volume one

HISTORY OF THE CRUSADES. 485
Richard, for ever carried away by his violent and imperious
character, desired to command as a master, and alone dictate
laws for the whole army of the Crusaders. He endeavoured
to corrupt the troops of Philip by largesses ; he set a price
upon infidelity and treason ; and Philip, fearing to compromise
the dignity of a king and the interests of the crusade by
punishing the outrages and perfidy of his rival, resolved to
return to Prance, where fortune offered him more than one
opportunity of usefully revenging himself upon the king of
Ens^land.
Philip quitted Palestine, leaving in the army ten thousand
foot and five hundred horse, under the command of the duke
of Burgundy. On his arrival at Tyre, from which port he
embarked, he received a solemn embassy from Saladin, who
sent him magnificent presents, and complimented him as
the most powerful monarch of the West. He soon arrived
in Italy, where the holy pontiff' praised his devotion, and
bestowed upon him the palms of pilgrimage. AVelcomed
on his return to his kingdom by the benedictions of his
people, he carried back the sacred oriflamme to the church
of St. Denis, and returned thanks to the apostles of Prance
for having protected his life and the glory of his arms amidst
the greatest perils.
When Philip left Palestine, Eichard remained at the head
of an army of a hundred thousand Crusaders. After having
repaired the walls of Ptolemais, and allowed his soldiers
some little repose, he passed the Belus, crossed Moiuit
Carmel, and marched towards Csesarea. A fleet from Ptolemais
kept close to the shore, and transported the provisions,
machines of war, and baggage of the Christian army. Saladin,
whom Arabian writers often compare to a lioness that
has lost her young, upon receiving intelligence of the march
of the Crusaders, gathered together his army, and set out in
pursuit of them ; sometimes getting in advance and attacking
their van, at others harassing their flanks, and seizing
every soldier that ventured to stray from the main body.
Although Caesarea was only twelve leagues from Ptolemais,
the Crusaders could not accomplish the distance in less
than six days. All the Christians, who were unable to
keep up with the army, and fell into the power of Saladin,
were put to death by his orders, and their bodies left upon