volume one

400 HISTOKT OF THE CEUSADES.
reofencv durins: the minoritr of Youn^ Baldwiu. MlIo, by
liis intrigues, obtained the suffrages of the barons, but was
found, a short time after, pierced with several wounds inflicted
by a sword, in one of the streets of Ptolemais
Eavmond succeeded his rival, with whose death all Palestine
accused him.
The father of the count of Tripoli had been killed by the
Ismaehans. and he himself had remained eio:ht vears in the
chains of the infidels. The fourth in descent from the
famous count de St. Gilles, he possessed the bravery, the
activitv, and the ambition of the hero from whom he drew
his origin ; but with them, that obstinacv of character, which,
in difficult times, irritates the passions and provokes implacable
hatreds. More impatient to reign over the Christians
than to conquer the infidels, Uaymond considered the
right of commaDding men as the onlv reward of the evils he
had suffered ;
he demanded with haughtiness the recompense
of his services and his long toils, and conceived that justice
would triumph, and the safety of the kingdom be preserved,
solely by his elevation.
If, amidst the disorders which continually agitated the
Christian states, the new regent had had sufficient authority
to direct the policy of the Franks, and make peace or war
at his will, history might justly accuse him of having favoured
the power of Saladin, and of having prepared the downfall
of the kingdom of Jerusalem. After the death of iS^oiu'ed-
din, the son of Avoub had had to contend with the family
-^
ft ft
of his old master, the emirs faithfid to the d^Tiasty of the
Attabeks,
'
and aU who wished to profit
ft'
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by the troubles of
Svria, and erect independent states for themselves. Prudence
commanded the Christians to foment the discord which prevailed
among the Saracens, and to ally themselves with evenparty
which was opposed to Saladin. Instead of following
this wholesome policy, and stiiTing up war in S^Tia, they
determined upon renewmg Amaury's unfortunate attempts
upon Egypt. A Sicihan fleet having arrived in Palestine,
aided by the Sicilians, the Christians laid siege to Alexanft
•' o
dria, where aR sorts of miseries combined to destroy their
army. Prequently-repeated reverses conveyed no instruction
to the Pranks of the proper manner to make war with
Saladin. As they were returning from their imprudent and
: