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Itinerary
245
finding himself surrounded by a dense mass of Turks, cried out to
Manassier de Lisle, a knight of great prowess, and who crushed all he met:
Ñ ÒManassier,Ó said he, Òdo you then desert me?Ó On hearing this,
Manassier flew with all speed to rescue him from the Turks; but the enemy
were so many, that these two could do nothing against them, though they
fought bravely for a long time against overwhelming numbers; until
Manassier was thrown from his horse, and when he was on the ground
they beat him cruelly with their iron maces, made rough with teeth, and,
standing round, they so mangled him, that they broke off his leg, bone and
all, from his body; and thus Baldwin and Manassier were being destroyed
by the enemy, while their own men were ignorant of their fate. But, at this
moment, God sent the valiant earl of Leicester, who had been ignorant of
their danger, to rescue and protect them. The earl, on his arrival, dashed at
the enemy and cast the first man he encountered from his horse; upon
which, Auscun, the comrade of Stephen de Longchamps, cut off his head,
and hurled it to a distance. Stephen also behaved himself manfully, and
our people increasing in numbers, the enemy were routed, and fled with
speed to the mountains, except those whom our men overtook. Those of
our army who were wounded were placed carefully on horses, and carried
to the army. Thus then we have thought that dayÕs action worthy of
mention, on account of the brave deeds of the earl of Leicester, who put the
Turks to flight, killed some, and captured others.
Chapter LIII. Ñ How, while Richard was at Betenoble, the Syrian bishop of St.
George gave him a piece of the LordÕ Cross.
A certain Syrian bishop of St. George, who had been a tributary to
Saladin for himself and his flock, when, after the destruction of the country,
the Saracens first came to Jerusalem, brought a piece of the Holy Cross to
King Richard. He was accompanied by a large number of men and women,
belonging to his own people, and gave the piece of the Cross to the king.
Chapter LIV. Ñ Likewise, how while King Richard was there, an abbat came to
him, and told him he had hidden a piece of the Holy Cross in a certain spot; and

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Itinerary
246
how the king went thither with the abbat, and found it, and how the people
worshipped it.
It also happened, on the third day before the feast of St. John the
Baptist, i.e. St. AlbanÕs day, that while the army was staying there, they
were much comforted by news which was brought to the king; for a devout
man, the abbat of St. Elie, whose countenance bespoke holiness, with long
beard and head of snow, came to the king, and told him, that a long time
ago he had concealed a piece of the Holy Cross, in order to preserve it,
until the Holy Land should be rescued from the infidels, and restored
entirely to its former state; and that he alone knew of this hidden treasure,
and that he had often been pressed hard by Saladin, who had tried to make
him discover the Cross, by the most searching inquiries; but that he had
always baffled his questioners by ambiguous replies, and deluded them
with false statements; and that on account of his contumacy, Saladin had
ordered him to be bound; but he persisted in asserting that he had lost the
piece of the Cross during the taking of the city of Jerusalem; and had thus
deluded him, notwithstanding his anxiety to end it. The king, hearing this,
set out immediately, with the abbat and a great number of people, to the
place of which the abbat had spoken; and having taken up the piece of the
Holy Cross with humble veneration, they returned to the army; and
together with the people, they kissed the Cross with much piety and
contrition.

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