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Itinerary
134
busy enough in attacking and pursuing the Greeks as they deserved, as it
appeared to be of the greatest consequence to subdue an island so
necessary to the land of Jerusalem. Paying no attention to the messengers,
he advanced to Nicosia, whither each had brought the provisions necessary
for himself, as it was a desert place; they moved forward in order of battle,
for they had learnt that the emperor intended to lie in ambush for them.
The king marched in the rear, to guard against attacks, when on a sudden,
the emperor burst from his hiding-place, and assailed them with about
seven hundred Greeks. Their arbalesters exerted all their ability to throw
their darts against the foremost of our men; but not even thus did our
troops suffer themselves to be broken, for they kept together in good order,
while the emperor advancing on the flank to reconnoitre, bore down upon
them pell-mell, with a view either to break up our lines, or to find out and
shoot the king; and when he found that the king was in the rear, he shot
two poisoned arrows at him, which inflamed the king to a pitch of anger,
and putting spurs to his horse, he bore down on the emperor, with the
intention of striking him with his lance; but the emperor evaded him, and
fled as swiftly as possible to his aforesaid fort of Candaira, in exceeding
dismay and confusion, because he had not succeeded according to his
wishes; and the king did not pursue him far, for he doubted of taking him;
for he had a bay horse of such swiftness and perseverance in running, that
no one ever saw his match for speed. Then the king marched towards
Nicosia, with his army, and an immense booty of noble horses and men,
which had been taken in the encounter; and the citizens of Nicosia came
forth in a body, to congratulate him, and admitted him as if he had been
their lord; and the king received them in peace, and caused their beards to
be shaved in token of their change of masters. The emperor, on hearing
this, in his fury, caused them to seize upon every one of our men that they
could, and they plucked out their eyes, or cut off their noses, or mutilated
their arms or legs, to satisfy his revenge and soothe his grief. The king
exacted homage of the Greek nobles, who appeared to throw off the
emperorÕs yoke with joy; and feeling himself somewhat afflicted with
sickness, he tarried there to rest and recruit himself.

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Itinerary
135
Chapter XXXVIII. Ñ Of the capture of the three forts, in one of which was the
emperorÕs daughter and treasure.
With the army, which had been divided into three parts by the king,
King Guy laid siege to the three forts, Cherimes, Didimus, and Butphenens;
the two first he quickly gained possession of; for, with the help of a guide
who knew the ways and the places of difficult access, the army,
approaching the fort of Cherimes by land and by sea, assaulted it instantly;
and they who were in it, not expecting any aid, surrendered the fort, in
which were found the emperorÕs daughter, and his treasure. When the
emperor heard of his loss, he was so overwhelmed with grief, that it nearly
drove him mad. King Guy, having hoisted the banners of King Richard on
the battlements of the fort, proceeded to attack the second fort, called
Didimus, very strong by situation, and exposed to attack on no side; and
those who were shut up therein prepared to defend themselves, and for
some days kept throwing stones and darts at the besiegers, until they were
commanded by the emperor to give it up; and in it the king placed the
emperorÕs daughter, to prevent her being recaptured. From thence King
Guy returned to the army at Nicosia, where King Richard, as has been
afore said, lay sick; and immediately on his recovery, he attacked and
stormed the fort of Bufferentum, which had hitherto been deemed
impregnable.
Chapter XXXIX. Ñ How the emperor came from Candaira to Nicosia, and