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Itinerary
274
seem indeed wonderful and even incredible, that so small a body of men
endured so long a conflict; but by GodÕs mercy we cannot doubt the truth
of it, for in that battle only one or two of our men were slain. But the
number of the Turkish horses which lay dead on the fields is said to have
exceeded fifteen hundred; and of the Turks themselves more than seven
hundred were killed, and yet they did not carry back King Richard, as they
had boasted, as a present to Saladin; but, on the contrary, he and his brave
followers performed so many deeds of valour in the sight of the Turks, that
the enemy themselves shuddered to behold them.
Chapter XXIV. Ñ How Saladin ridiculed his men for having boasted that thew
would seize King Richard, and how they, in self-defence, replied that they had
never seen so brave a soldier.
In the meantime, our men having by GodÕs grace escaped
destruction, the Turkish army returned to Saladin, who is said to have
ridiculed them by asking where Melech Richard was, for they had
promised to bring him a prisoner? ÒWhich of you,Ó continued he, Òfirst
seized him, and where is he? Why is he not produced?Ó To whom one of
the Turks that came from the furthest countries of the earth, replied: ÒIn
truth, my lord, Melech Richard, about whom you ask, is not here: we have
never heard since the beginning of the world that there ever was such a
knight, so brave and so experienced in arms. In every deed at arms, he is
ever the foremost; in deeds, he is without a rival, the first to advance, and
the last to retreat: we did our best to seize him, but in vain, for no one can
escape from his sword; his attack is dreadful; to engage with him is fatal,
and his deeds are beyond human nature.Ó
Chapter XXV. Ñ How the king was ill from his fatigue and exertions in the
battle.
From the toil and exertion of the battle, King Richard and several
others who had exerted themselves the most, fell ill, not only from the

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Itinerary
275
fatigue of the battle, but the smell of the corpses, which so corrupted the
neighbourhood, that they all nearly died.
Chapter XXVI. Ñ Saladin sends word to the king, whilst he was sick, that he was
coming to seize him. Richard sends to C¾sarea for assistance from the French, who
refuse to come.
In the meantime Saladin sent word to the king that he would come
with his Turks and seize him, if he could only be sure that Richard would
await his approach. The king replied instantly, that he would wait for him
there, without stirring one foot from where he was, provided only that he
had strength, to stand upright and to defend himself. Such was the kinds
courage, that it could not be overcome by any disasters. When the king,
however, came to reflect on his actual situation, and the illness by which he
was disabled, he thought it not expedient to be too secure when the serpent
was in his neighbourhood; he therefore sent Count Henry to C¾sarea, with
a message to the French, who had previously come thither, that they
should join him and assist in defending the Holy Land, signifying also to
them his present complaint, and the aforesaid message of Saladin. But the
French refused to render him the least assistance; indeed, as far as they
were concerned, he might have been destroyed by the multitude of the
enemy, if he had not agreed to a truce which in some particulars was open
to reprehension. So great was the multitude of the Turks, that what chance
could so small a body of men have had against them, even if they had not
been sick? It was therefore agreed that Ascalon should be destroyed, rather
than that so dangerous a hazard should be run for if the enemy, meeting
with no opposition, had seized the king lying ill upon, his bed, Ascalon
would of course have been taken possession of without resistance; but,
would Tyre or Acre have been safe?
Chapter XXVII. Ñ How the king wished to return to Acre to be cured, but, on the