permitted this Fatal Accident, tell us, that it was because he had, in his Younger Years, fought against the Popes, and Church of Rome: But seeing so great an Emperor drowned in a shallow River, it was a great piece of audacious boldness in them, to adventure into the fathomless depths of Gods secret Council: Let it suffice therefore for us to know that he who disposes of all humane affairs, according to his own Arbitrary Pleasure, sometimes blasts the fairest hopes, and makes the Feet of Monarches to slip, just when they are stepping into their Enemy's Throne.  
After his death Frederick Duke of Su● via, his second Son, undertook the conduct of the Army, when the Turks, supposing that grief for the loss of the Emperor had steeped, and moistened those Pilgrim's Hearts, and taken off the edge of their Valour, gave them a sudden charge, in hope to have overthrown them before they had recovered themselves; But the Valiant Dutchmen, though they had scarce wiped their Eyes, had however sufficiently scoured their Swords, and gave them so warm a welcome that they quickly forced them to retire. Then Frederick summoning the City of Antioch, had it presently delivered to him, where his hungry Soldiers being well refreshed by the Citizens who were yet for the most part Christians, he marched forth in Battle Array, and meeting with Dodequin, General of Saladines' forces, he gave him a mighty overthrow, wherein he slew four thousand upon the place, and took a thousand Turks Prisoners, with little or no loss to himself. After which he went to the City of Tyre, in the Cathedral Church whereof he buried the Corpse of his worthy and warlike Father, near the Tomb of the Learned Origen: His Funeral Sermon being preached by the worthy Archbishop Gulielmus of Tyre.  
So soon as the Emperor's Funeral Rites were solemnly performed, they were conveyed by Sea to the Christian Army before Ptolemais, where young Frederick died of the Plague, and all his huge Army, which at their setting out of Germany consisted of an hundred and fifty thousand men, were now reduced to eighteen hundred only  
And thus, by following this numerous Army to their graves, we have once again overtaken the tedious and slow-paced siege of Ptolemais, before which place lay an Army that was, as it were, the abridgement of the Christian World, there being scarce a petty state or populous City in Europe, that had not some representatitives there. So that there were many bloody Blows lent on both sides, & repaid again with interest in innumerable Sallies, fierce Assaults, and bloody Encounters. The Christians lying between Saladine and the City were besieged themselves, whilst they besieged Ptolemais. It was at last proposed by Saladine, that both sides should try their fortune in the field, which was easily assented to by the Christians, in hopes that they should thereby both obtain the victory and win the City, which they concluded would not hold out long, if Saladine were beaten. But when they were going to engage, an imaginary fear suddenly seizing them, they all turned their backs and fled; So wavering are the Scales of Victory, that sometimes the least mote will turn them. In which confusion many would have thought themselves happy if they could have exchanged a strong Hand, for a swift Foot. But Geoffrey Lusignan, Brother to King Guy, who was left to guard the Camp, seeing the Christians shamefully to run away, marched out with his men to meet them, and having convinced them of the causelessness of their fear, and prevailed with them to return again, they set upon the Turks with so much fierceness and rage, that they quickly won the day, though it cost them the loss of two thousand men, and Gerard Master of the Templars.  
After this victory it was vainly expected by the Christians, that the City would presently be surrendered to them, but the Turks still continued to defend it with much resolution, though most of their houses were already burnt, or beaten down, and the whole City reduced to a perfect Sceleton of Walls and Towers. They fought with their wits as well as with their weapons, & both sides employed themselves in devising strange & hitherto unknown offensive & defensive Engines: So that Mars himself, had he resided either in that Camp or City, might have learned to fight and have informed himself in feats of war, from their practice. But in the mean time famine raged exceedingly in the Christian Camp, in regard they had no provision but what they were forced to send for, as far as Italy.  
At this time under the Walls of Ptolemais the Teutonick order of Dutch Knights, who had hitherto lived as private pilgrims, were honoured with a Grand Master, & their were dispensed with by the Bishop of Rome. Most of his Forces he sent about by Spain, but went himself and some few of his friends through France, having his Pilgrim's scrip and staff delivered him at Tours by the Archbishop, and at Lions he met with the other Royal pilgrim, Philip the Second surnamed Augustus, King of France, but parting again by consent they went several ways toward Syria.  
King Richard, in his passage through Italy, went within fifteen Miles of Rome, and yet never vouchsafed his Holiness a Visit, but told Octavian Bishop of Ostia, the Pope's Confessor that, having better objects before him, he would not stir one step out of his way to see the Pope, because he had lately extorted, without all reason, a great Sum of Money from the English Prelates: And therefore passing forward, at Messina in Sicily the two Kings meet again; where likewise King Richard, to his exceeding joy, found his fleet safely arrived, but having met with much difficulty and danger in their passage. Richard learned by his own experience, what miseries and dangers Merchants and Mariners at Sea meet withal, being always within a few inches, and after within an hairs breadth of death, which made him revoke the Law of Wracks, which entitled. the King of England to all Ship wracked goods  
Tankred was at this time King of Sicily, who, being a Bastard born, had usurped the Crown, detained the Dowry, and imprisoned the person of Joan, Wife to William the Late King of Sicily, and Sister to K. Richard: So that he was in a miserable plight at the arrival of those two mighty Monarches, and knew not what course to steer. To keep them out was impossible, and above his Power, and to let them in was dangerous, and might prove his ruin, and therefore resolved (how Justly or Prudently let the Reader judge) to secure himself by creating a misunderstanding between those two Kings: And therefore applying himself to the French King, he insinuated several false Stories of the King of England, permitting his Subjects likewise to do the English all the secret mischief they could; for which Richard, who was not ignorant of what passed between him and the French King, demanded satisfaction, which was denied him, wherefore, resolving to avenge himself, he assaulted & took Messina itself, together with most of the chief Forts in the Island, demanding satisfaction for all the wrongs done both to himself and Sister. Whereupon Tankred, though he was dull at first, yet now being pricked with the Sword, he freely bled many Thousand Ounces of Gold, and finding that as the case stood hi● best Thrift was to be Prodigal, he gave ou● King what conditions soever he demanded.  
However the misunderstanding, which he had procured between the two Royal Pilgrims, daily increased, and Richard slighting the French Kings Sister, whom he had formerly promised to marry, expressed more affection to Berengari● Daughter to the King of Navarr, which vexed Philip to the Heart, but some Princes interposing between them, healed the breach for the present; but the cause remaining, the Malady quickly returned with worse symptoms than before.  
King Philip, thinking to be revenged on Richard by fore, stalling the Market of Honour, and engrossing all to himself, posted many to Ptolemais, whilst Richard followed after at his leisure, taking Cyprus in his way, where reigned Isaac, Or, as others call him, Cursac, who, under Andronicus the Grecian Emperor (when it was common for every Factious Nobleman to snatch a plank of that shipwrecked and sinking Empire) had seized on that Island, and there Tyrannised as an absolute King, but being so foolhardy, as to abuse our Royal Pilgrim, at his Arrival there, by killing divers of his Soldiers, who landed in his Island, and refusing to ●ermit the Sea-sick Lady Berengaria to ●ome on Shore, he lost both himself, and ●is new erected Kingdom at once. For ●ing Richard easily conquered the whole ●land, and honoured the insolent Grecian, with the Magnificent Captivity of Silver Fetters: Yet like a noble and generous Conqueror, he set his Daughter at Liberty, and gave her Princely Usage; the Island ●he pawned to the Templars for ready Money, and because Cyprus had been anciently accounted the Seat of Venus; that it might prove so to him, in the pleasant Month of May he there solemnised his Marriage with his Beloved Lady Berengaria.  
Whilst Richard was thus detained in Cyprus, the Siege of Ptolemais was carried on with abundance of fierceness and resolution by the French King, who hoped to get the Renown of its Conquest before King Richard's Arrival, but found it so strenuously defended by the Turks within, that all his strength was not sufficient to force those Walls, which had now above 2 years withstood the Christians Batteries; & by reason of the length of the Siege the Turks and Christians were become well acquainted with each others Way of fight: so that what advantages happened to either side were merely casual, and not the effect of Carelessness or Cowardice in the losing party. But it was some help to the Christians, that a certain concealed Christian within the City, by Letters unsubscribed, gave them constant and faithful Intelligence of all remarkable passages among the Turks within.  
In the mean while the Plague and Famine raged in the Christian Camp, and in the compass of one year, had swept away above Fifty Princes and Prelates of note, who together with all the rest of the common Soldiers, in the opinion of those who wrote the History of that Siege, went undoubtedly to Heaven; Although it were before Pope Clement the sixth, had commanded the Angels, (who durst not disobey him,) to convey every Soul into Paradise, which should die in their Pilgrimage.  
Among those who survived, no Prince shown more Valour, and deserved greater commendation than Leopoldus, Archduke of Austria, who fought so long in assaulting this City, that his Armour was all gore Blood, save only that part of it, which was covered with his Belt: For which reason renouncing the six Golden Larks, the Ancient Arms of his Family, he had assigned him by the Emperor, as a Testimony of his valour, a Fess Argentin a Field Gules.  
And King Richard, being now at last arrived in the Camp before Ptolemais (having taken a Dromand or Saracen Ship, which he met in his way thither, wherein were Fifteen Hundred Soldiers and two hundred and fifty Scorpions designed for the poisoning of Christians) the Siege was carried on by him, and his English Soldiers, more fiercely than ever it had been before. So that the Turks, despairing of relief and their provisions wholly spent, offered to yield up the City, which the Christians would not accept of, unless Saladine would promise to deliver all the Christian Prisoners which were then in his custody, and restore them the Cross again, which he promising to do, the City was delivered and the Turkish Soldiers guarded safely out of it.  
The Houses, which were yet left standing in the City, together with the Spoil and Prisoners were, by the Kings of England and France, divided among themselves, whereupon divers great Persons, who had been sharers in the pains, but were hereby excluded from the gains, departed in discontent, and King Richard's Soldiers rudely pulled down the Archduke of Austria's Ensigns, which he ha●● advanced in a principal Tower in tha● City, and as some writ, threw them in to the Jakes; whereat the Duke wa● highly displeased, but yet wisely dissen●bled his anger, and seemed to forget th●● Injury, till he might remember it to hisadvantage: which he afterwards did, & made King Richard pay severely for this affronted.  
When the City was taken, it grieve● the Christians, that they could not fin● out their Faithful Intelligencer, wh● had all along by his Letters acquainted them with the State of the City, b● more that the Cross did no where appear being either carelessly lost, or enviou●● concealed by the Turks. They demanded 〈◊〉 of Saladine, with the delivery of the Christian Prisoners; which he refused not but demanded a longer time for the performance, in regard the Cross could not be found. But King Richard supposing that it was only a pretence to gain time resolved to have all things performed according to their agreement, which being not done, he in the heat of his Passion commanded Seven Thousand Turkish Prisoners, to be immediately cut to pieces for which rash and cruel act, he suffere● much in his reputation, and was looke● upon as the Murderer of the like number of Christians, whom Saladine in revenge, put to the Sword: whereas on the contrary, the moderation of the French King was very much commended for sparing his Prisoners, and reserving them to ransom so many Christians.  
But that which most obscured the Glory of this Victory was the Christians being tent asunder with Faction, and divided among themselves. King Philip, the Dukes of Burgundy and Austria, most of the Dutch and all the Genoans and Templars, fiding with King Conrade, and King Richard, Henry Count of Champagne, with the Hospitallers, the Venetians, and Pisans, taking part with Guy. Conrades' side was very much weakened, by the sudden departure of the French King, who eighteen days, after the taking of Ptolemais, returned home, pretending want of necessaries, & indisposition of body through the distemper of the Climate: but the true cause was his not enduring to hear King Richard's Fame so much transcend his own, together with a desire to seize on the Dominions of the Earl of Flanders, who was then lately dead.  
His own Soldiers mightily dissuaded him from returning, and besought him not to stop in so glorious a work, wherein he had prospered so well already, telling him that Saladine being already on his Knees, he might peradventure be brought on his Face, if this Victory were well pursued: And since one of his pretences was want of necessaries, King Richard generously offered him one half of his Provisions, but all this would not prevail with him to stay, and therefore with great importunity, he obtained leave to departed; having first taken an Oath not to molest the King of England's Dominions, during his stay in the Holy Land, which Oath was forgot as soon as he got home. And at his departure he left his instructions, together with his Army, to the Duke of Burgundy, ordering him to move as slowly as possible, in advancing that work, wherein the King of England would have all the Honour, which rendered this great undertaking less advantageous to the Christians in Syria, than otherwise it might have been.    

