volume one

HISTORY OF THE CEUSADES. 427
commander Ealeau d' Ibelin, who laad been present at the
battle of Tiberias. This old warrior, whose experience and
virtues inspired confidence and respect, immediately set
about repairing the fortifications, and training the new defenders
of Jerusalem. As he was deficient in officers, he
created fifty knights froui amongst the citizens ;
and all the
Christians able to bear arms, placed themselves under his
command, and swore to shed their blood in the cause of
Christ. They had no money to meet the expenses of the
war, but all means of obtaining it seemed legitimate in a
danger that threatened the city of God. They despoiled
the churches, and the people, terrified at the approach of
Saladin, beheld, without scandal, the precious metal which
covered the chapel of the Holy Sepulchre converted into
coin.*
The standards of Saladin were soon seen floating over the
heights of Emails, and the Mussulman army encamped on
the same places on which Godfrey, Tancred, and the two
Roberts had pitched their tents when they besieged the holy
city. The besieged at first resisted boldly, and made frequent
sorties, in which they bore in one hand a lance or a
sword, and in the other a shovel filled with dust, which they
cast upon the Saracens. A great number of Christians received
the palm of martyrdom, and ascended, say the his-
torians, to the heavenly Jerusalem—many Mussulmans fell
beneath the swords of their enemies, and went to dwell on
the hanhs of the river ivJiicJi waters Paradise.
Saladin, after being encamped for several days on the
western side of the city, directed his operations towards the
north, and caused the ramparts which extended from the
gate of Jehoshaphat to that of St. Stephen to be undermined.
The bravest of the citizens made a sortie, and endeavoui'ed
to destroy the machines and works of the besiegers, encouraging
each other by repeating these words of Scripture
* For the siege of Jerusalem we may consult the continuator of
Tabary, the author of the Roudalains, and the letter from Saladin before
mentioned. All the Arabian historians are agreed as to the principal
circumstances. Moujireddin, in his History of Jerusalem, of all the
Arabian writers of this period, gives the fewest particulars of the siege and
capture of the holy city. We need not repeat that the greater part of
these historians are known to us by the Latin extracts of Dom. Bertreau.
Vol. I.—20
: