Biography of Melisende Queen of Jerusalem 1105-1161

A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea by William of Tyre Book 15 Chapter 27. [13th November 1143]. It happened, however, in those days that, when the lord king [[her husband] Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem (age 54)], along with the lady queen [Melisende Queen of Jerusalem (age 38)], after autumn had passed, was staying in the city of Acre, the queen wished, to relieve her boredom, to go out of the city to certain suburban places, irrigated by springs, for the sake of recreation; whereupon the lord king, so that the queen might not lack company, decided also himself, with his usual retinue, to set forth. And while they were going along, it happened by chance that the boys who were going before the ranks and retinue stirred up a hare lying in the furrows, which, as it fled, was pursued by the clamor of all. The king, however, seizing a lance, in order to pursue this same hare, driven by a stroke of bad luck, began to urge his horse toward those parts, and to press on the chase vigorously. Finally, as the horse rushed forward heedlessly, it was driven headlong; and falling to the ground, threw the king headlong, and to the one lying there, stunned by the pain of the fall, the saddle crushed his head, so that the brain was emitted both through his ears and even through his nostrils. At this accident, the entire retinue, both those going before and those following, terrified by the harshness of the event, turned around, and wanting to bring help to the one lying there, found him lifeless, for he had neither voice nor sense.

Accidit autem illis diebus, quod cum dominus rex, una cum domina regina transcurso autumno, in civitate Acconense moram faceret, voluit regina, sublevandi gratia fastidii, extra urbem ad loca quaedam suburbana, fontibus irrigua, causa recreationis exire: quo dominus rex, ut solatium reginae non deesset, adjecit etiam ipse, cum solito comitatu proficisci. Dumque inter eundum esset, accidit casu ut qui agmina et comitatum praeibant pueri, leporem in sulcis jacentem excitarent, quem fugientem clamor prosecutus est universorum. Rex autem, arrepta lancea, ut eumdem leporem insectaretur, sinistro actus casu, equum ad illas coepit urgere partes, et cursui vehementer instare. Tandem inconsulte festinans equus in praeceps agitur; corruensque in terram, regem dedit praecipitem, jacentique prae casus dolore attonito, sella caput obtrivit, ita ut cerebrum tam per aures, quam per nares etiam emitteretur. Ad hunc casum, universus qui praeibat et qui sequebatur, facti acerbitate perterritus, conversus est comitatus, et jacenti opem ferre volentes, exanimem reperiunt, cui neque vox erat, neque sensus.