William of Tyre was born in the Holy Land, educated in France, and returned to Tyre to serve as Archbishop and as Chancellor of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. He wrote his History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea in the late 12th. century.^[1]

THE KINGDOM OF JERUSALEM

Thus through the superabundant grace of God the Holy City had been restored to the Christian people and matters had been reduced to some degree of order. Seven days glided by in much rejoicing, tempered, indeed, by the fear of the Lord and spiritual gladness. On the eighth day the leaders assembled for consultation. It was their purpose, after invoking the grace of the Holy Spirit, to choose someone from among their own number to rule over the region and to bear the royal responsibility for that province.

But while they were deliberating over the matter, some of the clergy, puffed up with the spirit of pride and intent on their own interests rather than on those of Jesus Christ, also gathered. They sent a message to the chiefs saying that they had certain private matters which they wished to bring before those who were now sitting in council. On being admitted, they said, “It has been reported to the clergy that you have met for the purpose of choosing one of your number as king. This purpose of yours seems to us holy and well advised and, if it were reached in its proper order, worthy of being carried out with all care. It is undoubtedly true that spiritual matters are of higher importance than temporal and ought therefore to be considered first. In our opinion, the order should be reversed, and, before election to a secular office is thought of, some person of religious life, pleasing to God, ought to be chosen who will be capable of presiding over the church of God for its advancement and benefit. If it pleases you to proceed in this order, it will be most agreeable to us, and we are with you in body and spirit. But if not, we shall pronounce whatever you decree without our approval invalid and without force.”

The princes regarded the objections of the clergy stated in the preceding chapter as frivolous and of no importance. Though intent on carrying out their plan, yet they took the proposal under consideration. Some accounts say that, in order that the election might be conducted in accordance with the will of God and that the merits of the candidates might receive due consideration, individuals from the households of those proposed for the honor were secretly interviewed. Each man was forced to take an oath that, when questioned concerning the life and character of his lord, he would speak the truth without deviating from the facts. This course was adopted so that the electors might obtain full and accurate information as to the worth of the several candidates. When later these people were asked searching questions by the electors, they were bound by the oath which they had taken to acknowledge under seal of secrecy many faults as well as virtues in their masters. By this means it was hoped that an unbiased judgment of the character and personality of each candidate might be formed. When, among others, members of Godfrey’s staff were examined they declared that of all the doings of the lord duke, the following seemed to them the most trying: namely, that when he once entered a church he could not be induced to leave, even after the celebration of the divine office was concluded. He continued to question the priests and others cognizant of such matters as to the meaning of each image and picture until his companions, whose interests were different, were excessively bored. Moreover, because of this habit of his, the viands which had been prepared for a fixed and suitable hour were, when finally eaten, overdone and tasteless as the result of the long delay.

On hearing this complaint, the electors exclaimed, “Happy the man who possesses these characteristics, to whom that is ascribed as a fault which others would boast of as a virtue!” After carefully considering all aspects of the matter, the electors unanimously agreed upon the duke as their choice. Godfrey was elected and escorted with great devotion to the Sepulchre of the Lord, attended by the singing of chants and hymns.

It is said, however, that the majority of the electors had agreed upon Raymond, count of Toulouse, as their choice. They knew, however, that if he did not obtain the kingdom he intended to return home at once. Hence, drawn by an intense longing for the soil of their beloved native land, they had invented many reasons, even against the dictates of conscience, why the count should be considered unfit for the office. In spite of all this, Raymond spurned the call of his fatherland and, devotedly following Christ, did not return home. On the contrary, he continued on the pilgrimage which he had once and for all undertaken and voluntarily followed poverty even to the end. For he knew that “he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved”; and also that “No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Duke Godfrey, whose name occurs so often in this chronicle, was, by the grace of God, confirmed as the supreme head of the realm, and all quarrels, if perchance any had arisen, were settled. Then the kingdom began to grow strong, and during the days of his reign it became well established. Nevertheless, Godfrey reigned only one year. For the sins of men forbade that through the longer ministrations of this great prince the tender plant of Christian dominion should be refreshed and comforted in the face of the tribulations which menaced it. He was snatched away from the midst of men, lest his heart be changed by wickedness for, as it is written, “The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart.”

