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Itinerary
220
Jerusalem from the presence of Saladin. They were men notorious for
infamy of character; one of them was called Baban of Ybelin, the other,
Reginald of Sidon; but we pass them by for all their anxious endeavours
and zeal came to nought, like dust, which a man scatters against the wind.
Chapter XXV. Ñ How the marquis, on hearing that he had been chosen king, was
elated with great joy, as well as his friends; and how the latter prepared armour for
themselves, and every thing necessary for his coronation.
The ambassadors, who had been sent to fetch the marquis, arriving at
Tyre, set forth to him how he had been unanimously chosen king by the
whole army, and with the consent of King Richard; and that the crown of
the kingdom had been granted to him, if he would come with his army and
perform the duties thereof, vigorously and bravely, against the Turks, and
apply himself to the government of the kingdom of Jerusalem in all other
matters as his own. On hearing this, it is said, that the marquis, in the
excessive joy of his heart, stretched forth his hand to heaven, and prayed
thus, Ò0 Lord God! who has created me, and infused life into my body;
who art a just and merciful King; I pray Thee, O Lord, if thou thinkest me
deserving of the government of Thy kingdom, grant me to see myself
crowned; but if Thou judgest otherwise, consent not thou to my promotion!
ÒWhen it became well known throughout the city of Tyre that the marquis
was to be crowned king, so great was the joy of the people, that they got in
readiness whatever they had, and used their utmost diligence to prepare
for celebrating his coronation. They borrowed money to buy robes and
armour, for they wished to make the most splendid appearance possible in
the service of one so magnificent, who had been raised to so high a dignity.
Men were now to be seen cleaning their armour, polishing their rusty arms,
sharpening their swords, and rubbing their lances; soldiers and boys
engaged in sham battles, and maintaining the appearance of a real conflict
of combatants, boasting at the same time of the future destruction of the
Turks; and, in fact, they were a brave people, had they not been without
the Divine aid. Thus they indulged in joy, the more unreasonable, for being

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Itinerary
221
so intemperate, according to the proverb, Ñ ÒWe should not rejoice too
much, nor grieve too much,Ó for all excess is reprehensible.
Chapter XXVI. Ñ How the marquis was stabbed with two poniards, by two
young men, assassins, sent by the old man (senior) of Musse.
Meanwhile, Count Henry, after executing his embassy, turned off
with his companions to Acre, to equip themselves in becoming attire for
the coronation, and were on the point of returning to Ascalon, when the
marquis was overtaken by sudden death at Tyre. For it happened one day
that he was returning, in a very cheerful and pleasant humour, from an
entertainment given by the bishop of Beauvais, at which he had been a
guest, and had reached the custom-house of the city, when two young
men, assassins,
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 without cloaks, suddenly rushed upon him, and having
drawn two poniards, which they carried in their hands, stabbed him to the
heart, and ran off at full speed. The marquis instantly fell from his horse,
and rolled dying on the ground; one of the murderers was slain directly
but the second took shelter in a church; notwithstanding which he was
captured, and condemned to be dragged through the city until life should
be extinct. One of them was closely questioned before expiring, at whose
instigation, and for what reason, they had done the deed, when he
confessed that they had been sent along time before to perpetrate the crime,
and that they had done it by the command of their superior, whom they
were bound to obey. This turned out to be true; for these very young men
had been some time in the service of the marquis, waiting for a favourable
opportunity to complete the deed. The old man of Musse had sent them
over to assassinate the marquis, whom he thought worthy of death, within
a certain space of time; for every one the old man judged deserving of
death, he caused to be assassinated in the same manner. The old man of
21The origin of the fraternity of Assassins, followers of the Old Man of the Mountain, as
he is generally called in the common histories of England, has not been very clearly
traced. It appears by the accounts which we have of the Thugs and other tribes in India,
that similar associations still exist in the East.

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