CHAP. IV.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

257

the town alone, but of the entire county of Edessa,decamped in a body, and sought refuge from Greeksand Turks, in Syria or Palestine, and being pursuedin their flight, like the Israelites by Pharaoh, under-went a thousand dangers.

On the twenty-seventh of June, 1148, the Countof Tripoli was assassinated by an unknown hand;and all the towns of his dominions thrown intomourning. 1 In Jerusalem the queen mother -wasin open insurrection against her own son. Unfor-tunate Baldwin abandoned by France and Germany,and his whole kingdom falling to pieces, wasobliged to besiege his own mother, who with herpartizans had shut herself up in the tower ^of David! 2 Which tower of David wasafterwards pulled down by the Moslems, whoadmired the immensity of its blocks and how firmlythey were fastened to each other, Cyclopean archi-tecture. 3 To fill the chalice, two Turkish princesundertook to beleaguer the holy city, and would havesucceeded, but for a few Templars and Hospitallers.Nor was Baldwin III., nor the Patriarch, nor themilitary orders unmoved, but sent the tidings tothe Pope, who endeavoured to excite Christen-dom. But the recent crusade had caused discontent

1 Michaud : Hist., ii. 203. 2 Id. : Id., 203.

3 Rothelin : MS.—Rib. Crois., i. 379.

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