THE HOLY WAR. BOOK II.  

CHAP. I.  
Conrade slain, Guy exchanges his Kingdom for the Isle of Cyprus, Henry of Champaign chosen King. King Richard obtains many Victories, but at last makes a dishonourable Peace, and in his return home, is taken Prisoner in Austria.  
SOon after the French Kings departure, Conrade King of Jerusalem was cruelly murdered in the Marketplace of Tyre; the cause of whose Death is variously reported, some falsely charging our King Richard with having procured it, and others say, he was killed by Humphred Prince of Thoron, for marrying Isabel, who had been before espoused to him: But most affirm, that he was stabbed by two Assassins by command of their Master the Old man of the Mountains, whose only Quarrel with him was, his being a Christian; and that the two Murderers being immediately taken and put to a cruel Death, Gloried in the Meritoriousness of their suffering. He had Reigned about five years, and left on't Daughter, Maria Jowl, on whom the Templars bestowed Princely Education.  
But tho' Conrade was Dead, his Faction still survived, and those of his party affronted King Guy, and strove to have him deposed; telling him, that the Crown was only tied on his Head with a Woman's Fillet, which being now broken, by the Death of Queen Sibyl who died together with all her Children, of the Plague at the Siege of Ptolomais, he had no longer any Right to the Kingdom, especially, being a worthless and an unfortunate man: Tho' the truth is, the measuring a Prince's worth by his Success, is a Rule often false, and always uncertain; and the common Consent of all Nations will plead this in his Favour, that having been once a King, he ought ever to remain so. But to put a final end to this unhappy Controversy, King Richard made a pleasing Motion, which relished well to the Palate of that hungry Prince, offering him the Island of Cyprus, in exchange for his Kingdom of Jerusalem. Which motion was willingly embraced, and the exchange actually made, to the Content of both parties, and the Kings of England bore the Title of King of Jerusalem in their style, for many years after. But in this exchange, Guy had really the better Bargain, in regard he bought a real Possession for an Airy Title: However, he lived not long to enjoy it, for he died soon after his Arrival there, but his Family enjoyed it, for some hundred years, after which it fell by some Transaction, to the state of Venice; and was at last wrested from them by the Turks, who enjoy it at this day.  
Conrade being killed, and Guy having renounced his Kingdom. Henry Earl of Champaign was advanced to the Kingdom of Jerusalem, by the procurement of King Richard his Uncle, who to corroborate his Election, by some Right of Succession, married Isabel the Widow of Conrade, and Daughter of Almerick King of Jerusalem, he was a Prince valiant enough, but in regard his Reign was short, and most of it spent in a Truce; he had not an opportunity to express it: He took more delight in the style of Prince of Tyre, than he did in that, of being King of Jerusalem, as accounting it more honourable, to be Prince of what he had, then to be called King of what he enjoyed not.  
And now the Christians promising themselves abundance of Peace and Tranquillity, began every where to build, and to beautify their Habitations. The Templars fortified Gaza, and King Richard repaired and walled Ptolemais, Pomphyria, Joppa, and Askelon. But alas, this short lived Prosperity like an Autumn Spring, came too late, and was gone too soon, to bring forth any mature Fruit: However it was now agreed on by all parties, that they should march immediately towards the City of Jerusalem, which Holy and Sacred place, was the mark at which they all principally Aimed. And having prepared all things for the putting this resolution into Practice: King Richard lead the Vant Guard of English, the Duke of Burgundy Commanded in the main Body over his French, and James of Avergn with his Flemings, and Brabanters brought up the Rear. Saladine who understood by his Spies, the manner of their march, Serpent like bit them by the Heels, for not far from Bethlehem, he violently assaulted the Rear of their Army; but the English and French suddenly Wheeling about, charged the Turks most furiously, and Emulation formerly, Poison, here proved a Cordial; every Christian unanimously striving, not only to Conquer their Enemies; but to overcome their Friends to, in the Honour of the Victory. And our Royal Pilgrim in this Battle was so adventurous, and fought with such invincible Courage, and Resolution against those Enemies of Christianity, that his Valour brought his Judgement into question, in regard he was more careless of himself, and exposed his Person to greater danger, than beseemed the prudence of a General; for having received a Wound, as tho' by losing his Blood, he had received a new Addition to his Strength, he laid about him like a Madman, killing divers of the Infidels with his own hands. The Turks withstood the Christians force for a long time, and strove hard to carry away the Honour of the Day; but were at last forced to give Ground, and leave the Christians in the Possession of the Victory, which they obtained with little or no loss to themselves, save James of Avergn, who died here in the Bed of Honour. But there were more Turks slain in this Battle, than there had been in any other for forty years before.  
And had the Christian improved this Victory, and marched immediately to Jerusalem, they might in all Probability have surprised it, whilst the Turks were Blindfolded, and in a kind of a maze at this Prodigious overthrow: But the opportunity was wholly lost by the backwardness of King Richard and his English Soldiers, say the French Writers, whilst others impute it, altogether to the Envy, and Emulation of the French, who rather chose to have so Glorious an Action left undone, then to see it performed by the English, together with the Treachery of Odo Duke of Burgundy, who being more grieved for the loss of his Credit, than careful to preserve a good Conscience, was choked with the shame of the sin which he had swallowed, and died for Grief, that his holding Correspondence with the Turks, came to be discovered: But most are of the Opinion, that Richard attempted not the taking of Jerusalem, because like a wise Architect, he intended to build his Victories, so as they might stand unshaken, by securing the Country all along as he went. It being Senseless and Imprudent to besiege Jerusalem an Inland City, whilst the Turks were still in Possession of all the Seaports, and other places of Strength thereabouts.  
Sometime after this Victory, he intercepted divers Camels laden with very rich Commodities; those Eastern Wars containing a great deal of Treasure in a little Room. And yet of all this, and of all that abundance of Wealth of England, Sicily and Cyprus, which he brought hither, he carried nothing home, save only one Gold-Ring, all the rest being melted away, and consumed in this hot Service.  
He spent the Winter at Askelon, and intended the following Spring to have gone to Jerusalem, had not bad News out of Europe altered his resolution, and put him in mind of returning home. William Bishop of Ely, whom he had left his Viceroy in England, used many unsufferable Insolences towards his Subjects: So hard and difficult a thing it is, for one of a mean and Contemptible Birth, to personate a King without going beyond his Limits, and over Acting his part. And that which was yet worse, his Brother John Earl of Morton, had conspired with the French King to invade his Dominions. Which reports, and the concluding of this War, (a Subject not likely to answer the expense and Charge of of it; especially, now the Venetians, Genoans, Pisans and Florentines were gone away with their Fleet; wisely shrinking themselves out of the Collar, when they found their Necks too much Galled with their hard employment;) made him desire a Peace of Saladine, who thereby finding, that he had all the Cords in his own hands, knew well enough how to play his Game, and make his best of those Exigencies wherein he knew King Richard to be plunged; for he had those about him, who had cunning and skill enough, to read in King Richard's Face what grieved and perplexed his mind, and knew by his Spies every thing, that was worth Observation in the English Army. He offered therefore to Consent, that a Truce should be concluded on for three (some say five) years, upon condition that the Christians would demolish all places which they had fortified since the taking of Ptolemais, which was in Effect to be at the Charge of undoing all that they had hitherto done. But however such was the urgency of King Richard's occasion, that he was glad to accept of those hard Conditions, tho' he hated them at his Heart.  
And thus this great undertaking of those two mighty and Warlike Kings, began with great Confidence, managed with much Courage, and attended with good Success, ended, notwithstanding with some Honour indeed to the undertakers, but no manner of Profit, either to themselves, or the Christian cause.  
King Richard in this Voyage eternised his Memory, and to the Glory of the English Nation, rendered his Name so terrible to the Turks, that they were used to say to their Horses when they started for fear, what dost thou think King Richard is here? But Profit, neither he, nor the French King got any, both of them losing the Hair of their Head in an acute disease, which saith, one Historian was more than either of them got by the Voyage. And as for the poor Christians in Syria, they left them in a far worse Case than they found them.  
But to refresh the Readers Spirits a little, amidst so many Miseries and sad Stories, I must not omit one thing that King Richard did in Palestine, which was no doubt, an abundant Compensation for all the cost and pains of his Journey: Which was his redeeming from the Turks for a great sum of Money, a large Chest as much as four Men could lift, full of Holy Relics, which precious Treasure they had gotten from the Christians, at the taking of Jerusalem.   portrait of Richard the 2d King of England and Jerusalem 
Richard the 2d. king of Englad. and Jerusalem  
King Richard having now signed the Peace with Saladine, and thereby ended his Pilgrimage, took Shipping in Syria to return to his Kingdom; but meeting with a Storm on the Coast of Germany, he suffered Shipwreck, and therefore resolved to travel through that Country by Land, as being his nearest way home, without considering that the nearness of the way ought to have been measured, not so much by the shortness of it, as the safeness of it.  
But however to prevent all danger, he disguised himself, and pretended to be one Hugo a Merchant, whose only Commodity was himself, whereof he made but a bad Bargain; for being discovered in Austria by his large Expenses, which so far exceeded the degree of a Merchant, that his Hostess detected him, and the common People flocking about him, used much Rudeness and Insolence towards him. And being seized on by the Duke, who resolved now to be revenged on him for the affront done him in Palestine; he sold him to Henry the Emperor, who kept him in Bonds, Charging him with a Thousand faults committed in Sicily, Cyprus and Palestine, the Prooss whereof were as slender as the Crime, were small, so that Richard having an eloquent Tongue, an innocent Heart, and a bold Spirit, easily acquitted himself of all those furious Charges, in the Judgement of all that heard him. However before he could obtain his Liberty, he was forced to pay a Ransom of an Hundred and Twenty Thousand Marks Collen weight, which was in that age before the Indies had filled those Northern parts of the World, with Gold and Silver, so greata sum that to raise it in England, they were forced to sell all their Church Plate, and in lieu thereof for some Hundred years after, to Celebrate the Sacrament in Chalices of Latin or Tin. After this Money Peter of Bloys (who had drank as deep of this Helicon, as any of that age,) sent this Prayer, making an Apostrophe to the Emperor, or to the Duke of Austria, or to both together.  
And now thou basest Avarice,  
Drink till thy Belly burst,  
Whilst England powers large silver showers,  
To Satiate thy thirst,  
And this we pray thy Money may  
And thou be like accursed.  
Part of this Ransom being paid, and Hostages left for the securing the rest, he returned into England, having endured Eighteen months' Imprisonment. But the Duke was after this sorely afflicted in his Dominions, by Fire and Famine, And in his Body by a Gangrene, which seized on him with that Violence that he was forced to cut his leg off with his own hand, and died thereof; but before his death he fortified Vienna with a strong Wall, which he caused to be built with this Money, and being in the time of his sickness, troubled in conscience for having been so Cruel to our King, he willed some Thousand Crowns to be returned to him again.   

CHAP. II.  
The Death of Saladine. Discords among the Turks, the Death of Henry King of Jerusalem, Almerick the Second Succeeds him. The Pilgrims divert their Arms from Palestine to Constantinople and Conquer the Grecian Empire.  
NOT long after King Richard's return out of Palestine, Saladine who had for sixteen years together been the Terror of the East ended his life. He was a Prince fierce in fight, and yet mild in Conquering, and when he had his Enemies in his hands, delighted himself more in having the power, than he did in the Act of revenge; finding his life draw to a period, he Commanded those about him to use no other Solemnities at his Funeral then a Black Cloth, which he ordered them to carry before him, and Proclaim that. Saladine Conqueror of the East had now nothing left of all his Conquest, but only this Black Shirt to attend him to his Grave.  
He Left Nine (some say Twelve) Sons behind him who were all except one, Murdered by Saphradin their Uncle, whom Saladine made the overseer of his Will, and he was not preserved by his Uncle's pity, but by the favour of some of his father's Friends, his name being likewise Saphradin Sultan of Aleppo. Whereupon there arose much Intestine difference among the Turks, during which time the Christians enjoyed their Truce with much quiet and security, only their peace was somewhat embittered by the unfortunate death of King Henry, who fell (as he was walking in his. Palace to solace himself) out of a Window and broke his Neck.  
