volume one

118 HISTORY OF THE CErSADES.
of the Crusaders, and excused himself by sajdng, that he
had bound hhnself by an oath that none but his o\Yn soldiers
should enter the town. Thus speaking, he pointed to several
towers which were still occupied by the Turks. In the midst
of the timiidt, some Christian women, whose noses and ears
the Turks had cut off, by their presence added to the fury of
the soldiers of Baldwin, and they immediately fell upon the
Tui'ks who remained in the city, and massacred them all
\\'ithout pity.
In the midst uf these scenes of violence, Baldwin received
an unexpected reinforcement. A fleet was seen approaching
the coast full sail. The soldiers of Baldwin, who expected
to have to deal with more infidels, hastened fullv armed to
the shore. As the fleet drew near, they interrogated the
crew of the first ship. The crew replied in the Frank language.
Soon they learnt that these, whom they had taken
to be Mussulmans, were pirates from the ports of Flanders
and Holland. These corsairs had for ten years cruised in
the Mediterranean, where thev had made themselves remarkable
by their exploits, and still more frequently by
their pii^acies. Upon hearing of the expedition of the
Christians of the West, they had made sail for Syria and
Palestine. On the imitation of the Crusaders, they joA'fully
entered the port of Tarsus. Their chief, Guymer, who was
a Boulonnais, recognised Baldwin, the son of his ancient
master, and promised with his companions to serve under
him. Thev all took the cross, and with it the oath to share
the glory and the labours of the holy war.
Aided by this new reinforcement, and lea^'ing a strong
garrison in the city of Tarsus, Baldwin resumed his march,
follo^ving the route of Tancred, and soon came in sight of
Malmistra,* of which the Italians liad just taken possession.
The latter, on seeing Baldwin, were persuaded that he was
come to dispute their new conquest, and prepared to repulse
force by force. AYhen Tancred endeavom^ed to appease his
irritated soldiers, murmiu-s arose against him. They accused
him of having forgotten the honour of chivalry, his moderation
beinof in their eves nothino: but a shameful weakness.
* This is the Me»sis of Abouifeda. See an article upon this city in
Mannert, torn. vi. p. 2, p. 101, which is very learned and very well done.