Itinerary
199
In the mean time it became known to Saladin that our men were
preparing to attack Jerusalem, and were only two miles distant from him;
but, not thinking it safe to fight with the Christians, he gave orders to
destroy Darum, its walls and towers, and retreated himself to Jerusalem.
The Turks, also, in general left the plains and withdrew to the mountains.
In consequence of this, our men were commanded by voice of herald to
move towards the foot of the mountains, and, when all the arrangements
were completed, they marched towards a castle called Betenoble. Then the
rain and hail began to beat upon our men, and killed many of their beasts
of burthen: the storm was so violent that it tore up the pegs of the tents,
drowned the horses, and spoiled all their biscuit and bacon. The armour
and coats of mail, also, were so rusted, that the greatest labour was
necessary to restore them to their former brightness: their clothes were
dissolved by the wet, and the men themselves suffered from the unwonted
severity of the climate. Under all these sufferings, their only consolation
arose from their zeal in the service of God, and a desire to finish their
pilgrimage. To this end each contributed his share of provisions for the
siege, and they came together with joy prepared for any pilgrimage. Even
those who were sick in bed at Joppa, were carried in litters, so great was
their wish to see Jerusalem. A large number of them, also, were influenced
by a desire to see our LordÕs tomb, and this was their only hope under their
great sufferings. But the Turks, paying no regard to these convoys of the
sick, lay in wait for them and killed both them and their bearers, looking on
them all as enemies alike. But, surely, these are all to be accounted martyrs,
and there is this consolation for them, that though the Turks slew them
with evil intentions, yet they suffered but for a moment, and gained the
reward of a long service.
Chapter XXXV. Ñ
How the army prepare with joy to march on Jerusalem,
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