Itinerary
267
scandal which lay against them, that so small an army, without horses, had
driven them out of Joppa, and they reproached themselves with cowardice
and shameful laziness, and arrogantly made a compact among themselves
that they would
seize King Richard in his tent, and bring him before
Saladin, from whom they would receive a most munificent reward.
Chapter XX. Ñ
How Count Henry arrived at Joppa from C¾sarea, and of the
number of his soldiers.
In the mean time Count Henry came in a galley with his followers
from C¾sarea, where the rest of our army was detained, on account of the
ambuscades of the Turks, who lay in wait at all the roads, bridges, and
wells, so that the king could not, on this emergency,
bring with him out of
all his army more than fifty-five knights, with a strong body of infantry,
arbalesters, and retainers; besides, about two thousand Genoese and Pisans
and others; whilst of horses he had no more than fifteen, whether good or
bad.
Chapter XXI. Ñ
How the aforesaid Menelones and Cordivi would have surprised
the king in his tent, as they had boasted, if a certain Genoese had not perceived
them, and awakened the king.
Meanwhile the Menelones and Cordivi aforesaid prepared
themselves in the middle of the night to surprise the king, and sallied forth
armed, by the light of the moon, conversing with one another about the
object which they had in hand. O hateful race of unbelievers! they are
anxiously bent upon seizing ChristÕs steadfast soldier, while he is asleep:
they rush on in numbers to seize him, unarmed and apprehensive of no
danger. They
were now not far from his tent, and were preparing to lay
hands on him, when, lo! the God of mercy, who never neglects those who
trust in Him, and acts in a wonderful manner even towards those who
know him not, sent the spirit of discord among the aforesaid Cordivi and
Menelones. The Cordivi said, ÒYou shall go in on foot, to take the king and
his followers, whilst we will remain on horseback
to prevent their escaping
into the castle.Ó But the Menelones replied, ÒNay, it is your place to go in