Microsoft Word richard of holy trinity inp

caravan full of costly things, of inestimable value, camels, dromedaries, horses, and
asses.
Whilst King Richard and his people were staying at Galatia, a spy
informed the king, that one of the aforesaid caravans was passing by a
round cistern, and advised him to proceed at once and capture it,
recommending that he should keep back his troops; Òfor,Ó said he,
Òwhoever shall capture that caravan, will gain an immense booty.Ó But as
the spy was a native of the country, the king did not think he ought to
place implicit confidence in his sole assertion. Therefore, the king
straightway sent a Bedouin and two cautious Turcopolite servants, to
inquire into the truth of the matter, and ascertain its accuracy; and he

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caused them to be clothed after the fashion of Bedouins, to look like
Saracens. These men set out by night across the hills, which were covered
with watch-towers, and descended to the valley, by turns, until they saw
some Saracens on the higher ground, who were themselves spies, and lying
in wait for those who might cross the mountains; and when our Bedouin
approached, with stealthy steps, to reconnoitre them, the Saracens asked
him, who they were, whence they came, and whither they were going? The
Bedouin, beckoning the other two to be silent, lest the Saracens should
recognize them by their speech, answered, Òthat they were returning from
the neighbourhood of Ascalon, whither they had gone for the sake of
plunder:Ó but one of the Saracens said to him, ÒYou are come to look out
for us, and you belong to the king of England.Ó The Bedouin answered,
Òthat he lied,Ó and then proceeded hastily in the direction of the caravan,
followed for some time by the Saracens, with their bows and lances, until
they ceased in their pursuit from weariness. They, however, strongly
suspected that they were of their own country, and not belonging to the
enemy. Our spies, therefore, having ascertained the truth, as to the before-
mentioned caravans, returned with all speed to the king, and told him that
he might easily capture the caravans if he would make haste. On learning
this, the king, after refreshing his horses with provender, set out with his
men, and they walked during the following night until they came to the
place where the caravan and its guards were resting: a short distance from
it they halted, armed themselves, and formed into companies; the king
being in the front rank, and the French in the rear. The king forbade, by
mouth of herald, any one from turning to plunder; and commanded, that
all should endeavour, by their utmost means, to break and destroy the
Turkish lines. When, therefore, day arrived, and they were engaged in
forming their ranks, another spy came up at full speed, and informed the
king that the caravan was preparing to hasten forwards at dawn of day, for
the kingÕs intention to attack it had become known to its guards. On
hearing this, the king sent forward the lightest of his slingers and bowmen
to retard their march; and by feigning to challenge them to battle, keep
them in check until he and his troops should come up. In this manner the
Turks were harassed and delayed by these attacks; whilst our army

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approached in battle array. When the Turks perceived them, they
immediately began to ascend a certain mountain, in order that the higher
ground might afford them a firmer position; but their bearing was less
arrogant than usual. Then the Turks, making a fierce onset, threw their
darts and arrows, like hail, upon our ranks: the caravan, meanwhile,
standing motionless. King Richard now having placed his army in two
divisions, suddenly charged the Turks, and with his followers, penetrated
and routed the foremost rank. Such was the fury of his onset, that they fell
to the ground almost without a blow; and be pressed so hard upon the
fugitives, that there were none left to make further resistance, except that
several of those who fled turned back and shot their arrows behind them.
Thus all of them took to flight, like hares before the hounds, and were
routed in every direction, while the caravan stood at the mercy of the
pursuers, who slew all they met with; so that the enemy lay dead in heaps
upon the sand. Those who were thrown from their horses by our knights,
were put to death by their squires. There might be seen horses with their
saddles twisted round; the conquered were miserably destroyed, and the
kingÕs men fought nobly. The French, too, fought with the utmost spirit,
like men accustomed to battle. The king was conspicuous above all the rest
by his royal bearing, surpassing all of them: he was mounted on a tall
charger, and charged the enemy singly; his ashen lance gave way from his
repeated blows, and was shivered in pieces; but drawing his sword
instantly, and brandishing it, he pressed upon the fugitives, and mowed
them down, sweeping away the hindmost, and subduing the foremost;
thus he thundered on, cutting and hewing every one he came up with; no
kind of armour could resist his blows, for the edge of his sword cut open
the heads from the top to the teeth: thus waving it to and fro, he scared
away the routed Turks, as a wolf, when he pursues the flying sheep. While
the king was thus scattering the fugitives, who were flying with all their
speed over the mountains, some of them despairing of escape from his
persevering pursuit, for he had come up with the foremost, turned aside
out of their road, and returned to our nearly deserted camp hoping to effect
something against the guards in the kingÕs absence, for their courage failed
them when he was in sight, and not without reason, for the life or death of

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