volume one

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HISTORY or the ceusades.
Saladin caused a tent to be erected in his camp, in wliicli
he received Gruy de Lusignan, and the principal leaders of
the Christian annv, whom -v-ictoiy had placed in his hands.
He treated the king of the Franks with kindness, and ordered
him to be serA-ed with a drink cooled in snow. As the king,
after having dinink, presented the cup to Eenaud de Chatnion,
who was next to him, the sultan stopped him, and
said. '' That traitor shall not drink in my presence, for I will
show him no favour." Then addressing himself to Eenaud,
he made him the most severe reproaches for his violation of
treaties, and threatened him with death if he did not embrace
the rehgion of the prophet he had insulted. Eenaud
de Chatillon replied with noble fii-mness, and braved the
menaces of Saladin, who struck him with his sabre. Some
Mussulman soldiers, at the signal of their master, threw
themselves upon the disarmed prisoner, and the head of a
maitvr of the cross fell at the feet of the king of Jerusalem.
On the following day the sultan ordered the knights of
the Temple and St. John, who were among the prisoners, to
be brought before him : and, as they were led past his throne,
said, " I wiU deUver the earth of these two unclean races."
The grand master of the Templars found favoiu* before him,
doubtless because his imprudent counsels had given up the
Christian army to the swords of the Saracens. A great
number of emirs and doctors of the law sun-ounded the
throne of Saladin, and the sultan permitted each of them to
slav a Christian knight. Some of them refused to shed
blo'od, and turned their eyes away from so odious a spectacle
; but others, arming themselves with swords, massacred
kniahts bcund with fetters, without pity, whilst Saladin sat
on his throne, applauding the horrible execution. The
most of
knights received the palm of' martyrdom with joy ;
the prisoners were anxious for death ; and many among
them, although not beloniring: to the military- orders, cried
aloud that they were Hospitallers or Templars, and, as if they
feared thev should want executioners, pressed before each
other, in order to secure the fatal
the infidels.
stroke from the hands of
Saladin disor&ced his Wctorv bv this barbarity- ; the fear
with which the Christians inspired him, even after defeat,
made him cruel. He became more Inunane and generou.=3