volume one

HISTOEY OE THE CRUSADES. 411
upon his states ; and tlius the guilty amours of a Christian
prince produced trouble and desolation throughout a whole
nation. The sight even of the tomb of Christ was unable
to inspire more holy thoughts. The patriarch Heraclius,
who only owed his elevation to mundane and profane quali-
ties, lavished the treasures due to pilgrims and the poor,
upon infamous prostitutes, and the Christian people were
often astonished to see the notorious Paque de Rivery display,
even in the sanctuary, ornaments purchased with the
alms of the faithful.
A people thus degenerated could not possibly preserve the
kingdom of Christ. Tlie eyes of all were turned towards
the West, and Heraclius, attended by the two grand mas-
ters of the Temple and St. John, was sent into Europe to
solicit the prompt assistance of kings and their warriors.
The king of France, Philip Augustus, received the Christian
deputies with great honoLu-s ; but as he had but recently ascended
the throne, the interests of his kingdom would not
permit him to go in person to the defence of Jerusalem.
Henry II., king of England, appeared to be the last hope of
the Christians ; he had promised the pope to make the pilgi'image
to the Holy Land, as an expiation of the murder of
the archbishop of Canterbury, and Heraclius repaired to his
court, presenting him with the keys and standard of the
Holy Sepulchre, and pressing him to perform his promise.
The bad reputation of the patriarch had preceded him into
Europe, and very much weakened the effect of his words
he displayed, likewise, neither the meekness nor the charity
of the Scriptmes, and only irritated those whom he sought
to persuade or convince. As the English monarch hesitated
to fulfil his promises, alleging his advanced age and the welfare
of his dominions, Heraclius loaded him with the most
outrageous reproaches, threatening him with the anger of
Heaven. The aged Henry appearing irritated by this language,
the patriarch redoubled his insolence and pride.
"You may," said he, on terminating his discourse, "treat
me as you treated my brother Thomas, for it is quite indifferent
to me whether I die in Syria by the hands of infidels,
or perish here by the orders of you who are more wicked
than a Saracen." Henry endeavoured to conceal his anger,
and did not dare to punish the envoy of the Christians ;
19*
he
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