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Itinerary
73
them, than by the losses they had sustained. However, their spirits were
raised by the constant arrival of strangers, and they were thus strengthened
by the increase of their numbers.
Chapter LX. Ñ The townsmen, with great loss to themselves, burn the battering-
ram of the archbishop of Besan•on, with Greek fire.
Meanwhile, the archbishop of Besan•on had caused to be built, with
great labour and much expense, a machine to batter down the walls,
covered with iron plates, commonly called a battering-ram; because by
repeated and frequent blows, after the manner of a ram, it overthrows the
most solid walls. Another very strong rain was built by Count Henry; and
the other princes and heroes, either singly or conjunctively, had caused to
be made different kinds of machines. Some prepared sows
14
 of different
kinds; others poles; or whatsoever each fancied, or which came first to
hand. A day was then appointed for bringing against the walls the
instruments that each had prepared. The archbishop brought his machine,
like a ceiled house, to strike the walls; it had in front a very long mast of a
ship, with its head covered with iron, which was impelled by many men,
and then being drawn back again, was levelled with greater force; and
thus, by frequent blows, they tried to breach or cast down the city walls.
Those who impelled the machine below were secure from all injury that
came from above. The Turks defended themselves manfully from the walls,
and collected and threw upon it immense heaps of dry wood, to set the
machine on fire, while, independently of its being easily assailed by fire,
they cast immense masses from the petrari¾, without ceasing. Last of all,
they threw on it Greek fire, and the dry wood having caught, the men in it
saw it must be inevitably destroyed, and were obliged, by the intolerable
heat, to leave it, and continue their attack with what instruments they
could lay hold of. The Turks were indefatigable in their efforts to destroy
14Sues rostratas, contos, sues. The sow was a military covering, under shelter of which
the assailants made their approaches to the walls of a besieged town.

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the machine, by throwing down immense masses on it, or consuming it by
means of liquid oil. Great was the contest and show of prowess between
the Turks and Christians; the latter strove to extricate the battering-ram, the
former to resist their attempts. The fire, once lighted, and fed constantly by
the Turks, who spared no material for the purpose, reduced the machine to
ashes. The Christians retired, grieving at the failure of their efforts; while
the Turks hastened to and fro, with dances and shouting, and thought their
deeds incomparable. But they did not insult our adversities with impunity
for they lost eighty of their number, and amongst them, a certain renowned
admiral, at whose command these things were done; though they
concealed their grief, that their loss might escape our notice. Our chiefs,
observing that their exertions had not the success they expected, broken
down by their misfortunes, determined to take respite for awhile, and relax
their efforts.
Chapter LXI. Ñ How a fleet of fifteen ships was sent to the aid of the townsmen,
of which several perished.
Meanwhile, soon after the feast of St. Michael, a fleet of fifteen ships
arrived from Alexandria, glittering in gorgeous array, and a short distance
one from another, they arrived towards dusk, and being driven by a
violent wind, were unable to slacken their course. Hence, when they saw
our army, they dreaded lest we should go forth to meet them, and they
could not avoid us; but the Christians did not venture, as the night was
coming on, and the wind high. The fleet, too, having gathered together,
made for the chain, with all speed: the three largest ships, of the kind called
dromons, came behind; the galleys, which were swifter of motion, went
before. They bore down violently into port, and coming into collision with
each other, two of them dashed on the rocks, and most of the men on board
perished, amidst the shouts and laughter of the Christians, who beheaded
some of them that were cast on shore by the fury of the waves. Besides this,
they seized upon the largest of the galleys, which was driven by the wind
into port, laden with provisions; and having killed the crew, they kept the
cargo for themselves. The remainder reached the desired haven, below the

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chain, in safety; and when the townsmen saw them, they went out with
numberless lamps, and received them with much pomp into the city,
overjoyed at their arrival. Afterwards, their numbers being thus
augmented, they turned out of the town those of their men who were less
fit for fighting, lest their numbers should consume their provisions and
strength; and so the time was protracted.
Chapter LXII. Ñ How, on our men being set in battle array under the command
of Archbishop Baldwin against Saladin, Saladin flies to the mountains.
The common men now murmured at the inactivity of the chiefs, and
the continuance of a fruitless blockade, and grew weary of the siege: and
when the chiefs had considered for some time what had best be done, the
result was, that the enemy on the outside should be challenged to a general
engagement; for if the hostile army gave way, the city would more easily
be assaulted and stormed. On the morrow of St. MartinÕs, therefore, our
chiefs led out their troops in order of battle into the plain, in the cold rays
of a winterÕs sun; and when we saw them come forth, with their various
standards, the Templars, the Hospitallers, and the others, their number,
valour, and varied costumes, created in us mixed sentiments of admiration,
confidence, and pleasure. The clergy claimed no small share of military
glory; for abbots and prelates led their own troops, and fought manfully for
the faith, joyfully contending for the law of God. Among and above the
others, the venerable Archbishop Baldwin distinguished himself; and
although his advanced age might have inclined him to inactivity, the
perfection of his virtues made up for the defect of nature. Raising the
standard on which was inscribed the name of the glorious martyr Thomas,
he found for it a meet and worthy company; for two hundred knights and
three hundred followers served in the pay of the holy man. He himself,
with the duke of Suabia, and Theobald, count of Blois, had charge of the
camp; and having performed the duties of the patriarch, who was ill in
bed, he blessed and gave absolution to the army as it went forth. Nor could
the noble bishop of Salisbury endure to be absent from the fray, but he
performed the duties of a soldier in the field, a leader in the camp, and a

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pastor in the church. Towards sunset, when the army had advanced and
pitched their tents, the townsmen came into the vacant space, and burst
upon the baggage to plunder it; but our men received them manfully, and
putting them to flight, saved their friends without sustaining any loss. At
night, the sultan ordered all his tents and property to be carried to the
mountains; and what could not be moved in time was burnt. It was the