volume one

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HISTORY OF THE CRUSADES. 283
were on the point of entering tlie place, when the count of
Edessa and the prince of Antioch disputed the possession of
it. Whilst the debates kept the best leaders in the Christian
tents, the Saracens of Mossoul and Aleppo came to the
assistance of the city, and gave battle to the besiegers. A
great number of Christians were slain in this conflict ; and
many fell into the hands of the infidels, who, in the intoxication
of victory, insulted both the vanquished and the religion
of Christ. History relates that the railleries of the
Mussulmans inspired rage and despair among the army of
the Christians, and that towards the end of the fight, one
knight braved alone the victorious infidels, and rushed among
the enemy's ranks, crying, " Let all zvho are willing to sup
with me in Paradise, follow me^ This brave knight at first
astonished the Saracens by his daring, but he soon fell,
pierced with many wounds. The archbishop of Edessa,
Josselin de Courtenay, and Baldwin du Bourg were loaded
with irons, and taken to the prisons of Mossoul. The
prince of Antioch and Tancred were alone able to escape the
pursuit of the Mussulmans, with a small number of their
soldiers. This defeat spread terror among all the Christians
of the East. Bohemond, on his return to his capital, was
menaced at the same time by the Grreeks and the Saracens
and, as he had now neither allies nor auxiliaries, and was
destitute of both men and money, he determined to go back
into Europe, and to
assist him.
call upon the nations of the West to
After having spread abroad a report of his death, he embarked
at Antioch, and, concealed in a coffin,* passed through
the fleet of the G-reeks, who rejoiced at his death, and heaped
curses on his memory. On arriving in Italy, Bohemond
went to throw himself at the feet of the sovereign pontiff"
describing the misfortunes he had endured in defence of the
holy religion, and invoking the vengeance of Heaven upon
Alexius, whom he represented as the greatest scourge of the
Christians. The pope welcomed him as a hero and a martyr;
he praised his exploits, listened to his complaints, intrusted
to him the standard of St. Peter, and permitted him, in the
* ** Anna Comnena adds, that to complete the deceit, he was shut up
with a dead cock ; and wonders how the barbarian could endure the confinement
and putrefaction." Notes to Gibbon.—Trans.
Vol. I.— 14
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