volume one

EISTORY OF THE CRUSADES. 481
scarcely were the principal emirs met in his tent, when they
beheld the standards of the crusaders floating over the walls
and towers of Ptolemais.
Such was the conclusion of this famous siege, which lasted
nearly three years, and in which the crusaders shed more
blood and exhibited more bravery than ought to have sufficed
lor the subjugation of the whole of Asia. More than a
himdred skirmishes and nine great battles were fought
before the walls of the city ;
several floiu'ishing armies came
to recruit armies nearly annihilated, and were in their tui'n
replaced by fresh armies. The bravest nobility of Europe
perished in this siege, swept away by the sword or disease.
Among the illustrious victims of this war, history points out
Philip, count of Elanders, Gruy de Chatillon, Bernard de
St. Yallery, Yautrier de Mory, Raoul de Fougeres, Eudes de
Gonesse, Eenaud de Maguy, Geoffroi d'Aumale, viscount de
Chatellerault, Josselin de Montmorency, and Eaoul de
Marie ; the archbishops of Besan^on and Canterbury ; with
many other ecclesiastics and knights whose piety and exploits
were the admiration of Europe.*
In this war both parties were anunated by religion
each side boasted of its miracles, its saints, and its pro-
phets. Bishops and imauus equally promised the soldiers
remission of their sins and the crown of martjTdom. Whilst
the king of Jerusalem caused the book of the Evangelists to
be borne before him, Saladin would often pause on the
iield of battle to offer up a prayer or read a chapter from the
Koran.t The Eranks and the Saracens mutually accused
each other of ignorance of the true God and of outraging
him by their ceremonies. The Christians rushed upon their
enemies crying, ^' It is the will of God ! It is the icill of
God!'''' and the Saracens answered by their war-cry, '• Islam!
Islam!''''
Eanaticism frequently augmented the fury of slaughter.
* Either the English took less part in the crusades than we generally
imagine, or a French historian does not mete thein due honour ; the
archbishop of Canterbury is the only name clearly English in this list. I
shall have occasion to recur to this subject.
f Saladin had a copy of the Koran, compiled by Omar, always carried
with his army.
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Trans.
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