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attacked them incessantly on all sides, and especially in the rear, wounding and
cutting them down; and our men would have yielded under the weight of the battle
in despair, had not the grace of God assisted them, when they were just on the
point of giving way.
It was now nearly nine oÕclock, when there appeared a large body of
the Turks, 10,000 strong, coming down upon us at full charge, and
throwing darts and arrows, as fast as they could, while they mingled their
voices in one horrible yell. There followed after them an infernal race of
men, of black colour, and bearing a suitable appellation, expressive of their
blackness. With them also were the Saracens, who live in the desert, called

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Bedouins: they are a savage race of men, blacker than soot; they fight on
foot, and carry a bow, quiver, and round shield, and are a light and active
race. These men dauntlessly attacked our army. Beyond them might be
seen the well-arranged phalanxes of the Turks, with ensigns fixed to their
lances, and standards and banners of separate distinctions. Their army was
divided into troops, and the troops into companies; and their numbers
seemed to exceed twenty thousand. They came on with irresistible charge,
on horses swifter than eagles, and urged on like lightning to attack our
men; and as they advanced, they raised a cloud of dust, so that the sky was
darkened. In front came certain of their admirals, as it was their duty, with
clarions and trumpets; some had horns, others had pipes and timbrels,
gongs, cymbals, and other instruments, producing a horrible noise and
clamour. The earth vibrated from the loud and discordant sounds, so that
the crash of thunder could not be heard amidst the tumultuous noise of
horns and trumpets. They did this to excite their spirit and courage, for the
more violent the clamour became, the more bold were they for the fray.
Thus the impious Turks threatened us both on the side towards the sea and
from the side of the land; and for the space of two miles, not so much earth
as could be taken up in oneÕs hand could be seen, on account of the hostile
Turks who covered it. Oh! how obstinately they pressed on, and continued
their stubborn attacks, so that our men suffered severe loss of their horses,
which were killed by their darts and arrows! Oh! how useful to us on that
day were our arbalesters and bowmen, who closed the extremities of the
lines, and did their best to repel the obstinate Turks. The enemy came
rushing down, like a torrent, to the attack; and many of our arbalesters,
unable to sustain the weight of their terrible and calamitous charge, threw
away their arms, and fearing lest they should be shut out, took refuge, In
crowds, behind the dense lines of the army; yielding, through fear of death,
to sufferings which they could not support. Those whom shame forbade to
yield, or the hope of an immortal crown sustained, were animated with
greater boldness and courage to persevere in the contest, and fought with
indefatigable valour face to face against the Turks, whilst they at the same
time receded step by step, and so secured their retreat. The whole of that
day, on account of the Turks pressing them closely from behind, they faced

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about and went on skirmishing, rather than proceeding on their march. Oh!
how great was the strait they were in on that day! how great was their
tribulation! when some were affected with fears, and no one had such
confidence or spirit as not to wish, at that moment, he had finished his
pilgrimage, and had returned home instead of standing with trembling
heart the chances of a doubtful battle. In truth, our people, so few in
number, were hemmed in by the multitudes of the Saracens, that they had
no means of escape, if they tried; neither did they seem to have valour
sufficient to withstand so many foes, Ñ nay, they were shut in, like a flock
of sheep in the jaws of wolves, with nothing but the sky above, and the
enemy all around them. O Lord God! what feelings agitated that weak
flock of Christ! straitened by such a perplexity; whom the enemy pressed
with such unabating vigour, as if they would pass them through a sieve.
What army was ever assailed by so mighty a force? There you might have
seen our troopers, having lost their chargers, marching on foot with the
footmen, or casting missiles from arbalests, or arrows from bows, against
the enemy, and repelling their attacks in the best manner they were able.
The Turks, skilled in the bow, pressed unceasingly upon them: it rained
darts; the air was filled with the shower of arrows, and the brightness of
the sun was obscured by the multitude of missiles, as if it had been
darkened by a fall of winterÕs hail or snow. Our horses were pierced by the
darts and arrows, which were so numerous that the whole face of the earth
around was covered with them, and if any one wished to gather them up,
he might take twenty of them in his hand at a time. The Turks pressed with
such boldness that they nearly crushed the Hospitallers; on which the latter
sent word to King Richard that they could not sustain the violence of the
enemyÕs attack, unless he would allow their knights to advance at full
charge against them. This the king dissuaded them from doing, but
advised them to keep in a close body; they therefore persevered and kept
together, though scarcely able to breathe for the pressure. By these means
they were able to proceed on their way, though the heat happened to be
very great on that day; so that they laboured under two disadvantages, Ñ
the hot weather and the attacks of the enemy. These approved martyrs of
Christ sweated in the contest; and he who could have seen them closed up

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