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Itinerary
5
conjunction of the planets, became changed to the signification of this
event. It was a mighty wind indeed; it shook the four cardinal points of the
earth, and foreshewed that the whole of the globe was about to be stirred
up to troubles and wars.
Chapter II. Ñ How Saladin invaded Palestine.
Saladin, therefore, having assembled his bands of warriors, violently
assailed Palestine, and sent forward Manafaradin, admiral of Edessa, with
7,000 Turks, to ravage the Holy Land. This man, when he had marched as
far as the parts about Tiberias, was there encountered by Gerard de
Riddeford, master of the Templars,
2
 and Roger de Moulins, master of the
Hospital; one of whom they routed and put to flight, and slew the other in
a sudden attack. In this battle a few of our soldiers were cut off and
surrounded by an immense multitude, which led to an achievement of
distinction which deserves to be recorded. A certain knight of the Temple,
by birth a German, named Jakeline de MaillŽ, by his extraordinary valour
provoked the enemy to turn all their attacks on him. His fellow-soldiers,
who were estimated about 500 in number, were all either taken or slain,
and he alone sustained the weight of the whole battle, Ñ a glorious
champion for GodÕs law! At length, hemmed in by the enemyÕs troops, and
destitute of all human aid, seeing so many thousands rushing upon him on
every side, he gathered up his whole courage for an effort, and bravely
faced the foe alone. His valour attracted the admiration of his enemies; they
were filled with compassion for him, and called earnestly to him to
surrender. He, however, turning a deaf ear to their exhortations, was not
afraid to die for Christ, but overwhelmed with the load of javelins, stones,
and lances, rather than vanquished, he at length was with difficulty slain,
2There is some doubt whether the grand master of the Templars at this time was named
Riddeford or Biddeford. The readings of the MSS. vary between Riddeford, Biddeford,
and Tiddeford, but probability seems to be in favour of the first. After the battle, Roger
de Moulins was found dead among a heap of Turks and Saracens whom he had slain
with his own hand. Jacqueline de MaillŽ was the marshal of the Temple.

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Itinerary
6
and his soul fled triumphant, bearing the palm of martyrdom, to the
heavenly kingdom. His death indeed was rendered glorious, since by his
single sword so large a circle of dead bodies had been heaped around him.
It was sweet for a man to die thus, himself in the centre, surrounded by the
unbelievers whom his brave arm had slaughtered. [And inasmuch as he
rode on a white horse and fought that day in white armour, the idolaters
who know St. Gregory to have fought in such costume, boasted that they
had slain the knight of the white armour, who was the bulwark of the
Christians.
3
] There was, in the place of this conflict, some stubble which the
reaper had left after the ears had been cut off a short time before, but the
Turks had rushed over it in such multitudes, and this single champion had
held out so long against them, that the field in which they stood was
wholly trampled to dust, and showed no signs of a crop of corn ever
having grown there. It is said, there were some who sprinkled the limbs of
the dead man with dust, which they afterwards placed on their own heads,
believing that they derived force from the contact; and one man, as is said,
more ardent than the rest, cut off certain members of the man, and kept
them for his own use, that even though dead they might perchance
produce a successor to such distinguished valour.
Chapter III. Ñ Of the origin of Saladin.
At this victory Saladin rejoiced greatly; and fired with the ambition of
gaining the kingdom turned his thoughts to still greater deeds. But that
future ages may know more of this persecutor of the Christian name, I will
premise a few particulars of his origin, as far as the brevity at which I aim
will allow. He was of the race of the Mirmur¾ni, the son of parents who
were not noble, though not a plebeian of obscure birth. His father was
called Job, and his own name was Joseph. For according to the tradition of
Mahomet, it is customary among many of the heathens, when they
3This passage is omitted in some and is very likely to be spurious. May we not read St.
George instead of St. Gregory?

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