Microsoft Word richard of holy trinity inp

Itinerary
12
Chapter VI. Ñ Of the capture of the Christians, who unwarily put in at the port
of Acre.
Meanwhile our sailors were proceeding on their customary voyage to
Acre, coming from Christian countries, and laden some with merchandise,
others with pilgrims. Alas! they had not heard what had happened, and
they entered the hostile port to be made prisoners. It was indeed a sad
destiny: they hailed the sight of land, where chains were prepared for them
on landing: they rejoiced to have passed the dangers of the sea, and the
sword awaited them: they hoped for repose after their fatigues, and they
found persecution: some of them were kept as prisoners, many of them
were made objects of derision, a few were allowed to escape, but
designedly naked and helpless, that others might be deterred by their
example.
Chapter VII. Ñ How the Marquis Conrad escaped being taken in the same snare,
and proceeded to Tyre.
Among others, the marquis, on his way from Constantinople,
dropped his sails outside the port of Acre, and, as it was near sunset, lay to
till the morning. For the silence which prevailed in the city created
suspicion, since at other times there was a general shout of congratulation
when any vessel appeared; the ensigns of the sultan, seen in different parts
of the city, gave still more cause for apprehension. Some of the Saracen
galleys were now seen approaching, but the rest of the crew becoming
alarmed, the marquis commanded them to be silent, and stood forth as
their spokesman. When, therefore, those who were sent asked who they
were, he said it was a merchantship, and he was the master; that he had
heard what had happened, and being a devoted servant of the sultan,
would wait on him at break of day and exhibit his wares. That same night,
the wind being favourable, he sailed to Tyre, and undertook the task of
defending it: his arrival was alike a protection to all other Christians who
should come, and would have contributed to his own glory, if he had only
persevered to the end in the same line of conduct. This was the marquis

---

Itinerary
13
Conrad, an Italian by birth, a man of singular activity, and brave in all he
undertook.
7
 But however noble the beginning, when it is tarnished by a
disgraceful end, it merits shame rather than glory.
The sultan, after the capture of Acre, followed by the surrender of
Berytus and Sidon, expected to take Tyre with the same ease, but was
shamefully repulsed from its walls, and raised the siege.
Chapter VIII. Ñ How Saladin, after the capture of Berytus and Sidon, was
repulsed from the walls of Tyre, and took Ascalon by a false treaty.
Saladin, taking the king with him, proceeded thence to Ascalon, and
planting his machines for throwing stones, began to assail it. The town is
easy to be taken if defended by a weak garrison, though its great strength
renders it invincible if sufficiently garrisoned. The insatiable invader, eager
above all things to obtain this city, nevertheless distrusted his ability to
take it by force, for he did not know how things were within its walls, nor
how deficient it was both in arms, men, and victuals. He therefore agreed
to a capitulation, by which the citizens were to depart freely with their
effects, and the king, with fifteen other distinguished captives, were to be
set at liberty as soon as possible. On the same day that this capitulation
gave him possession of the city, the sun, as if in sympathy, was eclipsed,
and withdrew its light from the city and from the world. The perjured and
perfidious tyrant, too, was faithless in the performance of part of his
agreement; for the king was carried to Damascus, and was there held in
chains until the ensuing mouth of May; nor was he released from his
captivity until he had first consented to abjure his crown.
7Conrad was the son of William III., marquis of Montferrat; he had given powerful
assistance in quelling a rebellion at Constantinople, and in reward had received the
hand of the emperorÕs sister.

---