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Itinerary
194
receiving reinforcements, and sometimes attacked, sometimes retreated,
and the battle still raged, until King Richard, who was busy in rebuilding
Maen, heard of the tumult, and sent the count de St. Paul and the earl of
Leicester to assist the Templars. With them, also, went William de Cagen
and Otho de Pransinges, and the party soon heard the cries of the men-at-
arms for assistance. Then the king, exhorting the counts to get ready, seized
his arms, and followed them as fast as he was able. As the counts were
galloping onwards, about four thousand Turks sprang up in four bodies,
from the neighbourhood of a certain river, and half of them attacked the
Templars, whilst the others assailed the two counts. The count of St. Paul
then made an unworthy proposition to the earl of Leicester, that only one
of them should fight with the enemy, whilst the other should stand by to
assist whenever it might be necessary. The earl of Leicester chose to attack
the enemy, not liking to stand by and do nothing. He at once, therefore,
charged the enemy, and rescued from their hands two of our men whom
they had made prisoners, and by his achievements on that day added
greatly to his former reputation. The conflict was raging fiercely when the
king came up, and as his retinue wits very small, some of his men said to
him, ÒMy lord, we do not think it prudent or possible, with our small body,
to resist this great multitude, nor shall we be able to save our men who are
fighting with the Turks. It is better to let them perish than to expose your
person and all Christendom to certain danger, whilst we have the power of
escaping.Ó The king changed colour with indignation at these words.
ÒWhat!Ó said he, Òif I neglect to aid my men whom I sent forward with it
promise to follow them, I shall never again deserve to be called a king.Ó He
said no more, but spurring his horse, dashed into the middle of the Turks,
overthrowing them on both sides of him, and brandishing his sword,
carved his way to and fro among the thickest ranks, slaying and maiming
every one he came near. Amongst others, he slew a Turkish admiral,
named Aralchais, whom chance threw in his way. In short, the enemy were
put to the sword or took to flight, and our men returned with several
prisoners to the camp. This success was gained without any help from the
French. The same day three Turks, from fear of death perhaps, renounced
their superstitions, and embracing Christianity, submitted to King Richard.

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Itinerary
195
Chapter XXXI. Ñ How Saladin amused King Richard by false promises, and
thereby gained time to destroy certain fortresses.
The two castles before mentioned were now partly restored, and
King Richard, perceiving that his troops not only hated the Turks, but had
less fear of them than before, because they had always, with GodÕs help,
defeated them, even when superior in numbers, now sent a distinguished
embassy to Saladin and Saphadin his brother, to demand the surrender of
the kingdom of Syria, with all that belonged to it, such as the leprous king
had last possessed it. He demanded also tribute from Babylon, as the kings,
his predecessors, had received it, together with all the privileges and dues
which had at any time before belonged to the kingdom of Jerusalem. The
ambassadors unfolded their message before Saladin, who would not,
however, acquiesce in the demand. ÒYour king,Ó said he, Òmakes an
unreasonable claim, and we cannot, with regard to the honour of
Paganism, consent to it; but I will offer to your king, through my brother
Saphadin, to give up to him the whole land of Jerusalem, from Jordan to
the sea, without tribute or hinderance, on condition that the city of Ascalon
shall never be rebuilt, either by the Christians or the Saracens. When
Saphadin came with this message to the king, Richard, who had just been
bled, would not converse with him on that day; but Stephen de Torneham,
by the kingÕs order, supplied him with every kind of delicacy for his table,
and entertained him in the valley between the castles of the Temple and of
Jehoshaphat. The next day Saphadin sent a present of seven camels and a
rich tent, and coming into the kingÕs presence, delivered SaladinÕs message;
upon which Richard, considering the disturbances and uncertainties of
war, determined to have patience for a time, that he might the better make
provision for the future: but, alas! he shewed too little prudence in not
foreseeing the deceit with which they sought to protract the time until the
cities, castles, and fortresses of that country were destroyed. In short,
Saphadin so cunningly beguiled the too credulous king, that one would
have thought they had contracted a mutual familiarity; for the king
received SaphadinÕs gifts, and messengers were daily passing with
presents to the king, much to the annoyance of his friends, who blamed

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