without resigning
the substantial dominion, presented the emperor with the keys of the
holy sepulchre, and perhaps of the city of Jerusalem. In the decline of
the Carlovingian monarchy, the republic of Amalphi promoted the interest
of trade and religion in the East. Her vessels transported the Latin
pilgrims to the coasts of Egypt and Palestine, and deserved, by their
useful imports, the favor and alliance of the Fatimite caliphs: [61] an
annual fair was instituted on Mount Calvary: and the Italian merchants
founded the convent and hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, the cradle of
the monastic and military order, which has since reigned in the isles of
Rhodes and of Malta. Had the Christian pilgrims been content to revere
the tomb of a prophet, the disciples of Mahomet, instead of blaming,
would have imitated, their piety: but these rigid Unitarians were
scandalized by a worship which represents the birth, death, and
resurrection, of a God; the Catholic images were branded with the name
of idols; and the Moslems smiled with indignation [62] at the miraculous
flame which was kindled on the eve of Easter in the holy sepulchre. [63]
This pious fraud, first devised in the ninth century, [64] was devoutly
cherished by the Latin crusaders, and is annually repeated by the
clergy of the Greek, Armenian, and Coptic sects, [65] who impose on
the credulous spectators [66] for their own benefit, and that of their
tyrants. In every age, a principle of toleration has been fortified by
a sense of interest: and the revenue of the prince and his emir was
increased each year, by the expense and tribute of so many thousand
strangers.

[Footnote 58: Our best fund for the history of Jerusalem from Heraclius
to the crusades is contained in two large and original passages of
William archbishop of Tyre, (l. i. c. 1-10, l. xviii. c. 5, 6,)
the principal author of the Gesta Dei per Francos. M. De Guignes has
composed a very learned Memoire sur le Commerce des Francois dans le de
Levant avant les Croisades, &c. (Mem. de l'Academie des Inscriptions,
tom. xxxvii. p. 467-500.)]

[Footnote 59: Secundum Dominorum dispositionem plerumque lucida plerum
que nubila recepit intervalla, et aegrotantium more temporum praesentium
gravabatur aut respirabat qualitate, (l. i. c. 3, p. 630.) The latinity
of William of Tyre is by no means contemptible: but in his account of
490 years, from the loss to the recovery of Jerusalem, precedes the true
account by 30 ye