After whose death Almerick Lusignan, Brother to King Guy, Marrying Isabel, his Relict was in her right Crowned King of Jerusalem. The Christians in Syria promising themselves much aid from his Isle of Cyprus, of which he was also King, but he abandoning himself to ease and pleasure, proved a worthless and an unfortunate Prince.  
In his time Henry Emperor of Germany to make amends for his Cruelty against King Richard, and regain his Credit which was very much impaired thereby, set on foot an other Voyage to the Holy Land; Pope Celestine the third sending his Legate about to promote it, by showing how God himself had sounded the Alarm in the dissension of the Turks, and persuading them that Jerusalem might now be recovered, with the blows of her adversaries, only it was convenient to send an Army, not so much to Conquer it as to receive it. Henry Duke of Saxony was chosen General of the Pilgrims, who was acompanied by Frederick Duke of Austria, Hermand Landgrave of Thuringia, Henry Palatine of the Rhine, the Archbishops of Ments and Wittenburgh, the Bishops of Bream and Halberstadt, and Regenspurg, and divers other Prelates, so that it was an Episcopal Army, and one might there have truly seen the Church Militant.  
In their passage through Greece they found better usage than some of their Predecessors, and being conveyed from thence by Shipping into Syria, they presently broke the Truce made with the Turks by the King of England, being impowered so to do by a Dispensation from the Pope, who looked upon a peace Solemnly made the Usurper, and free his Father from his Miserable Captivity. The Soldiers were well enough pleased with the exchange of service, for they knew well enough that in Palestine there was nothing to be got but Honour, and here they hoped to get both Honour and Spoil.  
Wherefore setting sail from Jadera, they went directly to Constantinople, and after some few hot skirmishes easily took the City, whereupon Alexius the Usurper, with his Wife, Whores and Treasure, being fled away, blind Isaac and his son Alexius were saluted Joint Emperors; which brittle Honour was quickly broken, for the Old Emperor being now brought out of a close penned Dungeon, into the open Air died soon after, and his Son was thereupon Villainously strangled by Alexius Ducas, a man of base Parentage, who was in a tumultuous manner chosen Emperor by the People, but growing proud upon his being thus advanced to the Imperial Throne, he gave some affronts to the Latins, who still lay in their Ships before Constantinople, whereupon they assaulted the City again the Second time, and taking it by main force plundered all the inhabitants, Ravishing the Women, and using a Thousand Insolences, wherein the very Sanctuaries needed Sanctuaries to defend them, from the violence of the enraged Soldiers.  
And the Latins having thus Possessed themselves of Constantinople, within twelve Months conquered all the Grecian Empire except Adrinople, and divided it among themselves. Making Baldwine Earl of Flanders Emperor of Grecia, Boniface Marquis of Montferrat, King of Thessaly, and Geoffrey a French Noble man Prince of Achaia, and Duke of Athens. And the Venetians got many rich Islands in the Egean and Ionian Seas. And Thomas Maucrocenus was Elected the first Latin Patriarch of Constantinople.   

CHAP. III.  
The Holy War turned upon the Albigenses.  
THe Pope having lately diverted the Holy War, and turned it upon the Grecian, liked the Success of it so well, that he afterwards made a common Trade of it, for having about two years after, procured the Levying a great Army, for the Holy War, he sent them against the Albingenses in France: Who being accounted Heretics by his Holiness, he resolved to destroy them without Mercy. That pretended Shepherd of the Church, knowing no other way to bring home wand'ring Sheep, then by worrying them to Death; for the promoting which Pious Work, he promised all those who would undertake it, the same Pardon, and Indulgences, as to them that went to Conquer the Holy-Land. And the better to persuade People to undertake it, he only requests their Aid for forty days, hoping to have eaten up those despised Heretics at a mouthful. Tho' therein he found himself mistaken, for they found him, and his Successor work enough for fifty years together. However in regard, the Seat of the War was nearer, the Service shorter, and the Wages the same with the Voyage into Palestine; many entered themselves for this employ, & neglected the other: The chief whereof were the Duke of Burgundy, the Earls of Nevers, St. Paul Auxierne, Geneva, Poitiers, and Montfort. And of Churchmen, Milo the Pope's Legate, the Arch-Bishops of Sens, and Roven the Bishop of Clearmort, Nevers Charters, Baguex and many more, every Bishop with the Pilgrims of his own Jurisdiction. Their work was to destroy the Albingenses, which were in great numbers in Dauphin Province, and other parts of France, and to Root out all their Friends and Favourers, or suspected to be so.  
Pope Innocent the Third, having gathered together an Army of an hundred thousand Pilgrims; Sacked the Cities of Besiers and Carcassone, destroying many Papists among the Albingenses, and cutting the Priests themselves in pieces, even in their Priestly Ornaments. After which Simon Earl of Monfort, was made General of the Pilgrims, who had been hitherto Commanded by Milo the Pope's Legate, which made the Earls of Fayl, Tholouse, and Cammurge, with the Prince of Berne, who were the Patrons of the Albingenses, to shelter themselves under Peter King of Arragon, whose Homagers they were. One great Inconvenience ever attended that Army of Pilgrims, for so soon as ever their forty days were expired, in regard it was the full time set them by the Pope, to merit Paradise in, they would not stay a Night longer, lest peradventure having purchased Heaven, they might by continuing longer in the Service, be put into the Possession of it sooner than they were willing, which being observed by the King of Arragon; and that between the going out of the Old, and the coming in of the New store of Pilgrims; there was usually a very low ebb, and their Army was almost dwindled to nothing, he took the Earl of Monfort at the advantage before he was reinforced with new Pilgrims, and gave him Battle, when he had not above two thousand two hundred Men left himself, having an Army of thirty thousand Foot, and seven thousand Horse; which made him so over-Confident of Victory, that out of Pride and Vanity, he exposed his Person so openly at the Head of the Army, that he did as it were invite his Enemy's Arrows to hit so fair a Mark, by which he was so mortally Wounded, that he fell from his Horse, and with his Body sunk the Hearts of his Soldiers, who all presently run away; Simon pursuing them to the very Gates of Thoulose, and killing many thousands of them.  
Yet in a few years, the Face of this War was Changed, for young Reimund Earl of Thoulose, exceeding his Father both in Valour and Success, regained in a few Months what Simon and his Pilgrims had been many years in Conquering. And at last Simon as he laid Siege to Tholose, had his Head shot off from his Body by a stone, which a Woman let fly out of an Engine from the City wall.  
In whose Death, the raging storm of open War against those Albingenses, ended. In the prosecution, whereof Three Hundred Thousand Craised Pilgrims had within the compass of fifteen years lost their lives, so that there was not a City or Village in France, but what had in it some Widows or Orphans, to curse the Promoters of this Expedition; but tho' the great storm was over, yet many great drops feil upon them afterwards, the Pope being still stirring up one or other to molest them.   

CHAP. IU.  
King Almerick Deposed by the Pope. John Bren succeeds him, the seat of the War removed to Egypt with various success.  
HAving followed this Holy War into France; and observed its several steps among the Albingenses, we will now return with ita gain into Palestine, where we find the Flood of Pilgrims run very low, in regard the Pope had diverted the stream, and as for King Almerick we find him as we left him, drowning his cares in Wine without once concerning Church was a Patriarchal Seat for man● hundred years after.  
Before this City the Pilgrim's Army sat down, and closely besieged it: But th● Turks within making a vigorous Defend under Auxianus their Governor, frustrate their expectations of forcing the Tow● as soon as they appeared before it; 〈◊〉 the Siege grew very long, and Provision very short in the Christians Cam● which made Peter the Hermit, no● withstanding his pretended Delegation t● manage this War on the behalf of Chris● run away; but being pursued an● brought back again, was bound by a new Oath to prosecute the War. However at length one within the City, of who Name and Religion Authors cannot agr● (some making him a Turk, others. Christian; some call him by one name and some by another) in the dead of th● night betrayed the City to Boemun● whereupon the Pilgrims entered in, a● being highly exasperated by the leng● of the Siege, they so remembered th● miseries they had endured, that they fo● got all pity and moderation, killing a● slaying promiscuously Christians 〈…〉 and all that came to hand 〈…〉.  
The Town was offered 〈…〉 Emperor, but he refused 〈◊〉 out of suspicion, that there was some deceit in the tender, it being common with ill men to measure other men's minds by the crooked rule of their own, whereupon it was given to Boemund. But notwithstanding the dearness of the purchase, it was not long enjoyed in quiet, for Corboran the Turkish General came with a vast Army of Persian Soldiers and besieged them in the City, so that they were greatly distressed between hunger within and their enemies without, which made many of them to steal away out of the City; whereat the rest no whit discouraged, accounting the loss of Cowards the gain of an Army, bravely resolved rather to sell their lives by wholesale, on the point of the Sword, than to retail them out by famine, who is the worst of Tyrants. And to hasten the putting this generous resolution into practice, they happened to find in the Church of St. Peter a certain Lance which they were made to believe was the very same Lance, wherewith our Saviour's side was pierced by the Soldier, whereat they greatly rejoiced; As though this military relic had by wounding of Christ been endued with a certain virtue of wounding and destroying his Enemies, and carried with it Reign of King Almerick, to the great annoyance of the Christians, but tho' they were unsuccessful in this siege, yet King John was more fortunate in taking the Castle of Pilgrims, a piece of great strength on the Sea side.  
Whereupon it was resolved on to translate the War into Egypt, in hope to discourage the Egyptians by the Invasion, and ruin of their Country; and therefore Hoisting Sail, they came before Damiata a chief Haven of Egypt, lying on the East side of the River Nilus, In the siege whereof they had four difficulties to encounter with, besides the City itself, first with a great Chain that lay a cross the Harbour which with indefatigable pains and Industry mingled with Art they break asunder. Secondly the River Nilus which now suddenly, and unexpectedly overflowed, and drowned the whole Country, so that the Fish came swimming into the Christians Tents, and against which mischief they had no other defence but Prayer, and a public Fast enjoined by the Legate, upon which the water abated, and a Public Thanksgiving thereupon enjoined, that so the mercy obtained by Prayer might be kept by Praise. Thirdly, they were to grapple with the Fort of Pharria, A seeming Impregnable Piece between them and Damiata; for the taking whereof they built a Tower on Ships, which falling down killed and wounded many of the Pilgrims: and those who had the good hap to escape the blow, were notwithstanding terrified by the fright which the fall occasioned among them, but King John comforted his Soldiers, and desired them not to be discouraged at a thing which was purely accidental, and against which there could be no guard or defence by any rules of Wisdom or Valour, but immediately address themselves to the Raising one more substantial, by his direction and advice, which was when finished the rariest piece in that kind, that ever the world saw, by means whereof after many bloody affaults they Conquered the Fort.  
And the fourth and wonst enemy they had to do withal, was Meladine King of Egypt who lay near them with a great Army, Constantly furnishing the City with Men and Victuals, and excercising them with continual Skirmishes, in one whereof he did them abundance of harm with his Wild fire, whereby King John himself was dangerously Scorched, but at last seeing that the Christians hewed their way through all those Rocks of difficulties, he propounded a Peace to them, by the mediation of his Brother Coradine King of Damalcus, wherein he offered, that if they would departed out of Egypt, he would restore them the Cross, the City of Jerusalem, and all the Land of Palestine.  
The English, French, and Italians were willing to embrace so large an offer, but the Legate would not ways consent, alleging that the Voyage was undertaken not for the recovery of Palestine only, but for the extirpation of the Mahometan Religion, it being for his Master's Interest to keep that War always on foot: Which refusal so enraged Coradine, that he beat down the Walls of Jerusalem, and all the Beautiful Buildings therein, save only the Tower of David, and the Temple of the Sepulchre.  
However the siege of Damiata went on, and was at length taken by the Christians without resistance; most of those that should have defended it being either slain, or dead with the Famine or Plague, so that the Christians who enraged with the length of the siege, entered with a resolution to kill all, had their fury soon melted into pity, by beholding the streets every where strewed with dead Corpse, so that of threescore and ten Thousand there was now but one thousand remained alive, who were all pardoned by the Conquerors; upon Condition that they would cleanse the City, which they were three Months in performing.  
