volume one

IIISTOEY OF THE CEUSADES. 493
mais, where the Crusaders could look for provisions to the
Mediterranean, they had experienced all the horrors of
famine, what miseries had they not reason to expect under
the walls of Jerusalem ? Mussulman troops were encamped
in the plains of Jericho and Hebron, and in the country of
jSaplouse, and had the power at all times to throw succour
into Jerusalem, if that city were besieged by the Christians.
Winter, besides, was beginning to create a dread of conta-
the leaders of the army were divided among
gious diseases ;
themselves, and even the sight of danger could scarcely bring
them to act in concert. All these circumstances produced
doubt and irresolution in the minds of Kichard and the most
prudent of the barons and knights.
Hichard entertained hopes that Saladin would come and
offer him battle, and that a victory would at once throw open
the gates of Jerusalem to him ; but the sultan, who had
proved the strength and bravery of the Christians at Arsur,
was not willing to expose his conquests to the hazard of a
battle. E-ichard, on his part, dreaded the perils and fatigues
of a protracted siege, and suddenly led back his army to the
plains of Ascalou.
The multitude of the Crusaders, who were ignorant of or
did not appreciate the motives of the king of England, only
obeyed him with murmurs, and most of the leaders, declared
enemies of E-ichard, mingled their complaints with those of
the soldiers. Several dissatisfied Crusaders deserted the
standards which no longer pointed out to them the road to
Jerusalem.
Whilst the army was marching despondingly back to the
plains of Ascalon, the Genoese and Pisans, continually at
variance, broke into open war within the walls of Ptolemais.
Conrad took part with the Grenoese, whilst the king of
England as eagerly defended the Pisans, and terminated
tliis civil war by forcing Conrad and the Grenoese to retreat
to the city of Tyre.
Amidst these sanguinary disputes, Conrad, who had an
ambassador at the court of Saladin, unable longer to endure
the authority of liichard, entered into an alliance with the
Mussulmans. Saladin, by treaty, abandoned to the marquis
of Tyre all the cities the latter might take from the Chris-
tians, and promised to aid him in his conquests, only re-