volume one

I4i4i HISTORY OF THE CEUSADES.
to exhibit in tlie camp tlie silk stuffs, bucklers, lances, jave-
lins, and rich swords found in the coffins ; nor did this
spectacle at all disgust the knights and barons. On the day
follo\ving the battle, among the spoils of the vanquislied,
they contemplated with joy fifteen hundi-ed heads separated
from their trunks, which were paraded in triumph through
the armv, recalling to them their own victory, and the loss
thev had inflicted on the infidels. All these heads were cast
into the Orontes, and, together with the bodies of the Mussulmans
di'owned in the conflict of the preceding day, carried
the news of the victory to the Genoese and Pisans disembarked
at the port of 8t. Simeon. The Crusaders, who, at
the commencement of the battle, had fled towards the sea
or the mountains, and who had been lamented as dead,
retiuTied to the camp, and joined their brethren in the
thanks offered to heaven for the triumphs of the . Christian
army. From this time the cliiefs thought of nothing but
taking advantage of the teiTor with which they had inspired
the Saracens. Masters of the cemeterv of the Mussulmans,
the Crusaders destroyed the mosque which had been built
outside the walls of the city, and employed the stones of the
tombs even in erecting a fortress before the gate of the
brido-e, bv which the besieored made their sorties. Exivmond,
who had been accused of want of zeal for the holy
war, caused the fort to be constructed, and charged himself
with the defence of this dangerous post. It was proposed
to raise another fortress near the first, and as no other of
the leaders presented himself to forward the construction of
it, Tancred oflered his services to the Crusaders. But,
generous and loyal knight as he was, he possessed nothing
but his sword and his renown. He asked the necessary
money of his companions, and himself undertook the dangers
of the enterprise. All were eager to second his courageous
devotedness ; the labours which he directed were soon
finished, and from that period the besieged foimd themselves
completely enclosed within the circle of their walls.
The Crusaders, after having thus finished the blockade of
the place, sm'prised the Syrians who had been accustomed
to bring provisions into Antioch, and only gave them libei-ty
and life upon their swearing to supply the Christian army.
Having learnt that Accien had sent a great part of the