Great was the spoil, the Pilgrims found in Damiata, being as it were a strong barred Chest, wherein the Merchants of Egypt and India had as they imagined, safely Locked up all their Treasures, which detained them there a full year, being most of them Content to make that Inn their home; during which time, the Pope ordered John de Columna a Cardinal, to reside there, as his Legate in the place of Pelagius.   

CHAP. V.  
Discords between the King of Jerusalem ' and the new Legate. The miserable Effects thereof, John resigns his Kingdom to Frederick Emperor of Germany.  
NOt long after, the Arrival of this new Legate, there arose a great diference between him and the King of Jerusalem, in regard he Challenged Damiatia for his Holiness, which had at the taking of it by public Agreement been assigned to the King: Whereupon Bren in anger returned to Ptolomais, as well to puff out his discontent in private, as to teach the Christians his worth by their want of him, who presently after his departure found themselves at so great a loss, that they were neither able to stand still without disgrace, nor proceed in the War without danger. The Legate commanded them to march, but he found they had too great a Spirit to be ruled by a Churchman; for they swore they would not stir one step, unless the King were with them: So that the Legate was fain to send Messengers to entreat his return to the Army, which at last he Consented to, by the persuasion of the Messengers, and a promise of having Damatia according to the first Agreement.  
But no sooner was the King and the Legate met again, after eight months' absence, but new Divisions were started between them. The Legate persuaded the Army to march up, and besiege Grand Cairo; assuring them, that they might thereby quickly command all Egypt: God having as he pretended, opened them such a door of victory, that they might easily enter into Possession of their Enemy's Country, if they did not bar it up by their own Idleness.  
But the King opposed it, and advised them to return again into Syria, in regard that City was difficult to take, and impossible to keep, the Ground whereon they were to march was altogether as Treacherous as the People, against whom they were to fight; so that it was better for them, now to retire with Honour, than hereafter to fly with shame. But the Legate persisting in his resolution, thundered out Excommunications against all those who refused to go forwards; therefore they must needs go, when the Devil drove them.  
Whereupon the crafty Egyptians, whose flight was more to be feared, than their fight; seeing the Christians advance, pretended to fly before them, the better to draw them into the Snare. But the Legate fancying, that the pretended flight was the Effect of their Cowardice and Fear, hugged himself in his own Imaginary Happiness, and highly applauded his Sagacity, in giving that Successful advice, tho' he quickly found his Joy turned into Sorrow.  
For Egypt being a low level Ground, through the midst whereof runs the River Nilus; whose stream the Egyptians had by their Industry, so bridled with Banks and Sluices, that they could easily Command it, to be their own Servant, and their Enemy's Master. And therefore, when the Christians had Confidently marched on without the least Suspicion, till it was impossible for them, either to retire or be relieved; the Turks pierced their Banks, and let the River run open mouthed upon them, yet so, as they only drowned them up to the middle, reserving their Lives for the Ransom of Damatia.  
So that there you might have the Land of Egypt, in an instant turned into a Sea; and an Army of sixty thousand, as the Neck of one Man streached on the Block, and expecting the fatal blow; every one Cursed the Legate, and blamed their own folly, in complying with the Advice of a Clergyman, and neglecting that of a King. But it was now too late, to complain; and they must bear with Patience the Misery, which they had brought upon themselves by their own Rashness.  
Meladine King of Egypt, seeing the deplorable Misery of those drowned Christians, and the Constancy, and Patience wherewith they endured their Calamity, was moved with Compassion towards them; being himself as was thought, somewhat inclined to ibrace the Christian Religion, and offered them their Lives upon condition, that they would quit the Country and restore Damiata. They glady accepted the conditions, and presently dispatched Messengers to the City, to prepare them for the Surrendering of it, but they within the City being themselves safe on the shore, knew not how to sympathize with their Poor Brethren in Shipwreck, and therefore told the Messengers that those drowned Pilgrims deserved no pity, in regard they had invited this misery upon themselves by their own rashness, and that if they yielded up this City for nothing, which cost so many Lives, they should thereby expose themselves to the derision of the whole World; that if those Pilgrims perished, more might be had, but no more Damatas, it being a place of such Importance that it would always be a curb to the excursions of the Egyptian King, but however those poor distressed wretches had some friends in the City, who confessed that the Voyage was indeed undertaken unadvisedly, and was justly to be blamed, but yet pleaded that worse and more inconsiderate projects had some times been undertaken by others, and when they have been Crowned with Success, have passed unquestioned, and so they supposed would this have done, had it Succeeded, and that therefore it was most unreasonable to add misery to the miserable, beseeching them to pity their Brethren, and not leave them in that forlorn state.  
But finding their arguments to avail little, they betook themselves to their Arms, resolving to force the adverse party to resign the City, and King John who of all others had the least reason to pity them, in regard their project was wholly against his advice, was notwithstanding so touched with a sense of their calamity, that he generously threatened in case they refused to surrender it, to give Meladine, Ptolemais in Syria, in the stead of it, whereupon they consented, and Damiata was restored to the Turks, and the Legate and his Army let out of the trap wherein they were taken, Meladine out of his Princely goodness furnishing them with Victuals, and Horses to carry their feeble persons upon, and thus the Christians received an overthrow without a wound, and the Turks obtained an absolute Victory without Blood.  
And there being at this time, besides the agreement for the Exchange of Damiata, a Peace made with the Turks for eight years, whereby things were settled in Syria, King John took a Journey to Rome, where he was Honourably entertained by the Pope; And shortly after tho' for what reason I cannot find, he resigned the Kingdom of Jerusalem to Froderick, the second Emperor of Germany, upon condition that he should marry Jowl the only Daughter of King John, by his first Wife, altho' by a second Wife he had another named Martha, Married to Robert Emperor of Greece, so that by Marriage he was now become Father to both the Emperors of the East and West.   portrait of Frederick the 2d Emperor of Germany and the King of Jerusalem 
Ferd the 2d. Empr. of Germa ni and K. of Jerusalem  F. H. Van. Hove. Sculp. 
Some condemn his resignation as an unadvised Act, and conclude that if he had not first parted with his wits he would never have parted so freely with his Kingdom. But others on the contrary commend it, as a Wise and Considerate Action, and give us those reasons to prove it. First, his Wife was dead, by whose Right he held his Kingdom. Secondly he knew the Turks power to Invade it, and his own weakness to defend it. Thirdly, before his resignation, he had little left but the bare Title, and after it he had nothing less; it being so customary for all men to salute him by the name of King of Jerusalem, that he was called so to his dying day. Fourthly he thereby provided better for his Daughter, than otherwise he could in all probability have done. And Lastly because he got more after the surrender, than he did before, for in England he received many great presents from Henry the Third; In France, besides rich gifts left to himself he had the managing of 60000 Crowns, left by Philip Augustus the French King, to the Templars, for the carrying on the Holy War. In Spain he got a rich Wife, Beringaria the Daughter of the King of Castille, and in Italy he tasted largely of the Pope's liberality, lived there in great plenty, but at last Perfidiously raising Rebellion against the Emperor of Germany, his Son in Law, at the Instigation of the Pope, he lost the General Esteem of most men, and went off the stage without Applause.  
frederick's Nuptials with the Lady Jowl, was solemnised at Rome in the presence of the Pope, with all the Ceremonies of Majesty imaginable, and he engaged himself by promise, that he would within two years prosecute his Title in Palestine, but by Discords and Jealousies between the Pope and him; he was much longer before he got things in readiness to march, and when he was on his way to Palestine, the Plague seized on his Army at Brindisi in Italy, where he likewise was shortly after Visited with a desperate fit of sickness which stayed his Journey for many Months.  
It went against the grain with the Pope to have the Emperor so near him, and therefore he Excommunicated him afresh, (having done it divers times before,) pretending his sickness was only the Cramp of Laziness, and charging him with the unjust seizing on the goods of Lewis Landgrave of Thuringia, who died a little before in the Camp, The Emperor protested his innocency and accused the Pope of injustice, offering for the proof of it to put himself on the trial of all Christian Princes. However at last health came, and Frederick departed with his Fleet for the Holy Land, wherea● the Pope who was neither well full nor fasting stormed exceedingly, and be libelled him more than ever, because he had forsooth departed without his Father's Blessing, or being Absolved and Reconciled to his Mother the Church.  
But we may observe that God's Blessing often times goes along with the Pope's curses, for the Fame of frederick's Valour and his Virgin Fortune, never yet stained with ill Success, hastening like an Harbinger before perpared Victory to entertain him at his arrval there, This Emperor Swifter than Caesar himself, overcame before he came to Palestine; so that Coradine being dead and his Children in their Minority, the Sultan of Babylon who was then of greatest Authority among the Turks, and Governed Syria, offered him what he could never have expected, viz. To restore him Jerusalem, and all Palestine in as full and ample a manner as it was enjoyed by Baldwine the Fourth, before it was Conquered by S●ladine, and to release all Christian Prisoners upon condition that the Turks might be permitted in small numbers to have access to the Sepulchre, they likewise having some Knowledge off, and some kind of Veneration for Christ.  
Before Frederick would ratify any thing by Oath he sent to have the Pope's approbation, but hearing that he had Imprisoned his Messengers and in a most contemptuous manner torn his Letters, he concluded a Truce with the Sultan for Ten years without the Pope's consent, and entering on Easter-day Triumphantly into Jerusalem, he Crowned himself King with his own hands, for the Patriarch, the Master of the Templars, and all the Clergy absented themselves, neither was there any Mass Sung in the City, so long as the Emperor stayed there, because he was Excommunicated.  
And thus by the Valour and Policy of Frederick, was the Holy Land recovered without blood, which had been for many years before attempted without success, and the affairs of Palestine brought into a good condition, & rendered capable of improving, had not the Pope ruined all by forcing the Emperor to return sooner than he intended to supress the Rebellion, which the Pope had caused John Bren to raise against him at home, At his departure he appointed Reinoldus Duke of Bavaria to be his Lieutenant in Syria, who wisely discharged his Office, and preserved the Peace entire, which was concluded with the Sultan of Babylon, although the Templars endeavoured to bring that Ten years' Truce to an untimely end, it being an insufferable thing with them to fast from Fight, which was Meat and Drink to their Turbulent Spirits, Condemning him for his want of Zeal in the Holy War, and giving him many a lift to heave him from his place, but still he sat sure nor was he much troubled at the envy of Henry King of Cyprus who challenged the principality of Antioch, as next of kin the last deceased Prince; for the Duke met him and defeated him in battle, and gave that Principality to Frederick, base Son to the Emperor.  
But that which kept both Turks and Christians in awe, and made them the more careful to observe the Truce, was their mutual fear of the Tartars, a fierce People which at this time took their first flight out of their own nest into the Neighbouring Countries, they were anciently called Scythians, and Inhabited the Northern parts of Asia a country never Conquered by any of the Monarches, being privileged from their Victorious Arms by its own barrenness, which was the reason why after they had made several incursions into Europe, and the lesser Asia, they found it so sweet that they cared not to return home.  
They were by their multitudes and ferceness become so formidable that the Pope himself began to fear them in Italy, to prevent which he sent Askelin a Friar much famed in those days, and three others to Convert them to the Christian Religion, who instead of instructing them the Rudiments of Christianity, acquainted them with the greatness and power of the Pope, who was as he told them, exalted above all the Princes of Europe, but Baiothnoi Chief Captain of the Tartarian Army (for they were not admitted to the Great Cham himself) crying quits with this Friar, outvyed him in discribing his Cham, whose greatness and Divinity he affirmed to exceed that of the Popes, and sent him back with a blunt Letter, which he concluded thus, If thou wilt set upon our Land and Inheritance, it behoveth that Thou Pope in thy proper Person come unto us, and that Thou come to him who containeth the Face of the Whole Earth, meaning their Great Cham.  
Never did his Holiness so meet with his match before, however he loved his Flock in Europe too well to run the hazard of losing them by a long Journey into Tartary, and so the Conversion of the Tartarians was neglected.  
