volume one

412 iriSTOHY OF TUE CRrSADES.
even treated liim with great magnificence, "but yet did not
leave England. He contented himself with sending the
Christians of Jerusalem a large sum of money, and exhortino-
his subjects to arm themselves for the defence of the
Holy Land.
The zeal for crusades began at this time to abate, and
several ambassadors retiu'ned to Jerusalem without having
been able to arouse the enthusiasm of the western Christians.
iSTations, to be excited to active ardour for holy
wars, required the example of princes or kings. The war-
riors of Europe paid little attention to the exhortations of
the pope and Heraclius. The deputies returned into Palestine
without having obtained the assistance they demanded
and their appearance produced discouragement and despair
among all the Christians of the East.
The unfortunate king, Baldwin, had entirely lost the
and, tormented by his suf-
faculties of both mind and body ;
ferings, he every day drew nearer to the tomb, presenting
but too faithful an image of the weakness and decline of his
kingdom. Whilst the approach of death filled his palace
with mourning, parties contended for a throne which tottered
to its fall, and for a crown which the most wise compared to
the crown of thorns of Christ. AVhen he closed his eyes,
the e\'ils increased, and discord submitted to no restraint.
The count of Tripoli wished to retain the reins of government
as regent ; whilst Sibylla was desirous of bestowing
the sceptre upon her husband. In the midst of these dissensions
Baldwin Y., the weak and fragile hope of the king-
dom, died suddenly. All who had aspired to his authority
period, in which such
were accused of his death : unhappy
accusations could possibly be well founded, and in which a
whole people could think of reproaching a queen with the
murder of her own son !
Scarcely was Baldwin dead than his mother desired to
reign in his place ; and in order to satisfy the ambition of
herself and Guy de Lusignan, she disdained no artifice and
spared no perfidious promises. Whilst the count of Tripoli
was gathering together at jS'aplouse the barons and principal
men of the kingdom, the daughter of Amaury, by the advice
of the patriarch and the grand master of the Templars,
announced her intention of separating herself from her
;