volume one

492 HISTOET OF THE CSrSADES.
the Christian bishops, ^-hen they were informed of it,
expressed the strongest indignation, and threatened both
Jane and Eichard ^^"ith the thunders of the Church.
The execution of this plan appeared impossible in the
midst of a religious war ; and everything leads us to believe
that Saladin only affected to give it attention that he might
gain time to fortify Jerusalem, which the Christians still
demanded of him. Skilful workmen from Aleppo were, by
his orders, employed in widening the ditches and repairing
the walls. Among the Mussulman workmen were two
thousand Christian prisoners, condemned to rebuild the
fortresses occupied by the infidels. Saladin encouraged the
labours by his presence and his example, animating the zeal
of the people and soldiers by frequently reminding them of
the ^'ictories of the Mussulmans, andof the massacre of their
brethren slaughtered before Ptolemais.
The conquest of the holy city was the object of the war,
the great reward promised to the labonrs of the crusaders
and they at leugth
towards Jerusalem.
earnestly pressed
He was obliged to
Eichard to march
yield to their impa-
tience, and led them as far as Bethonopolis,* situated
between Ascalon and the capital of Palestine. At the
approach of the Franks, Saladin ordered all the country
through which their army must pass to be laid waste. By
the commands of the sultan the ramparts of Eamla and
Lidda, with the fortress of Xitro, were demolished. All the
routes which led to Jerusalem were sruarded by Mussidman
cavalry, who unceasingly harassed the Christians, and prevented
their receiving provisions from Ptolemais or other
maritime cities.
In proportion with their approximation to Jerusalem, the
enthusiasm and ardour of the Crusaders increased ; but
Eichard and most of the leaders did not at all partake of the
impatience of the soldiers. The Christian army was only
one day's march from the sea-coast, and yet want of pro-
visions began to be sensibly felt. If in the plains of Ptole-
• M. Paultre, in his manuscript history of the states of Syria, believes
that this city, so named by the historians of the crusade, is the citv of
Eleutberopolis, situated nine or ten leases east of Ascalon, on the road
to Jerusalem, in a valley crossed by the torrent of Ascalon, seven leagues
west of Jerusalem, and sLt of Rair.la.
— ;