William of Tyre recorded the rumor that the queen was having an illicit relationship with the "young and very handsome" Count Hugh, drawing the king's ire. Hamilton and Mayer both discount the gossip. Mayer argues that William himself did not believe the rumor and that a medieval queen, being constantly attended by the members of her household and the court, would have found it exceedingly difficult to have a secret lover. Hamilton, on the other hand, argues that public opinion, spearheaded by the clergy, would have sided with Fulk and not, as it did, with Melisende if she had committed adultery. Mayer suspects that the rumors may have been spread by Fulk to both get rid of Hugh and to have Melisende locked up in a monastery, circumventing Baldwin II's will. thumb|A knight stabs Count Hugh, who is playing dice in the street. Royal involvement was widely suspected. Hugh's stepson Walter I Grenier, lord of Caesarea, openly accused him of treason at court. Mayer suggests that Walter may have been incited to make this accusation. Hugh denied the charge and was challenged to a trial by combat, but did not appear. The king thus obtained a legal reason to confiscate Hugh's County of Jaffa. Fulk laid siege to Jaffa, but the patriarch intervened and mediated peace: Hugh would cede Jaffa to the king and receive it back after spending three years in exile. Before he could leave for Europe, Hugh was stabbed in the street by a knight. After recovering he went into exile, where he died. The assassination attempt was widely suspected to have been ordered by King Fulk; though Fulk's involvement was never proven, his reputation was severely damaged.
William of Tyre recorded the rumor that the queen was having an illicit relationship with the "young and very handsome" Count Hugh, drawing the king's ire. Hamilton and Mayer both discount the gossip. Mayer argues that William himself did not believe the rumor and that a medieval queen, bei,ng constantly attended by the members of her household and the court, would have found it exceedingly difficult to have a secret lover. Hamilton, on the other hand, argues that public opinion, spearheaded by the clergy, would have sided with Fulk and not, as it did, with Melisende if she had committed adultery. Mayer suspects that the rumors may have been spread by Fulk to both get rid of Hugh and to have Melisende locked up in a monastery, circumventing Baldwin II's will. thumb|A knight stabs Count Hugh, who is playing dice in the street. Royal involvement was widely suspected. Hugh's stepson Walter I Grenier lord of Caesarea, openly accused him of treason at court. Mayer suggests that Walter may have been incited to make this accusation. Hugh denied the charge and was challenged to a trial by combat, but did not appear. The king thus obtained a legal reason to confiscate Hugh's County of Jaffa. Fulk laid siege to Jaffa, but the patriarch intervened and mediated peace: Hugh would cede Jaffa to the king and receive it back after spending three years in exile. Before he could leav,e for Europe, Hugh was stabbed in the street by a knight. After recovering he went into exile where he died. The assassination attempt was widely suspected to have been ordered by King Fulk; though Fulk's involvement was never proven, his reputation was severely damaged.