The younger Godfrey had three brothers, all worthy, by dignity of character and eminent valor, to be the brothers of so great a lord. Of these, Baldwin, count of Edessa, later followed Godfrey as ruler of Jerusalem, and Eustace, count of Boulogne, who was named for his father, succeeded to the paternal estates and ruled the county after his sire’s death. The daughter of this Eustace, Matilda, married Stephen, the illustrious and magnificent king of the Angles.

When Baldwin died without children, his brother Eustace was summoned by the leading men of the East to succeed to the kingdom. He was unwilling to go, however, for he feared that his elevation to the throne could not be brought about without strife.

Godfrey’s third brother, William, was an illustrious man who did not fall short of the energetic and lofty character which distinguished his father and brothers. The two brothers first mentioned followed their lord and brother upon the expedition, while William, the third, remained at home.

Godfrey, the oldest according to the flesh, was distinguished by nobility of character also, as far as the qualities of the inner man were concerned, and to him rightly the precedence belonged. He was a man of deep religious character, devout and God-fearing, merciful and just. Serious and steadfast in word, he shunned all evil ways. He scorned the vanity of the world, a trait rare at his time of life, and especially in one belonging to the military profession. He was constant in prayer, assiduous in good works, and noted for his liberality. Gracious and affable, kind and forbearing, he showed himself in all his ways commendable and pleasing to God. He was tall of stature, not extremely so, but still taller than the average man. He was strong beyond compare, with solidly built limbs and stalwart chest. His features were pleasing, his beard and hair of a medium blond. In the use of arms and in the practice of military tactics he was, in the judgment of all, without a peer.

By this time nearly all the leaders who had taken part in the expedition had returned to their own lands. There remained only the duke, to whom the care of the kingdom had been committed, and Tancred, whom Godfrey had kept with him as a wise man, energetic and successful, to share in the responsibility. The resources and military strength of the Christians were very small at that time. When all had been called together with the utmost diligence, barely three hundred knights and two thousand foot soldiers could be found.

The cities which had come under our power were but few, and these were so situated in the midst of the enemy that the Christians could not pass from one to another, when necessity required, without great danger. The entire country surrounding their possessions was inhabited by infidel Saracens, who were most cruel enemies of our people. These were all the more dangerous because they were close at hand, for no pest can more effectively do harm than an enemy at one’s very doors. Any Christian who walked along the highway without taking due precaution was liable to be killed by the Saracens, or seized and handed over as a slave to the enemy. Moreover, they refused to cultivate the fields, in order that our people might suffer from hunger. In fact, they preferred to endure famine themselves rather than furnish anything to the Christians, whom they looked upon as enemies.

Nor was it on the highways alone that danger was feared. Even within the city walls, in the very houses, there was scarcely a place where one could rest in security. For the inhabitants were few and scattered, and the ruinous state of the walls left every place exposed to the enemy. Thieves made stealthy inroads by night. They broke into the deserted cities, whose few inhabitants were scattered far apart, and overpowered many in their own houses. The result was that some stealthily, and many quite openly, abandoned the holdings which they had won and began to return to their own land. For they feared that those who were making great efforts to protect their country would one day be overpowered by the enemy and there would be no one to rescue them from the impending massacre. This condition gave rise to an edict providing that an annual accounting should be held, favoring the interests of those who had persevered in the midst of tribulation and had held their tenure peacefully and without question for a year and a day. This law was introduced, as we have said, through resentment toward those who, because of cowardice, had left their possessions, that they might not be able to return after the lapse of a year and renew their claim.

Although the kingdom was struggling with such poverty, yet Godfrey, fearing God and beloved of God, endeavored under divine guidance to extend the domains of the realm. He assembled military auxiliaries, together with the people of the land, and laid siege to a maritime city near Jaffa, which was formerly called Antipatris but is now generally known as Arsuf. That city, however, was well defended by brave men, valiant in the use of arms, and was abundantly supplied with food and other things necessary for their support. Meanwhile, the duke outside was suffering serious need, especially because he had no ships with which he might prevent the besieged from going in and out. Forced by necessity, therefore, he raised the siege in the hope that in the future a more favorable opportunity for accomplishing his end would be afforded him from on high. But his premature death prevented him from carrying out this intention, and his desire was never realized.