volume one

HISTORY OF THE CEUSADES. 431
cliurcli of the Holy Sepulchre, and treasures, of which God
alone, says an Arabian author, knew the value. The queen
of Jerusalem, accompanied* by the barons and knights,
came next. Saladin respected her grief, and addressed some
words of kindness to her. The queen was follo^A"ed by a
great number of women, bearing their children in their arms,
and uttering the most piercing cries. Many of them drew
" You see
near to the throne of Saladin, and said to him :
at your feet the wives, the mothers, the daughters of the
warriors you detain prisoners ; we leave for ever our country
which they have defended with glory; they helped to support
our lives ; in losing them, we have lost our last hope ; if you
deign to restore them to us, they will lessen the miseries of
our exile, and we shall be no longer without help upon earth."
Saladin was touched with their prayers, and promised to
sofceii the misfortunes of so many bereaved families. He
restored the children to their mothers, and the husbands to
their wives, who were amongst the unredeemed captives.
Several Christians had abandoned their most valuable goods,
and bore upon their shoulders, some their parents weakened
by age, and others their infirm or sick friends. Saladin was
affected by this spectacle, and rewarded with gifts the virtue
and piety of his enemies ; he took pity upon all distresses,
and allowed the Hospitallers to remain in the city to tend
pilgrims, and assist such as were prevented from leaving
Jerusalem by serious illness.
When the Saracens began the siege, the holy city contained
more than a hundred thousand Christians. The
greater part of them were able to purchase their own.
liberty; and Baleau d'Ibelin, who was the depositary of the
treasures destined for the defence of the city, employed
them in procuring the freedom of part of the inhabitants.
Malec Adel, brother of the sultan, paid the ransom of two
thousand captives. Saladin followed his example, by breaking
the chains of a great number of poor and orphans.
* Marin and most historians say that Sibylla was not at Jerusalem
during the siege : they are in error. The author of the Roudatains says
positively that that princess came out of Jerusalem with the other captives,
followed by her treasures and her attendants. She asked permission of
Sidadin to rejoin her husband, who was then detained a prisoner at
Naplouse