About this time likewise the Grecian Emperor, who had been now near sixty years confined to the Cities of Nice and Adrianople, only recovered every foot of Land that the Latins had won from the Greeks, after it had been enjoyed by five Succesive Latin Emperors, except what was enjoyed by the Venetians, who kept Candia, till lately wrested from them by the Turks, & presently after the Greek Church wholly cast of their subjection to the Pope, and declared the Patriarch of Constantinople to be absolute of himself, without having any dependency on Rome, the occasion of their disavowing the Pope's Authority was this Germanus, being upon this new revolution of the Grecian Empire, chosen Patriarch of Constantinople, a certain Archbishop preferred by him, went to Rome, there to have his confirmation, but finding that Court so unreasonable in their demands of Fees, that it would weaken him to be confirmed, and shake his Estate to settle him in his Bishopric, he returned again without confirmation, but with so great an outcry upon the Extortion of Rome, that the Patriarch and the whole Clergy for ever after threw off the Pope's heavy Yoke, which they were no longer able to bear.  
His Holiness stormed exceedingly at this loss, and therefore despairing to reduce them by fair means, proclaimed open War against them, and resolved to send an Army of Crossed Soldiers against those Schismatical Grecians, as he had formerly done against the Albigenses: It being customary with that imperious Prelate, to make use of the Secular Power, as his Hangman, to execute those whom he shall please to condemn. But his Commands were herein but little regarded, very few Volunteers entering themselves for this Service, and most men entertaining a Religious Horror and Detestation of so odious an Employment.  
This irreparable rent and division between the two Churches was very advantageous to the Turks, and a greath inderance to the Holy War; for the Greeks in Syria, who had hitherto lived in some kind of friendly correspondency with the Latins, differing indeed in Judgement, but complying in Affections, and uniting against the Turk, the common Enemy of both, began now to conceive so great a hatred for the Latins, that they wished the Turk, from whom they expected fair Quarter, the free Exercise of their Religion, and a secure dwelling in any City, for paying a set Tribute, might conquer rather than their fellow Christians, from whom they expected nothing but a forcing of their Conscience, and the bringing their Souls into subjection to the Pope's Supremacy; and therefore from thence forward, never lent a helping hand to that War.   

CHAP. VI  
The Voyage of Theobald, Kingof Navarre; Of Robert Earl of Cornwall. Jerusalem taken by the Corasines.  
THe Ten Years Truce made by Frederick, being ended, he ordered Reinold, his Viceroy, to conclude another, for the same term of years; which, tho' honourable enough, and without any other fault, than Frederick's having made it, yet the Templars would not endure it, pretending, that it was a great Indignity to the Christians, for the Turks to have access to the Sepulchre. And Pope Gregory, to despite the Emperor, commanded his Trumpeters, the Dominican and Franciscan Friars, to sound a fresh Alarm to the Holy War; who amplifying, with their Rhetoric, the Calamity of the Christians, the Tyranny of the Turks, the Merit of the Cause, and the Probability of Success, prevailed with many to undertake the Voyage; the principal whereof was, Theobald, King of Navarre; Almerick, Earl of Montfort; Henry, Earl of Champagne; Peter, Earl of Bretaigne; who having no Ships, were forced to march with their Armies by Land, through Grecia, where they were entertained, as others had been before them, with Treachery, Famine, and all the Miseries that could attend an unfortunate Army; insomuch, that none ever after adventured to go that way into the Holy Land.  
But having passed the Bosporus, they marched to Antioch, being more than half of them destroyed by the Turks in their passage thither, and the rest miserably weakened and almost dead with sickness and famine. However, after they had for sometime refreshed themselves there, the Templars conducted them to Gaza, where they fell to spoiling and foraging the Sultan's Country, assaulting no place of strength, but only poor Villages, who thought themselves sufficiently walled by the Truce. But as they were returning home, laden with Treasure, the Turks in great numbers fell upon them near Gaza; where, after a bloody fight, wherein the Christians behaved themselves with so much bravery, that they were rather killed than conquered, they were utterly overthrown; Earl Henry being slain, Almerick taken prisoner, and the King of Navarre forced to save himself by the swiftness of his Spanish Jennet.  
In the mean while, the other Christians looked on and saw their Brethren slaughtered before their faces, without being able to help them, in regard their hands were tied by the Truce; and Reinoldus charged them not to infringe the Peace made with the Sultan. As for the King of Navarre, he stole home with as much fecresie as possible, being greatly ashamed, that his Voyage, from which so much was expected, had effected nothing, but the ruin of its undertakers.  
Fifteen days after his departure, Richard, Earl of Cornwall, and Brother to King Henry the Third, landed at Ptolemais, accompanied by Theodoricus, Lord Prior of the English Hospitallers, divers Barons, and an Army of brave and well-appointed Soldiers, where he was joyfully received, especially by the Clergy, who Sang at his arrival, Blessed is he who cometh in the Name of the Lord.  
This Prince was our English Croesus, and the Tinn-Mines in Cornwall were his Indies that enriched him, so that England never had a poorer King, and a richer Subject, than those two Brothers. When he was got as far as the Mediterranean Sea, the the Pope sent his Legate, to command him back, and forbidden his proceeding any farther in his Voyage. Whereat our Heroic Pilgrim was somewhat astonished, that the Pope should so solemnly summon, and then as suddenly discharge his Holy Soldiers, as tho' he designed only to delude people's devotions with false alarms. However, having vowed the Voyage, and his Honour and Treasure being engaged therein, he resolved that his Holiness should not with a breath blast his generous Resolutions, but went forward, notwithstanding this Command to the contrary.  
The Sultan's in Syria, hearing of his arrival, offered him Peace; but whilst he was treating of it, he fortified Askelon, which was the best Harbour in all Syria, and beautified it with Marble and Statues, caused the Christians, killed at the late Battle of Gaza, to be decently buried, and gave a Priest an yearly Salary, to Pray for their Souls: so that the living being much taken with his kindness to the dead, he thereby purchased as much love and honour, as tho' he had slain so many Turks. And having at last concluded a Peace with the Sultan's for Ten Years; wherein it was agreed, That all Christian Captives should be released, several Forts restored, and things reduced to the same state they were at the first Peace made with Frederick the Emperor. He returned home with abundance of Honour, Having, says the Historian, compelled those Infidels to offer Terms of Peace, without offering them any other violence, than showing his Sword in the Scabbard, without ever drawing it. And indeed such was the general esteem which he obtained by his Success in this Voyage, that he afterwards bid fair for the Imperial Crown of Germany.  
Not long after the Earls return, died Reinoldus, Frederick's Lieutenant in Syria, in whose Grave was buried all the Happiness and Glory of the Christians in Palestine. For now the lawless Templars would observe no other Rule than their own Will, and the inundation of the rude Tartars, having, maugre all opposition, run over all the North of Asia, and forced many Nations to forsake their ancient Habitations; among whom was a certain People, called Corasine, who being thus unkennelled, had recourse to the Sultan of Babylon, desiring him to give them a place to live in. The Sultan, who was free enough of that which was none of his own, frankly gave them all the Land that the Christians held in Syria, upon condition, that they would conquer it; which he told them was easy to do, in regard the People were few and weak, and the Country rich and fruitful.  
The Corasines being thus animated by the by the Sultan, came with their Wives and Children and their whole Households into Syria, to win Houses and Land for them there. And finding the City of Jerusalem unguarded, and without the least suspicion of an Enemy, easily surprised it, and entered without resistance. Many of the Christians thereupon flying out of the City with their Wives and Families, took their course towards Joppa, but unfortunately looking back, and seeing their own Ensigns advanced on the Walls, were so infatuated as to go back to the City again, upon a confute, that their fellows had beaten the Corasines, and by those Banners, invited them to return, whereby they were every Mother's Child of them slain.  
Things being brought to this pass in Syria, a desperate Disease must have a desperate Remedy, whereupon the Christians clapped up a hasty Peace with the two Sultan's of Damascus and Cracci, between whom, and the Sultan of Babylon, there was at that time some discord. And swearing them to be faithful, borrowed an Army of their Forces, to assist them in taking vengeance on the Corasines. Robert, Patriarch of Jerusalem, was the chief Commander, and St. Luke's day the time agreed on for this fatal Battle, which was fought on a Plain near Tiberius. But the two Armies were no sooner joined, but the Turks, who were placed in the front of the Battle, ran over to the Enemy, or at least fled through cowardice, so that the Christians being overpowered in number, though they made a great slaughter of their Enemies, were at last utterly overthrown, and most of them slain, there escaping no more, but Three of the Teutonick Order, Eighteen Templars, and Nineteen Hospitallers, besides the Patriarch; who says of himself, That God, accounting him unwortby of Martyrdom, permitted him to escape among the rest. The Corafines improving this Victory, won all from the Christians, except Tyre, Ptolemais, and Antioch, with a few Forts.  
So that the Christians were beaten by a beaten People, who shortly after falling out with the Sultan of Babylon, were by him wholly routed out, so as none of their Name remained. And it is very observable, that all Historians, both before and after this time, are wholly silent concerning them; whereby it seems, as tho' God had created this People to punish the Christian, and as soon as they had done their work, annihilated them again.   

CHAP. VII.  
The French King's Voyage into Palestine: He carries the War into Egypt again: Damiata taken the second time, but afterwards exchanged for King Lewis.  
ABout two years after this overthrow, Lewis the Ninth of that Name, King of France, arrived in Palestine, to assist the Christians, in recovering what they had lost. That which moved him to undertake this Voyage, was his recovering of a desperate fit of sickness, upon the application of a Piece of the Cross. He was accompanied therein, besides three of his own Brothers, and divers of the French Nobility, by William Longspath, Earl of Shrewsbury, with a brave company of valiant English Soldiers. When he came to Cyprus, he was met by an Ambassador from a great Tartarian Prince, who in vited, by the fame of his Piety, acquainted him with his design to embrace the Christian Religion. He received and entertained the Ambassadors with much affability, dismissed them with liberal Gifts, and by them sent, as a Present to their Master, a curious Tent, wherein the History of the Bible was very dexteriously and richly wrought in Needlework, hoping thereby to catch his Soul in his Eyes, Pictures being in that Age of Ignorance accounted laymen's Books, tho' since they have been generally condemned, as full of many damnable Erratas, and never published by any Authority of the King of Heaven, to be either the means or workers of Faith.  
Thither also the Templars, who were afraid of being checked by this Pious King for their debauched Lives, wrote to him to accept of a Peace, which the King of Egypt offered to make with the Christians. But he being informed by the King of Syria, that it was only a trick of the Templars, to prevent his intentions of going into Syria, to behold their wickedness, commanded the Grand Master, that from thence forward, upon the price of his Head, he should receive no Messages, nor hold any correspondence with the Enemy, resolving with himself once more to invade Egypt, and make that Country the Seat of the War.  
But having once declared his intentions, and making no great haste to put it into execution, Ateladine had time enough to provide against the storm, by fortifying the Sea-Coast, which he did for an Hundred and Eighty Miles together; so that their landing was now much more difficult than when King John invaded it. However, Lewis being reinforced with a new Army, by Robert, Duke of Burgundy, and Alphonse, the King's Brother, set forward for Egypt, and intended to land near Damiata: But the Governor with a Band of resolute Mammalakes, opposed it, between whom, and the Christians, there was for some hours a fierce and bloody Fight, wherein the Turks were at last overthrown and forced to fly into the Town, leaving the Christians Landing-place, without any other Guard, but their Governor and Five Hundred of their best Soldiers, whom they left dead on the place.   portrait of Lewis the 9th King of France 
Lewis the 9th. King of France.  
Damiata was a City so strong and well fortified, that the taking of it was accounted a good Task, if performed by an Army within the compass of a Year. But those within remembering the Miseries of the last Siege, and fearing the same Tragedy would be acted over again, set fire to the Houses, and in the Night saved themselves by flight; whereupon the French issued in, and quenching the fire, saved abundance of Treasure from the fury of the flames. Which Loss so discouraged Meladine, that to purchase Peace with the Christians, he offered to restore them the whole Kingdom of Jerusalem, in as ample a manner as ever it had been enjoyed by any of their Predecessors, to release all Prisoners, and disburse a great Sum of Money to defray the Charge of the War. But such was their Pride and Folly, that they refused to accept of it, unless Alexandria, the best Port in all Egypt, were given them as an Over-plus; the Pope's Legate, and Robert, Earl of Artois, persuading them to grant Peace upon no other terms. Wherefore the Turk seeing themselves in so desperate a condition, their Extremity rendered their Sword the keener, and made them provide with the greater resolution to defend their Country to the utmost.  
About this time there arose a difference between the French and the English, to the great prejudice of their Proceed. And Meladine, King of Egypt, died likewise the same Year, and left his imbroiled Kingdom to Melcchsala, his Son.  
From Damiata the French marched up towards Cairo, the Governor whereof being offended with the new King, promised to deliver it into their hands. And having passed an arm of the River Nilus, Earl Robert marched forward with a third part of the Army and suddenly assaulted the Turks in their Tents, whilst the King was absent, and put them to flight; which Victory so lifted him up with conceit, that he adventured contrary to the advice of the Master of the Templars, to set on the whole Turkish Power, which lay encamped not far off, without staying for the rest of the Army, whereby he was utterly overthrown, and as he was crossing the River, in his flight, found Water enough to drown him, tho' not to wash away the stain of rashness and cowardice from his memory; and our English Earl refusing to fly, died fight in the midst of his Enemies, there escaping no more but four persons to carry News of this fatal overthrow to the rest of the Army.  
It is easier for the Reader to conceive, than for my Pen to express, the general grief wherewith these doleful Tidings were received by the French, among whom the Plague raged so furiously, that it daily swept away Thousands. And to increase their sorrow, several sick persons, whom the King had sent down the River to Damiata, were set upon by the Egyptian King, and having neither Hands to fight, nor Legs to run, were every one either burned or drowned, except Alexander Gifford, an Englishman, whose Name and Family still remains at Chellingworth in Stafford-shire, who acquainted the French with what had happened. They would now have been glad of those Terms, which a little before they slighted, but it was too late, for the Turks now scorned to treat with them.  
The French would have had the King provided for his own safety, by flying back to Damiata. But he refused, and resolving to live or die, overcome or perish with them, marched forward to the fatal place, where the last Battle was fought. And whilst they were astonished at the sight of their mangled fellows, the Egyptian King set upon them with an infinite number of men, and put them all (being but few in number, and those very weak) to the sword, except Lewis and his two Brothers, whom he took Prisoners.  
The Turks having thus slain all the French Pilgrims, instantly marched up with their Ensigns to Damiata, hoping thereby to surprise it, which if they had done, King Lewis had been for ever lost. But God disappointed them, for they were easily discovered, notwithstanding their disguise, and forced to go away without their desire.  
The News of this sorrowful Accident coming to Europe, filled every one with grief, and made Henry, King of England, who had made great preparation to undertake the Voyage, to alter his mind, and employ his Money to a better use.  
But to return to Egypt: Melechsala did not long survive this Victory, being slain soon after by Tanquemine, a sturdy Mammaluke, who succeeded him in the Egyptian Kingdom, by whom King Lewis was released, in exchange for Damiata; being obliged, besides the surrender of the City, to pay many Thousand Pounds for the releasing of Christian Captives, and to make satisfaction for the Damage done in Egypt; for the securing whereof, he was forced to pawn to the Turks, the Pyx and Host: whence it is, that a Wafer-Cake and a Box is always wrote in the Borders of that Tapestry which we have brought us out of Egypt, as a perpetual Memorial of that Victory. But tho' Lewis was set at liberty, yet he got not home, till four years after.   

CHAP. VIII.  
The Mammalukes described: The Death of Frederick: The Conversion of the Tartars; And the extinguishing the Caliphs' of Babylon: Charles made King of Sicily and Jerusalem: King Lewis makes a second Voyage.  
THose Mammalukes which had now seized on the Kingdom of Egypt were the Children of Christian-Parents, which were by Saladine and his Successors taught the Mahometan Superstition, and instructed in all Military Discipline at several Nurseries, and being found by their Valour and Courage to be the chief support of the Turkish Kings, were by them advanced to the chief places of profit and trust, and thereby the better enabled to pull down their raisers. Which was performed during the captivity of King Lewis, by Tarquemine, who slew Melechsala, and thinking it unfit so great a Prince should go to the grave alone, sent all his Children after him. And was afterwards chosen by the rest of the Mammalukes, King of Egypt; whereupon he, by their advice and consent, made several Laws, which were ever afterward observed by them as irrevokable, The first whereof was,  
That the Sultan, or chief of the servile Empire, should not succeed by Inheritance, but be chosen out of the Mammalukes.  
The second, That none should be admitted into the Order of the Mammalukes, that were born either of Turkish or Jewish Parents, but only such as were born Christians.  
The third was, That tho' the Sons of Mammalukes should enjoy their Father's Lands and Wealth, yet they should not take upon them the Name and Honour of a Mammaluke.  
The fourth was, That the Native Egyptians should be permitted the use of no other Weapons, but such wherewith they were to fight against Weeds and Till and Manure their Land.  
There were in this Government several things worthy admiration.  
First, That of Slaves they should act the King, without playing the Tyrant.  
Secondly, That they should neglect their own Children when it is common for other men to idolise them and sacrifice all that they have to their welfare.  
Thirdly, That they should not fall out in the Election of their Kings, in regard they were all equal among themselves.  
Lastly, That it should endure so long, for it lasted Two hundred sixty and seven Years, till overcome by Selimus, the great Turkish Emperor, in the Year 1517. by the help of the Janissaries, an Order of Men for Birth and Breeding not unlike themselves.  
In that Year likewise, it being a Year of great Revolutions, died Frederick, Emperor of Germany and King of Jerusalem, whereupon followed an Interegnum in that Kingdom for fourteen Years together; the right indeed lay in Conrade, Frederick's Son, by Jowl, King John's Daughter; but he was so employed in defending himself in Sicily, against Maufred his Bastard Brother, (who quickly after dispatched him out of the way) that he had no leisure to look after the fragments of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.  
Near about this time a certain Hungarian Peasant, said to have been an Apostate to Mahomet, and well learned, gathered together several Thousand people, who took on them the Name and Habit of Pastorelli, in imitation of those in the Gospel who were warned by Angels to go to Bethlehem, they had the Holy Lamb for their Ensign, and pretended to have intelligence from Heaven to march into the Holy Land, but mistaking West for the East, they shaped their course into France and committing several outrages that no way suited either with their Habit or Banner, they were encountered near Bordeaux, and threescore Thousand of them slain, and the rest dispersed.  
Things being now brought into a sad and deplorable condition in Syria, without any hope of amendment, behold a strange and unexpected accident revived them again! For Haito King of Armenia taking the pains to travel himself to Margo, the Great Cham of Tartary, to acquaint him with the danger he was in from the Turks as well as others, telling him, Tho' he lay something out of their way, yet the only favour he must expect from them was to be last devoured, whereupon he not only promised to assist the Christians in suppressing them, but himself, and by his example, a great part of the Country embraced the Christian Faith, and thereupon sent Haalon his Brother with a great Army to suppress the Turks, and assist the Christians in recovering what they had lost, in the performing whereof his Army seemed to ride post, conquering Persia in as little time as one can well travel it within six Months: The City of Samarchanda was the only place that resisted him, and therefore being unwilling to tempt his Fortune with a long siege, he left it to one of his Captains, who besieged it seven and twenty year, and at last did not take it, but had it surrendered to him.  
Haalon having Conquered Persia marched to Babylon, the Caliph whereof called Musteazem, Idolised his wealth so much that he would not provide necessaries for the defence of the City, so that it became an easy Conquest to this Tartarian Prince, who having famished the Covetous Caliph to death filled his mouth, with melted Gold, and now Mosques every where went down, and Churches went up, from thence he went into Mesopotamia, where having Conquered the City of Aleppo and Edessa. he restored them to the Christians, and many other places which he won from the Turks, whereby he so awed Melechem the Mammaluke who Succeeded Tarminus in Egypt that he durst not budge.  
But of this Tartarian help they were altogether unworthy, in regard they would not be at leisure to make use of it, but busied themselves in private dissensions, the Genoans and Ventians two states in Italy, who had thrown of the Imperial Command, and had erected themselves into commonwealths, being not content to quarrel at home would needs go into Syria to fight it out there, that so the Turks might look on and laugh at them, the pretence of the quarrel was about superiority in the Church of St. Sabbas, which was appointed by the Pope for them and the Pisans, who likewise engaged themselves in the quarrel sometimes siding with one side and some times with the other.  
The Venetians being at length compelled by the Genoans to forsake the City, were so incensed thereat, that they came with thirteen Galleys, and having forced asunder the chain which-crossed the Haven, burned five & twenty of the Genoans Ships, that lay there; to revenge which loss the state of Genoa sent a great Navy into Syria, which meeting with the Duke of Venice at Tyre, with the united power of the Venetians and Pisans, being in all seventy four Vessels well provided, would have set upon them in the Haven, had not the Governor forbidden it, telling them that they should not fight under his nose, but if they loved quarrelling so well let them out and try their Fortunes in the open Sea, which they did accordingly, the manner of Sea-fights in those days before the thundering Ordnance was found out, being only for one Vessel to run against another, so that the the Ships were both Guns and Bullets themselves. In which fight the Venetians prevailed, destroying near thirty of the Genoans Ships, and forcing the rest to save themselves in the Haven of Tyre.  
Whereupon entering Ptolemais they expelled all the Genoans out of the City, pulled down their Buildings and plundered all their Shops, and Warehouses, but after a ten years' War they were at last reconciled in Palestine, by the Authority of Pope Clement the fourth, tho' their War lasted longer in Italy.  
Charles Duke of Anjou, and Brother to King Lewis, was now made King of Sicily and Jerusalem, by the Pope upon condition that he should conquer Maufred, who then Reigned in Sicily, and Molested His Holiness, and root out all the remaining Race of Frederick, and as an acknowledgement that he held those Kingdoms from the Pope, pay him an annual pension of four (some say forty) thousand Pounds.  
But having Conquered Maufred and possessed himself of Sicily, he so little minded the regaining of Jerusalem, that he never looked after it or came there at all, which neglect gave an opportunity to Hugh King of Cyprus to furbish up his old Title to that Kingdom as Linealy descended from Almerick the second, who coming to Ptolemais was there Crowned King of Jerusalem.  
However the Christians affairs in Syria began now to hasten to their fatal Catastrophe, and the Kingdom of Jerusalem was in a little time between two Kings wholly lost, for Haalon the Tartarian Prince being sent for home to Succeed his Brother Mango, who died without Issue, left Abaga his Son with sufficient forces in the City of Damascus, which he had likewise wan from the Turks, who following his Father, soon after substituted Guirboca his Lieutenant in Damascus, who having his Nephew rashly slain, by the Christians in an unhapy Broil about parting a great Booty taken from the Turks; wholly renounced the Christian Religion, together with all the Tartarians under his Command, so that the Kingdom of Jerusalem having lost its best support, soon after tumbled down.  
Bondocdar who Succeeded Melechem in Egypt, taking advantage of their being thus deserted by the Tartars, took the City of Joppa, all the inhabitants whereof he either killed; or which was worse, forced them to forswear their Religion, and then marching to Antioch took that likewise, slaying twenty, and carrying away an hundred, thousand Christians, tho' it is to be suspected that the number of the Captives were at first written in figures, and in time increased some thousands by the addition of nothing, after which he laid siege to Ptolemais itself.  
Those woeful tidings brought into Europe, so wrought on the good disposition of King Lewis, that he resolved upon a second Voyage to Palestine, from which all the persuasions of his Nobles could no way divert him, in which Voyage there went with him his two Sons, Philip and Tristram, Theobald King of Navarre, his Son in law, Guido Earl of Flanders, and Prince Edward eldest Son of Henry King of England, who was attended by his Brother Edmund, Earl surnamed Crouchback, not because he was crook-shouldered, as was pretended by Henry Duke of Lancaster, when he usurped King Richard's Throne, but from his being a Croised Soldier in the Holy War.  
Lewis being now on his way to Palestine, it was concluded by the general consent of his Council, That for securing the Christians passage to Syria, they should first take the City of Carthage in Africa, or rather Tunis, which being raised out of the Ruins of that famous City, was now become a Nest of Pirates, who had killed and taken captive many Pilgrims, who were sailing that way to the Holy Land. But no sooner was the Siege began than the Plague seized on the Christian Army, whereof Thousands died, and among the rest, Tristram, King Lewis' Son, and he himself of a Flux soon followed after. His loss was much lamented, he being accounted the French Josia, as well for the Piety of his Life, as the Wofulness of his Death, and his wilful engaging himself in a needless and unfortunate War.  
