volume one

496 uisTOEY or the crusjjjes.
to the idea of allowing the duke of Austria and the duke of
Bui'Ofundy to share in such a glorious conquest increased ;
whilst ther were not at all willinor to assist the kiasr of
England in an enterprise that would so much augment his
pride and renown. Erery time that he proposed to proceed
against the holy city, the zeal of the leaders of the army
appeared to cool;* and when Eichard sought to defer the
conquest, most of them endeavoured to arouse the enthusiasm
of the Crusaders, and repeated the oath they had
taken to deliver the tomb of Christ. Thus the proximity to
Jerusalem, which ought to have united the Christians more
firmly, only served to increase their di^'isions, and spread
trouble, disorder, and discouragement through the whole
armv.
The Christians were but a few leagues from Jerusalem,
and the council assembled to determine what steps must be
taken. Manv of the leaders thouorht that thev ouiiht at
once to besiege the city, and spoke of the consternation
of the Mussulmans. The soldiers of Saladin, said they,
had not forgotten the evils of Ptolema'is, and trembled at
the idea of again shutting themselves within the ramparts
of a citv. Eusdtives from Jerusalem had informed them that
the presence even of Saladin could not keep up the spirits of
the soldiers, and that all the inhabitants, seized with terror,
were upon the point of fiying to Damascus.
They who maintained an opposite opinion, among whom
was Eichard, thought that the reports spread regarding the
disposition of the Mussulmans were but a snare of Saladin's,
by which he hoped to lure the Crusaders into places in
which he could destrov them without fi2:htino:. "At the
moment in which we are speaking," said they, "the Mus-
* It is difficult to follow the accounts of several historians at this
period, who affirm that Richard was not willing to take Jerusalem. M.
Paultre, a distinguished officer who made ihe campaign of 1799, has furnished
us with all the means of understanding the old chronicles, and to
appreciate their testimony. Historians, from ignorance of the country,
are often deceived with resjiect to military events. The situation of
places and a knowledge of tlie country are often the best commentaries
we can have upon the old historians of the crusades. M. Paultre has
MmseLf related part of the events which we repeat ; and his account,
which he hais kindly confided to us, has giren us useful information, which
will throw light upon this part of onr history.