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Itinerary
140
drowned the rest. The king kept thirty-five alive, namely, the admirals and
men who were skilled in making machines, but the rest perished, the arms
were abandoned, and the serpents sunk and scattered about by the waves
of the sea. If that ship had arrived safely at the siege of Acre, the Christians
would never have taken the city; but by the care of God it was converted
into the destruction of the infidels, and the aid of the Christians, who
hoped in Him, by means of King Richard, who by His help prospered in
war. The Saracens saw from a distance on the heights what had happened,
and sorrowfully carried the news to Saladin, who, on hearing it, seized and
plucked out his beard in anger and fury, and afterwards broke out into
these words with a sigh, ÒO God! have I lost Acre, and my dear and chosen
soldiers, in whom I had so much confidence? I am overwhelmed by so
bitter a loss.Ó When they who saw it told the tidings to the Saracenic army,
there arose long and loud wailings, and bitter lamentations for their
misfortune, and they cut off the tresses of their hair, and rent their
garments, and cursed the hour and the fate of the stars, by which they had
come to Syria. For in the above-mentioned ship they had lost all their
choice youth, in whom they trusted.

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Itinerary
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Book III
Chapter I. Ñ Of the arrival of King Richard at Acre.
Thus, after his success by sea, King Richard hastened with joy and
alacrity, and with all his suite, towards Acre, whither his eager wishes
carried him; and the next night, with the aid of a prosperous gale, the fleet
anchored off Tyre. In the morning they weighed anchor, and hoisted sail,
and soon afterwards passed Candalion, of which we have before spoken;
and going by Casella Ymbrici, the high tower of Acre came in sight, and
then, by little and little, the other fortifications of the city. Around it the
besiegers lay in countless multitudes, chosen from every nation throughout
Christendom and under the face of heaven, and well fitted for the labours
and fatigues of war; for the city had now been besieged a long time, and
had been afflicted by constant toil and tribulation, by the pressure of
famine, and every kind of adversity, as we have before described.
Moreover, beyond the besiegers, was seen the Turkish army, not in a
compact body, but covering the mountains and valleys, hills and plains,
with tents, the colours of whose various forms were reflected by the sun.
They saw, also the pavilion of Saladin, and his brother SafahadinÕs tent,
and that of Kahadin, the mainstay of Paganism; he was watching the parts
to seaward, and planning constant and vigorous attacks upon the
Christians. King Richard beheld and computed all their army; and when he
arrived in port, the king of France and a whole army of natives, and the
princes, chiefs, and nobles, came forth to meet him and welcome him, with
joy and exultation, for they had eagerly longed for his arrival.
Chapter II. Ñ Of the joy, songs, and processions which took place on account of
King RichardÕs arrival.
On the Saturday before the festival of the blessed apostle Barnabas, in
the Pentecost week, King Richard landed at Acre with his retinue, and the
earth was shaken by the acclamations of the exulting Christians. The
people testified their joy by shouts of welcome and the clang of trumpets;

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the day was kept as a jubilee, and universal gladness reigned around, on
account of the arrival of the king, long wished for by all nations. The Turks,
on the other hand, were terrified and cast down by his coming, for they
perceived that all egress and return would be at an end, in consequence of
the multitude of the kingÕs galleys. The two kings conducted each other
from the port, and paid one another the most obsequious attention. Then
King Richard retired to the tent previously prepared for him, and forthwith
entered in to arrangements about the siege; for it was his most anxious care
to find out by what means, artifice, and machines, they could capture the
city without loss of time. No pen can sufficiently describe the joy of the
people on the kingÕs arrival, nor tongue detail it; the very calmness of the
night was thought to smile upon them with a purer air; the trumpets
clanged, horns sounded, and the shrill intonations of the pipe, and the
deeper notes of the timbrel and harp, struck upon the ear; and soothing
symphonies were heard like various voices blended in one; and there was
not a man who did not, after his own fashion, indulge in joy and praise;
either singing popular ballads to testify the gladness of his heart, or reciting
the deeds of the ancients, stimulating by their example the spirit of the
moderns. Some drank wine from costly cups, to the health of the singers;
while others mixing together, high and low, passed the night in constant
dances. And their joy was heightened by the subjugation of the island of
Cyprus by King Richard; a place so useful and necessary to them, and one
which would be of the utmost service to the army. As a further proof of the
exultation of their hearts, and to illumine the darkness of the night, wax
torches and flaming lights sparkled in profusion, so that night seemed to be
usurped by the brightness of day, and the Turks thought the whole valley
was on fire.
Chapter III. Ñ How the Pisans gave themselves up to King Richard, and how the