But notwithstanding this Mortality, the Siege was continued, and Tunis brought into such distress, that they were glad to surrender the Town on these Conditions:  
That it should pay yearly to Charles, King of Sicily and Jerusalem, the Sum of Forty Thousand Crowns.  
That they should receive Christian Ministers freely to Exercise their Religion.  
And that they should be at the whole charge of that Voyage.  
Prince Edward would have had the Town beaten down and all the Inhabitants put to the Sword, accounting the foulest Quarter too fair for such Villains, and their Goods sacrificed as an Anathema to God and burnt to ashes, because gotten by Robbery. But seeing he could not prevail with others, he resolved however to show his own detestation, by execrating his part of the Spoil, and causing it to be burnt, forbidding the English Soldiers to save any thing of it, telling them, that Coals stolen out of that Fire, would sooner burn their Houses than warm their Hands. It troubled not the conscience of other Princes however, to enrich themselves therewith and glut themselves with the stolen Honey found in that Hive of Drones: And not only so, but terminated their Pilgrimage there too, refusing to proceed any further therein. Whereat Edward astonished, struck his Hands on his Breast, and swore, That tho' they all forsook him, yet he would enter Ptolemais, if accompanied with Fowin his Horsekeeper only. And accordingly he arrived safe there, to the great comfort of the Christians, who were in sore distress. Whilst Theobald, King of Navarre, with the Queen, and the Earl of Flanders, died in their way home, and most of the Spoil was cast away.  
At his arrival at Ptolemis, he found the Christians just losing their last stake, Bondocdar having brought them to so low an ebb, that they had resolved if some unexpected Succour reversed not their intentions, within three days to resign it up. But Edward's coming in the interim, revived their hopes, and made them take Courage both to defy their Enemies and their own thoughts of surrendering the City. Having sufficiently victualled and manned Ptolemais, he marched with Six or Seven Thousand Men to Nazareth, which he took, and slew those he found therein. And being afterwards informed, that the Turks were gathered together at Cakhow, about Forty Miles from thence, he marched thither, and setting upon them early in the Morning, slew a Thousand of them, and put the rest to flight. In which Battle, as well as in several other Skirmishes, he gave sufficient proof of his own personal Valour, slaying many of the Infidels in single combat.  
After this Victory he returned to Ptolemais, where Elinor his Consort was delivered of a fair Daughter, but the Joy occasioned thereby was soon turned into Sorrow, by the apprehension of his being mortally wounded by one of the Assassins, who resorting to him several times with Letters and Messages from the Admiral of Joppa, who pretended a desire to turn Christian. The first time of his coming, as the Prince was lying on his Bed and reading the Letters he brought, none being in the Room but them two, he suddenly struck him into the Arm with an envenomed Knife, and attempted to have fetched another blow; but the Prince, whose Valour was now awakened, gave him such a blow with his Foot, that he felled him to the ground, and wresting the poisoned Knife out of his hand, thrust it into the Murtherer's Belly and slew him; yet so that he hurt himself therewith in the Forehead. It is storied, that his Lady sucked out all the venom of his Wounds, without prejudicing herself. But however, certain it is, that by the help of Physic, good Attendance, and an Antidote, the Master of the Templars gave him, he shown himself on Horse back safe and well within fifteen days after.  
The Admiral hearing of his recovery, solemnly disavowed his having any hand in the Treachery, it being seldom known that any will own themselves the Parent of an unsucceeding Villainy. And having done as much and more than could have been expected from so small a number as he had with him, he returned home full fraught with Honour: And his Father, King Henry, being dead, the English Nobility met him as far as the Alps, to attend him in his return home.   

CHAP. IX.  
Rodulphus the Emperor hindered from going into Palestine, sends the Duke of Mechlenburg. Charles King of Jerusalem prevented in his intended Voyage.  
MUch talk there was now in Syria of the great preparations of Rodulphus, who was after two and twenty years Interregnum, chosen Emperor of Germany, and though but a mere Earl of Haspurg, yet being now advanced to the Imperial dignity, laid the first foundation of the Anstrian Family, but he was too much employed at home by Civil Discords, and reducing the Princes to obedience, whose Knees were too stiff to do him Homage, till he had rendered them more pliable by degrees, to think of going into Syria.  
But yet being somewhat unwilling to render their great expectations wholly frustrate, he sent the Duke of Mechlenburgh with a good Army to assist the Christians, who coming to Ptolemais made several successful incursions into the Enemy's Countries about Damascus, destroying all before him with fire and sword, and carrying away many rich booties, till at last he was circumvented and taken prisoner by the Mammalukes, who kept him in Captivity twenty six years, till at length the Sultan of Egypt a Runegado German, who had formerly been Enginneer to this Duke's Father, set him at Liberty together with Martin his Servant, thinking it but reasonable, that he who had been his Partner in Misery should likewise partake of his Happiness; but they were no sooner at Liberty, but they were both took again by Pirates, as they were sailing into Syria, which the Sultan hearing of pitied the misfortune of that distressed Prince, and scorning that any should frustrate his designed courtesy, set him free once more, and then returning home he was welcomed with as much wonder as joy by his Subjects, who supposed him to have been dead long before.  
When he came home he found two Counterfeits, who both pretended to be the Duke, and challenged lodging with his Lady; but upon his arrival to confute their false pretences they were both condemned to lose their lives, by two contrary deaths, the one being Burned, and the other Drowned.  
Charles King of Sicily and Jerusalem, having at length made great preparations for the Holy War, and strengthened his claim to the Kingdom of Jerusalem, by purchasing the Title of Maria, Domicella Princess of Antioch, who likewise pretended to a Right, he sent Roger Count of Severine as his Viceroy to Ptolemais where he was received with a great deal of Honour in despite of King Hugh, but when his Navy and all things were said to be ready for his own departure, and that he had by the way a design upon Michael Paleologus the Grecian Emperor, a sudden and unexpected accident blasted all,  
For on Easter-day as the Bell tolled to Even-Song all the Frenchmen in Sicily had their Throats Cut, in a moment by the Natives, the contriver of this Massacre was one, Jacobus Prochyta a Doctor of Physic, who thereby killed more in an hour than he cured in his Whole Life; but the secrecy of its contrivance was little less than a Miracle, that so many should know of it, and yet none either through accident or design discover it, from whence came the Proverb the Sicilian Vispers.  
Charles himself was at Rome when this Tragedy was acted, to see the Pope make Cardinals, and when he received the news it struck him so to the Heart that he never enjoyed himself after; But living as without Life for about two years he died and left his Son Charles to Succeed him in the Kingdom of Naples, and the Title of Jerusalem, who had little remarkable in his Life, but only that being offended with the Templars in Palestine, for taking part with the King of Cyprus against him, he siesed all the Lands, and Goods they had in Naples, or any other part of his dominions.   

CHAP. X.  
Ptolemais Besieged and taken by the Sultan of Egypt, and thereby the Holy War ended.  
MElechsaites or as others call him Melechmessor, about this time won the strong Castle of Mergarh, from the Hospitallers, who kept it and banished the Carmalites out of Syria, because they had changed their Habits, at the appointment of Pope Honorious; the Turks being generally haters of innovations.  
And Alphir who was his next Successor, understanding that the Christian Princes of Europe were at variance among themselves, resolved to lay hold of that opportunity as the fittest time finally to expel the Christians out of Palestine, and therefore coming out of Egypt with a great Army, he besieged and won the Cities of Tripoli, Sidon, and Berytus, and being encouraged with this Success, he adventured to Besiege Tyre itself and notwithstanding its invincible strength, took it in a very short time, and beat it down to the ground as he did the other three Cities.  
So that now there remained nothing of all that the Christians had won in Palestine, but Ptolemais, which he might easily have taken, if he would have sat down before with his Army, but he was unwilling to venture for fear, lest if he should attempt the taking all from them at once, he might thereby alarm the Christian Princes to repair thither for their Relief; and therefore concluded a Peace with the Venetians for five years, thinking that the bitter potion would be the more easily swallowed by them, if it were divided into two doses.  
But tho' the City Ptolemais did at this time escape the Turks Victorious Arms ' yet it was notwithstanding in a most Woeful and Dismal condition, for there were in it some of all Countries, and every Nation had their several Courts, to decide causes in; so that the great plenty of Judges occasioned a scarcity of Justice, and Malefactors when they were impeached for any Crime, would by appealing to a Trial in the Court of their own Country: escape the deserved Punishment, it being a sufficient proof of the Criminals innocency in the Venetians, or Genoans Court, to say, that he was a Subject of the State, to which the Court belonged; wherefore Personal Crimes were made National, and particular faults by being espoused, rendered public offences, so that outrages were every where practised, and no where punished, as if they had been resolved to spare Divine Vengeance the pains of overtaking them, by going forth to meet it.  
Besides which there was at this time a great number of Pretenders, eagerly pro, secuting their several Titles to that City being no fewer than the Venetians, Genoans, Pisans, florentin's, the King of Cyprus and Sicily, the Agents of the King of England and France, the Princes of Tripoli and Antioch, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Master of the Templars and Hospitallers, and the Pope's Legate, who would if he were now living think himself highly abused, in not being first named. All which Pretenders did at once with much Heat and Violence, urge there Right to the Airy Title of the Kingdom of Jerusalem; and the Command of that City, like Bees making the greatest noise and Bwzzing, when they were just ready to forsake the Hive.  
There was within the City at this time many new Pilgrims, who were lately come thither out of Europe, five hundred whereof were of the Pope's sending, altho' he afterwards took no care for their Pay, for tho' he loved to see the Golden Tide flow into his Coffers, yet he could not endure to see it ebb again. But the soldiers being not paid resolved according to their blunt but usual custom to pay themselves, and therefore Marching out of the City Pillaged the Enemy's Country, contrary to the Peace made with Alphir. The Turks demand satisfaction, which was not only denied by those of Ptolomais, but their Ambassadors likewise abused.  
Which so enraged Sultan Serapha (Alphir being now dead) that he gathered together all his Forces, and sat down before the City, with an Army of six hundred thousand men say some Historians, tho' others make them not half the number, and concluding that that City was so great a purchase, that if once obtained it could not be too dearly bought, he resolved to take it before he stirred from the place.  
Peter Belvise Master of the Templars, a Valiant and Courageous General, being made Governor of the City by the general consent of those within, he encouraged the Christians to be Valiant, and play the Men and not like Prodigal Heirs part with the City for nothing, which cost their Predecessors so much pains, and Blood to get, or at leastwise to make one Blaze of Valour before their Lamp expired, telling them, it would be a shame for them to show their Friends their Faces, if they turned their Backs to their Enemies; and therefore exhorted them to fight it out manfully, that so if forced at last to surrender it they might rather be pitied for want of Fortune, then justly blamed for lack of Valour. And the City being now to wrestle its last fall, he stripped it of all things that were cumbersome and unuseful, for all the Women and Children and the Men too that were either aged or feeble, and had Mouths to eat and no Arms to fight he sent away, retaining only twelve thousand, which he conceived enough to defend the place notwithstanding the vast number of the besiegers.  
The Sultan Assaulted the City divers times with great Fury, but was still beaten back by the Christians Artillery, and great numbers of the Turks killed, but in one of those conflicts the undaunted Governor was unfortunately slain by a poisoned Arrow; a loss above grieving for, and the greater because irreparable, many indeed were strong in desiring the Honour, but all too weak to discharge the Office; so that the Christians being divided among themselves neglected to defend the City, imagining that if it should be taken, yet every Nation would be able to defend its part in regard their buildings were all fortified within themselves, which idle and dangerous fancy took off their thoughts from minding the public good, and fixed them only on their own private ends.  
The Turks at length taking the advantage of this Preposterous neglect, entered the City at a breach which they had made in the Wall, by undermining of it, thinking their work had then been done, tho' they quickly found to their cost that it was but just begun, for to their astonishment and wonder, they found Ptolemais not a City but a great heap of Cities, as it were thrown together, the people of every Nation having so Fortified themselves in their several Forts, that they didfrom thence Power forth whole volleys of shot upon the Turks, when they entered the Streets, which makes it a thing hardly to be paralleled in History, for a City to hold out so long after it was taken, for they bravely defended themselves against the Whole Turkish power for fifty days together, and after all the rest were subdued the Knights Hospitallers who always bore an implacable hatred to the Turks, maintained their Castle near a month longer, but their unhappy division rendering them unable to subsist long, they were at length most of them slain, and the City wholly subdued by there numerous enemies.  
However it was a Bloody Victory to the Conqueror, most of those who entered the City being burned with Fire, killed with Arrows, or Smothered by the fall of Towers, of the very Ruins being as it were greedy of revenge, killed those who destroyed them.  
Ptolemais being now taken the Sultan thought it a good pennyworth, tho' it cost him so dear, and therefore to make sure work and prevent all feuture occasion of Ejecting such sturdy Tenants, Leveled it even with the Ground.  
No fewer than an hundred thousand Christians which were all the Latins that were left; fled at this time out of Palestine into Cyprus, where they were freely entertained by Henry King of that Island and Jerusalem, to his great cost but greater commendation.  
Five hundred Matrons and Virgins of Noble Blood, are by the Miracle Monger of that age, said to stand on the shore of Ptolemais, with all their rich Jewels & cry out with a lamentable voice for some body to Transport them from that dangerous place, proffering any Mariner that would undertake it all their Wealth for his pains, and that he should choose out of them any one whom he best liked for a Wife, and that thereupon a certain Mariner came and Transported them all freely, Landing them safely in Cyprus. But when he was sent for to receive his Hire, it could not by the strictest enquiry be ever learned who this Mariner was, or what became of him afterwards.  
The Hospitallers were forced for haste to leave their Treasure behind them which they hide in a Vault, making it known from time to time to their Successors. About three hundred years after it was fetched away by the Galleys of Malta.  
Thus after an hundred thirty four years had this Holy War its final period, having been for continuance the longest, for Charges the most expensive, for Slaughter of Men the most Bloody, for Pretence the most Pious, and for the True Intent of it the most Politic and Subtle that ever the World saw. And at this day the Turks to spare the Christians pains in going so far as Palestine, have done them the unwelcome courtesy, to come more than half the way to meet them, but yet it is to be hoped that if they lose Buda, which they cannot in all possibility avoid, they will be wholly driven out of Europe, by the Victorious Arms of the Christians; and that it will not be long before their vast and overgrown Empire be finally ruined, and sink under the Ponderous Weight of its own greatness, to which let all who love the name of Christ, say, Amen.   

CHAP. XI.  
The Holy War revived again by the present Emperor of Germany, and the King of Poland. With the Parallel between that and the former War.  
SInce the Holy War was ended there hath been some offers of Christian Princes to revive it again. For Henry the Fourth King of England, towards the latter end of his Reign, purposed to have made a Voyage into Palestine, being told by some pretenders to the gift of Prophecy, that he should not die tell he had heard Mass in Jerusalem, but Henry was deceived, and the Voyage prevented by his dying soon after in a Chamber in his own Palace, at Westminster called by that name. And Charles the Eighth King of France after his return out of Italy, sent a huffing Embassage to our Henry the seventh, wherein he gave him to understand that he had resolved to make a second conquest of Naples, with a design to make use of it as a bridge, to transport his Forces into Grecia, resolving neither to spare blood nor treasure, altho' it were to the imparing of his Crown, and dispeopling of his Kingdom, till he had either ruined the Ottoman Empire, or taken it in his way to Par adice, (meaning the City of Jerusalem) but the French having had enough of the first adventure for Naples, we never hear more of this threatened Voyage, to Jerusalem which is thought to be propounded, only to amuse Henry till Charles should have performed some projects he had then on foot, in the Dukedom of Britain, which design being scented by our King he used him accordingly.  
More Cordial was the design of James the Fourth of Scotland, Who being touched in conscience for his Father's death (which tho' he did not procure, yet he seemed to countenance by his presence) to expiate his Crime, intended a voyage to the Holy Land. In order whereunto he had prepared his Soldiers, and imparted his design to Foreign Princes, and had certainly gone had not other wars breaking out unexpectedly, and his own sudden death prevented him.  
Among those Overtures, we find one said to be really performed by William Landgrave of Hesse, who with only Ninety eight Noblemen and Earls in his Company, made a Holy Voyage into Palestine, which he performed in Seven months' time. And upon his return, brought away with him Forty six Ensigns of Horse, which he had taken from the Turks, with the loss of one Man only, and he not slain neither, but died at Cyprus in their return home. A Victory so absolute and bloodless to the Conqueror, that were it true it would admit no parallel; but the Voyage and Victory were both fictitious, being found only in Calvisious, who quotes one Fab, an Historian no where to be met withal, for his Author; and the Chronology wherein it is recorded being Printed after the Author's death, it is most probable, that those to whom the care of Printing it was committed, found this story in some Paper he had put in his Chronicle, and for the improbability of it, marked it to be Fabulous; which word in regard he had written it defectively with the three first Letters only, they thought to have been some Historian whose Name was Fab, and so inserted it in the Chronicle itself.  
Ever since the huffing Embassy of Charles, the French King, the Holy War hath, for any thing I can find to the contrary, been wholly laid asleep till revived again by the present Emperor of Germany, and John Sobieski, King of Poland, in the Year 1683. The occasion whereof was briefly thus:  
The Grand Signior having by the persuasions of Count Teckeley, sent an huge Army under the leading of the Grand Vizier, to invade the Imperial Territories in Hugaria; against which the Duke of Lorain, who then commanded the Emperor's Forces there, being not able to make head, they destroyed all before them with Fire and Sword; and passing forward, sat down before Vienna, the Imperial City of Germany, not doubting but that they should with their vast Army have quickly devoured that Important Place, and notwithstanding its having been ever accounted the Bulwark of Christendom, have added it to the rest of the Ottoman Conquest. The Emperor of Germany, and the King of Poland, seeing the sad Estate to which things were now like to be reduced, entered into a League offensive and defensive, and resolved with their united Forces, to chastise the Turk for that proud Attempt.  
The Vizier's Army, wherewith he had now begirt Vienna, consisted of an Hundred and Fifty Thousand Men, which were the very Flower of the Turkish Soldiery, wherewith he made several fierce Attacks upon the City, which were carried on with all the Courage and Skill imaginable, and sprang several Mines, whereby he did more mischief, than by his Batteries. Notwithstanding which, the City, by the resolution and encouragement of Count Starembergh, their undaunted Governor, bravely defended itself from the fourteenth of July, till the twelfth of the following September, when the Turks were Forced to raise the Siege, and retire with great disorder into Hungaria, whither they were so closely pursued by the Victorious Christians, that very few of that numerous Army escaped to carry the tidings, of their Overthrow to Constantinople. Vast quantities of Provision and Ammunition, above an hundred pieces of Cannon, two Horse Tails, which the Turks always use to hang out as a Denounciation of War, when ever they undertake any great expedition, all their Tents, which were above thirty thousand in number, all the Enemy's Baggage, together with the Viziers own Horse, and the Grand Seignors STANDARD, which was extraordinary Rich and Sumptuous, being curiously Embroidered with charactars' of Gold and Silver, upon Green and Red Silk, were here taken by the Christians, as Trophies of their Victory; the form and shape of the Standard you have here described in this figure. The Infidels receiving likewise at the same time several great overthrows by the Sieur Kiniski, General of the Cossacks who having slain about thirty thousand Turks and Taratrs, entered the Country of Budziak destroying all before him, slaying an hundred thousand of them, and taking the Cities of Bialogrod, and Ketin.  
The Christians encouraged by these Victories resolved to pursue them, and drive the Turks quite out of Europe, in order whereunto after they had taken the City of Tytchin, and several other places which the Turks held in Upper Hungaria, the Duke of Lorraein invested Buda itself with the greatest part of the Imperial Army, Commanding Count Leslie to Encamp with the rest, about Virovitzie, on the Drove, to cover the Siege. This City is the strongest place the Turks enjoy in Hungary, it being formerly the Metropolis of that Kingdom, where the Kings of Hungary kept their Courts, but being taken from the Christians in the Year 1591. By Solyman the Magnificent, Emperor of the Turks; they have ever since made it the seat and constant residence of their Chief Bassa, or Viceroy of that part of Hungary, which is ssposseed by them, so that it is very populous and rich. And being exceedingly well fortified with a strong built Wall, and an Invincible Castle, and having between 18 or 19 Thousand Men in Garrison, they have made a stout resistance, and declared a resolution to defend it to the last Man. Notwithstanding which it is verily believed that it cannot hold out much longer, but the Turks must be forced to surrender that City to the Emperor, after having enjoyed it near an hundred years.  
And that the Turk might be employed on all sides, the Venetians were invited likewise into this League against them, which they accepted of, and sent out a brave fleet under the Command of their General Morosini, to attack them at home, to which Fleet the Pope and the Knights of Malta also joined several of their Galleys, and so did the Duke of Tuscany, making in all forty six Galleys, six Galliesses, thirty three Men of War, twenty four Petaches, four Fire Ships, sixteen Brigantines armed, and eighty two Galliots, on Board whereof they had an Army of twenty five thousand Men or upwards.  
Sancta Maria a strong Fortress of great consequence to the Turks, was the first place that felt the force of their victorious Arms, which being quickly compelled to a surrender, they took their course towardsd Lepanto. And General Moraseni concluding it necessary, for the maintaining the Conquest of Sancta Maria, to possess himself of Prevese, a place of great importance in regard it is situated at the very entrance, and Commands the Gulf of Arta, resolved to attempt it.  
Wherefore having Commanded five Galleys and six Galliesses, to approach towards the Castles of Gomenizzes, not far from Prevese, thereby to amuse the Turks and oblige them to divide their Troops, by sending reinforcements thither, which succeeded accordingly. For Saban Bassà Governor of Prevese, believing the Ventians designed to attack those Castles, sent thither the greatest part of those he had drawn together, for the security of the Town. He brought his whole Fleet to an Anchor at the entrance of the Gulf, and the next morning ordered Captain Menetta with twenty four Barks, and several Armed Brigantines to enter the Gulf, and land with part of the Forces under the Command of General Strasoldo. The Turks who expected them to land where the Galleys had posted themselves, and had therefore employed their Chief care on that side, now perceiving their error, immediately sent away five hundred Spahees to charge them, but they having put themselves into order of Battle, gave them so hot a welcome that many of them were slain, and the rest fled in such disorder that they were most of them cut off, before they could reach the Town. Then the Christians advancing, and having without opposition possessed themselves of a Hill near the Town, the General sent to summon it, but the Officer who cammanded it in the absence of the Governor, (who was then abroad at the Head of a party of Turks, to observe the Christians and fancied they durst not undertake the Siege of so strong a place,) would not receive the General's letter, but fired upon the Messenger that carried it; Whereupon four pieces of Cannon and as many Mortars were landed, and being placed upon a Battery, the next day about three hundred Bombs were shot into the Town, which burned several Houses, and before night all their Cannon were dismounted, except one. The next day they Lodged themselves in the Ditch, & began to undermine the great Tower, whereupon twenty Turks made a sally in the night, & surprised some of the Christians, which did but whet the Christians Valour, and make them carry on their works with the greater eagerness and speed, notwithstanding the Enemy plied them very close, with their small shot. So that the Mine being ready and a considerable breach made in the Wall, order was given for a general asault, but the Turks unwilling to run that hazard, hung out a white flag and sent five of their Principals to treat with the General, about surrendering the place. Who demanded the same conditions that were granted to the garrison of Sancta Maria, but the General would consent to no other terms, then only to permit thirty of the most considerable of them to march out with their arms, and baggage, and the rest without arms, taking with them what they could carry, which the Turks were forced to submit to, and leave the Town to the Conquerors. The Turks by the loss of this place, besides the Town itself lost above 100000 Crowns, which they got yearly by the Fishery.  
This War may very well be paralleled to the  and as Justly deserves the Name of Holy.  
First, because in this War the Quarrel is between Christians and Turks, as well as in that and the design of the Wariours, is to Check the spreading of the Mahometan Superstition, as well as to put a stop to the progress of the Ottoman Arms.  
Secondly, as the former was undertaken to wrest from the Turks, what had been before enjoyed by the Christians, and free the Professors of Chrstianity from the Yoke of Infidelity, so was this.  
Thirdly, as the former had the blessing of the Pope, and his Holiness' Contribution of money, and men for the carrying of it on, so had this & therefore will without doubt be looked upon, by Succeeding ages, as an Holy and Religious War, which I hope will never have a Period, till Mahomet's Tomb be tumbled down, and the Ottoman Empire overthrown.   
FINIS.