volume one

480 HISTOEY OF THE CKUSADES.
of Bonaguisi, followed by some of his men, fought lils way
into one of the towers of the infidels, and got possession of
the Mussulman banner that floated from it. Overpowered
by numbers, and forced to retreat, he returned to the camp,
bearing the flag he had carried ofl" from the Saracens. ]n
the same assault, Alberic Clement, the first marshal of
France of whom history makes mention, scaled the ramparts,
and, sword in hand, penetrated into the city, where
he found a glorious death. Stephen, count of Blois, and
several knights were burnt by the Greek fire, the boihng
oil, the melted lead, and heated sand which the besieged
poured down upon all who approached the walls.
The obstinate ardour of the Mussulmans was sustained
during sevei-al days ; but as they received no succour, many
emirs, at length despairing of the safety of Ptolemais,
threw themselves, by night, into a bark, to seek an
asylum in the camp of Saladin, preferring to encounter the
anger of the sultan, to perishing by the sword of the Christians.
This desertion, and the contemplation of their ruined
towers, filled the Mussulmans with terror. AV^hilst pigeons
and divers constantlv announced to Saladin the horrible dis-
tresses of the besieged, the latter came to the resolution of
leaving the city by night, and braving every peril to join the
Saracen army. But their project being discovered by the
Christians, they blocked up and guarded every passage by
which the enemy could possibly escape. The emirs, the
soldiers, and the inhabitants then became con\dnced that
they had no hope but in the mercy of Philip Augustus, and
promised, if he would grant them liberty and life, to cause
to be given np to the Christians sixteen hundred prisoners,
and the wood of the true cross. By the capitulation they
engaged to pay two hundred thousand pieces of gold to the
leaders of the Christian army, and the garrison, with th3
entire population of Ptolemais, were to remain in the power
of the conquerors till the execution of the treaty.
A Mussulman soldier was sent from the city to announce
to Saladin that the garrison was forced to capitidate. The
sultan, who was preparing to make a last eftbrt to save the
place, learnt the news with deep regret. He assembled his
council, to know if they approved of the capitulation ; but