volume one

HISTORY OF THE CKUS_ides. 413
husband, aud clioosing a ^Ya^rior able to defend the kingdom.
AVben this report had circulated through Jerusalem, Sibylla
ordered the gates of the city to be shut, and repaired to the
church of the Holy Sepulchre. In the presence of the
tomb of Christ, Heraclius took the oath of allegiance to her
in the name of the clergy and the people, pronounced her
divorce with a loud voice, and commanded her in the name
of Heaven to bestow her hand and sceptre upon him she
deemed most worthy of them. At these words Sibylla
placed the crown upon the head of her husband, who was
on his knees before her, saying it was not in the power of
man to separate those whom God had united.
Whilst a part of the people and some of the barons,
seduced by vain promises, applauded the choice of Sibylla,
the partisans of Kaymond were highly indignant at having
been deceived by a woman. The coronation of Gruy de
Lusignan naturally alarmed all who thought that Jerusalem
stood in less need of a king than of a defender. Baldwin
of Eamla, one of the most skilful captains of his times,
despaired of the safety of the kingdom, and retired into
the principality of Antioch, repeating the threats of the
prophets against Jerusalem. Geoftrey de Lusignan, when
he heard of the elevation of his brother, could not forbear
exclaiming : " Well, if they have made a king of him, they
would have made a god of me if they had Jcnown Twe."
When that which had taken place at Jerusalem was announced
to the barons assembled at Naplouse, most of them
I'esolved to abandon Palestine ; but the count of Tripoli
detained them, advising them to name a new king, and
bestow the crown upon Homfrey de Thorou, who had recently
married Isabella, the second daughter of Amaury.
He even promised to gain the support of Saladin for this
election, and succeeded in persuading the assembly. Whilst
they were yet deliberating, young Homfrey, terrified at the
burden they wished to impose upon him, iled away secretly
by night, and hastened to the capital to ask pardon of Queen
Sibylla, protesting that he preferred ease and life to the
throne of Jerusalem. This ilight disconcerted all measures
and changed all projects. Several barons, not knowing to
what party it would be best to ally themselves, went and
took the oath to Guy de Lusignan ; whilst others, returning