CHAP. I.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

123

remains a secret, began advancing south; and select-ing five hundred thousand of their bravest, sentthem in five divisions against Poland, Russia,Persia, and driving all before them, forced thefiercest of the preceding Tartaric hordes, theKarismians, to pass the Tigris and Euphrates,with the horrid ferocity of savages in despair.Not religious enthusiasm, but plunder and destruc-tion were their furious passion. And Mussulmanambassadors went through Europe, imploring itsnations to withstand the irruption of those whomassacred alike circumcised and uncircumcised,and were just as inimical to Mahomet as to Christ.That the treaty made by Frederick had pleasedneither party of fanatics, was natural, neitherMoslems nor crusaders. The hot and thoughtlesswill be always against any wise measures. Itcertainly was not wrong in Frederick to declinebreaking a truce; yet was it the age of payinglittle regard to treaties; and those who signed andswore, were at that very moment meditating abreach of them. It is a poor excuse, if any; butlet it stand, that it was too general to be much of adeception. Not only in the East, but everywhere,it was, in the troubadour’s words, “ an age of felony,envy, and treason.’’ 1

1 Michaud: Hist., iv. 70.